Disclaimer: I do not own Magical Girl Lyrical Nanoha.
Hayate POV
I've always known that something was going to happen soon, the signs were obvious, but not now... I looked at the passed out Fate next to a passed out Nanoha. Chrono already left to inform their parents about Fate and Nanoha staying at my place. Subaru, Teana, and Tiida were in the guest room. "Reinforce still hasn't come back yet..." I softly whispered.
"Oi Hayate." I turned to my chibi cousin. "It's already midnight, go to sleep already."
"Vita-chan..."
She sighed and pointed her mallet at me, "who are you and what have you done to my annoying cousin?"
"Eh?" I looked a her with wide eyes.
"My idiotic cousin would never mope around like this. She would just continue to smile her moronic smile, blurt out things about her friends, and get to the bottom of things."
I wiped my now wet eyes, "you're right Vita-chan. Thanks," I pulled her in a tight hug and walked to her room.
"Where are you taking me?" she tried to struggle out of my arms.
"To bed," I hummed. "I obviously can't stay in my room since those two," I pointed to Nanoha and Fate, "are there. So I'm going to stay with you and use you as a hot water bottle."
"Hey Hayate?" my cousin started as we got underneath the covers. "What are you going to do?"
"Ahaha," I sadly chucked. "I could only hope that things go alright in the end," I hugged Vita tighter as I slowly drifted off to sleep.
"Meister Hayate... I'm sorry," I heard a soft melancholic voice say. I struggled to open my eyes, but my eyelids were too heavy. A hand brushed against my cheek, "whatever may happen, I hope you still accept me." Her light footsteps left the room, followed by the sound of the door slowly closing...
"Hayate wake up," I felt someone trying to shake me awake. That person took a deep breath and shouted, "HA-YA-TE! WAKE UP!" right in my ear.
In response, I curled up in a little ball and clasped my my ears with m hands. "Not so loud Vita-chan," I whimpered. I place a hand on my cheek and whispered, "that was Reinforce...right? Or was it a dream after all?"
"Fate's not here."
I jolted up, "say what?"
"And Nanoha is staring blankly at where Fate was laying next to her."
I ran into my room to see a shivering Nanoha whisper, "Fate-chan."
"Hey Nanoha-chan," I sat next to her. "Fate-chan will be back for sure," wrapping a secure arm around her, I pulled her closer. "I hope you're not freaked out about Fate-chan being..."
"I think I saw it coming. Those time where she would jump off the roof and the third floor windows. Also our first date when she took me to that cliff," my friend chuckled. "She ran there and climbed it without breaking a sweat with me on her back. Her heart is actually Arf's, a wolf's heart. I could only imagine that it had something to how she does these things. I just I can't- I don't know what to do..."
"Do you still love Fate-chan?"
"...yeah...I do..."
"Then just hang onto that feeling."
Fate POV
"..." I stood outside the bedroom door listening to their conversation.
"You going to go in Testarossa?" my P.E. teacher asked.
"...I need a few seconds to recollect my thoughts..."
"...get your ass in the kitchen."
"What?" I looked at her in confusion.
"Go make breakfast for Takamachi if you want to break the tension," she then booted me to the other side of the hallway. "And while you're at it, make it for the rest of us. As much as I love my wife, her cooking can kill."
"...great cooking for ten people?" I trudged to the kitchen where I saw Shamal cracking eggs over a bowl. "Uh, let me take care of the cooking for you."
"It's okay Fate, besides," she pointed at my hands, "don't you dare to even think about using your hands in that condition."
"Huh? Whao!" I looked at my bandaged hands and started to feel the pain coming.
"The flesh on your hands are completely torn. It's a miracle that your bones are still intact though. Same with your back."
"Oh the pain," I cringed.
"I wanted to take you to the hospital for proper care, but Chrono said not to since you always somehow manage to get hurt even more there."
"Thank you Onii-chan."
"Should I put more antibiotics?"
"Please no," I shook my head with wide eyes.
"Oh fine, I'll do it when Nanoha is next to you. You should actually be laying down right now," the nurse glared at me.
"Uh, I'll do that after making breakfast?" I said with uncertainty, still receiving the glare. "I at least want to make something for Nanoha..."
"...Signum said something about my cooking huh?" I timidly nodded my head. "Fine then, be that way, but you better rest after your done."
"I will," I almost squeaked for the pressure of her look as she filled Zafira's food bowl. I swear, I think that dog was about to jump and run out of there. I went over to the counter where a box of pancake mix was and started to put the ingredients together in the bowl Shamal was using.
