Hello guys I am back with a new chapter only now I had some things popping up. I had to wait until this month to work on these chapters not one, not two but three chapters. Due to last month, I could not release this chapter so like before, I will release some more chapters only three this time. As part of my Christmas gift to you guys. Please enjoy.
* Same disclaimer as always*
It was a beautiful quiet day at the local college. A month had passed since Anna's arrival and Nanoha in preparation had continued to train Shiro as always and along with the others, Hayate included went on to their college live's. For now, there were no attacks caused by Anna and Drav so they took it a touch easy for the moment. So the day was quiet at least for the moment.
A bus had just stopped at a bus stop and the door opened, revealing people walking out and leaving. Once a few people walked, a young blond girl followed suit and the bus then drove away. The girl who just stepped out of the bus was none other then Vivio Takamachi. She turns her head to briefly look around the area she was currently at but sadly, no Nanoha-mama or Fate-mama.
"Hmm I wonder where they are?" the young kaiser tilted her head muttering the thought. "I don't see a big building with a lot of other students. Well, other then bigger adults walking around." Then the girl clenches her right fist and spoke with determination. "No Vivio you can do this. Nanoha-mama, Fate-mama and the others would not quit so I would not quit either. Let's get searching!" So Vivio decides to walk around and start her quest.
While looking around, Vivio was beginning to think back on how this all started and why would she even thought about searching. After hearing from Nanoha about the training, she said her good bye and from there the young girl spent time with her Grandpa, Grandma and Aunt. Being in the home where her mother was born in made her excited even though baking a cake was still a difficult thing to do even with instructions from the adults. Plus seeing Miyuki training whether she had time was also fun, almost reminding her of the forwards in their training. Combined with the customers who stopped by the cafe, Vivio was having a lot of fun as a result of her stay.
However, over time she did start to miss her mom and god mom and hoped when they would call back from their mission and update her but they never did. With that in mind, the young kaiser thought about what she would do and decided to ask her grandma Momoko what was the name of the area with the college were Nanoha and Fate was at and once she got the name, Vivio puts her plan into action. Once it was morning, she snuck out of the house without the family knowing and went on a bus that was going part way and on a another bus go to her location.
Vivio knew that she will get chewed out for this but she really wanted to know what was going on with the mission. Plus, getting to see the school would be fun for her so the situation, while scary was also very interesting. With a spring in her step, Vivio went on her search. Unfortunately, for five minutes, Vivio's search came up empty as she asked around about two women in detail but the end result was the people she asked saying no to seeing them. She cupped her hands together, feeling frightened about the whole search and being lost as an added bonus but she tries to be brave and continue on with the search.
High and low, Vivio had looked around some buildings and like before no luck but she kept going. Just as she was looking around, Vivio in the midst of her heavily looking, got turned around and finds herself lost in an alleyway. Knowing this, she quickly turns and starts walking back in the opposite direction but as this was going on, Vivio bumped into a random bystander and falls.
"Oww, that hurts." Vivio groaned, slowly getting up and when she looked at the man, who looked normal enough, bowed her head saying. "I am very sorry mister. I was not looking where I was going. If you will excuse me, I will be on my way now." She starts to walk pass the man in front of her and things were looking up. In an instant, the man grabs the kaiser's left arm, forcing her to struggle and the man proceeds to ask her.
"Now what would a lonely little girl be doing here all on her own? You lost?" the man spoke with a creepy look on his face. Vivio again tries to pulls her arm away and the man lets go for now leaving the young girl to explain her problem rather reluctantly. "Well... I am here on important business. You see I am here in town looking for my mom. She's a college student and she should be here in a few minutes. So if you will excuse me." The girl with the hetochromia eyes turns away from the man in front of her and tries the other way, only to be stopped by another man who grabs her from behind making her unable to move.
"Hey hey, what is the rush little girl?"
Suddenly in seconds, a group of men appeared from some trash cans, walls and from the two open areas where Vivio tried to go from and by a nod from the leader, the men slowly walked around Vivio. The girl wondered what were the men about to do until the leader stepped forward. He looks at the girl and spoke to her. "We'll help you little girl in finding your mommy. But first," the man shows Vivio a creepy and rather unconformable smile. "before we can do that, I was thinking maybe you could let my boys and I do something for you. In exchange." He ends this with a lick on his lips and it was through that act it made Vivio struggle very hard to get away and to her joy briefly, she got away.
