a/n: Yo~ chapter 8 is up and i hope its good enough for all of ya. i know this might be running a little fast for its pace and hoping its alright.
so now to thank those who reviewed the last chapter...
dark-atrox : Hmm, wonder if Vita is indeed jealous? :) and i think you should not worry about Yuuno. ;)
luce: here's the update. hope you won't hate Yuuno.
Asuka47 : Thanks :D
MangamanZX : thanks for the review~! hmm your request... lets see how i can have him fit in this ne?
Honulicious : yeah, Fate didn't get the chance to ask. and some NanVita fluff is something sweet too. gives out the jealousy aura :D
EXpERieNCed : Wow you noticed the 'safe' part haha. Well YuunoXmaterial is indeed something cute. gives Yuuno some love and all. The way Vita conveyed her feelings for Nanoha can be cute as my little sister said to me. hope you continue to read this :)
floire : haha tell it to Fate, it broke my heart as i imagine how Fate might've looked like when she saw the picture.
Lily Testarossa : Well maybe Fate will know. but i guess not now. :)
Lazarian : umm, i'm sorry about the spelling and grammar. as i stated before English is not my main language. but the 'Am' and 'Sooooo' part is somewhat a slang i usually use. i apologize. about the 'jewel seed incident' i meant it as the actual incident that involved Precia Testarossa. a bt of the background will be here.
So, now i have thanked those who reviewed, Thanks to those who read my fic and now i present you the next chapter.
Chapter 8: fate and date
The next day at Long Arch training area, the forwards all looked surprised. With their eyes wide like saucers an mouth hung low, they cannot believe what they are seeing. High above the ground, blazing fire and lightning crashed with each other for the forwards, it has been months since they saw such clash. The battle between Fate and Signum in Unison mode.
Erio looked at her guardian and couldn't help but feel unease. He stared at Fate's expression and he can tell that his blond guardian is at pain. Reaching his hand beside him, Caro took his hand and squeezed it gently. "Caro…"
The pink-haired girl silently shook her head and looked up to watch their guardian spar with Signum.
The two StarS team stared at the two Lightning leaders in awe. They saw how Signum can be in par with one of the called Ace, the 'Black Goddess' Fate Testarossa-Harlaown.
Up in the sky, Fate panted in frustration. The fiery guardian together with Agito, her unison, had blocked all her attacks and it frustrated her to no end. Using her Zanber form, she tried to slash Signum's defense but it was easily blocked using the pink-haired woman's device, Leavatine.
"Testarossa you are clouded." Signum said coldly, easily dodging and blocking the yellow blade of Fate's device. She can tell that her rival is not in her top shape while they are sparring. Their blades clashed, Fate trying her best to push forward and break Signum's defense. "What is bothering you Testarossa? Your movements are just like of a low-class mage. None of the abilities of 'Fate' that I took rivalry to." She said in a stoic expression. She pushed her rival away and asked Agito to end their unison.
With her sword sheathed, her eyes stared at Fate who panted heavily. "You requested a sparring yet you fight like a child. What is it that bothers you Testarosaa?" she asked, still looking stoic besides the fact her intention was of concern.
Fate sighed and let her weapon down. Bardirche went back to assault form without hearing it's master's command. "I... I don't know..." She said honestly. Her eyes dropped and her golden bangs covered them. The pink-haired knight nodded her head and offered for them to go and have a talk. She had enough of the childish sparring that Fate was displaying.
Signum's offer is taken by Fate and the both of them went back to the ground.
"Fate-san?" Erio called out his guardian with a worried expression. Both he and Caro gave Fate the same expression and the blond haired enforcer understood her children's concern.
Her crimson colored irises showed appreciation on what the two lightning members are showing to her. She placed both her hands on Erio and Caro's head and gave them a light ruffle. "Don't worry, I'm just in a bit of stress today. I'll be fine." She told the two, which she earned a hug from Caro and a nod from Erio. She felt the concern of the two and somehow, she really need to clear her thoughts.
When the two Lightning officers left, the forwards just looked at each other.
"So,,, who's up for lunch?" Subaru offered.
The other forwards just look at her, staring at her like she had grown a head or two. But with no work or training needed to be done since Nanoha was called by Hayate, they just nodded their head and followed the blue-haired tomboy.
At a café near the Long Arch Base, Signum and Fate took some time to talk things over regarding the blond's sudden sloppiness in her fighting style. Ordering two cups of black coffee, the lightning members kept silent for a good ten minutes until their order has been given by the waiter.
