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Chapter 3: To say I’m Sorry

"How could you, Hayate?" Takako was sitting next to Sasame, her eyes cast across the table at the Knight of Wind. Reluctantly, Hayate had sought out the couple for help. Of course he hadn’t said he needed help, because he didn’t…he just needed a few ideas. Not help. Sasame shook his head at his fellow knight, emitting a faint sigh, as there was to be no answer to Takako‘s rhetorical question.

"You need to apologize to her," Sasame instructed. Hayate was not looking at either of them, nor did he seem to be paying attention. Instead, his eyes were resting on the frail abused hayantia he had received as a gift.

'Himeno...' his thoughts were of nothing but her, right now. The hurt he had seen in her eyes. The pain he had caused her. 'I'm such an asshole!' he cursed himself, closing his eyes tight and balled up a fist. He was her protector, her knight. She was his savor, his princes. ‘How could I be so heartless?!‘ Sasame and Takako gave each other a glance, as it was obvious Hayate was battling himself.

"I'm sure it can still be planted," Takako assured quietly, reaching out to take the flower into her delicate hands. Hayate reached out, scooping the flower away from her grasp…his eyes partly open again, gazing down upon the nearly withering hayantia.

Shin hadn't planted the flower, the little boy was crying too hard to do much of anything. Shin, like the other Leafe Knights, loved Himeno as well...some as a sister, while the children looked up to her as a mother.

~ only a few hours earlier ~

The blonde child knight had just peeked himself through the bush, following after Hayate, when he saw Himeno's tear filled eyes. It broke the little boys heart, causing him to break down into waling sobs once the Pretear had fled back to her home. Goh rushed towards the brush, crouching down near the waling child. As the Knight of Fire pulled the sobbing boy into his arms, Mannen’s mouth immediately started running off.

“What is wrong with you, Hayate? Don’t you have a brain?!” The once horror struck Knight turned swiftly on the third youngest. Glare meeting glare. “What if Himeno turned into a Princess of Disaster, now? It’ll be your fault, again!”

“You watch your mouth!” shouted Goh, still trying to console Shin, though the arguing was definitely not helping. Takako seemed to have taken Mannen’s comment very personally, but she too agreed with the Knight of Ice. If she didn’t believe in Himeno’s stretch, this situation could very well turn into another battle for the world.

“Mannen, you shouldn’t say such things,” Takako defended, stepping forth to stand next to Hayate.

“Why? It’s true! Hayate is so damn insensitive all the time,” Mannen almost shouted back in defense. Hayate had yet to move, nor say a word. Slowly, his expression was dropping from an angry glare to that of realization.

‘What if I did hurt her that much? Will she hate me like Takako did, once?’ His deep blue eyes widen as his thoughts continued to plummets towards the worse. ‘I could loose her, my princess…’

“Mannen, shut up!” Goh demanded, standing now with a sniffling Shin held in his arms. While the Knight of Fire and Ice continued to shout at one another, Takako’s focus was back on Hayate. She stepped another few steps closer, so she could look up at his face. Hayate did not seem to see her move closer, and only showed signs of being conscious after she spoke.

“Hayate, I think we should find Sasame.” She spoke in a calm, quiet tone…reaching out to rest a hand upon his forearm. He watched as her hand moving towards him, and at the last moment jerked himself away…his expression turning sour, again.

“I don’t need your help,” Hayate snapped. This was the first time Hayate said anything since Himeno had ran off. Takako nearly jumped a step back at Hayate’s harsh tone. She moved aside to let the Knight of Wind pass. Goh and Mannen were still at each other’s throats, while Shin was watching Hayate come towards them.

“I said to shut up!” demanded the fiery haired knight.

“Stop trying to boss me around like a kid!” retorted the younger knight, stomping his foot as if it was to prove his standing.

“Both of you, shut up!” Hayate shouted. Shin gave a sobbed gasp, pressing further against his caretaker’s shoulder. Goh stepped back, turning his body so Shin was farthest from Hayate…while Mannen barely moved aside, again trying to prove himself. Hayate stopped in front of Goh, looking to Shin. The blonde haired boy snuffled, still holding the rejected hayantia close. With a sigh, Hayate’s expression soften enough so Shin would not coward from him.

“Let me have the flower back?” he asked, holding a hand up for the delicate gift. There was a moment of hesitation, as Shin looked his eldest brother in the eye…then nodded, relinquishing the flower. “Arigato, Shin.” Once he had his flower back, Hayate walked off without so much as a glance back.