Panicking in her head, the girl takes a few steps back and is thinking about what to do when an idea hit her head. Digging through one of her pockets, she finds her cell phone and with a happy smile was about to call Nanoha until one of the men brushed the phone away from Vivio making her freeze and continuing to step back. As the men drew closer to her, the blond girl trying to think of another plan.
'Oh what can I do now? My phone is brushed aside, I can't run pass them to get away and I know that they are bigger then me. What can I do? There has to be something. Unless...' a brief thought entered her head and she then considered maybe just maybe...'I could use my magic and fight them off! But two problems: first I can't use my magic to hurt people and the second one I have not been trained in how to use my magic yet.'
"Meaning I am stuck." Vivio spoke in a sad tone as the men kept on walking. The leader then points at the girl, causing his men to continue with their walk. With no other way out, all Vivio could do was hold her hands, closed her eyes and prayed as the poor girl screamed with all her might:
"SOMEONE PLEASE HELP ME!"
The men went on with their trek seemingly not caring about the girl's cry for help. They kept getting closer and closer and were about to reach her. Then all of a sudden, one of the men from the front of the group was kicked away from Vivio and a figure was standing next to the scared girl. A voice was heard by the group and the young man with digest in his voice.
"Really now, what is the world coming to? I thought that you guys wold have some decent brains but planing to rape a little girl? That type of crap is sick even for assholes like you!"
Vivio then opens her eyes and sees the person who saved her: a man with long red hair tied up to the side and yellow eyes dressed in casual wear. This was Hitoshi Ichimoto. The young man cracks his neck, looking at the men around him and Vivio with the men being in shock. The reason for why he was here is a funny one. Since class was just a few minutes from being over, he ditched class and took a local bus minutes before Vivio came to the town. At that time, all he did was wandering around passing the time.
Hitoshi then sighs and said while turning in Vivio's direction. "I know for sure Shiro will either be worried or be pissed at me for leaving. Knowing him, he will be pissed. Well anyway are you ok little girl?"
Vivio responded with a nod allowing Hitoshi to smile warmly at the poor girl. "Why don't you find somewhere to to hide for a bit? This will be very messy." Taking Hitoshi 's words to heart, Vivio runs to a nearby trash can and hid behind it, staring at the man who saved her glaring at the men.
"Hey red hair, you came at the wrong place at the wrong time." one of the men jabbing in Hitoshi's direction leading to another man jarring at the long haired man. "Yeah dipshit, we were just about to help that poor girl. Butt out!"
"Wait this is perfect. Since this guy wanted to protect this girl, let's have him try. This will be fun because once we beat him, the girl's ours." the leader spoke with a laugh. Following that, the men around him also laughed. They truly believed that they would win against Hitoshi and take Vivio away. But as they laughed, one of them got punched in the face by Hitoshi and with the force of the punch, sends the man flying through the air.
In response to this, another man tries to fight Hitoshi by kicking him but Hitoshi grabs the mid air kick, spins the person's foot and for good measure, punches the man in the stomach. Finally, a third man was about to fight the man by a series of punches and kicks. With each one, Hitoshi was able to dodge them and seeing as the person was not worth his time, all he did to further embarrass the man was just karate crop the man's head knocking him out. In the end, all that was around him were the bodies of the two men he fought each knocked out. The leader and the other men were still in shock as was Vivio. The fact that this random guy walks in and beat the shit out of a couple of men means that he may be a monster. And the funny thing was he was not done.
Hitoshi with a wild grin taunted the remaining men. "Who's next?"
"Great Hitoshi is gone." Shiro spoke sighing as he and the girls walked out of their class for the day. It was the end of class and everyone was present and accounted for. Well everyone except Hitoshi who was not with the others. Hayate thought for a bit and bought up a theory. "Well maybe he went to the bathroom? You know how long those classes are."
"No he didn't." the young sword mage shook his head and face palmed. "He would not just go to the bathroom and stay there. Unless if it was very important then I would buy that. He got around to doing this when I was training with Nanoha a while back. I guess I was thinking too hard on both studies and training that I forgot."
Nanoha and Fate both remembered the event when Hitoshi did found out. Shiro was being really careful about not letting his friend find out but that may have led the young man to being too focused a lot of the time. As such, this was going to happen either way. Rubbing his hair, Shiro is about to call Hitoshi however a random cell started to ring. Fate and Hayate each checked their phones but saw it was not for them and Shiro's phone was not on yet so they turn to Nanoha's phone who picked up her phone and answered it.
