Chapter Two

Sunlight spilled in through the window, casting golden patterns onto Himeno's tulip quilt. She groaned and rolled over, hiding her face underneath the pillow. Moments later, there was a knock on the door and Mawata poked her head in.

"Come on Himeno, if you don't get up now, you'll be late for school." Himeno pulled her head out from its comfortable hiding place and sat up. She smiled brightly at her stepsister.

"Why good morning Mawata! Do you want to walk to school today or are you going to be taking the limo with Mayune?" She swung her legs over the side of the bed and walked to her closet, pulling out her school uniform.

"I have to be at school early today, so I'll take the limo and walk with you next time. Is that okay?" Mawata asked.

"Oh. That's fine. I'll look forward to it." Himeno said, flashing the younger girl a smile to show she wasn't mad.

"Okay, see you at school Himeno." Mawata told her, closing the door, so Himeno could change.

Moments later, Himeno's book bag was slung over her shoulder and she was rushing out the door.

"Goodbye mother, dad, I'll see you after school!" She cried out, heading for the front doors.

"You be careful Himeno!" Natsue called after her.

"I will!" Himeno closed the door behind her and slid down the banister, landing perfectly on the ground at the bottom. "Yes! My fastest time ever!" She started running for the gates. She was so busy running for school, she didn't notice the figure watching her from behind a tree. He smirked to himself before turning around to the small transport demon resting on a bush behind him. He nodded and watched as the butterfly flew off. He disappeared in a flash of black light.

Himeno was early today, so she stopped running and decided to enjoy a relaxing walk to school. She walked by an alley and stopped suddenly. Her book bag fell from her clutches and she glanced through the shadowed alley walls. Then she shrugged and giggled to herself, kneeling to pick up what she had dropped. She started laughing at her thoughts. "I could have sworn I felt a demon larvae in there a moment ago. That's the last time I have six bowls of cereal and seven pieces of toast for breakfast." She took a hold of the handle of her book bag, when she felt it again. She looked up and came face to face with a demon larvae. Quite literally. Their faces were twelve inches apart. She blinked a few times before she screamed and fell backwards onto her rear in surprise. She pushed herself up and tried to run, but the demon larvae had a tentacle wrapped around her ankle and Himeno, ate pavement. The larvae began to pull her towards it and she felt the sidewalk dig into her skin through her uniform.

"Dammit! Why does a demon larvae have to show up now? When I'm alone and no one expects it to show up!" She grumbled resisting the pull and grabbed onto the side of a building, hoisting herself up onto her feet. She tried walking forward, but couldn't go any farther then two steps. "Damn you stupid worm, let me go!" Her wish was granted and she fell forward, but she grabbed onto the building beside her tighter before she could fall again. She glanced over her shoulder and gasped at what she saw. A man of about 18 years old with white, shoulder length, hair and a black outfit, was holding up shield made of black light. She blinked. She blinked again. This guy had powers like the Leafe knights.

"Well, are you going to stand there all day or are you going to run?" The man demanded. She glared at him before turning on her heal and running for the park. 'Good thing I came a little early today' she thought. No more then two seconds later, he called out to her.

"Duck!" The guy yelled, and she threw herself to the ground without a moment's hesitation. The demon larvae went flying two feet above her and slammed into a tree. She didn't have any time to think as it got up and charged her again, but she couldn't dodge. The white haired boy appeared in front of her and summoned another shield. The demon hit, bounced off and went flying again. The man sighed before bending down and grasping Himeno's upper harm tightly. "Up we get!" Her urged, pulling her up. Before she could blink, he was dragging her behind him as he ran.

"Wait just a second!" She cried, yanking her arm free of his grip and stopping. He stopped and whirled around to face her. "Who the hell are you and why do you have the powers of a Leafe Knight?" She demanded. He glared at her.

"Look. Could you pick another time to ask such silly and unimportant questions?"

"Unimportant? How are these questions unimportant? I don't know who you are and all of a sudden, you show up, using the powers of the Leafe Knights and go about shouting orders at me. You sound like Hayate did." The man's face went icy.

"Don't compare me to him little girl." He ordered, grabbing a hold of her arm and dragging her behind him again.

