Of Assassins, Samurai, and Magic

A/N: Merry Christmas everyone! And for those of you who don't celebrate it, Happy Holidays! :) In the spirit of the holidays (and because I have no idea what my schedule will be like in the next few days), I'm posting this chapter up early. ^^ Enjoy!

For those of you who left unsigned reviews, see my replies below:

kris-tim - Thanks for the review. ^^ This was admittedly one of my shorter chapters, but nevertheless, Nanoha scaring Yunno senseless was so worth it. XD Carim and Hayate will be making an appearance in the next couple of chapters, fear not. Along with moving along the plot that I know some of you have been asking about. ;) In a previous chapter, the one near the beginning where Nanoha collapsed, that's where I revealed how she came to get Raging Heart. I haven't thought about exploring how the others got their weapons, though I could possibly do that as one shots later after the story ends. I just know it won't be possible to include them all in this particular story. Enjoy this next chapter. ^^

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 24: Don't Tell ~ ***

"Fate, I'm not sure how to tell you this, so I'll just say it. I'm your father."

Fate walked down the road silently, her wine coloured eyes looking ahead but her mind wandering elsewhere.

"Your mother was Precia Testerossa, an archaeologist like me. We met in Italy, studying at the same school, and eventually fell in love."

It had all started that night, many weeks ago, when doubts of who she was, reemerged. Like an invisible itch that she could not scratch, they slowly ate away at her, making her question things she thought she knew. Making her question herself.

"Soon after, we were married. And a year later, Precia gave birth to twins. Alicia, your older sister. And you, Fate." A smile. "Both of you were the liveliest girls we knew, always getting into trouble together."

For weeks now, she had kept that incident to herself. Only Lindy and Chrono knew of Jail's visit, and only they would know of that visit. They had spoken not a word about it since, telling no one else, her mother and brother respectfully allowing Fate to figure out things on her own. Fate was thankful of the space they were giving her.

"Due to our work, it wasn't unusual for Precia to take you both on archaeological digs with her. They were safe, small dig sites, a place with a lot of people around to make sure neither of you got into any trouble while your mother worked. Sadly, that would mean we'd be apart from time to time. Our research led us in different directions, taking us to opposite ends of the country."

For weeks now, she battled with herself over the things he said to her. Things about her family. Things about herself. Things she could not remember.

"One day however, there was an accident at the dig site where you, your mother and your sister were. By the time I heard about it and rushed over there, your mother was already in the hospital and both of you… were gone…"

The package in Fate's hands crinkled, her white knuckled fists trembling. She bit her lip, burgundy coloured eyes filled with untold pain. Lindy had sent her into the marketplace to pick up a dress she had custom ordered for a party coming up. It was an easy enough request, Fate needing only take a fifteen minute walk to the marketplace and then another fifteen minute walk back home. All throughout the errand however, Fate's body was on auto pilot, while her mind swirled in turmoil.

"Your mother wasn't the same after that day. The night before she was to come home, she disappeared from the hospital, never to be seen again. I wouldn't find out until much later that she had come here, and was at the heart of the Garden of Time incident."

Fate had kept all of this from Nanoha, pretending as if the meeting had never happened in the first place. It wasn't that she didn't trust Nanoha with this. Fate just wasn't sure she trusted herself with this. But as the weeks bore on, the silence became overwhelming. Fate felt herself crumble more and more under the secrecy, the blonde having half a mind just to rush over to the Midori-ya Café to pull Nanoha aside and tell her everything.

"I don't know how it happened, but I believe the Spirit Seeds had something to do with you being saved. And I think Precia thought so too, which is why she came here to find that out. Sadly, it didn't turn out as peaceful as both of us had hoped. No one could have foreseen what happened next."

In the days that followed Jail's visit, Fate became restless, unable to sleep, and having no appetite. She even found it hard to enjoy the simple things in life, something which usually came easy to her. The weight of Jail's appearance, and confession, was a heavy burden to bear for the young Fate.

"That is why I continue to study them. To find out what happened that day. To get back the precious moments and memories that was stolen from me. From us. I know so much time has been lost, and we can never get that back. But if you're willing, and I hope you are, I want to make up for all of that lost time and be your father again. Will you allow me to do that Fate?"

"KUSO!"

RIP!

Lindy's dress unceremoniously fluttered to the ground, the package wrappings still held tightly in both of Fate's hand's. The blonde squeezed her eyes shut in an attempt to calm her breathing, which was now came out in raspy gasps.

"Kuso…"

Fate's hands dropped to her sides, her fists going limp. The ripped packaging dropped to the ground soundlessly. Fate sighed. As much as she didn't want to admit it, she was not the same person she was as a little girl. She was not the one that Jail, if his words were true, that her father thought she would be. And that thought alone made her feel conflicted. Like she let her father down. What would her life have been like if her mother and sister were still alive? What would have life been like if they were all still together?

"Che." Fate shook her head, internally berating herself. She shouldn't be thinking like that. Wallowing in her own self pity. Fate was Fate. That's what Nanoha always told her. Only one person could be Fate, and that was her. Nanoha…

She needed to talk to Nanoha. The brunette would know what to do. Looking down at the ground, Fate grimaced. "Ahh…" Fate bit her lip picking up Lindy's now dirty dress. "Kaa-san won't be very happy about this…"

"Stop thief!"

