I know I know another chapter already out? Well I had the urge to write another chapter so here is chapter 9. I hope you guys will enjoy it as always and I have some things I need to talk about but I will talk about that near the end.

*SAME DISCLAIMER AS BEFORE*

It is currently nighttime on Earth at the moment and by the entrance to the dorms, it was very quiet for a few seconds. However just then, a bright light begins to shine around the general area and from there a person steps out of the light. The person is revealed to be Shiro who has just gotten out of the medical bay of the Athra after resting. It has been recently two days since the fight against Drav and the young man was ordered to rest up and recover for the rest of the weekend. Shiro starts by stretching his arms and legs a good amount to test them, seeing if they still work. Smiling, they do work leading him to start walking to the entrance.

"Man, Nanoha and Fate were right. I do feel a lot better. That medical bay did wonders on my body. Now Nanoha and I can train again and I can get better." the young mage spoke with a small grin. Walking through the building and cutting pass some of the doors of the other rooms, Shiro reached his destination:his dorm room. Just as he was about to open the door, he wonders again about his phone. During his recovery, his phone vibrated a three times. First three times it was during the night on Saturday after the first vibrate and again during the Sunday afternoon. With that, Fate of course asked if she should answer the phone but the end result was Shiro saying that he would deal with it when he was fully recovered.

The black haired mage rubbed his hair and blew a breath of hot air, thinking to himself. 'I just wondered who called me and I hope it was not anything bad.' as he gulped and then starts to open the door, not preparing him for what happens on the other side. When he did open the door, he only sees Hitoshi sitting on his couch with his head down and his hair covering his eyes. Shiro thinks to himself what happened to his best friend and what was the deal with the dark look he was sporting? He further thinks that the problem must the fact that he was gone all weekend.

"Yeah that has to be the reason." Shiro whispered to himself hoping that was the reason behind this, however he could not be any more wrong. Hitoshi slowly looks up after realizing that the door just opened and so he looks up to see Shiro standing by the door way and in a meek way, waves a simple hi to start it off. In turn, Hitoshi waves back to Shiro also just as weak allowing Shiro starts by speaking to the long haired man. "Hitoshi what happened with you? What's wrong?"

However, Hitoshi beats his friend to the punch and asked a question of his own. "Shiro before you ask me, let me ask you something like where the hell were you for the last two days?" Shiro in response could only rub his head in a desperate plea to think up a lie to throw his best friend off guard. He was thinking for a bit until Hitoshi glared at him and pressed him again for more information. "Well Shiro? What the hell did you do? And also while I am at it, why in the hell did you not answer your damn phone!?"

"Well ummm...about that. See where I was, my phone could not get a signal so I could not pick up my phone. And I was so caught up in a project I was doing that I lost track of time. I am sorry Hitoshi." Shiro spoke with a bow hoping that this would throw Hitoshi off his trial again. Within the span of a few seconds, Hitoshi sighs understanding that just interrogating his best friend would go nowhere and the sight of this causes Shiro to wipe his forehead happy at least for the moment.

'That was a close one. Need to stop cutting these so close.' Shiro thinks to himself, indeed happy that Hitoshi stopped with the interrogating.

He was just about to say thanks when a brief memory resurfaced in his mind: the look on Hitoshi's face when he entered the room. Wondering what could have been the problem, the young sword mage asked his friend. "Hitoshi, could you please tell me what happened with you? When I walked in, you were sitting on the couch with your head down. So what is wrong?"

And from there, Hitoshi looks to the side and painfully responds back to his best friend. "Here's the thing: after you had left for God knows what, my mother gave me a call. She was wondering what was going on with me and so we talked a bit." The long haired man stops a bit to recollect himself and continues on with his story. "Then after that, mom told me to listen to her, saying that she had something to tell me. The news was that my brother Tsukasa had just died."

Hitoshi closes his eyes leaving Shiro in complete shock by the news. Now, when he was a kid, he did meet Hitoshi's brother but only briefly as the two would play outside all the time leaving Tsukasa to be inside and in his bed. Not once did Shiro ever ask Hitoshi what was his brother's issue because it never occurred to him but now due to the information in hand, he can't help but bow and say in a hushed tone. "Hitoshi I am very sorry for your lost." Shiro took a brief look at Hitoshi who nodded allowing the man to lift his head and further ask his friend the following question.

"So if you don't mind me asking, how did Tsukasa die? Or is it too painful to think back to?"

