What If?

What if Sasame had confessed his feelings for Takako? Would it have made all the difference? Would Himeno still have been born to be the Prétear? Or will fate come in to play?

Rating: PG? May change later depending on my mood.

Pairings: Meh. Might as well just say! Sasame and Takako are a couple, and it is necessary to check in with them story wise now and then. Though as the story goes on I think we'll being seeing less and less of them because they aren't needed! Hayate and Himeno eventually get together, depending on what comes up! Hehe, any other couples I have in mind, I won't mention:Secretive laugh:

Disclaimer: Is this really necessary? Blah blah blah, I own nothing. I do own the Prétear dvd's… but not the characters or anything like that.

Author's Note: Yay! I think things are coming along nicely! I sat down and started on chapter three shortly after posting chapter 2.

Recap: A head of pink fuzz had already sprouted up on her head, and large pinkish eyes blinked up at her proud parents. The infant gave a wide yawn and both parents laughed and smiled contently.

Fate smiled warmly at the tender image. "Grow up well Himeno. The path you will take won't be easy, so stay strong. I will be there to guide you as much as I can. May your knights always be there to protect you."

Chapter III

16 Years Later

Sasame felt happy. He was still amazed at the way things had turned out. No matter how much he seemed to hope and try for what he wanted the most, he wasn't sure it would ever happen… but it did. Even after all these years, he was still in love as ever with Takako, and she was his. That fact still stunned him every morning when he awoke next to her warmth lying next to him, and the scent of her all around him.

His wonderful wife that could do no wrong in his eyes, lie next to him. Her dark hair tickled his nose, as he leaned in to give her a good morning kiss. She let out a little groan and shifted position slightly. Sasame held her close, not wanting to leave the bed, not quite ready to wake up and face the day yet. It seemed the day had other plans for Sasame though, as a loud knock reverberated through the house.

Takako stirred, and blinked into awareness.

"Darling, is someone at the door?" Sasame nodded, and the knock came again.

"I'll get it, you can stay in bed." Sasame slipped from the warmth of the bed and of Takako's body. He gave her a quick kiss, earning a smile, and donned his white robe. He padded through his home and opened the heavy wooden door.

"Goh, good morning," Sasame greeted the Leafe knight of fire. He didn't see much of the knights anymore since training his replacement after marrying Takako. They were still on friendly terms, except for maybe Hayate, who wasn't really on friendly terms with anyone. Hayate seemed to live for being a Leafe knight, and didn't do much other than train and train others.

Sasame didn't think Hayate was jealous, not exactly, and definitely not of Takako being with Sasame since Hayate had had his chance with her. It seemed though, something was wrong, since Hayate had slowly withdrawn into himself after all that had happened. He didn't open up to anyone, and didn't come to any recreational events in Leafenia except the important festivals, where he still didn't mingle and laugh.

In fact, Sasame couldn't remember the last time Hayate had laughed. He was quite sure his old friend wasn't happy, and Sasame wished that Hayate could experience love and the happiness that he had though he doubted if Hayate would want to accept that. He just seemed to focus his self worth and life on his position as a Leafe knight.

"Sasame?" Goh said his name inquiringly.

Sasame shook himself from his thoughts, "Ah sorry about that, just woke up. Guess I'm still out of it a bit. What did you need?"

Goh smiled his usual warm friendly smile, "You said you would help with the preparations for the spring festival this year, and today's the day!"

Sasame gave a soft sigh, but smiled at Goh. He would rather just cuddle with his wife all day, and bask in her presence… but he had promised.

Sasame nodded at Goh, "Alright, I'll be out after I dress."

"I'll be at the festival grounds; we're starting with the performance stage today. See you there!" Goh said as he, turned and walked away humming merrily. Goh was definitely a morning person, Sasame decided.

He closed the door and headed back into the room to dress. Takako was still sound asleep in the bed, her ebony hair spilled around her. Sasame couldn't help but give her a soft kiss as he passed her. She stirred slightly, but didn't wake up. He smiled at her blissfully, and then pulled on some white cotton pants and a soft button up shirt. Slipping on his shoes and before heading out the door, he gave Takako a goodbye kiss, and told her he would be back later. She mumbled some acknowledgement and drifted back into slumber.

Closing the door behind him, Sasame walked down a dirt path towards the stage area admiring the scenery as he went. Leafenia was beautiful this time of year. Everything was at its greenest and in full bloom so there was a rainbow of colorful flowers adorning the trees, bushes, grass, and everything else. Children laughed and chased each other wearing wreaths of flowers on their heads and around their necks.

Children…

Sasame's smile faltered slightly. He and Takako desperately wanted children, and had tried for years. After so long, having had no results, Sasame and Takako were quite distressed. Sasame feared they would never be able to have children together. He never spoke of this to his beloved, for fear of making her depressed about it.

It was said that the Prétear could help the process and boost fertility for a couple. Of course… there was no Prétear at the moment. Takako no longer held that power.

