Sorry about the... insane delay. Between graduation, job hunting, and life, I have made you wait far too long for this. Chapter 6 should be done far sooner. So don't worry about another months long delay.
We're shifting gears here, so hang on and enjoy the ride~.
Usual disclaimers apply and feedback is always appreciated.
-Chapter Start-
Much to Zwei's delight, there happened to be an ice cream parlor within a relatively short distance of the Infinity Library. 64 Flavors was the parlor's name, and judging from the bustle, appeared to be rather popular.
Though Yuuno would admit he wished the parents would keep a better eye on their children. He'd been kicked in the shins twice already, a fact Zwei found to be most amusing if her snickering was any indication.
"Yes, yes, let's all laugh at the ferret's misfortune," Yuuno stated with some good-natured sarcasm after a third child turned Zwei's snickering into blatant giggles. He noticed they were approaching the front of the line and turned to his pale haired companion, "Do you know what you want?"
Zwei placed a finger to her lips in a contemplative manner, "Hmm... I'm really torn between the Divine Chocolate Buster and the Nova Cocoa Explosion. Ooh, they both look so good." Not only did they look delicious, but also appeared to contain enough chocolate to fill Zwei's mouth with cavities. The young woman's love of the sweet was not something to be trifled with.
"You should decide quickly. We're next," he cautioned Zwei, who appeared to look more and more undecided with each passing second. When her blue eyes looked like they had taken up playing ping-pong, Yuuno sighed and resigned himself to his choice with a small smile. So much for vanilla…
Not a moment later, it was their turn. The server behind the counter greeted them with a smile that turned into a grin when she took a better look at the pair, "Welcome to 64 Flavors, the best ice cream in the TSA. What can I get for the father-daughter pair?"
There was a pause as they two processed the server's words, Zwei turning scarlet and Yuuno coughing into his hand to try and salvage his calm. "Um… we'll have one scoop of the Divine Chocolate Buster and the Nova Cocoa Explosion each," He requested in an embarrassed tone, the concept of clarifying the misidentification not even crossing his mind.
The server bit back a chuckle at her customer's reactions as she entered their order into her terminal. It had been on a whim, but the lighthearted assumption was not too out of the blue, considering she'd been dealing with parents and children for the better part of her shift. At least they seemed to be good sports about it if she happened to be wrong. Though the lack of immediate denial on their part certainly added to her mirth.
"Coming right up, pops."
The server seemed far too amused by their supposed relationship in Yuuno's opinion. As best he could tell, he and Zwei didn't share any physical features to begin with, and he didn't look old enough to fill the role. Not with Zwei at the very least... did he?
There was no follow up to the server's comment and Yuuno paid the requested number of credits for the frozen treats. Both of which were served up in a few minutes, much to Zwei's unconcealed delight. He offered his companion one of the two cups, and they sought out a booth where they could enjoy their impromptu dessert.
"You like it?" questioned Yuuno rhetorically when he saw the blissful smile on the young woman's face after she had ravished a spoonful of the deadly chocolate construct. He took a bite of his own and suppressed a wince; he liked chocolate, but this was just overkill.
Zwei nodded enthusiastically. "Thanks a lot, Dad." The grin on her face let him know she found the server's view — and his resulting embarrassment — to be rather amusing.
The blonde man sighed, "I'm not going to live that down am I?"
"Nope!" She responded with a smile. "Besides, it's not completely inaccurate, now is it?"
He gave a smile of his own in return. "Not really, no. Ah, you've got some on your face." Yuuno picked up a napkin and lightly wetted it with his tongue before reached over and wiping the errant smear of chocolate from Zwei's face, eliciting a light blush and an embarrassed pout from her.
They spent their time chatting about mindless things, ranging from the library to Hayate's latest cosplaying schemes. Every now and then, Zwei would steal a bit of Yuuno's own ice cream, though he didn't complain or offer any resistance to her actions.
After a while, Zwei took on a somewhat serious look as she stared down at her empty cup. "Yuuno, do you mind if I ask you something?" She fidgeted slightly in her seat.
Yuuno looked a little confused. "Sure, what's wrong?" If earlier was any indication, she was likely going to ask something about her pink-haired elder sibling.
