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!

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

Love thus story - Thanks for the review. ^^ I'm glad you're enjoying this story so far. I'll see what I can do about including some more Subaru x Teana, but keep in mind, this is a Nanoha x Fate focused fanfiction, so that may not necessarily be possible. Thanks again for the comment. :)

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 26: Memories of Black ~ ***

Japan. Ten years ago.

Everything was in chaos.

The sky was red, with towers of black smoke filling the air. Buildings were in pieces. People were screaming. And fire was everywhere.

A nine year old child in ripped clothing and a tattered black cape, staggered through the crumbling, flaming mess that was once the prestigious capital city of Japan. Blonde hair was crusted with soot and dirt, porcelain skin smudged with black. The child didn't know how she came to this place or what had happened. When she awoke, all that met her was the blood red sky and the screams of dying people around her.

To an outsider, she looked like any other shell shocked child, walking around in a daze. The country had just suffered the most devastating battle in all its history. Most of the city and surrounding areas were nothing but ruins filled with horrors too horrific to talk about. Children were left parentless. Parents were left childless. People were hurt, dying or already dead. It was truly hell on earth.

A whimper.

The blonde child stopped in her wanderings, wine coloured eyes searching for the sound.

Another whimper.

The child caught sight of a orange fur, half trapped under a collapsed house. Curious, the blonde walked up to the patch of orange fur only to be greeted with a snarl. Sapphire like eyes peered out from underneath orange fur, a ruby-like gem shimmering on the beast's forehead. It appeared to be a fox of some sort, but such creatures were not native to Japan. The child looked down at the small fox curiously, not realizing just how dangerous the beast was. For this wasn't just any fox. It was a demon fox.

The demon fox growled louder when the blonde child stooped down in front of it. The demon itself was no bigger than a house cat, but that made its fangs and claws no less deadly. Had it not had its back legs pinned under debris, it would have long leapt at the child, snapping at the girl's throat. But as it was right now, the demon could only bark at her.

The girl cried out in pain, small fangs sinking into the flesh of her hand as she reached out to aid the struggling fox demon. Thankfully, its fangs were not fully developed yet, and only pierced flesh just enough to sting. Biting her lip and blinking back tears, the blonde heaved the small piece of debris pinning the back legs of the demon fox and freed the beast with a grunt. Surprised at this, the demon released the girl's hand and limped backwards, putting some distance between them.

The blonde smiled, a genuine heart felt smile, her mission accomplished. She rose to her feet shakily. Her hand stung greatly, especially when she flexed her fingers, but the bleeding wasn't so bad and would eventually stop on its own. With nothing left to do, the blonde continued on her way, wandering aimlessly among the ruins. She had no particular destination in mind, but knew she shouldn't stop. Couldn't stop. It was not safe here.

The demon fox eyed the girl, remaining still as the blonde slowly got smaller and smaller the father and farther she walked away. The beast whined, turning its head back to sniff its hind legs. Sore, but not broken beyond repair. It looked back to the blonde child, who was almost out of sight now. Looking around the ruins of the house it stood in, the demon fox took off after the child, limping as quickly as it could to catch up to the girl.

The child stopped. Blinking, she turned around. The demon fox from before also stopped, sitting down on its haunches, just out of arm's reach. Crystal blue eyes blinked at the girl. The blonde girl blinked back, before turning around and continuing to walk forward. The moment she did, the demon fox stood up again on wobbly feet and continued to trail after her. The girl stopped again and sighed. The demon fox stopped too, sitting down again wagging its tongue. The girl looked behind her again.

"Otou-san! Okaa-san!"

Burgundy coloured eyes rose from the demon fox to look ahead. There, just ten feet in front of the blonde was a young girl with brown hair and violet coloured eyes. And just like the blonde, the brunette's skin was smudged with dirt, the girl wearing tatters for clothes. In the smaller girl's arms was a scorched stuffed bunny rabbit with an arm missing.

"Onii-san! Onee-san!" the girl shouted, tears already staining her face. Her bottom lip trembled as she looked this way and that, searching for her missing family members.

"O-"

Violet eyes fell upon the blonde and widened. The blonde tilted her head to the side and watched the brunette curiously.

"A-are you lost too?"

Lost. The blonde child blinked. Was she lost? Yes, she could say that. She was lost. She didn't know where she came from. Nor did she know where she was going. She was definitely lost. And so she nodded to the smaller girl.