~ end flash back ~

Taken aback by Hayate’s almost harsh action, Takako looked up to Sasame in silent question of why he wouldn‘t allow her to touch the hayantia. Sasame simply gave a shake of his head. Giving it a moment thought, she nodded to his just as silent answer. Hayate wasn’t forbidding her from touching the gift, he was merely being protective over it…as he would be over Himeno, herself.

“How?” came Hayate’s voice finally, “How do I even face her after what I’ve done?”

“Well,” begun Sasame, taking in a breath. A slender finger lifted up to press his glasses back along the bridge of his nose, gazing down at the beaten up hayantia in thought. “Himeno is a very forgiving girl, as we all have seen. Though, it usually would be against my better judgment to suggest…why not try confronting her, tonight?”

“Tonight?“ Hayate looked at Sasame as if he had two heads, as did Takako. Sasame did not seem phased by either’s gaze, as he continued to explain himself.

“Himeno is always strait forward with us, and usually doesn’t beat around the bush. She has always admitted when she was wrong, and apologized without hesitation. Maybe she’d appreciate the same forwardness?” He gave both Hayate and Takako a moment, reaching up to pull his glasses off…cleaning the lens with a corner of his shirt. “Or you could not, and see what hell she has waiting for you tomorrow? As forgiving as she may be, Himeno does have a temper.”

Hayate swallowed loudly, though it has been less common as of recently, he’s been the main target of Himeno’s aggressive assaults. Flash backs of the many times he had crossed the line while making fun of her. Choosing the wrong words to say in response to certain of her requests, or towards something she had done. Not to mention, the numerous times he had burst into her bedroom uninvited, and without knocking, while she was getting dressed. Sometimes he swore the burses were not even healed when she’d nail him again with that iron fist of hers.

“Maybe you should go to her tonight, Hayate,” Takako agreed encouragingly. Sasame, having finished cleaning his spectacles, slide them back on to look Hayate in the face. Relaxing from the cringing his memories induced, the Knight of Wind exhaled a long sigh. Nodding, but not looking up. His eyes lingering still upon the hayantia.

With nothing more to be said, Sasame lightly took Takako under the arm and escorted her away with him. Leaving Hayate to his thoughts.

‘Just come out and say it, I’m sorry. I am sorry…a sorry pathetic excuse for a knight!’ He was berating himself again, but quickly shook himself out of it. ‘No. You have to stay calm…stay focused. Get it together, Hayate! Go to her, apologize…then…tell her? No, not tonight. Just say your sorry.’ His eyes rose from the wilting hayantia, searching the surrounding grounds for something. Even if he knew what he was looking for, he didn’t find it. Standing, he tucked the gift into an inner pocket, and made his way towards the gateway that separated Leafenia and the Earth.

Hayate was met with a still gloomy looking night sky, covered in grey clouds. The moon and stars were hidden from sight this eve, while icy drops of rain lazily trickled down upon the city. Hayate walked across the Awayuki gardens, around the back of the building…and once close enough, lifted off the ground to glide up onto the roof. From the rooftop, he walked across the massive house till he was standing over Himeno’s bedroom. There he lingered, thinking frantically now what he would say to her.

‘Apologize, plan and simple,’ he instructed himself inwardly. Nodding as if he needed to agree with himself, Hayate began to practice in his head, ‘Himeno, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to say those things. I’m an ass. Forgive me?’ He shook his head, trying again. ‘Himeno, I was wrong to say those things. I didn’t mean what I said. You mean so much to me, and I’m sorry.’

Hayate was happier with his second apology, confirming this was what he’d say with a nod. Gracefully, the knight pushed off the roof with his foot…gliding down to the balcony below. He landed without a sound, moving towards the large paned doors. But as he reached to push open the doors, he stopped…his fingertips barely touching the handles. From inside he could hear faint sobbing.

‘Himeno? She…she’s still crying?’ His heart throbbed painfully, causing his hands to fall to his sides. Could he have hurt her so much, with only a few mere words? He wasn’t prepared for her to still be crying. She was suppose to be angry at him by now, waiting to nail him with a karate chop or one of her iron fist punches. That he was prepared for, but tears? Sobbing?

‘Now what?’ he asked inwardly, almost lost.