She shifted in her seat before raising her gaze to meet Yuuno's. "Um... what do you think of Signum?" Zwei's innocent blue eyes held neither a hint of teasing nor evidence of mischief.
"Of Signum, huh..." stated Yuuno before leaning back into the padded seat of the parlor. He closed his eyes in thought, drowning out the world around him as he focused on the mental image of the Wolkenritter's leader. Every expression she made, every curve of her body as she danced with her sword, all of it and more flooded into his mind.
"I think... I think she's a powerful and strong-willed woman. One who never gives up and who loves her family very much." He paused for a moment, opening his eyes as he did so. "...I also think she is an incredibly beautiful individual, perhaps the most beautiful I've ever seen," he admitted with a tinge of red upon his cheeks.
I see..." Zwei trailed off as she considered Yuuno's words. In all honestly, she was hoping for a bit more of an explanation from him. Maybe he didn't quite know what he thought of her sister. Still, she had been expecting the comment about Signum's beauty. Zwei knew Signum was a strikingly gorgeous woman and many others shared that opinion. "Why do you think she's so beautiful?"
Why?" Yuuno clarified, receiving an affirmative nod. "It's... not something that can easily be put into words, but I'll try." He searched his mind for a comparison that would work, and ultimately continued returning to one in particular. "Which would you consider more beautiful? A sword sheathed and resting on a peaceful mantelpiece or a sword being used as it was meant to be?"
Zwei seemed a little puzzled at Yuuno's comparison, but urged him on regardless, which he obliged. "I think both are beautiful scenes, but the sword in motion is so much more so. It's in its element, where it can fulfill its purpose and exert itself to the fullest. Kinda like Nanoha when she takes to the sky or Fate when she's working hard on a case. They're in their element, and doing what they enjoy. They're content. That's why I believe that Signum in the heat of battle is the most beautiful Signum of all," finished Yuuno with a smile upon his face.
For her part, Zwei was rendered speechless by the time Yuuno finished. After a while, she crossed her arms and took up a thoughtful expression. No words were spoken for a long while, even after the young woman relaxed her posture. Finally, she nodded, "I approve."
Yuuno's questioning glance was met with a mischievous smile.
-Scene Break-
It was later that evening, after having enjoyed a rather delicious and enjoyable dinner with the family, when Signum found herself lost in thought. She was lying on her bed, staring up at the ceiling. The meeting with Nanoha earlier in the day was still fresh in her mind.
The points Takamachi had raised against her, the accusations… each one was forcing Signum to take a long, hard look within herself and re-examine the events leading up to her confrontation with the Ace of Aces.
Her first bout with Scrya, the match which had started their descent into this madness, came to mind. It had started simple enough; two combatants trading blows as a means of testing one another's skill. She would admit the match had been... lackluster, to put it one way. It had contained none of their usual drive at the onset, though she could blame some of it on her being fresh and Scrya having been at it for a considerable time beforehand.
Then he had changed the game. Scrya had abandoned his tried and true method of defensive combat to lash out at her. It had been clumsy and ill-executed, but the surprise of it had allowed him to land a single, powerful strike against her. Signum would admit she found the fire within her to be overwhelming at that moment.
It wouldn't be until they spoke afterwards would she discover why he'd taken such action. At the time, she wanted to see it through. Help turn him into a proper warrior who could do more than just hold a shield. She wanted him to take up his sword, left idle and rusted beneath his mighty bulwark. But it had changed so rapidly. In the course of hours, her direction had begun to warp under fantasy.
Signum wanted to see what kind of mighty blade Scrya had hidden from them all, from her. She would strip those layers of rust from his weapon and polish it until it shone as brightly as his shield.
Their second bout had further warped her desire to see him flourish as a warrior. Scrya had been feeding her exactly what she wanted: a fight without limits. Looking back she could painfully and honestly admit by the end of the match, she was less concerned about him becoming a more skilled combatant, and more with the dark, seductive thrills he was giving her.
Takamachi's words about her bout with Testarossa came to the forefront. Regardless of her own reasoning, Signum now realized her desire for a bout of warfare had bled so thoroughly into her match with the blonde woman it had become a thuggish beat down.
