CHAPTER 9: Dim The Lights

Himeno paced back and forth outside the door to Kei's room, hugging herself as the angry shouts coming from within sifted under the door for everyone to hear clearly. Sasame had shown up and together they had all stopped the ice. Mannen was yelled at by Hayate, and Shin and Hajime finally understood that for now using leafe was out.

Then, there was Kei. He had passed out after the flash of light that had momentarily blinded everyone and, when they could finally see again, he was laying face down and unmoving. Once it was established he was alive, Himeno and Feryn unpreted and Feryn helped carry him inside and to his room. That was when he woke up and discovered the thing that had started all the shouting. His own leafe had blinded him.

"I'm completely worthless now! And it's all because that little brat-,"

"Kei, think about what you're saying! Mannen is right outside and can hear you," Sasame said sharply.

"GOOD! I want him to know this was all his fault! And who the hell let HER in here anyway?"

"Oh, don't lash out at me because you can't control your leafe," Takako replied cruelly.

"Takako, please, this isn't the time-," Sasame interjected.

"Well, he shouldn't be blaming me for his shortcomings!"

"You bitch!"

There was a scuffling noise and then Hayate cut in. "STOP IT! All of you, just stop! Shouting and blaming everyone isn't helping the situation. Kei, you need to rest. We'll see if your condition has changed by the morning. None of the others were permanently damaged by the attacks, we can only assume yours will pass, too. So, until we know for certain, just calm down."

Himeno looked over at where Mannen sat on the floor, hugging his knees and sniffling, tears falling down his cheeks. She knelt next to him and put her arms around him. He shoved her away, wiping the tears with an angry fist. "Hey, don't listen to Kei. He's just mad," she said.

"Yeah, but he's right," Mannen said bitterly. "I made him use his leafe. He's blind cuz of me!"

"Shh, don't say that! It wasn't your fault. Look, we don't know what's going on, but we're gonna get through this together, okay? I won't let you guys get hurt." The minute she said that, she thought of Goh. She'd done worse than let him get hurt. He had died for them.

"And Goh, too. I was the reason he...he..." Mannen started crying harder and Himeno held him tighter, wishing she could somehow make him fell better.

"I do not understand what is happening fully," Feryn said softly, leaning against the wall Mannen was pressed against. "But from what I have gathered from Himeno and Hayate, this Goh would have done what he did regardless of the reason. He was, how do you say, one kick-ass guy?"

Mannen managed a weak smile at the French knight and his poor grasp on slang. Himeno looked at him in surprise. This was the FIRST time he had bothered to be nice to anyone! She smiled thankfully at him and he answered it back. Hmm, maybe he was coming around to them. Or maybe he was just being nice because he was trying to 'woo' her.

The door opened and Hajime and Shin jumped up from the other side of Mannen and went to Hayate with wide eyes. "Is he really blind?" Hajime asked.

"I heard that," Kei snapped.

Takako quickly shut the door after herself and picked Shin up when he reached for her.

"For now, yes. We'll know more in the morning," Hayate said, ruffling up Hajime's hair. Hajime grabbed his wrist and pulled his hand away, grinning. "You three, do not, under any circumstances, use your leafe until I say otherwise."

"And when will that be?" Takako asked, eyes narrowed. "When are you going to figure out what's going on?"

Hayate didn't answer her. "Mannen?"

Mannen looked up, eyes afraid.

"Until Kei gets better, I'm counting on you to watch out for Hajime and Shin. You need to be responsible for them and keep them safe, okay?"

Mannen nodded. Himeno gave him an extra squeeze which he complained about before she got to her feet, smiling at him. "Okay, I'm gonna make dinner now! Just you all sit back and relax and I'll-UGH!" Hayate managed to grab her before she could get to the kitchen.

"Uh, actually...we...about dinner..." He looked over to Sasame for help. The last time Himeno had cooked, everyone had been sick for a week.

"GOD, NO! Don't let her cook anything for me," Kei begged from his room.

"HEY! I'm a very good cook, I'll have you know," Himeno shouted back.

"Why don't you just kill me now?"

Hayate had to make a quick grab for her again as she lunged for the door.

"Actually, maybe we should just order for pizza," Sasame said quietly, a faint smile on his face. "We're all very tired as it is. That way no one has to be strained with the preparation or the clean up."

