There's something missing... But what?
Season 1
A/N
Disclaimer: I don't own MGLN.
Rate: T
My English is not perfect but please, be easy on me. It is a light and a simple story, even if it is a long one (Maybe it'll change with time...). I can't promise but I'll try to update the sooner I can every time.
What is in italic are the thoughts and what are writhed between ''…'' are the dialogues. Flashback will be in italic and the thoughts in normal character.
I don't like to write for nothing, so it will be all. Thanks in advance for reading.
And it begins...
A/N
"What is life?"
Nanoha Takamachi
"It's what makes you who you are."
Fate Testarossa
Episode 1: Each on their side
My life always was well surrounded and perfect if I might say. Never once I had any problems or anything like that. Everything was as expected for the perfect life of a teenager. I had an excellent education and my family were always there for me. My friends took care of me and the school was fun too. I had a job at the family cafe and was good to make cakes.
Even so, I wasn't really happy. I knew I should be grateful for everything, but there was something missing and I couldn't know what it was... And so, I continued forward and tried to find "it". I managed myself to perfection my imperfection at school and even applied to the best school in Japan. Then, what I didn't know was that this action was about to change everything I knew...
August 8th, end of summer, noon
-Nanoha's POV...-
"Nanoha! Come here right now!"
I jump at the yelling of my mother. I was in the middle of changing my clothes into my works'. I almost fell a few times in the rush of putting them right. I decided that it was for the best if I went down faster because of that yell from my mom. It wasn't a good sign whenever she screamed like this. Oh my god! What did I do? What did I do? What should I say? Is this about the missing cakes from the cafe? But father, brother and sister aren't here... What is this all about? Those questions rushed into my mind while I was getting down in a run. On the third stair from the bottom, I fell... Yeah, I fell... with only my mom as a spectator. Ouch. That really did hurt. When I was massing my left leg, I heard my mom slightly laugh of myself.
"Mou! Mom... It's not funny..." I told her, glaring.
I got myself up and I saw a letter in her right hand. Then, my mom was only smiling, tending me that letter and letting the suspense continue. She wasn't saying a word when I took it. Is she making fun of me or... Anyway, what is it? I was asking myself when I turned it to see the sender.
"!"
I was shocked. I just needed to see the symbol to know where it was from. It's the letter I so waited for! It's the answer from the Lyrical; the Lord Yoran Real Intel Class Academy's Life for the best students ever! I screamed in my head. I ripped it and took the papers off. I passed over the salutations and went right away to the principal subject; my admission. As I read, the smile I had slowly started to fade away. I was more than shocked, I was stunned. My mom soon followed my mood and was about to cheer me up when I told her:
"I got accepted... They accept me!"
She was almost happier then I was. She hugged me and took me in the air while laughing and crying at the same time. We had waited a long time for that letter. It was the greatest school for any yield of work. They had every subject for every types of job. Anyway, it was the school for an assured future. My mom finally put me down after a while and a flash passed in my mind and even before I could considered it, I asked my mom: "Can I have the afternoon off to see my friends about the news, please ?". It was almost as if my mother already knew from before what I was about to ask. She faked a reasoning pose, and laughed, and told me it was ok. I literally jumped of joy and climbed the stairs just like a monkey would climb a tree. I got into my room; I changed myself and send them a message in the same time within a new record. Come to the mall, in the new cafe, in 15 min 3 see you there was the message I gave them before I stood out of my bedroom.
I got downstairs where I hugged my mom and told her "good day" and "thank you". I walk down the streets to the bus stop. I didn't wait long; as soon as I arrived, the bus was there. I couldn't help myself smiling all the way to the mall and I even arrived there the last, even late. "This sure is going to be a good day" I happily said to myself when I reach my friends.
"Nanoha! You called us here and you're the one who's late!"
"Nyahahah... Sorry Alisa-chan! Please, don't be mad!" I replied to the blond hair girl. I then sat down with my friends to accompany them. "I'm only late by 5 min."
"Well, since it's not a habit from yours, I can forgive you if you buy me a drink." Alisa said with an evil smirk.
