Of Assassins, Samurai, and Magic
A/N: And the next chapter is up! I've tried to keep everyone as close as possible to their characters in the anime though I'm sure there will be a few OOC moments. Comments and reviews are much appreciated. Enjoy!
Disclaimer: The characters and the worlds I write in do not belong to me. The stories that I write are intended for entertainment purposes. I do not make any money from them.
*** ~ Chapter 6: The Ace of Aces ~ ***
"Welcome to Midori-ya Café!"
"Uwah…"
The party of three standing at the door was stunned. The Midori-ya café was absolutely filled to the brim today. People were everywhere. In the booths. At the tables. Even extra chairs had suddenly appeared to accommodate the unusually large amount of people. In fact, the small group had been waiting in line for the past fifteen minutes just to get inside, the line itself large enough to snake around the small building twice.
"Tea-chan, the booth in the corner just opened up!" said a short navy haired server as she dashed past her companion.
"Thanks Subaru!"
Violet eyes ogled the tray full of sweet delights in the girl's hand as the short haired server zipped around a few tables before depositing them in front of eager and hungry customers.
"Just the three of you?" Teana tucked a lock of orange hair behind her ear.
"Hai" the taller of the trio replied, removing the hood of her cloak. Pink locks cascaded down her back. The other two followed Signum's example and also pulled down their hoods.
"This way then Signum-sama."
"Signum… sama?" The shortest of the trio raised an eyebrow at Signum as they all followed behind the red-headed server to the booth in the corner.
"I've… stopped in a few times before…" Signum said nonchalantly, carefully choosing her words. Her eyes did not go down to meet her companion's gaze.
"Uh huh." A grin formed on the smallest one's lips.
Leave it to Signum to act like that was the most normal thing in the world for her. That being, to visit a café like this. The captain of the samurai rarely wandered around the city, unless she was on a mission of some sort. And when she was not on a mission, she would be with the Empress, as it was her duty to protect their ruler and leader. At least, that's what Signum had said before. Enjoying the simple things in life, like a nice walk in the park or eating a favourite dessert, just weren't things Signum did.
The trio sat down at the booth Teana led them too, Signum seating herself on one side of the table, with Vita and third member of their party sitting down on the side opposite the pink haired samurai. Long paper leaflets were set in front of them, bound together by a small string at the top. It was the Midori-ya Café menu.
"So what will you like to start with?" Teana pulled out a pad of paper and a thin piece of charcoal from the pocket of her apron.
"Tea" was all Signum said, not even looking at her menu.
Teana nodded, making a note on her pad, before turning to look at Signum's companions for their order.
"And whatever it is that gentleman over there is having."
Teana and Vita did a double take at Signum. Signum was not particularly a sweets type of person. Anything food related ordered outside of the imperial palace was always strictly tea. Nothing more. Signum was a rather picky eater, that fact unknown to most. And so, for the pink haired samurai to now request a piece of the sweetest triple chocolate cake known to man, Teana openly gawked at the woman. Vita too, knowing full well what the captain's preferences were.
"That looks absolutely marvellous!" the blonde next to Vita exclaimed, her violet eyes also following Signum's gaze. "What is it?"
"Heh heh" came a new voice. The arm which draped around Teana's shoulders snapped the red head out of her stupor.
"You have a good eye there ma'am" Subaru said grinning like a Cheshire cat. "That just so happens to be the greatest delicacy known to the entire world!" Subaru's eyes glazed over momentarily, the server nearly drooling when she thought about just how awesome that cake was.
"Subaru!" Teana scowled. The café was extremely busy today. None of them could afford to take a break to chat with so many customers to attend to. Especially Subaru, the girl with the attention span of a five year old. But Subaru paid Teana no heed.
Shamal brought up her hands to her mouth and gasped. "Oh my! Then I must try a piece myself!" She smiled sweetly.
Suburu gave Shamal a thumbs up. "Good choice!"
Teana sighed and scribbled on her pad.
"I want the white one!" came a high pitched squeal.
Signum, Shamal and Vita went stiff as boards, Vita's eyes widening.
"The white one?" Teana looked at Vita, thinking the voice had come from her.
Suburu looked around to the tables closest them, trying to pinpoint the white one. "Oh!" she exclaimed, another cheeky grin widening on her face. "You mean the Angel cake?" Subaru pointed to the white fluffiness on a customer's plate two tables down from them. Teana followed her gaze.
"Hai!"
Thankfully both Subaru and Teana were looking away from the trio when the high pitched reply came back. Otherwise they would have noticed Vita's lips not moving. The youngest of the customers grabbed at her cloak and held it tighter to herself. "Rein!" she hissed quietly.
With the café as noisy as it was from all of the chatting customers enjoying their treats, Vita's hiss went unnoticed by the two servers.
A soft giggle. "But I want it!" the hidden little guardian whined.
