Fathers
BBBOOOOOMMMMMM! CRACK! VSSSSHHHH!
The world was marred into a hazy waterish view despite the windshield wipers frantic movements.
"It's sure pouring out there" a deep voice absently commented. The rhythmic bip,bip, pilp of rain hitting the car with an occasional deep boom soothed him, and was a nice accompaniment to the Japanese music playing for his benefit. Not that his daughter-in-law didn't like it, for every so often he would hear her humming along with the melody and nod her head to the beat.
She nodded in agreement paying extra attention to the road. One wrong move could cause a major accident. But, thankfully tonight's drivers weren't speed crazed maniacs and there were few willing to drive in a heavy thunderstorm. Blinking left, she turned into an almost hidden path, shadowy monstrous trees covering it from view.
Driving down the dirt road for a good 15 minutes, they saw nothing but scraggly looking trees with finger-like branches that seemed to almost reach for the car and hall it into the darkness hiding who knows what.
"How far is this place?" Shiro asked. He squinted trying to make out any shapes that looked like a house in the hazy darkness.
"It should be here somewhere." Fate said while slowing the car down. It was difficult to see what lied right in front of her when water constantly streamed down the windshield and the rain reflected back the light from the headlights.
Shiro lazily looked forward when he grew alarmed. "FATE LOOK OUT!"
She was gazing at the tree line when she heard Shiro's panicked shout. Her head whipped forward and her stomach dropped. A little boy smiling and waving at them stood less than a foot away not even trying to escape from the car closing in. Instantly and on pure instinct, her body moved. Her foot pounded against the breaks, the paddle smashing into the floor. The car screeched in protest as it slid on the muddy ground, her hands working on the wheel in effort to swerve away from the boy and tree -line.
Shiro steadied himself against the dash board as the car jolted and spun before finally coming to a stop.
Fate breathed heavily, her hands clenching the wheel. She didn't think she hit him, there was no thunking sound of a body hitting the bumper or other indication. But still, she quickly shifted the car into park and stepped out. She didn't even think about casting a spell to stay dry. Right now the boy's well-being was foremost on her mind, driving her forward and into the endless rain.
Looking at the front of the car she didn't see any body. So she rushed back following wild curves from when the car spun out to the point where it began when she tried to avoid the boy.
Shiro joined her, kneeling opposite her to observe the tracks.
Two things were off as they looked at the ground that held a weird story. One there was no body, which made them both sigh in relief at first. Then a bit of unease the kind one gets when they couldn't explain an unusual phenomenon started to take hold of Fate.
It started when her eyes followed the tracks where the car was going straight before it drastically and suddenly turned out of the way of.
"Nothing's here," she muttered skeptically in a way that doubted the evidence her eyes relayed to her mind. She focused on the general area that was suppose to hold two little foot prints but was strangely blank muddy ground exactly as it should be if the boy didn't exist. "It doesn't make sense." Fate murmured, part of her willing the ground to make the foot prints appear or at least something or someone to explain what was happening because the situation had her stumped. She walked around in circles, and back and forth, about a dozen times, but still no foot prints were found.
Shiro glanced at Fate and her intense stare with the ground. He figured her mage senses allowed her to see things hidden to his eyes for the ground revealed nothing to him, and if it weren't for the fact he was on a magic world with magic people he would have said to look for clues in the morning when they could better see what was going on. But, instead he asked, "What's wrong?"
Awakened by Shrio's voice, her stare broke from the ground and focused on him. "There's no sign of him."
The words were said matter-of-factly similar to how one reports the weather, but beneath that he heard the underling disbelief. He inwardly chuckled. Looks like even magic folk need light too. "Let's head back to the car we'll look for him tomorrow when the sun's up."
Fate shook her head, her concerned and caring nature especially for kids overriding her better sense of judgment. "I can't leave him alone in this weather." After saying her peace, she returned to her search with redoubled effort, thinking- The clues should be here somewhere I just have to find them.
Shiro watched her determinedly search for anything that could lead her to the boy and frowned. Now is not the time for this. Getting to his feet he walked to Fate and grasped her hand now cold from the rain, he even felt her shiver something she didn't seem to notice and his frown deepened. "Fate," his voice broke out curtly and with authority the same kind he used on his kids when he wanted their undivided attention that usually led to a scolding.
The change in her demeanor was almost instant. She went from focused mindless scanning of the area to stiff attention, her eyes trained on him. She had to stop herself short from saluting him for the reaction to her superior's especially when she went over-the-line those few times sparked that deep in grained motion that came from years of being with the military. However, the "Sir!" emanating from her soft voice loud and clear in address to someone of higher rank could not be stopped.