"Alisa-chan! Nanoha-chan, don't listen to her, we only arrived here a minute ago." Suzuka rushed to apologize, the purple hair girl.
Hayate and I laughed at the daily show between those two. Suzuka was always soft and caring while Arisa was the opposite; violent and uncaring for anyone but Suzuka. We were all four childhood friends having a good time in the afternoon, just like always. We talked about anything, but nothing in particular, the usual what. Hours seems like minutes and at 1500 hours, we decided to do window shopping.
Between two shops, we bumped into a beautiful tall blond girl. What a pretty girl! I founded myself thinking. After some staring between us, she barely said in a whisper a 'sorry'. Why does she have such sad eyes...? My friends didn't pay her any more attention than normally, but I found myself thinking of her all the afternoon and, even without knowing it, it soon hunted my thoughts...
We finally got to the restaurant at 1800 hours. Hayate was only smiling in a silence at another show between the two lovebirds. I was tranquilly drinking my lemonade – while thinking again about the mysteriously gorgeous blond – and those two were madly blushing. Nobody commented nobody spoke. Slowly, Alisa started to frown and soon enough, a tiny rage scream went out of her mouth. It surprised me and the rest of the gang but in plus to that; the whole restaurant stared at us four. It was even more silent then before but we finally busted out in laughter. We laughed almost to cry. It was nice. Somehow, the rest of the costumers just returned to their stuff without giving us any more attention.
"So," started Alisa, "why did you wanted us here today, Nanoha? There must be a reason because it's not your thing to put a rendezvous without any constraints... What is it?"
That was typical from Alisa. She's always straight to the point at the more random moments. I laughed. That was also typical of me.
"I got an answer from Lyrical..."
"What is it? You're accepted or not?" Alisa interrupted, almost in rage on me.
"... My mom gave me the letter at noon. Do you really think I would be that happy all day long with a rejection from that school?"
"No?" Hayate asked while always smiling.
"Yes, I got accepted." I smiled.
For the second time, Alisa screamed and, for the second time, all the costumers turned around to see her. Somehow, they were pissed off. Some random staff came to us and told us:
"Can you please stop screaming or please go out."
"We're sorry mister, we have finished, and we're going out. Sorry for all the noise we caused." Suzuka already spoke before me.
We stood up and put our dishes in the garbage, next to us. We finally got out. We looked into the eyes of each other and burst out in laughs. We didn't care about the others; we were having a really good time.
"Hahaha... Thank you Suzuka-chan, but Alisa-chan, you can't just scream like that all the time. You could scare them off their skin..." laughed Hayate. "Anyhow," she tried to recover her breath, "congrats Nanoha-chan! It's good to be able for us four to be accepted in Lyrical, the best school ever!" She put her fist in the air. "I could try out the cosplay club and make Nanoha-chan to come with me and so I could see her beautiful body..."
"Nyahahah..." It was my signature for everything, but this time, it was because of the danger of Hayate in berserk mode. I tried to change the subject and so I talked to Alisa and Suzuka who were laughing of me. "So, in what club will you two be?"
"Suzuka and I think of the swimming club." The blond girl answered for her friend and herself.
"It'll be the swimming club? So you two will see each other..." Hayate started with an evil grin.
"Shut up!" Alisa said angry while blushing. "It's always better then the cosplay club, ne Nanoha?"
"I won't be in that club! I was more thinking of the baking club." I said, remembering my time at the bakery of my parents. Sweet memories...
"Hey, I was thinking that myself too." The short hair brunette said, getting out of her fantasies.
"That's great, we could..." I stop myself. Hey! She didn't say that? "You said what?"
"That I would like to..." She began, but was interrupted by the hand of Alisa on her forehead. "What are you doing Alisa-chan?"
"No, she doesn't have a fever... Are you not feeling well Hayate?" Alisa asked to her, with a worried expression. God, I'm so much going to die of laughing!
"I'm well! Hey, that was really mean you know... I just wanted to change a little, to try something else... That's all!" Pouted Hayate, kind of pissed off.
