Hiya everybody! Serena's back in action! I got this chapter in as fast as I could. Anyways…OMG I got some reviews! O.O Yay! I'm happy! .
Review Responses:
Inuyumi: Thanks for reading my story. Don't worry, I'll try and add you to the story…but you still haven't answered my questions that I sent you!
LadyMoon: Omg, thank you soooo much! Gives hug wipes fake tear You are soo good to me! Thanks so much. I just can't say that enough. .
Disclaimer: …you guys have heard this a million times…
Chapter 4
"Akane! Wake up!" Sakana poked her sister. Akane groaned and rolled over.
"Go away, Sakana. Just five more minutes," she mumbled and tried to go back to sleep. She heard Sakana sigh and exit through the door. She smiled, and, expecting not to be bothered again, tried to fall back asleep. She didn't hear the stealthy footfalls that had reentered the room and began sneaking up on her. Just as she was about to enter dreamland, a tidal wave of freezing water poured over her.
"AHHH! SAKANA, I'M GONNA GET YOU FOR THAT!" Akane screamed. Sakana grinned and screamed playfully down the stairs with Akane not too far behind. Just as Sakana was about to exit the house, Akane grabbed her shirt and pulled her back.
"What the hell did you pour freezing cold water on me for?" Akane yelled. She grinned inwardly when she saw Sakana shift uncomfortably. That would teach her not to pour water on her.
"Well, uh, you see, Mannen came over and said that we would be training today, and I, uh, thought you would want to, too, so I woke you up. You probably would've yelled at me more if I hadn't," she smiled, and Akane let her drop to the ground with an ungraceful thump.
"Well, you could've woken me up without pour water all over me," Akane pouted, then relaxed. "What time is it anyways?"
"It's 11:00," Sakana answered. Akane's eyes widened.
"WHAT? Why didn't you wake me up earlier?" Akane rushed back upstairs. She rummaged through her dresser and pulled out a Happy Bunny shirt that said "Cute but Psycho" with Happy bunny in a straight jacket. From her closet she pulled out a pair of blue jeans and got dressed. She rushed into her bathroom and quickly brushed her blonde hair before rushing back downstairs, panting.
"Wow, five minutes. That's a record, even for you, since you usually take like 20 minutes to get ready," Sakana joked.
"Yeah well, you didn't exactly give me any time," Akane's breathing slowed as she willed her heart to find its natural rhythm again.
They walked outside into the blinding light of the almost-afternoon sun. Shielding their eyes with their arms, they walked down the sidewalk next to their two story house towards the park.
"So, how do you think they are gonna train us?" Akane asked. Sakana shrugged and Akane sighed. "I just hope Hayate isn't mad at me anymore."
"Why would he be mad at you?" Sakana asked and Akane glared at her. "What…oh. I remember now," She said. "Don't worry; he won't be mad at you. I mean, it was your first time. I would've done worse." Sakana joked and Akane laughed.
"Yeah, you're right," Akane agreed, feeling more comfortable now. "Doesn't today feel like Friday?"
"Yeah. I still don't know why they made us go to school yesterday. I mean, those stupid benchmark tests are so easy," Sakana agreed.
"Yeah, and they just had to have them right before fall break. Really stupid," Akane added. They reached the park gates and entered. The park, just like they expected, was deserted. The swings and playground in the sand were void of the usual little annoying kids who always pestered you to play with them and help them make a sand castle. After ten minutes of your sleeve getting tugged it got really annoying.
"Aw, the wall isn't here. I guess it got tired and took a vacation," Sakana said, making Akane laugh.
Akane and Sakana sat on the swings and waited for the Leafe Knights to come. They waited…and waited…and waited…and waited…
"This is the song that never ends," Sakana began.
"Yes it goes on and on my friends," Akane and Sakana began to sing. "Some people started singing it, not knowing what it was, and then they started singing it forever just because it is the song that never ends. Yes it goes on and on my-AHHHHHH!" Akane and Sakana yelped and fell off the swings.
"God, don't scare us like that!" Sakana scolded as she stood up, rubbing her head.
"Yeah, really, what was that for?" Akane asked.