The brunette slowly walked up to her, hesitant. It was then the smaller girl caught sight of the demon fox behind the blonde. "I can't find my family," she said, her eyes flicking back to the girl in front of her.

Family. A word the blonde understood yet at the same time did not.

The demon fox growled at the brunette the moment she came within arms reach of the blonde child. The smaller girl squeaked, back pedalling a few steps, shaking. "I'm-I'm scared," she said shivering.

The rabbit holding girl squeaked again, in both surprise and fear when the blonde took a step forward pulled her into a hug. The taller girl didn't know why she did that. Something about it just felt right. Like she knew it was something you did in situations like this. How she knew, she wasn't sure. She remembered nothing before she opened her eyes hours ago. So how could she know what to do?

The shivering brunette soon relaxed in her arms and snuggled into her embrace. This action made the blonde smile, another small but genuine smile. A warm feeling solidified in her chest, leaving the blonde both happy yet scared at the same time. What was this feeling? Why was she feeling this way? The small demon fox, feeling left out, whined before curling its body around the two girls legs. The smaller girl giggled, as orange fur tickled her bare feet.

"What's your name?"

Burgundy eyes looked downwards. "My… name?" The blonde's voice came out as a croak, her throat dry as this was the first time since waking that she'd used it.

"Nanoha."

"Eh?"

"Takamachi Nanoha," the brunette told her. "That's my name. What's yours?"

"Fate," the blonde replied. It was a word that floated around the dark recesses of her mind. An echoing whisper. Was that really her name though? She couldn't be sure. "Fate Testerossa."

"That's a pretty name," Nanoha said with a smile.

"E-eh?" Fate's cheeks coloured at the compliment.

"Nyahaha, Fate-chan is silly."

"Silly?"

Nanoha smiled sweetly again, causing Fate to blush further. Nanoha looked down at the ball of orange fur at their feet. "And what's your name?" she asked the little demon fox.

Blue eyes looked up at Fate before they turned back to look at Nanoha. The demon fox barked.

"Arf?" Fate said, repeating the sound of the demon fox's bark.

Nanoha giggled. "I like it," she said patting the beast on the head. Arf licked Nanoha's hand. Fate watched the exchange in silence, the warm feeling inside of her growing bigger.

Before Fate realized what was happening, Nanoha straightened up and grabbed onto her hand. "Let's go find our parents, ne?"

Fate could only nod blankly as she was dragged forward by the small girl. Arf trailed happily behind the pair, tongue wagging.

"You don't remember anything?" Nanoha looked at Fate in shock. After wandering around the ruined city for hours, the two young girls finally stopped to take a break in the wreckage of a half demolished house. It was more for Nanoha than Fate or Arf. The brunette's feet were scratched and sore as she walked around the debris with bare and unprotected feet. Fate on the other hand wore boots of some kind. Where she got them, she didn't know.

Nothing looked like anything Nanoha knew, the destroyed roads and houses and buildings looking completely foreign to the girl. As young as she was, Nanoha had a great memory. She could easily remember street names and how buildings looked. But as things looked right now, everything just looked scary to her. But as scared as she was of the situation, having someone else with her (two if you counted Arf), gave Nanoha the courage to keep searching. But right now, they needed a break.

Fate shook her head in reply to Nanoha's question. Arf napped in Fate's lap.

"Your home… your parents…"

"Nothing," Fate said quietly, feeling ashamed of her lack of memories. Just who was she?

Something wet splashed down on her arm. Fate looked to her companion in concern, ruby eyes widening at the sight. Nanoha was crying. Fate frowned, brows furling with her mouth pressing into a fine line. Fate didn't understand the hold this girl had over her, but anytime Nanoha cried, she wanted nothing more than to make her smile.

Fate reached over and brushed away a tear with her finger. "Why do you cry?"

Nanoha couldn't bear to see such sadness and loneliness in her companion's eyes. There was a hollowness to Fate's burgundy gems, something so cold that it felt like a hand had reached inside of Nanoha's stomach and squeezed her insides painfully. It was terrifying.

"I'm crying for you," Nanoha said sniffling. Arf whined softly, having been woken up from Nanoha's sniffles.

"For me?" Fate looked at her confused. What had she done to upset the smaller girl so?

"It's so sad not to remember your family. Your friends. People who care for you."

Fate turned her gaze towards the sky. "I… I don't think I ever had someone like that…" she said.

Nanoha's jaw dropped. "H-how can you say that! There must be someone-"

"If there was…" Fate quickly interrupted her. "Why don't I feel it here?" Fate clenched a fist full of her shirt, her fist over her heart. "Why do I feel nothing here? Why am I here in the first place? Who am I?"

