An half hour later at the Takamachi household.
Nanoha POV
"This chemistry problem is so stubborn! It just won't let me solve it." I laid my head on my arm and dropped my pencil.
The door flew open and I almost fell off my chair.
"How was your math test?" Mom crossed her arms and glared at me. I didn't hear her come up the stairs at all.
"It was great! I didn't have a problem with a single...hmm...problem." I wish I had studied on Friday and Saturday. Something tells me I'm going to be grounded.
"We'll see about that when we get your test back. You did not study well this weekend so I can't see how you think you did okay." She stomped across the room and picked up the exercise I was doing my chemistry homework in. "This one problem is all you have done?"
"I'm stuck...but I'll figure it out." Internet here I come.
"I've no doubt you will since you won't be doing anything else for a while."
I forgot I was grounded! Maybe I'll call Miyuki later or...sneak the internet when mom goes crocheting tonight.
"I've told Shiro to keep an eye on you so don't think you'll be getting away with anything when I'm gone." She put her hands on my two shoulders and squeezed, her eyes burning into my soul. "Don't disappoint me."
"Y...ye..yes...m...m...mom."
She withdrew her nails from my shoulders and stomped back across the room. "We'll be having dinner early tonight. Miyuki will be here around 4:30 so be washed and ready then."
"Sis is coming home!"
"Don't even think for a second you'll get out of your grounding just because she is home."
Poop. I want to go get pizza or something with Miyuki.
Mom closed the door behind her and hovered down the stairs. She must hover because she doesn't make any noise. I sound like a horse walking down them and that's when I'm trying to be quiet.
I wonder if Miyuki's chemistry book has an example like this one. If I can get this work done, I can ask Miyuki for help, but I won't need help and we can just talk and mom won't get mad.
Ding. Ding. Ding. The door bell rang. I should go get it. She'll yell at me if I don't. I walked as quickly as I could across my room and out the door.
Mom was at the bottom of the stairs glaring hard at me...so I froze to the spot. She opened the door.
Standing there, drenching wet, and hair hanging limply down her face...was Fate.
"Ms. Testarossa is there something I can do for you?" Mom stood squarely in the door and I could see Fate take half a step back.
"Yes...I'm...I'm..."
"Spit it out."
Fate's back straightened. "I'm locked out of my house and no one is home. Can I stay here...tonight."
"Where's your mother?"
Fate's head dropped and she stared at her shoes. "I don't know," she said meekly.
"Come in. You'll get pneumonia if you stay out in the rain like that." Mom stepped to one side to let Fate inside. "Where is your sister?"
"I don't know. She's not answering her phone," Fate said letting mom take her bag from her.
Mom's hand shot out towards Fat's face and she jumped back, turning her face to one side and raising a hand in defence. Mom just stood there hand still held out and stared at Fate. "I'm not going to hurt you." She gently cupped Fate's chin with her hand. "What happened to you?"
"I had an...accident this weekend." Fate's eyes drifted up to me on the stairs...but thankfully mom didn't notice.
"I see." She turned Fate's face to one side. "Looks like someone hit you."
"It's nothing. I'm just clumsy."
The two just stood there for a few moments and mom finally let go of her face. "Get Alicia some clothes from your sisters room!"
"Okay!" I ran up the stairs and threw open Miyuki's room door and pulled open her closet. I reached in to pull out an hangar...
Fate's staying here...Fate's staying here...I hate you brain! I like boys and I even have a boyfriend...or at least he wants to go out with me...not my boyfriend yet...stupid brain!
Fate's taller than Miyuki so a skirt will have to do. I took out a skirt and t-shirt. I opened her dresser drawer and took out some undies and a bra...this bra won't fit her. She's going to have to do without.
I ran back out the door. Mom would start yelling soon...
Fate was sitting on the wooden bench besides the door and mom was in front of her drying her hair with a towel. Oh poop...she was in her underwear. She had her arms across her chest but those long sexy legs...
"Nanoha hurry up!"
"Okay." I rushed down the stairs and put the clothes on the bench beside her and rushed up the stairs again. My stupid brain doesn't need to see stupid Fate in her stupid underwear. I opened my door and closed and locked it behind me. I slid down to the floor and rested my back against the wall.
"You remember where our bathroom is right?" There was quiet for a second. "I don't know when you people have dinner but we're having it a little early tonight so hurry up and go get changed. Wash up while you're at it."
I heard her footsteps up the stairs and then the bathroom door squeak open and close again.
Fate is in my bathroom undressing...pulling off her underwear and her bra...
Bang! "Why is your door locked? Wash your hands and set the table."
It's nice when mom can't barge in your room... but it wasn't like I had my hand in my underwear or touching myself or anything...I wasn't doing anything. I hopped to my feet and opened my door. Fate wasn't out yet so I walked down the hall and leaned against the wall to wait for her.
