Author's Notes:
Heya! What's up everyone! How have you been? Sorry for the delay update but thanks to those who're patiently waiting. RL sucked me up and been dealing with a lot of crazy problems that were driving me insane.
I've read some interesting reviews and to be honest you made me giggle and I really need that to make my heart more healthy. Lol.
Special thanks to my Oneechan, Phoenixnext and The Oni, Elfbs for helping me to make our favorite girls act properly (Oh, I have to rewrite a lot of scenes in this chapter, but it was for the greater good. lol). Also, to theforgottenpen who answered all my questions even I was being difficult to him. Lol!
Also, please be patient as our girls are still growing in this story. I really want their characters to develop well and I don't have any plans to rush it. Don't worry, they'll become adults in the future. Lol.
I hope you guys will enjoy this chapter. Here we go…
For the Anonymous reviewers, please at least put a distinction on your "guest" names. xD Arigato!
March 5, 20xx
Dear Nanoha,
I miss you everyday. It's been a long time since we last saw each other. It feels like a lifetime and I really want to see you soon. I met with Hayate during your winter break when she came over with her family. Alicia seems to like her very much and was following her wherever she went. I couldn't even play or talk to her while she was here. She was a little bit annoyed with my imouto but she can't complain she liked the attention. Alicia wouldn't let Hayate see me, the tanuki was pouting and tried to run away from her but wasn't able to escape. Funny right?
I wished I could come and join your party this year. Mom said, we will be going back to Japan next year after she finishes her duties here. I guess, we' ll see each other then.
Spring has come in England and it has been good. The trees have begun to grow their leaves and plants are starting to flower. Oh, I really want you to see the astonishing beauty of nature of this country during this season! Of course, it would be better if the two of us could see it together.
How about you? How have you been? As for me, I'm doing well. How's your school? I felt so envious when Hayate told me that you were classmates! I wish we could study together in the future. But I guess, that couldn't be because I'm younger than you. Homeschool is really boring and sad. We can't play with the other kids. But, it doesn't matter that much, Nanoha. All that I've been wishing all these time was to play with you and Hayate.
Forgive me if I cannot write to you so often. Mom will surely get mad if she finds out. My mobile phone and laptop were taken away when Alicia told mom that I have been spending too much time playing with you and Hayate online. She said I'm grounded and I need to focus on my studies. I'm sorry if I can't send you emails.
It's already late here. I have to go to sleep now. Take care!
Love,
Fate
(Spring Break 3rd year Middle School)
Sitting on the piano bench, the auburn-haired girl folded the letters and put them back in the box, wondering why her best friend had stopped sending her letters and mails. It has been almost two years since their communication was cut. The crown princess has died a year ago in a car accident and Nanoha knew that Fate was feeling lonely. It made her wonder why the princess never even tried to contact them.
Wanting to know what happened to her friend, Nanoha desperately begged to her dad yesterday to tell her about Fate. To her dismay, Shiro just gave her a cold look while her mom, still mourning the death of Precia, just gave her a tight hug. She felt like she was left out in the dark, suspecting that her parents knew what was happening and not telling her anything.
Sighing defeatedly, Nanoha walked towards her window and glanced up to the skies while gently caressing the necklace that Fate gave her before she left. "Fate-chan, I will always be waiting for your return. You will keep your promises, right?"
"Yes, I will Nanoha. I will marry you as I promised." Hayate stealthily walked in inside Nanoha's room, spoke from behind her turned back, as she was trying to imitate Fate's voice to tease her friend.
Pouting at her friend who was now giving her a wide grin she replied "Mou! Hayate-chan! Stop teasing me like that! We're no longer kids! And Fate-chan is our best friend! On top of that, she didn't promise to marry me!" Having an exasperated look, she mentally grumbled "She innocently asked me to marry her when we were still kids though and Fate-chan already knew what marriage means," placing her hand on her lips she continued, "so it's kinda embarrassing to be reminded about it. All that's a side note though since she's not even bothering to contact me." Drooping her shoulders, she mindlessly stared at the tanuki who was starting to rummage through her stuff.
"You always read her letters. It's just a pity that you dropped your phone in the pool. Hahaha!" Remembering how Nanoha reacted when her precious phone had sunk into the water, she laughed mentally.
Hayate knew it was difficult for her friend when Fate stopped sending them mails. She remembered how Nanoha asked her almost every day if the blonde has a message for her and even forced Signum to be her mule to deliver letters to their friend when she went back for a short vacation. It was more devastating for Nanoha when all of her letters that she sent for Fate via Signum from the month after her birthday was sent back to her.
Sitting back on the bench while facing her tanuki friend Nanoha inquired "Stop it Hayate-chan. Don't you have any news about Fate-chan? Alicia-chan is still sending you mails, right?"
"Nope. And I'm glad she's stopped sending me those annoying creepy mails months ago when I started not to reply at her." When the tanuki realized that Nanoha was asking her that question again, she glanced at her friend who was looking at her with knitted brows. "Hey! I told you that already! In addition, I'm pissed off at her!"
Raising her left brows, hands on her hips Nanoha asked wondering why Hayate was trying to run away from Alicia "What's wrong with Alicia-chan sending you mails? You could have asked her about Fate-chan too."
Thinking that Alicia begrudged Fate, for having her and Nanoha as friends but could not think of other reason to tell she said "I did that already and she won't answer me. I wonder what's up with them. Maybe, she doesn't want to share Fate-chan with us." Hayate snorted "Ahhhh! That little brat! Such a pain!"
"Niyahaha! Maybe you were so cruel to her and that made her upset coz you were acting as if you were just only concerned about Fate-chan." The sapphire-eyed girl snickered remembering what Fate had said in her letter about Alicia and Hayate. "That made her jealous. Also, why would she give you a free service when you're messing around with other girls?" She continued teasing her friend.
After seeing how Alicia tried to control Fate in front of Precia, the brunette did her best not to get too familiar with the younger blonde grasping that behind her sweet and cuddly nature lies someone who was willing to do anything to get she wants. After she was locked up by Alicia in her room in that instant Hayate realized the younger princess didn't take rejections at all and even Fate could not do anything to help her. She'd even followed her to her school claiming that she owns her and she hated it. Anyone who gets in her way will surely be ruined.
'I need to talk to Fate-chan. I don't want to play with you, Alicia-chan. Let me out of this room, please!'
'I can give you anything, Hayate, don't play with the other kids neh? When we go back to Japan, I will come and play with you often, okay? You won't feel alone, I promise. You will always be mine.'
Remembering what Alicia said Hayate grimaced "Sure, that midget was a cutie, but there was something about her that is hard to explain. And I hate it when she's telling me that she owns me! I'm not a toy!"
"Oh, come on Hayate-chan! That midget is a princess! What do you expect? She's a brat. Also, I remember you told me that you want to have a princess of your own, right? Hahaha!" Slapping her thighs, Nanoha laughed. "You do like Alicia-chan, don't you? You just don't want to admit it!"
Brows creasing, the brunette bluntly denied "Hell no! That midget is a brat! A very authentic one. Not even close to your Fate-chan's demeanor! Damn it! I was expelled from our previous school because of her! Thanks to her I was held back for a year!"
Crossing her arms, Nanoha stood up and said "Such rude remarks. She's still Fate-chan's little sister. She'll not appreciate hearing that from you. Alicia-chan is a little sweetheart, ya know? At least be nice to her when others are around. I don't want you to be in trouble again because of her, Hayate-chan." Remembering that Alicia was more favored than Fate she sighed "Of course, even though they are sisters you shouldn't compare them with each other, Hayate-chan. That's one of Fate-chan's struggles, you know that."