Teana turned back to look at Vita. Vita smiled wearily at her.
"The Angel cake is just wonderful, if I do say so myself." Teana smiled, quickly scribbling on her notepad Vita's order. "So, I have two orders of Triple Chocolate Fudge Cake and one Angel Cake" Teana said reading off the orders. "Signum-sama ordered tea as well. Shall I get you both some tea too?"
Before either Vita or Shamal could reply, a startled cry rang out. Teana instinctively spun around to snap at Subaru for whatever her carelessness was this time, but held her tongue when she spotted her partner standing right next to with her hands up defensively. Blue eyes wandered over to the middle of the café where they widened. A full tray of plates with desserts went flying up into the air, the server carrying them flailing as they fell backwards off balance. Teana cringed and immediately squeezed her eyes shut waiting for the loud clatter that would soon follow when the dishes crashed to the floor. But it never came.
"Sugoi Fate-san!" Subaru whooped, pumping a fist into the air. Unlike Teana, she had watched the whole thing. A blur of yellow whooshed out from the kitchen. A quick hand snatched the tray from the server's hand, deftly manoeuvring it to catch the falling plates before they smashed to the ground, while the other hand prevented the same server from taking an embarrassing spill.
"Are you alright Takamachi-san?" Fate said, helping stand the older woman on her feet. She smiled.
Vita went absolutely rigid in rage upon sight of the long blonde haired girl.
"Vita."
The only thing keeping the hammer knight from leaping across the room and tackling her opponent was Signum's stern look. Shamal put a hand on Vita's shoulder, the younger girl scowling before she crossed her arms over her chest and looked in the opposite direction.
The brunette laughed in embarrassment taking the tray from the younger girl. "Thank you Fate-chan. You're a life saver."
Fate blushed shyly. "I-it was nothing…"
"Way to go Fate-chan!" someone cheered.
"That was amazing!" another person said.
The customers in the café cheered and clapped. The blush on Fate's face deepened.
"Onee-chan."
"Eh?" Fate looked to the older Takamachi.
"Call me Onee-chan, Fate-chan."
"H-hai… Takamachi Miyuki-san."
"O-Nee-Chan" Miyuki repeated, much to Fate's embarrassment.
"Thank the gods we have Fate-san here today" Teana breathed in relief. "I'm not sure we'd make it without her." Teana looked over to Subaru who was still cheering Fate on with the rest of the customers. "Especially with this one here."
Shamal giggled.
"Subaru!" Teana bonked her partner on the head with her fist.
"Gah! Tea!" Subaru winced, rubbing her head.
"Take this to the kitchen and get back to work!" Teana shoved the paper with the trio's orders on it into Subaru's hands and hustled the navy haired girl towards the back.
"Say…" Vita said speaking up for the first time. "If Takamachi-san is out here, who's in the back?"
It was a well known fact that the older Takamachi was often found in the kitchen preparing the food. It wasn't too often the brunette ended up serving the customers herself unless there was very little to do and she was bored out of her mind. But as there were so many customers in the café today, Miyuki should have been in the back going crazy with orders.
"Ah, that would be-"
"Fate-chan!"
"Hai Nanoha!"
"Nano… ha…" Vita's head snapped back to look towards the said girl. Vita watched as Nanoha emerged from the kitchen with two fully loaded trays in her hands, plates of delicious pastries steaming enticingly having been just pulled fresh out of the oven.
"The next orders are ready."
"Hai!"
Vita sunk back into the booth, pulling her hood over her head. Shamal raised an eyebrow at the action as the younger girl tried to hide herself from the rest of the café behind Shamal's body.
"Takamachi Nanoha-san" Teana said, finishing her words from earlier. "Our Ace of Aces. Well, both she and Fate-san that is."
All of them watched as Fate took the heavily loaded trays from Nanoha, the two girls smiling at each other before parting ways. Nanoha disappeared into the kitchen once again while Fate literally danced around the café, from table to table, delivering the sweet goodies to the awaiting customers with a smile.
"Usually Miyuki-san watches over the kitchen" Teana continued, a smile on her face as she watched Fate interact with the customers. "But on occasion, Nanoha-san takes over for a day and the café literally explodes with people like today."
Teana shrugged. "I don't know how word gets around, but before we know it, everyone is practically pushing their way in to try Nanoha-san's pastries. You won't find anywhere else which makes it better."
"So that's why you were so insistent on coming today" Shamal said cheekily as she looked at Signum.
Blue eyes widened before Signum quickly looked to the side, a faint blush on her cheeks. "I-it was just a coincidence Takamachi-san so happened to be in the kitchen today."
"I see." Shamal chuckled. Signum was absolutely adorable! It wasn't too often one got to tease the captain of the samurai.
CRASH!
Teana face palmed and sighed heavily. "SU-BA-RU!"