Himeno had woken only a short while early from a heart wrenching nightmare, tears staining her cheeks. There had not been a moment since she ran home this afternoon that she’d stopped crying, except for the brief periods she fell asleep…exhausted from her crying, and the overwhelming emotions.

‘I don’t want to hurt like this. I just want it all to stop and go away.’ Himeno had found herself wishing to not wake up, while laying curled up around a pillow. ‘It hurts so much…my heart, it feels as if I may die.’ She squeezed the pillow closer, shoving her face into his soft silk cover in an attempt to suffocate her agony.

‘Why, Hayate? Do you really not care?’ She was getting made at the thought of him, while her heart continued to ache in its broken state. ‘Hayate, you are so insensitive to everyone! Damn you…damn you damn you damn you! You let me fall in love with you. Its all your fault! You are your beautiful eyes…your smile…’ Her anger was subsiding again, her sobs growing quieter as her thought fell back on Hayate as she had seen him for the last year. As her knight, her protector and friend. ‘…the way you watch over me, and protect me. I just thought…‘

Hayate noticed the sobbing had ceased. This was a good thing, maybe he could still apologize to her. Mustering up some courage, Hayate again reached for the handles…giving them a quick push forward.

‘What?!’ There was a sting of panic, as the doors did not open…instead they merely shuddered together, causing the curtains hanging upon their inner frame to sway slightly. ‘She…she locked me out?’

Himeno sat up with a start, wide eyes shot towards her balcony. For the first time since Hayate arrived did she notice his silhouette shadowed upon the thin curtains. She hesitated, then swung her legs over the edge of the bed. Standing, she began to make her way across her room…reaching out to unlock the doors, but she stopped.

‘No. Its my fault…‘ Pulling her hand to her chest, she backed up slowly. ‘Its all my fault. If only I didn’t fall for him…I wouldn’t hurt so much. I wouldn’t have such angry thoughts.’

As if a gong went off in her head, it hit her. This is how Takako turned into the Princess of Disaster…allowing herself to fall in love with, and then be hurt by Hayate. Gasping, she threw a hand over her own mouth to silence herself. ‘I…no! I don’t want to turn into a Princess of Disaster. I won’t!’

Hayate gave it another try, causing the doors to shutter again. ‘Damn it, Himeno!’ he cursed, frustrated at the fact he was being denied his opportunity to apologize rather then being locked out.

Himeno watched the doors shutter again, sitting down upon her bed…falling into a trance-like stare, her thoughts seeming more weightless now. Her heart still ached, but not with the intensity of earlier. She had to make a choose, to continue to love Hayate and chance becoming the Princess of Disaster…or…

“Himeno?” a deep voice called softly from outside. Her eyes were on his silhouette still, but his voice was distant to her.

‘…Ha…yate?’ She could not speak his name out loud, her body forbid it. The silhouette raised a curled knuckle, giving a very light knock. Still she did not answer.

“Himeno…if…if you can hear me, I….” The silhouette bowed its head. Hayate wanted to see her face, to wipe away her tears…he needed to embrace her in his arms. He could unlock the doors with his wind, but he wouldn’t do that. She locked him out…and as much as it hurt him, he had to respect her actions. “…I’m sorry.”

Himeno’s heart gave a painful throb, and she turned her eyes away from his shadowed silhouette. “Me, too,” she whispered so softly her knight did not hear.

There was a very long silence, where neither moved. Hayate waiting in hopes she would come to the balcony, while Himeno was waiting for him to leave. Finally, the knight gave in. Reaching into his jacket, he pulled out the beaten up gift from his inner pocket…letting it fall to the balcony floor. In a swirl of wind, the silhouette disappeared completely.

Himeno gasped a sob, running to the balcony doors…unlocking them, and throwing them open. Perhaps she was still hoping he was still there, though she knew he wouldn’t be. Her eyes searched the gloomy sky, upon finding nothing she let her gaze fall to her feet.

“The hayantia?“ she breathed, moving to her knees near the fallen flower. With shaking hands, she moved to scoop the withering flower up…but instead she left it laying there, abandon. She felt as if it her heart was going to be wrenched from her chest. He had given the gift back? Did that mean he had given up, too?

Breaking down into tears again, Himeno lifted herself up off the ground…leaving the flower where it lay. The doors where thrown closed, and locked shut. Falling upon her bed again, sobbing as if her tears would rid her of her pain. Himeno would not sleep well tonight…nor would Hayate.

