Disclaimer: I do not own Mahou Shoujo Lyrical Nanoha and other things that you may find familiar with.
A/N: I really have nothing to say so please read on…
FlareKnight: I'm really sorry to say that the confession for Chrono and Fate is not in this chapter. Sorry! This chapter is only scenes with both Chrono and Fate's lovey-dovey moments. Sorry for disappointing you. However, when the time comes for the confession, I'll make it super good. Enjoy this chapter!
Dr. Rondart: Well, regarding the disclaimer, I never though that I must write so much. I'll just always write 'the lyrics don't to me' like the disclaimer in chapter 20. Anyway, enjoy this chapter!
Anon: Thanks for the review! Can I answer your question on the 'NOTE' after all this 'shout-outs', then everyone can know this really good song. Enjoy this chapter!
1000 Sparkings: Sorry for not ending with Nanoha's reaction. It just sets the 'suspense'. (smiles innocently) Enjoy this chapter!
tiyeara: Thanks for the review! I'll try my best to complete this. Besides, I still have lots of stories to complete. And just on a sadder note: I don't think there is any Chrono and Fate stories. The last time I searched, there wasn't any. Maybe I'm the only person who sees the light between Chrono and Fate? Please inform me if you find any Chrono and Fate stories! They just look so cute together…
Hikori: Yeah, I guess the StarBucks idea works pretty much on people. And yeah, Yuuno is finally being brave. And of course Nanoha will accept him! She's in love with him! Anyway, enjoy this chapter!
NOTE: The lyrics of the song belonging to the previous chapter are called 'Anemone' sung by Mai Nakahara (seiyuu of Teana Lanster!) from the anime 'Kamichama Karin'.
Chapter 21: Under Pleiades
Fate sighed. This was worst than expected, she thought, starring at the night sky. The yellow-haired girl sighed again and looked at the crowd of dancing teenagers. Feeling bored, she tried to scan around for Nanoha or maybe even Yuuno. Her lips were formed into a small smirk as she thought about the one day they were going to get together. Nanoha was a nice girl, surely Yuuno will like her.
She closed her eyes and took in the cold night air, and felt chilly air rushing inside her nostrils. It wasn't unpleasant, just refreshing.
"Here you are, Fate." A voice called and Fate looked up. She smiled and took the cup of drink being handed to her by the speaker. "Thank you, Chrono-kun." Fate took a sip from the warm chocolate. It was really thoughtful of Chrono and Fate knew. Besides, who would like to drink something cold in the middle of a snow field? Well, maybe people who actually danced vigorously and are sweating.
Chrono welcomed himself by sitting next to Fate. The wooden benches placed there for tired people were mostly empty since the event was only beginning. Like Fate, he took a sip of the warm chocolate and look at his fellow classmates dancing with smiles on their faces.
"You looked bored." Chrono started.
"Maybe that's because I am." Fate retorted, but not giving Chrono an unfriendly face. She just look stoned and completely spaced out.
"You don't like this event a lot, do you?" Chrono asked out of curiosity.
There was silence as Fate thought about her answer to his question. And then, she replied with a small and mysterious smile, "No, in fact, I kind of like it."
Chrono blinked. His mind was in a twirl as he tried to decipher her answer. Was she being sarcastic? Did she mean it? Fate, sensing his confusion, just chuckle lightly, "Never mind, let's have some food. I'm starving." Fate got up and Chrono followed suit. He felt his heart skip beats due to reasons he was not aware of.
"Here you go." Fate said as she helped handed a plastic plate and the plastic utensils to him.
"Thank you." Chrono simply said and took the utensils from her. His hands accidentally touched hers, and for a moment, he thought he felt electricity shocks. Fate must have felt it too because she quickly jerk her hand away after making sure Chrono had a grip on the items.
"Sorry." Chrono muttered as he brought his utensils and the plate close to him, trying hard to scan through the table of delicacies (well, not really) and to avoid looking at Fate. He wasn't sure if Fate heard his apology, and he felt quite unsettled because of that. What will she think? Chrono couldn't even find any options to that question…
It felt so awkward. The silence hanging between them was uncomfortable and yet, they couldn't help but sit next to each other. At times, Chrono stole glances at Fate's face. Whether it was the trickery of the light or his own imagination, Chrono could have sworn that he saw a red tint coloured her cheeks.
As there weren't any tables (teachers decided to be cool and thought tables are too formal), the two friends could only eat their food on the bench with their plates on their laps. Silence hung between them for what seems like forever.
"Hey, there's Fate. I thought you like her, Akira."
Chrono heard distant voices echoing from a clear spot a reasonable distance away from the bonfire. He narrowed his and squinted to recognize the 3 familiar faces of his classmates. They weren't close, but Chrono knew them all. And why shouldn't he? He was in the same class as them for a year now.
"Yeah, approach her. Ask her for a dance. It can't do much damage." A second voice said in an encouraging tone.
"But, Shinji, that is being too…" The third voice, obviously belonging to a boy named Akira, said in a hesitant voice to his two companions.
"Open?" A voice said mockingly and Chrono recognized him as Shinji.
"Straightforward?" The first voice said again and once more, Chrono recognized the boy to be Yamato.
"Stop pestering me, Yamato, Shinji!" Akira said in an unpleasant voice, hinting of warnings about his temper.
"Don't be shy now, Akira." Yamato said, totally oblivious of Akira's growing temper.
"It might be your once and only chance in the lifetime." Shinji added.