In turn, Hitoshi shook his head and replies to his friend. "No it is not painful. Not at all. It was just a mysterious illness that he caught. And the stupid part about it is...the doctors and other medical people in charge regardless of field not once found a cure for it meaning my big brother died without ever getting any better! It sucks!" The long haired man then grips the couch arm in anger leaving only Shiro to stare at him with a pained look on his face. He had a thought that Tsukasa was very important to him, even due to how he is feeling now at this moment. Shiro wanted to help Hitoshi but what could he do? Sadly the only thing he did do, no what only he did was just bow again and in a painful voice spoke this to Hitoshi. "I know this does not mean much but once again I am very sorry for your loss Hitoshi."

"Don't worry about it. Just do me one favor." Hitoshi spoke causing Shiro, happy to do whatever he could to help his friend look back up.

The young mage asked his friend. "What is it Hitoshi?"

Hitoshi stares at Shiro and tells him bluntly. "Just tell me where were you over the weekend."

That one request made Shiro's heart stop. Because while he would tell him what happened, it may be even worse if he told Hitoshi that he became a mage, is training with another mage on how to fight and even he almost getting blown up and almost killed by another mage. While Hitoshi did ask other times, they were not this direct and because of the current situation in hand, Shiro just looks to the side himself and whispers something. Hitoshi while waiting for his friend to answer, gets something different. Shiro spoke again but this time a bit louder. "I am so so sorry Hitoshi, but it is a secret." And with that the sword mage grips his right hand and starts to walk away leaving only Hitoshi in the living room to sit on the couch and reflects on what just happened between him and Shiro. The night was silent after this.

With that, two weeks have passed since what has happened with the following events. Shiro continued with his training, along with him balancing his school work. In the beginning, it was tiring and very time wasting on his body but the young man gradually got used to the training with practice and proper breaks. At this point he was getting used to the double life style he leads. However things were not going well between him and Hitoshi as he along with the long haired man had not spoken with each other for those same weeks on the only occasion being that they both walk to the same class together.

And it wasn't just hard on Shiro as Hitoshi was also effected for a while. Due to the lost of his brother, he was being down for a few days even when doing assignments, others would see that something was wrong with him. He was trying to recover from the pain and for a while he was starting to feel a bit better. But only just a while in passing until the lost still lingers its way into his heart. One way or another the two weeks were difficult for the two young men in a way.

Back at the forest training ground, Shiro had just finished up his daily training method of barrier and movement with Nanoha while Fate, from a distance was finishing up with data gathering. Shiro dispelled Gaia and looked at Nanoha. "So what is the game plan for tomorrow Nanoha? Same plan as usual?"

However, instead Nanoha shook her head and responded to the sword mage. "No not this time. The game plan so to speak is going to be something different."

What Nanoha said really made Shiro confused and he tilts his head to bring up the point that he is lost in the loop which allows Fate in saying to the young man. "What Nanoha means is that instead of training here, we will go somewhere else to continue it. Oh and before you even have to ask Shiro, you have been to this area before just in a different state."

He cups his chin to try and think about what Fate just said for a few seconds and then it hit him. Shiro puts the pieces together as the puzzle was finally revealed:they will go to the ship so they can continue the training. Fate then elaborates further while staring at Shiro who may want to know what was the deal with the change. "The reason for the change at all is because of what happened two weeks ago. That man who attacked may still be on Earth and might be around, possibly paining another attack."

"And because of that, Shiro we will be training using the ship's training room instead." Nanoha spoke with a smile causing Shiro to just stare at the two women. Just before they could question what is wrong, the sword mage smiles a bright smile and is very happy about the new plan in motion.

"We get to go to the ship? The same ship we were on a while back and it has a training room!? Oh my God this is so amazing and I feel so excited. I can't wait to start. Well I will see you two tomorrow. Bye Nanoha, Fate."

The mages in question smile and wave at the young mage who while he waved as well, began to run back to his usual route to get back to the dorms. Meanwhile as this happened, Fate in turn gives Nanoha the data so that she could look at it. Within a few short seconds, Nanoha has all the data she needs and Fate spoke to Nanoha. "Well now that all of the data is in your hands, I will call the Admiral and set up the training room for tomorrow."

Nanoha nods and starts the data checking while Fate began the call. Starting tomorrow, the next step in training begins.