"Well, your singing was so atrocious I couldn't stand it any longer," Hayate teased.
"Well, I'm sorry, Mr. I-am-a-singing-expert," Akane pouted. The other Leafe Knights appeared from behind the playground and trees. Mannen, Hajime, and Shin said hi and went to go play in the sand while Sasame, Goh, and Kei gathered around Hayate.
"Who's the wall?" Goh asked. Sakana grinned evilly.
"You!" Sakana yelled and jumped onto his back. Goh instinctively hooked her legs so she wouldn't fall. "Onward steed!" she yelled and pointed forward. Everyone sweat dropped while Akane was laughing hysterically. Goh shrugged and, deciding to play along, gave Sakana a short ride around the playground. After one lap he set her down and rubbed his back.
"God, Sakana, next time warn me when you're gonna jump on me," Goh, moaned.
"Hey, I'm not that heavy," Sakana defended.
"Well, you surprised me…but you are kinda short for your age," Goh reasoned.
"Hey! Being short is a good thing 'cuz you can get free piggy back rides!" Sakana exclaimed.
"Right…" Goh said.
"Can I have another one? Pweese?" Sakana asked, giving Goh the infamous puppy dog eyes face.
"Will you two stop that? We have to start training. We don't have all day," Hayate interrupted, obviously irritated. Sakana growled and Akane giggled. Hayate started walking over to an empty area of grass. "Let's go, you three," he said to the three boys, who reluctantly followed. The rest of the Knights and the girls followed behind.
"Alright you two," Hayate turned to the girls. "Pick someone to prêt with. After you train with them, you will switch to a different Knight," Hayate explained. The girls nodded.
"Hey, Sasame, wanna go first?" Sakana asked. Sasame smiled and held out his hand. Sakana took it in a brilliant flash of white light. The light disappeared, and Sakana stood where Sasame would've been, dressed in the Sound Pretear's outfit once again. "I'm ready," Sakana grinned. "Your turn to choose." Akane shifted uncomfortably. She knew who she wanted to chose, but was afraid that he would refuse. She breathed deeply and turned to Hayate.
"Hayate, can I have another chance?" She asked. Hayate glared at her. That was all the answer she needed. He was still mad at her. "Ok," she turned halfway before she was stopped by a powerful hand.
"Fine," he said, his voice low. Akane's eyes lit up, but she was still nervous of what he might do. He offered his hand and Akane took it. Immediately a flash of bluish light enveloped them. Akane could feel Hayate beginning to fuse into her and a soft wind caressed her body. When she was sure the light had gone, she opened her eyes. She was once again dressed in the Wind Pretear's outfit. She looked up and stared at her sister challengingly.
Sakana smirked back. "Bring it on!" she yelled and took a fighting stance while Akane did the same.
"Ok, now on three," Kei called out. "One, two," Kei never finished his count, for Akane and Sakana had already started fighting. They flew up, throwing punches and kicks at each other, each of them missing. Akane, seeing as they wouldn't get anywhere like this, stopped in midair and focused her Leafe into her hands. She felt a soft breeze passed by and opened her eyes.
"Whoa," Sakana let out a dry whistle. "Man, I still can't whistle!" she yelled. "Stop laughing, Sasame!" Akane smirked and took the chance to attack. She flew up and positioned her sword above her sister's head. She slashed at the air and a powerful gust hurtled towards Sakana. Too late Sakana looked up and was hit face first with the gust.
"AHH!" she yelled and plummeted to the ground with a thump. Akane smirked and flew down to the ground next to her sister and extended her hand. Sakana smirked and pulled her sister down with her.
"Ow! Hey, that wasn't fair!" Akane shouted.
"Well, neither was blasting me with air while I wasn't looking!" Sakana protested.
"Well, maybe you should stop worrying about not being able to whistle and start focusing on the training," Akane defended.
"But I can't whistle! Everyone else can," She pouted.
"Ok, stop whining and let's finish this battle," Akane said. They both stood up and took their same spots again. Akane positioned her sword in front of her, both hands on the midnight blue hilt. She watched as a rainbow of light began to surround her sister. She put two fingers to her mouth and blew, sending a wave of sound towards Akane. Akane gasped and jumped out of the way just in time. The ground and trees weren't so lucky.