She knew that the younger princess was kinda obsessive, but the sapphire-eyed girl choose to believe what Fate had told her about her imouto. Nanoha was aware that Hayate doesn't like being manipulated by other people but the way she talked and whined about Alicia made it obvious that she likes her and yet she was distancing herself by messing around with the other girls which made Alicia upset. "Come on Hayate-chan! It wasn't Alicia-chan's fault you were making out with a girl at school! I warned you about that already."
Suspecting why the older blonde was not able to communicate with them, she asked Nanoha, ignoring the last words that her friend has mentioned "How come Alicia-chan was able to follow me at school while Fate-chan did not even bother to contact or see both of us? They were already in Japan! Fate-chan had promised to see us when she get back!"
Nanoha lowered her head and said "I don't know, Hayate-chan. You should go asking your cousins and not me." The auburn haired girl shook her head hearing what Hayate said. Thinking that maybe Fate got tired of her and doesn't want to see her, anymore. Trying to shoo away those terrifying thoughts in her head, she kept on holding on to her best friend's promise and that she should be trusting her with all her heart while caressing the lightning shaped pendant of Fate's necklace. She knew that the necklace was not just for a show especially now that Precia was dead.
Throwing herself on the bed, Hayate exclaimed "Ahh! It'll just upset me. They won't say anything. They'll just change the subject. It's so frustrating!"
Realizing that they must do something about it, she added "Niyahaha you really missed her, don't you, Nanoha-chan?"
Giving her friend a half smile she said "Of course, you know how much I miss her." Feeling envious of Hayate for having seen Fate two years ago she grumbled "Ahhh! Why didn't mom bring me when she went to England! Even Hayate-chan was able to see her too."
"Oya? Fate-chan is prettier with her blonde hair. I was enchanted by her beauty but of course, she's Nanoha-chan's waifu. I was thinking that time.." Stroking an imaginary beard she continued the tease, "that Nanoha-chan will surely drool seeing her blondie princess. Nyahahaha!" The auburn-haired girl blushed like a tomato while Hayate giggled seeing her friend's reaction. "and I'm betting all my inheritances that you'll gonna gawk at her with a wide eye expression, slacked jaws coz Fate-chan is such a drop dead gorgeous girl. You'll surely pin her against a wall to give her a fervent kiss when you get to see her." Hayate snuggled on the pillow while imaginary smooching on the air to tease Nanoha more.
Face flushing red Nanoha teased back to avoid Hayate's silliness. She knew that the girl will make a lot of lewd remarks messing up her whole system and she needs to shut her up so soon. "Says the girl who can't stop talking about Alicia-chan all the time." Pointing at Hayate's necklace that has a stylized cross pendant with 3 point that each have a cross engraved on them she added. "Wearing that necklace everyday while denying her true feelings for the midget princess..." Nanoha threw a pillow on her friend's face while shaking in laughter, knowing that her tanuki friend was just doing her best to maintain her annoyance with the younger princess.
"That's so sad Hayate-chan!"
The brunette fiddled on her pendant and she smiled bitterly feeling upset over what the younger blonde had done but was also regretting not showing her care for Alicia, she thought that it would have been different if she hadn't made such a stupid mistake. But what hurt her most was being betrayed by the person that was special to her and showered her so much attention but she cannot just forgive Alicia yet. Maybe in the future? Maybe not? Who knows?
Hayate knew how to handle Nanoha when she was feeling sad, especially each time she misses Fate. The sapphire-eyed girl was grateful to have her as her best friend reassuring and distracting her. Wondering why the tanuki was at their home she asked her "What the hell are you doing here anyway? It's already late."
"Sleepover with my best friend?" Giving Nanoha an enigmatic smile, Hayate grab ahold of a pillow and throw it back to her friend while sticking out her tongue at her. The auburn haired girl dodged the pillow and said "No pillow fights tonight, Hayate-chan."
Fidgeting at her friend she complaint "Mou! Nanoha-chan such a spoilsport!"
Showing off her new tennis racket to Hayate, she smiled ignoring her friend's grumbling knowing that playing the game could at least cheer her up she said. "Neh? Hayate-chan, wanna play a set?"
Reluctant to play with the sapphire-eyed girl, as she was starting to sweat cold caused by a sudden pain from her head, Hayate protested "Eeeh? Now? It's already late to play tennis!"
Hands on her hips while tilting her head she said "Ho ho? Where did all your enthusiasm go, Hayate-chan? You were so hyperactive whenever I asked you to play tennis!" Nanoha can't help raising her brows at Hayate's response. "I can't believe that you are rejecting my challenge tonight. Is that you, my Hayate-chan?"
A familiar headache flared, Hayate rested her head in her hands and began to rub it to massage away the pain. Trying to sit down at the edge of the bed, she closed her eyes fighting off the throbbing vein on her skull, while breathing heavily while also holding on her chest. When she opened those eyes, her perception has started to become hazy due to lack of oxygen.
Recently, she was not able to get enough sleep thinking about Alicia and Fate and how she can help Nanoha. She had been also tired handling the bullies at their school without telling anyone. Not even her best friend. She knew that Nanoha will not waste any second to kick butts the moment she'll discover that someone were trying to harm her. She can't afford to drag the sapphire-eyed girl to her problems knowing that her father will surely give Nanoha hell. Hayate clearly understood why her friend was trying to patch her up with Alicia. If only she wasn't stubborn enough and listened to Nanoha, she wouldn't have to face her demons today. But her upbringing could never swallow that someone was claiming her like a toy.
Nanoha noticed that her friend was acting strange and seemed to be in pain. Deciding to check on Hayate, she put away her racket and headed towards the bed where her friend was sitting. Standing in front of her friend, she looked at her face closer asking her worriedly "What's wrong Hayate-chan? Are you okay?"
Concealing her pain, Hayate smiled half-heartedly and said "I~I'm fine, Nanoha-chan. I just need to drink some water." She stood up and walked few steps before her perception has started to dim as she fell passing out on the floor which made Nanoha freaked out, loudly screaming her name. "Hayate-chan! Hayate-chan! Please wake up!" Not receiving a response from her friend, Nanoha think quickly on what she should do and decided to call someone for help using Hayate's mobile phone, her hands were shaking whilst sweats were running down from her face "S-shamal-san! Hayate-chan had a sudden headache and just passed out! Please help! She's here in our home! Please call an ambulance!." After saying those words, the auburn-haired girl ran outside her room to call for help, with the thoughts on her mind that she must do everything that she can to rescue her best friend.
Precia's residence
Lying on the couch, playing with her stuff bunny while waiting for her personal aids to arrive, the princess was pondering about what her oba-sama asked her to do three months ago that she should try attending a school. She knew that she can no longer do anything about the death of her mother and yet she was still having nightmares since the day they had lost her. She was feeling miserable all those times and shut herself down even with her friends. Unlike her little sister Alicia, who decided to study in a co-ed middle school a month after the death of the crown princess and now was living in a dorm with her friend. She wondered how her imouto had been feeling and how the hell she was able to move on so easily knowing that she was their mother's favorite.
While the princess was busy on her thoughts, her three trusted guards entered the room where she was. When the three had greeted them, she immediately sat down and asked the red-haired short woman "Agito, have you checked the results of my entrance exams?"
Proud of her princess achievement Agito responded with a wide grin, "Yes, Fate-sama. You did great as usual! You aced the exams."
"Arigato, Agito. I assume that you had finished dealing with my school requirements." Fate responded while sipping the cup of tea that Arf has served her.
The shorter girl reached out to the princess while giving her some cookies "Don't worry Fate-sama, everything has been set according to your instructions."