"Gasps!" I turned around while pouring the batter to see a certain brunette with her mouth wide open, and her hands on her cheeks. "Fate-chan is cooking! Nanoha-chan! Nanoha-chan!" Hayate ran down the hallway with the her arms flailing around. "Fate-chan is wearing an apron!"
"I'm not wearing an apron...am I?" I looked down to see that I indeed was. It was white with kitten designs all over it. "When did this happen?" I shrugged my shoulders and went back to what I was doing, "whatever, Nanoha has already seen me in one."
"I'm a ninja!" Hayate came back with a camera, took a few pictures, and ran back down the hallways.
"...this was not what I was expecting, especially after what happened yesterday..."
"Get used to it! You aren't going anywhere until you recover!" she shouted from her room. "And we're still talking about what happened yesterday!"
"... I'll just ignore that..." I put the finished flapjacks on some plates.
"It's best you do Testarossa," I heard Signum say as she set the table. "Ignoring that thing is the best option for you."
"I'm not a thing!" the brunette objected.
"Ignore that thing," the gym teacher mouthed.
"Um okay... By the way, where is Reinforce-sensei?"
"Asleep in her room, trying to avoid Hayate."
"So the roles have switched..."
"Yup."
"...wait a moment...are you wearing a maid's outfit?" I pointed to the pink haired woman in confusion.
"What are you talking about Testarossa?" She then looked down, "...that thing did it again..."
"I'm a ninja I tell you!" the thing shouted again.
"...are Subaru, Teana, and Tiida-sensei awake?"
As if on queue, I heard shouts of, "get off of me!" coming from Teana, and laughter from her brother as the three of them walked to the kitchen.
"I love you Tea! I will never let you go ever again!"
"Fate, get this thing off of me," the orange haired girl struggled to pry her...lover off.
"Nah," I waved her off. "I don't want to separate the both of you, not after you two just got reunited."
"Aw come on," Teana whined.
"Please Fate," the older brother begged. "I want to hug my little sister."
"...Breakfast is ready!" I shouted.
"Coming!" Hayate shouted. "Come on Nanoha-chan," she whispered.
"But I don't know what to-"
"Nanoha-chan, just do what you think is right."
"...okay..."
"Now come on, I want to try Fate-chan's cooking."
"Signum," I turned to the teacher. "I don't know if I'm ready."
"...just give her that plate you're holding..."
I gave her a questioning look and looked down. In my hands was a plate of pancakes with 'I don't want us to change. I will always love you. Will you marry me once I get back, if you still love me?' carved on the top. "...when did I do this?"
"While you were making it."
"G-good morning Fate-chan," a timid voice greeted me, causing me to swiftly turn around and hide the item in my hands behind me.
"M-morning Nanoha," i stuttered.
Hayate must have noticed what I had behind me, because so just pushed us down the hallway saying, "you two lovebirds can eat in my room." She then slammed the door shut, leaving us stunned, staring at the door.
"...I am really not performing well this morning..."
"Hayate-chan is very strange this morning too..." Nanoha's stomach began to rumble.
"H-here," I handed her the food, completely forgetting about the top piece.
"Fate-chan, we already talked about this before. I gaped at her once I realized what she was talking about. "I did say that you are my wife."
"That was a proposal?"
"Yep, and I'm glad that you felt the same way."
"Nanoha," I sniffled and glomped her.
"Nyahaha."
Hayate POV
"I wonder what's taking them so long," I wondered out loud. We were all in the living room waiting for a certain couple to come out.
"Leave them alone Hayate," Signum sighed as she brushed her cousin's hair.
I wonder why Reinforce is avoiding me. It's usually me... "I'm going to go check on them!" I got up to my feet and went to my room, with no one following.
"Fate-chan," I heard Nanoha moan. Curious, I pressed my ear against the door. "Why is this so good?"
"Because this is only for you," Fate said in a seductive voice.
"I could tell, this has marry me written all over it. Hey Fate-chan," Nanoha said shyly. "Can you do this for me every morning? It's just so good."
"Of course I will, anything for you my love. But you do know I need to do that soon."
"Then come back soon..."
"Yeah...I will..."
"Why aren't you going in?" I jumped at Vita's voice. "And why do you have such a perverted look on your face?"
"Listen Vita-chan," I faced my cousin and placed my hands on her shoulders. "Those two won't be seeing each other for a long time. So they are having adult time right now."
