Happy New Year guys! I'm very sorry for the late update. I was sick during the break. I'm not sure if you will enjoy this chapter, but here it is!
*Edited*
It was a chilly morning and everyone from the court were anticipating for a heated match-up between Nanoha and Teana. Some of the orange-haired girl's friend were cheering for her and some were worried about how she was behaving herself in front of their senpais.
Hearing what the blonde had announced and calling them hot-headed athletes, Teana exclaimed asking her friend Shari who was giving her a worried look. ''Who the fuck was her to decide to be an umpire and the referee for this game?!" She paused for a while and tightened her grip on her racket wondering what Fate was trying to show to everyone. "How dare her disrespect our team captain!''
''Aree, Teana-san? You don't know that person, do you?'' placing her left hand on her chest, Shari asked worriedly.
''Why the hell should I know her?!' Rolling her eyes, Teana asked irritatedly thinking on why some of her teammates knew the taller blonde.
''That's Fate-senpai. Fate Testarossa-senpai, Teana-san.'' One of the girls answered her inquiry to feed her ignorance.
''Who the fuck did you say?'' Teana's eyes widened when she heard the blonde's name. She knew that Alicia has an older sister who was one of the best tennis players in the high school division.
"Teana, Fate Testarossa-senpai doesn't have any official records of losses. She's also Alicia-senpai's sister.'' Shari responded thinking that her friend was being an idiot and had become more stubborn for the past few months.
''Oh shit! How the hell should I expect to see a Fate Testarossa joining the tryouts?! Aren't she supposed to be in college?'' Teana started to feel uneasy thinking that she had dug her own grave making those remarks to Alicia in front of Fate. Everyone knew that they came from a good family, and she was really trying out the younger blonde's patience.
''And your opponent Teana-san. She's much more dangerous. Unlike Fate Testarossa-senpai, she's really a hard hitter and could aim wherever she wants." Abled to watch Nanoha and Fate's game during middle school, Shari already knew the outcome for this match and Teana doesn't have an idea that those two along with Hayate were on the different level when it comes to the court. "Teana, even Takamachi-senpai, and Testarossa-senpai don't have an official record for playing in singles, also Yagami-senpai, those three were top calibers." Giving her friend a little idea, she sighed. "There was once an exhibition matches with other pro's two years ago, those three were able to catch the sponsors attention with the way they played. They're playing smart. They were not just tennis players but they're also the top students on their batch."
"Oh, I've heard about that! They said, they had received some offers but they had declined those for a reason that they're just playing the competition to strengthen their friendship and enjoy the game." the other girl butted in the conversation.
"Of course, that's what made them different from other senpais in other schools! They'll just play once and will give the kouhai's chance to take part the competitions for the next season." One of the third years explained that made the first years look forward to joining the team.
Hearing those remarks from her teammates she had wondered about who Takamachi-san since she was not able to grasp everything, she was about to ask but was interrupted. ''And who is the-"
''I repeat, hot-headed players, step in near the umpire seat.'' Fate was starting to get impatient and called their attention once more.
While on the other side of the court Vita handed the racket to Nanoha who was confidently standing. ''Senpai, are you sure about this? You don't have to sweat out just for Lanstar. I can beat her for you.'' Vita asked nervously.
''What are you talking about Vita-chan? After this game, all of us will have a long sweet talk." Pointing her finger to Fate, she knew that Fate will protect her sister and any insults towards Alicia will not be taken lightly. "Take a look at that blonde woman sitting on the umpire seat. I'm pretty sure she doesn't appreciate the insults that were thrown to her beloved little sister.
Hearing Fate calling their attention, she said "If you would excuse me Vita-chan, the match is about to start. I'm going to make that woman run in the mill'' Nanoha responded coldly.
Vita sighed defeatedly as she watched Nanoha walked towards Fate and Teana hoping that they won't be scolded after the game.
When the auburn-haired girl reached the seat, Fate asked both of them while she was holding a coin on her finger. ''Head or tail?''
Raising her brows to Nanoha, she said ''I'll take the head.''
''Fine. I'll take the tail then'' Nanoha responded coldly, crossing her arms whilst looking away from Fate.