Shiro was taken by surprise with the force and strength she addressed him, and at one time being a soldier himself recognized the respect and undivided attention shown to a superior. He did not expect that reaction at all. He didn't get it from his kids, Nanoha included and she was with the TSAB just as long as Fate was, so he certainly didn't expect it from Fate. But he had to admit it was kind of nice, an image of his kids giving the same kind of response flashed into his mind- all three lined up and at attention waiting for his words of wisdom- and he almost laughed at how ridiculous it looked. He was no military sergeant. He was a father, who thrived on his kids' freedom that often times led them to make mistakes and need his guiding hand, and that is how he wanted his kids to remember him, even this wayward one. All this of course transpired within his mind in less time than it took to blink. "Relax Fate."
He saw the soldier recede and her natural calm self come forth gazing at him questioningly. "Come back to the car it's no good if you get sick." He saw her begin to protest, but nipped it in the bud. "If you don't walk," he sounded a bit threatening, "I'll be forced to hull you over my shoulder and carry you there." He saw the doubt in her eyes. So to prove he wasn't joking he stepped closer and put an arm around her waist ready to lift her onto his shoulder.
He's serious! Her eyes widened. Now sure he would do it, she placed her hands on Shiro's well muscled arm that would make even younger men jealous to stay him. "I'll go."
Shiro smiled. At their age he didn't get to play the disciplining father as much as he use to so it was nice to know he hadn't lost his touch. "Good. Now let's get out of the cold."
Fate nodded, and upon mentioning cold she suddenly noticed her shivering body. Hugging herself she began rubbing her arms for warmth and shook her head. It's a good thing he's here. I probably would have searched all night and into morning till I found something and would have acquired a cold in the process. She had to smile. It felt nice being taken care of, it made her feel warmer. But, that could be because Shiro wrapped his arm and larger frame around her protecting her from the harsh wind and providing warmth that seeped through her enforcer uniform like the rain had done. Nanoha's lucky to have such a good father. The thought held no jealousy or pining for a father she never had, it was just a passing thought relating a fact. She'd seen kids and had been at a time one herself with a harsh parent. But it still felt nice, and she would remember and treasure this moment.
"Thanks Shiro." Fate murmured.
"It's dad." He shook his head and he tightened the arm around her as she stumbled precisely when he said the d-word. This was becoming a familiar occurrence. Every time he or his wife corrected her she would suddenly develop a case of the clumsies which was odd when Fate was always graceful. I don't know if she's uncomfortable or just stubborn... Maybe Momoko will know how to break that bad habit of hers. They would have to plan something out. He started thinking of a few before the father in him told him there was something more important to do like make sure Fate knew her place. Without much of a pause from his last words he continued, "And I'm not the kind of father to let his daughter run around at night in a thunderstorm no matter how noble she is."
Those words set Fate blushing such a deep red it put a neon sign to shame. She was really grateful he couldn't see her, for she felt if he could, he would have surely seen it and tease her about it. Lindy often did when she was still getting used to thinking of her as her new mother. She eventually learned, more to stop her teasing than anything else, not to blush from every kind or motherly gesture she bestowed on her. She smiled at the memory of the first day she went without blushing. Her mother was so happy she took her, Chrono, and Arf to celebrate at an ice cream shop. Her mother didn't know it, and until this day still doesn't, but when she was in the privacy of her own room shocked over celebrating something so trivial, she blushed like mad for a long time. Since each time Lindy's bright smiling face flashed into her mind and the feeling of her warm secure arms wrapped around her small child body with such pure joy brought her blushing anew. From that day on she kept all her blushing due to Lindy or Chrono to herself in the privacy of her room until that too disappeared.
Now she looked back on it fondly. But, she didn't think she would experience such a feeling again only this time it was because of Shiro. Or should I say dad. Her heart thudded and her stomach suddenly found itself home to fluttering butterflies. Did she really just think that?! To anyone else it would have been impossible there is a limit to how deep one can blush, but her face simply had none, for it heated even more at just the thought. It was one thing to say "mom" and "dad" to keep Shiro and Momoko happy as she had been doing lately and even then it was hard, but to actually start thinking of them as a father and mother was like her time with Lindy all over again. And here I am supposed to be an adult. Child-like, she giggled at the thought, the sound pure and innocent.
Shiro eyed the girl in his arms thinking her reaction strange, but he didn't comment and just let her be.
They soon stepped into the safety and warmth of the car where they promptly dried off with two towels lying around in the back seat from today's work out at the gym.
When she was drying out her hair with the towel concern for the boy gripping her again she was suddenly struck with an idea that made her feel stupid for not thinking of it sooner. Her face currently covered under the towel, her hands vigorously rubbing it at the top of her head, she called to Bardiche.
"Sir."
"Set wide area scan for magic use and body heat."
"Yes Sir."
Shiro smiled. He liked that tenacity so similar to his Nanoha, and preferred this idea over a physical search.
A few minutes ticked by before Bardiche gave the results.
"Sir. No magic or person found in 10 mile radius."
Fate had a brief moment of shock before it was smothered by confusion. Something didn't add up. Nothing could disappear without a trace even magic had residue. So where was the boy's trail? Bardiche continued, and she felt a bit better because whatever he was going to say would surely demystify the case.