"Hello? Oh hi mom how have you been?"
"I have been fine Nanoha." Momoko spoke with a sadden tone in that her daughter picked up on the tone shift. She asked her mother. "Mom what is wrong? You sound sad?"
"Well Nanoha that is the reason why I called. Now I want you to pay attention to what I am about to say." and from this, Momoko explained to the white devil what happened while the other's watch on. Nanoha's smile was slowly turned into a frown which worried everyone as the white mage heard every single word from her mother and with each second, she gets more and more scarred and worried. After that, Nanoha hung up her phone turning to the others and Fate asked. "Nanoha what happened with your mother?"
"...Vivio is missing." the white mage spoke with a broken look on her face. Fate is holding a gasp in her mouth while Hayate just gasped and Shiro, while he was in shock like the others he had no idea who Vivio is.
"Is that why your mother called to tell you about this?" Hayate asked leaving Nanoha in a panic trying to think about what to do next. After calming herself down for a few seconds, she looks to the others who were awaiting for her answer. "We have to go out and find Vivio. She could be very scared right now so time is short. Mom said that she, dad and Miyuki are looking back home, but she may be around here lost." She turns to Hayate's direction. "Hayate I need you and Rein to look around the college while Shiro and Fate will take the car and look around the town with Yuuno and I to find Vivio. If you do find her, call me."
With that, the group starts with Hayate after letting Rein fly in the air being as discreet as possible, Fate and Shiro getting the car and Nanoha with them calling Yuuno, telling him about Vivio being missing.
Meanwhile, back at the alleyway, the fight from earlier was still going on only there was a huge difference. Hitoshi and the leader are still standing with the others being on the ground but in 'specific' positions. The leader marveled at this news. His own crew were beat by a random bystander protecting a girl on the street and this pissed him off. Enraged at the fall of his men mixed with the humiliation of the beating, runs over to Hitoshi with his fists out ready to knock the young man out. However this was proven to be his downfall.
Hitoshi sighs as the leader was coming in view and as he did, he smirked. At this point, Hitoshi chose to further beat his guy by using as much of his training or at least the amount he had as much as possible. By using his fists, he punched the man's arms at point blank range causing the leader to lose function of his arms. Afterwards, the man tried a roundhouse kick to trick Hitoshi to lower his guard but the joke was him as Hitoshi sweep ed the man's right leg, falling down as a result. Due to the strength of the kick, the man broke his legs from the fall, meaning that he is vulnerable and as he glared at Hitoshi, perhaps trying to smite him it was too late. Hitoshi gut checked the guy with one more punch and from that, the leader was unconscious, foaming at the mouth. The rapists were beaten.
If one were to look at the fight, they would say it was a very brutal fight with all of the men on the ground in pain. However Hitoshi just dusted his hands and muttering to himself. "Man I really need to continue with my training. If I am this sloppy, my old man would be pissed. Now for the girl."
He walked over to Vivio's direction and at this point, the girl was terrified beyond all belief. She was shaking all over, clenching her eyes and was frozen in place. Throughout the whole fight, she was seeing the things that happened and each one was more sickening to say the least. She thought to herself while having this realization.
'He is just like Nanoha-mama only more scary with fists. And the things he did...I would not want him to be angry.'
"So...now that that is out of the way, question why would you even go to this area in town? It is pretty damn dangerous."
Vivio opens her eyes and sees the man from earlier holding his hand out, offering to help her up. The hetrochromia eyed girl spoke back to the man, "Well I was here in town trying to find my mom and I got lost. I was just walking around and then, uh this happened. So I was really hoping..."
Hitoshi decided to interrupt the girl and grabs her hand anyway, surprising the little one. He smiles at Vivio and told her. "Don't worry. I will help you find your mom. Can't just a little girl around with all of these guys on the ground. People may question a lot." Vivio was about to protest saying that she can find her mom on her own until a sound roared in the air. A stomach growling which made the girl blush in embarrassment.
"Yeah not going to happen. How about we get you something to eat to fill your stomach? You must be starved." Hitoshi laughed at the girl as they walk out the alleyway to find something to eat.
Back with the others, Fate had just dropped Nanoha and Yuuno off at a nearby area. She was driving at a handful of hot spots around the town. As the blond did this, Shiro glances over in Fate's direction.
"Fate just a question here, but who is Vivio? I know that from Nanoha's expression this person is very important. But I want to know why especially since you dragged me around with Nanoha and Yuuno."