''Alright, the winner of the coin toss gets to decide whether she wants to serve, receive, choose a side of the court, or defer the decision to the opponent.'' Fate explained as when the two had chosen their sides, she tossed the coin and caught it with her right hand she smirked when she saw which side had won. ''Oh, it seems that the tail had won the coin toss. What will be your -
''I'll serve first. We are playing indoor, it doesn't matter which side of the court I will choose.'' Nanoha interrupted Fate abruptly, cutting the chase to start the game soon and knowing that the blonde doesn't want to get interrupted. Fate raised her eyebrow and stare at Nanoha, she met her gaze.
Not wanting to give in to the auburn-haired girl's whims, she reprimanded her, not giving her a chance to respond. ''Please refrain from interrupting me while I am speaking. I would appreciate it. If you girls are ready let's play ball!''
Sighing, Fate observed the two girls who went to each designated court to get themselves ready. Teana looks so confident and was trying to scare off her opponent by glaring at her.
While Nanoha's reaction was calm and cold that that was visible on her sapphire eyes with the thoughts on her head that she could finish the game so soon. As a habit, Nanoha was fixing the strings of her tennis while breathing deeply, keeping away the negative thoughts on her head so that she can focus and get in the zone.
''Preeet, Preeet, Preeet! Get the ball rolling, Takamachi.'' Fate called out Nanoha's attention, she saw how the auburn-haired girl's lips pouted a little when the blonde called her by her last name making Fate mentally laugh a little knowing that the girl doesn't like it. "It really pissed her off when I'm calling her by her last name.
''Takamachi? Did I hear it right?'' Teana mumble to herself, realizing that she could be in trouble but her pride was telling her that she could no longer back and wanting to test her skill.
Without saying any word, Nanoha gets herself ready, her feet were apart, her knees were slightly bent, her left foot was on the back supporting a balance. She lifted the tennis ball in the air. Her toss was high and forward. Nanoha's stance looks like she's going to hit the ball to the baseline with full force.
Teana was getting ready to receive the ball from the baseline but to her surprise, Nanoha hit the ball gently the ball landed two inches away on the single sidelines in the service box near the net.
"Service ace. Fifteen-love." Fate declared, thinking that Nanoha would surely embarrass the girl for not giving her a chance to score points.
"What the hell was that?! I thought Shari said she's a hard hitter?" Teana stared at Shari who just gave her an awkward smile. "It doesn't matter, it's just the start of the game."
On the other side of the court, Nanoha was getting ready to serve again, she bounced the ball twice as she relaxes her body, always at ease and confidently tossed the tennis ball on the air. The exquisite movements of her body were perfect as she swung her tennis racket to hit the ball with a speed of light, three inches to the baseline that left Teana popeyed. Everyone was astonished by Nanoha's serve.
"Thirty-Love in favor of Takamachi.". Fate declared the score while gawking at the sapphire-eyed girl who's now looking at her direction with brows knitted together.
''Way to go Takamachi-senpai! You're amazing! We're rooting for you!'' The first years giggled while cheering for Nanoha.
Nanoha was getting ready for her third service when she paused for a while and surveyed Teana's position. Fate was getting on her nerves already and the blonde knew that she really hate it when she calls her "Takamachi" but she keeps on calling her that today.
As Teana positioned herself on the right side of the baseline. There was a half-smile that was visible on Nanoha's face that never reached her eyes. Again, she lifted the tennis ball in the air. She tossed the ball higher than usual and when the timing was perfect she jumped and hit the ball as she added some spin on it. The direction was going directly towards Teana's position and it hit her left knee. Since Teana was inside the court so it was Nanoha's score. A quite a powerful serve that could at least hurt someone's knees.
Hayate face-palmed seeing what her friend did, grumbling beside Alicia she said "How could Nanoha-chan use her Starlight Breaker now."
A questioning brow formed in Alicia's forehead hearing what the brunette had said. "Starlight Breaker? What's that, Hayate?"
Giving her a silly laugh, Hayate gave a dismissal waved "Oya? Nothing, Alicia-chan. Hehe?!" Mentally scolding herself she said "I just hope Alicia-chan will forget about it and will not ask Nanoha-chan what she just heard. She was really embarrassed about it."
"Ahhhh! Ouch!" Teana exclaimed and kneeled down while holding her left knee.
