"Do you want to live little girl?" Shapes blurred and touch lost its feeling. Suddenly she felt herself being lifted up into strong arms.
"How on earth did you survive?" muttered the masculine voice. Nanoha slowly felt herself fade into oblivion, everything melting . . . Crimson blood . . . feral growls . . .
A man stood in front of her, his back to her. Nanoha could just make out the dark hair on his head.
"It has been awhile Nanoha-san. I hope you are ready for me to take you back." He smirked over his shoulder and Nanoha felt shivers down her spine. The man wasn't there anymore. In his place was Fate-chan.
"Nanoha!" The girl felt herself being shaken awake. Opening her eyes she saw concerned burgundy orbs staring down at her. She felt warmth envelop her.
"Don't scare me like that," Fate whispered urgently into her ear. Nanoha sighed and burrowed her face into the crook of the girl's neck. Tears dribbled down her cheeks. The brunette watched through blurred vision as Fate gently brushed away the wetness with her thumbs. The blonde leaned forward and kissed her hair.
"It-it's just a dream Nanoha. Dreams . . . no matter how bad they are . . . they aren't reality."
"F-fate-chan!" She tightened her hold on Nanoha.
"I'll make sure the dreams never hurt you Nanoha."
"Promise?" The brunette didn't know if it was because she was so tired, or frightened, but she needed Fate to promise to protect her. Mirth filled the wine colored eyes. She leaned forward until her forehead was touching Nanoha's. She offered her pinky to the girl, smiling gently.
"I promise. I'll protect you always, Nanoha." Always . . . Fate-chan can you really keep such an impossible thing? When I haven't even told you everything about me. When I've held back so much . . . How could you do that?
. . .
Fate tightened her grip on Nanoha's hand as they crossed the street. The brunette blinked in surprise at the break in her daydream and smiled, scratching her cheek in embarrassment.
"Nyahaha, sorry Fate-chan. I'm just tired . . . after last night." Slate blue winked playfully. But Fate knew it was a facade. The blonde could always tell. But she knew that pointing it out would only hurt the girl's feelings.
"N-nanoha . . ." She ducked her head in embarrassment. To her surprise a warm hand stroked her cheek.
"You're so cute Fate-chan." Grinning she pulled the blonde the rest of the way to the park. The whole time Fate kept her eyes on Nanoha's face. Something was bothering her. Frowning Fate scratched her neck. She hadn't forgotten anything important, not since she had been with Nanoha. Sometimes she wondered why she had thought she had been losing her mind a few weeks ago. Now everything seemed fine except for those occasional black outs. But they were infrequent and brief. Everything was perfect. Nanoha was her girfriend and she was perfectly happy. Smirking she stopped running forward and pulled on Nanoha's hand.
"What is it Fate-ch-mph-" Not caring where she was she planted a kiss on the girl's lips. Gently Fate brushed her nose along her jaw and playfully nibbled on her ear.
"Mou Fate-chan, we're in public!" Nanoha hissed. The blonde merely laughed and kissed Nanoha's cheek.
"I love you Nanoha." The words tingled on her tongue. Her lips twitched into a smile as the brunette blushed. She brought two of her fingers to her lips, kissed them, and pressed them against Fate's mouth. Fate kissed the fingertips lovingly without hesitation.
"There's more when we get home." Nanoha abruptly turned and marched away.
"Mou, you tease!" She merely heard laughter as her response.
In a few steps Fate caught up with the girl and draped an arm over her shoulder. The brunette shivered.
"Are you cold?" Her eyebrows furrowed and she began to unwrap the soft cashmere scarf- Alicia's scarf lit up as the lightning flashed across the sky. Gently she tied the scarf neatly around her girlfriend's neck.
"Better?" Nanoha giggled and grabbed Fate's hand.
"Fate-chan this isn't good. I'm warm yet you're cold." She pursed her lips in thought as they waited at the last crosswalk. "I know!" Quickly she stuffed Fate's hand in her pocket, rubbing the cold fingers briskly with her own.