"But, strange anomaly detected five feet ahe-"
BBBOOOOOOMMMMM! The sudden thundering sound, so close it was rattling, cut Bardiche off.
Then a flash of lightening streaked across the sky almost plummeting to the ground, and in its decent revealed a shadow, shaped like a house, before it disappeared with the lightening. This happened a few more times, each time revealing more to their squinting eyes till they could see the faint image of the house, squashing any thoughts of it being an illusion.
"I think we found it." Fate commented while gazing into the concealing darkness hiding the house. He probably lives here and at some point ran back. The worry pawing at her abated some and she felt just a bit lighter.
Shifting into drive, she continued down the road and toward the house. The shining head lights slowly revealing details the closer they approached.
Shiro eyed the house. It could be described as the archetype of a haunted house. It was large, old, and in disrepair. It even gave off that spooky feeling not that Shiro or Fate noticed for they thought of it as any other old house. "Hey Fate, doesn't that look like the house you were sent to investigate?"
Fate brought up a holographic screen containing a picture of a house with texted wrapped around it detailing the case.
Two neighbors, a man and woman, reported seeing a boy and girl of around seven or eight years old playing around an abandoned house. In concern they warned the kids away, but they ignored them and continued playing. Seeing no adults nearby, the neighbors asked for their parents with the same results. Thinking they were alone they approached them, that's when the kids ran into the house where they promptly disappeared. The neighbors pursued and searched around before giving up. When they returned home they called the child agency for assistance.
After two days, two men from the agency met with the neighbors and gathered information before encountering the kids. The man recounted seeing the boy the day before on the side of the road waving at him before rushing into the house when he tried to talk to him. It was noted that the children flee when approached. The men proceeded with caution.
Their first time there, they saw no kids playing in or out of the house. It was on the third day of the investigation they spotted the kids and ended with similar results as the neighbors. It was during multiple encounters over the week that the men were met with upon entering the house: loud clanking sounds as if someone were banging on the walls, thuds of boots walking on the floor, the giggling of the children that led the men nowhere, and the occasional door slamming without being touched. These events were regarded as pranks the kids set up and left their pursuers more than agitated. The agency spent an additional two weeks going through their best child handlers with similar results. Concerned and irritated with lack of progress, in addition to the sudden appearance and disappearance of the children, the agency contacted the TSAB specifically requesting Fate T. Haraloawn, a former collaborator known for her success with difficult children, for assistance.
The girl as reported has purple hair running mid-length down her back wearing a yellow sundress. The boy had messy black hair wearing a white buttoned shirt and brown shorts. Both flee when pursued, appear and suddenly disappear, and play tricks on those who come after them.
Proceed with caution and if needed sedate them for easier transport.
Glancing at the picture, the house was indeed the same. I have even more reason to find him now than before. "He must be the boy in the case."
Shiro nodded. "So how do you want to approach?"
Red eyes regarded him.
"Go in quietly and if we meet with one of them try to put them at ease. Otherwise I'm looking to capture them from behind." Fate then reached into her glove compartment and took out a necklace holding a small blue cylinder. She handed it to Shiro, who looked at it curiously while accepting it. Fate explained, "This is a device like Bardiche except it's made for non-mages. It should keep you safe."
She didn't tell him it was powered by forcibly draining her magic or that she got it from the black market specifically for Shiro. The guy who made it had a sick sense of humor or more likely it was his form of revenge for all those times mages bullied him. Unfortunately, he wasn't alone in such treatment. It was extremely rare, but less than a percent of people were born non-mages. These people living in a world dominated by magic and its magical inhabitants often felt left out and were abused by pompous mages who had a superiority complex. That's why he as well as Jail Scagletti, another non-mage, invented AMFs and other anti-mage devices. This particular device just happened to take any magic it sensed nearby- whether it was a magic attack or from a mage, often times leaving him/her feeling weaker and in pain or so she was told by the vendor, and used it for the non-mages benefit. Its range and detection capability were good to so she could count on it to protect him when she was away. She hoped it didn't have to come to that. But, it was better to err on the side of caution than to regret later and it lessened her worry.
Shiro nodded and placed it around his neck where the blue cylinder started to immediately glow now that it sensed its holder was a non-mage.
Together they left the car and went up the creaking floor boards that served as steps. Before opening the door, she glanced at Shiro checking if he was ready. He nodded and with that she slowly opened it.
Her efforts to remain silent, failed as the door squeaked open on rusty hinges. She winced at the loud sound before she stepped in. Shiro followed along behind her as she conjured a small orb and sent it into the room where it hovered in the middle, giving off a gentle yellow glow. With the dim lighting, they were able to see open space with a curved double staircase leading upstairs, on the left the beginnings of what seemed like a large room, on the right another smaller room possibly a lounge, and ahead between the two staircases was an archway. It was during their cursory view of the space that the door suddenly slammed shut behind them. They both almost jumped from the sudden clapping sound echoing around the room.
"I think they know we're here." Shiro whispered.