"Testarossa, what is it that bothers you?" Signum said, breaking the silence between them.
Fate stared at her drink, taking her time to collect her thoughts. The reason of her recent actions. She took a deep breath and looked at the window beside her. "I'm not sure. I feel annoyed yet sad for some reason. Everytime I think of something I recently saw, it drives me mad. Off my pace." She told her pink-haired rival.
The first lieutenant nodded her head. She kept silent as she hears what's on the blond's mind. Taking a drink of her coffee, she thought of some reasons for Fate to feel that way. And only one thing came to her mind. "Testarossa, are you involve with someone?" she asked in a serious tone.
With Signum's question, Fate's eyes widen like saucers and her face matching the color of the café's motif. Beet red. She felt panic and embarrassment surging though her and she couldn't help but stutter out. "W-what? –I-I Uhh.."
Signum found this rather amusing and a phantom smile graced her usual stoic expression. The sight of Fate being shy and in panic was a rare occasion. Propping her arms on the table and clasping them together like in a prayer, she rested her chin above her knuckles. "Tell me Testarossa. Who is this person that is causing such expression from you? I would like to congratulate that person." She asked again, voice full of mirth. She knows it's not her usual way of dealing with anyone but such situation is rare as a lost logia sighting.
Fate shook her head feverishly and gave Signum a pout. She couldn't understand how the pink-haired lieutenant can easily read the situation with just a few details. And the fact that she can't even fathom if what Sigum said was even true. "I just met her personally two days ago!" she thought out loud. 'Shit!' She mentally cursed when she saw Signum's eyes flash like a hawk seeing its prey. Fate felt like a child being caught by her mother with her hand in a cookie jar when she saw Signum's expression.
"So it's a girl. Does this girl have a name?" Signum pressed on. Oh how she was curious to know who made her friend all confused at of this moment.
Now Fate really felt like a mouse before a hawk. The way Signum pushed on with her inquiry made her realize that she shouldn't have even asked for some advice regarding her unusual feelings. "Err… Yes she does. But I'm not telling!" she clearly pointed out to her friend. 'Here I thought talking to her will be a lot safer than Hayate. Who knew she can be like her mistress.' She mentally groaned.
Signum took this as a cue to stop teasing the blond enforcer. She leaned back and waited for Fate to continue with telling her recent problems.
Fidgeting under Signum's gaze, Fate tried to avert her eyes away from Signum's. She can feel the painful feeling she felt the night before. Her eyes looked back on the black coffee that's swirling on her cup. "I feel lost. I just met her not too long ago and her existence gave an impact to me. No formal meeting, just some minor clash, but it seemed like I've known her for almost my whole life." Her voice conveyed the hurt she is feeling upon the image of the picture. Her brows knitted together and her heart felt the stinging pain yet again. "But something about her makes my heart feel pain."
"This girl…" Signum crossed her arms under her ample chest and leaned comfortably on her seat. She can tell by the look and how Fate conveyed her problem that it's something big for her. "Have you considered you like this person, Testarossa?" she asked.
The blond shook her head. "No… it's impossible to like someone for just two days… right?" she was unsure how to answer. She never looked it that way before since the fact remains that it was only yesterday they got to be friends.
Signum just stared blankly at Fate. Of all the years she knew her mistress, what Fate had pointed out was possible. "It's possible Testarossa. Even mistress Hayate said so before."
"Hayate is Hayate. You know how she is when it comes to cosplay and romance." Fate said flatly.
"Yes, but mistress never misses to notice her so-called 'red string of fate'. I believe it's something she learned in her planet." The lieutenant rank mage said. 'More likely it's what the mistress' friend told her about.'With the thought of her mistress' friend, it gave her a slight idea on how to give advice to her troubled blond enforcer. "Never judge something unless you hear it straight from the person."
Fate looked at Signum's serious demeanor and blinked a few times. "What?"
The pink haired lieutenant stayed silent for a few minutes and took a sip of her coffee. She placed the cup down and turned her attention to the confused looking Fate. "Just as I said Testarossa, if you need to know something, ask that person. It lessens the misunderstandings." She explained.
"So you're saying I should ask Na-I mean this girl about the thing that makes my heart feel pain?" Fate tried to confirm. She canf eel like a silver light is being presented to her by Signum's suggestion.
"Yes." Was all Signum's answer.
