The second day of school is usually better than the first, Nanoha reassured herself as she stood outside the wooden door of her classroom. Miraculously, she wasn't late.
Heck, she even had time to spare before her first class.
…Maybe it wasn't such a good idea after all, to come so early. Not like she had anyone to spend the time with, right?
Taking a deep breath, the nervous brunette placed her hand over the door and slowly slid it open.
xxx
Like Vines, We Intertwined
- Enraptured
& This Wasted Heart Will Love You (II)
xxx
"Ah, Takamachi-san," Hayate grinned and waved, gesturing the empty table to her left. "Thanks again for last night!"
A wide smile crept up Nanoha's face when she realized that Hayate had saved her a seat. So she had been worrying for nothing after all, as usual. Pulling out the chair, the brunette plopped down, adjusting her body to face her friend.
"You're more than welcome, Hayate-chan. Besides, it should be me thanking you for taking time to show me around!" She reached into her bag then, hesitating a little before pulling out a brown paper bag.
"Um, this is thanks for everything yesterday," Nanoha offered the bag to Hayate, averting her eyes shyly. "I didn't know what you like, so I got you something sweet."
Hayate accepted the bag eagerly, peering into it before taking a big sniff and grinning happily.
"Cookies!" She exclaimed, immediately helping herself to one. "You can never go wrong with cookies. Thank you, Takamachi-san!"
"Please, call me Nanoha," the other girl said, happy that her friend liked her gift.
For the next few minutes, there was comfortable silence between the two tablemates as Hayate chewed before speaking up.
"Mm, these are really good, Nanoha-chan," Hayate declared between mouthfuls of chocolate cookie. "Did you make them yourself?"
"Eh, no! My family owns a bakery, these were baked by my mom, I just grabbed a few for you before school," Nanoha hastily clarified, lest Hayate get the wrong idea and ask her to bake something.
Nanoha shuddered when she remembered her last baking disaster. Her parents had gone 360 degrees from 'upset that our daughter can't bake' to 'thank god she keeps out of the kitchen'.
"Thanks all the same," Hayate said, reaching for another cookie. She offered the bag to Nanoha, who shook her head politely.
"So did you get home all right last night? It was pretty late, I'm sorry, I shouldn't have made you walk with me."
"I volunteered," Nanoha emphasized, waving away her friend's apology. "I got back fine."
She paused.
"Though I did run into some trouble," She added, as an afterthought.
Nanoha grimaced, remembering the bullies from the night before and her… unique encounter with the enigmatic blonde.
"Trouble?" Hayate sat up, placing her cookie aside, concerned. "What happened?"
Seeing the worried look on her friend's face, Nanoha instantly felt bad for mentioning the incident. She hated to cause her friends unnecessary worry. Her next few words were carefully thought out, making sure not to reveal too much.
"Well, I ran into this bunch of thugs just outside school," Nanoha explained sheepishly. "They got pretty rough with me," she admitted.
"What!?" Hayate cried, horrified.
"I'm safe though!" Nanoha hurriedly continued, before Hayate started panicking. "This mysterious blonde saved me and scared the thugs away."
Nanoha trailed off, staring into space as she recalled the girl, with her mesmerizing eyes and beautiful hair. Unknown to her, a smile curved her lips.
"Ooh, your knight in shiny armor, huh?" Hayate teased, relaxing now that she knew that her friend wasn't in any danger.
"She was a girl," Nanoha rolled her eyes at her friend's enthusiasm. "And she was hardly in shiny armor, she was dressed in black, so there." She stuck out her tongue.
Though she was definitely pretty cool in black all the same…
"Did you get her name?" Hayate asked.
"No," Nanoha replied, frowning. "She ran off."
Dang.
"Ahh, I guess some things just weren't meant to be," Hayate leaned back, smirking at the brunette.
"What's that supposed to mean?" Nanoha shot.
Hayate had an evil gleam in her eye, one that told Nanoha that she was in for it, bad.
"Well, from what I hear, she seems pretty hot huh? The cold, mysterious protector… Too bad she was obviously so repelled by you that she ran away after saving you," she joked. "She would make such a nice girlfriend…"
"Hayate-chan!" Nanoha shouted, embarrassed. She looked around quickly, making sure that no one was eavesdropping on their very private conversation.
"Ooh, you're blushing already!"
Hayate was saved from the onslaught of tickles when the bell rang, signifying the start of lessons.
