You Make Me Melt
By Team GEMINI
メルト
Nanoha's Point of View
I'm Too Cute to Ignore Part 6 of 6
End of the Beginning
Fate and I fell into a sudden silence, but it wasn't an awkward one. Our silence was a comfortable one—a silence that told me that we could still be enjoying each other's presence without the use of conversation.
The rain wasn't letting up anytime soon, and I prayed that it never would; sharing an umbrella with Fate while snuggling in close to her was... was something I couldn't put into proper words. People paid no mind to us and it felt like we were the only ones on the street. I didn't have a care in the world as long as Fate was beside me, smiling.
"You know I really can cancel that urgent thing I have to go to. It didn't sound too important to me," Fate said with a hopeful smile. I giggled at her and shook my head causing that smile to become a frown. "Why?"
"Because, it's urgent?"
"Oh... I forgot about that..."
The look on Fate's face made me feel a little guilty for not allowing her to skip out on her duties, but what could I do? She's the boss...
"Hopefully it won't take too long, at least not long enough that you'll have to cancel our little dinner date," I said trying to lighten up Fate's mood, but that didn't seem to affect her.
"As long as it doesn't involve an angry client or investor, it shouldn't take up much of my time," Fate replied with a heavy sigh, her shoulders slumping as she looked down at the ground. "But with the recent decline in the economy, I might be facing a real problem."
"Oh..."
"Yeah..."
The hold Fate had on me tightened just a little. The conflicting emotions in her eyes told me she was troubled by all this. I wanted to help, but what can I do? I'm just a personal trainer...
I looked straight ahead and sighed, the train station was only a few blocks away and the rain I prayed to never stop was starting to clear up.
"Well... rain's clearing up..."
"Yep..."
"Hey Nanoha, keep the jacket okay? It might rain again and I don't want you getting cold on your way home."
I was speechless for a moment before I was able to stutter a quick, "T-Thank you".
Fate looked up at the sky and glared at it briefly. The sun had poked its annoyingly bright face out, forcing the grey clouds away. The umbrella that kept us dry came down soon after. However, the arm Fate had around my shoulders stayed put. We were both hesitant to let go, but without the umbrella protecting us from the prying eyes of the crowd we'd stand out too much.
"Uh... nyahaha?"
"Heh... sorry I didn't realize I was holding onto you."
"M-Me too..."
Fate shook the umbrella to get rid of the extra droplets before handing it back to me. She gave it back with a smile, but when I took it back I noticed that Fate had a rather sombre expression. I wondered what she was thinking about—was she thinking about the same thing I was, or maybe something completely different? I do recall seeing Fate with that expression when she pondered about what to make for dinner once... could that be it?
"We should keep walking…people are starting to notice us."
"No, really?" I muttered in a sarcastic tone of voice.
"Yes, really, now move it before I carry you to the station." Fate growled playfully as she nudged me with her elbow. She winked at me and began walking ahead of me. I was shocked at her playfulness at first, but I found it to be a rather endearing part of her.
I began chasing after her but no matter how fast I ran, Fate just kept getting farther and farther away. Physically I was right behind her... but emotionally we were worlds apart. If Fate was Earth, then I'd be Pluto... and it doesn't even count as a planet anymore. So like Pluto... I just didn't count... I guess?
"Today was fun for you, right?" Fate asked me with a forced smile. She seemed to be trying her best to make the final leg of our trip... less awkward.
"Yeah, it was fun..."
"You don't sound too happy Nanoha. Was it something I said?"
I looked up at her for a brief moment before shaking my head. My heart was pounding so much that I was scared she'd be able to hear it. Fate sighed and looked away, the silence coming back.
I stopped walking and Fate instantly turned around to look at me. I opened my mouth to say something, but my words wouldn't come out. She motioned for me to hurry up but I shook my head and stood still.
Why can't I say it?
"Nanoha, is everything alright?"
Gulping, I willed my lips to move. "D-Do yo-you... want to hold hands while we walk?"
She didn't say anything; she just smiled and walked back to my side and grabbed my hand. "As if I could say no," Fate murmured with a cute blush on her face.
However it was too late—the train station was across the street.
Fate held onto my hand tightly as we crossed the street, she kept me right by her side almost as if she was scared to lose sight of me. It felt nice to be held like this... in a way I guess I was feeling what most people felt when they held their lover's hand... not that Fate's my lover, but... this was still nice...
What do I do?
"Well... we're here." Fate sighed, but she didn't let go of my hand. "I'll pay for your ticket okay?"
"No, you don't have to."
"Why?"
I blushed shyly and pulled my hand away from hers. "Because people are staring."
