Thanks for reviews! Hope you like this chapter!
Disclaimer: Once again, unfortunately I don't own any Pretear Characters, only Han!
A/N: Last chapter I put a by the word 'college' somewhere, meant to footnote it: I don't know much about the Japanese Education System so if anyone knows anymore/can tell me if its right or wrong then I'd appreciate it!
Chapter 2 – Of Demon Lava and Dreams
The 'do' at the Awayuki home went well, and no one managed to make a fool of themselves. All of the Awayuki daughters gained admirers and several other wealthy gentlemen offered their sons as potential husbands to Natsue and Kaoru for any of the girls, including Han. Natsue had gently declined from the gentlemen's offers, saying that Mawata was too young, Himeno was, sort of, 'involved' and both Mayune and Han were concentrating on their studying before deciding to settle down, disappointing all of the prospective suitors greatly. Himeno seemed to have enjoyed the night greatly whilst the other three girls had been bored and were more than pleased when the night ended.
A week or so later, Han and Himeno were walking back through the Awayuki Grounds when they had an unwanted surprise. Everything had been going well, nothing supernatural happening and Himeno and Han were returning from College. They had walked back and were hardly halfway up the drive when, from out of nowhere, a Demon Lava appeared in front of them. Needing no encouragement, both girls ran trying to get past the Demon Lava and to safety. As the girls ran, they were split up and Himeno ended up running into Hayate. Without hesitation, Himeno and Hayate preted and headed back to fight the Demon Lava, who had Han in its grasp already. Using the wind sword, Himeno cut Han free and ran over to her as she landed.
"Are you okay?" Himeno asked very concerned.
"Yeah… I'm good…" Han replied, struggling to her feet.
Seconds later, the Demon Lava was on the attack again and Himeno returned to fighting, leaving Han to fend for herself. Whilst distracted, Himeno didn't notice an 'arm' of the Demon Lava reach out for Han once again. Luckily enough, Sasame was quickly on hand, destroying the 'arm'.
"Han, take my hand." Sasame ordered, holding his hand out towards her.
"What?" Han asked in confusion.
"You have the same ability as Himeno, to become the Pretear. You saw what happened between Himeno and Hayate right?" Sasame explained.
"Yeah… Sort of…" Han replied unsurely.
"You can do that and then help Himeno defeat this thing." Sasame concluded.
Understanding, Han nodded her head and took Sasame's hand, preting with him. As this happened, the other Leafe Knights arrived.
"Shin! Containment Field!" Himeno shouted, semi-distracted.
"Biombios!" Shin called forth the containment field.
"What the?" Han asked herself.
"It's a containment field to take us away from your world, to protect it." Sasame explained from within her.
Not having time to think it through, Han and Sasame had to take flight, to get out of the reach of another 'arm' of the demon lava. Goh was quickly at their side, ready to help protect Han should it be needed. However, every attack from the demon lava Han seemed to be able to avoid and the Leafe Knights were surprised at how well she used her powers for a first time.
"Han!" Himeno called from the opposite side of the demon lava, "Let's finish this together!"
"Right." Han replied, listening to Sasame within her explaining to her their attack. "Sonic Arrow!" Han shouted as she performed the attack at the same time as Himeno used her sword, the two attacks hitting the Demon Lava at the same time and destroying it easily.
Soon enough, both girl had landed on the ground and Shin had retracted the Containment field. Both girls de-preted and looked around in time to see a strange, silver-haired man fleeing the site. The Leafe Knights looked suspiciously between each other, realising that it was going to become necessary to protect both of the girls.
Assuming that something was coming, Himeno and Han started to train together, sparring against each other in their Pretear forms, with whichever knights were available at the time. They trained daily, starting on the day after the original attack.
It was only two days later that they were attacked once again. Himeno and Han had been sitting in the park with Mannen, Hajime and Shin, eating ice cream when they sensed the presence of the demon lava. Quickly, the group ran to where the demon lava had appeared, in the forest part of the park. All the people around the area were lying on the ground, unconscious. In unison, Han and Himeno preted with the two older boys, Himeno with Hajime and Han with Mannen as Shin summon the containment field. With two Pretears they made easy work of the demon lava and were soon making sure that the people in the surrounding area were okay.
This was only the start. The next day and every day there after, the girls sensed another demon lava and were involved in a fight against them. It was becoming tiring since their numbers did not seem to cease. Takako helped where she could, insisting that the demon lavas were not her doing, something that all the knights and both Pretears believed. It didn't take long for the other members of the Awayuki family to realise that something was up, something that they could do little to help with. However, saying this, in their own way, each one offered their support to both girls (once they realised that Han was also involved) in their own way.