Fate's head shot up at the voice.

"Someone stop him!"

Darting through the crowd behind her, Fate caught sight of a familiar mop of red hair. Chasing after the thief was none other than Suzuka and Arisa, the blonde red face and probably planning bloody murder once she caught up to the small boy. With her mother's dress forgotten, Fate darted down the closest alleyway, parallel to the one Erio ran into. Sliding to a halt on the next road over, she caught sight of a blur of red disappearing around corner. Fate lifted the hem of her kimono and gave chase. He would not escape her this time.

"Caro!" Erio stumbled forward, ending up on his knees next to his ailing friend.

Caro weakly opened her eyes and smiled. "Erio…kun…" she slurred.

"Caro, I got the money!" Erio said, trying to catch his breath. He ignored the stinging in his knees. "Just hang on, alright? I'm going to buy the medicine now. I'll-"

"So this is where you've been running off to."

The red head went rigid, spinning around wide eyed at the sound of the voice.

Fate huffed, cheeks red from all the running, a thin layer of sweat covering her face. She wiped her cheeks on the sleeve of her kimono. The blonde currently blocked the small dead end alleyway where Erio and Caro took refuge in.

Erio mentally the past few weeks, he had done his best to avoid the blonde woman. He often caught sight of her passing through the market from time to time, Erio resorting to hiding in alleyways out of sight or running away in the opposite direction when he saw Fate. There were a couple of times she saw him too, despite his attempts to avoid her, but the moment she did, he took off running before she could run up to him. This time however, he hadn't even seen her. But it was obvious she had seen him and followed him here.

Erio rose to his feet, his hands balled into fists. "Leave us alone!" he said, standing protectively in front of his companion. Friedrich, who was at his master's side, whimpered.

Fate frowned. Things were finally making sense. The boy stealing food and money. It wasn't just for him. It was for his friend, the girl looking quite sickly. She needed to see a healer soon. Fate moved towards Caro.

"I said-"

"She needs help!" Fate said pushing past the stunned Erio aside. He obviously didn't expect her to shove past him. Fate knelt down next to Caro and placed her hand on the girl's forehead. Wine coloured eyes widened in alarm.

"Don't touch her-"

SLAP!

Erio stumbled backwards holding his reddening cheek.

"Argue with me later," Fate said, gently scooping up the surprisingly light girl into her arms. "Hurt me if that is what you wish. But not now. Now we help her."

Erio swallowed back the lump in his throat at the sight of blood coloured eyes narrowing at him. He quickly stared at Friedrich, trying to escape Fate's piercing gaze. Then a thought hit him. Strange. The baby silver dragon would always hiss and growl whenever something or someone came close to Caro. Aside from him that is. But all Friedrich did right now was to watch Fate. Did that mean he thought this woman to be a friend?

"My house is not far from here," Fate said peeking out from the alleyway. "If we run, we may catch the Kusushi in time." A quick glance at her feet and she nodded at the silver dragon. "He can't be seen or he'll only attract trouble for us. Hide him in something and let's go."

"But-"

"She's dying!" Fate hissed, Erio going pale at the admission. "And unless we get to my house soon, she will die. Do you want to watch that happen?"

Erio immediate grabbed Caro's side bag and gently picked up Friedrich, hiding him inside. Without further ado, he raced after Fate, unconsciously noting just how fast she ran despite running in a kimono and carrying a load in her arms.

"Kaa-san! Help!"

"Fate-chan?" Lindy poked her head out from the kitchen, where she currently sat with Shamal drinking tea. They were discussing the latest happenings in the imperial palace before Fate arrived.

"What on-"

"Is Shamal-sama still here?" Fate was panicking. Caro passed out halfway through her run to the house and hadn't moved since.

At the sound of her name, Shamal rushed out into the hallway. "Oh goodness!" the blonde attendant said. "Set her down quickly!"

Fate rushed into the sitting room, gingerly setting Caro down, placing a pillow under her head. Shamal immediately knelt down next to the girl, with her healer's bag already open.

"We should give her some room to work," Lindy said, motioning for the rest of them to wait outside.

"But-" Erio was dragged out of the sitting room before he could finish his words. "No! Caro!" Arms wrapped around him, stilling him.

"She'll be alright," Fate said, giving the boy a smile. "Shamal-sama is the best."

Lindy nodded for emphasis.

Erio turned back to the doorway of the sitting room where he could see the short blonde haired woman called Shamal attending to Caro. The red head looked up upon feeling a shudder, one that didn't originate from him. Blue eyes widened to see tears in Fate's eyes.

"I hope I wasn't too late," she said softly. A flash of memory made her bite her lip.

"I'm sure she'll be just fine, Fate-chan," Lindy said soothingly. She gently stroked the younger girl's hair trying to quell Fate's tears.

"Kaa-san."

"Hai?"

"Don't tell Chrono or Signum."

"I won't."

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

Kuso = Damnit

Hai = Yes

Okaa-san/Kaa-san = Mother

Kusushi = Doctor

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