"Nanoha."
The girl grinned mischievously and stared straight ahead, walking quickly as she tried to match the blonde's pace. She smiled at the snow that coated the ground. She loved snow. Nanoha gazed upward, entranced by the dark grey sky.
"You know Fate-chan, I wish it could snow and have clear skies at the same time. Wouldn't that be perfect?" Fate tightened her grip on Nanoha's shoulder and chuckled into her ear.
"Weather is so fickle Nanoha. Why would you have such high expectations?"
"It would be nice though." A pensive look masked the usually cheerful girl's face. Sighing Fate shrugged.
"I suppose so, but it would be pretty weird," muttered Fate. She found a nice bench to the side of the cement path through the park. Together they sat down on the wood and tried to keep warm. The blonde smiled at Nanoha. The brunette grinned and rested her cheek against Fate's shoulder. Yawning she began to feel lethargic . . . drifting into . . . oblivion . . .
"Mama?" Tiredly the blonde rubbed her eyes and glared at the owner of the childish voice. Standing in front of her was a young girl with blonde hair and different colored eyes. She clung to a stuffed rabbit and had her thumb in her mouth.
"Mama?" the girl asked again. Fate blushed and glanced at the brunette who was sleeping on her shoulder.
"Nanoha," she muttered quietly, eyes still on the child in front of her.
"Mm, what Fate-chan?"
"Did you have a child that I should know about?"
"Eh?" Nanoha's eyes shot open. Laughing softly behind her hand, Fate gestured at the little girl in front of her.
"Mama?"
An embarrassed blush covered the brunette's face.
"I-I'm sorry. I don't know who you are . . ." The little girl seemed unabashed by the comment and nodded solemnly in understanding.
"Little girl, where are your parents?" Fate smiled kindly and leaned forward.
Silently the girl pointed vaguely behind her.
"I see. . ." The blonde frowned as she pondered what she would do next.
"Nanoha?"
"Hm?"
"Would you mind watching this girl for a bit? I'll try and find her parents." Fate stood up and rubbed the sleep from her eyes. Yawning she plopped the young child onto the bench and began to march toward the densely populated park center.
"Fate-chan?" The blonde glanced over her shoulder. Nanoha had the little girl on her lap, arms wrapped around her body.
"Mm?"
"Bring some cocoa when you get back please. One for this girl as well." A small smile curled on her lips as she gazed into the green and red eyes.
"Of course." Fate smiled and walked away. The image lingered in her brain after she had left. A brunette with glowing slate blue eyes and a small blonde child on her lap. She didn't know why but the picture was precious to her. Shrugging she glanced around searching for people that resembled the girl that was sitting on Nanoha's lap. She went from person to person asking the same question: Are you missing a daughter? Unfortunately it was the same response.
"No."
"Sorry."
"Nope."
"Do you think I would be that careless, of course not!" Fate stuffed her frigid hands deep into her pockets, yearning for the warmth that Nanoha possessed. Pursing her lips together she pulled out crumpled yen bills in her jean pocket. She grinned wickedly as she trotted toward the small snack cart. An idea formed in her brain. Humming under her breath she waited in line, watching the customer in front of her.
"Thank-you, come again." Fate walked forward and glanced at the figure out of the corner of her eye. Its face was obscured by a grey hoodie but the blonde caught one thing: a lock of bright orange hair. Fate watched the person go before giving her undivided attention to the man in front of her.
"Two hot chocolates please." The man nodded and swiftly moved around, getting the materials he needed. The blonde frowned and tapped her fingers idly on her leg.
"500 yen, please." The man's moustache twitched as Fate slid the bills onto the metallic cart. In a flash the money was gone and replaced with two steaming plastic mugs of hot chocolate. Fate had never shared a drink with Nanoha. It would be fun to try. Gripping the soft cups she briskly turned toward the park bench. Suddenly she stopped. Orange hair . . .
