Disclaimer:
I do not claim ownership of the Mahou Shoujo Lyrical Nanoha series or franchise. This is a non-profit fan-written story written exclusively for entertainment purposes.
{]-~*(X)*~-[}
I had just left for a conference in another part of the country. The second day of the conference had just come to an end and I was resting in my hotel room. For some reason, I could not sleep, despite how tired I was. Something felt… off. Like something big was going to happen.
I tried to shake the feeling but the more I tried, the worse it became.
Just when I finally thought I was going to be able to fall asleep my cell phone rang. I picked it up from the nightstand and glanced at the caller ID.
"Hey-a Hayate, what're you doing, calling this late at night?" I greeted happily, it was not often me and Hayate got to chat; Hayate Yagami was a very busy woman, running a very popular – and pretty high-class – lesbian club with a few of her relatives.
"Nanoha, it's Fate-chan." The grave tone in her voice made my heart sink immediately; something was wrong, I knew it.
"W-what? What is it with Fate-chan? Hayate, tell me!" I started to panic, something was wrong with Fate-chan and I needed to know.
It was silent for a moment before Hayate spoke again. "She's been attacked."
My breath hitched. "A-a-attacked?" I choked out.
"Nanoha, how soon can you come home?" Hayate's tone was firm, making sure her question came across and forcing me to focus.
"I'm taking the next available plane home!" I spoke quickly. Luckily I hadn't changed yet and I hardly ever unpacked my suitcase whenever I stayed at a hotel. I quickly stuffed the few items that had found their way out of my suitcase back into it.
"Okay. Oh, and Nanoha?"
"Yes Hayate?" I stopped for a moment to listen.
"Be safe."
I nodded despite Hayate not being able to see me. "Of course Hayate."
*~-{ Broken }-~*
*~-{ Written by Zarosguth }-~*
*~-{ Chapter II }-~*
As soon as Nanoha's plane landed and she passed by the gate she was greeted by a tall and intimidating pink haired woman with a stoic expression, Hayate's cousin Signum.
"Signum!" Nanoha ran up to the pinkette.
"Nanoha, come. I'll take you to Testarossa." Signum's voice did not betray much emotion but Nanoha could see a few cracks in Signum's stoic mask.
Signum had always had a deep respect for Fate; she recognized the blonde's strength. While they never seemed to be overly friendly to one another, the two of them always drove the other to do their very best. Despite working very different jobs, they acted like they were rivals competing for the same thing. Maybe they did, each in their own way.
The drive from the airport to the hospital was short. But to Nanoha, it felt like an eternity.
As soon as they arrived at the hospital Nanoha practically flew towards the reception desk.
"Fate T. Harlaown! Where is she? I need to see her!" Nanoha yelled at the nurse.
"Are you family?" The nurse asked in a calm tone, which immediately got on Nanoha's nerves.
"I'm her girlfriend!" Nanoha exclaimed loudly. Signum had caught up to her in the meantime and planted her hands on the brunette's shoulder to calm her down. Nanoha tried to shrug the pinkette's hands off of her.
"Nanoha Takamachi?" an unknown voice asked from a short distance away.
Nanoha's head turned so fast she almost gave herself a whiplash. The person who had called her name was a woman in a doctor's coat with medium-long, blue hair and yellow eyes.
"That's me, where is Fate-chan?!" Nanoha was crying now; she just wanted to see her girlfriend. Why wouldn't anyone let her see Fate-chan? Why were these people so goddamn slow?!
The woman – whom Nanoha presumed to be a doctor – walked up to Nanoha and introduced herself calmly.
"I am Dr Sachie Ishida. Come with me Miss Takamachi." The doctor said as she shook Nanoha's hand. Nanoha swallowed and tried to stop her tears from falling. She couldn't find her voice so she just nodded. Signum let go of Nanoha's shoulders and the two of them followed Dr Ishida.
{]-~*(X)*~-[}
Dr Ishida led both women to the Intensive Care Unit. She opened the door and let Nanoha walk in. Nanoha's eyes immediately fell on her girlfriend. She was lying in one of the beds, a mask covering her face to help her breathe and an IV dripping into her arm to keep her hydrated.
From where she stood Nanoha could clearly see Fate was in a bad state. Her face was covered in bruises and Nanoha could only imagine the state that the rest of the blonde's body was in.
Next to Fate's bed sat another familiar figure; Hayate was sitting there, keeping a close eye on the golden blonde sleeping in the bed.
Nanoha approached the bed quietly and hesitantly. Signum and Dr Ishida stayed at the door. As soon as Hayate heard someone approach she looked at. She and Nanoha locked eyes before the short-haired brunette gave her fellow brunette a quick nod and walked past her to join the two women at the door.
Nanoha kept walking until she reached the bed. She sat down on the now vacant chair. More tears started building up in the corners of her eyes. Nanoha slowly reached out for the golden blonde's hand, taking it between her own. She brought the hand to her own face and pressed it against her cheek, finally allowing the tears to flow.
From the doorway, Hayate, Signum and Dr Ishida looked as Nanoha started sobbing. Hayate was about to go and comfort her fellow brunette but Signum grabbed her shoulder and shook her head 'no'; Nanoha needed to have some time alone with Fate.
{]-~*(X)*~-[}
It had been almost an hour since Nanoha had walked into the ICU. Hayate decided it was time to check up on her. When she approached her fellow brunette, Nanoha didn't react. She sat almost perfectly still, her cheeks stained with tears that were no longer flowing and her hand holding onto Fate's as if her life depended on it.
Hayate pulled up another chair and sat down next to Nanoha. Nanoha still hadn't acknowledged Hayate's presence and just kept her eyes trained on her and Fate's hands. The shorter brunette locked her eyes on the blonde as well and started speaking.
"Fate had come to visit 'Pink Velvet' to catch up with Signum and me. She was in such a good mood, she was smiling in a way I'd never seen her smile. When I asked what was wrong with her, she told me that the two of you had started dating a little over a week ago."
Nanoha remembered the day she confessed to Fate. The golden blonde had followed Nanoha's confession with one of her own. Nanoha was so very happy to hear that Fate reciprocated her feelings.
She had admired Fate for keeping her feelings in check for the past years. Nanoha felt guilty that she'd let the blonde wait that long while she was off with Yuuno.
"It was still pretty early in the evening when she left. She said she was tired as she had just picked up a new case two days ago." Hayate continued. Nanoha continued to listen in silence, focusing her attention on Fate.
"About half an hour after she left, Zafira came running in. He quickly made his way over to Signum and me and asked us to come with him quickly. I could see from the way he was acting that it was something serious; you know how Zaffy is, always calm and quiet but that time…" Hayate trailed off before she collected her thoughts again.
"Anyway, Signum and I followed him outside where he took us to where he… found Fate." Hayate drew a deep breath as she gathered her courage to tell Nanoha the exact state they'd found their friend in.
"Nanoha…" The tone in Hayate's voice caused Nanoha to tear her eyes away from her girlfriend and towards her fellow brunette. Tears were threatening to fall again from those violet eyes. Hayate however, kept her eyes trained on Fate, not daring to match her friend's stare. Not with what she had to say.
"She was beaten and raped."
*~-{ End of Chapter II }-~*
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*~-{ May we meet again, fare thee well! }-~*