"Who's having adult time?" I turned my head around to see Fate with her arms crossed. Nanoha was behind her, with flushed features.
"What were you two doing in there?" I smirked with a brow raised.
Nanoha held up an empty plate, "I wanted Fate-chan to make me pancakes every morning when she gets back..."
"...you damn lovebirds!" I ran down the hall, through the living room, and somehow got outside. "NanoFate are getting marri- gyah!" I rubbed my head as I got dragged back inside. "What was that for Vita-chan?"
"You'll disrupt the neighbors..." my tiny cousin said, unamused.
"Buuu~"
"No pouting. Here is the thing I promised to bring back."
"I'm not a thing Vita-chan," I sniffled. "I just wanted to lighten the atmosphere."
"You didn't have to shout out outside..."
"It wouldn't be me if I weren't continuing to smile my moronic smile and blurt out things about my friends, now would I?"
"...I only said those things to cheer you up..."
"But I love you anyways!" I gave her a glomp.
"What does that have to do with anything?" she shouted, trying to wriggle her way out of my grasp.
Fate POV
"Wow, this mood is so light," I stared at the people in the living room.
"Yeah...it is..." the woman I love agreed.
"Ah, I see you're with Nanoha," Shamal held up a first-aid kit.
I stared at her in horror, "no...no..." I hid behind Nanoha. "Get that evil thing away from me," I pointed at the white bag.
"Testarossa, how can you deal with those injuries and not with any form of medical treatment?" the P.E. teacher sighed while shaking her head.
"It's because I was protecting my wifey," I wrapped my arms across Nanoha's stomach and pressed myself against her. "As long as I'm alive, I will protect my wifey no matter how intense the pain is."
"NanoFate are wife and wife!" Hayate shouted, from what I could hear, it make an echo down the street.
"Why do you call us NanoFate?"
"Because you two are so cute that we need to merge your names together!"
"...I should just duct tape your mouth," the brunette's chibi cousin let out a long sigh. "Fate, just tell us what's going on before this thing says any more unnecessary things."
"Um okay...wait a moment," I turned to Teana. "How's Onee-chan?"
"...she's..." the orange haired girl struggled with her wording. "Alicia is...um...she's hanging in there, and wants you to not go back there."
"Well, that's one thing I can't do..." I relieved a sigh, "at least I know I can still get onee-chan back." I glanced at Nanoha, I hope I could get her siblings back too. "Hm, let's see. I don't really remember every single detail. You can ask Teana for that ten year gap that happened over there in Al Hazard, but this is what I remember..."
I woke up in a large cylindrical tube filled with green liquid. Looking around, there were computer monitors in one corner, those science equipments all along the walls, and in the middle was a rather large table with straps connected on the surface. I couldn't speak, not because I was in liquid, but because I didn't know how. Pain was all I felt after they took me out while they were muttering something I didn't understand at the time. I don't know how long I was stuck in that room, but it was long enough for me to be used to the injection they gave me. Just out of instincts, I still cried every night.
One day, a little red-orange wolf pup dug its way to the room I was in. I eventually learned her language and started to talk to her everyday. I named her Arf since she says arf a lot. I was less lonely, even the person who claims to be my sister came when she could, but still... Eventually the doctor found out about Arf and muttered, "hm, a human heart would not be strong enough, even though it's artificial..." a smirk was placed upon his lips. The top half of his face was always covered by some shadow.
After getting mine and Arf's hearts switched, we were to go out in the forest from sunrise to sunset. Many artificial creatures lurked there, and there were many times when I thought we would die from those creatures and the pain in our chests. After a couple of months, our bodies adjusted to the change. I became faster and more accustomed to the random things that may happen.
I paused and saw my brother staring at me, causing me to jump and point at him, "where did you come from?"
"...I was here the whole time..." he slowly answered, with his voice quivering a bit. "My own sister didn't even know I was here."
"Sorry onii-chan, you looked so feminine that you blended in the the rest of the people here."
"...you're mean," he sobbed. "And you knew Precia's daughter the whole time?"
"I'm her clone, you dumbass. Were you even listening?"
"Well excuse me for being- wait a moment. Is that why you don't call me onee-chan?"
"Do you want me to call you onee-chan?"
"...no..."
"Mmhm. But yes, I don't call you onee-chan because it's reserved for my sister."
"Thank you Alicia," he silently whispered.
