Series: Magical Girl Lyrical Nanoha A's
Title: Smoke Signals
Genre: Romance, Comedy, Drama
Rating: T
Spoiler: The time line is at the end of A's but, before StrikerS. If you haven't seen this far, it'll be a spoiler.
Warning: Shoujo ai/ Yuri content
Summary: Fate leaves Nanoha with a strange request which divides them. What will the result of this task be and how will it affect them?
Disclaimer: I do not own Nanoha or anything related to it.
A/N: Trying my hand at this pairing, hope that I have written them sincerely. The prologue is short as a warm up. I look forward to comments and reviews. As with my other fic, since I am still improving in my writing, constructive criticism is always encouraged.
Kisses xxx
~suki
Smoke Signals – Prologue
by suki-gin
Nanoha lay on her bed with blue eyes focussed on the low ceiling. A sigh escaped from the small lips and the redhead girl turned so that she now rested on her stomach. Eyes flicking to the pillow at her left, she reached to the mobile phone and scanned its contents for the most recent message. Her eyes slitted as she read through it and then followed up to the name of the sender.
'Fate-chan...'
repeated the girl in her mind and placed her right hand on her chest adjacent to Raging Heart. A louder sigh was released and the mobile phone was promptly slammed shut. Feeling hopeless, Nanoha rubbed her face against her pillow while groaning.
"Fate-chan...why...?"
came the whispered question before sleep overtook the redhead, a certain long haired blonde in her dreams.
A pink clam style mobile phone was silenced from its morning alarm call. The redhead hesitantly rose from the warmth of her bed and proceeded to prepare herself for school. With little thought in her mind, she walked the usual path to school while staring straight ahead. Fellow students glanced at the redhead's body language and wondered of the change in mood. The girl was known to be cheerful although not excessively talkative. As if to continue the analysis, Hayate ran up to Nanoha and latched onto her arm tightly. Briefly, the blue eyes noted the other pair of arms that held her and switched focus to the paved floor.
"Good mornin', Nanoha. Not awake yet?" came the light hearted greeting of sorts.
Nanoha figured that by now, Hayate was aware of her mood but, couldn't bring herself to ignore the other girl. By nature, Nanoha confronted others in a polite and direct manner. She would not change simply, this is what she told herself.
"Good morning, Hayate-chan" attempted the redhead with a small smile which had a slight essence of that which usually graced her face.
Hayate smiled at the attempted response. The brown haired girl's eyes searched those before her, trying to read what the girl was thinking. Of course, there was telepathy available to them but, using it so simply would ruin the excitement. Yagami Hayate had a simple outlook with the trimming of a quirky persona and it was most visible when around her family. She made a mental note to watch over Nanoha and Fate, the latter being partially responsible for Nanoha's current status, she surmised.
Nanoha turned her eyes away from Hayate's, well aware that her feelings were being analysed. The redhead wanted so badly to share her feelings but, felt it necessary to speak to a certain person before doing so. She had to clear her thoughts. That certain person stood outside the school gate which dawned upon them. The two girls shared a look, deciding what action to take. Nanoha exhaled a light sigh and made her way towards Fate. Hayate moved to the first class of the day sparing a few seconds of her gaze in the direction of her close friends, much like a Prayer.
Fate turned to face Nanoha and scooted away from the wall which she rested against. Those who did not know the girl, it would seem that no emotion was present in her features. At that moment, Nanoha tentatively met the red eyed girl's gaze in order to understand what she was feeling. The blonde allowed the girl to search her eyes for a while longer and soon reached out to place a hand on the redhead's shoulder. The muscle below her hand twitched lightly, a sign Fate understood as surprised. Nanoha's gaze on the blonde's face faltered to a degree and tracked to the floor. This reaction now surprised Fate and she slowly moved her hand away, fingertips unintentioanlly brushing the skin as they settled at the side of the blonde. Nanoha shivered at the gentle pressure with her cheeks ever so slightly welcoming a pink hue. Fate noted the reaction with interest and then shook her head, almost as if she could clear the thoughts that started to grow. Time continued to move as the two stood together, their stances reading awkward but, their facial expressions showing comfort.
"Nanoha..."
started Fate in her soft, Alto voice.
The redhead turned to eyes to meet the blonde's immediately.
"...Nanoha..."
repeated the blonde again.
Nanoha continued to meet the red eyed gaze and looked more expectant of a response.
"Nanoha, I..."
the red eye girl started. Hesitation filled her words and soon the girl reached into her pocket and pulled a black clam phone out. Accessing the last message she had sent, Fate moved closer to Nanoha as showed the dislay screen containing the message.
[To : Nanoha]
[Subject: I ...]
Nanoha.
There is something I would like to discus-I mean, there is something I want to tell you, if you could hear me out to the end and honestly reply...
Let's meet at gate tomorrow. Don't think too much of it. Just be yourself.
Fate
[End]
Blue eyes switched from the mobile phone display to the girl next to her. Having read the same message so many times, Nanoha had thought of so many possiblities, her anxiety changed her usual persona. Shaking her head lightly while releasing a sigh, she turned to Fate with the firm look that everyone had come to recognise. Fate smiled lightly, seeing this change.
"Fate-chan..." Nanoha said with a voice enough for them to hear.
The blonde placed both hands on her shoulder's and her crimson gaze met the redhead's. Crimson eyes searched those before her for a bit longer and then the warm voice started again, more confident than earlier.
"Nanoha, I... I have been facing different feelings recently. It is unlike what I have experienced before and I am not sure what to make of it. I know what it is that I feel, it is the reason which needs confirmation." Fate bit her lip lightly as if what would follow was hard to say, Nanoha wore an expresion which did not disapprove or approve at this point.
"In order to understand this, Nanoha, I will only see you during our mission times. I'm asking a lot of you, this is something I am aware of. Just.." the blonde's confidence dropped slightly.
"Even though I am asking you to leave would you be able to stay?" she asked cryptically.
The blue eyed girl licked her lips and seemed to think of how to reply. A hand squeezed her shoulder lightly for encouragement. A small grin was given to the girl holding her.
"Fate-chan ... Why?" came her question, no different from her whispered words from the day before.
"Why... that I what I want to understand, Nanoha." Fate replied in a quiet voice.
"Fate-chan I, have a lot of thoughts on this ... I cannot express them now?"
"It would be best if we both came to understand our thoughts in our own time."
"Is Fate-chan sure that is the best way? We have always shared our thoughts, why would we change that now? What makes this different...?" The redhead asked, not holding back the growing mountain of questions in her mind.
"Nanoha, this is different, please trust me. I want to share it with you but, the repercussions could change so much..." Fate explained in a gentle voice.
Nanoha was still and merely maintained eye contact for a while longer. With a small nod of her head, she seemed to confirm something to herself.
"I am still not certain if this is the right choice but, I will trust Fate-chan." the redhead had a genuine look of hapiness on her face, "I'll support Fate-chan as I always have."
As Fate opened her mouth to return a reply the school bell was struck and the two made their way to start the first class of the day. Their faces with calm, thoughtful expressions as they walk together with care.
'We'll figure this out together, even if we're apart' the shared thought echoed in the minds of the two, their hearts set.