A/N: The title of this chapter: Sentou, is a play on words. Sentou can mean either battlefield, or baths depending on the kanji used.


Mahou Shoujo Lyrical Nanoha

5ive

chapter 7

Sentou

Cinque was quite entertained by what the 'ryokan' had to offer. The open air hot springs was certainly a place to relax and really enjoy the scenery and fresh air. Although the part of bathing out in the open was still rather awkward for her to get used to. Right after the baths, Cinque got bottles of milk for herself, Vivio, and Nanoha. A strawberry flavoured one for Vivio, a coffee flavour for Nanoha, and finally a plain for Cinque herself. The three drained their bottles of milk about the same time, then left the baths to enjoy some of the attractions that the inn had to offer.

Table tennis (Cinque and Vivio as a combination still could not win Nanoha), massage chairs (Vivio enjoyed it too much and she opted to stay in hers for another two rounds), browsing the shops of gifts and snacks (Cinque bought quite a bit as gifts for the rest of the family, whereas Nanoha had gotten hold of wooden swords she called 'bokken', proving that her weapon mania had not disappeared), and finally they went back to their room, where a very elaborate and extravagant dinner was laid out for them.

And when the word elaborate and extravagant was used, it really was. Colourful dishes that were made from premium food items. Just the smell was enough to make Cinque water at the mouth. She never had such meals before. Mainly because Ginga had always made sure Genya never spent the family budget too much. Sitting down for the meal, Cinque and the Takamachi's noticed one thing. There seemed to be too much food. There had to be enough to feed nine people.

"Maybe they expected Genya and the rest of your family to come?"

Nanoha wondered. Somehow Cinque highly doubted that. Without much answers given for their rather odd predicament, they started to dig in. The first thing that Cinque noticed was that the food was rich. Extremely rich. The tastes filled theirs mouths with flavours and it soon came apparent that they weren't going to finish the whole dinner set. However, due to Nanoha's upbringing, the three of them stuffed themselves even beyond what they were capable of.

About two hours later, the three bloated guests were all lying down, trying to ease their heart burns by just groaning and moaning. After taking another hour to ease back, Cinque decided to go for another bath. She looked over to see Vivio soundly asleep, her head on her mother's lap as a pillow.

"After all of that running about she did just now, coupled with eating so much, I can't blame her for just sleeping."

Nanoha sighed, stroking her daughter's hair like how you would pet a cat, or dog.

"You go on ahead, I'll just stay here for awhile more and tuck her to bed later."

Cinque nodded and left the room. Walking down the hallway, Cinque took the time to think about what her next course of action should be. Once she got back to Mid-childa, she needed to find a new clue. Noticing that she was the only one in the baths, Cinque decided to enjoy herself really slowly this time round, particularly to help digest her food. Soaking herself in the hot spring water, Cinque was feeling relaxed, a little too relaxed. And it was because she became too relaxed that she failed to notice that intruders to the inn were creeping up towards her. The sound of snapping twigs was what alerted her, but it was too late as creatures emerged from the trees that surrounded the bath.

"Genetic beasts!"

Cinque could only move out of the way as one of those creatures threw a punch at her. The creature's initial attack was clumsy, allowing Cinque to dodge it easily though the creature's punch ended up demolishing her only way out. Using the small towel that she had with her, Cinque covered her body and summoned her stingers. She now faced five of those genetic beasts. These creatures were different from the ones she fought down at the warehouse district. They had more distinct features of giant creatures. Feet of a dragon, two large humanoid hands covered with fur, two extra appendages that were blades, face of a dragon and tail of a serpent.

Insect wings were spread out, letting them hover about. These creatures were made to kill swiftly, their sizes smaller than their predecessors. But Cinque also needed to know why were they here. If they were here, it could only mean that the Huter der Zeit was here. That was both good and bad news. Good, because now Cinque had a better chance of tailing him. Bad, because Cinque did not exactly feel all too prepared to go up against the doctor and the leader of the genetic beasts just yet. Especially in her current state. However if it were just these genetic beasts, Cinque felt that she could at least deal with them. She hadn't spent the entire week after she recovered doing nothing. The first genetic beast lunged at her.

She jumped over its blade attack and moved in closer. Ducking under an arm swing, she summoned five stingers all at once and punched them with all of her might into the abdomen of the creature. The stingers did not penetrate deep enough to draw blood, but it stayed embedded in the thick skin. Cinque jumped back and detonated the stingers. The explosion knocked the first genetic beast backwards and into the hot spring. She summoned another five stingers and jumped onto the creature's body, plunging the stingers into the hole that the explosions created. This time she was sure it would do some damage. Just as she pierced her stingers into the creature, a second genetic beast came at her.