"Forty-love in favor of Takamachi. Lanstar, are you okay?" Fate asked Teana worriedly. She might be displeased on what the orange-haired girl had done, she never wished her to get injured.
"Ah, yes. I'm fine. This is nothing." Teana stood up to get herself ready again.
"I'm sorry! Pure accident!" Nanoha apologized insincerely while waving her hand, secretly smirking when Fate hasn't realized what she had just done.
"I need to do something when it's my time to serve. Her last serve was quite powerful. I need to be careful not to be hit. I must admit, it's hard to break her serve." Teana was mumbling to herself. The sweats on her body were starting to form.
Nanoha was relaxing herself as she was bouncing the tennis ball on the ground. She didn't waste any more time to finish the game. She hit the ball normally and it landed on the service box. Teana should have returned the serve however she was slowed down by the stung on her knee where she was hit by Nanoha's previous serve.
"Game! Takamachi won the first game. The score is 1-0 in Favor of Takamachi. Please, change your courts." Fate declared the score but noticed that Teana wasn't moving from her position.
"Lanstar, are you sure you are okay? We can stop the match if your knee is hurting so bad." Fate asked Teana.
"I said I'm fine!" Teana exclaimed trying to act stubborn.
"Well then if you insist. Now, move to the other side of the court. Don't keep me waiting. The next game will be your service, you should be excited." Fate commanded whilst trying to hold her annoyance.
When Nanoha and Teana are on their way on changing their courts Reinforce approached Fate. Her face was worried.
"Fate-san, we should stop this game now. That service jump of Takamachi-san was not just by luck." Reinforce was looking up to Fate. The blonde looked down to the silvery white-haired girl, she raised her eyebrow and went down from the chair. She gently gripped Reinforce wrist and slightly pull her away from the court. Everyone was wondering what happened to see their senpai's arguing.
"What are you implying Rein? We are in the middle of a match! The shot on Teana's knees was just a coincidence. It's normal to be hit by the ball during the game! We cannot just assume that Nanoha purposely hit her!" Fate pressed her lips together, trying to hold her voice.
"Fate-san, we both know that there are only three people in this team who are capable of hitting someone precisely anywhere they want. I'm the team captain of this team now, I'm not supposed to do this but I am begging you to stop the game now." Rein look at Fate in the eyes hoping that the blonde will listen to her.
"You are such a worry-wart when it comes to Lanstar. Fine. Team captain. I will stop the game, only if I could see any signs that Nanoha was purposely hitting Lanstar to prevent more injuries. Stopping the game in the middle of a match is an insult both to the players. I hope you know that." Fate responded to Rein, then she moved her way to the umpire seat leaving the team captain.
"Preeet Preeeet! Lanstar, get into position." Fate declared when she saw that Teana was not yet ready. The blonde's face became more serious after her conversation with Rein.
Teana was holding the ball from her hand. Her body was tensed up due to the stung on her knee. She was trying to keep her composure as she swung the ball on the air, she hit it with a full force trying to score a service ace but the ball landed on the net.
"Fault!" Fate declared.
Teana took a deep breath as she was about to do her second service, Teana straightened up her body and toss the ball in the air. She did the serve-volley to add pressure on Nanoha. She hit the ball towards the middle of the service box to avoid giving an angle, then she ran towards the net. However, to her surprise, Nanoha's reflex was faster than her. The sapphire-eyed girl was in front of the net and she was about to swing her racket to hit the ball. Teana's eyes grew wider predicting that the ball will hit her face, she tried to cover it with her racket and saw Nanoha smirked at her before she hit the ball. The auburn-haired girl swung her racket to hit Teana's face but instead she had targeted her right hand with full force. Teana dropped her racket as she was screaming in pain when her hand was hit by the ball.
"Ahhhhhh! What the fuck are you doing!" Teana exclaimed while glaring at her opponent.
Nanoha ran towards Teana and she leaned down and whispered something to her ear.
"Now you know the difference on how the elites play tennis. If you can't handle that kind of pain, you are such a weakling." She gave Teana a cold stare.
"You're a devil. You are just playing dirty to win!" Teana was gritting her teeth trying to talk back to Nanoha.
