Hello and thanks for reading my story! I hope that you guys will enjoy my next chapter of Ice Cold Tears! Go RinRinHalo! Go RinRinHalo! Fight! Fight! Fight! Now here is my next Chapter!


Chapter Five: Answers…

As Himeno and Hayate stepped out of the portal Hayate wrapped his arms around Himeno and flew into the night sky. "Ha..Hayate! What the heck are you doing?" Wriggling in his grasp he clings on tighter to her. "What if someone sees us you big dolt, put me down now!" Fighting against him she lost her grip on him and started to fall to the ground below them.

"Ahhh!" Screaming from the top of her lungs she tried to reach for Hayate's hand as he was trying to get her in time. Just before they hit the ground, Hayate caught her hand and gripped onto her wrists, pulling her into his arms. "Ahh! Ahhhh…ahhh…..ahh…ah…!" With her breathing Heavy she looked up at Hayate and stared deeply into his eyes. Feeling nothing from him she tilted head and kissed him on the lips before he could notice.

Releasing her lips from his she looked at him once more and still saw nothing. Lowered her head and just clung onto him in mid air. After a few seconds of silence Hayate started toward the balcony of her room. Reaching the balcony he stepped onto the terrace and released Himeno. Turning he felt a tug on his coat. Looking behind he saw Himeno was holding onto him and looking a bit closer to her hands, he saw that they were shaking.

What do I do? She seems so shaken up right now but I don't know what to do.

He turned around and embraced Himeno, it seemed right for him to do that right then and there. He felt Himeno suck in air and released it back out. It seemed as though she was keeping her breath for the answer he gave. With her head buried in his chest she slightly moved so she could speak.

"Hayate, I think we should investigate what happened to all the leaf in Leafenia. And try to stop who this all those horrible things." Feeling sure she released her grip on him and turned toward the balcony's edge and walked.

Opening his mouth he felt nothing coming out.

Raising her hand to stop Hayate from talking she spoke again in a softer tone, "Hayate, I don't know what or why this is happening. But I will find a way to turn everything back and protect everyone and everything along with it."

Lowering her hand she turned to face him, "Please at least understand why I'm still fighting." Tears threatened to fall from her eyes; trying to hold them back she lifted both her arms and pulled back her hair.

Trying to understand Hayate walked over and wrapped his arms around Himeno and held her in his arms.

Damn all this! I wish none of this happened! Why must you care so much about everyone else but you! Fighting within himself Hayate just holds Himeno until she fell asleep.

Making sure she was asleep, he set her down on the bed and pulled the covers and tucked her in. He sat on the edge of the bed and brushed away strands of her hair and kissed her temple and stood. Walking toward the balcony he closed the double doors behind him and flew toward the portal.

On his way toward the portal Hayate took a quick survey of the Awayuki land on his way toward the portal. Noticing that nothing was wrong on this side of the portal he continued his flight toward the portal. By it, he spotted Sasame, Go, and Kei, standing right next to it waiting for him.

"What the hell do you guys think your doing here this late!" Hayate whispered in rage. Cringing with the tone Kei just lifted his chin and stared Hayate and spoke, "Well just because you and Himeno are together doesn't mean that you or her have to take on the job alone!" Kei whispered back.

Also whispering, Sasame and Go spoke, "Yeah Hayate! You can't just hog all the good stuff now can you?" Chuckling Go embraced Hayate around the neck with a swing of an arm.

"I told Takako that we will be helping you so if Himeno has any trouble she'll help us and try to distract her as long as she can. So don't you worry Hayate."

In confusion of how they even found out about what he was doing he just smiled and thanked them all for always being there for him when he needed them. Turning towards the portal they all stand as one and ready themselves for whatever comes in their way. Hayate up in the lead he lifts his head and straightens his back. "All right! Let's find out what lurks in Leafania!"

As one they all yelled, "YEAH!"

One by one they went through the portal and stood in mid air until the last one came through. As Kei came through they stared down at what was once Leafania. "What the hell is going on here! How is the last piece of Leafania we bordered be nothing but a waste land!" Hayate screamed. After soaking up the shock of seeing trees stripped bare of leafs they once wore proudly and lakes, rivers, and ponds filled with the stench of death. The sky clouded in an eternal gray and fields once luscious with green, green, grass all brown with rot. They hovered separately to follow the extent of the damage and after a few hours of looking and searching for a small piece of land still green, they come back empty handed and defeated.

In frustration Hayate flew toward the great tree, where it once imprisoned the Princess of Disaster. Landing on the rotting grass Hayate looked around it searching for something that might help them to clue in what was going on there in Leafania.

Walking toward the tree he sensed something strong and dark lurking around the tree. Then he heard a laugh, faint at first that he had to strain to listen. Slowly it got louder and louder until within the darkness of the tree a dark shadow of a figure slowly emerged. Stepping back a few paces he tightened his body and got into the fighting stance.

