Author's Note:
It's been a while hasn't it? I'm terribly sorry for the delay. Between being busy, using my remaining free time to play video games rather than write and quite a nasty writer's block I've just not been able to get much writing done.
I'm still suffering from a bit of writer's block but it's getting better. I cannot say when my next update will be, but I hope it'll take less long than it has now.
Thank you for your patience, I hope you enjoy this chapter!
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 awoke slowly, feeling the familiar warmth and scent of my girlfriend surround me. Comfortable, I dug my face a bit deeper into Nanoha's chest. I felt her breathing evenly; she was still sleeping soundly.
I had slept pretty well myself as no nightmares had plagued me. I smiled at the realization.
A sharp intake of breath, as well as some murmuring signified Nanoha's awakening. I looked at her as her eyes slowly fluttered open.
"Hey you." I whispered.
She giggled in return. "Good morning Fate-chan. How did you sleep?" The question was asked with a certain amount of uncertainty.
"The best I have in quite a while." I smiled at her. She smiled back, obviously pleased to hear that after our talk from the day before.
We both had a day off that day – the headmaster of Nanoha's school had gotten a temporary substitute teacher to take over her class so she could take care of me, and I was on sick leave until further notice – so we just stayed like that, wrapped in each other's arms, for as long as possible.
It didn't take long for Nanoha to fall back asleep. Lying there in the arms of my beloved, I just didn't feel like getting up at all that day.
*~-{ Broken }-~*
*~-{ Written by Zarosguth }-~*
*~-{ Chapter X }-~*
Reluctantly, Fate untangled herself from a sleeping Nanoha's embrace, the urge to go to the bathroom too strong to ignore. When she got back after conducting her business she found the brunette had woken up again.
"Sorry Nanoha, did I wake you?" Fate apologized as she crawled back under the covers.
Nanoha simply shook her head. She propped her head up on her elbow with her face towards Fate. Fate mirrored her pose.
The two of them just lay there for a few minutes, taking each other in, just happy and content to be with the one they loved. It was still hard to believe that the two of them had only started dating a couple of weeks ago, most of which Fate had been in the hospital.
Then again, they had been friends prior to that for years. Still, things felt and were obviously different ever since their relationship status went from 'Life Long Best Friends Forever' to lovers.
"Did you sleep well?" Nanoha eventually broke the comfortable silence that had settled over the two women. The question was posed with slight hesitation as their talk about nightmares was still fresh.
Nanoha felt relieved when Fate responded with a shy smile and a nod. Nanoha's relief was two-fold; on one hand, she was happy that Fate did not take offence to the question, and on the other hand she was glad to learn that Fate had – indeed – slept well.
{]-~*(X)*~-[}
Detective Ginga Nakajima had had one of the worst nights she'd had in quite a while. She had kept tossing and turning in bed all night as The Harlaown rape case had reached a dead end.
Despite the DNA evidence from the rape kit, Yuuno Scrya had a rock-solid alibi. His assistant, as well as the university's CCTV footage had confirmed the ex-boyfriend to have been working all night, categorizing findings from his most recent dig.
The victim herself had suffered a blow to the head against a brick wall when she was assaulted and as a result had been unable to give the detectives anything solid on the man that'd attacked her.
There had to be something that could point them in the direction of a possible suspect right? There was no security camera near the alley where the attack happened and the man that had found her – Zafira Yagami, a cousin of Hayate Yagami, a friend of the victim – had also been unable to get a good look at the perp.
Releasing a frustrated sigh, Ginga remembered how she got put on this case.
{]-~*(X)*~-[}
"Nakajima! Granscenic! My office, now!" Lieutenant Genya Nakajima shouts reverberated through the Special Victims Unit bullpen.
Ginga and Vice shared a look before getting up from their desks and making their way over to their lieutenant's office.
"Daddy upset with you Nakajima?" one of the other detectives sneered. Ginga could only roll her eyes; it was no secret she was Genya Nakajima's daughter. Not that had ever worked in her favour.
As soon as the two detectives passed through the door they noticed a blue-haired man not unfamiliar to them also present in Lt. Nakajima's office.
"Have a seat detectives." Genya motioned for the chairs on the other side of his desk.
