Reaching you

Chapter 6: When two hearts become one

"Wait, Fate-chan." Nanoha grabs Fate's wrist. After a long chase, Fate finally stops and let Nanoha pull her back to make her turn to her. "Why are you avoiding me?" Nanoha's eyes beg Fate for an answer.

"Nanoha, I know the truth." Fate turns around and faces the slightly trembling Nanoha.

"W-what are you talking about Fate-chan?" Nanoha gulps nervously. She can feel she won't like what Fate has to tell her.

Fate smirks, "Don't play dumb with me Nanoha," she chuckled lightly. "I knew it all along. You love me right?"

Nanoha shivered. She tried to open her mouth to say something, but for some reason it remained shut. Nanoha was startled when Fate stepped forward. Nanoha looked into her eyes, but she didn't understand what the mix emotions swirling in them meant.

"You do right?" Fate asked again.

Nanoha gripped on the hem of her shirt and inhaled deeply before she meets those burgundy eyes again. "Yes, I love you Fate-chan." Nanoha immediately averts her gaze missing the surprised look on Fate's face.

Nanoha didn't know what to do. She could only hear her beating heart thump wildly inside her. "I'm sorry." Nanoha's head immediately moves back to see Fate's sad face. "I'm sorry. I can't return your feelings."

Nanoha felt hurt. Her trembling hands clutched onto Fate's shirt, "Why?"

Fate stared into Nanoha's eyes never faltering and said, "Because I'm in love with someone else."

Nanoha shook her shoulders. "Who? Tell me who is it." Nanoha tried to suppress it, but she couldn't stop the anger sipping through her mouth.

Before Fate could answer, a figure emerged behind Fate and approached the two friends. "I'm sorry Nanoha, but she's mine now." Fate blushed when the girl put her arms around Fate's waist. "Nanoha, I'm sorry… I… I fell in love with Hayate."

Nanoha's mouth hung open. She couldn't believe this was happening "WHAT?" Nanoha exclaimed.

"From now on Fate-chan will be part of my big harem!" Hayate's cousin and Fate stands beside Hayate that is now lying on a bed. Hayate laughs out loud and she smirks in Nanoha's direction. "Come, join us." Hayate extends her hands to Nanoha.

"NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!"

~xX*Xx~

"NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO-oofffph" Nanoha's eyes snaps open when her pillow suddenly falls on her face. She frantically looks around before a sharp pain spreads through her body. 'Ouch, ouch. Great, so I fell off my bed again.' Nanoha slowly get up and crawls back to her bed. 'That was one crazy dream.' Nanoha sighed.

It's been a whole week since the welcome party at Hayate's house. Since then, Fate started to act weird and suddenly avoided Nanoha's gaze and sometimes she suddenly blushes when Nanoha's gaze shift to her. At first, Nanoha thought it was just her imagination, but as days went by, it became worse. Fate started to make excuses to avoid being alone with her. When they're not alone Fate talks to her… more like Fate answers her questions while keeping it as simple as possible with her gaze looking anywhere, but Nanoha.

Nanoha sighed again. She tried to talk to Fate in these past few days, but the girl keeps on avoiding her making it hard on her part to know why she's doing this.

"Nanoha breakfast is ready!" Momoko's voice echoed inside Nanoha's room making her shift and sit on the edge of her bed.

"Yes mom. Be right there!" Nanoha shakes off her thoughts and decides to think of it later.

~xX*Xx~

"haaaahhhhnnn" Nanoha yawned as she rubbed her tired eyes while dragging her feet to walk to her school.

She didn't get much sleep last night. The fact that Fate is avoiding her keeps her from sleeping and she spent the whole night thinking why Fate started suddenly avoiding her after the welcome party. She keeps on thinking about what happened that night, but she can't remember anything. No matter what she does, everything becomes a blank after they started drinking.

'What did I do that night? Think brain think!' Nanoha hit her forehead several times in frustration.

"Why are you hitting yourself?" Nanoha was startled and immediately turned around to find Hayate and Fate looking at her worriedly… well at least Fate did, but Hayate had a mischievous smile on her face.