"Hahahaha….mmhahaha! So I finally meet one of the damn knights! I thought you'd be a lot stronger, but I guess I can't hope much now can I?" With her left arm she draped it across her body and lifted her right arm under her chin. Her hair in a tight hold and braids all around, looking as if it would pulled your hair right out and hair so black that looking at it feels it is the black hole it self. And the face so perfect, so beautiful, that it is ugly. The body heavily draped in bright white, so bright that looking blinded you, and black, so dark that it surrounded you in emptiness.

With her lips she curved a sly smile and spoke, "You shall pay for imprisoning me in that damn world! You and all of your knight friends shall feel my wrath with hatred so deep it burns right through you and anger so strong it kills you! But you…you my dear friend Haorii…shall feel the deepest of pain and the strongest of anger! You were the one that made me feel this way! You were the one that betrayed me and your knights! You were the one that shall be destroyed and I shall be free! You shall be the one! And you! You alone shall be the one!" With that she laughed her heart out at Hayate and disappeared back into the darkness from which she came.

Still in the stance Hayate heard the noise that sounded as if everyone was looking for him. Staying that way for a few more minutes he decided who ever that was she was long gone and isn't around anymore. Relaxing right when Kei came he looked up. "You guys find anything?"

Shaking his head Kei replied, "No Hayate. We found nothing but the dead land."

His face softening he turned and stared at the tree again, Kei who is right behind him looks at the tree also but shakes his head again. "Hayate? Do you think there's something here we should know?" He lifted his right arm and lightly draped it on his shoulders. With out even looking or fidgeting he just shakes his head turns to face Kei.

"No, there's nothing, just thinking. Let's go back and find the others." Nodding Hayate and Kei flew up toward the sky where everyone was and they flew toward the portal.

On the other side they said their goodbyes and decided to meet up again within a week at the entrance of the portal if anything happened during that time period.

As Hayate flew, he was thinking what the mysterious woman had said, "' But you…you my dear friend Haorii…shall feel the deepest of pain and the strongest of anger! You were the one that made me feel this way! You were the one that betrayed me and your knights! You were the one that shall be destroyed and I shall be free! You shall be the one! And you! You alone shall be the one!'"

Without noticing he thought out loud, "Why the hell did she call me Haorii? And what the hell did she mean I was the one who made her the way she was! I don't even know her!" As soon as he landed on the balcony Hayate quieted down and thought that it was best if everyone and he kept quiet about this incident until Himeno was ready.

Nodding he felt satisfied that Himeno will be safe, for now at least. He opened the door and quietly walked in and closed it as softly as he could. Exhaling the breath that he didn't even he was holding he turned around and found Himeno right at his face. Startled he bounced back and slammed against the wall with his breathing off beat. With his right hand over his heart he looked up huffing in air as much as he could. "What the hell was that for you tulip head! And didn't I even tell you to go to bed? If you want answers you won't get them till your rea…dy…?" Looking at Himeno straight in the eye he saw nothing and it was empty and tears started flowing through like a fountain.

With his breath steady he straightened his back and walked over toward her. "Himeno?" he softly whispered. With his hands he cupped her face and looked deep within. "Himeno what's the matter?" As if she heard him she looked up with eyes filled with tears and anger burning within her eyes. With her hands she slapped away his and stepped back. "Himeno what the hell is wrong with you!" moving toward her she stepped back. He stopped and looked, slowly there were bruises around her body and face and a mark was forming around her shoulders. Lifting her chin high she looks at Hayate straight in the face and locks on with the gaze she gave.

(voice overlapped) "Ha..Haorii…." she spoke barely in a whisper.

His eyes widened and looked and concentrated his gaze on her, "what did you say?"

(voice overlapped) "You filthy rat; a scoundrel is what you are!" Slowly from a whisper her voice started to rise until she screamed. "Giving me these bruises and pushing me to mark myself with darkness and hatred toward living things! I thought you were the knight I thought you once were! How can you betray me and the knights that night with trickery and deceit! I loved you and you killed the person I once was!" Pointing at her heart she pointed there continuously. "Right here you fool! You have no right to live here in this land! I hope your future generations shall suffer the same fate as I!"

After finishing Himeno eyes rolled back until they were white and fell onto the floor with exhaustion. Hayate snapped out of the trance and rushed to Himeno's side. Cradling her he checked if she was alright. Hearing her snore he sigh with great relief and tucked his arms under her knees and lifted her toward the bed. Lightly laying her on the bed he pulled the covers and tucked her in.

Twice that night he had encountered something evil and decided to tell the others in a week and others that might happen later. And he knew these won't be the last he will encounter. Sitting at the foot of the bed he fell back in exhaustion and slept there that night with Himeno's foot next to him. And he knew what ever was going on, he will find out who and why this mysterious, evil female, figure was. And why she blamed him for the way she was. What Himeno even has anything to do with this and why both called him Haorii. Closing his eyes he hoped that all will end soon and the answers answered.