Of Assassins, Samurai, and Magic

A/N: And the next chapter is up! I've tried to keep everyone as close as possible to their characters in the anime though I'm sure there will be a few OOC moments. Comments and reviews are much appreciated.

Wow! Over 200+ reviews! Thanks everyone! You rock! :)

On a random note, FFnet is being glitchy and deleting the spaces between words for some lines. I've fixed that now, but who knows if it will actually stay that way. =\

For those of you who left unsigned reviews, see my replies below:

Love thus story - Thanks for the review! :) And thanks for your kind words. I do what I can to make the integration as seamless as possible. I'm glad to hear it's working well. ^^

Qns - Thanks for the review. ^^ Hopefully I can clear up the confusion when my reply here. Yep, Fate, Nanoha and Hayate are all around the same age. Shamal is roughly about 10 years older than Hayate. As for Jail, with him being the obvious bad guy, can you really trust what he says? XD About Fate's birth, it was suspected she was born from the magic which exploded in the world in that incident ten years ago. Having known Precia's obsession to revive her dead daughter, that's what they were assuming when they found Fate as it was clear that Fate was not Alicia. But that really hasn't been proven yet, hence there lies the possibility that Fate could have just been related to Precia for real, being a real person, which is why Jail's claim as her father could be true. Hopefully that clears things up for you. ^^

Enjoy!

Disclaimer: The characters and the worlds I write in do not belong to me. The stories that I write are intended for entertainment purposes. I do not make any money from them.


*** ~ Chapter28: What Do You Want From Me? ~ ***

"Nanoha."

The said person flinched, freezing in their spot in the hallway between bedrooms. Nanoha was on her way over to Miyuki's room, fully garbed in white, when Kyouya's voice shattered the quiet air. Raging Heart was strapped to her back, glowing a soft red.

It had been a long day for the brunette, Nanoha having just closed up Midori-ya for the night half an hour ago. As exhausted as she was, she needed to patrol tonight, even if only doing one loop around the city instead of her typical three. Having missed a few nights of patrol last week, the brunette couldn't but feel guilty the next mornings when news had spread of incidents during those nights involving Spirit Seeds. More families were torn apart, more parents and children dead in the aftermath. Nanoha made a silent vow to never let that happen again, no matter how tired she was. No one deserved to go through that pain.

"Nanoha," Kyouya repeated having received no reply to his first call.

The white assassin jumped, her older brother's voice tearing her from her thoughts. She swallowed nervously, violet eyes glancing between Miyuki's room and Kyouya's room.

"H-hai, Nii-san?" Nanoha feigned innocence, making her way over to stand at Kyouya's bedroom doorway. "Did you need me to heat up the foo-"

"Where are you sneaking off to at such a late hour?"

Shimatta. She'd been caught.

Nanoha swallowed, faking confusion. "What do you mean Nii-san? I was just-"

"Nanoha." Kyouya's voice was firm, yet he did not shout. "Where are you going?"

Nanoha withered significantly under that tone. It was a tone that said he knew exactly what she was up to, and no amount of excuses would convince him otherwise.

"I..." Nanoha clenched her fist, shaking. "I was just going over to Fate-chan's house." A blatant lie. And Nanoha knew that Kyouya knew she was lying.

Unbearable silence.

Nanoha swallowed nervously again, the brunette starting to sweat when she received no reaction from her older sibling. "N-Nii-sa-"

"Come here."

Nanoha winced at the command, taking a few seconds trying to calm her nerves. "H-hai..." Reluctantly obeying, the brunette slowly walked into Kyouya's pitch black room to stand next to his futon.

Had it not been for Raging Heart's soft glow, Nanoha probably would have ended up tripping over Kyouya's futon and Kyouya himself in the process. The white assassin knelt down next to her brother, noting the empty plate of food next to him.

"Take this."

For the fifth time in the span of minutes, Nanoha was startled, the youngest Takamachi flinching again when a wrapped bundle was shoved into her hands. A rough string bound together what looked to be a large leaf binding something.