Nanoha couldn't help, but glare at Hayate after remembering the dream she had earlier.

"What?" Hayate asked hiding behind Fate.

"Oh nothing." Nanoha smiled after she realizes she unconsciously glared at her friend.

Nanoha was taken aback when Fate suddenly moved closer to her. Nanoha couldn't stop the thumping of her heart because this is the first time in week that Fate has stood this close to her and her burgundy eyes finally looked back into her own. Her breath caught up in her throat and a blush immediately spread on her cheeks when Fate lightly touched her forehead.

"Don't hit yourself like that." Fate's worried voice made Nanoha regret her previous actions.

She mutters, "I'm sorry." Nanoha could still feel Fate's gaze on her, but for some reason she couldn't look back even if she wanted to.

"Then why don't you kiss her forehead to make it better Fate-chan?" Hayate suggested with a playful smile.

A tint of red immediately spread on Fate's face and unconsciously looks at Nanoha's lips. Nanoha looked confused when Fate shook her head from left to right and slightly distanced herself from Nanoha.

"I-I'll go ahead. The teacher is asking me about my previous school. Later."

Nanoha was about to say something, but Fate had already escaped.

"Jeez, Nanoha-chan. You let her escape." Hayate sighed as she stands beside Nanoha and the two starts walking to their school.

"So you knew about Fate-chan avoiding me, huh?"

Hayate rolls her eyes, "Who wouldn't? It's so obvious she's been avoiding you."

Nanoha sighed, "I don't know what to do anymore Hayate-chan. No matter how hard I try I can't remember any reason for her to avoid me."

Hayate raised a brow and started thinking herself. "She started avoiding you after the welcome party right?"

Nanoha looked up at her friend and lightly nodded to confirm it. "Do you know anything?" Nanoha asked. She was afraid to find out what Hayate might say to her since she can't remember anything when she's drunk and since Hayate can think clearly even if she's drunk, she's her only best bet.

"Hmm, let see…" Hayate tapped her chin repeatedly before her face suddenly lights up when she suddenly remembered something. "That night everyone was drunk so I don't know how clearly I can tell you this, but after Fate-chan dragged you to rest in our guest room, Fate-chan came back down after some time saying that she needed to go home and asked me to watch over you. I don't know if it's because of the alcohol or something, but her face looked flushed while she was talking to me."

Nanoha repeated the new information in her head. As the information lowly registered in her head, Nanoha suddenly remembered what happened that night like it was playing in fast forward, but one scene struck her and her whole face immediately turned red.

'Oh my gosh! The reason why Fate-chan is avoiding me… don't tell me it's because I…' "kissed her?" Nanoha mumbled to herself. She thought Hayate didn't hear her, but unfortunately she did.

"You did? Oh my gosh! So that's why she's avoiding you," Hayate chuckles. "Wow! I never thought you were that aggressive Nanoha-chan." Hayate smiled knowingly then nudged Nanoha playfully.

"Mou! You're not helping at all Hayate-chan." Nanoha blushed furiously. She made a fist and covered her mouth while averting her eyes. "I-I don't know what came over me- I was not thinking straight that time." Nanoha stopped and looked at the ground, "what should I do? How can I face her now?"

"It's simple. Just tell her your feelings."

Nanoha can't help, but give Hayate a look that says 'are you out of your mind!'

"What? Why are you looking at me like that?"

Nanoha sighed, "Hayate-chan with all that's happened, I don't think a simple confession will stop Fate-chan from avoiding me. Worse, she might end up hating me."

Hayate sighed and patted Nanoha's shoulder. "Nanoha-chan, no matter how much you worry about what you did, it won't change the fact that something did happen. Besides, if Fate-chan really hated you she wouldn't have approached you just now." Hayate smiled and hit Nanoha on the back. "Come on. It's time to be honest with your feelings. Be a man!" Hayate hit Nanoha's back again making Nanoha glare at her.

"I'm not a man Hayate-chan."

Hayate huffed, "Whatever. It's all the same, you know? Let's go!"

~xX*Xx~

As Nanoha and Hayate walked to their room, Nanoha thinks about what Hayate said earlier.