After Fate nodded at Agito, she turned her attention to the pink haired woman "How about you Signum? Have you confirmed where Nanoha and Hayate will be attending senior high school?"
"Yes. Takamachi Nanoha-sama will be attending at Midchilda Senior High. But I'm afraid, Hayate-sama will not be able to join you. She was expelled last year and had to transferred out to Midchilda Junior High." Signum responded.
Glancing at Signum in surprised, intrigued on what she had heard she inquired "How did Hayate end up getting expelled? She's very smart and has a very good family reputation."
Signum sighed "She was caught making out with her…" coughing a little the tall woman continued "with her g-girlfriend at school. Alicia-hime was the one who was responsible for her expulsion."
The blonde facepalmed as when she heard Alicia's name. "Why didn't you tell me about it, Signum?" Fate inquired at her personal guard. She knew that her imouto was capable of doing a careless mistake just like she did few years ago when Alicia mindlessly told Precia that she was absorbed playing an online game with Hayate and Nanoha out of jealousy. "And how come Alicia was the one who was responsible for Hayate's expulsion? What did she do?"
"According to Hayate-sama, Alicia-hime has committed a terrible faux pas against her with the thoughts of that they will just be reprimanded and not be expelled." Signum looked at her straight to the eye and said "And I apologized for not telling you about it Fate-sama. It's just, it happened during the time that you had shut yourself down from everyone."
Feeling guilty for spoiling her imouto, she massaged her head with her fingers "Oh, I see. However, I need to know how Alicia blundered Hayate."
Straightening her body, Signum composed herself and said "Fate-sama, about that if you wouldn't mind me saying this, it's better that you should go and ask Hayate-sama personally."
Thinking that it's time to meet her friends, knowing that she'll be attending on the same school as Nanoha, she smiled and said "I guess I'll do that when I see Hayate. Thank you, Signum."
Remembering what she had asked to Arf she spoke towards her "Arf, were you able to get what I have asked you?"
"Hai! Feito-sama. Here it is." Arf reached out her palms while holding a small box, inside was a necklace that has a lovely pearl-shaped red gem with a pinkish sheen pendant to Fate then she smiled asking her mistress "Beautiful, isn't it?"
Nodding in agreement the princess replied "Indeed, Arf. This will surely look lovely on Nanoha."
"You had personally chose the exquisite design and the finest materials for that necklace, Feito-sama. Your elegant taste made it look fabulous." Arf responded while smiling radiantly to their princess who was now carefully inspecting the item. "Nanoha-sama will surely be pleased by your present."
Contented on what her guard had accomplished, she complimented her. "Splendid! This is exactly what I have asked you to get, Arf. Arigato."
"Fate-sama, I think Nanoha-sama will be your classmate." Agito butt in when she remembered that she saw Nanoha's entrance exams score on the board.
"It's not that surprising, Agito. Nanoha had been excelling in her studies and extracurricular activities." Fate smiled, still fixing her gaze on the necklace that she will give to her best friend in exchange of the necklace that she had asked her to keep for her until she come back to see her auburn-haired friend.
"You've been keeping an eye on her all these years Feito-sama..." Arf did not continue what she was about to say knowing that it might upset the princess. "Except when your mom died. You had changed a lot since then, Feito-sama. I hope Nanoha-sama and Hayate-sama could help you heal your wounds."
"Thanks to all of you. I couldn't have done that without you." Fate placed the necklace on her favorite stuffed bunny that was given by Nanoha, "I don't know how to approach Nanoha when I get to see her though."
"Nanoha-sama will surely be glad to see you, Fate-sama. She has been yearning for your presence." Signum spoke as she remembered that Nanoha was so eager to know Fate's whereabouts but didn't tell her anything because of the instructions that they had received from the late crown princess.
"Ahm, Yes. I will see her soon. Nanoha. I just need to finish all my tasks so that my hands won't get tied by the time the classes starts." Fate rested her back on the couch while stretching her arms, holding up the little bunny, her face had softened then she smile.
Arf sat down beside the blonde, worried about their gentle princess she said. "Feito-sama, I've been worrying about you living alone when you start going at school. We have been taking care of you all these years but this time we can't go and support you either."
Fate leaned her head to Arf's shoulder. The princess knew that her guards always give a lot of fuss when she's in trouble or even with the tiniest problem that she had, especially the wolf girl as what Signum and Agito called her, that she never let Fate to make a lot of effort doing things whenever she's around. "I'll be fine, Arf. Do not worry."
"Fate-sama, at least allow us to clean your place when you are not around and go shopping for your supplies." Agito offered suspecting that Fate doesn't know how to purchase anything and was accustomed to ask anyone to do something for her. Also, she was worried sick with her mistress that she could not tend for herself properly, hoping that it will not turned out a disaster.
"I want to experience living outside my comfort. I'll just figure it out. Besides you'll be watching over me from the distance. As what I have said, there's no need to worry." Fate said with a smile on her face. If Hayate and Nanoha were able to do it, why not her?
"Ahh! Arf, Agito. We must trust the princess. She can do anything when she put it on her mind. She's already a big girl." crossing her arms, Signum spoke thinking that it's time for the young princess to show off the things that she could do by herself. Afterall, she will be having more responsibilities in the future. If she could not handle herself, how can she lead the monarchs in the future?
Fate stood up and took a bow in front of her guards "Arigato, Signum. You too Arf, Agito. I'm trusting you to keep me safe but please do not approach me unless it's an emergency situation that I cannot handle by myself. I also want to keep a low profile so that I don't have to deal with a lot of unnecessary hassles."
Tok Tok Tok! Fate and her three guards glances to the door when they heard a knock. They saw Alicia opened the door rushing towards the older blonde wearing a worried look on her face and behind her was Zafira following her footsteps, trying to speak to her but Alicia ignored him instead she ran to Fate. "Onee-sama!" Alicia called Fate.
"What's wrong Alicia?" Fate asked seeing her imouto's restlessness made her worry wondering what would be the problem this time that her sister had made that she needed to fix.
Groaning in fear, the younger blonde hugged her oneesama tightly "Onee-sama! Hayate was rushed to the hospital last night! Zafira said she passed out on the floor! I want to see her this instant!"
Zafira sighed in exhaustion on what Alicia had said, it was more like the princess just overheard her phone call with Shamal, but her stubborn mistress just ran off to her sister without asking the whole details.
Hearing what the younger princess had said, Signum asked her brother to confirm what she had heard. "Is it true Zafira? How was Hayate-sama's condition? Was it serious?"
"Shamal called me last night and said they were still waiting for the results. But today," Zafira explained but was cut off when the younger princess exclaimed.
"Onee-sama! I want to see her! Hayate! Please, allow me to go to the hospital now." Alicia beseech at Fate while shaking her sister. She knew, she have to ask her permission now that their mother was already gone and her charm doesn't always work on her sister.
Stroking her hand Alicia's hair she said and Fate thought that she must gave her imouto a warning. "I'll go with you. And don't try to stop me this time, Alicia. I want to know her condition personally." Fate had already spoken before Alicia tried to stop her.
She was aware that her sister doesn't want her to see her friends in fear of losing the attention or maybe Alicia's obsessive behavior towards Hayate. Insisting her authority as an older sister, Fate decided that she'd have to be strict and stop pampering her imouto's selfishness after hearing what she did to Hayate. "Signum, Zafira, you should go and ready the car. We're leaving now."
"Onee-sama, wait!" Alicia tried to stop her onee-sama by tugging her arm but Fate glared at her. She realized that her sister have every right to make decisions for the both of them as the head of their family and this time, she's not giving her a chance to do what she wants.
