CHAPTER 16: Home At Last!

The bus pulled up to the safe house and the doors opened. Mr. Tanaka still glared disapprovingly at Himeno's less-than-perfect state but didn't remark on it. The initial freak out that Mrs. Awayuki would think it was because of him being a careless driver were quickly replaced with a haughty demeanor for 'hooliganism'. Kataru had declared hooliganism the word of the day and was working it into conversation as much as possible.

"Shall I wait for you, Miss Mawata?" Mr. Tanaka asked solicitously.

"No, thank you," Mawata answered, smiling when Kataru wrapped his arms around her from behind. "But would you mind taking Himeno's and my bags back to the mansion?"

"You have but to ask, Miss Mawata." Mr. Tanaka glared at Kataru, who winked and gave him an evil grin. The doors slid shut to the bus and little man drove away.

"YAY! We're home!" Hajime declared, running for the door and practically hopping up and down as Feryn pulled the keys from on top of the doorway. "I wonder if my fish;s dead!"

"He's not dead," Mannen grumbled. "I WISH he was so we could flush 'im down the toilet!"

"That's so mean, Mannen," Shin admonished. Shin screamed and ran away as the Knight of Ice began to chase him.

"Damn it, Mannen, could you BE any more annoying?" Kei snarled.

"Get all that sand out yet?" Mannen fired back.

"You little... just you wait until we get inside!"

Hajime and Shin sprinted through the one story house as soon as Feryn had the door open, both eager to see if the fish really HAD died like Mannen told them it would on the bus. Feryn and Yayoi followed them in and quickly disappeared into his room.

"God... and the procreation begins," Sete muttered, shaking her head.

Kei arched a brow. "You live to scar me emotionally, don't you? I don't even want to THINK about little Feryn's running around this place! Those three are more than enough children in this house."

"Aw... but you two would make such lovely parents," Kataru teased, slinging his arm around Mawata's shoulders.

The death glares the couple gave him were enough to make him step behind Mawata again for cover.

Ginshima and Kinshima stood to one side awkwardly. After the fight, they'd come to the Palace of Leafenia with a present... Jikan tied up and looking worse than ever. Kataru had ordered Jikan to be imprisoned below forever before granting the twins their freedom. Both had been shocked and begged to be punished. So, the Topaz Prince gave them the worst punishment he could think of... they were to join Hayate's team as Leafe Knights and help protect the real world from evil. The twins were now wearing borrowed clothing from Hayate and Kei since they didn't have civilian apparel. Or any possessions either. Tomorrow, Kei and Feryn were going to take them out shopping. It had already been decided they could have Kataru's old room since he would have to return to the Palace now. Saeko and Caias had gone ahead to prepare his old rooms for his arrival.

Himeno smiled over at the twins. "Hey, tomorrow's Wednesday, right? That's when we have a board game night. Maybe while you two are out you can pick up a new game."

Both exchanged worried looks. "A board game?"

Oh... right. They didn't have a clue about much in the civilian world. "Kei can help you, but don't pick anything boring like Scrabble!"

"Scrabble's NOT boring," Kei responded. "You just don't like it because you lose all the time."

"ANYWAY," Himeno shouted over what he said, "Get something we can all play together, okay?"

"As you wish, Pre- Himeno," Kinshima corrected quickly. They were still trying to get used to how casual everything was now.

Kataru clapped them both on the shoulder and said, "Now, lemme show you two the best bloody room in the house; mine! Follow me, mates, and don't mind all the posters an' such. I'll be sendin' me guards over tomorrow to collect all me shite to decorate at home. Mawata, love, you comin'?"

Mawata grinned and followed him inside. Kei and Sete were right behind them, arguing as usual over something trivial.

This left Himeno and Hayate all alone outside the house. She smiled up at him when his hand found hers, thumb moving in small circles. "So..."

"So..."

Himeno's eyes closed as he leaned down, lips brushing against her forehead gently. "I'll unpack and then walk you back home," he whispered before he kissed both her cheeks.

"Okay," she whispered back shortly before he kissed her softly. It was more a brush of lips than an actual kiss but it was enough to get her heart pounding.

Letting out a small sigh, Hayate drew back and dropped her hand to pick up his bags. Himeno followed him in, grinning at the shriek coming from Sete and Kei's threats of severe pain as Mannen and Hajime went running from his room. Kei came running after them, hair messed up and shirtless. "MANNEN! This time it's for real!"

"Gotta catch me first," Mannen taunted.

Himeno hid her smile behind her hand as a thoroughly pissed Sete came storming out, cheeks flushed and pulling her shirt down a little. She spotted the two of them trying not to laugh and snarled, "Better start auditioning for two more knights, Hayate. I'm gonna help flay those two within an inch of their lives!" She disappeared in a sharp click of heels on the wooden floor, stepping out the sliding glass door into the back yard where Kei was still trying to chase Mannen down. Hajime had stopped and was laughing so hard he couldn't stand. That quickly stopped when he noticed Sete glaring down at him.