'Should I confess to her? What if she… ' Nanoha shook her head. 'No, if I continue to be afraid of the outcome nothing will change… I have decided! I will confess my feelings to Fate-chan today!' Nanoha smiled full of confidence as she closed her shoe locker.

"Uhh? Why are you smiling like that Nanoha-chan? Is there something in your locker?" Hayate asked looking confused.

As soon as Nanoha went inside their room, she approached Fate. Fate looked up confused when Nanoha didn't sit in her chair in front of her.

"Fate-chan we need to-"

Before Nanoha could finish talking, their homeroom teacher entered the room and asked his students to settle down. Nanoha sighed and reluctantly sat in her chair.

Nanoha tried other things to get Fate's attention. She wrote on a piece of paper and passed it to Fate. Moments later, Fate returned the paper saying, 'I have something to do later. Maybe next time?' Nanoha couldn't help, but grit her teeth. She turned around to say something to Fate, but the teacher stopped her by calling her to read the next paragraph. Nanoha panicked. She wasn't listening to her teacher because she was busy dealing with Fate.

"Umm-uh…" Nanoha mumbled as she flipped the page of her book.

The teacher raised a brow at her actions. Nanoha felt someone poking her side. She looked back and saw Fate whispering the page and which paragraph. Nanoha whispered a thank you and she started reading. After she finished, she realized she missed another opportunity to ask Fate to talk privately later. She sighed.

'Time for plan B. Hmm… what's plan B anyway?'

After Nanoha's failed attempt to ask Fate, she decided to try again before class ended, but unfortunately for her, their homeroom teacher asked her to talk to him in the teacher's longue because she wasn't paying attention in class the whole time that day.

~xX*Xx~

Nanoha opened the classroom door with a bang and it made a chocolate haired girl startled. "N-Nanoha-chan, you surprised me! Did it go well?" Hayate asked when Nanoha walked toward her.

"Yeah, it's no big deal anyway…" Nanoha trailed off and she looked around to find only Hayate and her inside the room. "Where's Fate-chan?" Nanoha raised a brow when Hayate laughed nervously.

"She already left moments ago saying she needed to go home- wait Nanoha-chan!" Hayate shouts, but Nanoha had already dashed out of the room hoping to catch up to Fate.

Nanoha ran and ran ignoring her shallow breath. She was about to turn the corner that would lead her to where the shoe lockers are when she stopped and hid behind it.

'Wait what am I doing?' Nanoha peeked and saw Fate facing a guy she thinks is from the baseball team because he's wearing the baseball team's uniform.

"Fate-san, umm… I know you don't know me, but I-I like you!" The boy blushed and bowed. "Please go out with me."

The last line rang out in Nanoha's ears. She couldn't believe she heard someone else confessing his feelings to Fate. Nanoha felt her blood boil from anger. She wanted to step out and intervene, but she didn't have the right to do so. She is only her friend. Only her friend. She repeated in her mind and she slumped down on the floor hugging her knees. Her heart thumped from anticipation on what Fate will say to the guy.

"Thank you," Nanoha heard Fate say and she tightened her hold on her knees, "but... I can't accept your feelings… I… already like someone."

Nanoha didn't know if she should be happy or sad at Fate's declaration of her already liking someone. Of course she already likes someone else. She couldn't possibly like you forever. Nanoha scolded herself. She felt sadder by the second and she unconsciously leaned back to smack her head on the shoe locker making a loud noise. Fate looked back, but the boy's hand gripped her wrist stopping her from checking out the noise she heard.

"Fate-san, please give me a chance," the boy insist.

"I'm sorry. I really can't." Fate looked back into the boys eyes without hesitation as if saying her decision will never change.

The boy sighed and bowed curtly before moving out of the school. Fate was relief it ended without too much drama, she was nervous for a second when the boy hold her wrist it's a good thing he decide to just walk away.

Lost on her own thought, Fate snapped out of it when she heard light steps behind her. Turning around, she found Nanoha standing there.

'Did she hear the confession?'

"Fate-chan, I finally found you." Nanoha smiled and scratched the back of her head. "I wanted to talk to you and…"

'I already like someone else.' Fate's voice rang in her mind.