Description
Chapter 3: To say I’m Sorry

"How could you, Hayate?" Takako was sitting next to Sasame, her eyes cast across the table at the Knight of Wind. Reluctantly, Hayate had sought out the couple for help. Of course he hadn’t said he needed help, because he didn’t…he just needed a few ideas. Not help. Sasame shook his head at his fellow knight, emitting a faint sigh, as there was to be no answer to Takako‘s rhetorical question.

"You need to apologize to her," Sasame instructed. Hayate was not looking at either of them, nor did he seem to be paying attention. Instead, his eyes were resting on the frail abused hayantia he had received as a gift.

'Himeno...' his thoughts were of nothing but her, right now. The hurt he had seen in her eyes. The pain he had caused her. 'I'm such an asshole!' he cursed himself, closing his eyes tight and balled up a fist. He was her protector, her knight. She was his savor, his princes. ‘How could I be so heartless?!‘ Sasame and Takako gave each other a glance, as it was obvious Hayate was battling himself.

"I'm sure it can still be planted," Takako assured quietly, reaching out to take the flower into her delicate hands. Hayate reached out, scooping the flower away from her grasp…his eyes partly open again, gazing down upon the nearly withering hayantia.

Shin hadn't planted the flower, the little boy was crying too hard to do much of anything. Shin, like the other Leafe Knights, loved Himeno as well...some as a sister, while the children looked up to her as a mother.

~ only a few hours earlier ~

The blonde child knight had just peeked himself through the bush, following after Hayate, when he saw Himeno's tear filled eyes. It broke the little boys heart, causing him to break down into waling sobs once the Pretear had fled back to her home. Goh rushed towards the brush, crouching down near the waling child. As the Knight of Fire pulled the sobbing boy into his arms, Mannen’s mouth immediately started running off.

“What is wrong with you, Hayate? Don’t you have a brain?!” The once horror struck Knight turned swiftly on the third youngest. Glare meeting glare. “What if Himeno turned into a Princess of Disaster, now? It’ll be your fault, again!”

“You watch your mouth!” shouted Goh, still trying to console Shin, though the arguing was definitely not helping. Takako seemed to have taken Mannen’s comment very personally, but she too agreed with the Knight of Ice. If she didn’t believe in Himeno’s stretch, this situation could very well turn into another battle for the world.

“Mannen, you shouldn’t say such things,” Takako defended, stepping forth to stand next to Hayate.

“Why? It’s true! Hayate is so damn insensitive all the time,” Mannen almost shouted back in defense. Hayate had yet to move, nor say a word. Slowly, his expression was dropping from an angry glare to that of realization.

‘What if I did hurt her that much? Will she hate me like Takako did, once?’ His deep blue eyes widen as his thoughts continued to plummets towards the worse. ‘I could loose her, my princess…’

“Mannen, shut up!” Goh demanded, standing now with a sniffling Shin held in his arms. While the Knight of Fire and Ice continued to shout at one another, Takako’s focus was back on Hayate. She stepped another few steps closer, so she could look up at his face. Hayate did not seem to see her move closer, and only showed signs of being conscious after she spoke.

“Hayate, I think we should find Sasame.” She spoke in a calm, quiet tone…reaching out to rest a hand upon his forearm. He watched as her hand moving towards him, and at the last moment jerked himself away…his expression turning sour, again.

“I don’t need your help,” Hayate snapped. This was the first time Hayate said anything since Himeno had ran off. Takako nearly jumped a step back at Hayate’s harsh tone. She moved aside to let the Knight of Wind pass. Goh and Mannen were still at each other’s throats, while Shin was watching Hayate come towards them.

“I said to shut up!” demanded the fiery haired knight.

“Stop trying to boss me around like a kid!” retorted the younger knight, stomping his foot as if it was to prove his standing.

“Both of you, shut up!” Hayate shouted. Shin gave a sobbed gasp, pressing further against his caretaker’s shoulder. Goh stepped back, turning his body so Shin was farthest from Hayate…while Mannen barely moved aside, again trying to prove himself. Hayate stopped in front of Goh, looking to Shin. The blonde haired boy snuffled, still holding the rejected hayantia close. With a sigh, Hayate’s expression soften enough so Shin would not coward from him.

“Let me have the flower back?” he asked, holding a hand up for the delicate gift. There was a moment of hesitation, as Shin looked his eldest brother in the eye…then nodded, relinquishing the flower. “Arigato, Shin.” Once he had his flower back, Hayate walked off without so much as a glance back.

