Fate sat down on the park bench, watching the autumn leaves swirl in a vortex to her far right. They crackled like lightening- a storm brewed as the twin sisters walked home together- and the girl sighed. She leaned back and stared balefully at the moon. It had been . . . four days? Three years? An hour? . . . since she had . . . confessed to that girl with the warm hands and the pure eyes. Nanoha. And now the full moon was upon her. How funny. She was hurt by the person she loved and now she had to protect her. A rough chuckle escaped from her throat.

"That sound is unbecoming Fate-chan." Hayate uncrossed her arms and walked from her hiding place behind the trees.

"Laughter is an unpleasant sound Hayate?" The brunette only frowned and stared at the blonde's face. It had been four days since she had seen her. Fate had skipped school since that day. She had been very worried. Especially when the girl had refused to talk to her.

"Why weren't you at school?"

"Why does that matter to you?" Fate fired back, her eyes strangely vacant. Hayate rubbed her neck uncomfortably. Why was she acting so different? Tentatively the brunette reached out and lightly touched the girl's shoulder. A feral growl came from Fate's mouth.

"Fate-chan . . ." Why were her eyes so blank? Even rejection didn't cause her to act so strange. Hayate frowned and walked in front of Fate. She looked . . . confused? Why?

"Please leave Hayate. I don't want to hurt you." The blonde sighed and quietly crossed her legs. However Hayate persisted, placing her other hand on Fate's shoulder, restraining the girl. For a brief second Fate stiffened. Suddenly she lurched forward and grabbed the brunette by her school collar. Her red eyes gleamed like the devil's. Was it wrong for Hayate to like the fact that Fate was touching her right now, regardless of the circumstances? For what seemed like an eternity calm sapphire stared into frenzied burgundy. The blonde frowned and pushed the brunette away, her lips curled into an annoyed snarl.

"I-I don't know why I didn't go to school." Hayate frowned. Fate's answer sounded truthful. But . . .

"Lately I've . . . I forget who I am sometimes. I wake up and ask myself daily where am I? Who am I? What am I? And then sometimes I wake up and I am not in my room. And sometimes I wake up with . . . the taste of blood in my mouth." A look of pain crossed her face and she covered her face with her hand. Hayate's heart hurt. Her eyes softened and she nodded.

"I see."

"Yes." The blonde clenched her teeth and stood up from the bench. She pulled off the jacket she had draped over her shoulders and put it on.

"It's going to be cold tonight Hayate. You should be careful." Hayate nodded slowly her ears not quite comprehending everything. She watched as the tall blonde walked away from her and toward the crowded city. The brunette had fought with Fate so many times. Occasionally she had barely escaped with her life. But she had never been afraid of her. How could she be afraid when those-lonely, sad, beautiful, fathomless- eyes looked at her? But for the first time in her life, Yagami Hayate felt afraid of Fate Testarossa.

. . .

Fate watched the faces of the endless crowds of people. She tried to see if she could recognize anyone. That girl . . . Hayate? She had known her. Yes, she had known her. They fought. But there was another person she had to remember. The name danced in front of her.

"Na. . . Nano . . . . Nanoha!" Instantly she was smothered in memories, some sad and some happy, but all of them made her felt warm. She clutched her arms and frowned. What the HELL was wrong with her? She glared at the snowflakes that began to fall from the sky. Nanoha liked snow. She had told her? Yes that was right. Or had she supposed . . . The burgundy eyes clouded in confusion. Fate tightened her grip on her arms and kept walking, ignoring the soft and cold pieces of fluff that rained down on her head.

"Yuuno-kun!" The blonde stiffened at the name. Instantly she felt hatred at the pit of her stomach. She whipped around and saw a strangely familiar image. A pretty brunette had a tall blonde boy's arm around her shoulder. Ah, Fate had seen this before, hadn't she? Frowning she watched the couple walk down the street. Without thinking she followed, her pace quickening until she was within a safe distance. She felt an urgent feeling to protect Nanoha. She had to make sure that boy didn't do anything to her. After a bit of mindless meandering the two stopped at a small coffee shop. Sighing Fate crossed her arms and leaned against a wall, obscured by the dumpster in front of her. Suddenly a hand landed on her shoulder.

"What are you doing Testarossa?" Fate's lips twitched. She turned to face a tall woman with pink hair and hard blue eyes. She felt pain and blackness asociated with this person. Frowning the blonde brushed off the contact.