"And I…" Nanoha found herself staring at her shoes.

'You're only a friend.' She thought.

'Just a friend'

"And I…"

Nanoha trailed off when her voice cracked and she could feel the tears building up in her eyes. Fate's eyes widened as she sees Nanoha's tears roll down her cheeks. She panics and approaches her.

"N-Nanoha, are you okay? What's wrong?"

Nanoha wipes away her tears, but no matter how many times she wipes away her tears, it keeps coming back. 'It won't stop.' Nanoha covered her mouth to stop herself from sobbing too hard. She looks up and in her clouded vision, Fate's worried face only made it worst. Before Fate could wipe away a single tear, Nanoha ran away from her.

"I'm sorry, I'm sorry." Nanoha mumbles as she runs away. She doesn't know where she would go, but all she knows is she wants to get away, get away from Fate.

As Nanoha cries while running, she can hear someone catching up behind her. Nanoha looks over her right shoulder and saw Fate running after her.

"F-Fate-chan, why are you following me?" Nanoha huffs as she tried to run faster.

"Why are you running away?" Fate replies sounding annoyed as she adjusts her speed.

Nanoha runs and runs, but Fate kept on trailing her without any problem and Nanoha knew if this goes on, Fate will catch her.

"Stop following me!" Nanoha used her remaining strength to say those words as she tried to steady her shallow breath.

"Then stop running!" Fate didn't break a sweat with all the running they did. She even ran faster and finally she caught Nanoha's wrist and pulls on it making Nanoha stop.

Fate let Nanoha take her time to steady her breathing. Nanoha could hear the rustling of the trees as a cold wind touches her reddening cheek. Nanoha and Fate are currently standing in the middle of the trees of the garden area behind the school. After 5 minutes, Nanoha still stands there with her back facing Fate. Nanoha tried to think of things she should say to Fate like why she just ran away from her.

'Why did I run away?' she can't believe she doesn't know the reason herself.

"Nanoha," Fate's voice snaps Nanoha from her thoughts and slightly stiffens.

She finally realized Fate is still holding her right wrist when she felt Fate tug on it to make her look back. Fate couldn't help, but bite the corner of her lips when Nanoha didn't reply and didn't bother to look back. She sighed. At least she didn't try to shake her hand away. "why did you run away like that? Why are you avoiding me?" 'Why did you cry?' For some reason, she couldn't ask that question so she just wished Nanoha would tell it herself.

After sometime when strong winds pass through them, Fate heard Nanoha say something. "Huh?"

Nanoha turned around without breaking away from Fate's hold. "Why are YOU avoiding me?" Nanoha furrowed her brow. Her eyes are full of emotions. There is no sign of anger or anything , but you can see tears are already threatening to fall from her eyes.

Fate was shocked to see Nanoha like this. She felt really bad about trying to distance herself from her.

"Nanoha," Fate slowly released her hand, "I'm sorry… I didn't mean to hurt you." Fate made a fist. She's really angry at herself for making Nanoha cry. Fate averts her gaze and unconsciously grits her teeth.

"Is this related to what happened during the welcome party?" Nanoha asks when Fate didn't say anything. Fate instantly looks back at Nanoha. "I… I remember what happened that night Fate-chan." Nanoha blushed. For some reason she couldn't look straight into Fate's eyes after saying it. "Although, I just remembered it earlier this morning." she mumbled.

Fate opened her mouth to say something, but Nanoha beat her into it.

"I'm sorry." Nanoha bowed lightly. "I was drunk you see… I didn't mean to do it." Nanoha tried to laugh it off when her voice betrayed her and slightly cracked when she said the last part. She didn't really regret kissing Fate so it really hurts to deny it. Nanoha was so busy trying to control her emotions that she didn't see Fate's serious face.

"You didn't mean it, huh?" Fate muttered to herself.

"Eh?"

Fate moved her head from side to side. "Is it him? That night, the person you're talking about… is it him? The guy that confessed to me earlier?" Fate clenches her fists. Her anger to she felt towards herself earlier instantly turns to jealousy to the guy she didn't even know.