Himeno stopped struggling and sighed, slumping back in Hayate's arms. "Oh, alright! Pizza does sound better anyway."

Only Sasame heard Takako's muttered, "Thank God," as they headed for the kitchen to start the debate over what kind of pizza to get.

Himeno woke up early the next morning. As in almost three in the morning early. She blinked and looked around the darkened living room. Wait, why wasn't the tv on? She found the remote under her pillow and turned it on, squinting in the sudden glare.

"Ugh...turn it off," someone's muffled voice said next to her.

Himeno grabbed her pillow and started beating whoever the hell was sleeping on the pull-out with her.

"Ow-hey... Ow...God...stop it!" The person grabbed the pillow from her and threw it over the other side of the couch. Piercing blue eyes glared at her in the tv light.

"H-Hayate? What the hell are you doing HERE?" Not that she really minded...wait, what was she THINKING?

He punched his pillow a couple times and muttered, "Fell asleep. Wanna fall asleep again."

"Like hell! Not in MY bed!"

Groaning, he shoved his head under his pillow.

Himeno gave the pillow a dirty look before she flopped down on his chest, making sure her elbow caught him.

"For the love of- get off me!" He choked out, rolling over and trying to beat her with his pillow.

"This is my bed and I'll sleep where everI want to. And just so you know, I kick in my sleep. And drool. Oh, and I like to bite my pillow."

"You what?"

"You heard me!" She bit his arm, not very hard but enough to get him to draw back.

"You freak!"

"Says the pervert trying to sleep with me!"

"I fell asleep watching tv! YOU asked if I wanted to watch tv! And then YOU fell asleep! Which made me want to sleep, too! It's not like I planned on sleeping with you or anything!"

Ouch! That stung a bit. He didn't find her at all...wait, this was Hayate, the head case to end all head cases! "Yeah, well, if you were so tired, why didn't you go back to your own bed, huh?" she fired back.

He didn't answer. She glanced up from where her head was laying on his stomach. THE JERK! His eyes were closed! "What are you doing?"

"Trying to ignore you and go back to the good dream I was having," he said irritably, flipping over onto his stomach and almost squishing her in the process.

"Hey, watch it! Are you trying to smother me?" she complained.

"Hmm...you'd be quiet then."

Himeno growled and yanked the pillow out from under his head, curling up on her side and hugging it with both her arms and legs. No way was he getting it back!

"Hey, give me back my pillow," Hayate demanded, reaching around and trying to grab it from her.

Himeno hugged it tighter. "Nope! You threw mine clear across the living room. I'm keeping this one!"

"You were beating me with it! Did you honestly expect me to just sit there while you hit me with a pillow?"

"Aww, big, tough Leafe Knight hurt by a widdle pillow?" she mocked. She yelped when he pretty much slammed his head down on her side. "OW, OW, OW!"

"Give me the pillow back," he demanded again. He shifted around until he seemed to find a comfortable spot squishing her kidneys.

Himeno tried to move away, but everytime she did, he moved with her, making sure to find the most uncomfortable spot for his head. "Damn it! I'm not your pillow, stupid!"

"You took mine so I'm using you as one. Can't say as it's comfy though. You're nothing but ribs."

"WHAT!" She rolled over to face him and then yelped when his head fell on her chest. "PERVERT!"

Hayate quickly got off her, eyes wide in shock. "I didn't...you were the one...I'M the pervert!"

Himeno gave him a big innocent smile and hugged the pillow to herself. "Oo, so soft! And comfy, too. A shame you don't have a pillow, Hayate. Oh, wait, that's because you chucked it across the room!"

He made a grab for the pillow, spilling her back on the bed and trying to grab her wrist as she kept scooching it out of his grasp. Himeno started giggling, and it escalated into laughter and from there to laughing so hard she could barely breath. This was so stupid! Fighting over a pillow big enough for them to share? But, at the same time, it was so hysterical, and the thought of the whole fight made her laugh even harder until Hayate managed to grab the pillow for her. By that time, he was pretty much sprawled out on top of her.

Himeno froze when she realized she was staring straight into his eyes, those wonderfully blue eyes that seemed to make her freeze like a deer in headlights. Her breath was a little short...was it from laughing so hard, or because he was so close his hair fell around them like a curtain of darkness? Her heart stopped and then started pounding against her chest when his fingers moved from holding her wrist to holding her hand, fingers twining.

