Disclaimer: I do not own MGLN but my girlfriend reckons she should!
Author's Notes: A humongous (not sure it is even a word) hug and thank you to kurosunoiku, SapphoSensei, Lance58, ComandanteKami-sama for your beautiful reviews, PMs and encouragements and to all those following this story. This story exists because of you and only continues because you are all reading it :-) Thank you!
Lance58 this chapter is for you :-) The tension will only rise from here…
Chapter 16
Spellbound
Nanoha's POV.
"Man Sensei killed me. Remind me again why you dragged me to this damned karate class Nanoha?" Hayate whines as she drags her feet behind me.
"Nyahaha, if you had done what she instructed then she wouldn't have made you do those push ups."
"I didn't think she was serious though."
"Clearly she was."
"Yeah tell that to my aching body. Who did you say recommended this torturous session anyway?" Hayate asks me.
I smile at the memory. Fate had been particularly shy when she gave me the flier last week. She was so cute. She told me that even if I didn't go again I would at least know how to throw a proper punch. She was right. I can't believe she remembered I made that comment when we first met. She should have come with us though. She would have liked the Sensei. Maybe I can convince her for the next time.
"Fate." I finally reply to Hayate.
"Ah I should have guessed. You both have a thing for S&M I see."
"I don't know what you are talking about. I loved it and I know secretly you did too. I saw you eye out the Sempai. Don't look at me like that. I saw you."
"Hahaha busted, she was cute though wasn't she?" Hayate admits scratching the back of her neck.
"Not as cute as Fate." I put my hand to my mouth but too late the words were out. Oh my God I can't believe I said that out loud and to Hayate.
"Hahaha busted. So Nanoha," Hayate sings out, "How much for me not telling her?"
"You wouldn't and is that a cheap attempt at blackmail?"
"I wouldn't call what I was about to demand cheap but yeah it is."
"If you value your life you wouldn't dare." I threaten with a smile.
"Man, has anyone ever told you that you are one scary chick when you want to be?" Hayate says as she recoils.
I place my finger to my lips thinking. "Hmmm, I think Sensei might have said that actually."
"Clearly Sensei is a wise woman."
"You won't tell Fate I said that will you?" I plead.
"Haha Nanoha, you do not have to worry. I will torture you with it but my lips are otherwise sealed. Although I am sure she thinks the same of you anyway."
"What?"
"You are so blind when it comes to yourself Nanoha. We have known her for what two weeks now and you two are almost inseparable."
"That doesn't mean anything, plus we don't really talk. Fate is kind of the quiet type." I say as I reflect back to our time together.
"She sure is, isn't she? However she doesn't let anyone as close as you are to her. Not even Linith."
"But I still don't know anything about her. I want her to be able to trust me. I want her to feel safe to be herself around us." And so much more, I want to see her smile and make her smile.
"These things come with time Nanoha. Plus her mysteriousness is kind of sexy hahaha."
"Nyahaha it is." Crap did I just get caught in Hayate's little trap yet again? I turn to face her and see a million dollar watt smile on her face. Great, quickly subject change. "So are we still on for tonight?"
"We sure are. Hey lets ask if Linith and Fate want to come out with us." Way ahead of you Hayate.
"I was planning on it although it is a bit short notice."
"Nonsense. I think the club is right up Fate's alley anyway." We continue the rest of the trip in silence and make it in front of Fate and Linith's apartment door to which Hayate knocks.
"Hello," Hayate says, "Stripers United." I look at her with an incredulous look to which she smile's back and pats my shoulder. I shake my head and grin, this girl is something else. However I swear I hear someone running to the door. It opens to reveal Linith.
"Busted!" Hayate exclaims.
Linith gingerly laughs and replies with "I knew it was too good to be true but a girl can dream. How was the karate lesson?"
"Awesome" I reply before Hayate does. "We came to thank Fate. Hayate and I both signed up for six months. It was so much fun and the Sensei was brilliant. The Sempai kept Hayate on a tight leash which I think she liked." Nothing but the truth.