A blushing Nanoha sank back into her seat, secretly smiling at how she had managed to find such a friend on just her second day of school. She pushed all thoughts of the previous night's encounter out of her head.
She didn't need a certain mysterious, breathtaking, burgundy-eyed blonde to further distract her.
xxx
Nanoha hugged her books to her chest, walking alongside Hayate during break. She stopped at her locker, twiddling with the combination before the lock clicked open and she shoved her books in.
What should I cook tonight? She wondered. Her parents had told her earlier that morning that they would be staying late in the bakery and she would have to get dinner on her own.
She sighed. She hated eating alone, with nothing but the rhythmic ticking of the clock or the occasional television reruns for company.
Something simple, she mused. She had leftover apple pie in the fridge, but then she remembered that the flesh of apples was actually the ovary of the flower, and she winced.
Stupid Biology was ruining her appetite.
So absorbed she was that she didn't even realize that she had collided with someone until she was practically in their arms.
"Mmph!" Nanoha winced, the impact knocking the wind out of her. Blinking rapidly, her vision cleared only to focus on soft pale skin and beautiful blonde hair.
Her heart stopped.
The girl from the night before.
Nanoha was crushed against her, literally depending on her to keep upright. The girl was about a head taller than Nanoha, and the brunette found her face dangerously close to the blonde's slender neck, head tucked under her chin. Nanoha could almost feel her warm, throbbing pulse against bare skin.
There was barely any space between the two bodies, Nanoha having fallen completely against the girl.
Mouth suddenly dry, Nanoha opened her mouth to apologize, but like before, the words wouldn't come. She tried to push away from the girl, but her arms wouldn't move. Even her heartbeat betrayed her, suddenly spiraling out of control as her breathing quickened.
What is wrong with me?
Almost fearfully, Nanoha lifted her head to look at the blonde, flinching visibly when her gaze met dark burgundy. She couldn't pull her eyes away, as she stared into the unreadable pools of wine red that never seemed to end. There was something swirling in them, emotions Nanoha couldn't even begin to decipher.
Was she angry?
Red eyes dropped to look at where Nanoha was placing her hands, and a flash of annoyance flickered past delicate features, before that perfect face was impassive again. The brunette followed her gaze and was immediately horrified when she saw what the blonde was irritated over.
… No wonder the covered flesh under her palm felt so soft.
Move! Nanoha screamed mentally, hollering for herself to remove her traitorous hands from the girl's front. One hand was wedged in between their bodies, and the other…
A furious blush fought its way up her cheeks.
Nanoha didn't even want to think of where the other hand was.
For all her efforts, she was strangely unable to pull away, as if held immobile by some invisible force.
She stood (or rather, leaned) against the blonde for minutes, maybe hours, she didn't know and she didn't care. Well, she cared, obviously, but another, larger part of her secretly didn't mind the warm softness she was surrounded by. It made her feel safe, almost protected.
She could have fallen asleep upright like that, so comfortable she felt.
"Takamachi-san?"
She was suddenly aware of a pair of hands around her arms, firmly but gently removing her from her tangled position. They held her steady as her knees trembled, making sure she stood steadily before releasing their hold on her.
Nanoha could have sworn that the blonde was looking almost amused as she teetered unsteadily.
"Are you alright?" the quiet voice was laced with the barest bit of genuine concern. "You seem… confused."
"Ahh, S-S-Sor…S!!" Nanoha stuttered and stammered, hating herself for not being able to get such a simple word out.
"S-Sor…S-" The brunette bit her tongue angrily, frustrated. What the hell?! She could actually feel her tongue trembling between her teeth. Or were those her jaws shaking? She really had no idea any more.
"Sorry," she finally managed to force out after what seemed like ages.
Great. She managed to embarrass herself in front of the girl once more. She chanced a glance up at the other girl's face.
Nanoha stifled a growl. That was definitely amusement tingeing her lips.
It wasn't funny, to be struck dumb and immobile by the blonde like that.
Nope, Nanoha definitely wasn't laughing.
She couldn't believe her luck. The blonde from the night before, her rescuer, was in the same school as her. And she had succeeded in looking like a fool in front of her, again.
Nanoha didn't know if she was going to laugh or cry.
She got a better look at the taller girl, now that she was actually a decent distance away and not clinging on to her like demented schoolgirl.
She looked… gorgeous, for lack of a better word.