My underwear is we...
Fate opened the door and her eyes widened. She stepped out and flattened herself against the wall.
It's not like I can do anything to her. Mom would kill me long before she'd lay a hand on a guest and she's always so darned observant. I sighed and walked into the bathroom while Fate sprinted for the stairs.
Fate was naked in here...
I shook the thoughts from my head and washed my hands and ran back downstairs.
"Would you like me to set the table." Fate walked hesitantly up to mom.
"That's okay. You don't know where everything is and I told Nanoha to do it...if she ever gets her lazy ass in gear."
Eeep. I crept past them and ran for the kitchen. I have such terrible luck. Mom's always so...when we have quests and she's still simmering from my going to that stupid party...and it's all Fate's fault!
There were two extra chairs already at the table in the dining room. I have no idea when mom put them there. I swear she is a ninja sometimes. She appears out of nowhere and you never hear her unless you she wants you too. I bet she can kill you swiftly too...
I hurriedly took the plates and place mats to the table and...
Fate was right behind me placing forks and knives on the place mats I laid out. Maybe it's not everyone is quiet, it's just that I'm deaf..or I spend too much time in my own little world.
Fate was watching me closely and she was holding one of the knives pretty tightly in her right hand. I wonder if I smashed one of these plates into her smug face would it hurt more from her stabbing me ...or mom's swift brutal punishment...shiver... I shouldn't even have to question it.
"The ends of the table are for myself and Shiro but other than that sit where you'd like." The ninja appeared next to Fate and patted her on the shoulder. "How did the clothes fit?"
I wish I picked a short skirt and a tighter t-shirt becuase...NO...I picked exactly what I should have. I don't need a sexy Fate!
"If something is too tight we could try Nanoha's clothes. Nanoha's pudgier than..."
"Everything is fine." Fate cut in.
"Hi mom!" Miyuki wrapped her arms around her from behind.
"Hello dear. Dinner's ready so take a seat." Mom gently pushed her way out of Miyuki's hug and walked into the kitchen.
"Oh!" Miyuki rushed over to Fate and hugged into her lifting the taller girl off her feet. "I haven't see my little teddy bear in years!"
Teddy bear? I pulled out a chair and sat down.
"Where's your sister?" Miyuki and Fate sat to the other side of the table.
"I'm not sure. I haven't been able to call her." Fate looked down into her lap and sighed.
Dad walked hurriedly into the room and took his place at the head of the table. He glanced around the room. "We have a crowd tonight. It's nice having you girls here. It gets lonely with just the three of us.
Mom placed a carved roast onto the center of the table. Several side dishes mysteriously appeared around it from absolutely nowhere. Why am I the only one that notices this?
"Alicia is joining us for dinner tonight so I hope that is okay with you. Her mother..." the word positively dripped with venom and she mumbled something under her breath that I couldn't make out, "locked her out of her house and she's nowhere to be found."
"That's fine. I wonder why I don't see you girls here for dinner..." He coughed and closed his mouth tight.
"Mom," Miyuki said glancing at Fate. "This is..."
I kicked Miyuki in the knee and she immediately closed her mouth and picked up her fork without even looking at me. Miyuki is fast on the uptake. I don't know how many times we've come to silent agreements like this.
Mom eyed Miyuki but didn't say anything. It's definitely for the best that she thinks it's Alicia that is here rather than Fate. She can almost stand Alicia but Fate makes her grit her teeth from just saying her name.
"How was your math test today Alicia?" Mom clasped her hands in front of her on the table.
"I was a little late this morning so I had to rush but it was not difficult."
"Hmm. What problem did you have trouble with Nanoha?"
All of them...well...most of them. "The word problems." I could probably have figured them out if I had more time. There is no way I'm getting above a 60 on that test. I doubt Fate, the liar, will even come close to passing.
"I finished those first because they were worth so much but I don't remember what they were about."
I could feel mom's eyes skewering me without even looking up from my plate.
"You two girls can finish your homework together and then you can help Nanoha with her chemistry."
Seriously? I got 90% on my last test so how can Fate help me with anything to do with the subject. I doubt she's even passing the course. I doubt she even has a chemistry book!
"I could help you know." Miyuki frowned, poking at her food with her fork.
Mom took a sip of her of water and placed her fork on the place mat before speaking. "If you were any good at those subjects you'd have done engineering like we wanted instead of literature."
"Not this again." She rubbed her face and thumped her fist on the table. "I don't want to do engineering."
"It doesn't matter if you..."
"Dear," dad interjected, "it's nice that she's home. We don't need to have that argument again especially during dinner."
After that mom gritted her teeth and didn't say a word. I don't know what was worse, the explosion that we just nearly avoided or the eerie silence throughout the rest of the meal but that was still better than if mom had figured out that it was Fate sitting there eating her food.