"Stop being so silly, Alicia. I won't take away Hayate from you!" Fate warned her sister "Now, get off of me or you prefer staying here and not seeing your friend?"
When Alicia thought that she could no longer do anything to change her onee-sama's decisions, she nodded defeatedly and followed her with her shoulders droop without making any complaints. She knew that Fate's decisions were always firm and absolute just like their mom and there was no way that she could bend it a little. The only reason that she was able to manipulate her sister because she was letting her do whatever she pleases and the younger blonde knew that Fate loves her so much and was just spoiling her rotten.
By the time the sisters arrived in the hospital, they went straight to Hayate's room after confirming the suite number where she was admitted. Hayate was already awake and was reading a book when Alicia entered and headed towards the bed. While Fate did not enter the room yet and gave Alicia time to meet her tanuki friend alone.
The brunette made a face when she met the gaze of the last person that she would want to see. "What are you doing here, Alicia? What do you want?"
Seeing Hayate having no IV's attached to her made Alicia happy and went up to the bed to snuggle her favorite tanuki. "Mou! Ha~ya~te! I was so worried when I heard that you passed out last night." Pressing her left palm to Hayate's cheek she continued "And here you are. So healthy and well."
Glaring at the blonde, Hayate swatted her hand away. "That's none of your business."
Alicia still tried to hug her, but the brunette pushed her away, "Get off of me Alicia. I'm not your cuddle toy. Stay away from me!"
"Ha~ya~te, please don't be mad at me, neh? I'm just worried about you." Alicia took her hand, but the brunette brush it off.
Hayate clenched her fist, pressing her lips tightly she said "Don't you understand, Alicia? I don't want you here. I don't want to see you either!"
Pretending not to know what Hayate was talking about Alicia asked "Why, Hayate?"
Feeling betrayed by what Alicia had done to her that cost her a lot of shame and scolding from her family she can't help herself but to raise her voice "Have you forgotten what you did to me?! Or you were just simply stupid not to understand how much it costs me!" Hayate snorted "You almost ruined my whole life! Thanks to you, Hime-sama! I got to face the bullies everyday at school making fun of me! Oh plus I was held back for a year! Now I can no longer be classmates with Nanoha-chan!"
"I'm sorry, Hayate. I never intended to harm you. I only did that because I was jealous! I can't stand it when you're with the other girls! You're only mine." Alicia tried to reason out hoping that Hayate would forgave her stupid mistake that she cannot change but the brunette was being difficult.
"Someone from the main branch will never understand. The house of Yagami might be serving your family, but you don't own me Hime-sama, so stop trying to manipulate everyone! On top of that, You~have~no~right~to~be~jealous!" The throbbing veins from her neck was starting to become visible, Hayate slammed the book on the table. "An apology will not change anything, Alicia. It's just an empty word without actions. You're a bratty princess after all." Hayate stood up and started to walk towards the door when she noticed that it was slightly opened while grabbing ahold of Alicia's wrist, trying to send her out.
Alicia stopped her by embracing her from her back "Hayate, please forgive me. What do you want me to do? Kneel down before you? I can do that. Just please, don't be mad at me." feeling guilty of what she did, the princess released her hold from the brunette and kneeled down in front of her embracing her leg, tears starting to well up from her crimson eyes. "I care so much about you, Hayate. I know, I am so stupid. I am not as smart as my oneesama. I'm a brat. I did a lot of mistakes and made oneesama suffer in my place, and worst I did a horrible thing to you too, please forgive me. I will do anything for you."
Hayate looked down to Alicia, she saw the guilt painted on her face that made her resolve crumbled but firmly told herself that the blonde was just trying to fool her, she knew how she manipulated their late mother and Fate so instead, she decided to abuse Alicia's guilt "I want to know where and how to contact, Fate-chan. You've been keeping her away from us, haven't you? Now, you said you will do anything for me, don't you?"
Alicia nodded and said "Everything that you will ask me to do, I promise to fulfill it with my own power."
Hayate knew she was playing dirty but she can't help herself to abuse the younger blonde for a little payback on what she did, "There were only two things that I want you to do. First, tell me how to contact Fate-chan, much better if you can bring her to me." Hayate faked a smile then she continued "I'll tell you the second one after you fulfill what I wanted."
"What do I get from this, Hayate?" Alicia inquired.
"Who knows? Just do it and get the hell out from this room! Stop kneeling in front of me and do something nice and productive! Kneeling and sobbing will get you nowhere!" Hayate shoke off her leg and pushed Alicia away.
Outside, Fate could no longer stand how Hayate treated her sister but she knew that her friend has the right to feel angry about Alicia but what made the older princess felt worst was, it was too much for her imouto to kneel in front of the tanuki, somewhat her pride was hurt but she has no choice but to apologize to Hayate for Alicia's sake, feeling guilty of everything that she let her imouto do what she pleases, she castigated herself.
Signum was about to go inside and give a word to Hayate but Fate prevented her to do so, and decided that she will be the one that has to take responsibility about her sister's mischiefs. She knew her friend well and being kind and cheerful were her trademarks and for her sister making the brunette snapped like that was something beyond her expectations. Who would not be? Hayate was not an everyday student and came from a noble family, expulsion would have stained her reputation and could embarrassed her in the future which she doesn't deserve.
When Alicia went out from Hayate's suite, she headed straight to her oneesama, embracing her while crying like she did during Precia's funeral that gave Fate a heartbreak for her imouto. "Onee-sama, please talk to Hayate. Do something about her. Make her listen to me. I want her to forgive me! You can do that, right?! Make it possible!"
Fate pressed her palms on Alicia's cheeks wiping her tears away whilst trying to calm her sister down. "Shhh, I will try to speak to her, Alicia. But, I cannot promise you anything. You did a terrible thing to Hayate." Stroking her imouto's hair she said "However, a princess should not kneel down before others other than Heika."
Stomping her feet, she exclaimed "I don't care oneesama! I need Hayate! I promised to do anything for her. We already lost Precia-mom! I don't want to lose her." Alicia buried her face to Fate's chest.
She realized that Hayate was her sister's important person aside from her, just like Nanoha to her, the only difference was she distanced herself to the auburn-haired girl while her imouto pushed herself to her tanuki friend even if it was obvious that she doesn't like Alicia's behaviour.
Twenty minutes had passed and finally, Alicia had calmed down. They were sitting on a bench where only few people were passing. She broke her hold to Alicia, looking at her clothes and said "You had ruined my dress, Alicia. I guess I have to change it before I meet Oba-sama."
Alicia looked up at her "Aren't you going to speak with Hayate today, oneesama?"
"I will. And I want you to stay here with Signum." Fate stood up and patted her sister's head. "I guess it's time to fix and clean up your mess again, Alicia. We'll talk properly, later."
Alicia's eyes shone when she heard what her oneesama had said, expecting that after her talk with Hayate they can make up with each other and became friends again. "Arigato, onee-sama! I really can count on you!"
"Don't thank me. Now, I'm going." She started to head her way to Hayate's suite.
Hayate was resting her head on her palms by the time Fate entered her room. In the corner of her eye, she saw a blonde figure and thought it was Alicia trying to annoy her once more. "Haven't I told you that you should do what I asked you to do before you show yourself to me, Alicia!"
Fate did not respond to her but instead she headed towards the bed, Hayate shouted and started to massage her temples she closed her eyes "Get out! Don't come near me!"
Fate spoke, standing beside the hospital bed whilst observing Hayate and spoke firmly "I am not going to get out from this room. I need to talk with you, Hayate."
