Mannen, Shin, and Hajime walked up the white stone steps of the Awayuki mansion, licking their ice cream cones happily. Kao and Mawata were following. Mawata's face was lit up with a bright smile as she laughed at something Kao had said. Kao's face twisted into an expression of annoyance.
"No, really, you shouldn't tell Go or Hayate that I took the little guys out for ice cream. Go would yell at them and Hayate would blow a head gasket." He informed, his footsteps becoming loud and heavy with frustration. Mawata giggled, holding her hand over her mouth to hide her smile.
Kao whirled around to glare at her. "Would you quit? It's NOT funny!" He shouted, shooting her an accusing glare. That was the last straw for her and Mawata burst into a fit of laughter. Kao grumbled, crossing his arms over his chest and walking up the steps the rest of the way. Mannen, Shin, and Hajime watched with interest and stared at each other shocked, when they saw that Kao's lips were turning upwards in a small, barely noticeable smile. Kao looked in there direction. "What your problem? You look like you've seen a zombie or something." He asked, his eyes full of curiosity and if you looked hard enough, a bit of concern. Mannen shook his head from side to side rapidly.
"No, no, nothing at all!" He informed, laughing nervously. He started shoving the other two away. "Just remembered, we gotta go! Thanks for the ice cream!" He threw over his shoulder steering Shin and Hajime around a corner, his ice cream cone still clutched firmly in his hand.
"Stop it Mannen! You'll make us drop our ice cream!" Hajime cried as they rounded the corner and out of sight. Shin didn't even look up. He stood there, un-phased and munching on his treat without a care in the world. Mannen shot Hajime a look.
"Do you wanna tell Kao why we were looking at him like he was a freak, or explain to him that he smiled because of Mawata?" Mannen asked him. Hajime lost his defiant look, shook his head from side to side and then started to finish his ice cream before it melted all over his hands. "I didn't think so. Come on, lets go see if we can find Himeno. Last time I heard, she was in the garden with Takako." Mannen led the way out the back door with the Shin and Hajime in tow.
Kao looked after them, his arms unfolding themselves and lowering to his sides slowly. He was so interested on wondering what Mannen was trying to hide, he didn't even notice Mawata come up behind him until she tapped him on the shoulder. Kao nearly jumped out of is skin.
"What the hell did you do that for?" He demanded, searching her eyes with an accusing stare. Mawata took a nervous step back.
"I'm sorry?" She offered. "I didn't think I would startle you. Honest!" She insisted, her shocked look turning into one of fear. Kao leaned away from her.
"No it's okay. I shouldn't have yelled at you, I'm sorry." He mumbled. Mawata smiled.
"No, don't apologize, it was my fault." She said, happy now. "I gotta go study for my history test on Monday. See you at lunch?" She asked, tilting her head to the side.
"Wouldn't be able to miss it even if I wanted to." He muttered. Mawata's smile widened even more if possible.
"Great, see you then!" She shouted over her shoulder as she turned on her heal and jogged to her room.
"Yeah, see you." He whispered to himself.
"Never thought I'd see you apologize. To a girl no less." A voice behind him taunted. Kao jumped again.
"What is it with you people today? Do you enjoy making me jump out of my skin or something?" Kao exclaimed, throwing his hands up in the hair in exasperation before crossing them over his chest in defiance.
"No, you're just jumpy." Haraku answered, mimicking Kao's move to mock him. Kao glared.
"I don't get jumpy." Kao snapped, glaring at Haraku. The wind knight just shrugged.
"Sure you don't. Aren't you even going to ask why I'm here?" He smirked, leaning against the wall. Kao sighed in annoyance.
"Sure." Kao cleared his throat. "What are you doing here Haraku? Do you have business to report?" He asked in a princely tone. Haraku pushed himself away from the wall.
"Yes my lord!" He saluted. "I do believe I do!" Kao rolled his eyes.
"Are you all going to do this to me?" He demanded. Haraku looked at him and winked playfully.
"You'd better believe it!" Kao sighed again.
"Two can play at this game!" He argued.
"Except, you have seven knights against you." Haraku replied. Kao looked downcast.
"I can still resist you! Report Soldier!" He ordered. Haraku saluted again.
"Sir! Your mother sent me to ask you if you were ready to receive the Demon Larva attack and when would be best for you, Sir!" Kao looked out the window. He say all of the knights and Himeno outside, laughing and gardening. He smirked.
"Tell her, the sooner, the better." His smirk widened.
"Consider it done!" Haraku called, vanishing.
"It'd better be done Haraku! Or you will suffer the consequences!" Kao called out. He heard Haraku snort. Kao shoved his hands into his pockets and walked outside again. He heard Takako call out to everyone.
"We should have a picnic today!" She shouted out. "The sun is shining! I'll ask Mrs. Natsue if it's okay!" Everyone nodded at her and she ran inside with Sasame following. Kao smirked for the fourth time that day. Everyone outside? This was too easy.
"Hi Kao!" Kao looked up to see Himeno waving him over. Hayate glared as he walked over. Kao glared back.
"Hey Himeno. So, we're going to have a picnic lunch today?" He asked. Himeno glanced at Takako as she came back, a smile plain on her face.
"Looks like it!" Himeno said happily, tucking a stray piece of hair behind her ear. "You will be joining us right?" Kao looked at Hayata and say the wind knight fuming. Kao smirked at him.
"Wouldn't miss it." Kao answered, looking at Hayate and answering Himeno. Himeno smiled brightly.