Fate nodded. So much for quiet. She raised the power of the glow to normal, making the place flood with light; it magically traveling to fill every space in the house so that from the outside it looked like every room had a light on. Since the kids knew they were here there was no point in keeping it secret so she'd just confront them directly. Fate called into the space, her voice echoing, "We're not here to harm you!"
They heard a girl giggle the echo making it impossible to pin-point from where it originated.
"That's what he said."
A playful voice whispered into her ear. She whipped her head around to see nobody beside her. She's good. I could have sworn she was right next to me.
A boy's voice joined in, saying "play with us," before the two laughed the echoing sound taunting them.
"If we do will you come with us?" Shiro called while Fate remained quiet contemplating something, but she was secretly searching for them.
The boy and girl answered switching every couple of words flawlessly:
Find us, Find us…
In a hole…
In the dark…
Or in a tarp…
No one, no one knows where we lie…
Besides the master who has died.
They then giggled in mirth before the sound slowly faded.
Shiro glanced at Fate. "That was odd."
"Hmm. But, I guess we're playing hide and seek, and it looks like we're it."
"What about that bit about the dead master?"
"No one's lived here in years, and according to the records the last one was a family with two kids and a nanny."
"Two kids?" Shiro had to question, thinking it couldn't be a coincidence.
Fate shook her head. "They were a boy and girl, but that was a hundred years ago." While they searched the first floor she told the story of the last people who lived there. "It turns out that after their mother died from some illness their father went insane. In the day he slept and when the nanny checked on him he was always covered in dirt as if he was up all night digging. This went on for two months with no signs of improvement. She then confronted him threatening that if he wouldn't shape up she would take the kids away where they wouldn't have to see their father waste away. The man promised he would get better but never did."
She paused when they entered the kitchen. She felt something in the room, but she couldn't pin-point exactly what or where. Could this place need a magic cleansing?
It was a common case on Mid. She remembered the last time she was exposed to magic accumulation she felt off and disoriented, and crazy things happened in the place. But this felt kind of different. The temperature wasn't fluctuating between hot and cold and the energy wasn't flowing erratically everywhere. Those were the two distinct signs of magic accumulation or unbalance as some called it. But, this room just felt cold and the forceful energy she sensed was concentrated. She knew magic always concentrated when a mage gathered it for a spell. So if it was a mage why couldn't she pin-point their location? What was going on?
Suddenly, she felt a chill run down her spine and the hairs on her neck stand on end. That's when she saw cabinet doors and drawers open and slam closed repeatedly by some unseen force. She was surprised the old things didn't break from the force and that she still couldn't find the person causing it to happen. Spell firing was a sure way of finding any mage no matter where they were.
"What's going on?" Shiro asked perplexed by the strangeness in the kitchen. He didn't understand the point of enchanting the cabinetry. It wasn't harmful or scary. Although, if he didn't know strange things were explained by magic than he would admit he'd feel uneasy, but not scared only harm to his family could do that. Thus, the cluttering in the kitchen seemed purposeless, or maybe, now that he thought about it, a distraction to slow them down. But from what?
Fate answered without taking her eyes off the moving cabinetry. "I don't kno-" All movement stopped and faster than Bardiche could erect a protection spell, something slammed into her. Her body literally froze with cold and stiffened like a corpse. For a brief moment she couldn't feel her limbs or organs almost as if she were detached from her body. Almost being the operative word for she wasn't having an outer body experience, but was pretty close to it- she felt trapped by a heavy weight crushing her against a wall, constantly shoving her into it as if she would eventually go through, but all the while seeing nothing, feeling nothing concrete, and experiencing no physical sensations. Then the moment passed, and the thing that slammed in passed through, and she could feel again, so sensitively that: her arms and legs prickled then burned like when she was cold and went into a hot bath, her blood flowing through her veins pumped by each squeezing contraction of her heart, and the air rushing into her mouth rapidly going down her windpipe to inflate her lungs only to be exhaled a moment later and repeat the process. But, there were lingering emotions. She didn't know if it was that thing's own emotions leftover or her reaction to it. Regardless she experienced a choking fear and a rush, or urgency would be a better way to describe it, driving her to do something before it was too late.
Shiro heard Fate pause. Saw her, suddenly turn deathly pale. Followed by, a moment later, her color returning and breathing heavily as if she'd ran her body passed its limits instead of standing in place. Her legs gave way and he caught her before she could fall, holding her up as she tried to catch her breath, his hand soothingly rubbing circles around her back. He didn't know what happened and he hated that he couldn't stop it. It reminded him to much of that time he lay helpless in the hospital unable to do even simple things like going to the restroom on his own.
Her eyes closed waiting to feel normal again as she soaked in his comforting warmth. Slowly the desperate need for air lessened, the burning sensation in her limbs receded, and soon she felt more like herself. Opening her eyes, she stepped out of Shiro's embrace. The look of concern he gave her made her reassure him. "I'm fine now. Thank you."
Shiro nodded. "What happened?"