~ end flash back ~

Taken aback by Hayate’s almost harsh action, Takako looked up to Sasame in silent question of why he wouldn‘t allow her to touch the hayantia. Sasame simply gave a shake of his head. Giving it a moment thought, she nodded to his just as silent answer. Hayate wasn’t forbidding her from touching the gift, he was merely being protective over it…as he would be over Himeno, herself.

“How?” came Hayate’s voice finally, “How do I even face her after what I’ve done?”

“Well,” begun Sasame, taking in a breath. A slender finger lifted up to press his glasses back along the bridge of his nose, gazing down at the beaten up hayantia in thought. “Himeno is a very forgiving girl, as we all have seen. Though, it usually would be against my better judgment to suggest…why not try confronting her, tonight?”

“Tonight?“ Hayate looked at Sasame as if he had two heads, as did Takako. Sasame did not seem phased by either’s gaze, as he continued to explain himself.

“Himeno is always strait forward with us, and usually doesn’t beat around the bush. She has always admitted when she was wrong, and apologized without hesitation. Maybe she’d appreciate the same forwardness?” He gave both Hayate and Takako a moment, reaching up to pull his glasses off…cleaning the lens with a corner of his shirt. “Or you could not, and see what hell she has waiting for you tomorrow? As forgiving as she may be, Himeno does have a temper.”

Hayate swallowed loudly, though it has been less common as of recently, he’s been the main target of Himeno’s aggressive assaults. Flash backs of the many times he had crossed the line while making fun of her. Choosing the wrong words to say in response to certain of her requests, or towards something she had done. Not to mention, the numerous times he had burst into her bedroom uninvited, and without knocking, while she was getting dressed. Sometimes he swore the burses were not even healed when she’d nail him again with that iron fist of hers.

“Maybe you should go to her tonight, Hayate,” Takako agreed encouragingly. Sasame, having finished cleaning his spectacles, slide them back on to look Hayate in the face. Relaxing from the cringing his memories induced, the Knight of Wind exhaled a long sigh. Nodding, but not looking up. His eyes lingering still upon the hayantia.

With nothing more to be said, Sasame lightly took Takako under the arm and escorted her away with him. Leaving Hayate to his thoughts.

‘Just come out and say it, I’m sorry. I am sorry…a sorry pathetic excuse for a knight!’ He was berating himself again, but quickly shook himself out of it. ‘No. You have to stay calm…stay focused. Get it together, Hayate! Go to her, apologize…then…tell her? No, not tonight. Just say your sorry.’ His eyes rose from the wilting hayantia, searching the surrounding grounds for something. Even if he knew what he was looking for, he didn’t find it. Standing, he tucked the gift into an inner pocket, and made his way towards the gateway that separated Leafenia and the Earth.

Hayate was met with a still gloomy looking night sky, covered in grey clouds. The moon and stars were hidden from sight this eve, while icy drops of rain lazily trickled down upon the city. Hayate walked across the Awayuki gardens, around the back of the building…and once close enough, lifted off the ground to glide up onto the roof. From the rooftop, he walked across the massive house till he was standing over Himeno’s bedroom. There he lingered, thinking frantically now what he would say to her.

‘Apologize, plan and simple,’ he instructed himself inwardly. Nodding as if he needed to agree with himself, Hayate began to practice in his head, ‘Himeno, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to say those things. I’m an ass. Forgive me?’ He shook his head, trying again. ‘Himeno, I was wrong to say those things. I didn’t mean what I said. You mean so much to me, and I’m sorry.’

Hayate was happier with his second apology, confirming this was what he’d say with a nod. Gracefully, the knight pushed off the roof with his foot…gliding down to the balcony below. He landed without a sound, moving towards the large paned doors. But as he reached to push open the doors, he stopped…his fingertips barely touching the handles. From inside he could hear faint sobbing.

‘Himeno? She…she’s still crying?’ His heart throbbed painfully, causing his hands to fall to his sides. Could he have hurt her so much, with only a few mere words? He wasn’t prepared for her to still be crying. She was suppose to be angry at him by now, waiting to nail him with a karate chop or one of her iron fist punches. That he was prepared for, but tears? Sobbing?

‘Now what?’ he asked inwardly, almost lost.