"Oh right sorry Shiro." Fate replied nervously just now remembering that she and the girls did drag him with no real information like who Vivio is. "Well, it is a long story but the short version is she is a sweet little girl who is very important and we need to find her before something bad happens."
Shiro cups his chin and asked for more information. "Then what does she look like?"
"She has blond hair with red and green eyes."
If she was not driving, Fate would see a shocked Shiro with his mouth wide open in complete awe. He could not believe that anyone would have two count them TWO different. One color makes sense but two was pushing it. However he shook the surprise, understanding that a child even by themselves could be in trouble with the wrong crowd and with Nanoha's worried face in his mind, the sword mage starts looking around hoping to help find the poor girl.
At this time, Hayate was running around some open areas with some people hoping that Vivio was in them with the sad reality being that there was still no sign of her. Stepping out of the latest relaxation spot she was in, Hayate rubs her head in frustration. Rein flies next to the brunette who cups her hands to give the girl a landing space.
"Any luck on your end Rein?"
Rein just pouts and spoke with Hayate. "No. I searched all over the air but I not find Vivio yet. There are too many people around the areas I looked and nothing." Hayate then thought for a few seconds and then told her friend. "Well keep looking she has to be around here somewhere."
"Roger!"
And with the two continued on and like the others, were hoping to find Vivio. It would only be a matter of time but they were trying being as positive as they could. They had to find her they just had to.
While this was going on, Nanoha and Yuuno were in one of the shopping districts in the town looking for Vivio. After asking some people if they saw a little girl with red and green eyes, the only thing Nanoha and Yuuno got was a few of them stating that they think a girl like that was walking around but that may have been their imagination. Nanoha with a crestfallen look on her face said thanks and continued on with Yuuno behind her.
"Oh, this is not good!" the white devil begins to shake a bit which gradually causes her to hold her arms. "It has been hours since mom called about Vivio and we have been searching for just as long. Just where is she! This is also the first time since the Jail incident when she was kidnapped that she has been alone. Where are you Vivio?"
"Nanoha..." the librarian just walks over to his good friend and holds her shoulders, forcing her to freeze up as the man spoke in a calm tone. "Everything will be all right ok? That is why we are all here to help you search for her. Just don't give up. Everyone is doing they're best."
The white mage took a while to get her breath back knowing that Yuuno was right and so she rubbed her eyes that were tearing up and gave a very warm smile. He blushed at the sight of the smile leaving the two to continue until with a blank expression, Yuuno saw something. It was Hitoshi and Vivio eating ice cream.
He whispers to the white mage. "Nanoha look behind you." prompting the woman to turn around and the sight alone made her freeze. Hitoshi upon seeing the two, waves his hand at the both of them and Vivio the moment she sees her mom and close friend, she runs to Nanoha with tears on her face and a smile.
"Nanoha-mama!" the young girl yelled.
Nanoha also with tears on her face and arms spread replied back. "Vivio!" as the two embraced each other now happy that they are together again.
While this went on, Yuuno walks to Hitoshi and asked him what happened and how did you find Vivio to which all Hitoshi did was shrug and say "I took care of business."
The way he said it confused Yuuno making him wonder what did happen with Hitoshi and Vivio? But that will have to wait as Nanoha broke her hug with her daughter allowing Vivio to say. "I am sorry that I ran away from home Nanoha-mama but I really wanted to see you and Fate-mama. It was weeks since we talked last time and I was so worried."
"So was everyone else when they found you just disappeared. Even Yuuno, Fate, Hayate and Rein were worried." scolded Nanoha briefly but then she pets Vivio's head and with a smile. "Just don't do it again."
Yuuno spoke to the young girl. "You did worry a lot of people so to start with, you should thank Hitoshi for finding you and keeping you safe."
From that, Vivio ran up to Hitoshi and bowed in front of him saying in a grateful tone. "Thank you for protecting me Mr. Hitoshi." Then Hitoshi ruffles the girl's hair and replying back "No prob Vivio. And please just Hitoshi is all right."
"Ok." the blond girl smiled and with this, things were ok.
They hear a car coming up on the driveway and it is revealed to be Fate's car. The group each got out of the car one by one and each them see Vivio in the distance with Hitoshi, Nanoha and Yuuno. Shiro asked Fate. "So is that Vivio?"