Fate considered the thought. She took her own cup of coffee and drink it while thinking if she shall take the knight's advice.
"Now will you tell me who is this mysterious girl that got you off beat?" Signum asked with a wide grin. But to her dismay, her face has been spewed of the warm coffee that Fate suddenly spit out when she asked the question. "TES-TA-ROSSA!" Signum coldy syllabicate Fate's name as she wiped off the beverage from her face.
Meanwhile, at Saint King Hospital.
"Now Takamachi-san, I got the report you overdid yourself again?" a female doctor asked, checking on a clipboard on her hand.
Nanoha was currently inside an all white colored room and laying down on the hospital bed. Her uniform stripped off of the white polo and is down to her inner shirt while there are wires taped on her arm. The beeping sound from the machine beside her indicated her vital signs as normal that also gave the doctor less worry. "I'm Sorry. There was an emergency." Nanoha explained with a light laugh.
"And Yagami-san had to drag your lovely arse down here for the checkup." The doctor looked beside her where Hayate stood and giving Nanoha an irritated look. "Is that right, Yagami-san?"
Hayate was indeed looking annoyed at her cousin. With her arms corssed and her right index finger tapping on her biceps, she showed that she there was a slight struggle when she dragged Nanoha to the hospital. "To think I had to bind her in a three layer rank B binding magic and have Vita drag her to my car." She explained with a few veins popping out.
"Nyahaha! Gomen, gomen. But I'm fine really!" Nanoha defened.
But her defense was rather a lie for the brunette commander. Roughly glaring at her cousin, she stepped her foot forward that showed her annoyance. "Vita reported you fainted. And by the arms of Fate no less!"
The patient blushed upon reminded of the incident but the doctor just gave them a curious look. "Arms of fate?" the doctor asked. She smiled a bit thinking that the young commander was talking about 'destiny'. "I see Yagami-san is a believer of destiny. " the doctor chuckled and proceeded with Nanoha's examination.
"Um, sensei, it's not fate as in destiny. It's more of Enforcer Fate T. Harlaown." Hayate placed a finger over her chin and think for a bit. "But now that you mentioned it I think it's really 'fate'. Right Nanoha?" Hayate smiled at her cousin.
The honey-reddis haired instructor sighed and looked at the ceiling. "destiny huh?" she mumbled. Opting to close her eyes for a bit, she left the doctor to examine her wel-being and took the time to take some rest. 'fate… she did tell me about meeting my fate.'
Flashback, 8 years ago.
"The mistress is never wrong. It's just how you interpret it that will make a difference." A deep roar-like voice spoke.
Nanoha, of age of 15, kneeled before a lion. The lion have golden colored eyes that glared at her and two light yellow wings around its back. Just behind him stood a tall pale man with white wings and emitted a cold aura while beside him is a woman, a bit older than Nanoha herself that gave her a soft warm smile.
"But Cerberus! I just don't know of this! Mistress!" Nanoha said, confused in all that had been presented before her.
A woman with honey-brown hair and bright green eyes, just smiled at Nanoha. Her body is donned on a long white dress that has the front skirt open, showing her slender legs that are decorated by a red ribbon tied to her red shoes. On her back is graced by small white wings that are clearly just a mere decoration. She sat at gracefully on a grandeur royal chair that is colored of gold and red while her hand held on a staff with a bright yellow star on its tip.
"It is as the dream card interpreted. You showed me of your dream regarding two kings fighting as they rode a yellow mane horse, a knight of golden sun bearing a sword of light and a woman in white that showed sadness while she held a golden spear." The woman spoke calmly. The dream card, a pink card with the illustration of a woman with huge hat that covered her eyes, floated before Sakura. She tapped her staff on the card and it slowly gleamed of a radiant pink. "One day, this dream will come. The kings shall fight and you will be the wedge between them. The knight shall be the one who will save you from the loneliness you deem of ever since." she explained.
Nanoha frowned. She stood before the leader of her guild, the strongest magician in Earth. The leader of the guild of Clow, Sakura Kinimoto, the mistress of Clow. "But Sakura-chan, what does it have to do with me? This power that I have, Raising Heart…" a few silence. "This was never meant for me. I just helped Yuuno in his mission to get his missing artifacts." she reasoned out. "I am not meant for a war or some sorts. That dream. i cannot bear it to happen!"
