Disclaimer: I do not own Mahou Shoujo Lyrical Nanoha.

A/N: Sorry for the late update. My computer was damaged so I couldn't update for quite some time. This chapter will have quite a lot of spelling and grammar errors as I'm using WordPad instead of Microsoft Word (somehow, it disappeared from my computer) so there would not be any automatic spelling check for me. Sigh. Nonetheless, I'll try my best to minimize mistakes.

I've decided to give shout-outs to reviewers because I fell so bad ignoring you at times:

Dr. Rondart: I've changed Percia to Precia and Haruka to Erika. And your PM request is done, I've changed the remaining Haruka to Erika and the mistake for Testorossa is done too. But if you see anymore mistake, please inform me, okay? Here's chapter 10 and I really hope you'll enjoy it.

00asianwriter00: Sorry for the late update! Here's a new chapter for you!

seehuey: Sorry for the late update and hope you'll like this one.

KazeNoTsubasa: How Fate changed into her happier self is revealed in this chapter, so I hope you'll enjoy it!

kawaii-pal: Well, there isn't really any start for the FatexChrono romance because every moment just pulls them closer together (I'm being dramatic, am I?). But there is going to be a confession chapter between the two but that will come much later.

Hikori: I'm so sorry for not PMing you when the story is updated. It often slips my mind, you see. Hopefully, you'll like this chapter!

Chapter 10: Lost and Found

"That would be all for now. Class dismissed." The teacher said and immediately, the students in the room stood up in unison and chorused goodbye to the teacher. When the teacher left, students began to pack their schoolbags with much haste and rushed out of the classroom. At this time, Nanoha and Chrono had gathered around Fate's table.

"I'm sorry I can't go home with you today, Fate," Nanoha said apologetically. "I'm having tuition today."

"It's all right. I understand." Fate replied with a smile.

"Hey, what's that big bag of yours?" Chrono suddenly asked as he pointed to the pink plastic bag Nanoha was carrying.

"It's nothing." Nanoha said quickly and place the bag behind her.

"Then I 'll see you tomorrow, Fate, Chrono! Bye!" Nanoha bid her friends goodbye as she headed for her tuition. Fate and Chrono waved back and when she was gone, Chrono said to Fate, "I need to talk to you, Fate."

"About what?" Fate looked up at Chrono.

"About - " Chrono began.

"Hey, Chrono! Can you help us here for a moment?" Yuuno called from the teacher's table. "I need to get these to the staff room but my hands are full for the moment."

"Okay. Just a second." Chrono replied. Then facing Fate, he said, "Can you wait for me at the greenhouse?" Without saying a word, Fate nodded and Chrono was off to help Yuuno with his errands.

What does he want to talk about? Fate thought as she strolled to the greenhouse, curious of Chrono's sudden serious tone and face a while ago...

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With Nanoha... (A/N: This whole part of Nanoha will be quite dramatic, so just bear with me or imagine or something.)

As she strolled to her tuition centre, Nanoha took peeks inside the pink plastic bag and when she lifted her face, her face was lit with all smiles. Finally, she couldn't resist anymore and took out what was in the bag: the teddy bear that Yuuno had given her the day before; she had liked it so much that she couldn't bear leaving it at home, so she took it along. She was all smiles as she admired the bear when suddenly, a middle-aged man accidentally knocked into Nanoha, prompting the teddy bear to be flung out of her hands and it flew all the way to the other side of the road (A/N: See? I told you it would be dramatic).

"Ah! My bear!" Nanoha said as she helplessly watched her bear being flung away.

"Sorry." The man said, unconcerned and went away.

Nanoha didn't wait for the man to apologize and quickly went to the crossing, waiting for the green light to light up. She also tried to catch glimpse of the teddy bear at the other side of the road but failed due to the flashing vehicles that blocked her sight. Finally, when the traffic light turned green, Nanoha rushed to the other side of the road, desperate to retrieve her teddy bear.

Unfortunately, when Nanoha did cross the road, the teddy bear was nowhere to be found.

"Strange. I could have sworn I saw the teddy bear being 'flown' here." Nanoha muttered as she was saddened by losing her most precious gift.

Then, remembering her tuition lesson, Nanoha looked at her watch and realized she was late. Immediately, she ran to the tuition center, promising herself to find the teddy bear with all costs, somehow…

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"Hello, Fate." Chrono greeted as he went into the greenhouse and saw Fate sitting at the bench.

"So what do you want to talk about?" Fate said as she signaled Chrono to sit at the empty space beside her.

When Chrono settled down, he said, "Well, Nanoha and I noticed that you were very quiet today. You're not like your normal self. Did something happen?" After a few moments of silence, Chrono tried again, "You know, Fate? You can always talk to me if there is something wrong. It won't be good to carry the burden all by yourself."

"Then, will you listen to me?" Fate said softly.

"Of course." Chrono replied without any hesitation.

"Actually, it all started with my sister." Fate began.

"Alicia?"

"No, Erika."

"But I thought Alicia was your only sister." Chrono said as he became more confused.

"I've actually got two sisters, and Erika was my younger sister. But she passed away some years ago." Fate said, near to tears.

"There was once when my mother was away on a business and Alicia was away on a school trip. Like always, I would fetch Erika to and fro from school. But there was one particular morning…"

"Onee-chan, can I skip school today? I'm not feeling well."

"Erika, you're always making that excuse to skip school."

"But I'm not lying or pretending this time. I'm really not well."

"Okay, how are you feeling?"

"I feel really tired."

"You stayed up late yesterday, did you?"

"No I didn't. Besides, my hands and feet are really cold."

"Probably due to the weather, it's nearing winter."

"It's not due to the weather, onee-chan!"