Hearing the familiar gentle yet icy voice, she knew that it wasn't Alicia who spoke to her, she opened her eyes and looked up to where she heard it to confirm her apprehension. She was gawking at the person standing next to her, even though the blonde sisters almost looked like an identical twins she can tell the difference. Alicia was shorter and always wears a mischievous smile on her face, a very warm person, loves to cuddle, making her heart jump and on top of that irritates her a lot, but the one who was inside her room now was taller, gentle facial features yet has the cold and distant vibe, a girl who was displaying genteelness that reminds her of a good friend.
Not expecting to see her friend, she took a deep breath trying to cool down her head while mentally complaining against Alicia "What the hell? That brat could easily bring Fate-chan come to me and yet she gave me a lot of trouble before she did something nice." Hayate could not gather any word to say instead, she dragged her feet towards the window and observed what was happening outside.
Fate followed her, she stood up beside her friend, hands clutched on her back she asked "How have you been, Hayate? It's been a long time." Worried a little she asked "Is it okay for you to stand up now? I've heard that you passed out last night so we rushed to come in."
"Uhm, I've been well, Fate-chan. It's just, I was tired yesterday. How about you? You've grown taller than me. Maybe you and Nanoha-chan have the same height already." Hayate responded while inspecting Fate from head to toe.
Not seeing Hayate's usual cheerful demeanor, Fate lowered her head and spoke in a low voice "I see. I'm glad you're okay, Hayate."
Hayate lifted her eyebrow from the blonde's short response that made her think that Fate didn't have an interest to hear about Nanoha.
Remembering that Nanoha will be coming to visit her before her discharge, Hayate reached out to her phone and started to type a message while saying "Oh! Right! I need to inform Nanoha-chan that you're here. She'll be delighted and excited to see you, Fate-chan. I bet Nanoha-chan will rush coming over here!"
Remembering that she has an appointment with her oba-sama after the hospital visit, she prevented Hayate to send a message to Nanoha. "About that Hayate, please don't."
Brows knitted together, the tanuki asked her friend confirming what she just heard "What did you say, Fate-chan?"
Fate sighed "I said that it is not a good idea for Nanoha to come rushing over here. Don't send her a message. I can't see her now. We need to talk."
Confused on what the blonde had said, she continued to ask "Fate-chan, Nanoha-chan has been waiting for you all these time and you're telling me not to inform her that you're here now? Did I hear it right?"
Fate cut the chased knowing that even if Nanoha will rush to the hospital to see her, it will just frustrate her. As much as she wants to see her auburn-haired friend, she doesn't have enough time to stay longer. For now, her priority was to speak to her tanuki friend about what Alicia did and apologize to her. "Can we just forget about Nanoha, Hayate? I want to speak with you about Alicia's mischiefs."
Hayate tightened her grip on the phone, she couldn't believe that Fate was totally ignoring Nanoha. Suspecting that the older princess will come to rescue her imouto, she pressed her lips together. "What about Alicia's mischiefs?"
Fate bowed her head and said "I apologized for her behavior. As Alicia's older sister, I'm taking the responsibilities for her silly actions towards you. She had done a terrible mistake, it was all my fault. What can I do to appease you, Hayate?"
"You don't have to apologize for her sake. It already happened and there's nothing you can do about it." Hayate responded coldly, pressing her lips together, doing her best not to show her annoyance to Fate, her knees were starting to tremble so she sat down on the bed.
Fate sat beside Hayate, placing her hands on her friend's shoulder she said "I'm aware that you're annoyed with what she's doing and what she's done to you was really terrible. I'm really sorry, Hayate."
When the blonde saw her friend looked away from her, she took a deep breath perceiving that her sister became a burden to Hayate and blaming herself for pampering her imouto, she decided to take actions. "I'll do my best to prevent her from pestering you in the future. But please, even she was being desperate, do not let her kneel in front of you. We are still mourning for our loss and she was just being irrational. She's just desperate to be closer to you." Fate sighed, mentally debating if she must warn her friend about it or not. "Don't let it happen again, Hayate. You know what I mean."
Hayate brushed away her friend's hand, feeling sorry for Nanoha and thinking Fate had become a different person from what they had expected her to be. She smiled bitterly by the fact that the older blonde knew that Alicia kneeled in front of her and now the older blonde was giving her a threat. "You don't have to tell me what to do, Fate-chan. I swear that I will never let the hime-sama bow down in front of me again and you know that I'm not good at breaking promises, don't you?" Hayate said mockingly without Fate noticing it.
Looking at her wrist watch, realizing that she needed to leave soon Fate place her hand on Hayate's head, smiling at her she said "Thank you for paying attention to me, Hayate. Please, take care of yourself."
Hayate faked a smile at her friend while scratching her head, her eyes were downcast at the same time she was doing her best not to smack Fate on her face for being so insensitive towards her and Nanoha "Ahhh, yeah. I've been doing that, Fate-chan. It's just, I was so stressed recently searching for someone, thinking a lot on how to reach her, worrying about things that I shouldn't have, but I guess, my efforts were all in vain.
"Do not abuse your health Hayate. Try to relax sometime." The blonde said with a worried expression on her face, not noticing that her friend had changed her tone the way she talked at her. Fate smiled "Oh! It sounds weird coming out those words from me."
Giving Fate an unwarranted smile, she said "Yeah. I've learned my lesson already, Fate-chan."
"About Nano-..." Fate was about to tell Hayate that she'll be attending Midchilda Senior High and looking forward to see Nanoha at school but was interrupted when they heard the sudden knock on the door.
Knock knock knock! The door opened revealing Signum, and behind her was Alicia, peeking at Hayate. "Ahh, I'm sorry to interrupt you, Fate-sama, Hayate-sama. But, it's already time."
Fate stood up and gave Hayate a short hug "I'm sorry Hayate. I have to go now. I'll come to visit you soon."
"Ahh, yes Fate-chan. See you soon." Gritting her teeth, she mentally grumbled. "Don't you dare to come and see me when you're being cold to Nanoha, you idiot princess! Such arrogance! You don't deserve Nanoha-chan's affection!"
"Well then, we will be taking our leave. Let's go." Fate grab Alicia's hand, holding it tightly enough to send a message to her imouto that she must leave Hayate for a while.
Hayate turned her gaze outside the window, pissed off at the thought that everything that she had done for Fate and Nanoha was just in vain. She took her phone bitterly and started to compose a message for Alicia:
"Hime-sama,
Thanks for bringing Fate-chan to me. It's incredible on how you could easily fulfill my request today so I assume that you'll do the same with the next one.
My 2nd task for you should be:
Staying away from me for the rest of your life will be good for my health. I no longer want to see you. You're such an eyesore. I can't stand your presence near me. I detest you after all! Please give me a peace of mind and get the hell out of my life!
Your humble servant,
Hayate Yagami"
When she was done sending her mail, she furiously threw her phone on the floor into pieces. Slamming her fists on the bed, her tears were starting to well up in frustrations, holding her pendant, she forcefully grabbed the chain off her necklace that wounded the back of her neck. When, she was about to throw it outside the window, something from the back of her mind telling her not to do so. Knees shaking, Hayate sat on the bed, lowering her head whilst putting the pendant on her chest she painfully mumbled to herself. "I should have given this back to you before I sent that horrible message, Alicia-chan. Gomen."
The four were standing in front of the elevator door when Alicia received a mail. Seeing Hayate's name on her screen made her felt excited expecting that after her oneesama talked to her friend, the brunette will make up with her. She hurriedly opened the mail but after reading the message, she felt like she was kicked a thousand times in her stomach. She stood frozen, sweating cold while saying "I need to go back to Hayate."
Hearing what Alicia had said, her nose crinkled, Fate tightened her grip to her imouto's hand "You are not going back to Hayate's room, Alicia. Let her have a rest today. She need to recover her health soon."