Himeno had woken only a short while early from a heart wrenching nightmare, tears staining her cheeks. There had not been a moment since she ran home this afternoon that she’d stopped crying, except for the brief periods she fell asleep…exhausted from her crying, and the overwhelming emotions.

‘I don’t want to hurt like this. I just want it all to stop and go away.’ Himeno had found herself wishing to not wake up, while laying curled up around a pillow. ‘It hurts so much…my heart, it feels as if I may die.’ She squeezed the pillow closer, shoving her face into his soft silk cover in an attempt to suffocate her agony.

‘Why, Hayate? Do you really not care?’ She was getting made at the thought of him, while her heart continued to ache in its broken state. ‘Hayate, you are so insensitive to everyone! Damn you…damn you damn you damn you! You let me fall in love with you. Its all your fault! You are your beautiful eyes…your smile…’ Her anger was subsiding again, her sobs growing quieter as her thought fell back on Hayate as she had seen him for the last year. As her knight, her protector and friend. ‘…the way you watch over me, and protect me. I just thought…‘

Hayate noticed the sobbing had ceased. This was a good thing, maybe he could still apologize to her. Mustering up some courage, Hayate again reached for the handles…giving them a quick push forward.

‘What?!’ There was a sting of panic, as the doors did not open…instead they merely shuddered together, causing the curtains hanging upon their inner frame to sway slightly. ‘She…she locked me out?’

Himeno sat up with a start, wide eyes shot towards her balcony. For the first time since Hayate arrived did she notice his silhouette shadowed upon the thin curtains. She hesitated, then swung her legs over the edge of the bed. Standing, she began to make her way across her room…reaching out to unlock the doors, but she stopped.

‘No. Its my fault…‘ Pulling her hand to her chest, she backed up slowly. ‘Its all my fault. If only I didn’t fall for him…I wouldn’t hurt so much. I wouldn’t have such angry thoughts.’

As if a gong went off in her head, it hit her. This is how Takako turned into the Princess of Disaster…allowing herself to fall in love with, and then be hurt by Hayate. Gasping, she threw a hand over her own mouth to silence herself. ‘I…no! I don’t want to turn into a Princess of Disaster. I won’t!’

Hayate gave it another try, causing the doors to shutter again. ‘Damn it, Himeno!’ he cursed, frustrated at the fact he was being denied his opportunity to apologize rather then being locked out.

Himeno watched the doors shutter again, sitting down upon her bed…falling into a trance-like stare, her thoughts seeming more weightless now. Her heart still ached, but not with the intensity of earlier. She had to make a choose, to continue to love Hayate and chance becoming the Princess of Disaster…or…

“Himeno?” a deep voice called softly from outside. Her eyes were on his silhouette still, but his voice was distant to her.

‘…Ha…yate?’ She could not speak his name out loud, her body forbid it. The silhouette raised a curled knuckle, giving a very light knock. Still she did not answer.

“Himeno…if…if you can hear me, I….” The silhouette bowed its head. Hayate wanted to see her face, to wipe away her tears…he needed to embrace her in his arms. He could unlock the doors with his wind, but he wouldn’t do that. She locked him out…and as much as it hurt him, he had to respect her actions. “…I’m sorry.”

Himeno’s heart gave a painful throb, and she turned her eyes away from his shadowed silhouette. “Me, too,” she whispered so softly her knight did not hear.

There was a very long silence, where neither moved. Hayate waiting in hopes she would come to the balcony, while Himeno was waiting for him to leave. Finally, the knight gave in. Reaching into his jacket, he pulled out the beaten up gift from his inner pocket…letting it fall to the balcony floor. In a swirl of wind, the silhouette disappeared completely.

Himeno gasped a sob, running to the balcony doors…unlocking them, and throwing them open. Perhaps she was still hoping he was still there, though she knew he wouldn’t be. Her eyes searched the gloomy sky, upon finding nothing she let her gaze fall to her feet.

“The hayantia?“ she breathed, moving to her knees near the fallen flower. With shaking hands, she moved to scoop the withering flower up…but instead she left it laying there, abandon. She felt as if it her heart was going to be wrenched from her chest. He had given the gift back? Did that mean he had given up, too?

Breaking down into tears again, Himeno lifted herself up off the ground…leaving the flower where it lay. The doors where thrown closed, and locked shut. Falling upon her bed again, sobbing as if her tears would rid her of her pain. Himeno would not sleep well tonight…nor would Hayate.