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 7: Raging Heart ~ ***

"Sorry Fate-chan. I didn't mean to worry you like that. Nyahaha…"

Nanoha was in her room, sitting on her futon with half the blanket covering her legs and the other half scrunched up at her waist. Long brown hair flowed freely down her back, her normal waitress attire in a neat pile near the window. A short sleeved pink robe adorned her figure, something more comfortable and much cooler than her white apron and full length yukata. Two blondes sat on either side of the futon, both of their attentions on the brunette between them.

Fate sighed, the tension in her shoulders slowly easing. She offered Nanoha a mug of cool water, of which Nanoha gratefully took from her and drank.

"Thankfully it was nothing serious" Shamal said as she packed away her tools in her bag. Rein stood next to Shamal's bag on the matted floor, looking up in concern at Nanoha. Vita and Signum had gone ahead to investigate the magical outburst from earlier.

"Just a small case of exhaustion" Shamal continued. "With a day of rest, you'll be right as rain Takamachi-san. Or so the western saying goes." The Empress' attendant smiled at the younger girl.

"Did you hear that Nanoha?" Fate turned from Shamal to Nanoha. "A day of rest. Not sneaking down to the kitchen the moment Shamal-sama leaves to start baking again."

The Takamachi residence resided on the second floor of the Midori-ya Café. A stairwell in the kitchen led up to the Takamachi home. While not the most spacious of accommodations, it suited their needs well enough. A room for Nanoha and Miyuki. Another for Kyouya. And a third room for the elder Takamachis. The rooms had since been rearranged with their parents' deaths. Kyouya took over their parents' room for himself with Miyuki moving into his room. That left Nanoha with the last room. With Kyouya now the head of the household, that arrangement made the most sense.

"Fate-chan! Mou!" Nanoha pouted, crossing her arms over her chest. "You make it sound like I'm obsessed with baking or something."

"Obsessed?" Fate said incredulously. "Not at all. You only live, breathe and eat pastries."

"I do not!" Nanoha huffed, cheeks reddening in embarrassment. "I just like sweet things…" she murmured.

Shamal giggled, watching the two friends in amusement. The green robed attendant could see why Hayate cared so much for them. They were truly precious friends, ones that could bring a smile to a stranger's face without any effort. It was such a tragedy that they had to be separated from each other. It broke Shamal's heart just thinking about it. Hayate desperately longed to see her friends. If only there was a way she could without anyone being put in danger…

Fate chuckled, smiling. Rein tilted her head to the side, looking up at Fate with an eyebrow raised.

"W-what?" Nanoha said, noticing the blonde's eyes lingering on her.

Before Nanoha could even react, Fate pulled her into a hug and held her tightly. "Don't you ever scare me like that again" the blonde whispered, burying her face in Nanoha's shoulder. Fate trembled slightly. "I don't know what I'd do if I lost you too…"

Nanoha sat frozen, momentarily stunned. But she soon recovered and wrapped her arms around the blonde, patting her back. "Sorry Fate-chan…" Nanoha smiled sadly, resting her head against her best friend's.

Hands went up to Rein's mouth as tears welled up in the little guardian's eyes. Shamal glanced down at the tiny one, not quite understanding the reaction from Rein, but said nothing and continued to pack her bag. Rein's heart ached, ached in rhythm with Nanoha's and Fate's aching hearts. The two best friends were still feeling the loss of her master. Someone who lived, yet not at the same time. They mourned for their lost friend Hayate. Shamal rose to her feet, the movement separating Nanoha and Fate.

"Shamal-sama?"

"Oh, don't mind me" Shamal said, waving at the pair dismissively. "I should get going now. I've taken up more than enough of your time."

"Don't say that Shamal-sama" Fate said standing up. "We were very lucky that you happened to be visiting the Café at the time. Signum-sama is fortunate to know a wonderful healer like yourself." Fate smiled.

"I'm glad I could be of help" Shamal said with a smile.

Violet eyes looked to a twin pair of violet eyes. "Now remember Takamachi-san, you need to rest for a whole day before even thinking about stepping foot into the kitchen again. Understood?"

"Hai!"

"I'll walk you out Shamal-sama" Fate said making her way to the door and opening it.

"Come back soon Shamal-sama!" Nanoha called after the woman. "I still owe you my triple chocolate cake." A wink.

Rein, floating next to Shamal's bag, opened her mouth to interject. But with ninja-like speed, Shamal grabbed the little guardian out of the air and stuffed her into her bag pretending to tuck a loose item in safely. "Add a slice of Angel cake with that, and you have yourself a deal."

"Deal!" Nanoha said giggling.

Fate smiled. "I'll be right back Nanoha."

"Hai."

The door to Nanoha's bedroom slid shut. Nanoha continued to stare at the door, until the soft padding of feet faded away down the stairs. A soft chime interrupted her silent reverie, a ball of red light glowing just near the base of Nanoha's neck.

"Master?"

A hand reached up and pulled out the source of the red light, hidden beneath her robe. A red magatama jewel hung from a black corded rope, intricately braided and woven into a tight knit pattern.

"I'm alright Raging Heart." Nanoha held the red gem in her hand as she looked at it. "Just… a bit startled..." Nanoha looked out her bedroom window. "Was that…"

"Yes." the red magatama jewel chimed. "Another magical explosion was detected."