She made the dull school uniform look like the most appealing outfit. Hair as golden as the sun cascaded down her slender frame, more beautiful that Nanoha had remembered. They were held together by a simple black ribbon at the ends, loose strands catching the breeze. The uniform was perfect on her, hugging her curves in a subtly flattering manner. Slim arms were encased by the tough brown fabric of the blazer, stopping just before the wrists to reveal long fingers. Her skirt was not too short, hanging somewhere between her hips and knees. Nanoha noticed that her legs were impossibly long, slightly muscular yet slender.
Nanoha suddenly didn't find the uniform that bad anymore.
"If you'd excuse me," the blonde murmured quietly, brushing past a (still immobile) Nanoha. "Good day, Takamachi-san."
The moment the blonde had turned the corner, Nanoha was reminded of Hayate's presence when a hand gripped her arm tightly.
"Nanoha-chan! You know Testarossa-san?!" the excited tremor in Hayate's hushed voice was obvious even to the deaf.
Nanoha didn't say anything, taking a few long moments to compose herself and get her heart rate back to normal before opening her mouth to speak.
"Ahh, not really," Nanoha replied carefully, still not trusting her voice. "She was the one who saved me last night."
"What!?" Hayate screeched, so loudly that Nanoha was half-certain the entire level could hear her. She half expected the blonde to turn back any moment.
Hurriedly shushing her friend, she guided Hayate out of the school building, determinedly ignoring the stares shot in their direction. She sat them on a wooden bench under a tree, a good distance away from both the pavement and the crowd near the entrance.
"Yes," Nanoha confirmed. "It's definitely her. Why?" She was curious to the big reaction her friend gave.
"Takamachi Nanoha, you are officially the luckiest person on Earth!" Hayate was still ranting, excited glimmer in her eyes.
"Testarossa-san is just about the most popular girl in this school! She caused an uproar when she transferred in, everyone was crazy about her."
"Transferred in?" Nanoha repeated.
"Yeah, she transferred in about a month before you," Hayate informed. "No one knows much about her, she's so elusive and aloof. Lots of people have tried to get close to her though, and they've all failed miserably."
Hayate scowled, as if remembering something.
"She's really pretty," Hayate continued.
Nanoha looked away. As if she didn't already know that.
"She gets a lot of attention in the sports arena, too. She's really fast. Testarossa-san's already been approached by a few teams, but she doesn't seem interested. She's the kind with fans but no friends, you know?" Hayate paused. "Not like she wants friends anyway."
There was a period of silence after Hayate's small speech as Nanoha digested all the information. She looked up at the clouds, watching their billowing, twisting shapes, silently contemplating. About what, she didn't quite know either. All she knew was that the beautiful blonde fascinated her, and that she didn't seem to be able to control her actions when she was within close proximity of her.
Hmph.
The clouds she were watching were gray and heavy. It would rain soon.
Stupid, stupid blonde. Nanoha beat her fist against the wooden frame of the bench, ignoring the stab of pain.
Stupid blonde that made her stumble over her feet, that made her falter over the simplest of words.
Stupid blonde.
xxx
It was raining by the time school ended.
The evening sun clung low in the sky, casting a red glow over the clouds. Nanoha shielded her eyes from the glare, squinting at the sun to gauge the time. Her watch had broken when she fell the night before, and she made a mental note to replace it.
My second day wasn't that bad, Nanoha smiled to herself.
The brunette remembered the happy glow that she felt when she had given Hayate the cookies. It was even… quite enjoyable.
She stood at the top of the small flight of stairs outside the school entrance, rummaging in her bag for an umbrella. Fingers closing over the metal handle, she pulled it out and shook her foldable umbrella open.
Something bumped into her from behind, and the next thing she knew, she was falling.
The cold air roared in her ears, wind whipping her hair back. The umbrella flew out of her hands.
Expecting a flash of pain, Nanoha's scream was muffled when a pair of strong arms grabbed her before she hit the ground, and she collided into a warm body.
The pain never came.
The blonde stumbled back at the impact, looking as surprised as Nanoha felt. Arms were wrapped around Nanoha, instinctively steadying her.
Her face was inches away from the blonde's, who had saved her, yet again.
Cold rain lashed at her exposed skin, soaking through her clothes and making her shiver. Her umbrella lay on the ground, forgotten as Nanoha stared into a pair of stormy burgundy eyes, framed by long lashes spiked by the rain.
Nanoha didn't even bother trying this time, she knew she wouldn't be able to move even if she wanted to.