When a Prétear is bonded in marriage, she looses her power to prêt. No one knows exactly why this happens. There are a few different theories ranging from the more scientific possibilities to the frivolous. Some think it has something to do with the life bond attuning the leafe of the Prétear to her love, so she can only share it with him but is no longer able to produce it as a Prétear should. The more out there thoughts are along the lines of soul mates, and soul bonds… Sasame didn't pay too much attention to those though. They might be true, but all that matter is it happens.

If a Leafe knight is bonded, he also loses his position for about the same thing. Leafe knights are much easier to come across than a Prétear; it's just a matter of training and power. So a Leafe knight is usually released from his duty to tend to his family, then they just train another with the same element power to fill his position.

It had been about sixteen years since Takako relinquished her position as Prétear to be with Sasame, and no new Prétear had been found. They weren't in any immediate danger, but training before a crisis was always helpful. She also had other duties she could perform to help Leafenia and Earth, such as the problem Sasame and Takako dealt with.

Sasame let out a heavy sigh, and ran a hand though his short silky hair.

"Are you Sasame?" A short kid with purple eyes and hair similar to Sasame's own approached him. He wasn't quite sure of the boy's name, but he was sure he was one of the Leafe knights in training.

"Yes? I am Sasame."

The boy broke into a wide grin, "I've heard about you from the other Leafe knights that fought with you. Oh, I am Mannen, knight of ice in training, nice to meetchya!" Mannen had his hands full with a box of various things, so Sasame nodded his head in response. The previous knight of ice, Marion, was Mannen's father. He as well as the knight of plants and the knight of water had all fallen in love and had children. Each had had a child that inherited their powers and succeeded them. Sasame envied them for that. He had yet to meet the knight of sound that had filled his position.

"Pleasure to meet you as well," Sasame glanced around at the swarm of people rushing around to get things set up. He recognized a few familiar faces but didn't see Goh or the stage area. "Which way is the stage area? I'm supposed to meet Goh there."

"I just saw him pass by a while ago, he's that way," Mannen pointed.

"Thanks," Sasame smiled at him, and then headed in the direction Mannen had indicated.

A loud yawn echoed in the darkness, and little lights began to flicker to life. Fate sat up abruptly, and with heavy lidded eyes made her way down an invisible staircase to a platform at the bottom of her mushroom. With a few waves of her small hands she materialized her pink care bear toothbrush, and made her very messy hair back into her usual curled pigtails that bounced when she walked. She began brushing her teeth, padding back up to sit with her cloudy orb in her lap.

"Morning, morning, morning," She said in a sing song voice, "always feels like it comes too soon."

A long yawn distracted her for a few moments before she began to manipulate the orb again. Clouds swirled and churned under her fingers.

"Don't give me a hard time now," She mumbled a little peeved, "I had to wake up too, you got a couple years of rest. Back to work!" The clouds began to part, and an image wavered into view. "That's better," She said giving the orb an approving pat. Her pale pink eyes, focused on the orb now completely.

The little baby with pink fluff on her head had grown and matured. Now sixteen years old, Himeno had a full head of pink hair that bobbed above her shoulders. Her eyes were a darker pink, which would sometimes go almost red. She had a lean athletic build from practicing karate often. Himeno had grown to be quite pretty, but had an odd personality that not many people understood, especially her new family members.

Her mother had passed away when she was still young, but the memories and lessons her mother had taught her in their short amount of time together would stay with Himeno forever. Himeno's mother was kind and gentle, she taught Himeno about gardening and to care for everything living. Even after her mother had passed, little Himeno had continued to protect and care for the flowers her and her mother had grown together. They went with her when she moved from her and her father's little apartment to the huge mansion of his new bride as well.

Himeno was happy that her father had found happiness, and that she had new family members. Somehow though, she didn't feel like she quite fit in. She wasn't good enough for them. She wasn't refined enough. Himeno had tried to befriend her stepsisters, but they never connected.

Lying on her balcony, staring at the blue sky, Himeno thought of these things. How different her life had become since her father married Natsue. She couldn't connect with her stepsisters, she didn't feel like she lived up to her step mother's expectations, and her father was so caught up with his new bride that she rarely saw him. At school the girls all thought her stuck up with her new position in the world, though Himeno hadn't changed. She was lonely. So alone. No one needed her. She would appear positive and energetic and sometimes felt okay, but she hid her real feelings often.

Well, she wasn't totally alone, she had one friend. One friend who didn't care how rich she had suddenly become, or think her snobbish. Yayoi was one person she could call a friend, she was a rare case, and with a strange personality that would, at times, go above and beyond Himeno's.

Ending Author's Note : I'm curious about other couples everyone likes with this, so please tell me! HugsnKisses likes Goh, but I'm not sure if she has someone in the anime that she would like to see him with. Hopefully not Mayune… I feel sorry for anyone who gets stuck with her.