Author's note: I'm so sorry this took so long. I've been working on a project my friends and I are doing, as well as school. I also apologize for this yet again being short, but I had to end it where I did, or the next chapter wouldn't have the effect I want. Anyway thank you so much to all of you who reviewed.

Once again, I do not own Pretear, but I do however own Chris Patton. …ok fine, so I don't own him either.

And now, on with the fic!

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"…is that so?"

Oh god… my heart is pounding so hard I'm surprised he can't hear it. Stay calm.

"…you know that is against the rules." I nod again and try hard to will away the color on my cheeks. After a few moments of silence I step closer to him until I lay my head against his back. To my surprise, he doesn't push me away.. but turns around and wraps his arms around me.

"..What were you thinking, Hayate?" I whisper at the memory replaying in my mind. I close my eyes again, all of those sensations and emotions running through me once more. His touch, his lips, the weight of his body on mine, all driving me over the edge.

"Are you… ok?" His low voice echoes in my ears and all I can do is nod as I try to hold him closer; my legs wrapping tighter around his waist. The slow rocking of his hips making me forget everything I've ever known or even cared about. There's only him and I and nothing else that matters.

I sigh, feeling the coldness of my own hands tracing down my sides, trying to mimic his gentle touch and open my eyes to stare up into the dark, a tear sliding down my face. I want him. I love him. Still. I want to see him, to hear him say my name.. not Takako's.. not Himeno's.. My name.I sigh again at my thoughts.

"I sound like a selfish child," I scold myself. "I made a mistake.. I turned my back on what I was meant to do because I was lonely and couldn't stand him being with someone else."

"All of us do desperate things when we're lonely."

I jerk up into a sitting position staring in the direction of the voice. A shadowed figure stood in the door way of the church and I didn't need to see the person to know who it was. That voice.

"Himeno?" Something is wrong. She shouldn't be here. Much less alone.

"You know… I think Muwatta was right. Maybe it would be better to be alone." She starts to step closer to me and I stand up. "If you were alone, you would never hurt anyone… and no one would have hurt you." She pauses.

"..Hayate wouldn't have hurt you." My eyes widen as I can barely make out the smile her lips formed after she had said that.

"She's right, Sasame." Takako's cruel and teasing voice echoes from behind me.

"..But now, without a pretear, the leafe knights will suffer. Hayate will finally know the pain he's caused."

I don't want this. I didn't want them to get hurt. I just wanted so badly to…

"Himeno, why don't you go fetch our little helper for me?" she smiles in the dark.

Helper? What is she planning? Who is she talking about? I see her smile broaden at my obvious confusion.

"Princess of Sorrow, bring him to me..."

Ok, sorry again for it being short. Please review, flame, and whatever else you need to do, and thank you for reading.

DM