Nanoha thinks carefully about what Fate's talking about. As if she just said it earlier, the words she said that night plays again in her mind. She blushed and frantically denies it. "No, it's not like that. He's not-" Her words were cut short when Fate laughed lightly.

"Don't worry. I did tell you I'll help you right?" Fate gave a painful smile at Nanoha. "I'll try to talk to him again and-"

"Fate-chan!" Nanoha tip toed and closed the distance between them. She is standing right in front of Fate's face. "I'm talking about you." She furrowed her brows when she saw Fate's eyes full of confusion. Nanoha slightly moves back and looks straight into Fate's eyes. 'Calm down heart. It's now or never.' she took a deep breath.

"That night, I was talking about you." She paused and studied Fate's face before she continued. "I actually found out that I loved you after you left and since then my feelings for you grew stronger… I was really happy when you finally came back, but I didn't know how to say this to you since I'm the one that break your heart years ago." Nanoha smiled. "I know it's too late, but I really love you Fate-chan."

The tears she tried her best to hold back falls on her cheeks. Nanoha wipes it away, but they continue to fall. "I'm sorry, it won't stop." Nanoha wipes away her eyes and cover her lips with the back of her hand to muffle her cries.

"I'm sorry Nanoha." Fate mumbled. She immediately removed Nanoha's hand and pressed their lips together. Nanoha's eyes widen. She can't believe what's happening in front of her and before she could react, Fate breaks their kiss and looked at her with a blush visible on her face. She immediately gets her handkerchief and wipe away Nanoha's tears.

"Fate-chan, you…" Nanoha said dumbfounded as she traced her lips.

"I-I think you misunderstand. The reason why I'm avoiding you isn't because you kiss me… it's embarrassing, but the reason why I'm avoiding you is because since that night every time I'm near you I can't help but look at your lips… and I found myself wanting to kiss you." After wiping Nanoha's tears away, Fate avoids Nanoha's gaze and tuck Nanoha's hair behind her ear. "T-that's why to control myself from kissing you, I distanced myself for the time being, but I guess it made you sad."

Nanoha stays silent for a while and just stares at Fate's face. Her eyes widen when she finally realizes what Fate really means. Nanoha laughed. It made Fate immediately look back at her looking annoyed.

"W-what so funny?" Fate asked crossing her arms.

Nanoha let the wave of laughter die down before she respond, "Fate-chan, do you love me?" Nanoha ask as if all the talk they did earlier never happened and for the first time since their talk, Nanoha finally smiled, a mischievous smile.

"I- I…" Fate mumbled incoherent words.

"Hmm? I can't hear you."

Fate's blush grew darker. "Na-Nanoha! Your enjoying this aren't you?" Fate pouts when Nanoha giggled again and apologized half heartedly.

"Sorry, sorry. Your reaction is so cute I couldn't help, but tease you"

"Mou, I can't believe you." Fate sighed. She face palmed while looking at her feet.

"Umm Fate-san?" Nanoha asked nervously as Fate didn't lift her face yet. "Fate-chan." Nanoha tried again and reached out her right hand to cupped Fate's cheeks, but before she could touch it, Fate grabbed her hand and looked straight at her face. Nanoha's heart started to race under Fate's gaze.

"I'm sorry if I made you feel uneasy all this time. I still feel the same way for you even though I said I would forget about you… I never did. During the time we were far away from each other, my feelings for you grew stronger. Nanoha… I love you too." Fate smiled sweetly.

"Nanoha?"

Nanoha fell down feeling her energy slipping away from her, but luckily Fate was close enough to catch her before she fell flat to the ground.

"What the? Nanoha get a hold of yourself!" Fate looked at Nanoha worriedly and tightens her hold on her.

"…Nyahaha. Sorry, I suddenly felt weak… it's all Fate-chan's fault." Fate helped Nanoha back to her feet, but Nanoha leaned on Fate. She hugged Fate's waist tightly refusing to stand on her feet.

"W-why is it my fault?"

"…because of the suspense and with my body trembling, after you confirmed your feelings, standing here became a problem. Nyahaha."