"I don't really know. I felt something slam into me, then I couldn't breathe." She didn't tell him the other things; she wouldn't be able to explain it anyway. She decided to change the subject. "Let's see if we can find any clues upstairs." As if nothing happened, she began walking out of the kitchen, going toward the archway they saw when they first stepped into the house. Shiro right beside her in case she needed a crutch to lean on.
*************
Nothing eventful happened for the past hour. They searched through bathrooms, closets, the occasional cracked wall big enough to fit two small children, under and behind old furniture covered in dust, bedrooms occupied by cobwebs, mice, and bugs, and other small places that children could hide.
Having reluctantly separated from Fate earlier, for he was still concerned, Shiro stood in a long forgotten storage room filled with antics and other knickknacks. The place was perfect. There were a multitude of places those kids could be hiding.
He stepped over a bat lying on the floor and began his slow search, picking up and moving things around. He coughed harshly as one particular item unleashed a cloud of dust. Of course no one was there. He placed the thing down and moved to the next.
Giggle.
He paused searching for the sound.
Giggle. "I'm not here. You can't find me."
His keen eyes searched the room, but he couldn't find from where the girl's voice was coming from.
"If you're not here then how are you talking to me?" Shiro asked while glancing around.
Giggle. "But I'm not. I'm not here. You can't find me."
"How about giving me a hint?"
Giggle. Giggle. "You're silly. Silly man." Giggle. "Find me. Find me in the hole the master knows." Giggle.
There it is again. "Who' s the master?" He gave up trying to find her with his ears it just wasn't working. If she could answer his question he could find her sooner.
His only answer was a giggle that slowly faded away.
Of course. It would be too easy if she told me.
He heard the sound of glass cracking. He looked down and moved his boot. He saw a picture. Kneeling down he picked it up. His eyebrows scrunched together as he scrutinized the picture.
In it, a little boy with messy black hair and girl with mid-length purple hair were hugging a blond haired woman.
Shiro's lips turned into a grim line.
The kids in the picture and the ones he and Fate were searching for were one and the same. So did they live here? And was that woman the master?
****************
Fate slowly opened the skewed door to yet another bedroom. But, this one was different from the rest. Must have been the master's. Fate thought as she glanced around the room.
It was large. On her left was a large window taking up three quarters of the wall surrounded by what must have been soft white drapes. Now grayish and black in some spots from dirt and frayed with some holes from the moths or other things that were eating it away. On her right, opposite the window, was a white-gray dresser holding some family pictures, a toppled candle, and a large mirror the length of the dresser reflecting the window.
Near the wall, farthest from her, taking up a good portion of the space, was an old cloud shaped bed that, if it weren't for the layers of dust and probably bed bugs that must have taken residence, looked rather inviting and soft as its shape suggested. On the same wall, hanging above the bed was a faded painting of a brown haired man fondly looking at the woman wrapped in his arms as she with a gentle maternal smile on her young face warmly held two infants. It was such a touching painting. Fate couldn't help but think of her own family; Nanoha and herself with Vivio and her soon to be new baby brother or sister replacing the people in the painting. Her lips twitched at the image, but didn't become a smile. Her mind, focused on her job, didn't allow it.
She walked toward the most obvious hiding spot. The bed. Not minding the dirt that was getting on her uniform and hands- she already felt and was dirty, the constant itch in her throat from breathing in so much dust was reminder enough- she knelt down on hands and knees and scanned under it. She saw, as was becoming the common occurrence, no one. She sighed.
As she started to stand, a cool draft brushed against her legs. Her muscles cramped, the sharp pain making her wince and forced her back down. Her hands immediately grasped at her calves, rubbing and kneading them to relax. It was strange. Her body kept in tip top shaped never cramped up so suddenly and for something so trivial.
She sighed again and muttered, "This is not my night."
"E…" it was like a whisper of the wind. Fate didn't pay attention to it.
"E.."
"Eli.."
Now her ears perked as the sound of wind turned into a word.
"ja… Elija"
She looked up from her calves. Her heart thudded in surprise as a pair of brown eyes stared at her.
Shiro took out the picture from the framing. He'd show it to Fate. She knew more than he did, and maybe now they'd be able to find those kids. Slipping the picture into his back pocket he stood up and set out to find her.
When he stepped into the hall he found the little boy waving at him before turning and rushing off down the hall.
"Hey! Wait!" Shiro ran after the boy. He followed him down the hall, turning into another corner, and into another hall. What was strange and discomforting was that no matter how fast he ran, and he was going pretty fast now, he couldn't seem to close the distance between them. Shouldn't he, an adult, have already caught up to a child no older than eight?
I forgot. Even though he's a kid he can use magic. He sighed, wishing for some right about now.
He saw the boy run through a wall and shivered. It was too disconcerting. He'd never seen humans go through walls and it wasn't pleasant to watch. Slowing down, he looked for a door and found one.