…Not like she wanted to.
"Testarossa-san!" A distant voice, calling.
Nanoha wanted to shake her head, to clear her mind of the foggy haze that had taken over. She couldn't move.
"Testarossa-san!" The annoying voice again, intruding, interrupting.
Interrupting what?
The blonde stepped back, turning away from Nanoha to look at the girl who was running towards them.
"Testarossa-san, you're drenched!" a high, whiny voice. "Why don't I give you a lift home?"
A stranger. A girl that she had never seen before.
Nanoha didn't like her already.
"There's space in the car for two," the newcomer encouraged when the blonde didn't say anything.
Nanoha's eyes narrowed, hands clenching into fists.
The rain hammered down harder, splashing loudly against the ground.
"I'm sorry," the blonde replied quietly, turning around to leave when someone else ran up with an umbrella.
"Testarossa-san, can I walk you home?" A guy, this time.
Nanoha didn't like him either.
"I asked her first!" the first girl protested, glaring angrily at the male.
"She's already declined your offer," the other spat back.
"No one wants to walk when they can ride, moron," the girl hissed.
Nanoha remembered what Hayate had said about Testarossa-san and her apparent popularity.
The two students were so busy bickering that they didn't realize that the subject of their discussion had already left.
Nanoha watched the retreating back of the blonde, a lone figure in the rain.
Before she knew what she was doing, she had picked up her umbrella and was running after her.
xxx
The blonde looked up in surprise when the incessant raindrops suddenly stopped beating against her head. She didn't say anything when Nanoha sheltered the both of them with her umbrella, just continued walking as though nothing had happened.
Nanoha struggled to keep up with her long strides, holding her umbrella between them. They walked in silence, the blonde not acknowledging her presence at all. Nanoha felt slightly miffed.
How nice of her to not be grateful, she growled to herself.
She stumbled around in the rain, following the taller girl until she could stand the silence no longer.
"You shouldn't walk in the rain without an umbrella, you'll get wet."
Wow, she had actually managed to speak a sentence without stammering! Nanoha felt proud of herself, then remembered what she was feeling proud about and promptly deflated.
"I'm already drenched," the blonde deadpanned.
Nanoha scowled, and wondered again why she even bothered.
"Could you walk a little slower?" she complained suddenly.
The blonde shot her an amused look, but did as she requested, slowing down so Nanoha could catch up.
"Why are you following me?" she asked suddenly.
Nanoha faltered.
Why, exactly?
"I'm not following you," she snapped, defensive for no reason. "We just happen to be… walking the same way."
The other girl fell silent again, and they continued on.
Nanoha sneezed, shivering.
She shot a look at the girl beside her, who was walking calmly on, as if she didn't happen to be walking in the midst of a heavy storm.
Damn, didn't she feel cold at all?
Nanoha sneezed again.
"I get cold easily," Nanoha explained when the blonde shot her a glance.
"You should get home," the blonde said, her quiet voice betraying no emotion.
"No."
"You should get home." She repeated.
"I told you, we're going the same way," Nanoha growled, exasperated.
"It's late, you should get home before it turns dark," the taller girl explained simply.
Nanoha was at a loss for words, and she sneezed again.
The blonde stopped suddenly, and Nanoha almost walked on, passing her completely before doubling back.
"Takamachi-san," she said softly, pointing to something behind Nanoha. "Look at that."
"Huh?" Nanoha turned around, seeing nothing out of the ordinary. "What-"
She was suddenly hyperaware of a warm presence behind her, and a hot breath warming the skin of her neck as a voice whispered into her ear.
"You should get home, Takamachi-san."
Nanoha whipped around, stumbling in surprise when she realized that the road was suddenly deserted. She ignored her tingling skin, and her sudden rapid breathing.
"What the hell…" she muttered.
She could make out a shadowy figure through the heavy rain, and a flash of lightning illuminated golden hair, before the silhouette was gone.
She blinked.
Hayate sure wasn't lying when she said that the blonde was fast.
End Part Two.
A/N: Yay for more Fate. :D Another introductory chapter, sort of. Where Nanoha gets to know a bit more about Fate. And we get the slightest hint of nanofate. Yay? :P
Thanks for sticking with me (: Again, I apologize if anything seems cliched / draggy / rushed. Still kinda new to this.
As always, reviews make my day :D
(The reviews for the previous chapter really kept me writing, thank you so much! :D)