"What type of clothes do you like, Phantom?"
"Anything that will blend in."
"I don't think that'll be easy."
It was Phantom's turn to bring the Book of Darkness' new master, Hayate Yagami, outside the house. He pushed her wheelchair along the sidewalk as the two had designated their time to go out shopping.
She, and by extension him, were informed by the Wolkenwritter about the main purpose of filling out pages for the book via magical extraction of a person or creature's Linker Core into data. A Linker Core being a collection of mana manifested as a "core." This core is very important to beings as they usually will not just expose it to the outside world without a fight.
This was swiftly demonstrated by exposing their master's very own Linker Core to show what it looked like. Much to the girl's confusion and horror.
The Wolkenwritter are programs made by the book to carry out this mission of collecting data. They are tools that Hayate Yagami can use and command as she sees fit. Even if she tells them to do the impossible, then it will be carried out.
In return for all of that, the master of the book would gain power over what they saw fit. Whether it's simple destructive power, influence, or something else entirely. They could even mend injuries or disabilities, like say a girl in a wheelchair?
After she was informed, their new master rejected the prospect entirely. She didn't want to harm others for her own gain. So for the next few days she spent time with the programs, getting them new clothes, cooking and feeding them, etc. The Wolkenwritter were confused by this prospect of course, but they slowly started to come around to it. All of them gained new clothing and a newfound appreciation for their new master.
"Are you getting along with everyone else?" Hayate asked.
It wasn't without warrant. Phantom was still a new creation made from the Book of Darkness, different from his peers in a multitude of ways. There was no immediate history he could rely upon and less of a reason to speak to them out of the blue. While everyone else was bonding with their new master, Phantom kept to himself for the most part.
Hence the master decided to isolate him and get a little one on one time with him in the form of getting new clothes for him. He's worn the black clothing grafted onto him this whole time. It was efficient and cleaned quite easily.
"I wouldn't say I am." He would not lie to his new master. Well it was more like he didn't want to lie to himself. Start telling a lie and it would eventually become the truth or something like that? Did that apply here?
"What's wrong?"
"I don't know. Guess I'm not too much of a socialite."
Hayate looked down towards her lap for a few moments, "Are you afraid?"
"Hm?"
"It's scary to let people into your life. You don't know what they'll do to you." The girl put a hand above her chest, "If they'll leave you."
"Or when you'll leave them."
Hayate shook her head and smiled, "I've been having fun for the past few days. Everyone is so nice, warm, and gentle. When you guys informed me that you were warriors, knights, soldiers, I wasn't sure what to expect. But you all reciprocated my feelings to just settle down and live our new lives together. Even warriors need to rest and have a place to call home."
"Our very own mother base." Phantom's found himself saying without thinking.
This caused Hayate to giggle, "That's a funny thing to call home. I want to understand you too, Phantom. Not as your master, but as a friend."
His fingers twitched a bit, his left bionic red arm felt just like his own flesh and blood for just a moment. Today's friends…could be….no! "Do you wish to be the angel that gives this Phantom closure?"
"Hm? Where'd that come from?" Hayate looked directly up from her position to see Phantom's wandering gaze, "Do you consider me an angel?"
Peace? Angel of Peace? Peace. Angels are so it- it- was there someone who? Their name was peace? Phantom shook his head and snapped out of his own jumbled thoughts, "No, just faintly remembering something."
"I heard from Shamal that it must be a side effect for a new program like yourself. You can't handle all of the information given to you just yet."
Phantom hummed. Their conversation had reached a stopping point.
…
"Whoa, you're so handsome!" Hayate's eyes shined brightly as she watched Phantom come out of the changing booth. It turned out his fashion sense was a little bit on the classier side. Instead of picking out any of the dime a dozen bargain bin clothes, his eye had gravitated towards the suits. While he would've been fine wearing anything his master designated, she insisted that he try on what he liked. So he picked out the finest suit he could find, on the relatively cheaper end of course. He didn't know where Hayate got her money and he doubted she could be rolling in cash after buying many different sets of outfits for everyone and cooking for more than just herself.
From the girl's point of view Phantom literally stepped out of a manga. Like he transformed from someone that tried to keep their profile low to hide their presence from the world. Something she was very familiar with due to her own status. It doesn't do good to bring attention to oneself, especially if it makes it easier for someone to take advantage of you. Having a horn and a bionic arm would definitely make you stand out amongst the crowd, so it would almost make sense to hide it the best you can.
Though now, in that suit, Phantom looked very confident. Very suave. Men look good in suits, especially when they owned it, and Phantom definitely owned it. It reminded her of something like James Bond. The scars that lined up his face and small horn on his head added to the allure of the suit.
Her eyes were sparkling. What if she wore a suit? Would it stop people from looking down on her? Would it make her look cooler than she actually is? She knew she came shopping for Phantom, but she wanted to try a suit of her own right now! No! She needed to compose herself for now. She didn't think she would like the suit so much!
"Kept you waiting, huh?" Phantom said a tried and true sentence he knew in his heart of hearts.
"Calm down, James Bond." Hayate did think it was a little cheesy that he went for a one-liner right out the gate. Maybe he was a bit more of a goofball than he let on?
The comparison irked him a little, but he let it slide. It did feel refreshing to get a new set of clothes. His master was definitely happy at the results too. All they needed to do was check out and make sure to grab food to cook back home.