"It's Hctip root," Kyouya said before Nanoha could ask about it. "It changes the pitch of your voice, masking your identity should you run into someone you wish you hadn't."

Violet eyes widened in surprise. "Nii-san..."

"Upon eating it, it only lasts a couple of hours," Kyouya continued. The blind man turned his head towards Nanoha, resting his hand on her shoulder. He frowned slightly when he felt her jump.

"I don't know what you're searching for Imouto, but promise me one thing."

Nanoha forced down the lump in her throat. "W-what's that?"

"No matter what happens, you stay safe."

Nanoha felt tears well up in the corner of her eyes. She sniffled. "Hai!"


"Divine Buster!"

It didn't take long for the White Devil to find what she was looking for. In fact, it happened a lot faster than she liked. Much too fast. One moment she was running along the rooftops through the western edge of the Middle District, only to feel a burst of enormous magical energy coming from the north minutes later.

A beam of pure pink magic tore through the road, sending bodies hurtling into the air. By the time the dust settled from the explosion, there were over ten lesser assassins and thieves groaning on the ground in various positions. None of them had been hurt too badly, just tossed around enough to leave them immobile while the White Devil collected her quarry.

"Spirit Seed Seal!"

"Sealing Mode. Setup."

Wings of pink magic expanded from Raging Heart's magatama gemstone, the white marble staff itself vibrating with energy. Ribbons of white magic shot outwards from the staff, swirling around the sole Spirit Seed in the area, binding it with holy light.

"Standby. Ready."

The Spirit Seed crackled with energy, trying to nullify the magic binding it to no avail. Cracks formed in the ground underneath the Spirit Seed, its chaotic power rebelling under the White Devil's sealing magic.

"Seal!"

"Sealing."

An explosion of magic lit up the area, blinding all within fifty feet. Then everything went dark again and things were silent. The now sealed Spirit Seed floated towards Raging Heart as if sucked towards it by a vacuum. The blue magatama jewel vanishing once it connected with the fist-sized red magatama jewel that was Raging Heart.

The White Devil panted slightly, shoulders hunched forward, her breaths coming out in gasps. She rested against the upright Raging Heart while she caught her breath, tired. But as tired as she was, the white assassin couldn't linger too long. The night was still young and there were still many Spirit Seeds to take out of misappropriating hands. The White Devil made a mental note to take a nap before going on night patrol the next time. Spending all day in Midori-ya cooking was hard enough. To patrol right after that was even worse. This was going to be a long night.

"Kisama!"

The White Devil spun around in surprise, having not heard one of the downed assassins rise shakily to their feet.

"What have you done with that Spirit Seed!"

Before she could even blink, shurikens were sent spinning in her direction, the White Devil bringing up Raging Heart to defend.

"Protection!"

A bubble of pink magic materialized around her, the metal throwing stars bouncing off of the barrier harmlessly. As the barrier disappeared, violet eyes widened when the White Devil realized she had lost sight of the assassin.

The sound of an unsheathing sword.

"Flash Move!"

BOOM!

An explosion of magic erupted behind the White Devil, engulfing a yelp. The White Devil, now ten feet away from her original position and crouched on a nearby rooftop, narrowed her eyes as she watched the smoke fade and the dust settle. Pink puffs of magic disappeared from her ankles. The assassin she had originally lost sight of was now in a crumpled heap at the epicentre of where the explosion took place. Violet coloured eyes strayed upwards, locking onto a black garbed figure, standing on a rooftop just opposite hers.

"Careful," the other assassin said. "Assassins can be tricky."

The Thunder Reaper watched as the White Devil rose to their feet and straightened up. A breath of relief escaped the Thunder Reaper's lips as for a tense moment, she didn't think she'd make it in time. Having sensed the familiar magical presence nearby, the black garbed assassin came to investigate. And what she found was the White Devil with their back to another lesser assassin who was poised to strike. Thanks the gods they were the faster of the two.

