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.

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

Love thus story - Thanks for the review. ^^ I work really hard to integrate canon stuff with the ancient world I've put the story in. It's not the easiest of things to do, but so far I'm managed. Hehe.

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 27: Demons of the Past ~ ***

"Kyyyyyyyyyya!"

CRASH!

Fate's head jerked up from her desk in disorientation. The blonde had fallen asleep while reading her book, only to be startled awake from a commotion downstairs. "Wha-"

Another crash from downstairs. And Lindy screaming.

Fate was on her feet instantly, halfway out of her bedroom by the time sleep was blinked from her eyes. "Bardiche!"

"Yes Sir!"

With a flash of Lightning, Bardiche materialized in Fate's hand, its golden fist-sized magatama jewel swirling within the confines of its onyx casing. Taking a flying leap from the top of the stairs, Fate landed in a crouched at the bottom of the stairs, only lingering for a split second before she dashed off towards the kitchen. With her weapon raised, Fate came to a sliding stop in the doorway.

"Kaa-sa-"

Fate's jaw hung open.

Lindy giggled. "Well aren't you an affectionate one."

The teal-haired woman was on the floor of the kitchen, next to the dining table, with her overturned chair next to her. Scattered dishes lay strewn all over the floor, miraculously none of them broken. The eldest Harlaown currently had her attention on the other with her, being licked on the cheek by a full grown demon fox. And not just any full grown demon fox. This a demon fox had a red ruby gem on its forehead and sapphire coloured eyes.

Bardiche immediately reverted to its dormant form.

"A-Arf?"

At the sound of her name, the rust coloured demon turned to look at the doorway.

"Fate!" The demon fox charged at the blonde and tackled her.

"Ack!" Fate exclaimed, falling backwards on her rump from the sudden shift in weight.

"Fate! Fate!" Arf sat on Fate's lap, her front paws on the blonde's shoulders while she licked Fate's cheek excitedly.

"Woah! Arf! Settle down!" Fate said laughing. The demon fox's tongue was tickling her face. Fate tried to gently separate herself from her old friend, but with Arf's new size and weight, that was proving difficult.

"What a pleasant surprise," Lindy said with a smile, watching as Arf continued with her affections. "I shall prepare some tea and we can all talk." Lindy stood up and set a pot of water to boil. She would then go on to clean up the mess on the floor with help of Fate and Arf.

From the top of the stairs, a pair of blue eyes narrowed before disappearing back into the guest room.

"So you're the little one Fate-chan spoke about," Lindy said in realization.

Fate blushed when Arf looked at her.

"Fate?"

Fate, Lindy and Arf now sat around the dinner table as they conversed. Lindy sat on one end of the table with Fate sitting to her right. To Fate's right was Arf, the demon fox sitting on the chair resting back on her hind legs. Mugs of tea sat in front of Lindy and Fate, while a bowl of tea sat in front of Arf.

"Little Fate-chan wouldn't stop looking for you," Lindy continued, a smile widening on her face. "Even after being adopted into the family."

"K-Kaa-san!" Fate exclaimed in embarrassment, the blonde's cheeks turning red. "Arf doesn't need to know that."

Lindy merely grinned, chuckling as Fate struggled to contain her blush.

"I missed you too Fate," Arf said, nuzzling Fate.

Fate raised her hand to stroke Arf's now impressive dark red mane. "I was worried the Keibi had caught you after you escaped," Fate said quietly. She hugged the demon wolf around the shoulders, pressing her cheek against Arf's.

"They didn't get me, Fate," Arf said, wagging her tongue. She very much liked being cuddled. "I hid." A teethy smile.

"That must have been quite the hiding spot," Lindy said sipping her tea. It was truly heartwarming to see Fate as affectionate as she was right now. Very rarely did the blonde show this softer side to her unless it was with Nanoha or, on a very rare occasion, Lindy.

"I know for a fact the Keibi and the Samurai scoured the city from top to bottom after that incident, to ensure there were no lingering threats to the people."

"They wouldn't find me where I went," Arf barked. "I went back to Al Hazard."

Lindy stiffened, gripping her mug in a white knuckled hold.

"No one found me there," Arf continued, oblivious to Lindy's reaction. "But only for a few days. I knew Fate would be worried, so I came back."

"Al Hazard?" Fate questioned, the blonde also failing to notice the colour draining from her adopted mother's face. "A few days?" Fate blinked at her furry friend in surprise. "Arf, it's been more than ten years since I last saw you."

"Huh?"

The grip on Lindy's tea mug tightened, the teal-haired woman setting it down before she actually crushed it in her grip. Fate and Arf meanwhile, continued their confused conversation, wondering just how only a few days for Arf turned out to be over ten years for Fate. The discussion soon strayed into what Al Hazard looked like, from floating islands to magical displays of power. Fate's eyes widened in awe and wonder as the demon fox described the mythical world, the place where magic began. What Arf spoke of would usually only be found in story books, ones filled with myths and legends. But Lindy knew this was no fairy tale. It was real.

