AUTHOR'S NOTE: There was a little confusion over some dialog. Yes, Erelah DOES know Himeno is the White Pretear. And you'll find out why he was so shocked from Kei a little further on into the piece.

I also want to thank everyone for their reviews and continued interest in my stories! It's really touching and makes my day when I have a mailbox FULL of emails and reviews! THANK YOU!

Finally, for this chapter I had some help from one of my readers. My girl Rina was given the task of making up animals and names for them. And did she ever go to town! So, a very special thanks to Rina for her creative input! You saved me a lot of trouble AND allowed for me to write more for this chapter! THANKS SWEETIE!

Okay, that's all! Enjoy, this chapters reeeeally long AND has a lot of action!

CHAPTER 5: A False Quarrel

"What is this? We have a duel, during my ball?" The knights and Pretears gathered broke apart as the Topaz Prince came over, his two knights behind him. Amber eyes flickered from Erelah to Hayate and back again. "Explain yourselves!"

"Prince, I have challenged Hayate for Himeno," Erelah said with a deep bow. "He clearly is not man enough to control her properly."

Blaise's cough sounded sort of like, "Bullshit,". He looked away quickly as if he hadn't done anything wrong.

"Sir, that isn't the reason for this argument," Hayate said quickly, giving the Englishman a warning glare to keep his mouth shut. "Erelah was trying to force Himeno to pret with him."

The Topaz Prince's eyes swept over Himeno, but it wasn't flirty. It was more like he was trying to figure out a riddle, which happened to be her. "You stopped him, of course." This was directed at Hayate.

"He did not! Hayate is not knight enough to keep me from my prize," Erelah shouted angrily.

"You will do well to remember who you are addressing, Erelah." The Prince's voice was so low and cold it sent a shiver up Himeno's spine. His eyes turned back to hers and held her while he addressed Erelah. "You didn't pret with her because...?"

"She...She wouldn't let me, Prince."

There were gasps and whispers throughout the room now. The Topaz Prince was watching her very closely now, coming toward her. Oh, God...

"She wouldn't let you? Clarify that!" Those eyes wouldn't let her look anywhere else! And she so desperately wanted to. It was like he was trying to read her mind or something.

Erelah was growing paler and paler by the minute. "It is as I said, sir. Pretear Himeno did not let me pret. She...she stopped me."

Himeno stepped back a little, into Kei's chest when the Topaz Prince was right in front of her, staring down. It was very much like staring into Caias' eyes. She felt like she was staring down and down into an amber well that sucked her in like quicksand. And all she could do was fall and fall...This time it was Hayate who touched her hand, just a very light touch, but suddenly she could see straight again, everything clear and not tinted a rich gold color. What the hell? Shaking her head, she stood her ground against the Topaz Prince.

The Topaz Prince was silent for a long time. Finally, he turned sharply, his cloak swirling almost into her face. "The duel will not be held tonight at my ball. Tomorrow afternoon, and it will not be to the death. As I said in the meeting, which you ALL seemed to have forgotten, we cannot afford to lose more knights. This will be decided tomorrow, and after the duel, Hayate, I want to speak with you and Pretear Himeno directly!" The music started again as soon as he sat on the throne and everyone began to mill away, staring at them.

Erelah smirked and blew Himeno a kiss before turning away and fading into the crowd. Himeno shivered and Kei rubbed her arms comfortingly. "Don't worry, Himeno, you know we'd rather die than let that asshole come near you," he said.

"That's what I'm afraid of," she said, wiping her eyes. Her gloves were stained with eyeliner, but she didn't care! Hayate was fighting tomorrow, and she knew Erelah was going to try and make it an 'accidental death'. She couldn't let this happen.

Sete glanced at her quickly before she said to Hayate, "I don't know exactly what's going on here, but I have a good guess. Watch your back like a dog in heat, Hayate. Erelah's not going to be holding back tomorrow." She left them, going over to talk with Ravijot.

Blaise shook his head. "I need a bloody stiff arse drink right about now! Kei, joinin' me?"

"In a minute. I think I'd better do a little damage control first." Kei left Himeno and wandered through the ball again, stopping to chat and listen in on conversations circulating.