"Hahaha won't deny that. I'll have the Sempai shit all over me in that smouldering voice any day." Linith and I both look at Hayate and shake our heads.
"I can't take you anywhere." I state jokingly.
"You love me this way. Plus Nanoha was the real show stealer there. Turns out our girl from Uminari has natural karate talent. The Sensei was very impressed. Nanoha has already acquired a justifiable nickname: The infamous White Devil." Hayate adds the last part in an exaggerated whisper.
I roll my eyes, here we go again.
"White Devil?" Linith asks.
"Yes you heard right, White Devil. Devil because believe me when I say you do not want to get on her bad side nor her befriending techniques now that I mention it. My hypothetical children will be scarred for life from her divine punishment on me. Plus she is really loyal to her friends and trust me anyone who hurts them will feel her powerful wrath. And today she was truly dangerous in her borrowed karate gi (karate uniform) which happens to be white in colour. Furthermore she claims not to have ever done karate but I swear she must have a been a master in her previous life 'cause she trollied us. I think some of the higher belts are afraid of her. Yes beware of the White Devil. Keep your children indoors, put garlic over your windows and keep your pretty blondes close for the White Devil is on the loose." At this stage Hayate was on her knees with one hand clutching her shirt above where her heart is and the other stretched out on the side, her head bowed. Linith and I are both looking at her with open mouths.
"You make me sound like a vampire." I break the silence. "Um Linith is Fate here?"
Linith tears her gaze from Hayate still poised on the floor and looks at me, "Yes she is in the living room meditating. She should almost be done so you are welcome to interrupt her."
"Thank you, can I leave this thing with you?" I say as I point to Hayate.
"Sure."
I make my way to the living room. Meditating sounds so very peaceful and very much like Fate. I reach the living room and am instantly hit by the blinding light of the sun through the windows. I squint in the light and place my open palm above my eyes to try reduce the glare. My eyes adjust a fraction and that's when I catch movement in front of me. I make out blonde strands of hair glowing from the light and a figure clad in tight black fitting clothing elegantly moving as if to the beat of a song that only she and the sun can hear. I am immediately entranced. I slowly lower my hand from my face trying not to draw attention to myself or break the absorbing yet unusual dance I am witnessing. I didn't know meditation could be so visual. Sign me up for observing this type of meditation any day.
Fate's arm slowly stretches out while her other hand makes its way to her chest. I follow her stretched arm with my eyes. I have never noticed how delicate her arms actually are. Delicate yet strong. My eyes follow the length of her arm. I watch her small wrist and continue to her hand that is holding a closed dark crimson coloured fan. Then with lightning speed her wrist flicks up opening the fan for a mere couple of seconds before flicking it closed in one fluid motion.
In another fluid motion her entire body pivots and she does a complete 180 degrees in a most sensual manner. Her eyes are closed. Her body moving as if on its own accord. She seems free. Un-binded by anyone and anything. In another fast movement both arms move as if electricity is running through them and she seems to hit an invisible enemy with the end of the closed fan. The electricity running through her veins seems to be radiating out of her body and consuming the room. I feel it touching my finger tips, almost caressing them as it snakes its way seductively up my arms to my shoulders sending goosebumps down the length of my spine. The current makes its way further around my body. I am spellbound.
Fate still seems to be oblivious to my presence and the atmosphere she has created in her space. Her hand ever so slowly, agonisingly so, moves back to her face and descends along her body as if tracing her own features with the closed fan. The electric current possessing the entire room and coiling itself around me seems to have reached my face and it reacts with immediate and intense heat. Fate's other hand in the mean time just as slowly and deliberately extends to her waste and in a movement too fast for my eyes to track grabs a second fan she must have kept there tucked in her waste band. Both hands move in perfect harmony. The fans are swiftly opened, one at arms length and the other near her heart. This makes me aware of my own heart that seems to be beating much too fast. I cannot stop starring. Fate isn't moving. She is as still as the trees seconds before the first summer storm hits. The air seems to be crackling with intensity, with electricity. I fear she can hear my heart beating. I watch mesmerised as her eyes slowly open and a small smile graces her lips. My stomach reacts on its own making me aware of my own attraction to the sight before me.