"Himeno," he whispered, lips moving toward hers. It was as if everything stood still, his lips almost touching hers, eyes drifting close. Himeno closed her eyes, leaning up toward his mouth. Just about there...

There was a crash from the kitchen and Kei's shout of, "DAMN IT! Can SOMEONE help me make some coffee?"

Himeno opened her eyes when Hayate made a frustrated sound. Okay, so she couldn't be mad at Kei, but at least it was him and not someone who didn't need help. She watched Hayate disappear into the kitchen, heard his voice talking to Kei, who was still really pissed off. Letting out her own frustrated little sigh, she hugged the pillow to herself and rolled over to go back to bed. It was really difficult when she could smell his shampoo on the pillow and it made her think of him. Stupid Hayate! Stupid her for thinking he might have feelings for her...but then, why did it always seem he was trying to kiss her? Grrr, all these random, conflicting thoughts! She was just being silly. Or was she? He DID ask her on a date, after all. But...never mind! Himeno sighed again and lay back, falling asleep with blue eyes dancing in her head.

Sasame woke when he heard the first noise from the living room, but ignored it. Just those two fighting (flirting) with each other again. Takako mumbled something and held his arm more securely against her chest. He smiled when he noticed she was wearing the funny duck pajamas she'd insisted on getting. All the little ducks on it had halos over their heads. Sasame hugged her to him, kissing the back of her neck gently. He loved her, he loved her so much...

Then why are you doing this? A little voice asked him.

Because, because I have to, he thought back.

You don't. The wedding is in three days. You could just marry her and run away. You wouldn't have to see them die then.

But I would still know. I would know they were dead, killed by their own leafe.

Takako stirred a little and turned over, opening her eyes slowly and smiling when she saw he was awake. "They're awfully loud, aren't they?" she murmured, lips brushing his lightly before going to his jaw and then further down his neck. God, the feel of her against him...

"PERVERT!"

Takako laughed against his neck, and he smiled, kissing her cheek and then her shoulder. "I really don't understand them," he said, running his fingers through her soft hair.

"They're both masochists, I swear it."

That got him to laugh. He couldn't do this.

He HAD to.

Sasame lay back when she pushed him over, sitting up on top of him. That look...how could he refuse that look in her eyes? She bent low and kissed him, nothing gentle about it now. And as usual, the lightening seemed to hit him and he couldn't think of anything but her and how much he loved her. He didn't want to hurt her...

But he would. There was no way out of it now. If he didn't, the other knights would, and they would be far more cruel about it than he would.

Later, they lay together, Takako asleep with her head resting on his shoulder. Sasame trailed his fingers down her arm and then back up, across her face lightly. He wanted to remember her exactly as she was. THIS was Takako, not the Princess of Disaster. Not what he was going to make her into again. He was going to...going to... And then the tears came back, silent and unheard by anyone in the whole house.

Himeno grabbed a bowl and the Luck Charms from the cupboard and poured herself as much as she could fit in there before dousing it with Kei's chocolate flavored creamer he used for espresso drinks. She could hear him and Hayate in the hallway, Hayate acting as a guide to get him to the living room.

"OW! Hayate, you need to tell me there's a corner," Kei snarled.

"That wasn't a corner, that was the coat rack," Hayate answered.

"Whatever, it still hurt."

Himeno sighed and decided she wasn't as hungry as she thought. Poor Kei...It wasn't fair! All she wanted was for him to get better.

The door to the kitchen opened and Feryn came in, grinning broadly at her. "Ah, ma petite fleur! You look lovely today."

"Bite me," she muttered.

"Pardon moi?"

"Thank you."

He took a seat next to her, coffee in one hand and an apple in the other. "I will be frank. I would like to take you for dinner. It is a, how do you say, date?"

Himeno choked on her Lucky Charms, chunks of cereal and milk flying across the table. "What? You can't be serious!"

"Oui, very serious."

"But why? You don't even like me!"

He blinked and sat back in surprise. "Whoever said that? I like you very much."

"That's crap! You like me because I can become the White Pretear, that's all you care about," she said, digging into her cereal with so much zeal she hoped he'd let it drop.