Hayate was still holding Himeno's hand. She wouldn't look at him. Why didn't he just walk away, ignore Erelah? Why did he agree to the duel? Why, why, WHY? "Himeno..." She let him hold her, her arms going around his waist.

"We should leave," Feryn whispered. "There are too many eyes on us now."

They broke apart, Himeno wiping her eyes again. This wasn't fair! This was...this was STUPID! "Don't I have a say in this? I don't WANT to go with Erelah! Can't I just tell them all that? Then you won't have to fight!"

"Himeno..." Hayate lead her from the ballroom and down the stairs. Feryn and Blaise were dragging the three younger knights away, Mannen quite literally kicking and screaming. Hayate's hands were cupping her face and then he was kissing her, long and slow, like it was the last time they were ever going to kiss again. The thought of not having him...of him...She started crying harder, throwing herself into his arms. He stumbled backward a little at the sudden movement but stood his ground, holding her tightly.

"Don't do it, please, Hayate! Please, don't fight him! What if he wins? What if you...what if..." She cried against his shoulder, fingers curling into the fabric of his jacket.

He kissed her again, silencing her from finishing that sentence. "I have a reason to win, Himeno. He doesn't," Hayate said against her lips.

When he pulled back this time, it was only to stare into her eyes, as if trying to tell her something silently. She knew what it was, even if he couldn't say the words right here and now. He loved her. He wasn't fighting Erelah for her sake. He was fighting for himself, so that no one else got the same idea as Erelah and tried to separate them. Himeno's hands were on his wrists and she sniffled, but the tears were almost done. "Just...come back to me. If something happened to you, I don't know what I'd do!"

Hayate smiled, but it wasn't happy. "That is one promise I can definately keep. I'm not going to lose, Himeno. And you'll always have me, so don't even think about something happening."

Himeno smiled as his thumbs brushed away a few stray tears "You break your promise, I'm gonna come after you myself!"

He smiled for real this time and kissed her quickly. "Come on, you need to get out of that dress."

Himeno drew back and hit him playfully. "Pervert! Don't think you're getting me out of my clothes THAT easily!" They looked up at the voices and laughter on the stairs. People were leaving the ball, stopped on the landing not far from them, talking to some people out of sight at the top of the stairs. Luckily, no one had noticed them yet.

"Let's go," Hayate whispered. His arm around her waist, they moved quickly and silently down the hall to their wing. She started to go to her room, but he caught her wrist outside his door. "Do you...want to come in? Just for a minute?" He opened the door, waiting.

Himeno hesitated for a split second before going into the room, barely lit by a few candles. It wasn't nearly as large as her room, but it was cozier. It had more furniture in it and looked lived in, whereas hers looked like an overly big hotel room. She froze for a second when his fingers brushed the back of her neck, unfastening the choker. His lips were there shortly after, just a very quick kiss to her neck that made her shiver. If this was the last time they would ever be together...

Himeno leaned back into him when his arm circled her waist from behind, his breath touching her bare shoulder. Hayate was pulling her gloves off, one arm at a time, setting them on the desk by the door. She closed her eyes, turning just enough for her mouth to brush against his jaw. "Hayate..." She just wanted...wanted what? She couldn't think with him staring at her like that. Like she was the sun and the moon and he couldn't look away from her.

Hayate was very, very still behind her. She could feel his heart almost like it was her own, felt his uneven breath blowing across her skin. "Is this what you want?" he asked softly.

"W-What?" she asked, confused. What was he talking about? Did she want him to stop? To go further? What?

"This." His hand moved a little further up her stomach, stopping just under her ribs. "Do you think we're ready for this?"

Himeno thought about it. He was asking if she was ready for sex. Everything about him was so distracting right now. With his fingers massaging her stomach, the other one trailing down her bare arm, she couldn't think clearly enough to decide. Her heart was telling her 'no' but her body wasn't exactly agreeing. "I...don't know," she answered honestly.

Hayate turned her head back and kissed her cheek. "If you don't know, then it's a no, and I won't pressure you to change your mind."

She smiled and nodded. He was so nice! She knew he wanted to go further, but he wouldn't without her being certain. "Can I sleep here tonight?" she asked. She knew it was a little awkward to ask him that right then, but if he didn't win tomorrow...the tears burned her eyes again, but she held them back. He didn't need her crying right now.