The mistress of Clow stood from her chair and stride towards young mage. She bent down to the level of Nanoha and gave her a warm smile. She placed a hand over the young girl's cheek. "It is up to you Nanoha if you want. But let me give you this advice." She gave the small girl a kiss on the forehead and stood up. "Fate will be the one who will give you happiness and fill your void." She told the young mage and went back to her chair.
When the mistress of Clow went back to her chair, a girl, about the same age like Nanoha, stepped out of the shadows. She wore an unusual outfit, a one piece black with yellow edges dress that reached a few inches above her knee and a white long-sleeved vest with white clothing and some black aswell as yellow patches. Her waist hugged a golden plated waist guard with a long black skirt-like cloth with the back of the woman bear four separate black wings.
"This here is Hayate Yagami. She is the mistress of the tome of the night sky." Sakura motioned her hand over the brunette. "She will be your partner that will watch over you."
Hayate smiled at Nanoha and gave her a courteous bow before standing up straight again. Nanoha found the girl to be friendly when Hayate gave her a sneaky wink.
Sakura sensed that the two will get along well and she notioned for her guardians to leave the two alone. But before finally exiting her audience chamber, a shadow of a smile graced her lips. "One day Nanoha-chan, Hayate-chan… the strings of destiny will be woven and it is fate that will rescue the child of sadness." She spoke in a voice full of mystery.
"Sakura-chan…"
End of flashback.
"Ne Nanoha-chan! Wake up!"
"Mama!"
"Oi Nanoha!"
"Time to wake up Nanoha."
Voices stirred the aerial mage out of her dreamy state. She slowly sat up from the white hospital bed and rubbed her eyes that showed her a blurry vision of the occupants of the room. When her vision finally cleared up, a gentle smile escaped her lips as she felt her waist had been engulfed by two small arms. "Hey Vivio." She greeted her daughter with a groggy voice.
Vivio looked at her mama, both eyes welling up in tears. She climbed her mother's bed and positioned herself to sit on Nanoha's lap and bury her head on her mother's chest. "Mama, don't go sleeping for so long again." She said, voice being muffled by her mother's uniform.
The honey-reddish haired captain placed her hands over her daughter's head and gently rubbed it to soothe her daughter's worry. "Gomene Vivio. But mama was just worried about you yesterday." She reasoned out truthfully.
"Hmp! You shouldn't have rushed there solo Nanoha. You are not the only one capable of protecting them." It was Vita's annoyed voice that scolded the elder Takamachi. Nanoha looked at the chibi knight and gave her a gentle smile. Vita blushed and hid her truthful eye that's showing worry on the flight instructor with her bangs. "Don't be stupid again. Else I'll have Hayate here to give you a month of vacation." She said stubbornly.
The mistress of the night sky giggled at how Vita was still shyly giving out hint of her concern towards Nanoha. She was really glad that Nanoha was nowhere near any danger now as per the doctor's results on her checkup. But she has to admit, she need to give Nanoha some rest as the workaholic instructor haven't taken any vacation leave for the whole time she had been in RF6. She kept quite as she looked around the room. It was filled with some of the people who knew her friend and she can tell that all of them were worried about Nanoha.
"-And we I have grades that Ein-chan said is qualified to scholarship if I continue to keep this grades!" Vivio showed her mamaher recent test scores that made Nanoha proud of her daughter. Beside them is Yuuno, explaining how much he helped Vivio in his studies. "But Uncle Yuuno! Ofcourse you know almost everything! You work at that grand library!" Vivio whined and clung closer to her mama.
Such sight gave Hayate the feeling of truly being Nanoha's cousin. She walked towards them and sat at the edge of the white bed. "Nanoha, I think you really need to rest this time. Should a week be enough?"
Hearing the term 'rest' and 'week' was enough to stir Nanoha out of her calm state. It's not she's against it, she can tell she need it too. But she has some work to do. Trainees to train. "But Hayate-chan!"
"No buts! It's an order. Go and take Vivio to god knows where and leave the training to Vita." Hayate ordered as she pointed her right thumb over Vita.
"But…"
Yuuno placed his hand over Nanoha's head and showed her a sweet smile. "It'll be fun Nanoha. You can visit your parents in that case." He told the workaholic captain.
Vivio smiled widely and looked at her mama's purple eyes. Heterochromatic eyes gleamed of hope. "We are going to see grandma and grandpa? Please mama?" she asked her mama, voice full of pleading and a look that can be describe as 'Vivio's puppy dog pout'.
