Kao forced himself to ignore the several battles taking place before him. Instead he scanned the crumbling building, his lilac eyes were concentrated and focused. He could sense her, he could sense Himeno, but why couldn't he see her? Unable to find her using sight, he decided to find her a different way.
Closing his eyes, he took a deep breath and reached out with his senses, with his aura. Pushing past the power of the Knights he centered it all on the blood red aura that belonged to Himeno. Concentrating even harder he could see the aura take her shape.
Her eyes were narrowed and full of longing. What they were longing for was unknown and Kao wasn't sure if he even wanted to know. Searching deeper the image of her surroundings sharpened in his mind and in five seconds flat he had pinned her location.
Sitting unseen on the last intact support beam left in the building, Himeno watched the battle proceed below her. Her eyes paused on each individual fight, studying the way the Knights fought. Something deep in her heart ached, but what for? Her sight lingered particularly long on Hayate. His jaw was set firm in determination, his eyes reflecting his desire for victory. And for some reason, she hoped for it.
She frowned and her eyes narrowed. She longed for the fighting to stop, for everything to be okay again. For her friends back, her family back, Hayate back, and most of all for everyone to come out unscathed. And by everyone, she meant everyone. But why? What had they done for her? Any of them? Whether they be Sasme, Hayate, Kei, or Shin? Mannen, or Go, or Hajime?
She knew what they had done. They had befriended her, but how did she know that wasn't just to lure her into a false pretense of contentment to use her abilities as Pretear? That's just it, she didn't. She doubted them and doubt was something she refused to live with. Her Majesty, Kao, and the Disaster Knights had taken her in where she felt sheltered from the pain. And for them, she would destroy the Leafe Knights. She would, no matter what.
Her heart started to beat faster. Frowning she raised a hand and placed it over her chest. What made her heart pound was unmistakably guilt. Pain at the thought of losing them, nervousness, sadness, regret. Why were her emotions so confusing? It was easier to feel nothing but hate. She clenched her teeth. She would kill them. Then maybe her emotions would leave her in peace.
She knew Kao was here. She had felt his aura reaching out for his long ago. Turning her head, she watched him. Waiting for him to give her some sort of signal so she would know what he was here for. It surely wasn't to assist his comrades. He knew they wanted to defeat the Leafe Knights on their own. If it was to help her, she would refuse it. If it was to help the Leafe Knights, she would kill him too. Along with the seven other knights on her list. If Her Majesty were there, she would surely do the same.
Kao could see her quite clearly now with his eyes were open. She had stopped using her power to hide herself from sight and anyone who chanced to look up would be able to see her. She turned to look at him. Her gaze was challenging him, but he refused to give away anything she might be looking for. He met her steady stare with his own, careful to keep his eyes calm and blank. She glared at him now and he was positive his reason for being there, was still a secret to her. Well it should be, he wasn't exactly one hundred percent sure why he was there either. Himeno returned to watching the battle and Kao chose this time to approach her.
He flew over to her, and stood on the support beam with unnaturally good balance. He crossed his arms over his chest and watched the battle with unseeing and uninterested eyes. "What are you waiting up here for Himeno? Why do, you hesitate?" He asked her.
Her eyes narrowed and burned with anger. "Do not ask questions such as that Kao. I would kill these imbeciles in a heartbeat." She smiled, though Kao knew it was forced. "It's just more fun to watch them battle it out themselves."
Kao nodded. "I see. Are you sure that you haven't attacked them yet, because you prefer to see them alive?"
Himeno stood up abruptly, her balance as even as Kao's. She leaned in close to his face and whispered dangerously in his ear. "Do not doubt my abilities. I'll kill them when I'm good and ready."
Kao didn't move an inch. "Will you now?" He questioned. Himeno glared at him and nodded sharply. Again, Kao remained still. "I'd like to see that." Finally he turned and gave her a small, challenging smirk.
Himeno's jaw dropped a little, but she quickly snapped it closed. She narrowed her eyes and gave him the best death look she could muster. "I don't like your attitude Kao, and I especially don't like you thinking me weak."
Kao held his hands up in defense. "Wouldn't dream of it." But his expression clearly showed that he didn't really care if she was insulted or not.
Growling curses under her breath, Himeno bent her knees slightly and jumped off the supporter beam. She glided down slowly and stopped a few yards above them and watched. Her eyebrows furrowed and her eyes narrowed in a cold hard stare. She bore her teeth as if she was an angry wolf and she growled low in the back of her throat. Kao flew down to stop right behind her.