Why had she allowed herself to fall so far? To drink so deeply of Scrya's offered wine without considering the consequences? In only two bouts with him, she had become drunk enough to pulverize Testarossa and savor every moment of it. She recalled the feeling of Laevatein carving out the air in an effort to cut the blonde down, the crunching feeling of hardened foot and fist meeting flesh. It had not lit the same fire as it had with Scrya, but it had ignited all the same.
But... What did not change was the fact the fire had been lit in the first place.
Signum's face burned as she began thinking about her last match against Scrya. He had been so driven, so determined to conquer and violate her role as the oppressor. Even so outmatched as he was, he never gave in. She wetted her lips at the thoughts coming to mind. Vicious exchanges, their bodies slick with blood and sweat, every sinfully delicious image of combat with him.
A heat began to rise within her, only to be brutally washed away by the chilling reminder of Takamachi's accusation of using Scrya as a... toy. Could she honestly deny the thrill he had brought her in their last battle? Signum felt she could not. It made the accusation of her ability to cast him aside like a used rag all the more worrisome.
The image of tossing Scrya aside the moment he was unable to stoke the flames of her battle lust was... uncomfortable. It left a harsh feeling in the center of her breast. Signum attempted to conjure up images of other warriors taking his place, but no matter how vicious the battle, no matter how violent the exchanges… none of them reached the same level her deadly dances with Scrya had. It mattered not how powerful nor how driven her theoretical foes were. None came close.
The harsh feeling worsened to a nearly physical pain as Signum imagined the scenario of breaking Scrya, leaving him dead and ruined as she devoured him in battle. Consuming so greedily of the offered fruit there was nothing left of him. She did not desire such an outcome, but Takamachi's tirade had made such a possibility impossible to ignore.
She wanted to engage in battle with him beyond this now warped arrangement.
She reached towards the ceiling of her room. "I... do not wish for this to end, but I do not wish to break him, either..." In the silence of her room, Signum made a promise to herself: she would not abstain from drinking of his wine and tasting of his fruit, but she would endeavor to do so in moderation. Failure would ultimately... shatter him.
The question still lingered in the back of her mind however.
Could she?
-Scene Break-
It was days later when a certain call came in and Signum soon found herself struck with the sudden desire to be anywhere but the chair upon which she was currently seated. Sitting across from her on the couch was her Lady Hayate, looking rather... irate. Yes, irate was the best way to describe her Master's current mood.
"Signum, I would greatly appreciate an explanation for the rather peculiar message I received today courtesy of Knight Carim." Hayate's voice was amiable on the surface, but held an undercurrent of irritation and general displeasure. Signum idly wondered if she was going to wind up in the maid outfit again.
Hayate arched an eyebrow. "Something about 'boot camp'?"
Definitely the maid outfit.
Steeling herself, Signum held nothing back. "After my recent match with Testarossa, I came to discover what I believed to be a number of... uncomfortable truths."
"Go on," the brunette prompted with a flat expression. Whatever 'truths' her Knight believed she had found in the wake of her battle with Fate were sure to be interesting, to say the least; particularly if she had not revealed them until forced to.
"Many were in regards to Testarossa herself, but it led me to consider similar situations with the other members of our group. Particularly you, Lady Hayate." When Hayate did not respond, Singum continued, "I am well aware you have always been a hard worker, but your... physical constitution has me concerned, especially after so many years behind a desk."
"Signum, are you saying I'm fat?" Hayate asked incredulously. She could hardly believe her ears. Did Signum honestly think she had let herself go to the point of needing military-grade training to get into shape? Sure, she wasn't as fit as she'd have liked, but she took good care of herself and kept in shape as well as she could considering the amount of time she spent at her desk. It hardly required such drastic measures.
The pinkette blinked as she processed the brunette's question. "No, that is not what I am saying. I am more concerned with your ability to stand up to a foe in close quarters. You yourself once said Ru Lushe was more than capable of besting you in hand-to-hand combat."
Hayate sighed and put her head in her hands, bemoaning Signum's too-serious attitude in places. "Signum, that was a joke… and an old one to boot."
"I am well aware. However, following my encounter with Testarossa... it did not seem so amusing," admitted Signum with some slight hesitation.