"So you're watching your little human pet, Testarossa?"

"You can't kill me until I am a wolf. Please do not bother me until then . . . Signum."

"A-ah. You sound flustered, Testarossa. Could it be caused by not going to school?

Fate frowned and glanced at the dirty concrete at her feet. Suddenly a muscled arm slammed her against the brick wall.

"What's wrong with you Testaroosa?" Signum's sharp eyes surveyed the girl's blank face and apathetic eyes. She pressed harder against the lean body.

"I'm a monster Signum. Does it matter what I do?" Fate cocked her head to the side, an eyebrow arching in curiosity. The pink-haired woman's lips twitched in annoyance. Why did she care? Because Fate was her sparring partner and without a good fight from a worthy enemy being a hunter lost its worth.

"Stop feeling sorry for yourself. It's pathetic. You're not a simpering child Testarossa!" Signum snarled angrily, her steel blue eyes blazing.

For a long moment the blonde stared blankly at the passionate expression. Distant burgundy looked up and down the face. For a few moments the woman in front of her wasn't familiar. Why was Fate in this position again? Oh yes, she was feeling sorry for herself . . . because? Blonde eyebrows pulled together in confusion.

"Damnit Testarossa!" Signum throttled the girl against the wall. Fate ignored the sharp pain on the back of her head. She strained against the muscled arm and looked for Nanoha and the boy. She no longer saw them in front of the small coffeeshop. Frowning she looked through the glass. Still not there. She shut her eyes in annoyance. Fate needed to protect Nanoha and this woman . . . Signum made things very difficult. With a quick flick of her wrist she pulled the arm off her chest and behind the woman's body. The blonde kicked the woman's legs out from under her and shoved her against the wall. A dry chuckle escaped from Signum's mouth as her cheek rested against the cool brick.

"A-ah, I was careless. Sorry that I became cocky Testarossa." Fate's eyebrow twitched. With a fierce growl she smashed the woman against the wall again. She smelled blood. Kneeling down she pressed her lips against the wound. She lapped at the crimson liquid, causing the hunter to moan in disgust.

"I lost my 'pet' in the crowd because of you. I don't like interruptions." She pressed her tongue against the cut for a few seconds, a pugnacious gleam in her eye.

"Don't follow me after you wake up." Calmly she flipped Signum onto her back. Fate's hand hit a pressure point and the woman became limp, unconscious. The blonde stood, wiping the blood from her mouth. Rapidly blinking her eyes, she stumbled out of the alleyway. What had just happened? Even though her memory was hazy she had never done something that feral before. Not since she had left that man and the kids.

Shaking her head she tried to pick up on Nanoha's trail. She sniffed delicately in the air, trying to pick up the scent of peaches, pencil shavings, and cotton. Sidling past a clump of people she barely crossed the street and looked to her left and then right. She was greeted by the sight of neon lights flashing on top of buildings and crowds of people returning from work and school. She anxiously began to walk down the long line of shops when she heard a sound.

"Nyahaha." Nanoha. Fate careened toward the noise, running into a few irritated businessmen. Found her. Nose pressed against glass, the brunette watched in captivation as an early Christmas display sang songs. The girl giggled and pointed at it in earnest. The boy merely nodded.

Fate was on the trail again. Resuming her casual stalking, she followed the couple. Sometimes she would have to stop and remind herself why she was walking or why she was pushing past a crowd. But she kept going. She had to. Because if Nanoha wasn't protected Fate would never forgive herself.

They were ambling around in the park. Fate resignedly watched the two but something was wrong. Whenever she watched the interactions between Nanoha and Yuuno she felt awkward. She couldn't quite put her finger on it but was Nanoha fidgeting? Yuuno would put his arm on her shoulder and after a few minutes she would shrug it off. Or Yuuno would try to hold her hand and Nanoha would be oblivious to the fact, her eyes spacey. What was she thinking about?

Finally she noticed the couple was going to go their separate ways. Yuuno hugged Nanoha and softly murmured something into her ear. The brunette merely nodded and walked away, ignoring the boy's somber emerald gaze. It was strange. Fate felt like she recognized the stare. Rubbing her head she pulled her eyes from Yuuno and shuffled toward Nanoha. The girl was staring at her feet, her eyes troubled. Had that boy said something wrong to her? If he did . . . Fate's lips pulled into a snarl. Then she felt a tingle that halted her train of thought. She glanced at the moon. The white orb filled her being with longing and an unnamable urge. It was time. She jumped behind a bush and let the familiar prickling sensation cover her body. After a few seconds a golden wolf exited the dense brush. Ears pricked and tail straight, she tensed. Thud. Where was the noise coming from? Thud. Fate glanced around in worry. THUD. Fate lunged forward, shielding the brunette from a large coal black wolf that had attempted to attack the girl.