"That is quite ENOUGH!" She shouted. All fourteen knights immediately froze in place. Spotting Himeno, and Kao behind her, the Disaster Knights floated smoothly to the ground were they kneeled on one knee and bowed their heads to the presence of, their prince and princess.
Garu rolled his eyes. Talking about those two like that made it seem like they were an item or something. He shuddered. That wasn't a pleasant thought.
Hayate hadn't moved an inch since she had arrived. He was fighting to get her back, and yet, here she was, demanding that the battle come to a complete stop. He looked around. Well that definitely had happened. He returned to looking at her again. She was Himeno, yet she wasn't. Her eyes were colder, meaner and held something deep inside that screamed for blood. But he was sure he saw something gentle and kind even deeper.
"Himeno!" He shouted, moving closer to her, but he froze again when she glared daggers at him. "Himeno?" He whispered. He moved forward a few more inches, but she held her hand up to stop him.
"Do you have a death wish Hayate? Or are you simply inching up on me to kill me?"
Kill? Her? No way in hell would he kill her whether she be the Pretear or the Princess of Disaster. He shook his head. "No. I refuse to cause you any harm."
Himeno smirked and kept her hand up. "And that is what makes you weak." Her second hand joined the first and she blew him back with a sharp gust of wind. And it indeed was sharp for when it made contact with Hayate, the front of his uniform was shredded in a large and long slash.
Hayate hunched over in pain. He held an arm over his freshly made wound. He could feel the blood seeping through his fingers, but he refused to attack her. He even refused to defend himself. He just, couldn't harm her.
The Disaster Knights watched. This wasn't part of the plan! The plan was they would get to kill the Leafe Knights so why was Himeno here? Huraku cursed under his breath. She would not take away this opportunity from them! He stood up and turned to the others.
"We're not going to let her have all the fun are, we boys?" He barked. "This is our mission and I'll be damned if I let some girl take it away from us." The others nodded in agreement and they all stood up to follow him one by one.
Kao's eyes widened slightly. Oh shit, that didn't look too good. Just when they were about to attack again, Kao appeared right in front of them.
"No. The fighting must come to an end." He told them calmly. A lot calmer than he felt.
"An end?" Miraku called out. "What do you mean 'the fighting must come to an end'?" He clenched his fists in anger and Kao turned his eyes on him. Miraku felt like backing away from him. It was as if Kao was staring right through him, down to his very center. He didn't like it.
"Exactly what I said. No more fighting. That is an order." He said.
"We already have our orders and those come from someone who ranks higher than you." Garu snapped. "Have you grown soft Kao? Have you grown fond of the Leafe Knights and turned your back on your friends?"
"No. I am on your side and that is why I am telling you to stand down. This fight is suicide and I will not stand by and watch you get killed."
"Is that it all Kao? It seems to me that you are siding against us. For you are defying your mother's orders." Suraku pointed out.
"My mother's orders will get us all killed. She doesn't care who dies in the process as long as she gets what she wants." He told them. "Believe it or not I'm doing this to save her, to save us all. I don't want to see another Knights killed because of her search for revenge."
"Another?" Shanru questioned quietly. "What other Knights have been killed before?"
"My father to name just one." Kao answered, trying to keep the bitter tone out of his voice. "Please, just don't fight anymore. Maybe then we can all live in peace. That is what we have been wanting ever since we were old enough to understand what my mother wanted, us to do."
"Well if he's saying please," Miraku began, "than he must be serious. I vote we do what he asks, for old time sake."
Reluctanly, Saraku, Shanru, Kiru, Hajiru, and Huraku agreed. Kao mentally sighed a relief, but his relief was short lived.
"I will not stop fighting!" Garu cried. "We have been ordered to kill them at any cost and I will not turn my back on our Queen just because her son asked me to!" He dodged past the others and ran forward, only to be stopped by Kao.
Kao had created a sort of prison with his Darkness abilities. A solid black cloud of darkness had surrounded Garu so he couldn't move. "Don't make me do this to you Garu! I don't want to be your enemy." Concentrating, he slammed the knight into a wall, trying to knock some sense into him. "Stand down Garu."
Garu struggled to his feet and glared.