"Fate-san!" The young girl pointed excitedly at the falling sakura petals that dappled the ground. Smiling Fate picked up a clump and blew them at the child.
"They are very pretty. Like you, Tea."
"Teana . . ." She felt something hot burn her leg as she lost her grip on the hot chocolates. She sank to her knees staring blankly in front of her. There was no one there. Nanoha and the child were gone.
. . .
Earlier
Nanoha watched with a smiling face as Fate began to fade into the crowd. Stroking the girl's soft hair she decided to ask her a question.
"What's you name?"
"V-vivio."
"Really? That's such a beautiful name. My name is Takamachi Nanoha."
The blonde girl's eyes widened briefly and she stared into the gentle slate blue eyes.
"T-takamachi Nanoha?"
"Yes. That's my name, pleased to meet you." The brunette held out her hand and Vivio shook it firmly.
"Pleased to meet you," she mumbled, her eyes staring at the blue scarf around the girl's neck.
"Pretty. . ."
Nanoha smiled and pulled off the scarf and wrapped it around Vivio's throat.
"Is it warm?"
"Un!" Blushing the child stroked the soft fabric with her hands.
"My very good friend lent it to me. She wanted me to be warm but I'm fine now. I think you need it more then I do." Grinning she pet the girl's hair. It felt soft like silk. It reminded her of Fate's hair.
"Vivio!" A small girl who looked to be about ten dashed toward the park bench, short pink hair flying in different directions. Panting she skidded to a stop in a front of a dumbfounded Nanoha.
"I'm sorry to bother you but my . . . little sister must have gotten lost. I need to watch her more carefully!" Blushing she scratched her cheek in embarrassment.
"Oh, it's no trouble, really." Smiling in understanding she shifted to put the girl on the ground. However, Vivio wouldn't budge, her grip tight on Nanoha's jacket.
"Vivio?"
"Don't let them take me, Takamachi-san." The girl whimpered and burrowed her head into the brunette's chest. Nanoha frowned and gazed at the seemingly innocent girl in front of her. Why was Vivio so afraid?
"I'm sorry but . . ."
"Takamachi-san is it?" The girl's mouth opened and she took a step a bit too close for Nanoha's liking.
"Y-yes?" Nanoha didn't like the excited gleam in the girl's eyes.
"Would you mind coming with me? Vivio is a bit shy and it would be so much easier if you could give her directly to my parents. Please Takamachi-san?" Imploringly teal eyes gazed into wary slate blue.
Nanoha frowned. She still felt uncomfortable. But . . . giving the barely visible blonde head one last glance she stood and with Vivio in her arms she walked away from the park bench.
. . .
Fate placed her hand on the wood. It was still warm. That meant Nanoha was nearby. Jerking upward in triumph she dashed from the spot and ran left to right.
"Nanoha! Nanoha!" Desperately she cupped her hands around her mouth and shouted the name that was always in her heart.
"Fate-"
The blonde stiffened and shut her eyes. The sound came from her left side. She took off, shoving past crowds of people. She saw a short break in the crowd. Nanoha's eyes were wide and pleading.
"Nanoha!" Fate leaped forward, hand outstretched. Just as their fingertips touched she felt something hard hit her neck. Gasping she sank to her knees. Everything was blurring, changing, and gone . . .
"Nano . . . ha." Blackness.
Something warm touched her shoulder.
"Hey! Wake up!" Opening one eye she saw a young man with dark black hair and concerned grey eyes.
"Are you alright?"
Fate nodded slowly and squeezd her eyes shut. Where was she? She winced as she rubbed her neck idly. Then everything came back. Nanoha! The blonde got quickly to her feet in the middle of a thick throng of people. But she was alone.
A/N Alright guys I'm going on hiatus for a little while. Don't worry though, I will finish this story. I know where I'm taking this and everything so it should all turn out okay. So Vivio in all her moe glory appeared! Sorry that the happiness ended so sadly, I'm not a big fan of fluff. I hope you enjoyed the chapter! Please review!