AN: Starting on this Chapter, I would be writing not only in the POV of the characters but in normal POV too so that I could elaborate what the characters are feeling more. For those who like the Character's POV style don't worry, I'll still be writing like that.
Normal POV
Suzuka stared at Arisa and she could feel her heart pounding in her chest. She studied Arisa. Her hair, her beautiful face, her outfit, her legs. Everything she saw in Arisa is beautiful to her. Her short hair that moves with wind. Her calm face that hides all of her emotions that looks so smooth and soft. How she longed to caress the blonde girl's cheeks. A soft hand on her shoulder brought her back to reality and her blue eyes locked with green.
Read Me V
Memories, Old and New
"Suzuka, Are you okay?" Arisa asked. Concern can be seen in her eyes.
Suzuka blushed. "Y-yeah. You phased."
Arisa nodded and looked at her outfit. "Not bad, right? I picked this randomly this morning when I was still tipsy."
"Tipsy?" The blue-haired girl asked.
"Yes. I'll explain, come here?" Arisa extended her hand towards Suzuka.
Suzuka stared ate Arisa's hand. The hand that she held before. Then she looked at Arisa's face. 'Her face looks so comforting…inviting…beau- What am I thinking?!'
Suzuka then took a step closer without taking Arisa's hand. She took another. Another still without taking Arisa's hand and on the fourth step, Suzuka tripped and closed her eyes to get ready for the fall on the hard ground but instead found herself on something soft. Suzuka's nose was filled with the scent of strawberry. She looked up and found herself staring at the face of Arisa with the latter's arms around her waist.
"See what you get for not listening to Arisa?" Arisa said with a smirk.
Suzuka blushed and stood straight out of Arisa's arms. "I'm sorry!"
Arisa looked at Suzuka incredulously and sat down on the grass. Suzuka sat down beside her. After a few minutes if silence, Suzuka whispered in a voice so soft.
"Why were you tipsy, Arisa-chan?"
Arisa brushed a lock of hair that strayed to her face. "Nanoha drank from me last night."
Suzuka's sapphire eyes traveled down to Arisa's neck and saw a bite mark. "Side effect?"
Arisa nodded. "Yeah. I didn't think that I have enough energy to go to school in my human form that's why I came today in puppy form."
"Why puppy form though? Why not in your wolf form?" Suzuka questioned.
Arisa giggled. "That's because coming in puppy form can help me save energy more. That's why I had been able to phase a while ago back to human form."
"Ah…" Suzuka stared at Arisa. She stared at her calm face. She stared at Arisa's blue-green eyes, clear and bright. Arisa never looked as beautiful to her as she is now. Not that Arisa is not beautiful, she is. It's just that, everything about Arisa seemed..brighter.
"Suzuka! Hey!" Arisa's voice broke Suzuka from her trance.
Suzuka blinked twice. "Wha?"
Arisa grinned. "You're staring, you know."
Suzuka blushed yet again. "Sorry."
Arisa shrugged. "It's fine. You're a little weird today. Anyway, I like this place."
Suzuka looked at the sight before her. "Yeah. This place is my favorite place. When I was a kid I used to go here all the time. You know, for stress relief and relaxing."
"Hmm… It must have been nice." Arisa whispered into the wind.
Suzuka looked at Arisa. "What must have been nice?"
"You know, being able to enjoy your childhood to the fullest."
Suzuka stared at Arisa's face, emotionless and unreadable. Once again, she wondered what the blonde was thinking of.
"I would give anything to be able to read her." She thought. She looked forward in silence. The silence that they share was a comfortable silence. Not like the ones that occur when something embarrassing happens. Then, something struck Suzuka.
There was a blonde kid. She was watching the other kids play. In her eyes you can see longing. She long to be outside, to be able to play with other kids. But she knows that she can't.
"Daughter."
"Yes, Father?"
"You need to get strong. Like everyone in our family, you need to be trained to become a strong wolf."
"Yes, Father. Excuse me, but can I ask you something?"
"What is it, my child?"
"Won't you train my talent as a—"
"No,child. You'll discover what you can do with that talent by yourself."
"Ah." She looked outside once more.
"Now come, Arisa. You must train."
The girl sighed inwardly and phased. She was enveloped in crimson flames and became a small wolf.
Suzuka
That memory. I'm certain it's Arisa-chan's. I looked over Arisa-chan. Her face remains unreadable but I know what she's feeling. I moved up behind her and enveloped her in my arms. She was startled by my action but did not pull away.
"I'm sorry, Arisa-chan." I murmured into her ear.
"Why are you sorry?" She whispered softly. So soft that I feel as if it was meant to be heard only by me.
I sighed softly. "Just because. Never forget that I'm here for you now, okay? So is Nanoha-chan and Fate-chan."
Her body shook a little as she laughed lightly. "Oh right, Ms. Memory Seeker."
I giggled lightly and pulled away. I know that my face must be red because of what I did. Seriously, what's happening to me?
"Come on, let's go back to the dorms. It's almost lunch time for the other students. When you said you're classes were after lunch I expected it to be later." Arisa stated as she offered her hand to me.