"Stand down." Kao repeated. Garu said nothing, but he didn't move again. Kao turned to watch Himeno deal with the others. I have done the most that I can right now father, he thought. I hope that it will help.
It was up to the Leafe Knights to help Himeno return to the side of good again. Shouldn't be too hard. It seemed that her 'transformation' hadn't totally been completed. His mother never could wait for something she wanted for too long.
"Aren't you even going to try and defend yourself Hayate?" Himeno asked, lowering her hands so they hung at her sides. Hayate opened his mouth to answer her, but he couldn't say anything. Instead, he hung his head and shook it. "No? I was right, you are weak." She raised her hand to attack him again and blew him back so hard, he left an imprint in the wall he hit.
He cried out in pain, but made no other sound as he fell forward and landed with a dull thud on the ground below. The Leafe Knights watched with horror stricken expressions. Slowly, Hayate pulled himself up onto his knees and sat on his feet, but he made no other means to stand up.
He looked up at her and smiled softly. "I will not attack you Himeno. I promise you that and I have yet to break a promise to you." He told her.
Himeno clenched her teeth in anger. "Shut up and fight back!" She yelled. A third blast of wind burst forth from her hand and sent him sailing ten feet in the air to land rather painfully on his back, but still, he refused to do anything to save himself.
"Himeno! Stop this!" Sasame shouted as he ran forward and stoodd in front of Hayate, who was struggling to kneel again. Sasame held his hands out wide as if to protect him. "Don't do this Himeno! We're your friends."
Himeno scoffed. "Friends? I have no friends!" She crossed her arms in the shape of an X in front of her. "You will not interfere!" She yelled and she straightened her arms in a sharp movement. Sasame and all of the others except Hayate were blown back into a wall from her attack. Himeno's red eyes glowed an eerie green and black vines leapt forth from the wall.
They wrapped themselves across their torsos, pinned their arms above their heads and curled around their necks and mouths to keep them from struggling.
"Now, you can all watch as I destroy your leader slowly and painfully." She snapped. She smirked as their eyes widened in shock. They began to struggle against their bondage, but stopped as the vines tightened considerably around their necks. Turning, she walked slowly towards Hayate.
She sneered at him. "Won't you fight back Hayate? For you shall be killed if you don't."
"Then I would rather die." He forced out. But, would she kill him? If it were the only way to get through to her, than he would do it. He looked up at her, his eyes warm and kind. Himeno hesitated. This wasn't her, what she was like. She didn't kill. Her eyes narrowed. Well now she did.
Her hands darted forth and circled his neck. She raised, him up off the ground with unnatural strength and smiled at him in an inhumane way. "That can be arranged."
Hayate fought to breathe as she raised him higher and higher off of the ground. Her fingers were like ice around his neck. Cold, like death. How had her warmth been so easily taken from her so suddenly? It was like she had gone to the dark side in three seconds flat. That didn't make any sense though. What could possibly have made her hate them like this? Unless, it wasn't really her feelings, that was causing her to act this way. That must, be it! These weren't Himeno's emotions, they were someone else's! Her memories and thoughts had been twisted so she would believe they were hers more easily.
Himeno smiled to herself. This was too easy. Finally, she would be able to seek her revenge against him. Against them all for leaving her alone. "Goodbye Hayate. I must say it has been fun."
"N-not, yet!" He gasped out. Himeno's eyes widened. What was this fool talking about? Slowly, he raised his hands and wrapped them around her bare wrist, for her sleeve and slid down her arm after she had lifted him.
His hands were warm on her cold skin. The warmth seemed to spread everywhere within her, wrapped around her very being and seeped deep into her skin, her soul. He was pouring his Leafe into her and she knew it. But why? Why would he do that? He could kill himself if he did that! She jerked her hands away from him and shook them as if they burned.
"Wha–what are you doing?" She asked, taking a few stumbling steps backwards. She raised her hands and looked at them, ignoring the coughing, and deep breaths Hayate had been concentrating on ever since she let him go.
Her powers wavered and the black vines pinning the other Leafe Knights crumbled into harmless ash. They fell a few inches down onto their feet, but they made no movement. They just watched Himeno with curious and concerned stares.
Her head snapped up and she glared at Hayate. "What did you do to me?" She cried.
Hayte used the wall for support and staggered to his feet. "I removed what did not belong to you." He muttered.