"It's worse than I thought! Suzuka, call the limo, we're taking her home!"
The purple hair girl did what she was told while I was laughing to tears; it was just, her face was priceless. I could always have fun like this...
"I'm not sick! It's not funny! Nanoha-chan!" No chance here! Take that Hayate! "You should be helping me here instead of laughing!" Hayate started, trying to stop her friends of making fun of her. "I was serious here!"
"Oh? You were serious? Sorry about that, we thought you were sick..." Alisa said, making a serious face and taking a serious tone. What will she says this time? "You're not sick." Hayate's face kind of recovers itself. "You're deadly sick!"
After that, we all began to laugh, even more than before. Hayate pouted, but joined us after a while. Then, a though passed my mind. We're still in front of the restaurant; maybe we should go elsewhere before we're kicked out of the place. I was about to ask if we could go when I saw a limo coming here. Oh, it's all right then. We had stopped laughing. Thanks god, I was about to suffocate here! Then, Alisa asked us when the limo was near:
"Do you want us to give you a ride back or you two are OK?"
I shook my head and Hayate did the same. And so, after receiving and giving goodbyes, they were gone.
"Did you really mean it for the baking club?"
"Yes, I wanted to try more something that you like, Nanoha-chan, instead of always bring you to cosplay with me here and there." Hayate smiled.
"You sure sound like you want something for that... Suspicious!" I laughed.
"Yep, I do want something... How did you know? Are you a medium?"
"No way... I was only joking..." I sighed. "Ok, what do you want, this time?"
"Hey! You sounded like I always ask you things!"
"Well, it's mostly true." A sweat drop was creating on my head.
"You're hurting my feeling, you know!" She faked tears.
"Nyahahah... Oh, well. So, what do you want?"
"I want... Oh! The bus is here. Come on!" She exclaimed, changing the subject like always.
I didn't see that coming. We were walking all this time? I got in the bus with my friend, paid the price and finally sat down at the back of the bus. I waited for her to sit and continued our conversation from before.
"So what did you want?
"Hum... Oh yeah! I remember!" She smiled. Oh... I really don't like that smile.
"I want you to..." She was interrupted, again.
"Excuse me."
We turn ourselves where the voice came and we saw a blue hair boy. He was tall and was with a girl almost the same height.
"Excuse-me ladies, but, can we sit next to you? The bus is nearly full."
"Yes, sure." I answered with a smile.
"Thank you both." They responded while sitting at my left. "We are new here, so we didn't want to bother anybody..."
"It's alright. By the way, I'm Yagami Hayate and she's Takamachi Nanoha." My friend presented us.
"Enchanted. I'm Harlaown Chrono and this is Amy."
"..." Se bowed her head. Is she OK?
"She doesn't talk much, don't misunderstand her, please."
"It's all good, Chrono-kun." I responded with a warm smile. "You're foreigners? Where do you come from?"
"Yes we are. We're from America, the United States."
"Amazing!" Hayate exclaimed, bouncing on her bench. "I came from there too!"
"Which state?" He asked, exited as well.
"From New York and you?"
"Louisiana."
"Oh, cool! That's a nice place... Hey, what are you doing here? Vacation?" As always, you random subjects at random moments...
"We're here for the work." He said with a smile. "I'm a policeman."
"That's cool!" I said.
"Please don't arrest us!" Hayate joked and we all laughed.
-Meanwhile – Alisa's POV...-
"She will be alright, Suzuka." I said without looking at my friend.
"I know, but I can't help to worry. She was acting strange this afternoon, after all." The other one said.
"You should relax; it's not good for you to be all stressed up."
"I'm all good around you." I blush at that answer. "You too, Ali-chan, you need to relax. You're all tense..." She said with care, taking my left hand in her right hand.
"..." I didn't respond; I was even redder; it was too much embarrassing.
"Do you think we should tell them? They're our best friends and I'm sure it wouldn't be a problem... Ne... Ali-chan?" Suzuka asked with puppy eyes.
"I'm sure it would be alright, but, as Hayate and Nanoha are, they'll tease us to death..." I responded, looking away from her eyes.