Smirking Nanoha responded. "Yes. I'm a devil. I'm the white devil of Midchilda Senior High. Takamachi Nanoha. The next time I hear you insulting our precious Alicia, I'm going to make your life a living hell." Tapping Teana's shoulders she continued "By the way, if you will not run on the clinic and tend to your knee and hand, it will be in terrible condition," Nanoha said in an antagonizing voice.
Everyone was shocked by what Nanoha had done to Teana. The first years and second years could not say a word. Reinforce and Shari ran towards Teana to check on her injury. She was agitated as she was looking at Nanoha, but she was trying to calm down herself. Fate checked the orange-haired girl's injury, hoping that nothing serious was inflicted by Nanoha. Although she was annoyed with Teana, fate could not stand seeing someone was hit badly in front of her, always treating others fairly despite the differences.
''Let me see your hand, Lanstar.'' Without any approval, Fate held out Teana's right hand that made the orange haired girl grimaced in pain.
''How was it Fate-san?'' Reinforce asked worriedly, trying to see if something really bad happened. As the team captain of the team, she has to make sure everyone was treated fairly which she had learned from her senpai's. She clenched her fist when she saw the girl's swollen parts and wished that Teana didn't piss off Nanoha in the first place. Rein knew that the auburn-haired girl was territorial and protective to anyone to them, but she could not help herself but remember what Nanoha did to her and wish that it never happened.
''It's nothing serious. It's swollen though. She just needs to do a cold compressed with her hand and her knee. She can't play tennis for a while though.'' Fate responded to Reinforce then she turned her gaze to Teana then she spoke again. ''I hope this match gave you a very good reminder to keep your feet on the ground, Lanstar." She massaged her forehead and continued "You are just lucky, Nanoha didn't smack the ball on your face or your head. Worst if you were hit by the ball on your eye. She's very much capable of doing that. I do not condone violence but you pick on with the wrong person. You were rude to us especially to my little sister, Alicia. You somewhat deserve a beat down. There, I'm done putting the plaster on your hand. Go home.'' Clenching her fist, Fate stood up and turned her back away from Lanstar and started to walk towards the room, whilst Rein followed her hurriedly.
The silver-haired girl called out her friends to go inside their meeting room. Nanoha, Fate, Vita, and Hayate followed her inside the room. The blonde was the last person to enter the room and furiously slammed the door which made everyone jumped out on their skin. ''Blaaaaaaag!'' Fate slammed the door so hard. The atmosphere was filled with different emotions, fear, worries, anger, annoyance, and irritation. Never in a situation that they saw the older blonde got angry like that.
''Neesama, please come down,'' Alicia spoke trying to calm down the situation, she embraced her sister but Fate did not respond, long silence follows.
''What did you think had you done Takamachi-senpai?'' Rein broke the silence by asking Nanoha trying to understand what she had done.
Raising her brows Nanoha responded coldly. ''Are you trying to reprimand me Reinforce?''
Fate slammed her fist on the board which made Nanoha felt worried sick. Although she was still feeling hurt on what happened to them, she couldn't allow the older blonde to hurt herself especially her hands. But of course, she clearly understood oh why Fate was acting that way. When it comes to her loved ones, she could not let others messed with them. "How can you girls let Lanstar insult Alicia-chan that way?! How long has it been like this?!''
''That is not the point now Fate-san! In regardless of what kind of person Teana was, Takamachi-senpai shouldn't have hurt her in front of the other players during that match! The impression-'' Reinforce tried to explain but was cut off by Nanoha that made her felt so upset. She was concerned on what will happen to her friends if the school will find out that someone from the tennis team was hitting their juniors freely and since they were the seniors and let it happened, all of them were accountable to their actions and could be punished or worst the club might get disbanded.
''To hell with the impression Reinforce! How can you call yourself a captain if you cannot even protect your teammates to others! Are you really Alicia's best friend?!'' Nanoha spoke in a loud voice as she was really annoyed at the thought of Rein being biased on her views about on that matter.
''Nanoha-neesama, Fate-neesama, Rein, if this is just about me please don't fight.'' Alicia pleaded, she could not really stand the view seeing her precious people fighting because of her, not anymore.