She jumped over its attack and detonated her stingers. The explosion killed the first genetic beast while knocking the second one away. A third came flying towards her as she was falling back to the ground. Twisting her body around to avoid its blades, she threw a stinger at the creature's wings and detonated it when it was close enough. The explosion crippled the wings and sent the creature falling straight down to the ground. Landing back onto the stone ground, Cinque gathered herself together for the next round.

The second beast was recovering already, and the third was trying to get back onto its feet. Cinque noticed that the last two were not moving. What were they waiting for? Cinque wanted to know but the recovered genetic beast charged at her once more. Ducking her its blade swipe, she just managed to touch that blade. But just a mere touch was enough for Cinque to turn it into her very own weapon. Detonating that blade, the creature howled out in pain, blindly swinging its other blade.

Side-stepping the creature, she slid her hand over its last blade, causing it to explode as well. The creature howled in anguish as it started to disintegrate into dust. So, it did not actually take a fatal shot to get rid of these genetic beasts. Just as Cinque wanted to move in to finish the third struggling beast, a blade flew out and embedded itself into the ground right before Cinque. The magic blade itself was something that Cinque had only seen out of pictures. A prototype magic device. But who would use-

"Long time no see, Cinque."

Cinque looked up upon hearing that familiar voice. Stepping out from the bushes in her blue combat cyborg uniform, the older cyborg smirked, recalling the blade she threw back to her hand.

"... Tre."


The two stared at each in silence, having only the sound of the near dead genetic beast struggling to gasp for air cut the air. Cinque Nakajima wasn't focused on that, however, her main concern being the person who stood before her. Tall and confident, Tre, her older sister, was facing her. In terms of fire power, Cinque would be no match for Tre. Cinque, only having a mage rank of AA, knew that she couldn't face Tre, a S+ ranked fighter, in a one on one combat. Not only were there two more genetic beasts, but Tre herself was there. Cinque's mind was drawing blanks. Certain defeat, certain death. But would she really let it be without doing anything? Not likely. Summoning her stingers, Cinque showed her resolve to Tre, who only smirked.

"I always knew you would be defiant. Don't worry, though, this time i'm here for you, not the White Devil or her child. Orders are to capture you."

"Capture? What for?"

Cinque unknowingly let her guard down with that question. It surprised her, to say the least, that Tre had been ordered to capture her. What was their goal? Was it to brainwash her to join them? Cinque was the most experienced in combat and strategy amongst the free numbers, but those were traits not needed by the doctor who had Quattro and Tre. Besides, wasn't the doctor originally going to find Cinque and the other numbers to have his revenge?

"That, my dear little Cinque, isn't necessary for you to know. RIDE IMPULSE!"

Tre disappeared from view, having activated her inherent skill to move at blinding speeds. Cinque knew from instinct where the attack would be coming from, jumping to the side to avoid a blow. Tre not only had her IS, but also with her new blade devices, her attack could be well over S+ mages. What's worse was that Tre was capable of flight, whereas Cinque did not. This did not look good for her. The two genetic beasts that stayed silent at first were now charging at her. Cinque ducked under one attack, rolling across the bath floor to the struggling genetic beast she dealt a massive blow previously to.

Grabbing it, she used its body as a shield to prevent another blade attack from the attacking genetic beast. With the blade of the attacker stuck in the torso of her meat shield, she summoned twenty stingers to form a sphere around the two genetic beasts and jumped away before detonating them. The sheer shock of the explosion blew Cinque off her feet and back into the baths. Emerging from the water, Cinque came face to face with Tre's magic blade.

"You lose, Cinque."

Cinque did not want to believe it, but she knew how Tre would work in these situations. Though Tre was an excellent front-line forward attacker, she also had the mentality to win at any cost, in any way. That meant that she would take advantage at any turn. Cinque couldn't believe that she forgot such a simple basic fact and let er back be exposed.

"Now, won't you come quietly with me? The doctor had been expecting you for quite some time."

"I'm afraid Cinque-chan isn't going anywhere tonight."

Cinque suddenly heard Nanoha's voice, and turned to where the entrance to the bath was blocked by a large amount of rubble. A rather familiar, and also foreboding, pinkish light was shining brightly through the cracks of the rubble.

'Clearance isn't given, master.'

"Like I care in this situation."

Uh-oh, Nanoha just had her nerves broken. That wasn't good.

'Alright. Starlight breaker.'

Cinque only had one thought in her mind at that point. Oh shit.

"Tre! You are hereby asked to stand down and give yourself up! Heed my warning-"

'Star light-'

"OR BE SHOT!"