"I'd like that. I'd like that very much."

Himeno stepped away from him, reaching behind her for the zipper to her dress. Her hands met his and she blushed. "Thanks," she said, letting him unzip the dress for her. She couldn't tell if his fingers traced her back on purpose or accident, and didn't care really either way.

"I...I have stuff for you to wear. Just wait a moment." Hayate went over to the dresser and pulled open a drawer, unfolding a light blue shirt and some track pants with a draw string waist. "Here, you can wear these tonight. They're a little big-,"

"Damn straight they are," she joked. Himeno took them, smiling when he turned his back to let her get changed. When she was finished, the dress lying flat on the spotless floor, she tapped his shoulder to let him know he could turn around again. He did, touching her face gently. She could tell he was trying to be strong, to not let her know he was sad, but she'd spent the last year and a half getting to know his expressions and could tell. "Why don't you get comfortable? I'll be there in a second," he suggested before pulling clothes for himself out and heading for the bathroom to change.

She went over to the bed, which was still very big, but not as gi-normous as hers. And it was softer, too! She pulled the downy covers up over her head, sighing. She didn't think she was going to sleep tonight, she was too worried about the next day. Her first day in Leafenia and there was already a duel! Himeno hugged one of the pillows to her, staring at the wall over the very top of the blankets. Hayate. The thought of him fighting for her wasn't at all romantic. Yayoi would disagree with her there. She'd say something about it being terribly romantic. But she'd never seen two knights fight. Himeno had, and that fear from before that one of them would die made her bite her lower lips to keep the sob in place, fingers digging into the pillow hard enough she could feel her palms on the other side. She closed her eyes, trying like hell to get those images out of her head. Slowly, they began to fade until all she could see here blue eyes...dark blue with flecks of lighter blue in them...black hair...

Himeno woke up when the bed shifted and Hayate was there against her back, one arm under her head and pillow, the other around her waist, holding her close. He kissed her shoulder gently and whispered, "I love you," not thinking she was awake now and had heard him. He sighed and snuggled in closer, breath tickling the back of her neck. She lay awake long after he had fallen asleep, staring at the wall and listening to him breath.

"Hayate gave very strict orders, Himeno. He doesn't want you there," Kei said firmly, crossing his arms over his chest and leaning against the twisted pine tree nearby. He scowled as a flock of tyipis went twittering by, chased by Shin who was laughing at them hands reaching to catch one.

Hajime and Mannen swung out of another tree with brilliant scarlet leaves on it. "We found one, Kei! We found one," Hajime exclaimed.

Kei rolled his eyes. "Great. Thrilling, Fanfreakin- HEY! Let go of my arm!" The two were yanking him over to the tree unwillingly. Himeno frowned when she heard the odd noise coming from it. It sounded like a...

"MWAA! MWAAA!" There was a bear cub in the tree, all snowy white and...with wings? It had beautiful glistening wings that reflected like a prism, splashing color everywhere.

"What is that?" Himeno asked.

"It's a polarpix," Hajime exclaimed excitedly.

"A polarpix?"

"Yeah, see? This one's all grown up, but he'll do! Quick, Mannen, get him before he flies away!"

Mannen scurried up the tree after the mewling polarpix. It clung to it's branch, wings fluttering as it tried to get away from Mannen. The Knight of Ice was on the same branch as it, crawling out further and further until the polarpix had nowhere to go. Mannen stuck his tongue out to one side as he reached for it. "I've gotcha now," he said, lunging forward.

The polar pix flew away into the air.

"WHOOOAAAA!" Mannen fell from the tree. And landed right on Kei.

"You little shit! I swear to God, when I get up, you're dead!"

Mannen and Kei were tangled together, Shin and Hajime laughing next to them. Himeno smiled, but she wasn't really into their games. Her mind was elsewhere, praying like mad that Hayate was safe. Frowning, her attention was drawn away from her thoughts when she saw another odd creature in the grass. It was...sort of hopping, but it had a fish's tail sticking out of its back. The eyes were wide and blue and it's lower jaw came out further than it's upper, making it look sad a mopey. The skin was combination frog and fish, looking like silvery scales at one time and slimy skin the next. Himeno reached out to it when it turned big, sad eyes to her.