It is now the next day after class and in the Arthra, Nanoha dressed in her training grab was helping Fate in setting up the training room. The room was looking very much technological in nature with the room being very big and spacious making it doable for Nanoha and Shiro to do the rest of their training. Now that they were finished with the clean up, Nanoha smiles at Fate to which she counter smiles back as the two then began to start the next stage of the plan, waiting for Shiro to get on the ship so they could start. From there, the two women waited...and waited...and waited. When Nanoha checked the time it was two minutes ago since they waited and both she and Fate were deep in thought wondering what was keeping Shiro so long. It was then that a random thought appeared on top of Fate's head and so she turns to Nanoha's direction and said this.

"Hey Nanoha you don't think that what happened when we first met Shiro and brought him to the hospital a while ago happened again?"

Nanoha could only think for a few seconds and then look at Fate to reply back. "Oh you mean when he tried to walk out of the room only to remember that he did not know the way out? Yes I remember that but there is no way that can happen...Can it?"

Meanwhile, Shiro in question was just walking around in awe about the inside of the ship. Everything just looked so incredible in his eyes almost as if he was taking another step into the world he was entering. His eyes shined with a small forgotten innocence that he once had when he was only a kid around Hitoshi. Acting like a kid for once. Although while all of the technology that was around the ship was indeed something that made Shiro's heart beat with excitement, it was then that he knew that he forgot something. As such, he facepalm and muttered. "Oh right I forgot. I have to go to the training area where Nanoha and Fate are. I should not be bedazzled by a ship. I have a job to do!" And so with that, he ran off to locate the room in question. Sadly it was here that made Shiro realized after being turned around by a lot of doors and being stuck by a dead end hallway, he inwardly freaks out and screams. "OH MY GOD I AM LOST!" With this thought taking over, he runs in a panic trying to find a way to get to the room in time however in his panic, he bumps into someone causing him to fall on his ass.

Shiro groans a bit, rubbing his head as he sees a hand in front of him. He takes the hand and the person helps to lift him off the floor. "Thank you so much Ma'am." Then he sees the woman in full, the person being Lindy who decided to step out to stretch her legs a bit and bows constantly to apologize leading Lindy to smile at him and say to him. "It is perfectly fine young man. Say, a quick question why were you running around panicking and being confused?"

"Oh that. I am kind of sort of lost and I am trying to find where the training room is. Could you help me?" Shiro spoke while having an embarrassed and most likely an ashamed look on his face, thinking briefly that he should not feel like this. But Lindy still with a smile rightful points Shiro into the directions that he should take to go to the training area making the young man smile and starts to run to the directions that Lindy gave him. But before he leaves, Shiro waves and introduces himself. "Oh before I forget, thank you so much again and I'm Shiro. Shiro Nagase. May I ask what your name is Ma'am?"

"Oh yes my name. It is Lindy. Lindy Harlaown." The admiral continues to smile warmly at the man as Shiro then runs off to his destination.

In time, Shiro does finally find the training area and the door opens to reveal Nanoha and Fate waiting for him. He rubs his head and says to the two women in front of him. "Girls I am so sorry for being late."

To respond to this, Nanoha instead being angry and upset with him, she just chuckles a bit at him and Fate just decided to instead ask Shiro a very simple question. "So what happened?"

While feeling his face flush by embarrassment, Shiro reluctantly spoke to the blond mage. "I got myself turned around by the ship and got lost on the way here. Again I am sorry."

"Shiro we understand. You made it here and while you did get lost, you were able to come to the area. You are doing fine so let's get started with training." The white mage spoke with a smile as she turns to Fate who, with the push of a button brings up a training dummy. As such, Nanoha walks over to Shiro and points at the dummy while beginning to explain the new training method. "Ok Shiro here is the plan. Now that you are getting used to movement and barrier training, with our new location I want to take it up a level. And the best way to do that is to teach you how binds work. Now I know you understand how binds right?"

Shiro was about to say no until he remembers when he made the stupid mistake of pushing himself and being on the wrong end of Divine Buster. He nods indicating that he knew what Nanoha was talking about and with a smile, she continues. "Great you do remember. Makes this easier for me. Simply put a bind is used to trap someone. Like this."

To prove her point, she raises her hand and from the air summons pink ring binds around the arms and legs of the dummy and when she puts her arms down, the binds disappear. After this, Shiro nods and once Nanoha steps away and stand next to Fate, starts practicing. With his hand raised, Shiro tries to force his mana out to make the binds. However, with each push all Shiro got with just his low level shield and no binds. Frustrated, he keeps at this for four minutes and like before, progress was not made. He closes his eyes and tries to think about something.

'There has to be something I can do to make my bind spell. But what?'

