Story Title:
Bound by Regret

Genres/'Tags':
Mystery / Supernatural / Romance / Yuri / Alternate Universe / Ghost

Summary:
Walking home from school, Takamachi Nanoha sees a mysterious blonde girl in the park. Entranced by the girl's mysterious air, Nanoha walks up to her and asks her who she is. The response she gets is not quite what she expected: "Y-you can... see me?" ::AU & Nanofate::

Disclaimer:
I do not own Mahou Shoujo Lyrical Nanoha. Mahou Shoujo Lyrical Nanoha and all related trademarks are owned by Seven Arcs.

*~-[ Chapter #6: Sisters' Quarrel ]-~*

Nanoha POV:
It'd been a day after we heard the story of how Fate-chan died and since then, we hadn't spoken a word. I'd tried a few times to strike up conversation but Fate-chan always seemed deep in thought and didn't answer me.

It greatly affected my mood as I kept wondering about the sister that was mentioned, Alicia.

I remembered what Yuuno-kun told me about the death of Precia Testarossa's daughter. Was that Alicia? It must've been; Fate-chan died after Precia.

That evening, after I'd finished my homework, I tried asking Fate-chan.

"Fate-chan? I was wondering, remember when Yuuno-kun told us about… your mother, Precia?"

Fate-chan nodded but didn't look in my direction.

"I've been thinking, please correct me if I'm wrong, but… the daughter that died, it was Alicia wasn't it?"

"Yes." I was a little surprised at the verbal response, even if it was a barely audible whisper.

"Do you remember anything about her… death?" On one hand I felt bad for asking, because if she did it probably wasn't a good memory. On the other hand, I really wanted to know.

"I… remember everything now…" Fate-chan whispered, though the way her voice sounded made it seem like she was on the verge of crying.

"Y-you don't have to tell me Fate-chan, if it's difficult-"

"No!" I jumped at Fate-chan's sudden outburst.

"It's alright. I should tell someone, sometime after all." Fate-chan turned around and I could see the pain in her eyes. "I never got the chance to tell this to her," Fate-chan waved her arm in the direction of my bedroom door. I understood she meant Lindy-san. "so I suppose you're the only person I can tell this to. But I am still afraid."

"Afraid of what Fate-chan?" I inquired.

"Afraid that you'll hate me…" her voice cracked slightly and a few tears started rolling down her cheeks.

I reached out and grabbed Fate-chan and held her close.

"Don't worry about that Fate-chan. In the few days I've known you it's become clear to me that you're a very kind and gentle, if somewhat shy person. There's no way I could ever hate you."

"Even if I told you my sister's death… was my fault?"

My breath got caught in my throat and my eyes grew wide.

*~-[ X ]-~*

Fate POV:
As soon as those words had passed my lips I felt Nanoha's breathing catch for a second. She broke the hug with me and we came face-to-face with each other.

Shock was written all over her features. I knew she'd hate me. Who wouldn't hate someone who caused the death of their own sister?

I broke out of Nanoha's arms made my way to Nanoha's window, ready to leave. I was about to fly out the window when I felt a hand grab my shirt. I turned around and was shocked to see Nanoha looking at me angrily.

"Where do you think you're going?!" She nearly yelled at me.

"I thought you-"

"You thought I… what?" She asked. "Hate you?"

Unable to speak I could only nod.

"Fate-chan, you said you caused her death, not that you killed her. To me, that sounds like an accident."

I was still unable to speak as I could only stare at Nanoha.

"It was an accident, wasn't it? Then tell me Fate-chan, tell me what happened."

I let out a breath I didn't know I was holding.

"Okay…"

*~-[ X ]-~*

It was eight years ago. Alicia and I were only nine. We lived together with our mother. I don't remember the details but I do remember that Alicia and I had had a fight. Mother did our best to have us make up but we were only children so that was easier said than done.

Mother had a day off that day, so the three of us went to the park for a nice family afternoon. However, due to Alicia and me constantly bickering over every little thing our family afternoon was cut short.

On our way back it happened. Normally Alicia and I would always hold hands but due to our argument we didn't that day.

Without me holding her hand, Alicia ran ahead of me and Mother.

Reaching a crossing, Alicia tried to stop but tripped over something, causing her to fall face-first onto the road.

"Alicia!" I heard Mother yell.

The moment I looked in Alicia's direction all I could see was how a car, unable to stop in time, ran Alicia over.