"Great. I'll ask Takako to make lunch. She's a great cook!" Himeno ran off and Kao watched her, before kneeling down and continued the weeding job Himeno had started. Hayate approached Kao.
"What do you think you're doing?" He hissed. Kao glanced at him our of the corners of his eyes.
"I'm weeding, what about you?" He snapped, still managing to sound casual. Hayate glared at him with an icy stare.
"Not about that Dark Boy, about taking Mannen, Shin, and Hajime out for ice cream. You think I wouldn't find out?" Kao shrugged.
"Is that all? I thought you were going to yell about something important." Kao muttered, pulling at a stubborn weed. Steam seemed to come out of Hayate's ears.
"Like what for instance?" He snarled, fists clenched at his sides.
"Something around the fact that you think I'm trying to steal Himeno from you." Hayate blushed before he shook his head from side to side.
"I don't know what you're talking about!" He argued, a small blush still evident on his face. Kao raised an eyebrow.
"Sure you don't. Look, I'm here wether you like it or not and I am going to try to get along with the other knights and there isn't a thing you can do about it. So, you can either accept me, or keep your hot headed mouth shut. Which will it be?" Kao demanded, straightening up and crossing his arms over his chest. Hayate frowned, but turned away.
"I make my own decisions, thank you. Just know I'm keeping my eye on you." He walked away to another part of the garden. Kao sighed and sat down, continuing to pull on the weeds before him.
About thirty minutes later, Himeno and Takako came out of the mansion, carrying two picnic baskets each.
"And just where have you been Tulip Head?" Hayate asked, coming up and taking the baskets from her. Sasame did the same for Takako. Himeno shot him an icy look.
"If you must know, I was in the kitchen helping Takako with your lunch!" Himeno replied.
"Did someone say lunch?" Go called out, pushing himself away from the flower bed he was tending to and brushing his hands off.
"It is lunch time isn't it, Go?" Mannen asked snidely. Go glared at him.
"You cocky little brat. Say it again and see if you get any dessert. Mannen wrinkled his nose in distaste and then walked off to help set up the picnic tables.
Everyone pitched in to help set up the food. Plates, forks and other plastic silver-where was set up at each spot. Cups were filled and plates were full. They all talked, joked and laughed for the next hour, mumbling around the food int their mouths and trying not to choke on their drinks. When they had all finished, they all threw their plates, cups, and other things into the trash bags that had been dragged out. Takako and Sasame offered to take them in. No one objected. Instead, they all put up a volleyball net and started a game.
The ball came flying towards Himeno and she hit it backwards so Kao could hit it over the net. Just when his hand was going to make contact, he froze, staring into the trees. Instead, Go leapt forward and saved the ball.
"Pay attention, would you!" He scolded, dusting the sand off of his shirt. Kao payed him no mind and continued to stare into the trees. The ball came flying towards Himeno again, but she didn't move, also staring into the trees.
"Demon Larva." She whispered, walking over to Kao to stand beside him.
"You feel it to?" He muttered. Himeno nodded. Go leapt forward to save the ball again, but then they all froze in place. The volleyball would have bounced off of Go's head had he not stepped backwards. Hajime stepped besides Himeno and grasped her hand.
"Is it a demon larva?" He asked, looking up at her expectantly. Himeno nodded.
"So what are we all doing standing here like a bunch of idiots?" Hayate called out. "Let's go find it!" Everyone transformed, and Himeno pre'ted with Hajime. It didn't take them long to find the demon larva, draining the leafe out of trees.
"Water Flail!" Himeno shouted, using the water whip to destroy it. When it crumbled to dust, everyone transformed back into their more "human" forms. No one had even seen Kao use his power to protect the larva with a barrier of black light and return it to the seed form. He watched Hayate walk up to Himeno.
"Another one? Where are they coming from? Are you okay Himeno?" He looked down at her in concern.
"Yeah I'm fine. That one was easy!" She smiled brightly. Kao decided to speak up at that moment.
"But they won't all be this easy." Everyone whirled around to face him.
"You know who is sending them?" Kei demanded. Kao nodded.
"My mother is." He mumbled.
"Your...your mother?" Sasame asked surprised. Kao nodded again.
"I think it's time I told you all the whole truth." He looked everyone in the eyes for approval and to daring someone to interrupting him. When no one opened their mouths to object he started. "My mother was the original Pretear. She fell in love with the original Knight of Darkness. All of the other knights had to fight them, for my mother, Glaxia, was attacking them. Over a long period of fighting, the Leafe Knights won. But the loss was tremendous. My father, Kaosuke, died and my mother was forced to retreat, vowing that she would one day return. The Leafe Knights, not wanting the future generations to suffer or remember the betrayal, they hid the memories from themselves. Hidden until the next Knight of Darkness would be found. And that, would be me. Any questions?" Everyone stared at him.
"Excuse me?" Hayate demanded, stepping forward. "Have you gone insane?" Kao sighed,
"I knew you would say that, but luckily, I've come prepared. This story is really hard to explain. How about I show it to you instead." He asked. Shin looked up at him.
"But, how will you do that?" Kao smiled down at him.
"You'll see." Kao closed his eyes and began focusing his energy. A black light began to blanket everyone in darkness and with a flash of black lightening, they vanished, leaving no trace that they had stood there moments before.
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YAY! I'm finally done with another chapter. Sorry about the delay, I got a new computer that I had to figure out how to write on and I had to get passed a really bad writer's block. Tell me what you think! OH! And if anyone is wondering, Kao isn't bad, he's just loyal to his mother and what she fights for, good or bad.