Being cornered by the different looks and Hayate using her authority on the request, she sighed in defeat and nodded her head. "Fine. If it's for Vivio. Three days tops! I'll take this weekend until Monday." She bargained to her commander which only smiled and nodded her head.
Hayate giggled and turned around. "I can put it up for a day. But yo said three so no takebacks!" she said with mischief and bolted right away and out of the room. Nanoha registered what her commander said and was about to run after her when Vivio, Yuuno and even Vita pounced on her.
"Never let the 'white devil' and 'fallen angel' have a face off. It will lead to a nuclear warfare." Yuuno said outloud, trying to hold Nanoha back. All of them laughed. It was clearly showing that Nanoha is in a healthy shape and all worries of the past is nowhere near.
[Incoming message my master. Shall I read it?] Raising Heart's mechanical voice cut off their small laughter and looked at Nanoha's floating red gem device. With Nanoha's silent nod, Raising Heart showed them a visual image of the message.
To all of their surprise, a video of Fate T. Harlaown showed up, looking a little agitated. Yuuno beamed Nanoha a sly grin while Vita crawled out of the bed and left the room with Yuuno in tow. It gave Nanoha a curious look to why the small red knight left.
"Mama! Look its Fate-san!" Vivio poited out happily, waiting for the message to be played.
"Alright. Raising Heart please play the message."
And with Nanoha's command, the video stream started.
"Umm, Nanoha? Err…" Fate's voice expressed shyness and her look even gave it away as the recording played on. This gave Nanoha a few childish giggles as she listened on. "Um, I was wondering that if you are free tonight… um.."
"Just go and say it Testarossa!" it was another voice but didn't show in the video. By the sound of it, Nanoha can bet it was Signum. This gave her another hefty smile.
A blush was evident on Fate's face as she nodded her head. "Y-yeah. Umm, would it be okay if we have dinner tonight? Um, I'll pick you up at your house. Signum said Zafira will watch over Vivio." She finally asked, blushing madly.
And now Nanoha can tell Fate was a rather shy woman. Nobody aside from Subaru was able to blush like Fate does. She looked at her daughter who was smiling widely. "What do you think baby?" she asked her daughter.
With a feverish nod, Vivio agreed to Fate's request. She showed her mother a thumbs-up and a wink. "Go for it mama!" she said happily.
Nanoha laughed and patted her daughter in the head. "Alright." She turned to her device and smiled. "Raising Heart, please give my message to Fate-chan. I'll be waiting for her." she told her device.
[Ofcourse my master. About time I must say. Master has been alone for quite some time.] Raising heart's mechanical voice came out like a relieved tone to its master and Nanoha can just shake her head.
"Next time, I think it's enough to let you watch some TV drama Rasing heart." Nanoha said earning her a childish laughter from her daughter and a bright gleam from Raising Heart.
[Message receive sir. Sender is from Raising Heart] the triangular device voiced out, startling its master as she was pacing to and fro at her room.
Shakily, Fate gulped and ordered Bardirche to play the message. When the screen popped out, she was surprised to see Nanoha and Vivio on a white bed and white room with a few visible wired from Nanoha's arm. This made her think. 'Is her bed white? I remember it being cream and pinkish. And what's with the wires? Where is she?' She started to panic but the voice of Nanoha pulled her back.
"Hi Fate-chan." Nanoha greeted.
"Fate-san!" Vivio's voice was cheerful and she waved at Fate.
The video showing the two looking fine gave Fate a sigh of relief.
"I got your message." Fate blushed. "And yes. Even Vivio said so. Um pelase come to my house around 8? I'll be home around that time." Nanoha said with a sweet smile. The smile made Fate's heart beat faster.
"It's a date Fate-chan!" and with that, the video ended.
Fate couldn't help but feel like floating in the air. When the video ended she frantically looked at the time which showed 15:02 and she hurried to her closet to pick out what she would wear. 'I have a date with Nanoha… A date!'
[Sir shall I recommend to use your other vehicle? Your car is being checked right now.] Baridirche offered.
Fate stopped for a few minutes and considered what her device offered. Having no other choice, she gave Bardirche the order to prepare her other transportation vehicle. "I do hope it'll be okay with Nanoha though." She mused outloud as she rummage her dresser for a suitable clothing.
a/n: whew! finally a chpter done. Now i await your judgement and punishment on how i have some mistakes here and there. please point it out for me.. :) snow-shuriken OUT~!