"Jeez! I thought something happened to you. I was really worried you know!" Fate creases her eyebrow, then hit Nanoha's head lightly.

"Nyahaha, sorry sorry."

The two fell in a comfortable silence. Just hugging each other until Nanoha said something.

"Nee, Fate-chan~" Nanoha said in a singsong voice.

"Hmm what?"

Nanoha breaks the embrace and looks into Fate's eyes, "… kiss me?" Nanoha closes her eyes and leans closer to Fate's face.

"W-what? We just kissed earlier and you stole my first kiss." Fate protested. She doesn't know what she's talking about anymore because her mind is not thinking clearly.

Nanoha opened her eyes before pouting at Fate.

"Ehhhhhhh? What are you complaining about? It's my first kiss too, you know! And besides, you stole my second kiss so we're even."

"B-but"

"No buts!" Nanoha wraps her hands around Fate's neck and tiptoed to reach Fate's face. "I know this will be our third kiss, but it will be our official first kiss as lovers… are you ready?" Nanoha giggled when she saw the confused face Fate shows her.

"L-Lovers? I-I'm not ready yet Nanoha!"

"Ehhhhh? Then~ I shall take your third kiss!" Nanoha kissed Fate.

At first Fate didn't move, but after a while, she slowly returned the kiss. Holding Nanoha closer to herself, Fate could feel Nanoha's warmth spread to her body. As the two kissed, they slowly moved closer in each others arms. With a little gap between them the necklaces they wore touched each other before a bright white light quickly spread in it's transparent body. It may have been meaningless before, but now their hearts finally became one.

A/N: hi everyone! i hope everyone can still remember my story haha. i can't come up with a good chapter since i'm not inspired the last few weeks and school is keeping me busy so the next chapter came out late.I'm sorry if i didn't reply to any of the review in the previews chapter. i hope everyone like this chapter and as a bonus i made an omake for everyone that supporting my stories. Anyway i dedicate this omake for my friend ZonaRose for all the funny PM and Review you give my story ^_^. thank you for my meanie beta reader Sammie-Chan89 for always beta reading my stories XP

I post a new story today called Love Trouble! i hope everyone would read it too ^_^

anyway please review and thank you for reading and all your support and here is my omake! *bow*

Omake:

'My Name'

"Nanoha?"

"Yes Fate-chan?"

"Umm this is embarrassing, but why are you calling me Fate-chan?"

"Why? Because it's cute…. You didn't complain like this before. Why bring it up?"

"W-well now that we are lovers, I think its… you know…. I feel like our relationship does not change at all."

"Heeehhhh~ so Fate-chan is like those people that think they will be special if their special someone calls them differently from other people huh?"

"I-it's not like that. I- I just…"

"I get it Fate-chan. So that is why you call me "Nanoha" instead of "Nanoha-chan" like before? So cute!"

"What? It's not like that! I thought calling you Nanoha-chan is childish so I- Nanoha?"

"I see. So you think it's childish the way I call you?"

"I didn't mean it that way Nanoha!"

"But think about it Fate. Our relationship did change. Friends don't kiss each other or cuddle intimately or flirt around or-"

"Alright, alright. I get it- wait what did you say?"

"I said friends don't-"

"No not that…you just called me Fate without the "chan" right?"

"Hmm, what are you talking about? Must be your imagination Fate." Nanoha smirked as she whispered in Fate's ear. Fate blushed. She didn't know her name could sound differently when Nanoha said it.

"Nanoha, could you please just call me Fate-chan again?"

"Why? It's unfair you're the only one that can call me "Nanoha" and I can't call you "Fate", right Fate?" Nanoha giggled when she saw her face turn redder than before.

"Jeez stop teasing me already." Fate pouts. Nanoha wraps her hands on Fate's neck. She stares lovingly at Fate.

"Nyahaha. Okay, okay, but you know Fate-chan?"

"W-what?"

"I love you Fate"

"Please no more"

Fate show a blushing troubled face before covering her face with her hands. Nanoha just laughed on how Fate reacted. She removed Fate's hands then kisses her lips softly.

'The way she said my name made my heart race… even though I feel happy my heart can't possibly handle this…'

END