"..." I looked over to Reinforce who mouthed, 'are you going to tell her about her siblings?' I stared at her with confusion and shrugged my shoulders.
"Fate-chan." I turned to the beauty clinging on my arm. "Is there something else you're hiding from me?"
"Uh, nooo..."
"Then why were you looking at Reinforce-sensei intently as she whispered something?"
"Uh..." Busted already?
"Fate and I are technically sisters," the silver-haired woman said. "She didn't know until yesterday. In addition to being Alicia's copy, she also has my DNA."
"Oh my gah!" Hayate gasped. "That means we will all be related in some way!" Everyone looked at the brunette like she was insane. "Why are you all staring at me like that?"
"...please continue Testarossa," Signum gestured to me, while everyone else, nodded their heads in agreement.
"Um, okay. Well I never knew that Reinforce was there at all, but I guess I did feel someone watch over me as my senses got sharper..."
I was able to get a good feel on my surroundings. Both my agility and strength where getting better, after the soreness went away. I was actually able to stay with onee-chan ever since I was to go on my daily training out in the forest, and she taught me how to speak properly. We met these two people who just arrived because they were trying to protect their younger sister. Days merged into weeks and months, and years... I think. I had no sense of time. It was the same thing everyday with the occasional going into the lab for checkups and more injections. I reckon that most of them were vaccines, seeing that I have not gotten sick with anything and felt like I was on death's door after almost every single one of them.
"Oh, and here I thought you didn't get sick because you're an idiot," Chrono closed his eyes and nodded his head.
"...I'm not an idiot," I threw a couch pillow at him and continued.
It was especially dark and cold one night compared to the usual hot summer night. I was chatting with Arf, waiting for onee-chan and the other two to comeback. It was quiet, like the calm before a storm. I then heard clashes of metal, and the walls crumbling down in certain areas. It was the two siblings fighting against the humanoid creations that were meant to watch us. "Imouto-chan," my sister ran towards me. "Hurry up," she dragged me by the arm out the door and through the now destroyed hallways, with Arf following.
"What happened here?" I asked while looking at the rubble.
"Well, since he isn't here in the building, we are going to get you out."
"What?" I froze. "What about you three?"
"We'll stay here. We need to the data on all the experiments he has done and destroy them."
"But..."
"Listen here my cute little sister," she pulled me into a hug. "No matter what happens, I'll always be with you..."
"Onee-chan told to live my life, forgetting about that place. Then she pushed me through a tunnel, where I had to jump off the cliff into the ocean with Arf."
"And the next morning okaa-san and I found you..." Chrono whispered.
"Yup."
"Now get your ass to bed!" He walked over to me and slung me over his shoulder.
"What? Let go of me."
"I agree with Chrono," Shamal smiled. "You need to rest those injuries."
"I am perfectly fine," I huffed as I continued to hit my brother's back.
"I see blood staining your bandages..."
"..." I looked at my hands. "Pshhh, this is nothing."
"Fate-chan." I looked at the worried Nanoha. "Get them fixed."
"Kyu," I felt a clench at my heart from looking at her puppy eyes. "Here you go Shamal-sensei," I held my arms out for her.
"Wow Nanoha," Chrono whistle as he followed the nurse to Hayate's room. "If you were at our house twenty-four seven, my life would be at peace."
"I'm getting married to Fate-chan in the future," Nanoha twiddle her fingers and shyly looked around the room.
"Ahaha, now I have to tell okaa-san," my brother smirked as he put me down on the bed.
"You're wearing a dress for mine and Nanoha's wedding!" I shouted as he ran off.
"I feel bad for him," Shamal said as she took the bandages off. She held up a bottle of clear liquid.
"What's that for," I gulped.
"For your hands. It's actually amazing that the flesh is healing."
My face paled, "Nanoha," I whined as I strategically angled myself so she wouldn't have to see my half-skeletal hand. "I don't want to feel the sting."
"If you don't let Shamal-sensei do her job, I won't give you a kiss."
"But," I couldn't bear the thought of not kissing Nanoha. "Fine," I mumbled and sat still, squeezing my eyes closed. I winced as the liquid came in contact with me, but I had a lovely person hugging me around my shoulders to calm me down.
"And now your back," the nurse said.
I looked at Nanoha and reluctantly laid on my stomach. She laid down next to me and placed a kiss on my cheek. "Fate-chan, I want to go with you," she whispered.
"What?" I looked at her with wide eyes.
"I don't want you to go through this alone..."