Chrono could see that Akira was really considering now. He shot death glares to the three boys but he didn't know why he was so pissed. He ate his food in a faster pace as his eyes were glued to the trio.
After a long silence from the trio which, Chrono could clearly hear his voice filled with determination. "Okay, I'll ask her for a dance."
"Way to go, pal!" Chrono hear cheerful voices of his two friends. As he saw the boy neared them, his mind raced with thoughts. Somehow, he felt…unsatisfied or maybe even angry. He didn't know why, and for a moment, he guessed that he was jealous.
"Me? Jealous? What for?" Chrono thought mentally but he decided to revise that later. Without a warning from even himself, Chrono quickly stood up and went in front of Fate, who was looking at him with a sudden interest and surprise. As if God was helping him, the pop music suddenly changed into a slower one, though it still hinted of pop.
"Dance with me on this song." Chrono said quickly, and Fate widened her eyes. Whether she was surprised, shocked or happy, he did not know. Her eyes held too many hidden messages and contained too much mixed emotions. Chrono had been so sure of this as he continued to look into her eyes.
Fate felt his eyes pierce through her, and she tried suppressing her real emotions. She had no intentions to show them now. Maybe later in life but certainly not now. She was stumped at his sudden request and her inner voice keep urging her, "Say yes, you idiot! Just say it!"
"Okay." Fate's voice trembled slightly as her eyes strayed off his and Chrono knew it. He had several different thoughts in his mind about what Fate was feeling. 1: What the hell is wrong with Chrono? 2. I can't say no, can I? That'll be so unladylike. 3. I do not have a friend named Chrono. Many other came after but he shook his head lightly off those thoughts.
Chrono reached out his hand, gesturing to Fate that he wanted to lead her up to her feet. Fate's hand covered his palm hesitantly while shyly looking away from Chrono no matter how much he looked at her.
"Fate, I was just wondering…" A voice said behind them and they looked at Akira with question, but in Chrono's case, his questioning look masked his smugness underneath. Apparently, Akira saw the two of them holding hands and he looked disappointed all of a sudden.
"Yes?" Fate asked politely, not following Akira's gaze which she was oblivious with.
"Nothing." Akira said disappointedly. "I just wanted to ask you for a dance but it seems you're wanted." To this, Chrono thought triumphantly and silently, you got that right, mate.
"Sorry, Akira." Fate said awkwardly, feeling the "stress" of the whole situation. "But I can dance with you after this one." Fate offered earnestly. Chrono shot Fate a shocked-beyond-belief look and threw a dirty look at Akira which went unnoticed.
"No, it's okay. I'm fine." Akira said in the same saddened voice. Without waiting for another sentence from Fate (he didn't really care about Chrono), he walked away, leaving Fate slightly guilty and Chrono warm and fluffy inside with another shot of triumph and joy.
Suddenly remembering that he was still holding Fate's hand, Chrono flushed but didn't want to let go. He quickly said, "Let's go, shall we?"
Fate replied with a shy nod, which led to various hopeful thoughts streaming through Chrono's mind. Again but reluctantly, he shook those pleasant ideas away. They approached a reasonable distance away from the bonfire and glanced briefly at the other dance partners. Chrono was so sure that most of them didn't have their desired partners, namely Yuuno and Chrono himself.
Chrono shyly hook his arms around Fate's waist, hoping that he won't get another black-eye. However, it never came, only the slender arms hooking around his neck cleared his hesitance and he held her tighter. The song was fairly slow, and the two swayed to the music.
Chrono felt his chest tighten, and his heartbeats increased with rates that he has never experience before. He thought about his real feelings towards the girl he is holding now, whether the feeling was friendly or something more. Then, he remembered he felt jealousy previously. Why? He thought the answer was obvious: he was protective towards his friend. But the answer was not satisfying.
Coming to a decision to push all other thoughts away, he closed his eyes briefly and felt the sway lightening up his spirits and brewing joy in him. He smiled as he felt the girl's body heat, about how small her waist are (he blushed at this as he thought it was a little perverted) and how her hair smelled so wonderful with only a fairly light scent of jasmine. Finally, the song came to an end, and Chrono was reluctant to let her go. Why? Again, he didn't know.
"I'm going to get a drink." Fate declared. "You want anything?"
"No thanks. I'm fine with it." Chrono said politely.
As Chrono saw Fate walking away towards the drinks, he saw her paces were slowing down. Then, to his surprise, Fate turned around with an especial jubilant smile on her face.
"You're a great dancer, Chrono-kun!" Fate called so loud that heads were turned.
Surprisingly, Chrono felt no embarrassment, even when he heard loud mumbles. His heart skipped another beat when he saw her smile. And then, he knew about his true feelings.
And all this happened under a bright shining cluster of stars called Pleiades (1).
A/N: Was that good? I was really rushing through this chapter because I wanted to update anyway before my exams approaches in like, TOMORROW! Because of my exams, I'll be temporary on HIATUS or you may want to read more on my profile page. Anyway, I hoped you enjoyed this chapter and as always, I'm not very confident about.
So please review!
(1) Just a note, Pleiades is used to depict (in my story) how bright and hopeful Chrono and Fate's love is going to be in "future" (go look up on Pleiades if you don't know what I'm talking about). So that's about it, Pleiades has no other meanings (not that I know of). I tried to think and search about spica or other stars with hidden meanings but I failed, so I used Pleiades.
Oh, and I used brackets because I couldn't use the square brackets.