'Breaker'

At that moment, a large beam of magical energy exploded through the rubble, forcing Tre away from Cinque. The beam was smaller than what Cinque had normally seen, meaning that even though Nanoha was rather angry at that point, she still had some self-control left. Stepping through the large hole that she created, Nanoha in her full barrier jacket aimed her device, raising heart, once more at Tre. So much for the warning.

"Tch, Cinque, you may have gotten away this time, but I will hunt you down. Mark my words."

With that, Tre disappeared. Nanoha wanted to give chase, Cinque stopped her, shaking her head.

"You shouldn't be too far from Vivio."

Nanoha stayed silent for the moment, before nodding, de-activating her barrier jacket and raising heart.

"Are you alright though, Cinque-chan?"

Nanoha looked worryingly at the cyborg, who noticed that part of her arm was exposing the wires and metal inside. Probably from the explosion before with her stingers. Cinque could not help but be slightly disgusted by its sight. Such is her life with a frail fake body. This made reality clear for her. She was running out of time.

"Yeah... I'm alright..."


Omake:

Cinque: Fireworks... they sure a pretty

Fate: Yes... i remember once when i was on Earth and i went to celebrate Tanabata with Nanoha (Tanabata is celebrated by the Japanese on the 7th of July to mark when two stars meet. The legend is of two lovers (Orihime and the other dude) separated and only allowed to meet once a year)

Cinque: Oh, that must be nice.

Fate: Yes, it was. I was having so much fun with a sparkler... but Nanoha was using one of those cannon fireworks (the tube shaped ones that fire the fireworks into the air)

Cinque: 'Using' as in?

Fate: ... she held it and pointed it straight at a bunch of guys who were smoking nearby

Cinque: ... She hates smoking?

FW: More like in the eyes of Nanoha, fireworks are just another weapon to exploit

Omake 2:

Cinque visits the doctor when he was still in prison

JS: Cinque! How nice of you to visit

Cinque: Doctor. Seeing you in good health-

Cinque notices the doctor's cell has posters of anime and death metal (what exactly are his tastes?)

Cinque: -does not exactly bring ease to my mind... doctor, since when did you become an Otaku?

Uno: You're not even going to question the death metal?

Tre: I wouldn't.

Cinque: Tre, Uno, good to see you. Where is Quattro?

JS: She's gotten fat, so she wouldn't want to show herself-

Quatto: Doctor! That's so mean! I did slim down!

Cinque sees Quattro as being fatter than before.

Cinque: ... has she really slimmed down?

Tre: It's called rebound. After the doctor joined her circle, she became too happy and forgot to complete her manuscripts. She had to do three all-nighters to complete it for the next comiket. (Circles are groups of people who draw doujin. They also refer to clubs or similar groups in Universities in Japan. Comiket is the holy sacred event for all Otakus that happens twice a year. I went to the winter comiket in 2009 and it was amazing. Pilgrimage complete)

Cinque: ... i see. Did you get a wall booth this time? (Walls booths are given to major circles who do well since it helps them 'control' the flow of an over-excited crowd of fans)

Quattro: Unfortunately, no. Ah, Cinque, want to read my latest work?

Cinque: No thank you. I can never understand Yaoi.

FW: Neither can i.

Omake 3 (for this one, you have to know that Hayate is seen as a sexual molester and loves cosplay. Yes, it was actually said in the sound stage that Hayate squeezed the breasts of every girl in Riot 6):

Hayate: Hmm... Signum, don't you think you could shape up a little? You're getting fat.

Signum: !... I-... i don't think i'm getting fat, mistress.

Hayate: Really? Let me see.

Hayate grabs Signum's breasts, giving them a good squeeze

Signum: Mi-mistress? C-can you stop that? We're in the middle of the hallway!

Hayate: Hmm... i knew it, you're getting fat. You're breasts used to be firmer and more in shape. Soon you're going to be like Shamal who is more like fat.

Signum: ... I don't think that's the problem.

Hayate: It is! I just got the measurements down for your new cosplay-

Signum: I have to go!

Hayate: Ah! Signum, wait!... she's gone. Sigh, why is it that she always run away when things like this occur?... Hm? Shamal, did you get fat?


A/N: That last bit was a famous line made in Nanoha A's. She was pointing at Vita and she said "Listen to me!", while Raising heart fired a divine buster. So fans later said that Nanoha's motto is "Listen or be shot"

While i originally thought the idea of the doctor being the main villain, it soon became apparent that the doctor wasn't really the type to hate his own creations. Sure, psycho evil genius maniac is the archetype of evil, but it isn't really him. Don't ask. I didn't really put much thought in the actual villain. Actually i did. But the code name 'F' doesn't have to do with anything.