Himeno began to shiver despite the fact that Hayate had given her warmth. She fell back a few faltering steps into a giant slab of rock that had fallen from the ceiling. Her chest heaved as she struggled to breathe. Her lungs burned as something clawed at her insides as it fought to remain inside of her, but the Leafe was pushing it out. She clenched her hands into fists, her nails digging into the flesh of her palm, but that pain was nothing compared to the pain from the battle raging inside of her.
After what seemed like an eternity, something finally happened. She winced away from pain that she could not get away from. Himeno screamed. Her head was tilted back so her throat was exposed and out of her mouth flew a black transparent shadow. The Leafe had won and flushed the shadow out.
It was shrieking and snarling in anger as it took the form of the Queen of Disaster. Its hair floating around her in a non-existing wind and it bore long fangs at them all. But what was the creepiest thing about it, was that you could see straight through it. To say it simply, it was the image of evil. It snarled at, them all once more before it shot up through the ceiling and out of sight.
Himeno was breathing heavily and it sounded as if each breath was painful. Her dark violet dress changed back to the light pink one she had been wearing before. Her long sleeves formed the see-through material of her light pink shawl and her dress was now sleeveless, but just as long as before. She moaned quietly in pain, lost her balance and fell forward only to be caught by Sasame, who had started running to her awhile ago. Hayate would have, but he was having trouble balancing even with the help of a wall at the moment.
"Sasame!" Hayate called. "Is Himeno alright?"
"Yeah! Is she okay?" Hajime and Mannen shouted together at the same time.
"Is she all better now?" Shin seconded. Sasame looked down at her uncertainly.
"I'm...I'm not sure." He told them. "She doesn't look too good." He looked down and found her struggling to stay conscious.
Go walked over to Hayate and wrapped an arm around his neck to give him support. "Come on, let's go." And he helped him over to where Sasame stood, holding Himeno in the crook of his arm.
Hayate managed a small smile. "Thanks Go."
Go shrugged it off. "Hey, no problem."
Soon, all seven Knights surrounded Himeno, looking down at her with worried faces. Kao also approached, but was stopped when Go, Kei, Mannen, Hajime, and Shin, stood if front of Sasame, Himeno, and Hayate who now leaned against the rock.
"Back of Kao!" Go growled.
"We won't let you hurt Himeno!" Mannen warned.
"Yeah!" Hajime and Shin agreed.
"I don't want to hurt Himeno, I simply want to help her." Kao answered.
"Help her? How could you possibly help her?" Kei asked, his arms crossed.
Kao sighed and blew his bangs out of his eyes in exasperation. "Look, I know you have no reason to trust me..."
"Damn straight." Go snapped.
Kao gave him a look. "But I honestly want to help. She's weak. A simple boost of Leafe ought to solve that problem real quick."
"Of course." Sasame said. "She needs to become Pretear." He looked up at Kao. "But can she still pre't?"
Kao shrugged. "I don't see why not. She wasn't evil. She was... how do I say this right. Possessed by evil? It should work. But there's only one way to find out."
Sasame turned to Himeno again. "Himeno? Himeno, we need you to pre't." He held his hand out to her. She nodded slightly and raised her own shaking hand to place it in his. Sasame smiled as a small wave of Leafe emitted from their hands. They had their sweet and caring Himeno back.
Ireika was outraged as she watched the shadow come flying back to her. She held her hand out, her palm up and it settled there calmly. It wrapped itself around her wrist and vanished into her skin.
She growled and cursed under her breath. Not only had the Leafe Knights survived and turned Himeno back to their side, but Kao and the Disaster Knights were no longer following her orders to fight them. She closed her eyes slowly and when they opened, they glowed, a red and her pupils were lilac and slitted. Her hair and dress blew back in a nonexisting wind.
At least Himeno had served some sort of purpose. She had lured the Leafe Knights out and now, they were all sitting ducks. She would kill them. All of them, for she would allow nothing nor anyone to stand in her way anymore. From now on, she did her own bidding.
-Dark Knight, False Light-
sighs Yay! I got another chapter out, and a new reviewer who got me in the mood to finish it today! Thank you WhisperingMoonDreams and all you other reviewers! I shall be sure to give you all proper thank yous at the end of the story. Not sure if I wrote this chapter, or if it wrote me, so tell me if you liked it or not. Your reviews keep me going! See you next chapter! (and please tell me if you think the chapter title "power of leafe" is appropriate please)