Suddenly, a idea flew over his head and grinning, he raises his left hand again. He slowly focuses his energy on his mana from his core but letting it flow on his body and with one push, around the dummy appears neo colored rings wrapping around the same spots where Nanoha's binds was and with that, Shiro fist pumped the air happy to have succeed with his first bind spell. On the other side of the room, Nanoha and Fate both saw that Shiro was able to create his first bind spell and the white mage says to the sword mage.

"Nice work Shiro. By creating a bind spell, this is another fantastic stepping stone for you. However, now that you done that, time for something else."

From then, she motions Fate to press a button in which she does so. As this happens, a lot of doors are created from the walls of the training area around Shiro. Out said doors came a group of drones surrounding the young man.

"Oh god not those! Not again. Not again." Shiro says as he looks around his direction terrified out of his mind. Just to make him calm down, Fate informs him while keeping the drones in line. "Shiro it is ok. These are not the same as the drone that was after Gaia when you first got it and met us. These drones are different from that. They are made with the sole purpose of training mages and test them. Just deal with them as best as you can ok?"

Now with the information given to him, Shiro readies himself by transforming with Gaia to get his barrier jacket and sword and prepares as Fate sends the drones at the young sword mage. A hand full of them summons magic canons from their chests and starts firing test rounds at Shiro leaving him to move away by jumping backwards a bit and using his low level shield to protect himself from enemy fire and the other half started to run at him. Gripping his sword, Shiro began to use it to only push the drones away and if any others went to fire at him, he would dodge the shots as they were coming at him.

This cycle went on for a few minutes to about a few hours as with each drone shooting at him, Nanoha and Fate took note for Shiro was dodging and defending shots but when he would try to attack, Shiro would instead use Gaia as a defense weapon rather than a sword would be used. And it showed when his openings were small and very easy to break making the two feel that the swings or use of the sword is very not properly trained. With that mind, Nanoha then turns to Fate and nods prompting her to turn off the rest of the drones.

The training was over and Shiro changed back and wipes his forehead to take a couple of deep breaths. After that, he turns to Nanoha and Fate to ask them both how he do this time. Fate starts off. "Your defensive abilities as well as your movement, compared to before are getting a lot better. You are starting to feel just a bit more at home in using your magic."

Shiro then smiles and is fairly happy until the white devil shot him down in a gentle manner with this. "But as it is it's not enough. You are indeed getting there, including learning your bind spell but almost." She thinks back to the drone portion of the lesson and wonders what could be done about it. Shiro in turn is down about the ordeal but knows that these types of things take time.

"Anyway for now we should call it a day." Nanoha said to Fate and Shiro forcing the three to leave the training area and walk to the hallway.

Once they were further away from the training area, Shiro thought back to that lady he met before Lindy, and was wondering about something. He looks up at Nanoha and Fate and decides to ask them something. "So yeah Nanoha, Fate I have a question. When I was lost, I met a woman with lime green hair who led me to the direction of training area. I was just wondering:who is that woman?"

The minute he said that, with a cat like grin, Nanoha just casually spoke to Shiro. "Oh THAT woman. Well Shiro my good friend, that woman you met was Admiral Lindy Haralown. The very same Admiral in charge of the Arthra, the same ship we are on."

In response, the sword mage stopped immediately like a record player stopping all with a surprising look on his face looking at the two women. And then if that was not enough, he remembers the last name that Lindy held and pieces it together to someone else's last name which causes him to shake and point at Fate. He asks the blond. "Wait just a minute. Fate does that mean that the Admiral, who is in charge of the ship is your mother!?" Fate's answer was a light hearted nod leaving the shocked Shiro to scream this while holding his head.

"OH MY GOD I EMBARRASSED MYSELF IN FRONT OF A HIGH RANKING OFFICER!"

Now, ashamed and embarrassed, Shiro puts his head down to stare at the floor leaving Fate to walk over to the young man and pats his shoulder as Nanoha just laughs playfully. While things did go wrong in the beginning, at the very least there is always a time for peace and sometimes it comes from unexpected sources.

And DONE! again I hope you guys enjoyed this chapter and if there's anything I can fix then please tell me so I can fix it in time. Also if you have any suggestions then I will take the help if it means I can get better. Finally I would like to thank some friends of mine for helping me with my confidence in writing the story rather than just stopping at chapter 5. You guys are awesome! So Shiro and Hitoshi will not be talking to each other for a while, Shiro learns of a bind spell and that Lindy is the Admiral and finally Nanoha might have a general idea about the young man's use of Gaia as a sword. What would that be? You'll have to find out next time. Now I will be going on a trip for my vacation so I will be gone but I will come back soon. Be seeing you guys!