"No, it's too dangerous..." I don't want him to get you, nor do I want you to see your siblings like that. After that thought, I passed out from the stinging pain.
Nanoha POV
After Fate passed out, I gave her a kiss on her forehead and went to the living room with Shamal. "And then bam!" Teana said. "Alicia threw me out the window and I landed in the ocean. After I got to the shore, I went looking for Fate and her wife."
"And yet you didn't bother looking for me? Your own wife," Subaru sniffled and tackle-hugged Teana. "Uwah Tea! I love you so much! Why would you not look for me?"
"Because your dorky face is just too dorky to actually look for," the gun user struggled to pry her clingy friend off.
"What did we just walk into?" Shamal and I wondered out loud.
"Oh hey you two," Hayate waved to us as she sat on Reinforce's lap. "Teana-chan was just telling us how she got out. Where's Fate-chan?"
I see Hayate and Reinforce-sensei are not avoiding each other. "Sleeping," I answered. "Did you just say 'Fate and her wife'?" I asked the orange haired girl.
"Yup." I stared at her in surprise. "We eventually got better at sneaking around to eavesdrop on conversations. And it was mentioned that you are Fate's lover, so Alicia decided to call you Fate's wife."
"Alicia was always like that," Reinforce nodded her head. "Very protective of her little sister and always wanted Fate to be happy."
"Ne, ne," my brunette friend caught my attention. "What did you and Fate-chan talk about in there? "
"Nothing much," I shifted my eyes around to avoid eye contact.
Shamal sighed, "Nanoha wants to go with Fate to Al Hazard."
"That's because I want to be by her side through everything," I pouted.
"Don't go there," Reinforce and Signum said simultaneously. "Just don't go there."
"But-"
"Don't."
"What are you two hiding?"
"Nothing."
"..." I glanced at the two teachers. They are so suspicious...
"Don't give us that suspicion look Takamachi," Signum's teal eyes glared at me.
"Um okay, but aren't you two, Tiida-sensei, and Shamal-sensei suppose to be in school?"
"...AH!" The four jumped up and ran outside.
"Owie," Hayate rubbed her forehead after recovering from the fall she had when Reinforce stood up.
"Wow, Signum-sensei is still wearing that maid outfit... So you made up with Reinforce-sensei?"
"Sorta," she sheepishly scratched the back of her head. "Nanoha," the brunette looked at me with such serious eyes, "I never knew her lap would be that comfortable."
"...I honestly have no idea how to react to that..."
"That lap of the one you love is pure bliss," Subaru informed while outstretched on her partner's lap.
"Mmph," Teana huffed with a tint of red coloring her cheeks.
Omake
"Hey, so this is my cousin, Reinforce," a pink haired woman gestured to the silver haired woman standing next to her. "Reinforce, this is my wife Shamal, her younger sister Vita, and her annoying little cousin Hayate."
"Thank you for letting me live here," the silver haired woman bowed.
"No problem," Shamal gave a thumbs-up sign. "The more the merrier."
"I'm not annoying," the brunette retorted, "You're pretty," she stared at the silver haired woman.
"Be aware, that thing will follow you like a baby chick," Signum whispered to her cousin.
Hayate gave a sheepish grin, "I will, so don't you dare leave me."
Reinforce looked confusedly at the child, "is she serious?"
"Yeah, try not to be around her too often," Vita sighed. "I remember when she used to follow me everywhere, even if I swung my mallet at her."
"Vita," Shamal hit her sister's head. "How many times do I have to tell you no to swing that thing at anyone."
"Aw, but she would always cling on my braids, while riding on Zafira's back," she pointed to the blue dog, who just let out a small yawn. "You know how difficult it was to run away?"
"Ahaha," Signum dryly laughed. "I hope you get used to this family, Reinforce."
The scarlet eyed woman chuckled, "I'll try."
Later that evening...
"Ah, the night sky is so soothing," Reinforce was lying on the roof.
"It truly is."
"Gyah! H-hayate?"
"Yup it's me," the little brunette walked over to the woman and plopped down on her lap. "Call me Meister Hayate and you will never be lonely." Reinforce gave her a confused look. "You look sad, and as your master I will never let you down or abandon you."
"This kid and her logic," Signum sighed from the foot of the ladder. "Oh well, I haven't heard Rein laugh like that for a long time," the pink-haired woman smiled as she listened to the chuckles coming from her cousin.
A/N: Thanks people for reading and/or reviewing. :3