Alicia forcefully disengage from Fate's hold, which made the older blonde wondered on her sister's behavior. "Let me go oneesama, I need to talk to Hayate! You don't understand! This is an emergency!" she shouted in exasperation which caught the attention of the by passers.
Fate noticed that Aĺicia was breathing heavily and she knew that something happened just now that made her sister act irrationally, she snatched Alicia's phone to confirm her suspicion. After confirming what happened she clenched her fist, Alicia could have made a mistake harming Hayate but as an older sister, she could no longer let anyone emotionally hurt her imouto and thinking that Hayate's message was too harsh. "We are leaving this instant, Alicia. You are never seeing Hayate anymore!"
"No! No! No! I'm not coming with you, oneesama! I'm going back to Hayate's suite!" Alicia screamed in protest, a lot of people were already looking at them wondering.
Not letting go of Alicia, she started to massage her forehead while mentally groaning. "Why do I always have to deal with my imouto's tantrums? She's been stressing me a lot lately." Fate tried to drag Alicia, but she continued to resist "Let me go onee-sama! Why can't you understand?! Why does Hayate wants to see you so badly instead of me! Why?!" The younger blonde hysterically shouted at Fate. "Why does Hayate wants me to stay away from her when I'm just giving her my attention and all!"
"Husssh! Alicia, keep your voice low! How unsightly for a princess to have a tantrum in public. If this behavior will reach oba-sama's knowledge, you'll be surely get punished!" Fate desperately hugged her imouto but Alicia was starting to slam her fist on her shoulders, enduring the pain she said "It wasn't Hayate who wanted to see me so badly, it was Nanoha. She was just helping her." Fate tried to appease her imouto, but Alicia won't just stop.
"Get off of me, Onee-sama!" the younger princess tried to push Fate that almost out balanced her posture, luckily Signum caught them and prevented the fall.
Fate released her hold on her imouto, thinking that it was pointless to stop her at that point and Alicia was really trying her patience a lot. Lately, their grandmother was telling her to do something about Alicia's behavior and was really displeased, that has been stressing Fate out. She doesn't want to be harsh with her imouto, but she must discipline her as soon as possible.
When Alicia felt that Fate's grip had loosen, she looked up to her onee-sama, she froze up when she saw that Fate was giving her a cold piercing threateningly stare, sending her a blood-curling message that she must stop resisting or else Fate will give her hell. And this time, her oneesama wouldn't be backing off to do something about her.
"I don't have time to waste for your foolish public outburst, Alicia." gnashing her teeth, Fate coldly spoke, turning her back away from her.
Fate turned her attention to her sister's body guard and said "Escort the brat to the car and take her home, Zafira. Have Sieg lock her up on her room and do not let her go out until I arrive home." Thinking of what punishment she could give without doing any violence, she added. "Take away all her stuffs and have her sit on her study table and make her read all day."
"As you order, Fate-hime." Zafira took a short bow and gestured to Alicia to enter the lift "After you, Alicia-hime." Not wanting to annoy Fate more, the younger princess had no choice but to follow her sister's order. Never in her life had she seen Fate get angry like that. She was more accustomed to being loved and spoilt by her beloved onee-sama. And now, she was starting to realize that even a princess could not get everything they wanted, but maybe sitting on the throne would allow her to control everyone in the palms of her hands, especially her favorite tanuki.
"Are you okay, Fate-sama?" Signum asked inspecting the area where Alicia hit Fate.
Massaging her forehead she responded "I'm fine, Signum. I know, you also report to oba-sama but, don't let her know about Alicia's behavior today."
"As you wished, Fate-sama." Signum nodded in agreement understanding her mistress request.
Remembering that they had only used a single car, she asked "Did you call a cab, Signum?"
"There's no need to worry about that, Fate-sama. I already informed Hayate's guard to give us a ride. Also, I already ordered Agito to follow us on the site."
Looking at her watch she shook her head in displeasure and said "Good. However, we might not be able to come on time." Fate was starting to get impatient while waiting for the next lift, instead she started to head towards the stairs "Let's take the stairs, Signum."
"Hai, Fate-sama."
When Fate and Signum had reached the first floor, the blonde noticed that there was an auburn-haired girl standing in front of the lift, holding a box of sweets while busy browsing on her phone. Her heart had stopped seeing the girl and started to rush her footsteps towards her but the pink haired woman gently grabbed her wrists asking her "Where are you going, Fate-sama? That is not the way to the exit."
Forgetting what her current agenda when she saw Nanoha, she tried to brush off Signum's hand and said while gawking at the girl "Nanoha was standing in front of the lift, I wanted to see her closely and tell her that I miss her."
"I'm afraid you can't do that, Fate-sama. We need to get to the location as soon as possible. We cannot let Heika wait that long. You'll be scolded a lot." Fate stopped resisting hearing what her guard had spoke, drooping her shoulders, she can't help herself but to stare longingly at the auburn-haired girl.
Dragging her feet towards the exit, she said in a croaky voice "Sorry. Let's go."
By the time Nanoha had reached Hayate's suite, she knocked three times but when no one answered, she entered the room and to her horror, she saw Hayate's phone scattered on the floor and on the bed her friend was lying in a foetal position. She rushed on the bedside to check, confused on what had happened she asked "Hayate-chan, what happened to you? What happened here?!"
Having no response from her friend, Nanoha leaned over, she saw that Hayate was holding her necklace on her chest. She held her up, seeing her friend having a thousand yard stare she pressed her palms on her cheeks, looking straight to her eyes she spoke worriedly "Hayate-chan! Get a grip! Tell me, what happened to you!?" She looked around and continued to ask her wondering why no one was looking after her friend "Where are your guards?"
When the tanuki met her sapphired-eyed friend's gazed, tears streamed down from her eyes while gasping she said "Gomen, Nanoha-chan. I have failed my promise to you."
Muddled up by seeing her friend sobbing in tears, she pulled her closer and embraced her tightly "What promise, Hayate-chan? I don't understand? Why are you crying?"
"Alicia-chan.." Hayate buried her face to Nanoha's neck, "She was here earlier. I said a lot of horrible words towards her. She kneeled down in front of me but I kicked her and told her that if she was really sorry, she should help me contact Fate-chan."
Unable to believe what Hayate had done, not understanding the connection why her friend apologized to her she asked "Why did you kick a princess? You could have been in trouble again! Let's just hope the news won't reach their grandma. And why are you apologizing to me, Hayate-chan?"
"After I asked Alicia-chan to do something about Fate-chan, I finally met her. She was here a while ago." Hayate-tightened her hold to Nanoha, which made the auburn-haired girl felt uneasy with the thought that Fate was there and she was not able to see her. "Fate-chan doesn't want to see you."
Puzzled on what she had heard, her brows crinkled, "What makes you say that?"
Hayate released her hold on Nanoha, she faced her and said "When I told her that I must tell you that she was here, she stopped me. She even said that we can just forget about you and insisted on talking with me about Alicia-chan."
"There must be some mistake! Fate-chan would never say something like that, Hayate-chan! You know it." Still skeptical over what her friend had said to her, Nanoha raised her voice, but seeing the brunette crying made her defenses started to crumble. Her knees had started to shake.
Wiping her tears, she glanced away from her friend and put away the necklace, "I'm sorry, Nanoha-chan. But the Fate-chan that we know is now cold and distant. She was just more concerned about Alicia-chan and even threatened me not to hurt her sister again."