Al Hazard. The place which was sought by many, yet found by none. And the very reason behind the tragedy which happened ten years ago. Many people died that day, many precious people, and Lindy couldn't but feel apprehensive about it all. The fact that Arf, a demon from Al Hazard, was here, in her kitchen, talking about that mythical place again, caused great concern for the eldest Harlaown. Was the door open again? Would another tragedy befall the country? Who else would have to die because of it? Lindy's free hand balled into a knuckle white fist on her lap.

"Sugoi! That sounds really neat Arf!" Fate said, breaking Lindy out of her silent reverie.

Arf barked in excitement. "It's really pretty over there Fate," the demon fox said, her tail thumping against the back of the chair. "I can show you how to get there if you want."

Lindy chose that specific time to intervene, clearing her throat. "That truly sounds out of this world Arf," she began, "But no one will be making any night trips at this hour."

The teal haired woman looked out the nearest window, at the pitch black night. "If memory serves me correctly, I believe you're having tea with Shamal-san tomorrow Fate-chan, are you not?"

Burgundy coloured eyes widened. "That's right!" Fate gasped. She smiled sheepishly at Lindy. "I almost forgot."

Lindy chuckled at her daughter's forgetfulness.

"Shamal-san?" Arf repeated, looking between the two Harlaowns. "Who's that? Can I meet her too?"

Fate and Lindy looked at each other hesitantly. "Um... how about we talk about that tomorrow morning?" Lindy said, deflecting the question. "It is quite late already."

"Okies." Arf smiled, satisfied with that answer, once again showing the multiple rows of sharp teeth she had. The demon fox jumped off her chair to leave.

"Arf?" Fate questioned.

"Time for me to go," the demon said. "I don't want to get you in trouble again." There was a sorrowful tremble in Arf's voice, the look in her eyes just as heartbreaking. Arf didn't want to leave her friend, having just found her again, but the memories of the past weren't so easily forgotten.

"Don't be silly," Lindy said, also rising to her feet. "Any friend of Fate-chan's is a friend of the family."

Fate's jaw dropped open. "You mean that Kaa-san?"

"Of course I do, Fate-chan." A smile. "What kind of Okaa-san would I be if I kicked your friend out of the house at this hour? She can stay."

Stunned silence.

"Thank you Kaa-san!" Fate exclaimed, startling Lindy with a tight hug. "Thank you!"

Lindy, getting over her initial shock, wrapped her arms around Fate's shoulders to hug her back. This was the first time since Lindy adopted Fate that the blonde had initiated a hug with her. It was usually the other way around. Lindy smiled, truly touched by the affection.

"But on one condition," Lindy added as an addendum, pulling back from the blonde after the hug.

Both Fate and Arf looked at the eldest Harlaown.

"Arf-chan has to promise not to cause any trouble."

Fate and Arf looked at each other blinking. Fate smiled, tilting her head at Lindy. Turning back to the older Harlaown, the demon fox smiled again. She barked happily in agreement, before jumping on Lindy and licking her face. Fate could only giggle as Lindy yelped in surprise at the sudden affection again. But before she could pull her furry friend off her adopted mother, Arf went rigid, her jovial expression turning vicious. Before either of the women could blink, the demon fox zipped out of the kitchen and out the back door barking menacingly.

"Arf!"

"Arf-chan!"

Fate and Lindy were hot on Arf's paws, both women chasing the demon outside and into the backyard. Fate, the faster of the two, caught up to the demon fox first, just narrowly managing to grab her around the shoulders before the demon got any further.

"Arf!" Fate repeated. "Calm down! There's nothing there!"

Arf continued to growl menacingly at some unseen thing in the pitch blackness beyond the gates of their residence. Lindy looked around in concern, fearing the neighbours would cause a commotion if they realized what Arf truly really was.

Unseen to all except Arf, a darkly clad figure escaped via rooftop, to the sound of buzzing.

"My Lord."

"Uno! What a pleasant surprise!" Jail turned his attention away from his work table to face his assistant. "Excellent timing! Come in, come in. I've just had a breakthrough in my research. Let's celebrate!"

Uno smiled at the invitation but shook her head. "That's wonderful news, my Lord," she said. "But unfortunately, I am unable to accept your request."

Jail sighed in disappointment. "It's those brats again, the White Devil and the Thunder Reaper, isn't it?"

Uno nodded. "They still elude my sisters. And when we do cross paths with them, efforts to subdue them are not successful."

Jail nodded as his assistant explained the situation. He shrugged. "It will only be a matter of time," Jail said. "Don't fret." A smile. "In the meantime, I assume you've come to me with a reason?"

"Yes, my Lord," Uno replied. "Lutecia has reported in."

"Ah Lutecia," Jail said fondly. "How is my little spy doing?"

"Quite successful actually," Uno answered. "The door to Al Hazard has been found. The Garden of Time is now accessible again."

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

Keibi = Guard (used in the context of this story, it's meant to represent the City Guards)

Sugoi = Amazing

Okaa-san/Kaa-san = Mother

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