"Nikko?"

The golden wolf rolled on the grass and tightened her grip on the wolf's throat. Angrily she pinned him to the ground, waiting for others to come. Silence filled her ears. Frowning she listened again, eyes closed. But there was no one. Only the sound of humans, cars, and city antics.

Cool burgundy gazed into frightened amber.

Where are the others?

I-I don't know what you're talking about!

Fate's lips curled into a snarl. She bit down on the wolf's forearm. A sickening crunch. He howled in agony.

It's only going to get worse if you don't tell me.

I swear there isn't anyone else! It's just me!

I don't believe you.

Fate broke the bone in two, watching from the corner of her eye as the wolf's eyes glazed in pain.

Please have mercy!

Do you want me to tear it in half?

Fate began to tug the mangled forearm away from the body.

"Fate-chan, stop!" Instantly the golden wolf opened her mouth and let the bloody mess fall to the ground. She stepped away from the ragged figure, her lips curled in disgust. The male wolf limped away, throwing a wary glance over his shoulder just in case she followed.

Her body shook in fury. Who dared to interrupt her? Turning she came face to face with a brunette whose eyes reminded Fate of the sky. Oh. Nanoha. Tension disappeared and in it's place was a calmness. She approached the girl eagerly but stopped when she saw her face. Her eyes were wide with shock and her mouth hung open. Why was she so surprised?

"Fate-chan, stop!" Fate-chan . . . wait . . . Fate stopped breathing. She hadn't said Nikko. And the blonde was currently a giant golden wolf!

"So Hayate-chan wasn't joking." Nanoha shook her head in disbelief and stared at the golden wolf's face. Crimson blood stained the flaxen fur. She pulled out a handkerchief from her pocket and dabbed at the liquid, the whole while drowing in the rich wine colored eyes. Why hadn't she recognized them? Now that she really concentrated she realized the dog she had called Nikko and the girl she had called Fate had the same eyes.

"You have a dog that comes only twice a month right?" Hayate leaned casually against the railing on the roof, watching Nanoha's mildly surprised reaction.

"Er, yeah. Why do you ask, Hayate-chan?" The shorter brunette merely shrugged and pursed her lips together in thought. She was debating something important. For a few minutes conflicted sapphire stared at innocent slate blue. Then Hayate licked her lips and swallowed.

"Just humor me Nanoha-chan. When you see her just call her Fate-chan."

Wiping the last of the blood from the wolf's mouth Nanoha stood and shoved the stained handkerchief into her pocket.

"Fate-chan . . ." Tentatively she touched the golden fur. The wolf leaned into her touch, like Fate always did.

"So it is you."

As soon as the girl touched her head everything was so much clearer, more defined. It was like turning on the headlights of a car during a dark night. Her mind was no longer fuzzy. Fate felt normal for the first time in four days. But with clarity came instant fear. What would Nanoha think of this situation? Would she hate her? Would she be afraid of her? Would she-

"I need to tell you something Fate-chan," Nanoha murmured, sincerity rang in her voice. "Even though you're like this . . . Fate-chan is Fate-chan. If you're a wolf or a human, you're still my Fate-chan!" A blush stained the angel's face.

Warm arms blanketed the wolf's neck.

"So . . . I don't want you to be hard on yourself. I love you for you Fate-chan! I don't care what you are."

Love? The wolf's ears flicked at the sweet word. The emotion that Fate craved.

"Nyahaha." Warm breath tickled her ear.

"Y-yeah. I love you Fate-chan."

A/N Be prepared for a very VERY fluffy chapter. I have to emotionally prepare you for the amount of fluff that will occur in chapter nine. Just kidding. But what do you think? Was Nanoha's confession good enough? Just to let you guys know, when Fate confessed to Nanoha, Nanoha never rejected Fate. She was just so shocked that she didn't respond. And I think I've given enough memories to hint that Nanoha loves Fate. It just needed to be realized. Also I'm not taking a hiatus from the plot, it's just I need to address that Nanofate exists in my fanfic, not just in tense subtext(which is so similar to the anime). So I hope you enjoyed and please review!