Glancing in the blue-haired man's direction, Vice spoke up. "Sir? What'd you need us for?"
"Patience Granscenic, let me first introduce the two of you to Chrono Harlaown. He's the lieutenant for our homicide division as I'm sure you know."
Ginga and Vice nodded; Chrono had a very good reputation within the police department. He had gone up the ranks quickly. The most impressive thing was that he did so without doing any brass kissing.
"I have a case for the two of you. I suppose my putting the two of you on it is a bit of a personal favour to Lt. Harlaown here." Genya continued.
"Personal favour?" Ginga questioned, she wasn't sure what her lieutenant was talking about.
It was then that Chrono spoke up. "My sister, Fate Harlaown. She was assaulted."
Ginga's eyes widened. She had heard of the blonde children's advocate. She knew the blonde to be a very impressive woman. One that was very good at what she did.
"You mean the Fate Harlaown? Fate Testarossa Harlaown? She's your sister, Sir?" Vice spoke, his voice clearly betraying his disbelief. Ginga nearly face palmed at her partner's lack of filter.
"The very same," Genya confirmed, "she's family of one of our own. I owe Lt. Harlaown here, so I want to put my very best on this case and that means the two of you." The SVU lieutenant handed both detectives a copy of the case file that had already been compiled.
"If you have any questions, you can turn to Lt. Harlaown. Do your best and do not disappoint me."
"Sir." Both Ginga and Vice nodded their affirmative before leaving the office and getting back to the bullpen to get to work.
{]-~*(X)*~-[}
"Do your best and do not disappoint me." Lt. Nakajima's words rang in Det. Nakajima's head. Pretty much everyone at the station knew Ginga was Genya's daughter. Many thought that because her father was the lieutenant that Ginga had it easy as her father would be looking out for her.
The opposite however, was true.
If anything, Genya was more strict and demanding when it came to Ginga's work; everything she did would reflect off of him twice as much, not only as one of his detectives but also as his daughter.
Luckily for her, Ginga was the best at what she did. But this case… it was running cold and she didn't like it when that happened. She didn't like it one bit.
{]-~*(X)*~-[}
Yuuno groaned as he woke up. Glancing at his alarm clock he found it was already ten in the morning. Cursing as he found he'd slept through his alarm, he leapt out of bed and started washing and dressing himself. It wasn't until he was fully dressed and ready to go that he realized he had a day off at the insistence of his boss.
The university's headmaster had given him a week off because of – as he'd said it – 'the stress that inadvertently came with getting involved in police investigation' as well as the fact Yuuno had a large amount of vacation days stored up due to his workaholic tendencies.
Yuuno groaned again; he loved his job. Hell, almost everyone he knew loved their jobs and were major workaholics. Hayate and her family were always busy with something either having to do with Pink Velvet or any of the other jobs Hayate's cousins practiced. Nanoha never took a personal day and was always ready and prepared to teach her class, as well as take over any classes for sick colleagues. Fate though, she had to be the worst of them all; she never refused a case and once she'd taken one, she'd devote all of her time and energy to it. She would go to absurd lengths to protect her client's – whom were almost always young children – best interests.
As his thoughts went to Fate, Yuuno remembered he had yet to speak to his fellow blonde ever since her assault. Yuuno remembered the shock he felt when he heard about it. He wondered if Fate knew about the semen they'd found on her, his semen. He wondered if Fate thought he'd actually ben the one to assault her.
He really needed to talk to her now.
But Yuuno was sure it'd not be the best idea to show up at the hospital now. He wasn't even sure if Fate was still at the hospital for that matter; he'd always been closest to Nanoha. And while he was on good terms with Hayate and the rest of the Yagami clan, they sure didn't talk much.
Yuuno let a small self-deprecating smile grace his lips as he realized the only connection to the group of friends he'd had for the last two decades or so, was his now ex-girlfriend.
I really need to get out more.
Then, another thought entered his head.
Of course! Hayate!
A plan having formed in his head, Yuuno quickly left his house and went on his way to the Yagami household, not caring how early in the morning it still was.
*~-{ End of Chapter X }-~*
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*~-{ May we meet again, fare thee well! }-~*