This reminds me of that time I saw ghost movie with Momoko back when we were still dating. Right when the guy opens the door the ghost possesses him. If he didn't know better he'd say the house was haunted. Cabinets opening and closing on their own, Fate's sudden illness, boys going through walls, all those events practically screamed ghost and haunting. But, that couldn't be it because magic could do all those things.
So without a second's pause he opened the door.
*****************
A figure of a man the same as in the picture lay on the bed looking at her longingly. As she sat staring at him, as he stared mesmerized at her, she noticed she could see him and through him to the wall behind him. The other thing she noticed was the bed he was lying on held no indentation of a body resting on it. It was as if he wasn't even there.
She knew of magic that allowed a body to go through objects, but she hadn't encountered someone that could remain ethereal and look like he was resting on solid mass; until now.
"Elija" The ghostly figure warmly endeared, reaching a hand to her face to rest on her cheek. But, she didn't feel it. She only felt cold and her muscles on her face stiffening.
"I've missed you so." He whispered as he intruded her personal space even more.
Fate hurriedly pulled away, her body scooting back since her legs couldn't stand yet.
The man looked at her hurt. Pain laced his words and eyes as he whined, "Why?! Why do you abandon me?!" Then in a whispered moan, "don't you love me anymore?"
Fate shook her head as she said gently, "I'm sorry. You have me confused with someone else." Her hand discreetly rubbed at her remaining calf, the other was already fine, hoping to get the feeling back soon. She didn't want to remain grounded if this man was going to attack.
"Confused?" The man looked questioning. He then smiled, "I'm not confused. My beloved." He moved off the bed and Fate noticed he had no legs. In their place was a shimmering whip-like tail and the man floated toward her. "You left me. But no matter. I've finally found you." He moved to hug her, "We can be together again. Like we promised, Elija." He called her name tenderly.
The man's arms wrapped around her were cold, so very cold that wherever he touched her body stiffened. She didn't think he was doing it on purpose, but if she allowed this to continue she was afraid she won't be able to move. "My name's Fate. I'm an enforcer from the TSAB. I'm here looking for two kids." She explained.
The man moved back a bit, smiling fondly. "Our kids. Our kids are fine Elija. They're playing right now."
He's not even listening to me. "No sir. They're not our kids. I'm not Elija. I'm Fate from-"
The man silenced her. His eyes hazing over as his ethereal lips connected with Fate's warm flesh.
Even though she couldn't feel it, she found herself unable to breath.
Fate's eyes widened. She tried moving her arms to break free from his hold, but couldn't move them. She tried kicking, and to her relief found she could move her leg. That was soon dashed as she noticed her leg simply went through him without fazing him at all. What is he? She was very confused and began noticing something else. It's cold
The kiss grew longer and with each passing second Fate grew colder.
I need to do something. She tried summoning her magic.
Nothing happened. She tried again and again with the same results.
Panic grew. This guy somehow was able to disable her completely both magically and physically, and what made it worse she didn't know how; she couldn't feel any restraints. What could she attack? What could she do?
The man continued kissing her oblivious to her pain or struggling. He finally found her his Elija, and all he wanted was to feel the love they once shared before she so cruelly left him.
Cold… cold... It hurts. Fate's eyes were starting to swim and she had trouble concentrating. What's worse is this guy didn't even need to stop to breath and her lungs the only warmth she could feel in her body were burning for oxygen.
Just as suddenly he let go, and turned away from her. She collapsed onto her back, her lungs greedily sucking in air. Her body quickly warming up now that the man was no longer touching her.
From her prone position she saw the ghostly figure rush about the room frantically while muttering, "my kids… my kids… I must get them… She won't take them away from me… my kids… Elija… we'll meet again… My dear Elija… I'll see you again with our kids… She won't take them from me."
Fate blinked in confusion the guy made no sense. First he almost kissed her to death because he thought she was this Elija person and now he was sputtering nonsense. Is he delusional? She didn't really want to know. But, if he was after the kids she was searching for. She'd better follow him.
The ghost rushed out of the room, not even paying attention to her.
Slowly Fate moved to her feet and was pleased to find her body working properly again. I better do this at a distance. If I get to close my body will freeze again.
*****************
Shiro stepped into the children's room. There were two beds an arm's length from each other dolls and stuffed animals on one side of the room and action figures and toy space ships on the other side. But, the most astonishing aspect was that both the boy and girl were lying in bed presumably sleeping.
He was walking up to them when he heard a faint muttering grow louder from behind him, and felt the necklace Fate gave him grow warm.
"my kids… my kids… She won't have them… my kids…"
A man rushed into the room, not even seeing or paying attention to Shiro who was standing in plain sight. His eyes trained on his kids lying in bed.
"Who are you?"
The man didn't answer. He didn't seem to hear Shiro's question.
The man moved toward his kids while Shiro moved toward him to get his attention. As he moved closer to the man the necklace grew hot and he felt an urge to back off.
"Lily… Sebastian. Come on wake up. Daddy needs you to wake up." The man shook each of their shoulders to wake them up.