Of course, things could only get worse from here and they did, targeting the new Pretear, Han. It started slowly and simply, so that Han didn't really notice it but it crept up and once it was strong enough, it started to put the fear of God into Han.
The full extent of this crept up on Han whilst she slept one night, in her dream. At first, it started as a pleasant, simple dream, the sort one has when they are quite content and relaxed before they go to sleep. However, this was soon to change. In her mind, Han suddenly found herself in the middle of the street, the sky dark with no moon. She could hear noises all around her and a masculine voice beside her.
"Quick, to your right!" The voice warned. Han turned to her right to see Kei and Goh standing there.
"Behind you!" The voice warned again. Han turned around to see Sasame and Mannen. On your left!" On her left were Shin and Hajime. "In front of you!" In front of Han stood Himeno and Hayate.
"Himeno, what's going on? What's happened?" Han asked frantically.
"We have no need for you." Hayate told her.
"You are useless, you cannot help us." Kei agreed.
"But we cannot let you go…" Sasame informed her.
"You know our secret." Hajime continued.
"You might tell someone about it." Shin agreed. Han suddenly noticed that they were all closing in on her.
"What do you mean?" Han asked fearfully, "Himeno?"
"It's time for you to say goodbye." Himeno answered, taking Hayate's hand and preting with him, calling forth the wind sword and heading for Han, who quickly dodged the attack.
"Goh! Help me?" Han cried out terrified.
"Why? You have no use, this is the only way." Goh told her coldly.
"Yeah." Mannen agreed, "You must die."
"NO!" Han screamed, running through the Leafe Knights, who started to follow her. Han ran though the streets soon coming upon Natsue and Kaoru.
"Please help me!" Han begged them.
"Why would we do that?" Natsue asked her maniacally.
"You haven't been a success, you are useless." Kaoru agreed, revealing two carving knives.
"No!" Han cried out once more, running on again. Next she came upon Mawata, Mayune, Takako and Yayoi.
"Guys! Himeno's gone crazy! Help me!" Han pleased.
"Help you?" Mayune asked suspiciously as she revealed the axe, "Hahaha-ha!"
"We would not help you for you are useless." Takako stated evilly.
"Yes, you have no use." Mawata agreed.
"You're only useful to us dead." Yayoi finished. Not waiting to see other weapons, Han ran on, coming across her own family.
"Mum! Dad! Help me!" Han cried, the tears streaming down her face.
"You have disappointed us, Han." Her mother told her.
"You failed." Her father agreed.
"You are useless big sister." He brother told her. Once again Han ran, fleeing her own family. She ran until she was too tired to run and further and she collapsed to her hands and knees, panting, sweating and crying.
"Why? Why?" Han asked herself.
"Maybe they speak some truth." The voice that had warned her of the Leafe Knights approach suggested.
"What?" Han asked, surprised.
"Or maybe they have just gone insane. I mean, what could you do that would make them all so unimpressed?" The voice asked curiously.
"I… I would never hurt them. I just want to help them and to make them proud…" Han sobbed.
"But you can't, can you? All you do hurts them or dishonours them. Maybe you should just give up now, give in. Let them do what they must."
"No, no…" Han cried quietly, "I can't…I… I don't want to die…"
"Death won't hurt much, you won't feel it, I promise."
There was a rustle in the bushes ahead of her and Goh appeared. Han could tell that the other were also nearby.
"Goh, please… I'll try harder…" Han wept at the Fire Knight approached her.
"You cannot. You are useless." Goh replied maliciously.
"Give in…" The voice to Han, "Give in…"
"No… I won't!" Han replied but, with no where to turn, she could not escape and she could only watch and Goh fired at burning attack at her.
"NO!" Han cried as she saw her hands burn and shrivel up, "GOH!"
Han found herself sitting up, wide awake in bed. She was dripping in sweat and her breaking was erratic. Kneeling on the bed beside her was Goh. Not full aware that she had only been dreaming, she moved away from Goh, fearing him.
"Leave me alone!" She shouted, her fear penetrating her voice.
"Han?" Goh asked confused, "Its okay. It was just a dream."
"A dream?" Han asked in disbelief, "But it seemed so real."
"You were shouting out and I came to make sure you were alright." Goh told her. Han smiled.
"I think I'll go and get some fresh air." She told him getting up and walking out onto the balcony. Goh, afraid of what she might do, followed her.