"You have my thanks," the White Devil said, turning her gaze away from the other assassin for a moment. She would need to leave here soon. Without a doubt the City Guards and Samurai were already on their way over to investigate this disturbance. Despite that fact, the White Devil didn't move from her spot. She wanted to know more about this Thunder Reaper, a person so like herself yet so mysterious. Why were they also after the Spirit Seeds? And why hadn't they attacked her yet for the ones that she carried?

"I am still in your debt," the Thunder Reaper said with a respectful bow.

"Debt?" The White Devil raised an eyebrow. What a strange thing to say. For an assassin that is. The White Devil had yet to meet another assassin who said such a thing. Debt for what?

"We should not linger here," the Thunder Reaper continued. "The Keibi and the Samurai are probably on their way here already."

This was a good sign. The White Devil was talking with her. She wanted that. The Thunder Reaper wanted to figure out why the White Devil was after the Spirit Seeds. But even more so, she wanted to figure out why they had saved her, twice now, once as Fate Testerossa and the other as the Thunder Reaper.

The White Devil opened her mouth to retort, only to jerk her head to the side at the sound of booted feet streets away. Turning back to the Thunder Reaper, the White Devil bowed her head. "Tonight, you have my thanks," the White Devil said. "But do not think it shall happen again."

"Wait!" The Thunder Reaper called out, a hand reaching for the retreating White Devil in vain. That was not how she wanted things to go. They still had so much to talk about! She had so much to find out about! Gods be damned! The White Devil was not going to get away from her that easily!


"Why did you follow me?"

Her voice sounded so strange to her ears. Despite understanding what Kyouya had told her about the Hctip root, with it changing the pitch of her voice, to hear her voice sounding almost as deep as a man's was really weird. The White Devil stopped in her tracks but did not turn around to face her pursuer.

The Thunder Reaper took a deep breath, trying to calm her racing heart. Despite being quick on her feet, the White Devil really knew how to run fast. But why come to the local graveyard? That was the current question on the Thunder Reaper's mind. The black assassin shivered. She never liked it here.

A sigh.

"Why did you follow me?" The White Devil repeated. She turned around to face the Thunder Reaper. She had hoped the other assassin would get the message to leave her alone after her speed exit. But it appears things turned out quite the opposite, the Thunder Reaper having followed her here.

"I have to know," the Thunder Reaper replied.

Violet eyes narrowed at burgundy ones. The White Devil knew the Thunder Reaper was masking their real voice somehow, as it had a fake feeling to the sound. Perhaps they too used the Hctip root or maybe it was some sort of magical thing. Whatever it was, there was something oddly familiar sounding about their voice. Their unusually coloured crimson eyes also nagged at staff wielder, the White Devil knowing of only one person who shared similar coloured eyes. But that was definitely not Fate standing in front of her right now. She had checked in on the blonde to ensure she was safe at home before going on patrol. When the White Devil passed by the Harlaown residence over an hour ago, Fate was indeed safe, reading in her room while sitting at her desk. Little did the White Devil realize, that was just before the Thunder Reaper decided to go patrolling a bit for themself.

The White Devil crossed her arms over her chest, Raging Heart strapped to her back. "What is it you want to know? You can ask, but it doesn't mean I'll answer."

The Thunder Reaper expected that response. For weeks now, they had been dancing around the issue. Around each other. If one of them got to a Spirit Seed first, the other would leave them be and they'd go in opposite directions. This was the first time they actually talked face to face. Nevertheless, both of them were weary of each other, the White Devil more so. And with good reason. She had said it herself. Assassins could be tricky.

"Why do you seek the Spirit Seeds?"

"Why do you?"

A question for a question. The White Devil was not about to let the Thunder Reaper get under her skin. Not that they hadn't done so already. The White Devil just had too much at stake here. She couldn't afford to mess up now. It was hard to tell if the Thunder Reaper was a friend or foe, and while she leaned towards the former, the white assassin couldn't but be fearful.

The Thunder Reaper sighed. She expected that response too. Sometimes you had to give a little to get a little back. "To stop the pain," she replied.