"NO! DON'T TOUCH THAT!"

Himeno pulled her hand back at Hajime's shout. And just in time, too. The creature's jaws snapped open and would have bitten her fingers if they'd been any closer.

Shin came running up and used a little leafe to make a wide leaf appear under it and fling the creature like it was a catapult. "That was really close, Himeno," he said.

"What the hell was that?" she asked.

"A para-para toad," Mannen explained, running up with Hajime and Kei. "They're really mean and tricky. Watch out for them, okay?"

All of them stopped when cheers rose from down near the river and around the stand of trees beyond their sight. Himeno felt her stomach clench up like she was going to puke. "It just started," Kei said softly, staring away like he could see what was happening.

Himeno stood up, shielding her eyes against the sun and stood on tiptoe. Maybe she could catch a peek...

"Hey, there's the polarpix again! Come on, we'll get him this time!" Mannen lead them all after the frightened polarpix, which ran away this time, wings fluttering.

"Kei?"

Kei glanced over at her suspiciously. "If you're going to ask me one more time-,"

"No, not that. Why is Erelah all kinds of bent on me being his Pretear?"

"Oh. Quite simply, Himeno, Erelah loves power. And you are by far the most powerful Pretear Leafenia has ever seen."

Himeno looked over at him startled. "But, there were three other-,"

Kei shook his head, crossing his arms over his chest. "It's not the same. Not once has it ever been documented of a Pretear, White or otherwise, ever being able to force a knight to unpret, or to even keep him from preting at all. Who knows what else you're capable of?"

"But he doesn't know I can-,"

"Of course he does! Why do you think he gave Feryn to us? As a captain, he wasn't allowed to come over himself. It would have been taken as a challenge, and Hayate would have kicked his ass then. He wanted Feryn to try and seduce you and bring you back with him. Feryn, however, had other plans. He wanted away from Erelah's conniving and was more keen to steal you from Hayate for himself than to bring you to Erelah. Then, you did the smart thing and hooked him up with Yayoi, which surprised the hell out of me but, hey, he's happy and he's out of the house a lot. I'm not complaining!"

Himeno smiled and scuffed her shoe into the grass, digging up a small clump. "Does the Topaz Prince know, you think?"

Kei sighed and shrugged. "He at least guesses at it. I'm certain that's why he wants to meet with the two of you."

Another cheer rose from the trees and Himeno wasn't the only one to look up and wonder what was happening. Kei gave her a quick little hug and said, "Hayate's not going to lose. And Blaise is his second. Blaise fights more like a crazed drunken Irishman than an English one. And he's been looking for an excuse to beat the snot out of Erelah."

Himeno smiled despite herself. "Thanks, Kei." She kissed his cheek and he looked away. Was that blush she saw coloring her cheeks?

"Now where did those brats run off to?" Kei muttered, walking away from her and whistling like he was calling a dog. "HEY! MANNEN, GET YOUR ASS BACK HERE!"

"STOP CUSSIN' AT ME," Mannen shouted back from somewhere further down the hill.

Laughing, Himeno ran after Kei. Had she stayed where she was, she would have noticed the shadowy form quickly move behind a tree, barely seen in the shadows.

Hayate and Blaise stood facing Erelah and his second. Caias had been named, much to Blaise's chagrin. The scar on his arm stood out against his skin like a big white slash, cutting almost around his entire arm, and he was rubbing it self consciously. Sete was near the Topaz Prince, ready to jump in and heal someone if necessary. They would be using swords today, Hayate was relieved to note. He wasn't bad with the other dueling weapons, but the sword was his best. And Erelah's, too, judging from the way was he flipping it up into the air, spinning it over his hands and around and back.