Arf rubbed her head against Fate's arm, whining more.

More tears fell from Nanoha's eyes. The intense pain radiating from Fate's eyes hurt so much. She had to do something. Taking a deep breath to still her tears, Nanoha reached over and put her hand over Fate's fist. The blonde flinched, turning her sorrowful gaze back to Nanoha.

"Fate-chan is Fate-chan," Nanoha said with a smile. "You may not remember any happy memories, but we can start making some new ones right now that you'll never forget."

"Eh?"

"Let's be friends."

Fate looked at the smaller girl in confusion. For such a simple statement, it seemed to have deeper complications to it. Friends? The word was so foreign to her. She understood what it meant, but still.

"How can we become friends?"

"Becoming friends with someone is really simple," Nanoha said with a smile. She rubbed the tears from her eyes. "You just have to call out her name."

Nanoha shifted to kneel next to Fate, facing the blonde directly as she sat on the heels. "I'm Takamachi Nanoha. Just call me Nanoha!"

"Nano…ha?" Fate said hesitantly.

To say this wasn't the least bit awkward for the taller girl was putting things lightly. Fate had only met Nanoha hours ago, Arf too, all of them having no luck in finding Nanoha's family or anyone else familiar looking amongst the ruined city. And to be honest, it shocked Fate that she stayed with the brunette for so long too. Anyone she had passed before in the rubble, dying or just plain screaming, she walked by them as if they never existed in the first place. But something about this Takamachi Nanoha she couldn't ignore. And the same with Arf.

"Yeah! Just like that!" Nanoha said happily at the sound of her name. She could see it. The spark of life in Fate's eyes. She could see it.

"Nanoha…"

"Hai!"

"Nanoha." Wine coloured eyes filled with warmth.

"Hai Fate-chan!" A smile.

"Thank you, Nanoha." Fate smiled at the brunette, the biggest smile she had ever smiled since she had awakened on this day. It was such a great feeling.

"Hai!" Nanoha replied again taking Fate's hand between her own. Her heart absolutely swelled with happiness. Even in this horrible time of suffering and pain, happiness was still there.

"Your hand is sure warm… Nanoha."

Arf stood up in Fate's lap barking happily. The demon wolf put its front paw on Nanoha and Fate's clasped hands much to the girls' shock. Blinking at each other and then turning back to a tongue wagging Arf, both girls laughed, their dire situation forgotten for the moment.

"Fate-chan!"

Nanoha and Fate were found exhausted and huddled together the next day by the City Guards. Also with them was Yagami Hayate, a short haired brunette they'd come across when they went wandering around the ruins again. Hayate's legs were crushed beneath the debris of her shattered house, Nanoha and Fate staying with the weak and injured girl in the rubble until help arrived. Hayate had been the only survivor of the house collapse, everyone else crushed beneath the debris when the house collapsed. Miraculously, Nanoha's parents had been found an hour earlier and were frantic in their search for their youngest daughter. While Nanoha was eager to join up with her family again, there were complications that had to be dealt with first.

"Fate-chan!"

Arf was immediately surrounded by City Guardsmen the moment they noticed her. With all the demons running amok, they were surprised the beast hadn't attacked the girls and killed them. The moment the guards tried to kill the little orange fox demon, Fate and Nanoha jumped in the way allowing Arf to escape. The City Guards were not pleased by this, but did nothing to discipline the obviously shell shocked children about it. They were probably too young to understand anyhow.

Upon telling the guards their names, Fate was immediately looked upon with scorn. Nanoha was sure she had made out fear in the guards' shocked expressions as well. Two City Guardsmen kept them forcefully apart, even as Nanoha yelled at them to let her stay with her new friend. To stay with Fate. Hayate was quickly freed from the rubble of her house and immediately rushed off to a healer.

They should have never told the guards their names...

"Thank you, Nanoha…" Fate said looking at the struggling brunette sadly. As much as it pained her to be separated from her new friend, Fate knew things had to be this way, at least for the time being. Even as a child, she was not stupid. She knew by the way the guards looked at her, whispering to themselves when they thought she couldn't hear them, that something was different about her. Maybe even dangerous. Which is why she was going to smile until she lost sight of the smaller girl. Because that is the memory she wanted to leave her if they never saw each other again.

"I'll have to leave you for now" Fate continued, making a fist as the tears flowed freely down Nanoha's cheeks. It hurt. "But… I'm sure we'll meet again." A smile. "When we do… is it alright if I call your name again?"