''I don't want to hear that from you, Takamachi-san. I certainly keep the people who I hold dear in my life! Do not justify what you did to Teana from our fault! You cannot just hit someone anytime you like!'' Reinforce gritted her teeth as her body was starting to tremble. She doesn't want to fight with her senpai but she needed to let them know that they cannot just act irrationally at that moment.
''Rein! How can you just blame Nanoha for all of this?!'' Fate asked trying to comprehend what was the silvery-haired trying to explain and where she was coming.
''How can I not be Fate-san?! Takamachi-san was trying to injure Teana just like what she did to me before because she was angry! She's always vio-!"
Slaaaaaaaaaaaap! Slaaaaap! Nanoha slapped both of Reinforce's cheeks. Without given a chance to retaliate Nanoha pinned down Reinforce to the wall, gripping her wrists.
"Nanoha-chan!" Hayate tried to pull her friend but Nanoha swatted away her hand.
''Nanoha! -'' Fate tried to stop the girl but Nanoha glared at her. ''Don't you dare say anything to me Fate-chan!" And don't go any step further, all of you!''
Facing Rein whilst maintaining an eye contact she said "You are trying to blame everything to me. Is this really about me hitting Teana? Or it's about you remembering the day that Fate-chan rejected you?! Nanoha shook her head in displease. "All these years I thought that I was already forgiven but I didn't know you held grudge against me! What happened to you Reinforce?! The day before yesterday was different! You have been so friendly not until the day Fate-chan appeared in our homeroom!"
Rein was trying to break away from Nanoha's hold but she couldn't. "If you are bringing up the old issue like this because of Fate-chan, then I'll tell you something that I should've told you before! Don't go bitching and confessing your love to your friend's lover! One more thing, you became an incompetent captain by letting other players disrespect other players. We were thinking highly of you, Fate and I when we decided to choose you but I think, we were wrong. I'm not joining this team!" Nanoha smirked as she let go of Eins wrists. "If you badly want Fate-chan, you can give it a try."
Nanoha stood in front of Fate which made the blonde wonder what she was about to do. She gazed at her blonde intensely as her sapphire eyes were filled with love, longing, hate and pain for the blonde. How she missed the girl but for now, she has to show Rein that Fate would never be hers. Moving closer to Fate, she ran a knuckle on her face and wrapped her arms on her neck.
Face flushing in bewilderment, Fate froze up on what was Nanoha's doing. Their lips were only a few inches away from each other. The four other girls in the room were shocked due to the jaw-dropping situation that they were witnessing. Taking one last glance to Rein, Nanoha sealed the distance between her lips to Fate, she asserted her tongue which was welcomed by the blonde. Although the crimson-eyed girl was confused, she was enjoying herself and wrapped her arms around Nanoha's waist as she was savoring the taste of the tongue of the person that she loves. The kiss was long, deep and passionate, both of them had forgotten that were people watching them. As when the two of them felt that they needed an air to breathe, Nanoha realized how she missed the girl, the warmth of her skin, the taste of her lips which made her heart sank, remembering that the blonde doesn't want to be with her anymore. A warm liquid started to run down on her face which made Fate's mind cloudy, she tried to wipe the tears on her love but the auburn-haired girl suddenly pushed her away and started dashing out from the court.
"Hayate! Please go after Nanoha!" Fate called out her brunette friend, she knew that she and Nanoha need some time to think about their situation, hoping that they could reconcile in the future. Right now, she can only entrust Nanoha to Hayate. After all these years, she thought that she was never good enough for Nanoha. Seeing her cried like that was killing her and she needed to do something about it.
"I know Fate-chan! You don't have to tell me." Hayate was about to run after Nanoha when Fate grabbed ahold of her wrist.
"Don't let her drive in that kind of condition, please." Hayate nodded then she dashed towards the exit hoping to catch up with her friend soon.
"Neesama, are you okay? Your face is flushing in red. Please, don't be angry with Rein." Alicia embraced Fate trying to calm her down. She knew that her oneesama's were just acting irrationally and she couldn't their friendship to be torn down by miscommunication. She understood Rein and the other's very well, not that they didn't help her to deal with Teana, but it was her decision to face it by her own.
Fate snorted as she was staring at her kohai's. She really want to run and stopped Nanoha that moment, she held her horses instead she spoke to her friend. "Rein, I am very disappointed on what was happening here. I cannot entrust Alicia to you if you let people disrespect her."