I took it and dusted off myself. "I'm sorry. I looked at the wrong schedule it seems. I only have 2 classes today."
Arisa-chan laughed and started climbing up to get back to the main campus. "Dork."
I sprinted after her and pushed her lightly. "Meanie."
I already talked to Nanoha-san about the arrangement I made with Fate-chan. I decided that Arisa-chan and I should eat somewhere else rather that the cafeteria so that we won't cross paths with them. Nanoha-san said that she'll talk to Fate-chan about their business and I trust her.
"You showed me a wonderful place a while ago, how about I show you a wonderful place to eat?" Arisa-chan offered with a smile.
I love her smile. I blushed lightly and bowed jokingly. "If that's what you want, Ms. Arisa."
Arisa laughed and bowed down too, "Then, shall we? Suzuka-sama?"
I laughed and followed her lead.
Fate
I looked around me for what seems like the one hundredth time. I could feel my heart beating so fast. Will Nanoha really come? And why am I so nervous anyway? This is the first time I ever wanted to get to know someone. I don't know why but maybe it was because she was cared so much to approach me and talk to me that night. Well, yeah, obviously that's because she doesn't know what my talent really is.
"Fate." I heard that voice before. Husky and sweet. I looked up and saw the one person I've been waiting for.
"N-Nanoha." I stuttered. Nice Fate, really nice. Stupid idiot.
She grinned at me and took a seat. "Waiting for me?"
I nodded. "Yes."
She smiled yet again. "That Suzuka, really."
Once again, she's different from before. When I met her in this very same place she was shy, and sweet and reserved. Now, she's straightforward, blunt and she comes so strong, just like that night in the park. I decided to get straight to the point. "Who are you?"
She blinked once. "Nanoha."
I wanted to hit myself. "I mean, I know that you're Nanoha but… what's with you? You seem different the first time we met at the park and when we met here last time!"
She blinked once again. She blinked twice. "Oh! That must have been Nanoha, dear."
My face heat up slightly at the pet name. "What? But you're Nanoha!"
She laughed. "Oh, god."
"What's so funny?!" I asked, irritated.
She calmed herself down. "Listen here, Fate. Other's prefer to call me Nanoha-san. I am the real Nanoha's alter ego."
Oh, so she has an alter ego. "Is that so… Then who did I meet at the park?"
She flashed me a toothy grin, "That would be me."
"And the one here last time?"
"That was Nanoha."
I let everything sink in. So there is only one Nanoha who happens to have an alter ego. Okay, I get it. "So… you're Nanoha-san?"
She nodded. "Yeah. We had an ugly start. Hi, I'm Nanoha-san."
She extended her hand in front of me and I took it. She shook a little but when I looked at her face, it was unreadable. "Hi. Fate Testarossa."
She smiled at me. "Nice to meet you again, Fate."
"You too." I muttered.
"Did you eat already?" She asked.
I shook my head. "Not yet."
"You hungry?"
"No."
She stood up and offered me a hand. "Come, let's go to the park. I'll treat you in the café on the way."
I smiled and took her hand. "Thanks."
We walked out of the cafeteria on our way to the café. Our walk was silent, both of us staring ahead. After a few minutes I began to hear whispers around us.
"Is that Testarossa-san with Nanoha-sama?"
"Yeah, that's her."
"Why are they together?"
"Are they related?"
"Why are they holding hands?"
I looked at our hands which were, indeed, clasp together. I pulled at her slightly. "Hey, maybe you should let go of my hand now. Your fans can see us."
"Seriously, they're getting annoying already." With that, she released my hand and we continued to walk in silence.
We reached the café and lined up to make our orders.
"So, what do you want?" Nanoha-san asked, looking at the menu displayed before us.
"A cappuccino would be good." I replied.
She flashed me a smile. "Alright."
Once it was our turn to order Nanoha-san greeted the waitress on the counter with a charming smile. "Hey, Miss. I would like two orders of cappuccino and the small box of brownies too."
The girl on the counter smiled flirtingly at Nanoha-san. "Sure ma'am. On the go?"
"Yes, please." Nanoha-san clarified.
The girl nodded and gave us our order. "Here you go, ma'am."
Nanoha-san took the orders and flashed a smile once more. "Thanks."
We left the café with the counter girl's face as red as a tomato.
"Flirt." I teased.
She laughed and flashed me one of her smiles that made her look cuter. "That I am, I guess. Here,"
She handed me my drink and I accepted it with a thanks. We made a turn and reached the park. We sat down on one of the benches.
"Don't you get tired of smiling all the time?" I asked.
She got out two brownies from the box and handed me one, "Not really."
I took it and took a bite. After swallowing I asked, "So… What are you?"
She took a careless bite from her brownie and the brownie smudged her shirt. "Ah!"
I giggled at her. So the great Nanoha-sama can be careless too. "Dork."
I pulled out tissues from the box and cleaned her jacket. Good thing she was wearing a jacket so her blouse wasn't stained.
"You don't have to do that." Nanoha-san exclaimed hurriedly.
I continued to clean her front. "It's fine."