Nanoha sobbed. This was not goodbye, right? This was not goodbye! Why did they have to tell the guards their names? "H-hai!" Nanoha tried her best to put on a brave front. She had promised Fate happy memories, right? So she smiled no matter how much it hurt.

"When I want to see you again… I'll be sure to call out your name. So… please, call out my name, too."

Nanoha nodded, wiping the tears from her face with the back of her hand. But more still fell. One of the guards, taking pity on the girls allowed them one last moment together before they were separated for good. Nanoha held up her battered stuffed rabbit for Fate to take.

Fate tilted her head to the side looking at the tattered stuffed animal in confusion.

"This is all I can give you… so I'll remain in your memories." Nanoha bit her lip, as more tears welled up in her eyes.

Fate smiled, taking the stuffed rabbit from her friend. "Then I'll give you this too." Fate pulled off her long black cloak and covered Nanoha with it. "Thank you… Nanoha."

Nanoha smiled through her tears.

Japan. Present day.

Burgundy eyes opened slowly, peering down at the figure next to them. Nanoha slept soundly in her futon, her auburn hair sprawled all over her pillow. A black gloved hand pull some brown strands from the sleeping girl's face and tucked them behind Nanoha's ear.

"Fate… chan…" Nanoha murmured in her sleep.

The black garbed figure smiled. They had finally decided what they were going to do. They were not going anywhere, despite the ghosts of the past clawing their way back into their life. They would continue to do what they had always done since they were little. Protecting the ones they cared about the most. And to do that, the Spirit Seeds had to be taken from the hands of those who would exploit their power. Maybe, just maybe, along the way of taking the dangerous Spirit Seeds off the streets, they too would find what they had lost those many years ago when Japan nearly burned to the ground in a blaze of fire.

The assassin in black leaned forward and kissed the sleeping brunette on the forehead. Nanoha murmured happily, a smile curving on her face. The black assassin smiled, pulling up the blanket to Nanoha's shoulders before turning to face the open window. With one final look at the sleeping form, the black garbed assassin leapt onto the windowsill before diving forward into the quiet night air. An onyx scythe with a fist sized yellow magatama jewel floating in the center of the weapon chimed in their hand, already directing its wielder to the closest Spirit Seed for sealing.

Nanoha. I promise you only happy memories from now on.

Fate Testerossa always kept her promises.

OMAKE

The assassin in black leaned forward and kissed the sleeping brunette on the forehead. Nanoha murmured happily, a smile curving on her face. The black assassin smiled, pulling up the blanket to Nanoha's shoulders before moving to face the open window. But before they could actually stand, something grabbed onto them and yanked them to the floor. The black assassin squeaked, suddenly finding themselves sprawled on top of a sleeping Nanoha.

Nanoha wrapped her arms around their waist and snuggled her face in the crook of their neck. "Fate-chan..." she said softly.

Wine coloured eyes blinked multiple times, a dark flush painting the black assassin's cheeks red. Nanoha's warm breaths tickled their neck, the brunette's tight grip on their waist pinning them in place on Nanoha's futon. Even with the blanket covering most of Nanoha's body, the black assassin could feel Nanoha's glorious chest against them, the mere thought of the contact making the black garbed assassin suddenly very hot.

Swallowing thickly, the black assassin tried to unravel themselves gently from Nanoha's grip. But the more they tried, the tighter Nanoha held onto them until the brunette rolled in her sleep and ended up half on top the black assassin pinning them to the floor on their back. Nanoha nuzzled her cheek against the assassin's bound chest, the black assassin's face going even more red, the assassin starting to feel faint.

"Fate-chan..." Nanoha murmured. "You smell... good..."

The black assassin gulped. "B-Bardiche, a little help here?" said a quiet voice.

Bardiche chimed softly. "Sorry Sir," the onyx scythe replied. "You're on your own."

The black assassin sighed. This was going to be a long night.

A/N: Some of you may have recognized the little scene between Nanoha and Fate as children. That's because it was taken directly from the last episode of season one from the anime.

As for the OMAKE, that was just a random last minute thing I thought of. Hope you liked it. Hehe. XD

Hopefully this chapter clears up any confusion as to why Fate in previous chapters asked her adopted mother not to tell Signum nor Chrono about things. The last time she did say something, she was forcibly removed from her new friend at the time. The blonde hasn't forgotten that incident and wishes not to repeat it.

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