"So, that was bugging you. You afraid to be hurt from them..." She said with a sad look.
"No!" I yelled, scaring her. "Sorry! It's not that I'm scared of hurting myself; I'm afraid of you being hurt..." I said in my breath, even more red then I was before.
"That's so sweat! Ali-chan, I love you!" My girlfriend exclaimed, literally jumping on me.
"Whoa!"
-Meanwhile – Nanoha's POV...-
"It's our stop. It was a pleasure to meet you, Chrono-kun and Amy-chan. Hope to see you soon." I said with my leave. They're nice; I hope to see them soon.
"Bye bye!" Hayate said, following me.
"Goodbye!" Chrono and Amy answered while waving their hands.
We walked down the street to my house where we exchanged our "goodbyes". She lived near me; about four houses down.
"I'm home!" I exclaimed in the lobby.
"Welcome home, Nanoha." I heard my dad spoke.
I gather myself to the living room where I found all my family there, waiting for me. I wasn't nervous, but I had a tiny bad feeling.
"Come sit down, dear." My mom said with a smile.
"Hay~" I did as I was told and I sat between my brother and my sister. "I had a great day, thanks, mom!"
"It's fun to hear." Spoke mom, happily.
"We heard from mom that you got accepted in Lyrical, Nanoha. Congrats!" Kyōya said to me. "You're not a little girl anymore, we're all proud of you."
"Nyahahah~ Thanks, onii-chan!"
"You'll see, it's a great school, you'll have fun there." My sister said at her turn.
"Hum!"
"Nanoha." That was my dad. Doesn't seem to be much happy...
"Yes, otou-san?" I'm dead, so much dead...
"I'm really proud that you make it through... But, for the stolen cakes, that was a little unnecessary." He tried to make it serious, but it failed miserably. "If you want some, ask us, don't steal it, Ok?"
"Yes dad." I smiled. That's all? Not too bad...
"Also Nanoha." My dad started.
"Try to do your best there." My mom finished with a warm smile.
"Yes!"
From morning to evening, I worked to serve. I was enchained, but I could move easily to place A to B. The same schedule everyday from the beginning to the end of summer. I guessed that it won't be that way with school around. Woke up at four, cleaned the house, made breakfast for her and served her all day long as she want. Then, at eight pm, went to work at some company. I usually come home at the first hour of the day and so; I didn't have much sleep. It's always the same: same stuff from Sunday to Saturday.
But today was different. I woke up earlier than expected. I did the cleaning before going to sleep; I had day off from work on Sundays. I took that time to take a walk outside and returned for seven am. On my way back in the court, I saw a letter in the mailbox. I didn't know that this letter was about to change everything I knew...
8th August, end of summer, noon
-Fate's POV...-
"Bitch! Come here now!"
I fell down the face on the cold floor. It's cold... But it's not as much as her... The scream was just too much. You don't have to yell all the time... I was enchained again so I couldn't move too fast. I tried my best to move to her. She was in the living room and I was in the kitchen, making lunch for her. I brought her food and her alcohol. I left it next to her and I tried not to cross her eyes. It really is difficult to avoid the closest person you know...
"Bring me more beer! You bitch!" My mother said, angry. Yes, my mother. I should be faster... I don't want to make her angrier.
"Yes, mother." I simply answered.
Maybe I could buy a remote for her to commend me as she want... Yes I'll buy her that for Christmas... I was about to take beer from the fridge when she took the chains and pulled it. Did I do something wrong? I couldn't breathe while I was pulled to her. I coughed a lot but I was dragged in the air by my shirt not letting me to cough more.
"Bitch! It's because of you that their gone!" She exclaimed.
She stopped to shake me and started to cough more than me, when I was in the air. After she regained her breathe, she shouted at me:
"Go to hell! And bring more beer! I'm thirsty here!"
She dropped me- No, she pitched me and I pulled myself to the kitchen and only there I put off the chains. That kind of scared me... Maybe I should buy it sooner, that remote I saw the other day. I was lost in thoughts as I was cleaning myself good enough to go outside. And only so, I went to the mall.