Nanoha closed her fist around the red jewel. "Was it the same one that woke you up?"

A pause. "No, my Master."

"So then… that one is still out there…" Nanoha opened her hand, violet eyes once again staring at the red magatama jewel.

"It is possible."

Nanoha closed her eyes.

~ Flashback to 2 years ago ~

"Watch out!"

Nanoha tackled Vita to the ground just as a brilliant white light engulfed them both.

"Protection!" a voice chimed.

There was an explosion of sound and a rush of wind before things went quiet again.

"What in the…"

Violet eyes cracked open, Nanoha still tense and rigid as the expected pain and agony from a magical attack had yet to happen. Nanoha knew what a Spirit Seed was. And she knew of the horrific powers they held. But instead of finding herself with a life threatening burn or wound, she instead found herself and Vita encapsulated in a pink barrier. And it was that same barrier which had protected them from the magical blast. Vita was out cold next to her. And the assassin with the Spirit Seed could only gawk at them.

A red light drew her eyes downward and Nanoha soon found herself entranced by the glowing red magatama jewel hanging off of her black corded necklace. It was a gift from Yunno, a type of good luck charm of sorts. With the Spirit Seeds being part of every day life, a growing trend started among the jewellers in the country. Multi-coloured magatama jewels (except blue which was the colour of real Spirit Seeds) started popping up everywhere as good luck charms. Made of glass or crystal, it became all the rage with the younger generations who were superstitious enough to believe in things like that. Yunno had given a red crystal one to Nanoha for her last birthday.

"It's warm…" Nanoha murmured, holding the glowing gem in her open palm.

"The wind is in the sky, and the stars are in the heavens…" the red jewel chimed.

Nanoha found herself unable to pull her gaze away from the gem. The words it spoke to her seemed so familiar, like whispers in a dream. She knew them. Her heart knew them. Even despite having never heard them ever before until now. It waited for her.

"And a resolute heart beats within my chest" Nanoha responded in a trance-like mantra. Half hooded eyes stared at the pulsing gem, an incredible sense of calm and warmth spreading over her.

The red magatama jewel chimed in recognition to its masters words. All that was left was for Nanoha to call it by its name. The name that only she would know.

"This magic in my hand…"

Violent eyes snapped open and bore down at the stupefied assassin, the blue Spirit Seed in his hand reacting to the red light expanding from Nanoha's own gem.

"Raging Heart!" Nanoha shouted.

A brilliant pink light engulfed the area shortly followed by a loud scream. When the light faded, Nanoha collapsed to the ground unconscious, her red magatama jewel in her hand. Vita awoke moments later to find the last of the assassin crumpled on the ground, his Spirit Seed missing. Blue eyes wandered over to the form next to her.

"NANOHA!"

~ End Flashback ~

Nanoha opened her eyes, once again looking down at the red magatama gem in her hand.

"We will find it, my Master." the red gem chimed.

"Hai…" Nanoha whispered, before clutching the gem to her chest.

Rein's head suddenly popped out the side of Shamal's bag. The blonde attendant had not noticed the movement, as she was talking with Fate on their way down the stairs.

"I'm not sure what I would've done had you not shown up when you did Shamal-sama" Fate said quietly. "Thank you."

Rein shook her head. The little guardian was so sure she had felt something just now. But nothing looked out of the ordinary. Rein sat back down inside Shamal's bag among the healer's instruments, sighing. Perhaps she was just imagining things.

"I'm glad I was here" Shamal said, the every present smile on her face yet again. "It must have been very scary for yo-"

The short haired blonde gasped suddenly, finding a shadowed figure before them in the doorway to the cafe. "S-Signum-san!" Shamal exclaimed.

"S-Signum-sama?" The sudden appearance by the pink haired samurai had also startled Fate. Last that Fate saw, Signum and her shorter companion were hurrying out of the Midori-ya, already late for some appointment of theirs. The blonde didn't really get a good look at the smaller one to know who she was though.

"My apologies" Signum said with a curt bow. "I meant not to surprise you."

Shamal looked at the samurai, face twisting into concern. "Signum-san, what is it? What's wrong?"

Signum's lips pressed into a fine line. "Is Takamachi-san still awake? I must… talk to her…"

Fate's brows furled in fear. As stoic as Signum was, Fate could just make out a subtle undertone to her voice. A grave one. "W-what is it?"

Signum clenched the hilt of her Levantine in a tight fist. "There's been… an accident… at the Takamachi dojo" the captain of the samurai said. Accident? Who was she kidding? They were attacked.

"Was anyone hurt?" Shamal said, hands covering her mouth in shock. Even Rein popped her head out of Shamal's bag in concern.

"H-hai…" Signum's voice faltered. "Takamachi Kyouya and Takamachi Miyuki."

A/N: I know the true name of Nanoha's weapon is Raising Heart, and due to whatever reason, in some translations it came out to be 'Raging Heart.' Personally I think 'Raging Heart sounds cooler, and for my fanfiction purposes, it fits better for what I have in mind later on. So in my story, it shall be Raging Heart.

For those of you unfamiliar with the non-English words, I have translated them below.

Hai = Yes

For an explanation of Japanese honorifics (eg. [name]-sama), please check out: http:/en[dot]wikipedia[dot]org/wiki/Japanese_honorifics