Disclaimer: I do not own Pretear and everything that belongs to it: characters, properties and all.
"Himeno, look out! A bi-"
Hajime stopped short for the bicycle was now mere centimetres away from Himeno's front, who at that split second had the sense to scramble out of the bicycle's path. The rider of the bike, after frantically applying the brakes, had managed to skid to a halt and immediately jumped off to check if Himeno had indeed escaped unscathed.
"Oh dear! I am really sorry about this…Are you okay?"
Himeno rubbed off some remaining dirt from her palms which fortunately seemed to be the only scratched parts of her body. Relieved she looked up from the ground and right into a pair of deep blue eyes. It was a girl approximately of the same age, with shoulder length brown hair tied with a white ribbon. From the looks of it, she too seemed to have escaped unhurt, except for a faint bruise on her arm.
"Yeah, I'm alright!" Himeno replied just as cheerily, getting up in record speed. "You?"
The girl let out an audible sigh of relief as she turned to pick up her fallen bicycle. "Yep, I'm fine too…I'm really glad you're fine, it's just that I am not too familiar with the streets here but I tend to cycle fast…"
"Er…are you new here?" Shin suddenly asked, flashing one of his cutest smiles. The girl nodded in reply and bent down to pat him lightly.
"Uh huh. My name is Miharu, Kimura Miharu. Pleased to meet you!"
-----
The room was dark. Walls reached up as high as the sky seemed to be, yet the sky was nothing beautiful to gaze at. Dark clouds swirled around ominously with the occasional lightning flashing across the misty skies.
The smell was musty, thick with dampness. There was a gust of icy wind which cut into the very skins of those present, however there was no complaint.
They were used to it.
"Everything is going just as planned, my lord."
"Good. I see that you have sent Serin to infiltrate the party of Leafe Knights already…good. Good. I do hope she brings back good news…"
"My lord, do not worry. In the shortest time possible, we will be ruling the world without those nosy Leafe Knights poking their noses in our business."
"Good. And?"
The deep voice barely bothered to hide his tone of sheer glee as he chuckled evilly. "The Pretear, of course, is to be killed along them…my lord."
"…good."
-----
The café's door had a closed sign hung over it, yet within it was bursting with excitement. Balloons and streamers hung from every nook and cranny, party poopers were being tested every now and then while Sasame fiddled with the stereo system to make his choice between classical, evergreen or sheer rock and roll.
"We had better speed things up, Goh is coming back soon." Hayate grunted as he struggled to lay the tablecloth without a single crease appearing on it. "What is wrong with this thing?"
There was a smack on his hand, followed by Kei re-doing the whole table cloth without a single fold appearing on it at all. Tsking, he turned back to Hayate and replied simply. "Well if you have yet to realise it, it is the birthday cake that we are missing and it is, or should be, currently with Himeno." He added as an afterthought. "Do you want to call her? You could, no no no, you SHOULD."
Hayate resisted a growing desire to reach out and literally blow the chuckling Kei out of his sight. There were just so many things weighing on his mind now, too many to be exact, and none of them seemed to be the least bit positive. First things first, there were the recurring nightmares which never seem to go away. He could still remember it so clearly, feel the harsh raindrops falling on his face, feel her fingers gently trying to reach out to him, feel his own fingers run a slap across her face…her tears…her hurt…her words…
Her blood.
Hayate did not realise it but the paper towel he had been holding onto was now crushed into a ball, his fingernails cutting deep into it. To himself, he swore that he would never ever let anything bad happen to her.
Never.
-----
"Oh, so you knew Mayune and Mawata since they were children?" Himeno inquired curiously, gingerly carrying the precious birthday cake meant for God during his birthday party later on. Beside her, Shin, Hajime and Mannen were excitedly sharing the ice cream cake which they had just purchased from the bakery.
Miharu nodded, her bicycle in tow. "My mother and Aunt have known each other for ages, so I often pop by at their residence!"
"That's so wonderful…you really are a nice girl. If only I had known you earlier…"
"Well, you must really think highly og me as to say that of me as nice when you barely know me…" Miharu paused gently as if to find the correct words to continue her sentence. "I mean, a lot of people are not exactly who they seem to be Himeno…I can tell that you are different."
Himeno halted in her steps abruptly. She…knows who I really am…
Miharu stared into Himeno's eyes for what seemed like an eternity before breaking out into fits of giggles. "You probably are the nicest girl I'll ever meet in my life!" Silence, an awkward pause. "Uh…Himeno, are you okay? Was it something I said…"
"Nah, of course not!" Himeno laughed aloud, her flailing hands consistently smacking an irritated Mannen on his head. Amused Hajime snorted rather audibly into his cake.
"Shuddup." Mannen muttered and cast a glare in Hajime's direction. The snorting ceased as quickly as it had begun.
-----
Goh lifted the can of soda to his lips and downed the very last drip of his drink. He shook the can for a final time before throwing it into the garbage can beside the bench which he currently sat on.
So much for a morning walk. To think that they even managed to coerce him into agreeing to return only at ten thirty.
He reached into a plastic bag and pulled out a sandwich. The clingwrap was starting to feel oily and Goh was starting to have second thoughts about having it at all.
There was a sudden gust of prickling cold wind; the icy feeling somewhat out of place in a bright morning as such. Leaves were rustling ferevently in the distance while dying flower petals picked up by the gust swirled around mid-air. The temperature of the atmosphere was dropping fast, and somehow the bacon sandwich did not seem as appealing anymore.
-----
"Do you feel it?" Himeno suddenly asked, halting abruptly in her foorsteps. Miharu paused as well, her gaze transfixed upon Himeno's face.
"Um…what is it…"
Himeno glanced around warily and her stare came to a rest at the park which she was unknowingly walking into.
"Himeno!" Miharu reached out to grab Himeno's hand, an action which surprisingly did not manage to startle the girl back to her senses.
Something is within that park…calling, beckoning…
Himeno. Awayuki Himeno. The Legendary White Pretear.
Come on in. The Master Awaits!
"HIMENO!"
Himeno paused so quickly in her tracks and swerved around to see Miharu staring at her with great concern. Tugging at her dress was also a near-crying Shin, apparently shocked by her trance.
Miharu shook Himeno gently, asking, "are you sure you are okay?"
Himeno opened her mouth to say something but shut it again. She certainly did not want her new-found friend to think of her as an idiot because of her abnormal identity, which many people found ridiculous. However, there was just something in that very park which was attracting her towards it! Something!
Miharu alternated her gaze between Himeno and the park behind her before opening her handbag to take out a purse. "Listen, I'll run back to the backery now to get you some hot milk. That will calm you down for a while, okay?" She turned to the three boys to flash a reassuring smile and took off down the empty footpath. Himeno watched on as Miharu's shadow vanished in the distance, along with the constant rhythm of her footsteps.
"Hi-Himeno?" It was Hajime.
"You feel it too, right?" Himeno replied, her voice shaking with a mixture of fear, suspicion and yet a hint of resolution. A leaf fluttered from the tree above and landed in her open palm. She closed it tightly, feeling the air around her getting tenser. Could it be that her days of peace and serenity were coming to an end soon, or perhaps even quicker than expected?
She closed her eyes and breathed in deeply. Whatever it was, Awayuki Himeno was ready for the challenge!