Disclaimer: I do not own MGLN but my girlfriend reckons she should!

Author's Notes: Thank you so much megamar and SapphoSensei for your lovely reviews. The adventure truly begins now. Also a big thank you to those who have favourited this story and to all those following it. You are all awesome!

I hope you all enjoy this next chapter.


Chapter 11

War

Nanoha's POV.

"Thank you for having us. I certainly don't mind the break from unpacking boxes and arranging furniture." Linith says as she and Fate stand at the entrance to my apartment.

We had all returned together a few moments ago. Fate had excused herself to get Linith across the hall. I had suggested they come over straight away for a bit of conversation before dinner.

"Not at all, please come in." I hold the door wide open for them. Both Fate and Linith come in and remove their shoes. I glance at Fate. She's looking around, her face void of emotions.

"Woah, amazing place. I like the gothic undertone you have. Haha I wouldn't have pictured you with a place like this."

"You are not the first nor dare I say the last to say that." I smile at Linith. "Let me introduce you to Hayate, Hayate this is Linith, Fate's aunt. Linith this is Hayate, my best friend."

"Nice to meet you." Hayate says.

"Likewise." Linith answers.

"Whilst Hayate and I get some snacks and drinks out why don't you and Fate take a look around, it isn't very big so I know you will not get lost."

"Looks are deceiving and so are assumptions my mother always said. Come on Fate lets check this place out." Fate nods and both her and Linith head out of the lounge and down the short corridor towards the bathroom and bedrooms.

As I loose sight of them Hayate turns to me.

"So…"

"So what Hayate? Help me by grabbing the peanuts and putting them in a bowl" Hayate turns to open a cupboard and pulls out two medium sized red bowls.

"Come on Nanoha, they are gorgeous. I know you have noticed." She tries to whisper to me.

"Hayate, behave!" I whisper back.

"Haha I have never behaved before, why start now?" Cheeky grin on her face noted.

"Hayate!" I warn.

"Then can I have them?"

"What?" It is getting harder to whisper whilst having this ludicrous conversation. I open another cupboard find a packet of peanuts and throw them at Hayate who catches it effortlessly.

"Haha Nanoha, already so protective over them, I'm just messing with you. I see you have your eye on a particular blonde already anyway." Hayate says casually as she opens the peanut bag and proceeds to pour the contents equally in the two bowls.

"You are impossible. We just met them and both seem very nice." I reach up to a shelf holding wine glasses and take four down.

"And cute, yes?"

I sigh in exasperation, turn to look at Hayate and answer a little louder than a whisper. "Yes she is absolutely gorgeous, happy?"

Hayate clears her throat, looks at me with a face that says caught red handed in the cookie jar then looks passed me.

"Sorry to interrupt." Linith says. Please tell me they didn't hear me. Please please please. I look at Hayate for help but she seems to be desperately trying to contain her laughter.

"How was the tour?" Hayate says breaking the awkward silence with tears in her eyes.

"We like the paintings down the hallway but didn't go into what I assume are the bedrooms out of respect for our host." I am still looking at Hayate but can clearly hear a hint of something like amusement in Linith's voice. No, it can't be, did they hear? Only one way of finding out. Come on, it is time to put myself out of my misery and turn around. I slowly turn to look at Linith and Fate only to see the world's biggest grin plastered on Linith's face. Why do I have a feeling she will get along very well with Hayate? Fate on the other hand seems indifferent if not slightly confused as to what she just missed. Hopefully she is and I haven't tarnished my reputation with her forever as a lecherous neighbour.

"Um… ya…ah you could have checked the bedrooms. I don't mind. I will show you later."

"I'm sure you will." Linith and Hayate say at the same time. I detect a hint of double meaning. Oh no another Hayate. Somebody save me from these two. Fate still seems to be oblivious. Thank God…

"Why don't you two sit down while I get us some drinks?"

"Thank you." Fate replies.

Hayate walks past me and whispers "P.S. I meant the both of them." Huh? What does she… information acquired…oh…information processed and translated, damn! I had declared that I had found Fate absolutely gorgeous when Hayate had asked about the both of them. I face palm. Hayate is going to be the death of me.

Hayate giggles at my revelation and asks our new friends "So what can I get everyone to drink? Hmmm you both look like red wine kind of women."

"You are quite correct Hayate." Linith answers. Those two seem to be getting along really well. Fate remains quiet, seated next to Linith. Her expression seems vacant.

"Dry or sweet wine?" Hayate asks whilst looking at Fate.

"Dry thank you." Fate responds only answering the question, not giving anything else.

"Dry for me too please." Linith answers.

"Two dry wines coming up." Hayate says as she walks towards the kitchen. I take this moment to go sit with them and bring the peanuts with me.

"So almost settled in?" I ask. Maybe I can redeem myself with small talk.

"Yes. Fortunately we do not own so much so it is relatively easy but still a hassle." Linith answers.

From the kitchen area Hayate shouts "Hey Nanoha, what can I get you to drink?"

"One of those strawberry and lime ciders please." I reply back to Hayate. "Sorry. I can imagine, moving is never easy. It is classified as one of the biggest stressors in life. So where are you from?"

"Just outside of the city actually. We came to the city for a change of scenery plus I wanted Fate to experience what living here is like." Linith answers. Hayate comes back from the kitchen with everyone's drinks on a platter.

"You sound like you are originally from here Linith?" Hayate asks.

"Yes, I am indeed. Fate practically is too. Part of the family is Italian hence Fate's looks and the other as you may have guessed is Japanese. We left the city when Fate was a little girl. Walking around must have brought back some memories?" Linith asks Fate.