"You were lucky that time," Hayate stated.
"No shit, Sherlock!" Akane yelled. "Ok, this time you are going down!" Akane waved her sword in circles above her head, and then thrust it in the air, pointing it towards Sakana, sending a mini tornado towards her. Sakana's eyes widened. She tried shooting another Sonic Arrow, but fumbled with her attack. She flew backwards 20 feet, landing on her butt.
"Ow…. Hey, you alright, Sasame?" she asked. Sasame must've been alright because Sakana sighed and stood.
"Ok, girls, un-prêt with your current Knights. You are gonna switch now," Kei ordered.
"Uh, how exactly do we do that?" Sakana asked. "We didn't un-prêt last time, you guys just came out on your own." Kei sighed and sifted his fingers through his long, blonde hair.
"Just concentrate on letting the Leafe out of your body," he said like it was the simplest thing in the world. The girls nodded and concentrated. Akane felt a breeze caress her body and opened her eyes. Both Sasame and Hayate were standing before them now. Hayate and a scratch or two, but Sasame had several cuts and bruises.
"Oh, I'm sorry, Sasame!" Akane apologized. She had forgotten that the Knights get hurt instead of them. Sasame waved her off.
"No, it's alright. You both did very well," he said calmly and smiled. Akane smiled back and turned to Hayate.
"Thanks, Hayate, for training with me," she said. Hayate didn't say anything, but turned away. Akane growled. From then on she vowed to make him talk to her one way or another.
"Ok, girls, pick a different Knight," Sasame said, and Akane and Sakana looked around.
"Hey, Goh, wanna go next?" Sakana asked. Goh looked around nervously, his spiky red and brown hair swaying slightly, before sighing and holding out his hand. "Yay!" Sakana cheered as she took his hand. Again they were immediately engulfed in a blinding red light. Akane shielded her eyes. When the light died down, Sakana stood there, dressed in the Fire Pretear's outfit. It looked very similar to the Wind Pretear outfit, except with red, white, and orange colors and instead of the wavy blue ribbons, she had a long red and orange cape.
"Ok, my turn," Akane said and turned to Kei. "Wanna go with me, Kei?" she asked, smiling. Kei sighed and gave in. Akane had been able to tell in the short time she had known him that Kei was not very fond of kids; why he was like that was beyond her. She took his outstretched hand and they disappeared in a flash of yellow light. She felt Kei's Leafe fuse within her and the light disappeared. She opened her eyes and found herself in the Light Pretear's outfit. One her shoulders was a yellow and white cape that was attached to a mid-length white and yellow dress.
"Are you ready now?" Sakana asked impatiently.
"Yep," Akane and Sakana took their places and stances again. "Hey, Kei, do I attack the same way as with Hayate? Like by sensing the Leafe or whatever?"
"Yes, but my attack is different," Kei said.
"Yeah, I figured that." Sakana was already focusing her Leafe energy. A gigantic axe of fire appeared in her hands, causing Akane to step backwards a few feet. After her initial shock, she smirked and concentrated her own Leafe. She immediately sensed the Light Leafe and focused it in her hands, following the instructions Kei was giving her in her mind.
"Fire Axe!" She heard Sakana yell and her eyes shot open. She gaped at the oncoming attack and was thrust aside, not being able to move away in time.
"Kei, are you ok?" Akane asked.
"Yeah, I'm ok…Hey, watch out!" he yelled. Akane looked up to see another oncoming attack. This time she was able to move out of the way in time. Quickly she stood up and refocused her Leafe, bringing it out into her hands. Sakana charged in for another attack just as Akane released her attack.
"Fire Axe!" Sakana cried.
"Light Wind!" Akane cried. With an amazing explosion, the two attacks collided. Akane's eyes widened and she ducked the huge axe.
"Hey, watch where you're aiming that thing! You almost chopped off my head!" Akane shouted.
"Hehe…sorry!" Sakana said and brought her axe back up. "Next time pay attention!"
"There was smoke covering my eyes, dummy! I had an excuse!" Akane argued.