It was sunny outside. No clouds, only a large blue sky with a big sun. It took me a while to get used to this light. Not like at home...Oh well, better be fast if I don't want to be punish again...
The way to there was as the same; I walked not even half a mile to get to the bus stop and I took it to the mall. Maybe I should take a new kind of drug for her. Better, I could ask them to import some from Canada. I heard they're cheap and easy to access... My thoughts stopped their as I heard the driver called for the mall.A fifteen minutes ride wasn't enough for me to think.
There was a crown inside the mall. Ugh, that's really won't be nice... There was so much people that it was difficult to only enter. I tried to cut them, but some were more wise then I. As I though, it'll take me more time then I though... Ah...
After a while, in other words after getting from right to left by the crown, I got to the drug stores to get some pills for my mother and myself. They were nice enough to give me the form for the importation... I even got a bigger dose for my mother; I hope she will be please...
The next store was for the beer. I got plenty of them - three bags - and asked them if they could take it to home. After that, I went to a machine and bought some pack of cigarette. I took one and smoked it like if I didn't in age. Well, it's mostly true. I can't smoke at home because of her... Ah... It's refreshing...
As I gathered myself outside the shop, I bounced on a shorter red brown girl. Wow... She's kind of cute... I though. When I saw her staring, I gathered myself to say 'sorry' and took my leave. Man... That was really awkward... Better never do that again. I bet anyhow that I won't ever see her again...
I took my time to walk, just to finish it before home and to stop thinking about that strange situation. It was 1400 hours and I was tired. Tired of what? Of being pushed and pulled from left to right by my mother. I can't really take it anymore... It's just too much. But I can't leave mother neither... I take a last puff, through the cigarette on the ground and I walked on it. What can be better than a cigarette? I walked into the court and climb the four stairs to open the door.
I put the bags on the floor, closed the door and take the time to listen. No sound near. Did she already fell? No, couldn't be. I gather myself with the bags to the kitchen and started to class all the pills in a box. Just then, I put the box with the others in the cabinet. I stored the beer into the fridge and took some cold to bring them to mother. But before, course, I put back the chains. I got myself to the living room to see if she was there. Nobody. I went to her room; nobody again. She must be in her work room... I knocked at her door and waited patiently for an answer. I heard a growl. Ok, she's still alive... I sighed.
"I've got the beer. Should I leave it at the door or should I enter?" I asked, even if I knew the answer.
"Don't ever enter, demon!" She shouted like if I was the devil himself. "Just put them there, you bastard!" She's right. I'm a demon and a bastard... I'm not supposed to be here... Onee-chan... I sighed for the umpteenth time. I did as I was told and leave the door. I went to the living room to clean up the place.
It took me one hour or so. I didn't hear of her... Is she alright? Maybe it is better that way... It was twenty before four pm. I should start the diner... She will be hungry anytime soon. I went to the kitchen to make spaghetti, the favourite dishes of my mother. The pasta wasn't long to make, but the sauce was.
After everything was done, I put off the chains and went preparing myself for work. My mother didn't pay anything for me for years now. I started working at eleven years old, too much early if I may say, but mother has her reason for this and everything else. My shift was for eight pm, but I'm always going before just to take some time for me.
-Hours later; 2 o'clock am...-
I worked an extra hour to help some unknown guy that run off to his girlfriend. Must be nice to have someone to love and care... Not that I don't love and don't care for mother, it's not the same... Then, the image of the brunette passed into my mind. What was that? I sighed: I was exhausted. The way from there to home wasn't long or tiring, but somehow, that day was a really strange one.
I got back home twenty minutes after and even if I will need to wake up in a few hours, I did take the time to see if my mother didn't need anything. I guessed she didn't: she was asleep in her bed. I gathered myself back to my room to fall on the undone bed without changing myself before. I'm so tired... Today was awful both home and work. Maybe I should work less... That girl had something strange... Maybe I'll see her again... Maybe... That was the last though I get before falling in deep sleep.