…
The funny thing about having a handsome man out on the street is that they get attention. A lot of attention. Their trip back home took double the amount of time due to the amount of people who couldn't stop gawking and crowding. A lot of people took Phantom as a sort of dependable man who was taking care of his daughter in a wheelchair with a lot of women asking if he was single. If Hayate knew this would be the result of getting him a suit she wouldn't have bought him it at all! Then again, if she got a suit would that mean she would be looked at like Phantom? Though… a lot of people asked where he got his scars from, something Phantom didn't bother to answer. His bionic arm was mostly covered by the suit, so no doubt he would get a lot of questions about it too if it was fully exposed.
Well at least their food was still intact. Hayate was afraid that it would eventually get lost in the crowd.
"We're home!" Hayate shouted into the house.
"Hayate!" Vita immediately came running towards the door. Excitement adorned her face to greet her master. She stopped in her tracks as she saw Phantom, "Whoa, is that you Phantom? You look different."
Hayate sighed, "Don't mention it. People couldn't stop crowding us on the way back."
"Did they hurt you?" Vita's face eyes sharpen a bit, a protective glare in her eyes.
"No, but I thought they were gonna kidnap Phantom with how much they were interested."
Phantom put a thumbs up, "Don't worry. Exfiltration out of a hot zone is one of my specialities. Though if they did get a little too handsy," Hm…he couldn't exactly demonstrate his CQC abilities on these two. Oh wait! He extended his bionic arm outward, "Rocket punch!"
His bionic fist flew out at a fast speed. Though his aim was more spur of the moment, he could theoretically control where it would go, but in this closed household it would be sent straight towards the wall. However, the flying fist was caught by Shamal who was quick to react to the new development.
"I would kindly ask you not to make a mess, Phantom. Especially if it involves damaging the property."
"I didn't know you could do that." Hayate was amused at the entire thing as she started to giggle just a bit.
"Neat trick, I don't think anyone would expect something like that." Vita commented.
"There's a lot more functions to it than that, but that one's honestly my favorite."
"Would it be able to fix broken walls?" Shamal asked rhetorically as she still kept the detached fist in her hands.
"No."
Shamal looked over the bionic arm with a lot more interest than expected, she examined what she could at a glance and wondered just exactly how something like that would work. The inner doctor within her wanted to know! "Do you mind if I had a closer look at this? Belkan technology was advanced enough to simply regenerate your limbs if they were lost and even I can do that to an extent with my own craft."
He did indeed mind it, "I still need that."
"Not if you were ready to launch it across the room. Consider it your punishment for almost breaking the wall."
"Shamal's got you there, Phantom." Hayate smiled and unintentionally told them it was approved.
Phantom now looked at his empty left arm. He knew he should've gotten a headband too. Shamal would hopefully return the arm in functioning order later. However, something else immediately caught his eye. Behind Shamal stood the most beautiful thing he's ever seen in his new life. It was perfect! It was even better than the suit Hayate gave him. Perfectly proportioned and perfect for him!
He moved over towards the object.
"Some packages came in, Hayate. We just finished-" Vita started, then stopped as she saw the most peculiar sight. "Er…what're you doing, Phantom?"
Phantom flipped over one of the empty cardboard boxes and put it over himself like it was something normal people just do. Vita walked on over to it and picked it up off of him. He didn't exactly take too kindly to that as he immediately put it back. Her eyes widened as she did it again and was met with the same result. She looked over to Hayate and Shamal who looked on with a bit of interest in his stranger than normal behavior. "Weirdo," Vita said.
Hayate rolled on over with an idea in her head. Maybe this was a key to understanding Phantom a little bit? If she wanted everyone to get along, she's got to take the lead!
She crawled off her wheelchair and moved toward the box. She lightly lifted it and asked, "Phantom, may I come in?"
There was no response, but she let herself crawl in anyway. The cardboard box was a lot more spacious than she realized. Vita could get in here too if she wanted to.
"Welcome to the box."
Phantom had a serene look to him, as if he found the meaning of life. The only reason she could see was the holes to the outside.
"It's cozy."
"Indeed."
"Why a box?"
"Why not? The better question is, why did you enter the box, master?"
"I wanted to see what you were up to?"
"You saw what I did. However, what compelled you to crawl in too?"
Hayate answered resoundly, "Like I told you before, I want to understand you. Along with everyone else."
Phantom shook his head, "Wrong answer."
"Huh?" What did he mean by that? That's her genuine reason, did he not believe her? Was today all for nothing? She looked down towards the floor beneath them, a frown etched upon her face.
"The reason you entered the box is because you too wanted to understand its secrets."
Her head shot up with a confused reaction, "What?"
"The box called out to you and you answered. To understand the box is to understand everything."
"If I understand the box, does that mean I'll understand you?"
Phantom just shrugged, "It might be a first step."
"Then I'll give it a try!" Hayate got a boost of enthusiasm!
"Now become one with the box. And let the box become one with you."
"Yes."
To become one with the box is to understand everything.
…
Enough people seemed interested, so I'll continue this. Updates might be a bit on the slow end.
Might be a bit rough for the first couple of chapters as I try to establish dynamics and try to get everyone's general personality down. I just hope I'll do right with the Nanoha side of things. Things will be a bit lighthearted for this story of course.
Til next time.