Snuggling in closer as Hayate hugged her to him and walked down the hall, Himeno smiled. It was sure nice to be home again. Hayate closed the door to his room once they were inside, dropping his bag on the floor. "I'll be quick, okay? You're probably tired," he said.

She didn't want him to hurry or anything... but she WAS tired and she knew there was no way her dad would let her spend her first night back at her boyfriend's. He was probably a wreck the entire time she was gone. Himeno stretched out on his bed, hugging his pillow to her. She watched as he moved around the room, sorting out what needed to be cleaned before folding up the rest of it and putting it away. It made her sad when the last pair of jeans were put where they needed to be.

Hayate lay down next to her, brushing his hand against her cheek, being careful of the huge black eye. He wasn't much better than her. There were still stitches from several smaller cuts all along his forearms, and one right above his eyebrow. Sete had told him he was lucky it wouldn't be a very noticeable scar. She'd used as much leafe as she could to heal the more major injuries, like the ones that went all the way through his gut.

"It feels kinda weird, doesn't it?" she asked softly, putting her arm around his waist. She moved it lower to his hip when he winced. She'd forgotten his entire left side was nothing but blackened bruising. One of the twins had slammed into him with their shield during their duel.

"What does?" he replied, eyes searching hers. She knew just by looking in his eyes exactly what he felt toward her. It made her stomach flip-flop and her heart speed up.

"Being home. It's really like everything that happened was a bad dream. Except... well, it wasn't. Do you think Shimura will ever wake up again?"

After the fight, Shimura's body had been discovered. She was still very much alive, but in a comatose state which no one could wake her from. Kataru had taken her and sealed her away somewhere secret, a place only he knew how to get to. She wouldn't be escaping from there anytime soon.

Hayate let out a long breath, closing his eyes. "I don't know. Most likely not. As far as Sete can tell, she's been trapped in a permanent dream state."

How appropriate, she thought, snuggling in as close as she could without hurting him. His lips touched her forehead gently before he tucked her head under his chin, running his fingers through her hair. "Hayate?"

"Hm?"

"Do you think... we'll ever have to fight someone as powerful as her again?"

"Probably not. The Queen of Nightmares is an evil unlike any other. If there were anyone else with her power out there, we would have found out about them by now."

"Oh... good. Because I kinda think it would be nice to take it easy a little."

She felt his laugh through his chest. "Me, too, Tulip-head." Sighing again, he drew back and sat up. "Come on, let's get you home."

Himeno sat up grudgingly. "Fine, fine! Dad's not gonna be happy about the black eye."

"And your mom's not going to be happy about Mawata's hair!"

The thought of Natsue's shock at seeing her usually shy daughter's violet and white striped hair was enough to make her grin and stand up. "Well, let's get going! I wanna see mom pass out in shock!"

Hayate smiled back and followed her out the door.

>>>>>>>>>>

"OH! My poor girl! What happened to you? Daddy was so worried about his little baby girl!"

"Dad..." Himeno shoved him back as he hugged her tightly, tears trembling in his eyes. This was exactly what she'd been afraid of!

"Sir, I'm sorry about Himeno being in this condition-," Hayate began to explain.

Kaoru interupted him. "I'm sure it was all because she was off saving the world again! Wasn't it, Biddle Boo?"

Himeno's glare slid back to Hayate, who mouthed the stupid nickname before grinning wickedly. And she thought Tulip-head was bad! There was no doubt in her mind he was going to use this against her. The jerk!

"YOUR HAIR! WHAT DID YOU DO TO YOUR HAIR?"

Himeno looked over her dad's shoulders just in time to see Mr. Tanaka rush up with a chair for her mom, who fell into it as if she knew it would be there. Natsue fanned herself with one hand and looked about ready to cry herself. "Mawata, what is everyone going to THINK when they see this?"

"Maybe they'll think it's the best hairdo ever," Mawata answered softly, only half joking with her mother.

Natsue's glare flickered over to Kataru, who grinned and purposely ran a casual hair back through his matching locks. "And who are you again?"

"The name's Kataru, Mrs. Awayuki," he said, holding out his hand and giving her his most charming smile.

"Kataru... why does that sound familiar?"

"Well, it could be because I'm wanted in about seven different countries."

It was obvious when the glare darkend further that Natsue found the joke less than amusing.

Mawata nudged him sharply, trying hard not to laugh. "It's not permanent dye, mom," she reassured her.

Natsue let out a long relieved breath before smiling. "Well, you're just in time for dinner, if you two wish to stay. I believe it's almond crusted halibut tonight."

Kataru made a little face. "Wish we could, Mrs. A, but we've gotta get goin'. Thanks though, maybe next time. I love me a good halibut!" He quickly grabbed Hayate's arm and tugged him out of the house. Himeno smiled and waved as the door shut behind them.

"Dinner will be ready in about five minutes, girls, so be quick about washing up," Natsue instructed.

"Actually, I'm kinda tired. I think I'll just go to bed," Himeno said cheerfully.

Her dad looked as if he'd need a chair soon, too. "YOU... not HUNGRY? What happened to the bottomless pit? Where's the stomach that won the Taganawa Eating Championship four years in a row?"

