AN: This is the final chapter of this fanfic. I hope you enjoy it, and thank you for all the reviews, watches and over a 1000+ hits on this story. It really means a lot to me, and I'm sorry this story has took so long to finish. Although the story is finished, I will be re-uploading chapters as I've noticed several mistakes and may add the odd thing or two.
Chapter 13: Reunited
Himeno was suddenly being guided as well as rushed along the stretched halls of the mansion. She tried several times to get a word in edge ways, but the sound of Shin's giggles, and both Hajime's and Mannen's "hurry up" and she pushed and dragged Himeno down several staircases and halls (accompanied by the occasional odd stare from several maids and waiters) until she finally stepped outside in to the pathway of her back garden.
Himeno glanced over the Awayuki family pond and spotted the figure of a person. She couldn't tell who it was but as she walked down several stair steps towards the pond, she noticed the silver hair and glasses that shone in the bright early sunlight.
Sasame beamed as Himeno walked over. She stopped right in front of him, and the boys stood quietly behind her, looking eager to hear their conversation.
"Good morning, Himeno" began Sasame cheerfully.
Himeno nodded with a smile in reply, finding the moment awkward. She wanted to look cool and casual, whatever the reason was she was out here for, she remained calm and focussed on the outside, but she had a gut feeling that this wasn't no usual drop by the say hello. Himeno glanced over her shoulder in awkwardness and smiled as the boys, who were practically bouncing and the ball of their feet waiting for either Sasame and Himeno to speak.
"So…did you sleep well?" asked Sasame, obviously trying to break the awkward silence and tension.
Himeno thought back to the nightmare she had, and Fenrir's threats. Remaining silent for several moments thinking about her recent dream, Sasame interpreted her thought by giving a slight cough to clear his throat.
"Obviously, you didn't. Did you have another nightmare?"
Himeno feeling very aware of the boys, she didn't want to frighten them. She shifted her feet uncomfortably and scratched behind her ear in an anxious like way after mumbling "um's" and "err's" for a couple of seconds before she gave a proper verbal answer.
"No" Himeno said in a casual tone "I don't remember what I dreamt…"
Sasame smiled back with pity, obviously knowing Himeno lied. He too, knew she was uncomfortable as the conversation he really wanted with her, could be more private and with less people around. And awkward silence fell upon the small crowd of people, as Himeno stared into the pond's trickling baby blue water.
"How's Hayate?"
Himeno felt a lunge of anxiety in her stomach as she just realised what she just said. Sasame shifted on the spot slightly as Himeno looked away from the pond and at his face. He turned away to the direction of a tree near by, his expression remained still and showed no emotion.
"I'm not sure I'm the person to tell you Himeno…" he began.
"Oh no" thought Himeno "what's happened? Why isn't he saying anything? Has something bad happened? Why won't he tell me?"
As Himeno's head swam with questions she couldn't verbally throw at Sasame to answer, tears slowly filled in her eyes. She felt shock around her body and felt very nervous ready to brace any bad news he was about to give her.
"So…" Himeno said quietly, gulping. "He's…"
"Fine" began a familiar voice.
Himeno looked in the direction were Sasame was looking over by the tree. There, a figure walked from around the tree and staring back as Himeno. It was Hayate.
He looked tired and slightly worn out, but never the less in a better condition he looked than he did in the dream. Himeno felt haunted by how hurt he was, and now, here he is standing in front of her, looking a lot better and thankful he's alright. The lunge in Himeno's stomach erupted with excitement as she tried to compose herself mentally, that he was in fact in front of her and alright. The guilt in her chest eased slightly as Hayate stood there casually with his arms folded. A smile developed on both their faces, as Hayate walked out of the tree's shade and walked towards Himeno.
"Come on" piped Sasame.
He began to shoo the three boys away from Himeno and Hayate, as they were guided away back to the mansion, Himeno could hear the grunts of both disappointment and pleading to stay before silence fell upon both her and Hayate. Himeno could feel herself blush and she looked awkwardly to the ground not knowing what to say or do. Pretending to be fascinated by the trickling sound of the pond situated next to them, Hayate coughed to himself to break the silence.
"So…" he began putting his hands in his jean pockets. He felt just as awkward and shy as Himeno just standing there.
Before he knew it, Himeno had threw her arms around his neck. It was so fast, Hayate was almost knocked over by how quick it was. She buried her head into his chest, and squeezed her arms tightly around his neck. He hugged her back and asked if she was okay. But Himeno didn't hear a word, and she slightly began to cry as he looked down at her.
"I thought you were gone" she confessed silently "I thought you were dead…I'm so glad to see you, I'm so glad your alright and your back here…" she sniffed slightly before continuing "I've been wondering what would happen if you'd have gone, how would I-- I mean, how would everyone have coped without you and…"
Before Himeno could continue, Hayate lifted her face up and wiped away several tears. Her big amber eyes looked slightly strained and tired. It'd been hard on both of them, the events that recently occurred, but Hayate still smiled down at her.
"Cheer up" he said casually.
Himeno backed away from him, wiping away tears off her cheeks with her sleeve. She glanced quickly at Hayate's blue shirt that was covered in her tear spots on the front. Trying to compose herself and to stop choking on her tears, she cleared her throat and looked at Hayate in the face. She wanted to act as cool as possible even thought she just wanted to bawl her eyes out feeling both relieved and happy.
"That's better" said Hayate with a slight laugh.
Himeno laughed back nervously. She had known Hayate for quite sometime now, and now she's tearful, nervous and feeling quite ashamed by her behaviour. Straightening herself out, she began talking to him, her voice slightly croaky from crying.