"Oh..."
"Yeah..." I asked Fate to stand by and wait for me to get my ticket. I was barely five meters away from Fate before I felt her arms around me. "Fate-chan?" I blurted out in surprise.
"I don't want to lose sight of you..."
"You're kind of hard to miss..."
"But you are," she replied without hesitation. I wasn't too sure if she was making fun of me for being short or if she was implying that I get lost easily. "I get lonely without you..."
"Me too..."
I felt the world around me vanish when I was enveloped in Fate's warm embrace. Her smell, her breath on my skin, her touch, and her heart beat... I was lost in a world where I felt completely at peace, but at the same time I felt restless. There was something wrong in my little piece of heaven, but I just couldn't figure out what it was.
"Ma'am your ticket?" a gentleman behind us said politely.
I jumped up in surprise and stumbled back into Fate's body. I quite literally felt everything she had under her t-shirt. Well toned muscles, an enviable bust and... a rapidly beating heart?
"Come on, your train is going to arrive soon," Fate quipped with a grin on her face as she pointed to the train platform nearby.
Truth be told, I wanted to stay in her arms for just a bit longer... but the train beckoned for me, and Fate just seemed rather bored with me.
"You really wanna get rid of me that fast, Fate-chan?" I asked her with a sad tone in my voice, pulling away from her firm embrace.
The frown on Fate's face was rather off-putting, but she was a complete mystery to me at times. She quirked her eyebrow at me but didn't deny my accusation. I sighed and began to walk towards the trains. She followed my footsteps when I began walking away, but she kept her distance... something was bothering her.
"Nanoha..." Fate murmured as she tailed me.
I shrugged and stopped walking at the yellow line. Fate still had that frown on her face, and it was irking me. Why is she the one acting so sad? I'm the one trying to cope with a tough emotional situation. To love my best friend or to let her be happy with my other best friend; it was a real toughie... so why is she frowning?
"I'll call you after I fix whatever needs fixing over at the company-" Fate paused and peered down the track for my train before continuing. "And after that I'll come pick you up as fast as I can."
"Mhm..."
"Do you... still want to come with me?" Fate asked me with a hesitant hand on my shoulder. I looked up at her and flashed her my best smile. "Uh...?"
"As long as you come before 8, I'm fine." I replied. I was feeling giddy for some reason. The physical contact between Fate and I was a small one, but I was savouring it like a large serving of my favourite ice-cream.
"You sound mad at me..."
I giggled and turned to face my friend. What was happening to me? "Fate-chan, can you just be quiet for just a moment?"
"Did I do something?"
"Nopes..."
"Then why do you sound like you're mad at me... Carim does the same thing when she's mad at me..." Fate looked around and leaned in close to my face, her lips just mere inches away from my own. "Come on, tell me. Did I do something wrong? I'll try to make it better..."
I shook my head and pressed my forehead against Fate's. "I just don't want to say goodbye just yet."
"O-Oh..."
"Nyahaha... it's silly I know... but if we stay quiet for just a bit, it feels like time's slowly slowing down." I murmured, my eyes getting hazy as I stare into her bright burgundy orbs. "That way... I can spend just a little bit more time with you."
"Okay... I understand."
"Thanks..."
Fate stood up straight and tall and stood behind me, her body pressing up against my back as she wrapped her arms around me. I blushed furiously at the close contact, but like the heavy rain from earlier... I wished for this to never end. I was being pulled back into my little piece of heaven.
The sound of train wheels rolling furiously on the tracks brought me back to reality.
It was time to say goodbye.
Pulling away from Fate for the final time, I stood before the closed steel door and waited for it to open. I clutched Fate's jacket and nodded my head to confirm my game plan.
"Nanoha, you sure you don't want me to call my driver?"
"Ne, Fate-chan..."
"Hm?"
I turned around and smiled, "Think I can have a goodbye hug?" Fate gave me a confused look and stood still. I guess one hug was enough. Shaking my head I giggled, "Just kidding!" before taking a step back and getting into the train.
Fate ran up to the doors and called out my name, but the steel doors closed before I could hear what she had to say.
"Nanoha, I----"
End of... part 6 of 6.
メルト
MELT
メルト 駅に着いてしまう…
Melt, we're nearing the train station...
もう会えない 近くて 遠いよ だから
We cannot meet but you're so close and yet so far away, but even so
メルト 手をつないで歩きたい！
Melt, I want to hold hands as we walk!
もうバイバイしなくちゃいけないの？
Although it's time to say goodbye do I really have to?
今すぐ わたしを抱きしめて！
Right here and right now hold me tightly
…なんてね
... just kidding