Shiro stood on the sidelines, feeling like he was watching a movie. Daddy? So these kids aren't lost?
The boy and girl groggily sat up rubbing their eyes. The boy yawned while the girl got the man's attention, "Daddy?"
"Come. Daddy wants to play a game."
That got the boy's attention, his eyes becoming more alert. "Really?! What game?"
"We're going to play hide and seek with the nanny."
"Really?! Nanny's playing too?"
The man nodded and helped his kids into some clothes: a white button shirt and brown shorts for his son and a yellow sundress for his daughter.
Shiro continued watching. The necklace wouldn't allow him to get close and he couldn't get their attention even though he tried to the whole time. They just continued conversing amongst themselves completely ignoring him, like he wasn't even there.
"Come. I have the perfect hiding spot." The man took each of their eager hands and hurriedly left the room.
He stared after them, wondering what the heck was going on.
***************
Fate saw the man rush out of a room with the kids, she was looking for.
She called after him and the kids, but they ignored her.
"Don't bother. I've tried."
She looked questioningly at Shiro, who stepped out of the room.
"I don't know what's going on. But, it's like watching a movie. They each have a role and set of lines to act out everything else simply doesn't exist. That's at least the feeling I get when I watch them."
Fate nodded. "Then I want to see how this movie plays out."
Shiro nodded.
The trio with Shiro and Fate behind at a comfortable distance, eventually left the house and walked into the woods. Lucky for Shiro and Fate, for the others didn't seem to notice, the storm outside stopped a while ago. The sky was now cloudless allowing the moon to shine through with a guiding light as they walked on the muddy ground.
"Fate?"
"hmm"
"what's the rest of the story?"
She glanced at him confused.
He clarified, "of the people who lived here."
"Oh, um…"
Shiro helped her find her position in the story. "You left off with the nanny threatening to take the kids if the master didn't get better."
Fate nodded. "One night after many months passed, the nanny tried to leave with the kids. But, when she went to their rooms they were gone. She searched the house and grounds into the morning with no luck. Worried, she went to their father, and found him as usual covered in dirt except for a hole through his head. The nanny called investigators to find the missing children and report her master's death. They determined the man committed suicide and the kids after days of searching were never found."
"Is that all?"
Fate nodded. "The case has remained an unsolved mystery ever since."
"Hmm. Well I think we're about to solve it." He muttered.
Fate glanced at him. "What makes you say that?"
Shiro stepped over a tree root looking to trip him up. "When I was in the room with them that guy," he nudged his head toward the man walking in front, "talked about playing hide and seek with the nanny."
"So you think they and the people in the story are the same?" Fate questioned skeptically.
"The evidence just keeps piling up in that direction."
"Shiro that's-" Fate began a counter argument.
Shiro finished the sentence for her "happened years ago. The master is dead and the kids would have to be older now."
Fate nodded.
"That's all true if you think their alive." He saw she wasn't going to interrupt and listened with an open mind giving him a shot. So he continued, "At first I thought all the weirdness had something to do with magic. Then I heard their conversation and saw something that made me remember a movie I once saw about ghosts. Once I thought about that all the pieces seemed to fall into place. The conversation being similar to the story, their sudden lack of interest in us when before we were asked to find them, the kitchen cabinets, you're sudden illness and this" He took out the picture he found from his back pocket and gave it to her.
Fate looked at the photo, conjuring up a small electrical orb on her finger tip for better light. Her eyes widened in shock. The appearance of the kids in the picture was an exact match to the depiction she had, and judging by the picture quality she could tell it was made with an old camera somewhere around 80 to 100 years ago. That clinched the deal for her. She could now understand why her body at least failed her she didn't know how the ghost interfered with her magic. But, at least she had something now.
"Okay. Their ghosts." She put the picture in her jacket pocket, anticipating the end to an age old case. With one additional question. How come the kids were never found? The solution she was hoping to find it soon.
As they crossed a small stream she suddenly felt the air shift. There were no vibrations it was just still. It's a magic dead zone. In these places no magic or magic sensors ever worked, rendering a mage powerless and just like a non-mage. If those ghosts were to attack they'd be helpless. Fate shook her head in derision. It's no different than before. Magic didn't work on them anyway.
She noticed the ghosts stop.
"Hide here. Nanny will never find you." The man pointed to the ground that had a slight mound. He then crouched down and hugged his children giving them each a kiss.
"Where are you going daddy?"
He smiled gently at his daughter. "Daddy needs to find his own hiding place. Okay. So get in."
The kids nodded and their ghosts fell into the mound disappearing.
"Okay daddy's just going to cover you so Nanny won't see you."
"Okay Daddy! We love you!" The two voices of the kids echoed lovingly in the space.
"Daddy loves you too!" He then made motions of moving dirt to cover something up. After that his ghost ran passed Shiro and Fate toward the house before disappearing.
