Chapter 7

I have decided to stop seeing Touya in events of his intended's return and thus I have nothing to do lately. I have been having rather strange feelings lately, one of longing. I have never felt this way before and this unknown and strange new feeling is beginning to bother me horribly. I also feel a sudden urge to walk past Touya's café every other day, strange though it may be I cannot seem to be able to grasp whatever it is my heart is telling me. I somehow have the strangest feeling that my mind is blocking almost everything out but considering the appearance of this new emotion I have the sureness to assume that my mental wall is incapable of filtering out all my emotions…

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Vice was sitting in the cafeteria, alone. One would think that a person like him would have a girl with him but Vice had recently lost interest in dating because he could never seem to find the right girl. Some were too arrogant, too jaunty, too dishonest, well there are too many bad flaws to mention and some have way too many to count. He allowed admittance, at least to himself, that he had dated several perfectionists and found them to be the most annoying lot, next to the dishonest ones. Heck, even Signum was not that bad a person and most definitely not that much a perfectionist as those he had met. A horrible lot they were indeed. Vice let out a sigh. He was lonely and in need of someone to talk to. Recently, Signum had been busy and caught up in her own problems and thus lacking the time to come and talk to him.

He rather found it unfair that he suddenly lacked things to do and all he had left to do now was sit around doing nothing. Vice was about to sigh again but stopped when he heard someone approach. He smiled when he saw who it was.

"Hey there Teana, how are you doing?" he asked as she drew nearer. Teana saw him and approached.

"Nice to see you again Vice sempai," Teana greeted.

He smiled and offered her a place to sit next to him. He nearly forgot that he had been meeting Teana recently and she was the perfect person to strike up a conversation on almost anything. The girl was a practical and open minded person and accepted all comments but not without some of her own opinions thrown into the circle.

"How was work? I hear you're going away on another huge mission sometime this week," Vice asked.

"Yes, it's true or perhaps or to be more specific, was true. The case was handed over to Enforcer Fate. She was better suited anyway and I needed a break after the recent incident," she replied.

"I see, so you're free for how long?" he asked.

"Most probably three months or so, depending if they don't have any other huge cases they want to throw in my face."

Vice nodded in understanding. He knew it had been hard for Teana during the Marriage incident and now that it was over, it was the time for healing to take place. He was concerned for her, to say the least.

"Teana, are you all right?" Teana looked up at him in surprise.

"Of course, I'm fine Vice sempai," he gave her that look he always gave her when he did not believe what she had said. "Really, no need to worry sempai. Anyway, who else have you been dating recently?" Teana almost choked on her own words. She did feel jealous, more than she was willing to admit of course.

"Ah, no one," this shocked Teana.

"Really, that is rather surprising for someone like you sempai," Vice looked at her questioningly.

"Why do you say so? Is it a must to have a girl by my side all the time?" he asked in a teasing sort of tone.

"Ah, no, that's not what I mean. What I mean is that you usually have someone else with you, which is why it's so surprising," Teana said with a slight blush on her face. Vice laughed at the expression on her face.

"I see, so that's why."

Teana did not dare to say anything else in any case that she further embarrassed herself with her silly blunders. She stole a small glance at Vice and saw that he had a smile plastered on his face, a warm gleam in his eyes. She rather admired Vice because he was charming and wise though he was what most people would label a womanizer. Yet, her curiosity was rather piqued at his loneliness.

"Vice sempai, I hope it does not seem rude for me to ask such a question but why isn't anyone with you?" she asked, trying to keep her voice steady.

"Oh, that's because I can't find the right person. I can't seem to be able to meet the right person," he said with a sigh.

"I see. Vice sempai, what are your criteria's in finding the right person?" Teana continued to question.

"Hmm, well I would think that person would have to be intelligent," he answered with a thoughtful look on his face.

'I'm smart,' Teana thought to herself.

"She would have to be tough," he continued.

'I'm tough!'

"She'd also have to like travelling and be able to handle a crazy romantic like myself. I do like romantic spots after all," he said with a laugh.

'I like places like that and I've travelled often enough to like it,' Teana thought confidently. 'Wait, why am I thinking this? It's not even relevant and I don't really think of Vice sempai that way, do I? Maybe I do….' she suddenly thought confusingly.

"Well, to put it short, my criteria's are long but most importantly she needs to be honest, trustworthy, responsible and honourable. Other than that, I think I can handle," Vice said with a smile, an imaginary picture of his dream girl in his head.

'I wonder if he's thinking about me,' Teana thought ruefully.

"Teana, since I told you my criteria's for choosing the right partner, what are yours?" the question caught Teana off guard.

"Umm, I don't really… What I mean is that, well it's about the same as yours, Vice sempai," she blurted out.

"Really?" he said with a knowing smile.

Vice wanted to say more but he stopped short when Subaru appeared and swamped Teana from behind. Teana tried to pry herself loose from whomever it was that was holding onto her.

"Tea, I missed you!" Subaru said in her usual cheery way.

"Subaru, you idiot, get off me!" Teana shouted, finally removing the bug off her.

"But Tea, I haven't seen you in a long while. And you can't just treat your girlfriend like that!" Subaru complained.

Teana and Vice both went pale at the same time. Since when were Teana and Subaru girlfriends, unless she meant girls who are friends. Vice was beginning to feel a strange feeling bubbling up within him. Teana, on her part, felt like tearing Subaru up into shreds. Since when did Teana ever claim to be bisexual? She was straight! Unless Subaru meant so otherwise, she would not have much to complain about.

"Subaru, you numbskull, since when did we agree to be girlfriends? I don't remember asking you out on a date! Well, unless you mean us being just friends," Teana shouted at Subaru, her face red with embarrassment.