"Some." Fate replies. Hmmm this girl is very reserved or shy or both. How can I make her feel more comfortable? She doesn't seem to maintain eye contact for very long either. I want to be friends with her.

"…oha, Nanoha?"

"Sorry, what was that Hayate?" Both Linith and Hayate giggle at me. I seem to have missed something here again.

"I was just saying that I am going to steal Linith's company, make the pizzas and let you kids get to know each other better." Hmmm again that seems to be dripping with double meaning plus she is only a little older than me. I will get Hayate back later.

"Sure if you do not mind?"

"Not at all Nanoha." Linith and Hayate both get up grab their drinks, a bowl of peanuts and head to the kitchen. Those two really have hit it off. I smile and look back towards Fate. She still has that 'I'm-not-in-at-the-moment-so-don't-worry-about-lea ving-a-message' look. I am about to say something when my phone beeps notifying me that I have received a text message. I excuse myself and quickly read it:

DON'T DO ANYTHING I WOULDN'T DO… ;-)

LUV SENSEI H.

Hayate! I look up at her and Linith who seem deep in conversation whilst getting the ingredients out for the pizza. Damn she is fast when naughty. I will definitely get her back later.

"So Fate" Then an idea hits me "do you like animals?" before I give her time to answer I stand, take her hand and lead her to my bedroom. Hayate and Linith are so busy laughing that they do not notice.

Upon reaching my bedroom I motion Fate to be quiet with my finger on my lips. She nods in understanding. I push the door ajar and we both peek in. There on the bed is my target. A tuft of white and brown fur is slowly and steadily moving up and down with each breath, completely unaware of our presence. Still holding Fate's hand I lead the way inside, on tiptoes, to get a closer look. Her hands are really really cold!

A little closer to the bed our target is nuzzled in the covers. I look at Fate. She looks back at me. This is the first time I am able to see her eyes properly. They are the most breath taking colour I have ever seen. Come to think of it they match the colour of the red wine she is drinking tonight. I have never seen eyes this colour. However something seems off. I once read that red is the colour of passion, desire and is the signature colour of war. Regardless of the meaning eyes are said to be the windows to the soul, however, hers seem empty and lifeless. Why are they like that? What has happened for them to be like this?

"What is it?" She whispers to me pointing to the bed with her eyes.

I snap out of her hypnotic gaze and whisper back "A lazy little ferret who is living the life." And walk closer to the bed while maintaining a hold of her hand. I kneel next to the bed and Fate follows suite. With my free hand I gently caress the tuft of fur.

"Yuuno, time to wake up. I want you to meet someone." With that the little fur ball slowly unravels, a little head pops up and with sleepy eyes looks at me. "Good evening sleeping beauty." Yuuno stretches and makes his way to me. I stroke his head with my index finger and look at Fate. Her eyes are fixated on Yuuno. From the look on her face I can tell that she has never seen a ferret before. I lift up our still joined hands and shift my hold so that my hand is on top of hers. I place her hand palm facing up in front of Yuuno so he can sniff it and see she won't harm him. Yuuno seems happy so I direct her hand on his fur to stroke his back.

"Yuuno meet Fate, Fate this is Yuuno."

"It's so soft!" Fate exclaims softly almost as if to not disturb the peaceful atmosphere although from first impressions and what I have seen I do not think Fate would be capable of being loud. I reluctantly remove my hand from her cold one and watch them interact. Hang on reluctantly? I have only just met this girl. I notice her other hand is bandaged. I wonder what happened there.

Fate is stroking Yuuno who naturally is loving the attention.

I look at Fate. She seems like a little girl. For the first time I notice her expression change from emptiness to wonder at this little creature in front of her. Her facial features change as if this is the first time she has ever experienced something like this. As I watch I notice something magical. The corner of her lips start to curl upwards and she smiles. In the extremely short time I have been with her I had yet to see her smile a genuine smile and not one of politeness. I do not know why but for some reason I can see straight through her hollow smiles. Yet here was a real smile and it was truly magical. I wonder how many people have had the honour of seeing this smile. For some reason I don't think many. I am captivated by it. I want to see it more often. She is absolutely radiant when she smiles.

Fate seems to relax much more. She rests her bandaged hand on the bed and rests her chin atop it. It almost seems like she has been carrying the weight of the world on her shoulders. The woman from five minutes ago and the woman in front of me now seem like two completely different people. Yuuno takes this opportunity and comes closer. With one quick move he licks the tip of her nose. Fate moves back in shock touching her nose with her finger tips. Suddenly her shoulders followed by her entire body starts to shake as she starts giggling. Her eyes close in what looks like crescent moons as she produces what seems be to for her body an unfamiliar yet very natural sound. This takes me by surprise. Her giggle turns into laughter and boy does her laughter sound so pure. She really does seem like a little kid experiencing things for the very first time. I start to laugh with her.

Suddenly I catch movement from the corner of my eye and turn to look at the doorway. Standing there is Hayate and Linith holding their wine glasses with arms around each others shoulders. Hayate has a grin on her rosy cheeks and Linith's mouth is hanging open as she is staring at Fate.

Linith seems to be very astonished at hearing and seeing Fate laugh. Her reaction makes me think that I am correct in assuming that this is a rare occurrence.

The laughter soon becomes contagious as a tipsy Hayate joins in whilst closing Linith's mouth. Linith recovering from her shock also starts laughing but I have a feeling from and for something completely different. Her eyes seem to express an immense amount of happiness. I look from Hayate to Linith and then to Fate who is oblivious at the effect she is having. Our eyes meet. There is this little glint in them, the vacant look is momentarily gone replaced by magnificent precious rubies.

For some reason I want to protect that laughter and smile. I guess Hayate is right, I am very protective over her already.

To be continued…