"Yep that is her Shiro. Seems they found her." the blond smiled as the girl in question saw the group. Once she sees Fate, Hayate and Rein peeking from a bag, she waves at the group all happy that the young girl was finally found safe and sound. Just then, a question went inside Shiro's head and so he walked over to Hitoshi to ask him. "So let me guess, you took care of business while you found Vivio?"
"You know it." Hitoshi said with a happy grin leaving Nanoha to ask also "What was this 'business' you spoke of Hitoshi?"
"Yes I wish to know also." Fate asked looking at Vivio who was sharing her ice cream with Rein and Hayate stared at Hitoshi with a look of 'I want to know too'. Yuuno crossed his arms leading Hitoshi to sigh and motion the group to follow him but leave Vivio with Rein for a few seconds. Upon reaching the alleyway, the group saw nothing but a lot of bodies each with certain parts of their bodies in different positions. Arms were broken, legs misshaped and some traces of blood were all around the area. The sight made Fate hold her month in shock, same went for Hayate, Yuuno could not take the sight and looked away and Nanoha well, all she did was turn to Shiro and asked bluntly "Shiro what just happened here?"
Shiro was the only one not surprised like the rest of his friends and so he sighs and says. "Like me and Hitoshi just said, he took care of things." And with the sight in their eyes, they now know that even if Hitoshi can't use magic, if it is fighting normal people then he is a force to be reckon with.
From there, the group walked and it was time to take Vivio back home to the Takamachi house. Fate was ready to take Vivio home but not before she asks her mom.
"Could I stop by and see Hitoshi next time?"
"Only if you are good and if we get a vacation." Nanoha spoke while pinching her daughter's nose leaving Hitoshi to grin and follow up. "I agree with your mom on this one. Be good Vivio."
Then Vivio hugs Hayate, Rein and Yuuno, tells them good bye and for Shiro she yells with a grin. "Shiro good luck with the rest of my mom's training. She is a good teacher you know. And thank you for for being friends with her."
"Yeah I know! And I will continue to do so. Bye bye Vivio." Shiro spoke with a smile and the car starts to drive away. Then a bright smile is shown on the young kaiser's face and one last yell. "Hitoshi if I get better with training, I want to fight you someday!"
That suggestion made everyone freeze up even Shiro. They would think that after the whole fight, Vivio would not want to fight Hitoshi but shockingly she does. This made everyone think that she IS the daughter of Nanoha Takamachi the white devil. However the next shocking thing was to come as Vivio spoke to Shiro again only now.
"Good bye Shi-chan!"
As the car was away from sight, every one minus Hitoshi slowly turns to Shiro's direction who was blushing bright red. He mentally cursed at himself because now Vivio knows his nickname. The thought made him think who told her? And then he turns to Hitoshi who was just smiling.
"Hitoshi how did she know?"
"Oh that I told her about the nickname." Hitoshi still grinning leaving Shiro both annoyed and very angry. Then the anger stopped as Hayate snickered at the nickname and Nanoha with a teasing but light hearted smile asked. "So where did that nickname come from Shiro?"
"Yes Shiro tell us!" Hayate and Rein both asked leaving the man very embarrassed. Being attacked by three women was not part of his plan even after getting Vivio back so he choose to run away leading Hayate to dramatically point at the running man and she and Nanoha chased after him wanting to know where the nickname originated. During this, all Yuuno and Hitoshi was just wait until the girls were done chasing the poor sword mage and that was a while.
As they were driving along, Fate briefly looked at Vivio after she said good bye to 'Shi-chan.' At that point, she asked while focusing on the road. "Vivio, about that nickname? The one you called Shiro. What was that about?"
Vivio sheepishly chuckled at the question. "Well the nickname was something Hitoshi brought up when we were eating ice-cream, so I called Shiro that because I think it is a cute nickname."
"I see, so that is why you called him that. Hmm..." Fate thought about the nickname for a while. On the one hand, given Shiro's personalty, it seemed to be a personal nickname but on the other hand, it feels like it fits him and as such, the blond mage said it in her head.
'Shi-chan...' Then she lightly blushes, smiles and whispers too herself. "It really fits him."
Yes, Vivio was missing and Shiro now has a lot of his new friends now found out about the nickname he bore since he was a child. But at least the day ended on a good note and things are back to normal. Well mostly.
Done with this chapter. People met each other, little girl is found and oh boy, Shiro's embarrassing nickname came back only now the girls and Yuuno know. This will be fun to include with the cast for later on. As always, thank you guys for your support and if I have screwed up in some areas, please let me know so I can fix it or make alterations. Be seeing you guys for the next chapter.