"Alicia-chan is her sister. Her only closest family left and you kicked her. It's natural for her to react that way, Hayate-chan." Nanoha replied while looking at Hayate's action. "Please, don't get in trouble again Hayate-chan. You're raising a red flag against a princess. You're making me worried sick with your actions."
"Yeah, she's her sister. That's why, she came here as fast as the speed of lightning when Alicia asked her to do so." Hayate responded, giving her a blank stare. "Not making any efforts to make contact with us was already questionable, Nanoha-chan."
Nanoha sat down, putting her hands over her ears not wanting to hear anymore from her friend, denying everything that she had heard, she said "Enough, Hayate-chan. I don't want to hear anything you are saying about Fate-chan. We will try to sort things out. We have to confirm it first."
Her sapphired-eyes were starting to swim in tears, it was hard for her to accept it but she knew that her friend was not lying to her. It was the brunette who always comfort her and teased her when she was feeling down. With a heavy heart she mentally groaned while clenching her fist. "Fate-chan you liar! You should have made it clear that you no longer wanted us to be your friends." Trying to think the other way her mind continued to find other reasons "But I know, in my heart you're not that kind of person. You must have your reasons. I really hope that this was just a misunderstanding on Hayate-chan's part. I can't just accept it. It really hurts a lot Fate-chan."
Midchilda Senior High School
Leaving her comfort at home and facing a new phase in life was difficult for her. Fate hardly had experienced in making friends other than Nanoha and Hayate. New acquaintances frightened her a little from the mere mention of it, she told herself that she must overcome it at all cost. Now she will try to create a whole bunch of new ones and looking forward to reconnecting with her beloved friend now that she has the chance to do her will.
Entering the gates of Midchilda Senior High School was her first step. The school was approximately four hours drive away from Chiyoda next to Uminari City. The students have to live on their own apartments or dormitories near the campus and most of them were not allowed to drive a highschool car.
By the time she had entered the school, there were lots of students who were already inside the premises. While heading her way to the school building as to where the bulletin board was to check her homeroom building, Fate felt hot in her cheeks, blushing all over with the people staring at her, thinking to herself that she was an alien to them.
In reality, the students were enchanted by her beauty especially with the boys in the upper-classes, staring at her like an angel in their midst. Some of the girls felt annoyed and threatened and some were admiring in secret thinking that she's elegant and stylishly fashionable.
The blonde had no idea as to why they were looking on from head to toe and all she was pondering about was, "I am new, I don't know anybody, do I look different? Why are they staring at me?" Ignoring the curious stares of the students, she went to the area full of small lockers in which she will place her street shoes and changed it with a pair of their school slippers according to the school rules.
While the student's were all busy getting ready for the assembly, a group of girls were standing near the lockers talking loudly, a blonde girl reading a manual book coming to their direction caught their attention.
"Such a gorgeous blonde girl coming to our way. She might be a freshman too." The purple-haired girl gave a compliment that made the other two girls glanced at the entrance.
Staring at the girl from head to foot, the emerald-eyed girl spoke loudly "I don't think she's that pretty. She doesn't even tickle my fancy. Stop gawking at her, Suzuka-chan!"
Suzuka giggled a bit and said "Areeh Arisa, don't be jealous neh?"
Fate peered as to where the loud voices came from, she saw the three girls inspecting her from head to foot. Her mouth curved into a smile when she saw a familiar face that she has been longing to see for a long time, gawking at her.
"Arisa-chan, don't be like that. Look, she's smiling towards our direction. Her crimson colored eyes were enchanting right, Nanoha-chan?" Suzuka smiled back at the crimson-eyed girl, then she glanced to her friend who was not moving with her eyes fixed on the person that was smiling at her.
In Nanoha's perception, it was like Fate was walking towards her in a slow motion, meeting her gaze made her heart pound so hard. The blonde stood in front of her and could not gather any words to say.
The two girls were wondering on what they are witnessing in front of them. Arisa shook Nanoha's shoulders from her back while Suzuka was waving her hand to Nanoha's face to bring her back from where she was lost. "Nanoha-chan, are you still with us?"
Pressing her hands on her cheeks, she turned her attention to Suzuka who was giving her a curious stare, trying to hold her laughter. "Gomen, Suzuka-chan. I was just spacing out. I didn't get enough sleep last night."
After what happened on the hospital several days ago, she had been crying almost every night, and now her mind was completely cloudy. It seems to her that she was just imagining that the person who was standing in front of her was Fate.
Brows creasing, Arisa asked Nanoha when she noticed that the girl was staring at her friend intensely "What up with this girl, Nanoha-chan? Do you know her?"
Nanoha turned her back away from Fate and started to walk towards the auditorium, she said "No. I don't know her. Let's go. We need to get to the hall on time for the orientation."
Fate's mouth dropped in disbelief at what she had heard, she spoke in a low voice trying to get her friend's attention "Nanoha."
She tried to reach out her hand to her friend but the annoyed Arisa prevented her by blocking her way. "You heard our friend, right? We know she's attractive. Now, if you fancy her, I'm telling you in advance to back off."
With a heavy heart, Fate bit her lip and walked towards the opposite direction of the auditorium. Trying to perceive what just happened now, she thought to herself that maybe Nanoha doesn't recognize her appearance and persuading herself that Nanoha and her new friends got the wrong end of the stick. After all, she didn't even say a single word to her friend.
Fate went outside and sat under a tree and gazed up at the lattice work of the leaves and branches. The idea of Nanoha having new friends was eating her heart out. Asking herself if she even belongs in her world? Does her friend still thinks about her? What if the auburn-haired girl was angry at her for not communicating to her for almost two years? How is she going to reconcile with Nanoha after seeing that her friends were guarding her like ferocious guard dogs that were ready to slaughter her anytime especially the green-eyed monster? All those thoughts in her head were giving her such a headache. She felt like she was dying inside remembering what Nanoha had said, she clasped her hands on her head while mentally sobbing. 'I don't know what to do with you now, Nanoha. What should I do?'
The orientation for the freshmen was already done and most of the students had gone to their respective homerooms. Sitting at her desk in the first row beside the window, Nanoha was confused by what was happening around her. Her mind overthinking about a certain person who had topped the entrance examination. "Fate Testarossa." Was she hallucinating due to her obsession with Fate? Earlier, she was enchanted by a crimson-eyed girl and at first she thought that she was being silly for imagining that it was her beloved friend. "That idiot. There's no way that she could be here. Why does the top scorer has a similar name to Fate-chan and it even coincide with Alicia's family name. It would have been better if that person showed up on stage!" Nanoha thought to herself feeling exhausted, she rested her chin on her right hand, she sighed while looking at outside the window.
"Nanoha-chan." Shizuka poked her back to call her attention. She turned her head along with her body as to why her friend prod her. "It's your turn to introduce yourself now. Sensei has been calling you, but it seems that you're spacing out." Everyone in the class made a discreet laugh.
Nanoha gently rose from her seat and looked around the classroom, meeting the gazed of her classmates and teacher, she smiled and slightly bowed her head while cheerfully saying. "I'm sorry if I was spacing out." Giving her classmates a cocky winked and confident smile enough to shut them up she continued. "By the way, I'm Nanoha Takamachi. I wish I could get along with everyone!"
As when she finished her self introduction, a genteel young blonde with a cold piercing stare entered the classroom that caught everyone's attention including her. Her heart was starting to race in her chest when the girl fixed her eyes on her, she gasped her breath.
"Who could you be and why are you late? Kindly introduce yourself." The teacher asked the newly arrived student.
"Fate Testarossa. My apologies for being tardy, Sensei." The blonde spoke without looking to anyone but to Nanoha who was gawking at her too.