"That still doesn't explain why you pulled in a favor from Carim to sign me up for boot camp, much less not tell me about it in the first place." The brunette had a feeling she knew where the conversation was headed now, but wanted to hear it from straight from Signum's lips.
Signum had the decency to look abashed at Hayate's words. "I... do not have an excuse for not informing you. For that, I apologize and ask your forgiveness." She bowed her head towards her Master before raising it and looking the brunette eye to eye. "However, I felt arranging for such a rigorous training regimen as the Church's Knights go through was for the best. You will be stronger as a result, and better able to defend yourself."
There was an uncomfortable silence before Signum continued. "...We cannot always be there to protect you. I would rather bear your displeasure at my actions on this matter than carry your death or worse as a result of my inaction." The pinkette paused for a moment, her expression steely. "Consider a foe who manages to survive your onslaught from a distance, perhaps a specialist in close-range. How would you defend yourself?"
Hayate seemed to have taken on a thoughtful expression, not liking the truth behind Signum's words but unable to deny it either. The possibilities were... unpleasant at best, the makings of her more feared nightmares at worst. It sent a chill down her spine.
"As it stands, you would be at their complete mercy. Not even Rein would be able to help you at that range." The General of Fire's expression softened slightly as a pleading look crossed her eyes. "Please, Lady Hayate, undertake this trial. For your own safety, I implore you."
The pinkette had bowed her head once more and was unprepared to be embraced by her Master, who had cleared the distance between them in short order. "Lady Hayate?"
"You're an idiot, you know that?" whispered Hayate fondly. Truly, even with all her strengths, her General was a most foolish woman. But she was part of her beloved family all the same.
Hayate tightened the embrace for a moment more before releasing the baffled Knight. "I appreciate why you're doing this for me. I really do. Just... talk to me the next time you think about pulling a stunt like this." She paused to take a steadying breath. "I can't fix anything if I don't know why it needs fixing in the first place. Just thrusting someone into the fire doesn't always work out for the better."
Signum opened her mouth to raise a counterpoint, but decided against it. Hayate's finger upon her lips also silenced her argument.
"It may be working for you and Yuuno in your bizarre sense of foreplay, but it won't work with me. Understand?" Hayate wondered if she was a bad person for enjoying the flabbergasted look on the pinkette's face. "I'll go through with Carim's training, but I want you to cool your head for a bit." her expression turned more serious. "I'm worried about you and Yuuno. I'm afraid you're going to break each other at the rate you're going. That one day you'll go too far or he'll lose himself in the fight."
The reddish tint on Signum's cheeks did not go unnoticed by Hayate as the Knight replied. "I... have been thinking on our situation as well. I will attempt to keep a more level head in our next meeting. I enjoy our matches, but I do not wish to destroy him in my... desire for combat."
Hayate nodded with a smile. "That's all I can really ask. But, as a suggestion." Signum looked questioning at her words. "He's experienced your world this whole time. That's not really fair to him. Why not look into his?"
"... it will serve as a much-needed reprieve in our training at the very least." Signum's attempts to evade the true nature of the suggestion were met with a grin from her Master.
The brunette gave an amused huff before beginning to walk towards the staircase. "Well, I suppose that'll do for now. I should start packing." She turned back to Signum with a positively evil glint in her eyes. "Oh, before I forget: you'll be wearing the maid outfit again. I just got a new camera."
Signum wondered if it was too late to track Vita down and use her as a sacrificial lamb.
-Scene Break-
"You want to come with me?" clarified Yuuno with a look of confusion on his face as he placed his hands on his desk. He had been in the process of finalizing personnel assignments for the week or so he planned to be gone on the dig when Signum had marched into his office, a resolute expression on her features.
Forgoing an offered seat and skipping straight to the heart of her intention, she had, in no uncertain terms, requested to accompany him on his upcoming archaeological expedition. It had come as such a surprise he was certain he had been hearing things. Often, he went on these digs by himself. On rare occasion, he would be accompanied by a small team or a student interested in the field. Signum was perhaps one of the last people he'd expected to express an interest in joining him.
"Correct." Signum's blunt confirmation continued when it looked as though he was about to ask the inevitable 'Why?' "I have been ...curious about the world you live in." Her recent talk with Lady Hayate came to mind. She had thought upon the ...imbalance which existed in their agreement thus far and did not approve of it.