Blaise clapped his hands sarcastically and shouted, "Bloody good show, mate! Did they teach you that at cheerleading camp?" A round of laughter came from the knights behind them. The knights on Erelah's side were less than amused. Every knight was there to witness this, all except for Kei, Mannen, Hajime and Shin. They had a much more important job today. Such as keeping Himeno from being there. If she was and he was forced into killing Erelah...it wasn't something she should see. He didn't kill unless he absolutely had no choice. And he was certain Erelah was going to force that on him today. "Blaise, if something happens-,"

"Yeah, yeah. I'll set the wanker runnin' like a snotty nose and then settle up with ol' Misty there." He blew a kiss and winked at Caias, who's frown turned into an angry scowl. "He looks bloody angry, doesn't he? Should be a good fight today!"

Hayate sighed, wondering why he tolerated Blaise. He always picked exactly the wrong times for his jokes. Kei did have a point though, and that was Blaise would fight to win or die trying. The only thing that had kept him alive when he and Caias had dueled was the Prince saying it wasn't to the death and Blaise being clever enough to get away from Caias quickly and avoid an 'accident'.

The Topaz Prince stood from his throne and immediately everyone was silent. "Today's duel is between Captain Hayate and Captain Erelah," he said loudly. "Their seconds are Captain Caias and the Knight of Flowers, Blaise. The outcome of this duel will determine who gets Pretear Himeno on their team. Knights, arm yourselves and remember that this is not to the death. The sword edges have been dulled for this purpose. On my mark. Begin!"

The knights were cheering wildly as Hayate and Erelah stepped forward, swords ready, circling each other. Erelah lunged first, swinging his sword at Hayate's side. Hayate blocked it, using Erelah's momentum to fling him back, ready for another attack which came almost too quickly this time. After that, it was all he could do to keep up with him, concentrating on blocking and defending than attacking. That was why he missed the sudden slashing of solid wind breaking over him, cutting across his cheek and sending blood arching through the air.

Erelah, the Knight of Mimicry, smiled cruelly. "I believe you have experience fighting your own leafe, non?"

"THAT'S BLOODY CHEATIN'! Leafe wasn't mentioned in the weapons list," Blaise shouted accusingly. Everyone turned to the Topaz Prince for a ruling.

"It was assumed," the Prince answered, motioning for the fight to continue.

This time, Hayate pressed the attack, dropping low and swinging his leg out for Erelah's ankles after faking a high attack. Erelah tripped, fell and rolled away in time to miss the slashing wind aimed for him. It dug a deep gouge into the grass but little else. Snarling. Erelah made a stabbing motion with his dulled sword, trying to at least bruise Hayate or hit him hard enough in the stomach. Hayate stepped out of the way, spinning and bringing his sword down across Erelah's back, slamming him into the ground. The crowd cheered again, some even clapping. This was all just a sport for them! There was another air attack that cut across his sword arm, drawing blood to stain his uniform. Damn it! He winced, clamping his free hand over the open wound. His arm was useless.

"Call for your second," Erelah sneered, getting to his feet. "Bring that arrogant Anglais out for me to play with!"

If he called for his second, it would mean he didn't think he could face Erelah, which was as good as forfeiting. The Topaz Prince would think he wasn't capable of being captain and he would be demoted and sent away. He had another plan, a secret weapon of sorts. Forcing himself to smile through the pain, he swtiched his sword to his other hand. "My father trained me very well, Erelah. Let's go!"

Erelah's astonishment quickly evaporated and he renewed his attacks with a vengeance.

Kei watched Himeno petting the now tamed polarpix, laughing when it nuzzled her. Once caught, a polarpix was pretty much yours. It was an instant domestification that made them such loveable pets and such awful guard animals. The sun was warm and bright on his skin and he was about to lay back and just soak it in when he froze, staring a the treeline. What the...the shadows moved again! They weren't that far out before. As the Knight of Light, he automaticaaly sensed a change in the light patterns, no matter how small. This was only by a couple of inches but...He thought back to the last time he'd noticed this and was up and flying for Himeno just as the arrows whizzed from the tree, black feathered and shafted. Mannen saw them, too and quickly threw an ice wall in place. Kei scooped Himeno up before she could realize what was happening and then had to dive into the ground, shoulder first as two more arrows were aimed right at where they were flying. "Son of a bitch " Kei snarled, making sure to take the brunt of the fall and then lay on top of Himeno to protect her. "Shin, a containment field around us only!"

Shin was quick to respond, throwing up a netting of vines and leaves just as another volley of arrows hit it. Shin gasped and fell down, but his field still held in place.