"Whatever. Still, I am gonna beat you!" Sakana swung her axe again. Akane tried to deflect her attack with one of her own, but the axe overpowered it again and she was sent flying across the playground and into the slide.
"Ow…" Akane rubbed her head. "Oo, you are gonna pay for that!" Akane yelled and began to charge in, focusing her attack. She was stopped mid-way; however, buy a certain tall and white-haired Knight.
"Sasame! Why'd you stop me?" Akane asked, eager to finish their fight.
"That is enough for now. Let's stop training for today before anyone gets seriously hurt," He reasoned. The two girls huffed and recalled their attacks reluctantly. In a flash of red and yellow light, the Leafe Knights un-preted with them. Goh only had a small scratch and was virtually unscathed. Kei, however, was not so lucky. He had several cuts and bruises. He no longer looked like a woman, like everyone who didn't know him thought he was.
"Kei, are you ok?" Akane asked, running her fingers over his cuts. He pushed her hand away.
"Yeah, I'm ok." He said and stood tall for emphasis.
"Wow, you guys were almost as good as Himeno!" Mannen shouted, then immediately covered his mouth with his hands.
"Mannen, you idiot!" Goh shouted and slapped him upside the head.
"Himeno? You mean the legendary White Pretear?" Sakana asked. Akane wished she hadn't. She could tell that the mention of Himeno was gonna start something.
"Yes. She had started out just like the two of you, having to fight a demon larva without any practice at first. Then she began to train and became one of the most powerful Pretears in history," Kei explained. "Even for a kid, she was the only one to ever become a White Pretear."
"Yes, we know. We learned about her. But what happened to her?" Akane asked. The Knights shifted their feet uncomfortably and Hayate huffed away. "Oh, I'm sorry."
"She lived a very long life. Her Pretear powers seemed to prolong her death. But even so, she was killed by the new Princess of Disaster, trying to save us, which is why we needed your help," Sasame added. "Her death was mournful to all of us, but not more so than a certain someone," Sasame's silver eyes shifted slightly in Hayate's direction. Immediate pity surged through Akane, even though she knew that the last thing Hayate wanted now was for someone to pity him.
"I know you probably don't want anyone to say this, but I'm sorry, Hayate," she said quietly.
"Save it," he spat.
"Hayate!" Sasame scolded.
"No, it's ok. I knew he would say something like that," Akane said.
"Hayate, she said she was sorry. She can figure out that you cared for Himeno," Sasame said.
"Because you told her about it," Hayate spat.
"But even so, she was just trying to be your friend, just like Himeno had done. And both times, you shunned them. You eventually came to love Himeno. Why can't you accept Akane like you did her? You don't have to love her to do so," Hayate didn't say anything.
"Why'd you have to do that, Hayate?" Sakana yelled. "She was only trying to be your friend!"
"Guys, forget it. If he doesn't want to talk, then don't force him," Akane said, seemingly normal. Sakana, however, had seen this act too many times before to know that she was just hiding everything. Akane let out a big yawn and plopped down on the grass, staring up at the red, orange, and pink sunset.
"Hey, Akane…you ok?" Sakana asked. Akane looked up at her like she had grown another head.
"Yeah, why?"
"It's just…oh, never mind," Sakana sighed and yawned. "Hey, I'm gonna go back home. All this training got me tired. See ya!" Sakana started running towards her house. "Akane, you coming?" She called over her shoulder. Akane nodded and raced after her sister, waving good bye at the Knights.
"You are lucky she took that well," Sasame said.
"Hn. We don't need a stupid girl who can't even handle the Pretear powers," Hayate huffed and turned back towards the direction of his apartment, the other Knights following suit.
A/N: OMG, I know this chapter sucked. And at the end Hayate used Hiei's famous saying/word. I know it probably doesn't suit him, but w/e.
I originally had Akane running home crying like she did last chapter, but then I was like, "I wouldn't do that!" and since she is kinda modeled after me, I changed it (and I say kinda cause some of the things she is gonna do I wouldn't…hehehe) Ok…I forgot what I was gonna say before…so if I remember I will repost this chapter. Anyways...please review!