Feryn laid his hand over hers, bringing it to his lips. "As I have said, I like a female with fire."

Himeno pulled her hand away. "EW! Sorry, not interested!"

He stared at her for a second before he sighed. "Ah, how very rude of me! You are with Hayate?"

Again, she choked on her Lucky Charms. "What the hell is your problem?"

"Then you are not?"

She debated lying to him, just to get him to go away. Sighing, she dropped her spoon. "No, I'm not," she muttered.

Feryn's smile returned and he kissed her cheek. "Bon! I will see you tomorrow at six. And I promise you will not regret it!"

She already was.

Hayate was trying very hard not to glare at Feryn as he perfumed himself and pranced around, gloating about his date. Images of pushing his face into the food processor were mildly relieving. More so were the ones of him beating that arrogant face in.

"Do you think she will like red or white roses better, Hayate?" Feryn asked.

"How should I know?" he muttered, slamming the fridge door shut. Kei's eyebrows went up at the sound but he didn't say a word.

"Maybe I shall bring her both. Oui, both will be nice. I hope she is wearing one of those cute little skirts she wears to school. Such legs...Mon Dieu, how I love a woman's legs!"

Hayate couldn't stand to be in the same room as him any longer. "I'm going out," he called.

"You sound pissed," Kei said. He ignored him.

Hayate went into the backyard and paced back and forth. He heard Feryn leave but he still didn't go inside. He could just hear Kei's little speech about being honest and telling her how he felt already. He had tried, so many times now! And each time, something stopped him.

What if it was too late? What if Himeno actually LIKED Feryn? That thought made him want to vomit. Who could POSSIBLY like that annoying Frenchman?

Himeno could. Himeno could like anyone. Great...he'd blown it. She was falling for Feryn! He sat down on the bench in back, resting his head on his hands. He hadn't even told her...

Stop it! It's not like they're getting married or anything! He could fight this, and he would! No one was taking Himeno from him without more than a few bruises. Hayate decided to wait for Feryn to get back before he went over and told Himeno how he felt. He waited. And waited. And waited some more. When it was almost midnight and they STILL weren't back, he went inside again and tried to go to sleep. Except, he wasn't tired. He needed to beat something up. Or kill something. Or...anything that involved the Knight of Storms and lots of pain!

Hayate went back into the kitchen and poured some water from the faucet. This was ridiculous! What did it matter if Himeno liked Feryn or not? Maybe she didn't like him at all? But then why did she go on a date with him? He had been pretty clear that it was a date. Hadn't he? He finished the water and went into the living room. Kei was still up, listening to the tv.

"Who's there?" he called.

"Just me," Hayate answered, dropping onto the couch next to him. The couch where he'd fallen asleep with Himeno.

"You're still here?" Kei said, disgust and surprise making an interesting expression on his face.

"Why wouldn't I be here?"

"I thought you would have gone out and beaten the shit out of Feryn by now," the Knight of Light replied, fingers feeling the different buttons on the remote. "Hey, is this the one to turn the station?"

Hayate glanced over before glaring at the tv again. "One over to the right."

"Thanks. You know, I sympathize with our enemies now."

"Huh?"

Kei smiled bitterly. "I hate being on the receiving end of one of my attacks. This sucks."

Hayate sighed. "We still don't know for certain if it's permanent."

Kei didn't respond. It was obvious he thought it was.

They sat alone in the living room, Kei flipping through stations, pausing on certain ones to listen for a bit before moving on. "Are you still sitting here, Hayate?" he exclaimed, stopping when CSI popped up.

"Of course I am," he snapped.

Growling angrily, Kei threw the remote down and stood up, one hand still on the couch. "For the love of God, stop moping like a six year old girl with a skinned knee and go after her!"

"But she's-,"

"Just do it already! All this tension and flirting is driving me crazy. Just go right up to her and tell her how you feel right in front of Feryn. Not only will it be good for you, but it'll put that cocky bastard in his place for good! And I want the full story, down to the last twitch of his eye."

"Kei, I can't-,"

"You can. And you will. Or I'm going to make it my mission in life to have Feryn win her heart."

Hayate's hand clenched at that. He didn't actually think Kei would follow through, but the thought alone got him up off the sofa and out the door.