Chapter Four

The dining room double doors burst open with a thud and Hayate and Kao stormed in. Everybody stared, surprised for a few seconds before shrugging it off and returning to their meals and side conversations.

"Why didn't you tell me you left?" Hayate asked, pulling out the chair beside Himeno, "I could have saved myself a lot of trouble." He continued.

"Yeah, trouble for yourself." Kao muttered under his breath, leaning against the dining room window frame. Sasame heard and smiled to himself, amused. Himeno smiled at Hayate, around the fork that was in her mouth. She took a moment to swallow before giggling.

"I couldn't have gotten your attention even if I had tried. You were so bent on getting the last word in yours and Kao's argument." She laughed again before loading her fork up with food and shoving it into her mouth, chewing happily. Hayate blushed, picking up his own fork and joining the meal, staring at his plate in embarrassment.

"Himeno? May I ask who this young man is?" Natsue, her stepmother asked, motioning towards Kao sulking at the window. Himeno glanced at him before answering Natsue.

"I met him this morning." She spoke around the food in her mouth.

"Himeno, please don't talk with your mouth full. And how exactly did you meet him this morning?" Natsue asked. Himeno swallowed.

"I'm sorry mother. I met Kao this morning while I was walking to school. I was attacked by a demon larvae in an alley." She mumbled casually and taking a drink of her water. Kao glanced at everyone, tilting his head slightly in their direction to see their reactions.

Hayate choked on his food, Go's drink was spit out and splattered all over his shirt, Kei's fork slipped from his hand and clattered on his plate, Sasame stared at Himeno with wide eyes, his fork and knife held over his steak, Shin, Mannen, Hajime stared at her with gaping mouths, and Mawata, Mayune, Kaoru, and Natsue stared at her with worried looks. Himeno set her glass of water down and started to pound Hayate on the back, trying to get him to breathe while she looked at everyone else with confused eyes.

"What?" She asked innocently. Kao returned to looking out the window, his interest in the conversation gone.

"A demon larvae?" Sasame asked. "But how is that possible?"

"What does it matter?" Kei asked, returning to his meal, "It's gone now and won't cause us any more trouble."

"But, there is no Princess of Disaster to summon or control them anymore. How did it get here?" Go asked. He was looking down at his chest, dabbing his shirt with a napkin. Trying to soak up the water he had spilled.

"I sure wish I could have been the one to save Himeno." Mannen sighed, pushing his food around on his plate with his fork.

"I can't believe we missed it all. We never see any action." Hajime muttered, propping his head up on his hand, pretty much in the same state as Mannen.

"What are you talking about you two?" Kei asked, "You helped destroy it this afternoon. Remember?" They looked at him and grinned, feeling better now that they were reminded they had helped. Go snorted.

"Are you okay Himeno?" Shin asked sweetly. Worried about the demon larvae attack they had all been absent for. Himeno's family nodded in agreement. She smiled and reassured them all she was fine.

"What were you doing in an alley anyways?" Kaoru demanded his daughter. She sweat-dropped.

"Yes, I quite agree." Natsue nodded, patting her mouth with her napkin before placing it neatly on her lap again. Himeno slid down in her chair.

"I wasn't in the alley dad. I was walking by it on my way to school."

"Speaking of which," Hayate spoke up since he had finally regained his breath. He glared at Kao and Kao went rigid in irritation. "What were you doing near Himeno on her way to school? Were you stalking her?" Hayate accused. Kao turned around.

"I was trying to contact you guys, and you're lucky I was watching her or else she'd be digested right about now!" Kao countered.

"So you saved Himeno?" Mawata asked. Kao turned to her.

"Yeah. Why? Is that a crime?" He asked, his tone softening slightly. Mawata smiled at him.

"No. But I thank you for saving her. I almost lost her once. I wouldn't want it to happen again." She grinned slightly and reached for her glass. Kao watched her before crossing his arms and leaning against the frame again. Mayune watched, her face flushing slightly in anger. There was no way she'd let Kao and Mawata get together. It would never happen as long as she was around, baby sister or not.

"He's right." Himeno laughed. "He did help me out." Hayate sighed and returned to his meal. Everyone else gave each other knowing looks.

"Well in that case." Kaoru spoke up, "You'll have to join us for dinner Kao." He got up and walked over to Kao, guiding him to an empty chair at the table. Kaoru returned to his seat. "So, tell us more about yourself." He said, wresting his chin on his clasped hands. Kao looked at him unsure. He stared at the plate that had been placed before him and then began.