The teacher rested her hands on her table and said. "It seems that this year's entrance exams ace skipped the assembly." Everyone was making commotion when they heard what their sensei had said. "Anyway, Testarossa-san, kindly take your seat next to Tsukimura-san."
"Thank you, Sensei." Fate dragged her feet towards Nanoha's direction and stood in front of her. She looked down, meeting her sapphire eyes while reaching out her hand, she stroked the lighting pendant on her necklace that made the auburn-haired girl's face turn crimson red. Fate thought to herself "Nanoha, you're still wearing my necklace. I'm glad you took care of it."
Everyone was staring on the pair that were seems to be lost in their own world, gazing at each other like lovesick puppies. Nanoha was dumbstruck, carefully inspecting Fate's face, her soft expression towards her and even though she hadn't seen her for years, she knew it was her, those piercing crimson red eyes that she loved to stare at were the proof. This was the person that her heart had been yearning to see for such a long time.
"Fate-chan, it's really you right? You're real and tangible and not just my imagination, right?" Nanoha pinched her arm to be sure if she wasn't dreaming. "No this isn't a dream! W-wha-wha-what the hell is she doing here?!" Nanoha jerked back from her seat when she felt that the pain from her arm was real. Caught by surprised of Fate's sudden appearance, she was starting to have trouble in maintaining an eye contact with the blonde, Nanoha looked away from her, instead she look around her classmates who were became more curious on what they had just witnessed. "It doesn't matter if the world is staring at us! Fate-chan is here!" She covered her face with her hands while gasping her breath. Looking back on what happened to the hospital, she felt like it doesn't make any sense and asked herself. "But what the hell? Hayate-chan said Fate-chan doesn't want to see me and she was really sorry about it." Bemused on what was happening she continued think "Which one was true?! Ahhh! There's no point in thinking about it! I must ask Fate-chan directly after the class!" She turned her glance on the window while fiddling on the pendant, she felt somewhat relieved to see her beloved and she knew that this time, she can do something about her friends. "If it's true that you no longer want to be with me as you once promised Fate-chan, by hook or by crook, I'll make sure to push my way to you. I'll make you realize what you had missed all these years. I'll never let you go again. Never. Also, you have to apologize to Hayate-chan too."
In contrast to what the sapphire-eyed girl felt, seeing Nanoha act that way, Fate looked down on the floor thinking that the auburn-haired girl doesn't want to be touched by her. Feeling dejected, she sat down on her desk, her bottom lip was jutting out, she took a deep breathe fighting back her tears while fixing her eyes on Nanoha who was now staring outside the window trying to calm herself down. "What happened to our promise, Nanoha? Why aren't you looking at me? Why won't you smile at me? What am I to you?" Being cut to the quick by the person that the princess cherished made her feel like her heart was stabbed by a knife a million times.
The morning classes were done without Fate paying attention. All the while she was just staring at Nanoha that made Tsukimura-san wondered while Arisa was pissed off just by the thought that the crimson-eyed girl was giving Takamachi an unsettling feeling. While Nanoha was fidgeting and could not wait for the time that she could claim and marked her territory around Fate. But to her dismay, the emerald-eyed monster rushed to her seat as soon as the last subject in the morning was finished, preventing Fate from approaching her. But to Arisa's surprised, the crimson-eyed blonde did not move from her seat while their classmates started to gather around Nanoha and Fate asking questions.
"Neh! Testarossa-san, you're so pretty and stylish! Where did you come from?"
"Sugoi Testarossa-san! How did you get a perfect score on our entrance exam hell? You must be a genius!"
"Testarossa-san, do you personally know Takamachi-san? You seems to be in your own world together!" The glasses-girl giggled. "You've been fixing your eyes on her the whole morning! I'm in a fangirling mode now!"
"Testarossa-san, do you want to eat lunch with us?"
One of the girls leaned closer to her face to take a closer look on her eye. "Aree? You have a pair of enchanting dark crimson-eyes, Testarossa-san!" Fate twitch in her seat not expecting that someone will invade her space other than Nanoha.
The barrage of questions that her classmates were throwing at her without giving her a chance to answer were starting to get into her nerves. Glancing on Nanoha's direction, she pressed her lips together, seeing the auburn-haired girl smiling happily towards her classmates and friends made her feel jealous. When she could no longer withstand the view, she stood up and without saying a word she strode out of the classroom leaving her classmates annoyed with her actions.
"What an arrogant bitch!" One of their classmates exclaimed.
When Nanoha heard her classmates complaints and saw Fate heading towards the door, she decided that she must excuse herself and follow the blonde no matter what.
"Where are you going Nanoha-chan?" Suzuka asked.
"Gomen, I have to follow her. Excuse me for a while. You can go ahead, eat lunch without me." Nanoha started to put her things hurriedly inside her bag. She has been struggling to run away from her classmates to approach her best friend, but they just keep on asking her questions and now Fate had gone out of the classroom without saying hi. It made her feel uneasy and at the same time worried seeing that Fate ignored her classmates. She knew that Fate might be haughty sometimes due to her royal upbringing, but she wasn't rude and arrogant like the other royals act.
Arisa stretched out her arms wide in front of the sapphire eyed girl, blocking her way. "Follow who? Don't tell me Nanoha-chan, you were bewitched by that crimson-eyed witch? She's a weirdo! Don't be fooled by her looks!"
Nanoha paused and glared at Arisa, giving her an unblinking focused eye contact, sending a message that don't boss me around or else I will not forgive you. "Don't you dare to call her that again, Arisa. Have some respect. You don't know whom are you referring to. Now, if you'll excuse me. Get out of my way." As when she's done speaking, she stood up in front of the girls whom were talking to Fate earlier, she bowed her head and said. "Girls, please excuse her behavior. It wasn't her intention to be rude. She was just not used to this kind of situation. I'll go and talk to her." Nanoha stormed off towards the exit when her classmates smiled at her. While she was walking to the corridors she was exchanging messages to Hayate.
Nanoha: "Hayate-chan baka! Fate-chan is here at school! On top of that, she's my classmate! She approached me twice already but I shrugged her off without noticing it! What's up with the drama in the hospital? I don't understand now? Surely, you've messed up my brain big time for the past several days!
Now Fate-chan has run away looking depressed. I have to find her and fix the misunderstanding this instant!"
Hayate: "What the hell is she doing there?! Maybe it was just a coincidence that you go to the same school!"
Nanoha: "Idiot! She's younger than us! She even mentioned it before that it would be impossible to be in the same grade together! That isn't a coincidence! I really thought she doesn't want to see me! You better apologize to her soon."
Hayate: "Gomen. Go and find her then. I'll come and find you after school and see if we can fix everything. See you."
Nanoha: "Baka! You better come or I'll gonna make you a roasted tanuki. I hate to say this, but I don't want to go into the middle school department, so don't keep me waiting. I'll drag Fate-chan along. I'll make sure she'll apologize to you too. Ja ne!"
Ooops! That was kinda long but still not enough, neh?
Seriously guys, I wanna know what you think so drop some reviews! That will make me happy.
So, who won the drama? Lol..
Bubbleduckie: Thank you so much for taking much time reading the fic. Also, I would like to answer your question.. Fate was the youngest among the three. A baby Fate indeed niyahaha!
Guest: (OMG so many guest names on the reviews but here's my reply.) : I'm glad that you had a happy childhood and thank you for sharing it on the reviews. Also, for the word "collaborating" yep.. It's funny.. xD
Kivaflames: Heya! Thanks for taking an interest in this story kitty2 nyan. Well, we are still in the flashback so please be patient with it.
Rijaja.77: Hmmm Well, I hope you like this chapter. Thank you so much for sending me PM's whenever you're not busy.