Fate sensing someone watching her turns her blood coloured eyes towards me. I am held in place by them. I cannot speak nor move. The electricity is almost suffocating. I feel like every hair on my body is being attracted and pulled towards her. Her gaze is burning. If she touched me now I think I would be set alight. These feelings are of an intensity I have never felt before but are most definitely not unwelcomed. Her eyes are unrelenting in the power they hold over me. I want to feel more. I am completely at her mercy.
Fate is about to take a step towards me when…
"Nanoha what the hell is taking you so long?" Serious mood killer. Hayate comes bursting through the entrance to the living room. Instantly the electric current consuming the room and its occupants dissipates and disappears. Fate straightens herself and breaks eye contact. I notice the magma that was behind those eyes seconds ago is replaced with the usual emptiness.
"Nanoha?" Hayate tries again, looking from Fate to me, "Did I interrupt something?"
"I think I need a cigarette." I breathe out frustratingly yet as quietly as possible for no one but myself.
"A what?" Hayate comments back. Damn her hearing although it is my fault for voicing it. I turn to look at her. "You don't smoke Nano... Ooooooh" Her lips are rounded as the penny drops. It takes her a few moments to understand as I would never normally be so bold as to make a comment like that. Then the flood gates open and the silence is replaced by Hayate's laughter. She is laughing so hard that she has to hug her stomach with her arms. I sigh. I look back at Fate. I wonder what she is thinking.
"What did I miss?" Linith asks as she enters the room. She looks at Fate who doesn't respond, to me who must be blushing profusely if the heat my ears are giving off is any indicator to Hayate who just seems to burst in another fit of laughter.
We all let Hayate compose herself which takes a good few minutes. She is still wiping the tears when she says, "Oh my God Nanoha, you are definitely surpassing the teacher here. I want details later. Ahhh. I haven't laughed this hard in so long. You almost killed me. So since we are all together would you both be interested in joining us tonight? I made that sound like a question but actually it was an order. Nanoha and I are going to show you some of the nightlife here in Uminari."
Linith shares a look with Fate as if silently asking her. Fate ever so slightly nods back to Linith.
"Sure."Linith voices their response. "Where?"
"It's this new club a block away; remember I pointed it out to you Fate last week. It's called Thunder Rage." Hayate continued.
At this piece of information Linith's eyes snaps back to Fate. I have the feeling the name wasn't unfamiliar to them. Worry creases on Linith's forehead. What was going on? Hayate and I both notice a now silent argument between Fate and Linith. Linith seems to be having reservations about something to which Fate replies with the usual indifference.
Linith rubs her temple then turns to us and asks, "At what time?"
"10:00pm, is something the matter?"
"No, I'm sorry, it's fine. Will it be okay if Fate and I meet you both there at that time? We have some errands to run before that." Errands? What errands could they possible have at that time of night?
"Sure thing." Hayate answers. "You will love this place Fate, I have seen pictures of its interior and the decoration style spells you all over it. It's supposed to be a more metal and alternative club too and will have a live band playing."
"I am looking forward to it." Fate replies.
Awkward silence.
"Okay" Hayate breaks it, "Nanoha and I are going to let you ladies get ready and run your errands. We will see you inside Thunder Rage at ten tonight. We'll see ourselves out." She turns to leave and grabs my hand forcibly making me move. I want to stay but resign myself to leave for now. I will see her tonight.
"See you later." I say as I turn the corner and head out of their apartment. I hear a goodbye followed by a soft bye.
I will see her tonight.
To be continued…