"Um, well, my name is Kao. I'm the eighth knight and well, that's pretty much it." He looked up and discovered the whole table had been staring at him. The Knights looked away, bored. They had already heard this story before.

"There has to be more than that." Kaoru said, resting his arm on the table.

"There is, but the story is too long for tonight." Kao said, picking at his food, before taking a bite.

"Then, will you tell us tomorrow?" Natsue asked.

"I don't know if I'll be here tomorrow." Kao replied.

"Is that so? Then, you are welcome to one of the spare bedrooms here. Everyone knows there are plenty to go around." Kao's stare shifted from his forkful of food to her face. His expression nothing but surprise.

"Really? I mean, are you sure?" Natsue laughed at his question.

"Of course, but will you tell us all the whole story tomorrow?" She asked, taking a sip of her water. Kao nodded.

"Couldn't hurt." Everyone smiled, happy and looking forward to it. All but Hayate. Let's just say, he was a bit upset with the whole arrangement.

From that point on, dinner went smoothly, full of laughter and jokes. Kao even cracked a small smile every now and then. Soon everyone was done and heading in for the night. Mawata walked up to Kao and formally introduced herself.

"Hello. Kao right?" She asked happily, holding her hand out. Kao hesitated before taking it.

"Yes, and you're Mawata." Their hands let go of eachother.

"Yup. I have a book I need to read, so I have to turn in. See you tomorrow morning?" Kao nodded.

"Sure, why not?"

"Okay, see you then, and, hope you like it here!" She called over her shoulder as she walked down the hall towards her room. Kao smiled slightly until Himeno approached from behind.

"Shall I show you to your room?" She asked with a smile. Kao looked at her and nodded with out a word. "Then follow me this way." She continued happily. When they turned a corner, Kao bumped into someone and caught their lower arm before the person fell.

"Sorry." He mumbled, shoving his hands into his pocket.

"You almost knock a girl over and you think you can get away with a simple sorry?" Mayune demanded. Himeno looked nervous. "Oh no, you have to do something for me in order to be forgiven." She informed. Kao snorted. "Don't you snort at me! You should apologize." Mayune huffed, hands on her hips. In her mind, she was planning her usual plan. Turn him into her personal servant and make him fall madly in love with her. Kao snorted again.

"I caught you didn't I? That should be enough for you. Be happy I didn't let you fall. I know what you're planning and the answer is no." He muttered in a bored tone before walking around her and following Himeno again. Mayune stared at him, her mouth closing and opening over and over in shock.

Once they were out of hearing distance, Himeno started to laugh and had to hold herself against the wall to keep from falling over.

"What's got you so worked up?" Kao growled. Himeno continued laughing.

"I can't believe you did that!"

"What's so hard to believe?" Kao demanded, crossing his arms over his chest.

"You! You knew she was planning to make you her personal servant. She would have dragged you to her room, made you stand outside the shower doors as she 'bathed', while you held her robe. During her shower, she would ask you questions about yourself and try to get you to fall in love with her! She's done it to Hayate, Sasame and Go!" Himeno's eyes were twinkling as she told him the story. Kao's arms dropped to his sides and his bored expression turned into one of surprise.

"THAT IS WHAT SHE WAS GOING TO DO TO ME?" He cried in horror. Now it was Himeno's turn to look surprised.

"You didn't know that?" Himeno asked.

"NO! I just knew I wouldn't like it!" Himeno started laughing again, but this time she led him to his room.

"Here you go. Hope you like it." Himeno said, opening the door for him. He nodded and walked in.

"I'm sure I will." He muttered.

"Good night Kao!"

"Night." When Himeno left, closing the door behind him, a man stepped out of the shadow's of Kao's new room. "Garu, how is the demon larvae? It's not hurt is it?" Kao asked. Garu smiled.

"Not at all. Your mother called it back and it's fine. By the way, she is very pleased with your progress. You have gotten here faster and smoother then she thought possible." It was Kao's turn to smile.

"Tell her, it's all going according to plan and we'll be able to move to the next phase when I make the knights remember the myth of the Knight of the Dark." Garu bowed.

"As you wish Prince Kao." Kao rolled his eyes.

"We grew up together Garu, no need for the formalities."

"Yes Sire!" Garu mocked before vanishing an a burst of flames.

"Tell Mother I'll contact you all in a few days!" Kao called out into the air. He heard Garu's laughter echo in the room and Kao smiled satisfied before throwing himself onto the bed and falling asleep.

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