*~-[ X ]-~*

"Whatever happened after that, I don't remember. I do remember being at Alicia's funeral, but everything between seeing the car hit Alicia and attending the funeral… I don't even want to remember." I concluded my story.

I met Nanoha's eyes. I expected her to tell me what monster I was; if I hadn't argued with Alicia over nothing, she and I would've been holding hands and she wouldn't have died. It was my fault. It was my fault my sister died and Mother started drowning her sorrows in alcohol.

What I didn't expect, was for her to hug me.

"Poor thing, you blamed yourself all those years didn't you?" From the sound of her voice, I could hear Nanoha was crying.

I once again found myself unable to speak. Why? Why are you saying that? Why are you crying? It was my fault! Of course I'm blaming myself!

"I cannot imagine what it had to be like for both you and your mother… losing a sister and daughter like that…" Nanoha was tracing gentle circles on my back while she continued to hold me.

My eyes widened as more memories entered my mind.

"Mother…" the word passed my lips in a barely audible whisper. "Alicia's death was very hard on her… very hard…"

Wrapping my arms around Nanoha, returning her hug and holding her close, I kept talking.

"She started drowning her sorrows in alcohol. When she got really sad, she would get angry. I tried to calm her down, which caused her to lash out at times."

Nanoha buried her face in the crook of my neck.

"I didn't blame her… how could I? I deserved it. I deserved to be punished. What I didn't deserve… was what she did after that…"

"W-what did she do Fate-chan…?" Nanoha asked in a cracking whisper.

"She would hold me close, and say she was sorry for hitting me."

*~-[ X ]-~*

Nanoha POV:
I felt heartbroken; how could Fate-chan say she didn't deserve her mother to apologize to her. In my eyes, it was the least she could do.

I don't understand Fate-chan… Why? Why are you so insistent on blaming yourself?

"Fate-chan," I whispered, biting my lip to even out my voice, "did you want your sister to get hurt?"

"Wha- O-of course not! I would never…" She immediately responded, her voice trailed off as she murmured "Never want to see my sister get hurt, no matter how upset I got… Never…"

"Then you know it's not your fault. It was an accident Fate-chan. A horrible accident, but an accident nonetheless. You're not to blame."

Fate-chan sniffed loudly. "I-it's j-j-just…" I heard soft sobs starting to escape her. "I never got t-t-to a-apologize to h-h-her." Fate-chan took a long, shaky breath as her body was shivering. "I never got t-to say I w-w-was sorry. And now it's t-t-too late." It was then that Fate-chan broke down in tears, crying uncontrollably in my arms.

*~-[ X ]-~*

I don't know how long it took for Fate-chan to calm down but eventually, she did. We had somehow ended up in my bed, I sat upright while Fate-chan had her upper body lying in my lap and her arms wrapped around my waist. As I was stroking her hair gently I couldn't help but notice how incredibly soft her hair actually was.

Looking down at her, I saw the lower half of her body slightly phasing through the bed, reminding me she was, in fact, a ghost.

I had almost forgotten.

"Nanoha," Fate-chan mumbled, her voice still shaking a bit.

"Yes, Fate-chan?" I answered as gently as I could.

"Remember what Lindy-kaasan said? About me saying I had a lot of things I regret?"

"Mhm." I nodded. "There are so many things I regret in my life… But there's one thing I can still do… I love you, Lindy-kaasan."

"Most of those things, are small things I let go right before I died there…" Fate-chan continued, "But there is one thing, one thing I still regret."

"Which is? You can tell me, Fate-chan." I whispered, softly rubbing the blonde's back.

"The one thing I truly regret, is that I never made up with Alicia after our fight, before she died…"

I looked up and stared out the window, the sky was cloudy and the moon was hidden behind those clouds.

I looked back at Fate-chan when I heard her chuckle. There was no happiness within that short bout of laughter though.

"Ironic isn't it? I would be able to apologize, to talk to her, if I could go to the afterlife. Yet it is the fact that I regret never apologizing that I cannot go and apologize."

Silence fell. My brain going into overdrive once more. If that was truly what kept her bound to earth, then there was nothing we could do…

Nothing at all…

I can't help her; there's nothing I can do.

No…

I cannot accept that.

I made her a promise!

*~-[ End of Chapter ]-~*

Please leave me a review telling me what you think; I love getting feedback and I don't mind people being critical. In fact, I welcome it!

*~-[ May we meet again, fare thee well! ]-~*