"SHIN! Oh, no, Shin!" HImeno ran to Shin, who was crying softly. She held him in her arms, rocking back and forth to comfort him.

"That was the first time a shield of his has ever suffered an outside attack," Mannen said softly, eyes wide.

"I fainted my first time," Hajime said, grinning proudly at Shin, who smiled through his tears of pain and even managed a laugh.

"This isn't a time for joking," Kei snapped, eyes scanning through the thick vines as best he could. "Someone is trying to kill Himeno!"

"Why would they do that?" Shin asked, standing up on his own. His round green eyes were full of shock.

"I don't know," Kei answered honestly. And he truly didn't. She was more valuable alive than dead to anyone. He watched their shadows intently to see if they shifted at all.

"I don't like this, Kei! Let's just find the guy and blast him," Mannen growled.

"Goddamn it, Mannen, I'm trying to concentrate!" He waited a little longer. Nothing. The shadows didn't budge. It was like...it was like they were losing hours in a day or something like that. Very odd. "Okay, Shin, you can drop it." Maybe whoever was doing this was waiting for them...maybe not. There was only one way to find out. Kei was ready to push Himeno down if necessary.

Just as he thought! As soon as the containment fields dropped, the shadows shifted fractionally and Kei dove for Himeno to shove her down. They both hit the ground, Himeno sliding a little away from him. Her scream of pain froze him in his tracks. No...no, please! "Hajime, get Hayate and Sete here NOW!" Hajime took off fyling through the air as Mannen and Shin, both teary eyed, ran with Kei over to Himeno. And the shadowed figure still hiding in the trees disappeared without them knowing it was even there.

Hayate blinked, trying to get the grey spots out of his vision. The blood loss was starting to effect him. Erelah was in about the same shape. blood dripping down his sword arm, which had rows and rows of slashes going up it as he'd tried to keep the wind attack from tearing into his face and chest. All he needed to do was disarm his opponent.

"HAYATE!"

He turned to Blaise on the sideline. Blaise made a silent signal to him, one they had worked out that morning to tell each other their opponents weaknesses. They had borrowed it from watching bsaeball teams operate and it meant simply that Erelah's weak spot was high blows, left shoulder. He nodded, turning back in time to stop the sword from connecting with his head.

Erelah snarled into his face, straining and trying to push Hayate onto his knees. "Give it up, Knight of Winds! You know that I have won, and Himeno is mine. And believe me when I say I will take great pleasure," he stressed the word on purpose, "in making her forget you! Tell, me, is she a screamer or a scratcher? Ah, well, I shall know soon enough what kind of lover she is!"

Fury rose in him at the statement. It gave him a new strength he hadn't known he had and it was backed by thoughts of Himeno. Of her smile, her laughter. The way she would blush just before he kissed her. And he thought also of Erelah and what he would do to her, how that smile would never appear again. "That's none of your damn business," he ground out, bringing his knee up into Erelah's groin.

"OOO! Bloody good shot, that was! Again, again! OOO!" Blaise was howling, jumping up and down on the sidelines and whooping loudly.

Erelah hunched over on himself at the double blow, wincing in agony. Hayate kicked his wrist and the sword went skidding away across the grass. He leveled the dull tip of his sword to Erelah's throat, wishing for the very first time that he could kill this man. "I told you, Erelah, Himeno is my Pretear. And if anyone tries to take her, my face will be the last thing they see before I send them to hell." Hayate looked to the Topaz Prince for a ruling.

"Captain Hayate has won in fair combat. Pretear Himeno remains with your team. Sete, please get some ice for Erelah." The last was said with a slight pang of sympathy.

Sete nodded, but it was cruel. "We only have one Knight of Ice right now, and I'm pretty sure he'll be less than willing to comply," she said sarcastically, yanking Erelah up by the back of his shirt. He yelped when the sudden movement moved...other things that were very sore, and it made Sete and Blaise laugh. "Come on, Frenchie, let's get you taken care of!"

It was then that Hajime came flying in, breathless and crying. "Hayate, quick! Himeno's been shot with an arrow!"

Hayate was gone before Sete could even take off after him.