She wiggled frantically and her husky voice spoke again. "Stop it already, Fate."
I pulled out my hanky and moved to wipe her mouth. "It's good."
I could feel her breath on my neck as I wipe her mouth. Her breathing became a little fast. "Nanoha-san, What's wro—"
"I'm a vampire." I stiffened when I heard her spoke and my hands froze.
My burgundy eyes locked gaze with her dark blue ones. The next statement she said made my eyes widen.
"and the smell of your blood is too sweet."
I stared at her with wide eyes….
That's right…this isn't the first time I've encountered a vampire that took notice of my blood. The first time… That night…
"You know, little girls shouldn't be out alone at night."
The blonde haired girl looked down from where she's sitting on one of the branches of a big tree.
"Who are you?"
"A friend." Said the same person that spoke to her just now.
The blonde girl shook her head, "You're not a friend. I don't know you."
The stranger grinned, two of her teeth that looked like fangs showing, "You're smart for a girl so small. How old are you?"
The blonde girl opened her palm and showed it to the stranger.
The stranger chuckled, "Five, not talkative are you?"
The stranger then jumped up and landed beside the blonde girl. "What are you doing here anyway?"
The blonde girl shrugged, "Nothing."
"You must know about talents… Want to know what mine is?" The stranger then brought the blonde girl's face near her, her fangs showing.
The blonde girl, after seeing the fangs and realizing what the stranger was, took a deep breath. "No. Don't come."
The stranger laughed lightly. "Hmm…"
The blonde girl tried to squirm away but it was no use. "S-stop."
The stranger dipped her head lower until her mouth was close to the blonde girl's neck. "The smell of your blood is too sweet."
Suzuka
"Suzuka! Hey, Suzuka!"
I blinked twice and saw Arisa-chan staring at me, worried. I spaced out. A memory came to me.
"A memory. It's near here. We need to find it!" I exclaimed.
Arisa-chan looked at me. "Why?"
"There's something in it…" I, then gasped, "Vampire!"
"Vampire?"
I nodded, "A memory… Painful memory of a girl about to be bitten by a vampire."
She took my hand and said, "Then let's go."
"Mm!" I hummed in response and we ran off to find the owner of the memory.
We went to the other side of the park and there we saw familiar faces. Fate-chan was lying on the ground with Nanoha-san hovering above her. Nanoha-san's head was so close to Fate-chan's neck.
"Fate-chan! Nanoha-san!" I called out. What's happening? Why is Fate-chan frozen like that? What's with Nanoha-san?
Nanoha-san's head turned too look at us and her eyes locked gazes with Arisa-chan's. As if something dawned on Arisa-chan, she let go of my hand and rushed to Nanoha-san.
"Nanoha-san!" Arisa-chan pushed Nanoha-san away from Fate-chan and held Nanoha-san's wrists as she tried to struggle with minimum force as if she really doesn't want to.
"Suzuka! Take care of Fate!" Arisa ordered me.
"Yes!" I squeaked in surprise and ran off to Fate-chan's side.
"Fate-chan! Fate-chan!" I gently shook Fate-chan. She blinked a few times and stared at me.
"Su…zuka-chan?"
"Yes. Are you okay?" I asked.
"I am, thanks…. Nanoha-san!" She panicked.
I calmed her down and asked her to look at where Nanoha-san and Arisa-chan were.
We both gasped at what we saw. Nanoha-san was drinking from Arisa-chan!
"Arisa-chan!" Fate and I ran to them just as Nanoha-san finished drinking.
Nanoha san wiped her mouth and placed Arisa-chan gently on the bench.
"Thank you, Arisa." She said.
Arisa-chan smiled weakly. "No problem. You owe me lunch."
Nanoha-san smiled. "Okay."
She then turned to me. "Can I leave Arisa to you, Suzuka?"
"Sure." I replied without hesitation.
Nanoha-san smiled at me and turned her back on us, "Thanks."
"Umm…" Fate-chan stared at Nanoha-san's back.
"I'm sorry, Fate." With that, Nanoha-san sprinted away.
"Wait!" Fate-chan called out to Nanoha-san but Nanoha-san did not stop.
I looked at Arisa-chan and saw her asleep. She must be tired. I walked to her and fixed her clothes.
"Suzuka!" Fate-chan called to me.
"Yes?" I answered immediately.
She picked up her bag and said, "Please take care of Arisa."
Just like Nanoha-san, she sprinted off too. Great. Now it's just me and Arisa-chan. I looked down at her face. She looked so peaceful. I let out a sigh and lifted her. Surprisingly, she is light. That's good. I adjusted her so that she'll be more comfortable and her head ended up resting on my neck. I can feel her breathe…. I blushed at the thought. This is going to be a long walk.
I'm so going to punish Nanoha for this.
There. Chapter 5 is done.
Thanks for all the wonderful reviews I got from you guys. ^^
I really appreciate it.
as always, reviews are always and lovingly welcomed!
oh! and by the way..
I need a beta, I think. ^^
anyway. That's all. Sorry for the long delay guys.
^^ *hugs and kisses*
ja ne,
--Fei