"Oh, it'll be back tomorrow, don't worry about that," she laughed, patting said stomach. "But right now, it's too tired. G'night!" She hurried up the wide staircase to her room, locking the door as she turned on the lights.

The bed had already been turned down invitingly, her favorite tulip pajamas set out for her. Himeno quickly got changed, putting on a robe and slippers before opening the balcony doors. The night was beautiful, the perfect temperature with just a light breeze to keep things from being too muggy. Stars dotted the inky sky and a sliver of moon hung in the sky. She'd never seen stars like this until she'd moved here. In the city, everything had been hidden in a haze of electric light.

She smiled and went over to the flowering bush on its little stand. Someone (probably her dad) had been watering it while she was gone. Bending over to smell the blossoms, she whispered, "Hi, mom." Himeno sat back on her knees, hands on her robe pockets. The ring Hayate had given her caught on the threads a little, but she wasn't taking it off, not for anything in the world.

"You won't believe how crazy this all was," she continued, knowing her mom was listening. "I almost didn't make it this time. They even tried to use you against me. Naturally, I kicked their ass for it! But... I'm still a little scared to go to sleep. I mean, what if it ISN'T over? I don't want to have those nightmares again. They were just awful! So, mom, can you do me a favor and make sure I don't have any bad dreams tonight? Because I'm really tired and I really want to sleep well tonight."

The wind blew up a little, carrying the sweet scent of the peablossoms with it. Himeno took a deep breath in and smiled when she caught another familiar smell. She knew exactly who was on the balcony with her, and she didn't mind in the least he'd heard her talking to her mom. "Mom, this is Hayate. He's my boyfriend. You'd like him, even if he can be a pig-headed peeping tom every once in a while."

"Are we REALLY going to go through this again?" Hayate demanded.

Himeno grinned and looked over her shoulder at where he was leaning against the house, arms crossed over his chest and glaring at her. "And did I mention how sexy he looks when he's mad? Of course, being called out as a pervert is bound to make ANYONE mad, especially if it's true!"

"I'm NOT a pervert, a peeping tom, or anything else that implies I'm in anyway as dirty as Kataru!"

She laughed and stood up, going over to him. He refused to uncross his arms or even look at her. "I don't think there's anyone as dirty as him." She hugged him around the waist, leaning her head against his upper arm.

It took him a second more of pouting before he slowly unfolded his arms and brought her in closer to him. He was very carefully keeping her off his left side. "You're such a Tulip-head!"

"Yeah, but you love me for it, admit it!"

"I don't have to admit a damn thing."

Himeno's smile widened before she looked up at him and saw a little curve of lip to suggest he might be smiling as well. "Hayate?"

"Yes?"

She leaned up and kissed him, one hand slipping behind his neck to pull him down a little. Both of them took their time with it, mouths moving slow and deep together. Her heart skipped a beat when one of his hands came to her stomach, bared by her pajama top when she'd stretched back for him. Himeno turned around in his arms so that she was facing him and his hand was now on the small of her back.

"It's kinda cold out now," she commented against his lips, grabbing a fistful of shirt and pulling him in after her.

"Just a little," he answered, hands cupping her face to kiss her more deeply. Himeno shut the balcony doors behind her, squirming when he decided to poke her side, tickling her.

"Don't do that!"

"What, this?" he teased, doing it again.

"Damn it! We were having such a romantic moment before you went and ruined it," she ranted.

Hayate smiled and kissed both of her cheeks very lightly. "Sorry."

Himeno's arms went around his neck again when his lips finally connected with hers again. "Such a jerk..." She pressed up closer to him, wanting to be as close as possible with clothing on.

"Ow!" He winced and pulled back, his hand going to his left ribs.

"Oh... oh! I'm so sorry! Did it really hurt?" She had totally forgotten how injured he still was! Stupid idiot... getting all caught up in the hormones and not being more conscious of her boyfriend!

"Yes, it did... and it's okay," he groaned. "But I think I'm going to call it an evening, if you don't mind." Hayate began to go back to the balcony, ready to fly off back to the safe house.

"Or... maybe you could stay and wait for me to fall asleep?" Himeno asked. She really didn't want to be alone so soon after what had happened.

Hayate's eyes flickered over to the door. "What about...?"

"It's locked and you can leave early tomorrow morning. PLEEEASE?"

Shoulders slumping in defeat to her begging, he took his shoes off, settled his jacket over the end of the bed and pulled his belt free. Himeno went and clicked the lights off while he did that. "Whatever you want... Biddle Boo!"

"ARGH! I hate you so much at times! I'd rather have you call me Tulip-head than Biddle Boo!" Himeno scowled as she stomped over to the bed, kicking her slippers into the far wall and throwing her robe on the floor. She crawled under the warm blankets, giving him her back.

"I'd rather call you that, too. Biddle Boo's too weird for me." The bed dipped as he settled in, lying on his back.

Himeno closed her eyes, letting the warmth of his body close to hers lull her slowly toward sleep.

"Himeno?"

She blinked and scowled. "I was almost asleep. Whaddya want?"

"Sweet dreams," Hayate whispered.

Himeno smiled. "You, too."

THE END!