"Hey! Little girl? What's your problem? You don't even know me and here you are, spitting out insults!"

"I recommend arguing with me some other time little girl. For example, sometime when we 'aren't' being chased by a giant caterpillar!" He shouted. Himeno looked behind her out of the corners of her eyes, seeing as how she couldn't stop to turn around because this guy had a hold of her arm. Sure enough the giant caterpillar, as the guy had called it, was giving chase and gaining on them. She took in a shocked breath. The larvae was ripping apart the trees that were in its way, not even slowing down. "We're not going to get anywhere like this!" The man grumbled. He stopped and turned to Himeno. His hand left her arm, and his arm went around the back of her shoulders and the other was under her knees. He picked her up bridal style and without even a second glance, crouched down and leapt up into the air, using his ability to fly.

"What the hell do you think you're doing?" Himeno demanded.
"Put me down! You have no right to be carrying me like this, not to mention, carrying me at all!"

"What, you want me to put you down? With that demon larvae?" He asked sarcastically. She looked over her shoulder and down at the ground. She sweat-dropped at what she saw. The demon was circling under them, ripping up the ground.

"Uh. Never mind. I'm good right here." She mumbled nervously.

"I'll bet you are." The guy grumbled. "You have to get to school right? I'd say the bell will ring in about four minutes."

"Oh no! I'll never make it! This sucks!" Himeno cried out to no one unparticular. The guy sighed.

"I'll get you there. But you owe me!" He growled. Himeno stared at him in shock.

"Umm? Thank you?" She asked.

"Yeah, yeah, what ever." He muttered, rolling his eyes.

No more than two minutes later, the white haired guy set Himeno down in front of her school gates. "There you go little girl, but you owe me!" He growled.

"Okay. Meet me here after school ends then." Himeno instructed.

"What? Why should I?" He demanded.

"Because I owe you remember?" Himeno retorted, hands on her hips. The warning bell rang and Himeno glanced up at the school's clock. "I gotta go. Just say you'll be here alright?" She rushed. He crossed his arms over his chest.

"Fine. I'll be here. Are you happy now?" Himeno flashed him a big smile.

"Alright, see you then!" She spun around and raced for the doors, sending him a wave over her shoulder. He just stared after her.

Himeno and the rest of the students flowed out of the school's front doors, packed tighter then a groups of fish caught in a fishermen's net. She waved to her friends as she walked past them and headed towards the gates. She saw Hayate arguing with the guy who had saved her earlier that day, but he was wearing different clothes, gray pants, black long sleeved tee-shirt and white tennis shoes. Hayate's fists were clenched by his sides and his face was flushed in anger. The other guy was in pretty much the same position. . She ran up to them and heard some of what they were shouting at each other.

"What do you mean you waiting here for Himeno?" Hayate shouted, anger obvious.

"Exactly what I meant you air head! I'm waiting here for Himeno. Why are you in love with her or something?" He shouted back, equally as loud. Hayate blushed slightly, but didn't back down.

"What's it to you moron?" Hayate demanded. The other guy opened up his mouth to argue back, but Himeno interrupted.

"What's going on here!" Himeno interrupted, stepping in between the two.

"I was just asking this punk here, why he was waiting here for you." Hayate growled, flashing the guy a dirty look.

"Like I have to explain myself to you, you bastard!" He shot back, sending his own dirty look. Himeno starting laughing. These two were fighting like cats and dogs. They both whipped around to stare at her.

"What's your problem Himeno?" The white haired guy snapped, crossing his arms over his chest. Himeno stopped laughing and looked at him, flabbergasted.

"How do you know my name?" She asked.

"I know more then your name. I know your the Pretear and that this air head here is Hayate the Leafe Knight of Wind " Both Himeno and Hayate stared at him shocked. Hayate stepped in front of Himeno protectively.

"Who are you!" Hayate demanded in a snarling tone. The guy sighed sarcastically as if they should know him, before plastering on a fake smile and sticking his hand out as if he was going to shake someone else's.

"Hello. My name is Kao. The missing eighth knight of Leafe. The Knight of Darkness. Pleased to make your acquaintance." He cried in mock happiness. They stared at him as if Kao was crazy.

written by: galaxy guardian co-written by: ilovekyo (editor)