Fate stared at the mound uncontrollable tears tracking down her cheeks. She couldn't believe it. How twisted the story really was. They certainly found the kids. They were long gone; dead from the unconditional love and trust shown to their deranged father. The reason no one could find them was because of the magic dead zone, without a magic search it would be only a stroke of luck for anyone to find this secluded place. The case was solved, but it had a tragic end.
She walked toward the mound kneeling in front of it. Her hand touched the warm earth, trying her best to comfort them. "We found you." She whispered her voice a hoarse with emotion. "I'm sorry it took so long. You can rest in peace now."
"Thank you."
The one hundred year long game of hiding seek finally came to an end and the children could finally rejoin their mother.
Her eyes lifted from the ground seeing the little boy and girl standing on their grave, holding hands, and smiling at her with a great sense of relief.
Fate nodded while she wiped some of the streaming tears away. She smiled gently at them. "You're welcome."
Suddenly, she had to turn away from them and shield her eyes.
A bright golden light appeared in front of her illuminating the space. When the light dimmed some and her eyes adjusted she saw an angelic looking woman with a gentle smile.
The two children looked behind them. Pure joy radiating on their face as they rushed toward the woman hands outstretched. The woman with warmth in her motherly smile knelt down and hugged them, turning their ethereal bodies golden. She then glanced toward Fate and Shiro and silently nodded in gratitude. They returned the gesture and waved as the kids glowing with warmth waved goodbye.
The light then ascended toward the heavens before disappearing.
The one hundred year long game of hide and seek finally came to an end and the children were finally with their mother.
Fate wiped the last of her tears. Happy that after so long the kids could rest peacefully. She turned to leave the place when she suddenly found herself in a warm hug. She stood a moment before her arms without hesitance went around the older man's back. No words needed to be exchanged for now this warmth was enough.
****************
Slowly Fate and Shiro made their way into the house to the family they missed even more after that ordeal. Fate went softly into Vivio's room as Shiro went to see his daughter.
She smiled softly at her daughter's sleeping face. She'd been aching to hold her and now she could. Her long arms gently wrapped around the small body and she felt that ach lessen replaced by the love she held for her. Her nose breathed in the comforting scent of strawberries and cherries of her daughter's favorite shampoo, and she was finally able to relax.
"Love you." She whispered to her sleeping daughter before kissing the side of her head.
Nanoha stared at Fate as she entered their bedroom.
"What happened? Dad was acting weird." She was sleeping when she suddenly felt arms that weren't her wife's, but the strong arms of her father wrap around her hugging her close as if she were going to disappear, and he hadn't let go for a long while. He then kissed her good night before leaving like he used to do when she was younger.
Fate got in bed. "I'll tell you, but not now. Just let me hold you okay." She then proceeded to do just that. Her body conforming to Nanoha's easily as her nose buried into her rich chocolate brown hair inhaling her scent that brought to mind a tropical waterfall- gentle and soothing with that soft zing of power. It suited her perfectly.
Nanoha relaxed into her wife. Her hands covering the ones wrapped around hers, giving Fate the peace she desired. Whatever happened on this mission must have been a doozy.
**********
The following day an exocerist, a rare profession on Mid-Childa came to the house to purify the remaining resident. After that the house was finally torn down.
Also, the unresolved case of the missing kids was finally closed and put to rest.
The former nanny now with her own children, already grown and with kids of their own, was relieved to hear the kids in her care so long ago were finally found. That dark spot of uncertainty in her heart never did leave her, but now she could rest assured that they were finally at peace and reunited with their mother. She looked at the blue sky a faint image of a young Sebastian and Lily playing ball appeared only to her eyes and her slightly wrinkled face gave them a warm smile. Her attention soon shifted to her grandchild pulling on her dress.
"Come on grandma! Let's go play!" The young girl then proceeded to grab her grandma's hand and rushed with her to the tree holding a swing, her grandma chuckling at her exuberance
AN:
That's my hand at horror. Although I don't think it was that scary. Then again the focus of the story is on loving family relationships. Although here we have a dark psychotic side to love contrasted with a growing bond between Fate and Shiro. Well its more of Fate getting used to the idea of having a second... or is that third set of parents? Shiro and Momoko already think of her as a daughter that's why they get annoyed in an affectionate way with her stubborn refusal to call them mom and dad. But, you guys already know that.
Anyway, I'm satisfied with this chapter it has a lot of elements I didn't think about form. The only thought I had at the time when I tried writing this chapter was to follow a reviewer's suggestion (sorry I don't have you name I have to go back and look it up) of having Nanoha's parents at their kids work place. So, with that in mind I thought let's have Fate take Shiro on a mission. The problem was Fate would never put her family in danger, and being an enforcer could be dangerous, had at times long drone out missions, and magic battles and unfortunately Shiro can't use magic. So, I was stuck for a long time. Then after seeing something about ghosts. I thought that could work. It's not too dangerous, it would be a short mission, and hopefully they would be able to bond. So, this chapter was born with some unexpected qualities, but I still like it.
Also, for those of you who still haven't voted the poll is still open.
Hope you enjoyed it!