"Eh, but I thought we were because we were pretty close and all, you mean we aren't? I thought you loved me Tea," Subaru said with a small sob.

"I never ever said I loved you and even if I did, I don't think it would be quite that way! I'm straight!" she said through gritted teeth, trying her best to hold her temper in.

Subaru was reduced to a simpering puppy by the time Teana finished her recent sentence. Vice had no idea what to say or what to do for that matter. He was not sure as to whether he should comfort Subaru or praise Teana for a job well done and then kiss her.

'Wait a minute, since when did I start thinking like that around Teana? I mean, she's my junior, like a little sister… Is she more than that to me? What is my crazed up cuckoo brain doing to me?' he mentally scolded himself for such an explicit thought, explicit if it's with someone he is not dating.

"Subaru, I don't think you ever mentioned wanting to get into a relationship that complicated, but even then I do not think I feel the same way for you," Teana told her friend after she had calm down.

"Can't you give it a try Tea?" Subaru asked with a soppy puppy pout.

"No," Teana replied, the puppy dog pout never ever affected her in anyway, except when Subaru went to extreme lengths to annoy her.

"Oh, but Tea ~!" she begged.

Teana shook her head. Vice just watched while he fumbled with his thoughts on Teana. He had concluded that she was a very nice girl and maybe, worth considering a try. But first, he had to get rid of his competition, Subaru. He'll have to use the same tactic of approach Signum used on him then. It was the fastest way to achieving success since it had worked on him.

"Subaru, are you serious about your feelings for Teana? In fact, are you certain you love her that way?" he asked in a serious tone. Teana looked at him in surprise, and so did Subaru.

"Of course I am!" the same answer he gave, he laughed mentally.

"Really, then tell me, what do you expect from this relationship, what do you expect from your partner or Teana in this case?" he continued to ask.

Vice smiled. Subaru could not answer the question, just like he could not when Signum had first posed him those questions. She did not know what to expect and thus he could make the same conclusion Signum did with him.

"Subaru, you know what I think, I think that you're not ready for a relationship and I think what you're feeling now is just a schoolgirl crush or what they call puppy love. It's not meant to be permanent, just a short period admiration," Vice explained expertly.

"Eh, really?" the blue haired girl asked him.

"I agree with Vice sempai. You said you loved Nanoha san back when we were still in Riot Force 6 and at the end of it you said that she's not right for you because she's someone you admire as a hero, not a potential partner," Teana added. Subaru blushed at that.

"He he… Now I remember… Yagami san is the one who explained that to me. Before then I never told you that I also thought I had a crush on Commander Fate and then confessed to her and got about the same treatment Vice sempai gave me," she said bashfully.

Vice felt like the air around him was suffocating. Subaru, in love with Fate was a little hard to believe. More likely, he did not believe it. Teana went pale and did not say anything. Subaru just laughed sheepishly.

"I guess I ought to actually remember this rather than go about confessing to every tom, dick and harry that I love him whenever I feel like it. Thanks Vice sempai, for reminding me. I'll definitely remember to think carefully next time," Subaru said with a sheepish look on her face.

Vice forced a smile. Teana still did not utter a word, well, not until Subaru left. She then turned to Vice with a worriedly horrid look on her face.

"Vice sempai, I don't think she would ever remember that, do you?" she asked.

"I'm not sure. I know one thing for certain is that Fate san most probably gave her the same treatment I gave her," Vice said with a silly smile. Teana thought he looked rather boyishly cute.

"I see. I guess you know a lot Vice sempai," Teana said with a smile.

"I guess I do… Hey Teana, do you think that maybe, you and I have a chance together," he asked so suddenly he hardly realized it actually came out of his own mouth.

It took a while for the news to sink in. Teana slowly turned bright red and turned away. Vice felt his brain wreck with nervousness and anxiousness whilst awaiting her answer. Ah well, better to make use of the chance now than never. At least he'll get to know whether Teana feels the same way or not.

"You think we have a chance like that, Vice sempai?" she asked shyly.

"Of course, why not?" he replied with another one of his charming smiles. "We can try can't we and see where this goes. If it doesn't work out then we would have still gained some valuable experience," he said.

Teana looked at him and saw him smile, at her. She felt warm inside. She smiled back and nodded her agreement. Teana and Vice are now a couple to be.

TWO WEEKS AFTER THAT = THREE YEARS AFTER THE JS INCIDENT

Vice was talking to Signum about his recent outing with Teana. Signum had congratulated him on his success at finding the person he was looking for.

"So you feel good?" he nodded at Signum's question. Signum chuckled. "That's good to know."

"I guess what didn't work out between us worked out for me and Teana," he said with a smile. Signum chuckled some more.

"Vice kun!" both of them turned to find the person calling out to him. It was Teana. "Vice kun, ready to go?" she asked, carefully eyeing Signum.

"No need to worry Teana, I already rejected his offer to court me years ago," Signum said with a laugh, catching onto Teana's intentions.

"Ah, Signum san, I wasn't meaning to…" Signum cut her short.

"I believe I know better. An ease to your fears," the pink knight replied with a smile.

Teana nodded shyly and then grabbed Vice's arm and dragged him off on their date. Signum watched them go, her heart twisting with jealousy. Why could she not be just as lucky?

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There has been some misunderstandings in chapter 6, two misunderstandings but that is that and I can't do anything else if they refuse to understand why it's like that.

Now, for this chapter, I wanted to make it seem as funny as possible and so did my friend Red1Justice. Upon his request, I managed to squeeze in Subaru into this chapter making it longer but I feel that it was worth it. I hope you find it entertaining if you felt that the previous chapter was a little of a letdown. ^^

All the best wishes,

Hignum.