Yuuno raised an eyebrow at her specific wording. "Signum, you've never expressed any interest in archaeology or history in all the years I've known you." He paused. "...I don't mind you coming along, but I'd like to know why the sudden interest at the very least."
The pinkette's demeanor shifted slightly, and to Yuuno she almost seemed a slight embarrassed. "...I am simply curious as to why you enjoy the company of such ancient artifacts and tomes. Perhaps it will provide a better means of understanding how you see the world when we next do battle." The last portion of her statement had been added hastily, but the blonde did not seem to have noticed.
"Hmm..." Yuuno appeared contemplative as he mulled over Signum's explanation. He certainly didn't mind her coming along, but it seemed a bit much to find out why he enjoyed his work as much as he did. Still, her company would be greatly appreciated, even if part of her reasoning was tied into their arrangement. "Alright, I can accept that. But, wouldn't you like to know what exactly you're getting yourself into first?"
It was a rather important thing to know, and a look of realization crossed Signum's features as she processed Yuuno's words. "Ah, yes. ...That would be a vital piece of information." How could she have forgotten one of the simplest things? When she had asked Arf about the possibility of Yuuno going off on a dig in the near future, she had neglected to ask where it would be or what he would be doing. She felt the oversight was most unbecoming of her.
Yuuno merely smiled as he leaned back into his chair. "You wouldn't be the first person to forget that detail." He cleared his throat before continuing. "I'll be investigating an underground ruin reported to belong to the Ancient Belkans. Its located on the fifth planet in the Bael system and aside from the local wildlife, should be free of trouble. Supposedly there is a temple down there and Its somehow managed to avoid being raided by pillagers after all this time. Even we were lucky to find it. It was discovered by TSA Investigators by accident while seeing if the planet was suitable for colonization and they called me in to take the first look."
He seemed to be quite excited about the find and did not stop. "Even relatively untouched sites are a rarity. To be able to examine, in detail, a virgin ruin is a great honor and something many could spend their entire careers never finding. The knowledge that could be gained. The artifacts we could find. Such sites usually end up rewriting a page or two of history as we know it, if not more." There was a manic gleam in his eyes which reminded Signum of their most recent bout and she fought back a shiver at the memory.
After staring into the distance for a short time, Yuuno coughed with embarassment and tried to look more composed. "...Anyway, that's what the dig is about. If you're still interested. I'd be happy to have you along."
"I am and you have my thanks for accepting this selfish request of mine." A wry grin appeared on her face. "At the very least, you will not be lacking in protection should things turn hostile." Her words garnered an amused chuckle from the blonde. Perhaps now, she could bear witness to more of his world, just as he had experienced hers, and also see just what it was about such topics that garned such a feverent reaction.
"This is true. We won't be able to have any of our matches though," cautioned Yuuno. "Dig sites are usually too fragile to survive heavy fighting and I don't want to run the risk, especially with this site." The potential destruction of such irreplaceable and valuable knowledge was not something he wanted on his head.
Signum nodded in understanding. "This will be a suitable reprieve in our training then. We have been rather ...hasty, in our development." She paused a moment before continuing. "When will we be departing and is there anything in particular you feel I should bring?" She was inexperienced in this line of work and did not wish to be caught unawares.
"Aside from toiletries and a sleeping bag? Comfortable and durable clothing you don't mind running the risk of getting damaged. Things that breathe easy are best here since the weather is supposed to be rather muggy," informed Yuuno, thinking about the first few times he'd failed to follow such advice from his seniors. It had not been a pleasant experience for him. "You'd best get ready soon. I'm leaving the day after tomorrow, first thing in the morning."
"Very well, I shall contact you again later this evening to finalize the arrangements." Signum mentally tallied just how much of certain supplies were available at home and what she would have to stop by the story to obtain on the way home.
Yuuno nodded with a smile. "I'll be expecting it."
A brief bow of thanks preceded Signum's words. "I am grateful for your acceptance of my request, Scrya. I would like to speak further, but I must return to my post."
"No problem, I'll talk with you later to give you more of the details." He waved goodbye to the Knight as she left. The dig would certainly be more interesting with the swordswoman present.
-Chapter End-