The White Devil blinked. "What?" She wasn't expecting the Thunder Reaper to actually answer her.

Burgundy eyes looked to the side, at a familiar headstone next to them. "Someone close to me was hurt because of them. Others have died because of them. So I collect the Spirit Seeds in the hopes of stopping all the pain they caused."

The White Devil was stunned. There was such pain in those blood coloured eyes, a familiar pain. And it left the White Devil trembling. "Y-you think you can get them all?" The White Devil silently cursed herself for the stutter.

The Thunder Reaper nodded.

The White Devil scowled. "You're a fool." Or so she said. Yet here she was, trying to do the same thing. Except, the only difference was, she didn't have the conviction to say it out loud, nor to someone else.

"Maybe I am," the Thunder Reaper said defiantly. Crimson eyes burned with a fury the White Devil had never seen before. "But no matter how impossible it may seem, I will do it. No matter what. That was the silent vow I made to her."

The White Devil blinked. "Her?"

CLAP! CLAP! CLAP!

Both the White Devil and the Thunder Reaper flinched, the black and white assassins horrified to realize that they were now surrounded by four other assassins, all dressed in blue. The White Devil and the Thunder Reaper spun around, drawing their weapons, standing back to back with each other.

"How touching!" one of the assassins in blue said. She clapped a few more times. On her back was the insignia 'IV'. "Please, don't stop on our accounts. Things were just getting good." A grin.

The White Devil gritted her teeth. How had she not sensed them before now? She should have felt their presence a mile away, yet, she hadn't. If she didn't feel it, Raging Heart would have notified her of it. But her beloved staff didn't. It was like it didn't sense these assassins. How was that possible?

On the other side of the White Devil, the Thunder Reaper was berating herself for the same thing. How had they surrounded them without her knowing? And just who were these people? What did they want? Black gloved hands clenched at Bardiche tighter.

"Oh? Not talkative anymore? A shame." The assassin in blue tsked.

"What do you want?" the White Devil ground out.

A laugh. "Why you're lovely weapons there and your Spirit Seeds," the blue assassin stated in a matter- of-fact tone. "And you two, of course. Why ever else would we hunt you down over three districts? To have midnight tea?" Another laugh.

Violet coloured eyes darted left and right, searching for an opening. If they could just find a way out-

"Don't bother," the assassin in blue rambled on. "You can't escape. You're outnumbered four to two."

"Then how about we even the odds," said a new voice.

"Swallow Flier!"

The four blue assassins leapt backwards as four simultaneous explosions erupted where they once stood. The White Devil and the Thunder Reaper called forth protection barriers to defend themselves, but that was not necessary.

When the dust settled, four large and deep craters marked the ground around the assassin pair. All assassins jerked their heads to the side, eyes widening as Signum and Vita walked into the local graveyard with their weapons drawn.

"So you're the ones causing all the trouble tonight." Vita spat her words, narrowing her eyes at all assassins. Blue eyes specifically lingered on the assassins in blue. Graf Eisen's handle rested against her shoulder.

Signum raised Levantine and pointed it at the assassins in blue. Technically she should have pointed it at all of the assassins, the White Devil and the Thunder Reaper included. But neither of them had killed anyone so far, only seeking to relieve others of their Spirit Seeds. The blue assassins however, belonging to the Numbers clan, killed anyone who got in their way. The body count had already soared into the double digits.

"By the order of the Empress, put down your weapons and surrender!"


A/N: The Hctip root is something I completely made up. It's not based on anything in the real world that I know of.

For those of you unfamiliar with the non-English words, I have translated them below.

Ile No

Hai = Yes

Nii-san/Onii-san = Big Brother

Imouto = Younger Sister

Kisama = You (usually used to show the speaker's extreme hostility/outrage towards the addressee)

Keibi = Guard (used in the context of this story, it's meant to represent the City Guards)

For an explanation of Japanese honorifics (eg.[name]-sama), please checkout: http:/en[dot]wikipedia[dot]org/wiki/Japanese_honorifics