"It was an accident Tea! I swear!"
Teana sighed again, shaking her head. "Someone will be back with your orders shortly" she said before disappearing deeper into the café to serve more customers.
"Subaru-chan is so clumsy!" Rein poked her head out from Vita's cloak and giggled.
"You!" Vita grabbed the mini guardian and shoved her back inside her cloak before anyone saw her. "Are you trying to get caught!"
"Vita-chan is right" Signum said, in that commanding yet calm tone of hers. "We promised Ha-" Signum cleared her throat. "We promised not to cause any trouble."
"But we won't get into trouble" Rein stated, flying out from under Vita's cloak to land on the table. "No one can see me but you three. I'm invisible!"
"E-eh?"
Everyone jumped at the sound of a new voice next to them. Fate stood next to their table, with a tray of mugs filled with hot tea in one hand, staring directly at Rein on the table. Signum, Shamal, and Vita all froze, suppressed terror on all of their faces. Even Rein froze, the little guardian swallowing nervously under narrowing maroon coloured eyes. But then Fate blinked and shook her head.
"Sorry, I thought I saw something. But I guess not."
The knights all sighed with relief as Fate deposited a mug in front of each one of them, the mugs of tea just missing Rein as they were placed on the table. Whether that was a conscious thing or just pure luck, they didn't know. Rein for one, was thankful not to be squished by a hot mug of tea. As much as she was invisible to common folk, she didn't fancy the idea of getting smooshed because of it.
"Your orders will be here shortly. If you need anything in the mean time, please don't hesitate to call on me." And with that, Fate smiled and then disappeared just like Teana did to serve other customers.
Rein wearily fell back on her romp and breathed heavily. "For a moment there, I actually thought she saw me. Hehehe…"
"That was rather… exciting…" Shamal commented, a hand over her still rapidly beating heart. She giggled. "But even so, I can definitely see why all of you love this place. It's just wonderful."
Shamal's gaze washed over the interior of the Midori-ya café. It was a simple enough establishment. The kitchen was at the back, a single wall separating it from the seating area. There was a rectangular opening in that wall, allowing customers to see through to the back and into the kitchen. Though with small curtains covering up the upper half of the opening, all one really saw was the steaming hot delicacies that were pulled out of the oven and left to cool before serving. There was also a hint of white hustling around occasionally, that being Nanoha's apron as the girl buzzed around the kitchen like a bee.
Along the outer walls, booths lined up around the perimeter, seating up to four people at once. A row of two-seater tables bordered the booths, with the rest of the space taken up by tables that could seat up to four people. If needed, tables could be dragged together for larger parties that may visit the café.
On the walls hung paintings from local artists, and very good ones at that. As Hayate was looking to spruce up the imperial palace a bit, Shamal made a note of several of the artist's names to seek them out later. Surely they would love to do a commission for the Empress sometime.
The light in the cafe was sufficient, not too bright and not too dim. The waiting staff was truly precious, each one of them having their own unique quarks about them, both good and bad. Yet even so, they were all equally as friendly which truly made this place as wonderful as it was. While this eatery was smaller than most in the middle district, the charm and comfort of the place was by far the best Shamal had ever experienced anywhere in the city.
"It's too bad she… couldn't be here too today" Shamal said quietly. "She would have loved it. To see them again..."
Signum nodded silently at Shamal's statement. Hayate would have truly loved to be here with them. But such things were just not possible. If only there was another way-
A soft rumbling passed through the area, no one in the café noticing it except for Signum, Shamal, Rein and Vita. All of them went ramrod straight, a soft chiming heard as their hidden weapons alerted them to what they feared had come to pass. A burst of magic. A lot of it. And close by too.
Vita gritted her teeth. Of all the time for another fight to break out! The four companions rose to their feet, Rein floating up into the air to hover near Signum's shoulder. Signum hastily tossed coins on the table to pay for their desserts that had yet to come. But before they got any further, a loud clatter in the kitchen stilled the noisy air of the café, followed by a panicked voice.
"Nanoha!"
Vita's heart dropped. No! The youngest knight took off before the others could even blink, dodging tables and customers with an amazing grace before sliding to a halt in the doorway of the kitchen. No!
"Nanoha!"
Fate clutched to an unconscious Nanoha, trays and broken dishes that once held desserts scattered in a circle around the two girls. The blonde was shaking her friend, the brunette limp and unmoving in her arms. Fate was screaming Nanoha's name over and over again, but Nanoha did not wake.
"Na…noha…" Vita's voice got caught in her throat. "NANOHA!"
A/N: For those of you unfamiliar with the non-English words, I have translated them below.
Hai = Yes
Sugoi = Amazing
For an explanation of Japanese honorifics (eg. [name]-sama), please check out: http:/en[dot]wikipedia[dot]org/wiki/Japanese_honorifics