"How are you feeling" began Himeno.
"Not bad" said Hayate indifferently starring back "I've been told to "take it easy" apart from feeling tired, I could never be better"
"Well…that's good!"
"Yeah…I guess"
The awkward silence returned again. Himeno felt at one point, just running back to her house. They both exchanged several looks and smiles, before drawing their attentions to the surrounding or their feet. Birds around the area chirped in merriment as the sun begin to lift higher and brighter in the sky.
"But I wanted to see you…" said Hayate
Himeno looked back at Hayate. They stared at each other for several moments, would could have possibly been several hours, it felt so long. They said nothing, in complete silence waiting for either of each other to say something else. Hayate's expression became suddenly serious, as Himeno straightened herself up to start speaking.
"So, are you-" she began before getting cut off Hayate.
"Did you have another dream last night?" said Hayate hastily.
Himeno took a step back. Thoughts and images flooded back to her to the dream along with Fenrir's cold, harsh voice. "I will destroy you Himeno…one by one…" her cold yellow eyes narrowing as the harsh laughter filled her head-
"Himeno!"
Himeno suddenly snapped out of her thought, Hayate standing in front of her. Looking quite impatient.
"Did you-" he began.
"Yes" said Himeno indifferently. "Yes, I did…"
She knew he was about to repeat the question again to her. Hayate slowly moved his arms into a fold and bowed his head, as if he was in deep thought. He let out a low hum to himself as he scratched the end of his chin. Himeno stood there waiting for him to speak, or to look up. But she was glad he wasn't looking at her, it gave her the chance to just stare at him; his hair, his face, his body, without him catching her. As soon as Hayate looked up, Himeno looked away her cheeks flushed very pink.
"Can you tell me what happened?" said Hayate.
Himeno nodded and began to explain in great detail the dream;from the beginning, to the middle to the end. She repeated what Fenrir said, from her cold harsh words to her final threat of destroying Himeno. She also explained how she joked in a cruel fashion about Hayate's condition just to make her angry. Several tears streamed down her face, explaining what happened. Her voice shook slightly, but she compused herself and looked up at Hayate; her tears drying up quickly with the warm sunlight. After Himeno had explained herself, Hayate remained calm and unmoved. He slowly moved closer, as he began to tell Himeno what he thought.
"She's obviously trying to use…" he paused before he choked out the word he was about to say "us, to just make us, and obviously you more angry"
"Mhm" replied Himeno. "Do you think she know's we…" began Himeno, as Hayate gave a simple nod in reply.
"But…how would she know" asked Himeno curiously "is she following us, is she…"
Before Himeno could say another word, the house maid Mikage interrupted their conversation. She was carrying a silver tray, that gleamed in the sunlight with china white cups filled with tea, along with other refreshments and snacks. Mikage beamed at Himeno, as she suddenly turned around.
"Oh! Mikage!" said Himeno surprised.
"I'm sorry to…" began Mikage pleasantly as she quickly glanced at Hayate "interrupt you and your guest, Miss Himeno, but I was wondering if you would like something to eat. You weren't in your room when I went to wake you. Breakfast should be served soon, I could leave the tray here…"
"Oh um…I'm fine Mikage, I'll be back in the house for some breakfast soon. I just want to finish talking to my…friend"
"Very well" replied Mikage in a polite manner "I'll just go back to the house. Good day, sir" she said turning to Hayate and giving a small bow. Her eyes fixed on his face as she turned around slowly; Hayate's eye's gave a suspicious glance, as she headed away from him and Himeno, back to the house. The rattling of the tray following her, as she walked up the steps.
"Friends?" said Hayate suddenly as Himeno watched Mikage walk away.
"Huh"
"You said; we're friends?" he repeated.
"Um…yeah" said Himeno timidly, laughing nervously "I just…I well, she's already…uhm…"
"I see" said Hayate calmly "I just didn't think we were just "friends""
"No! we aren't!" said Himeno grabbing Hayate's arm as he turned to walk away. Their eyes met, as she let go quickly, blushing furiously and her voice sounding squeaky and high pitched "I mean, uhm. She already knows we kissed! She'd tell my dad, and you could lose your job working here and…"
Before Himeno could say another word, Hayate bent down and kissed her gently on the lips. She became star struck, and just stared at him, as he stared back. He smiled back at her, and grabbed her hands and held them in his up to his chest.
"I don't care" he said "We could tell your dad together"
"Y-you mean…we're…?"
"Of course we are!" Hayate nodded and laughed a little. "We could even go back to the house now, and tell him if you want over breakfast"
Himeno smiled. She looked utterly happy, the most happiness she'd ever felt for a long time. She threw her arms around Hayate's neck and held him tightly.
"Oh! But what about Fenrir? Should we and the Leafe knights be concentrating on-" began Himeno letting go of Hayate.
"There's plenty of time for that. We'll come to that road when we come across it. Right now though, I think we should go and have some breakfast because I'm starving! And then we can tell Shin, Hajime and Mannen, the new's they've been eager to hear" Hayate replied smiling.
"How would everyone else take the news? Goh, and what about..."
"I think" began Hayate with a smirk "they'll take the news fine"
Hayate gave a cheeky wink, as Himeno let out a giggle as she linked his arm, they began to walk through the sun shine and bright, green grass up towards the house. Hayate bent down and kissed Himeno on the top of her head, as they both looked at each other and smiled. As they went inside the huge, French styled door's of the house, a purple transport demon floated past, gracefully flying away.