"Erika…"

"Fine! You'll still believe I'm lying about me not feeling well. Fine! Then let's go to school!"

"I didn't believe her that she was ill. When I fetched her home from school, she fainted when we were nearing home."

"Erika! What's wrong with you? Erika!"

"When I took her back home, I realized that she was running a fever. You know that fevers come much later after a while. I was taking care of her all night but her fever didn't subside. But the next morning, she was feeling much better, so I left her at home while I went to school. When I came back, I saw her sitting at the couch, watching television. I thought she was fully recovered, so…

"Let's go to the playground below, Erika."

"Okay."

"Here, Erika! Catch the ball!"

"She took the ball very slowly, and I even complained about her. When she was reaching for the ball, she fainted. At this time, my mother was returning home. And when she saw Erika lying on the ground and me trying to wake her up, she immediately came to us…

"Fate, what happened to Erika?"

"I don't know. We were playing when she suddenly fainted."

"Was she sick before?"

"She had a fever but when I came back from school, she was already well."

"Let's take her to the hospital. Come on, Fate."

"When we reached the hospital, Erika's condition was worse than expected. The doctor said that her temperature was extremely high. Addition to that, she also had really severe asthma attack. The doctor told us to prepare for the worse; she might be completely all right, she might have some damage in her brain because of the high fever, or she might not survive this one." At this, Fate buried her face in her hands, tears falling relentlessly.

"I wasn't a good sister. I caused her death. If only I hadn't bring her to the playground to play, this wouldn't have happened. She would be resting and still be living now. I feel really guilty…"

"Why did you bring Erika to play when you knew she was ill?"

"Mother…"

"You knew perfectly that she was ill, didn't you?"

"Mother, I…"

(SLAP)

"Mother…"

"Mother, Erika will be all right. She's a strong girl. Have faith in her." (A/N: This is Alicia.)

"Alicia."

"Fate, you better go home and rest a bit." (A/N: This is Alicia too.)

"Thank you, Alicia."

"The next day, when my mother, Alicia and I came to visit Erika, she said something that I was very guilty of. It was as if I was blamed of her predicament. I knew Erika didn't have the intention to make me feel this way, but what she said made me feel responsible for her…"

"Fate?"

"Yes, Erika?"

"I'm sorry I didn't pass the ball back to you properly. Sorry, Fate."

"You know, Fate?" Chrono said after Fate ended her story. Fate's tears-stained face faced Chrono, and for once, she wasn't crying.

"You shouldn't be too depressed like that." Chrono said.

"How can I not?" Fate said angrily as she stood up, losing her patience. "Erika is my sister!"

"That's why you shouldn't too depress." Chrono repeated. "Erika is your sister, surely she wouldn't want you to be like this."

"What do you mean?"

"Do you think Erika would want to see you like this? Do you think she would happy seeing you sad?" Chrono said firmly. "Listen Fate, you may have caused her death, but when you said that she was sorry for not passing you the ball properly shows that she forgives you and doesn't want you to feel guilty."

"Do you really mean that?" Fate questioned. "Do you think she forgave me?"

Chrono nodded and said, "Of course, Fate. I'm sure Erika would want you to be happy. If she sees you being so sad like this, she would be sad to. Do you want her to feel guilty too? For causing your unhappiness?"

Fate shook her head, "No."

"Then be cheerful." Chrono said, stood up and pull Fate into a friendly embrace.

"Thank you, Chrono." Fate said as her tears fell again, somewhat touched by Chrono's words. When they separated, Fate said, "All these years, nobody ever comforted me like that. You're the first one. And please don't tell Nanoha about this, I know that she'll be really sad, knowing I've lost a sister. That's her nature."

"Okay. But let me make a guess, you're very concerned about Nanoha's 'happiness' because she somehow resembles Erika, am I right?"

"How did you know?" Fate said, stunned.

"Just my guess. But you should know something too; Erika is Erika, Nanoha is Nanoha. If you replace Erika with Nanoha, it wouldn't be so nice, would it?"

"Nope, I guess not." Fate said.

For a moment, they stood there in awkward silence, then Fate said, "I'll go home now. Mother expected me to be home before six."

"Okay. But before you go, do you mind if I ask a question?" Chrono asked.

"Sure."

"How were you cheerful before? I mean, after Erika passed away."

"That," Fate smiled, "Is a secret and a promise."

"So can you tell me?" Chrono asked.

"Of course not. It's a secret. Gee, Chrono, your English is really bad." Fate joked.

"How?" Chrono raised an eyebrow.

"You should know the definition of secrets, I'm surprised you had asked me if I could tell you that secret." Fate said as she smiled with triumph. For a moment, Chrono was speechless, clearly, he couldn't find a way to retort. So he used his last resort and said, "Whatever."

"So, bye." Fate said as she waved to her friend. Chrono returned the wave and smiled at the disappearing figure of Fate as she walked away. Yup, that's her smile all right, a smile that means that she's okay.

As Fate walked home alone that day, she remembered the time when she and Erika made a pact while Erika was hospitalized…

"Onee-chan."

"Yes, Erika?"

"If I really died…"

"Nonsense, Erika."

"I mean it, onee-chan. If I really died, please don't be sad."

"How can I not? I'm your sister."

"Because I wouldn't leave in peace if you were to grieve over me. So promise me?"

"Of course, Erika. I promise."

"And keep it a secret."

"Why?"

"Because I want to have a secret, just between you and me, onee-chan."

"Sure. I'll keep it a secret and a promise."

A/N: This chapter was kind of dull, isn't it? It was a pretty hard chapter to write because it full of sentimental stuff (in my opinion) and that isn't my forte.

I hope you enjoyed it and please review!