"Vita, you are more assertive than others but you let this happened too." Fate reprimanded them, the three of them just listened in respect to her. Vita was trying to calm Rein down as she was crying like a baby.
"As for you Alicia…" Fate leaned on her ear, whispering the words "How can you become a crown princess... No, a queen in the future if you can't even handle Lanstar?" Fate paused a little and took a deep breath "I've told you for a hundred times already, that a princess should not be stepped on by others. Heika, no, Obaa-sama will surely be more disappointed with you if she'll know about this." The younger blonde's eyes widened in fear as when she heard what her onee-sama had said. "I am not saying that you are incompetent Alicia, I am not telling you to be a brat either and destroy Teana, but you were dealing this in a wrong way." After saying those words to Alicia, Fate left the room leaving her imouto wondering what she had said.
Nanoha was standing in front of her car, recalling on what she did earlier, her face was flushing in red as she could not stop crying, she mentally grumbled. "I kissed her, that was the first time that Fate allowed my tongue to explore inside her mouth in front of other people." She brushed her finger on her lip "Now what?! I ran away crying! That was so stupid of me! I always marked and claimed her as mine in front of everyone. But, the truth is, I could not even be with her! It hurts a lot, Fate-chan!"
She was about to open her car when she heard Hayate calling her name. "Nanoha-chan! Are you okay? Why did you run off? Fate-chan was worried about you! We are all worried about you!" Hayate cupped her face with her palms wiping off her tears. "Don't just run away like that Nanoha-chan okay? Don't feel embarrassed about it." As when the brunette has done with wiping her face, she grabbed the keys from Nanoha's hand and hopped in on the driver's seat.
Nanoha was shocked at what her friend had done and she knew that it wasn't a good idea if she let her drive. "What are you doing Hayate-chan? Give me back my keys and get out from the driver's seat!"
Ignoring her friend's grumbling, she shrugged her off responding casually. Knowing her best friend, she will just continue to act stubborn. "I can't let you drive while you are crying Nanoha-chan. Now, hop in!"
Glaring at the girl, Nanoha exclaimed as she was worried that her friend was still underage and has no license. "Hayate-chan, you don't have a driver's license!"
"And so is Fate-chan! The Fate-chan that you had passionately kissed a while ago!" Hayate giggled while saying those words that made Nanoha blushed like a tomato. Her friend really knew how to shut her up, so she had decided to let her do what she wanted now or the teasing might worsen.
"Bakaa! I'm amazed on how you call us differently when other people are around. Why not just call us by our names normally, Hayate-chan?" Feeling embarrassed about Hayate's teasing, she wiped her tears away, reprimanding herself that she shouldn't have shown other people her weakness but her tears were flowing like the streams of running water.
"Where should I drive you, Nanoha-chan?" Ignoring her friend's inquisition, Hayate asked with her brows knitted together. Thinking that she really need to talk with her best friends and helped them fixed their relationship since it was really obvious that they still love and care for each other so deeply. She just need to smack Nanoha's stubbornness to reach out to Fate.
Releasing a deep sigh, she responded defeatedly and leaned her head on the window. "Drive me back to my parent's house in Tokyo, Hayate-chan. Can you do that?"
Tapping her fingers on the steering wheel, she took a quick glance at her friend and said, "Alright, Nanoha-chan, let me get my stuffs in the apartment first. We'll have a long talk today." Hayate started the engine and continued "I will not tell you to stop crying, I know you're in pain now but I must tell you that you are really a brat!" Hayate could not help herself but reprimand her friend. If she wasn't Nanoha and Fate's best friend, she will not pry on their problems but it was her duty to get them together. She knew that if the two could not fix it soon, how will they gonna survive the complication of their relationship in the future?
Placing her left hand on her chest, feeling the pain of longing for Fate she said to herself "Fate-chan, deep down I could never hate you and I will always love you. I wanted to fix our relationship, but I am so afraid to hear that you no longer want me. It has been a year already since we parted, do you still love me?" With all those thoughts in her head, Nanoha fell in her slumber during the trip.
Tell me what you think guys! Thanks for the new reviews!
Also thanks for gakui for the suggestion.
