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Left for TFF
 Author
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: Frozen Hell of the North
Age: 41
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It's done.
Whew!
Big thanks to Raiser for all his help on this chapter. ^_^
Day in the Life
Chapter 42
Spoiler for Ponderings:
Shamal sat on the couch in her apartment, she knew that Nanoha told her to go to sleep, but, there was just so much on her mind, she just couldn't relax enough to sleep. All things considered, between worrying about Miyuki, having her basically die and come back and the other injured people, she should be out cold.
She should be asleep right now.
"I don't need a mother, Shamal, I have two. I want a partner."
That had hurt, a lot. Not because of any anger, or malice, but because it was true. "...I'm not really a good lover, am I?" She sighed softly, knowing that she wasn't going to get any answers from her empty apartment.
All she could do was sit there, in silence, as she thought about everything.
(---)
"You sure you should be moving around?" The captain looked at her with some concern.
"It's been a few days, captain..." She winced, her whole body hurt, but at least she wasn't in danger of dying at that moment. "I just want to move around a little."
"Well, I'm impressed..." The ship's doctor walked up behind her and lightly tapped her shoulder. "If you weren't a cyborg, Ginga, you'd be down and out right now."
Ginga smiled slightly, even as her body trembled. "Heh, I feel like I should be down and out right now. I'm just tired of lying in bed." She wobbled slightly and the doctor had to stop her from falling over. "Guess I should just be in bed."
"Don't worry..." The captain reassured her. "We'll be nearing some travel lanes soon, we'll find a ship to take us back to Mid-childa quickly."
"Now, just get some rest." The doctor led Ginga out. "I know you're tough and I know I can fix you up pretty well, but your body just needs rest."
"Can you at least bring me some new books to read?"
"That can be arranged." The doctor nodded at her.
(---)
"Never thought I'd get that smoke smell out of my hair..." Dieci grumbled as she, Cinque, Wendi and Teela ate breakfast. The Unison device was a new addition to the table, though she was rather quiet, at least compared to Wendi.
"I know what you mean." Cinque, without her eye-patch, smiled at her. Very rarely did Cinque dislike her enhanced senses, but having to smell smoke all the time did grate on her nerves a little bit.
"Do you think Teana will be okay?" Teela asked softly, causing the other three to look at her in slight surprise. "I mean... I'm her partner and all I could do was stand there and watch her... watch her get hurt!" She broke down into tears before Dieci grabbed her. "Why? I... I'm no good... I'm just a..."
"A friend." Dieci said softly, getting a gasp from Teela as she looked up at Dieci's smiling face. "You're a friend, Teela. Teana didn't want you to get hurt, and you didn't want her to get hurt."
Teela sniffled softly and hugged Dieci as best she could, thanking the cyborg.
Watching this, Cinque just smiled softly at Dieci. The girl had come a long way since they had been in lock-up. The same girl who sobbed in her arms over nearly killing three people in a helicopter could give someone in distress comfort. Closing her eye, she wondered if maybe she was becoming unneeded in her sisters' lives.
Oh well, if she wasn't needed, then she wasn't needed. At least her sisters would be well onto their own lives if they didn't need her anymore.
But, even though that was what she wanted for them, why did such thoughts leave her feeling nothing but sadness?
(---)
"Awww! You're leaving?!" Reiko pouted as Yuuno nodded. "I was hoping to corrupt your daughter some more before you left."
Even though Yuuno chuckled, Nanoha looked nervous as she stood behind him. "Now, now, I'm sure that you'll get plenty of chances to corrupt her..."
Reiko giggled at him before hugging him tightly. "Good luck, cousin, don't forget to invite me to the wedding... Or I really will corrupt little Vivio."
Yuuno chuckled and nodded as he hugged her back. "Sure..." He honestly had missed his family, but he knew that he needed to get back to Mid-Childa sooner or later... Otherwise he'd never hear the end of it from Vita.
Fate looked at Nanoha as she shifted the baby bags on her back and the stroller she was using for all three of the babies. "I'm not sure we should trust someone who threatens to corrupt our children..."
Nanoha giggled at her serious look. "Maybe, but I don't think she means any harm."
"So says the person she got out in that baseball game." Fate chuckled as Nanoha pouted.
"Mou... I was certain that was a homerun too!" Fate, and Reiko both chuckled at her while Yuuno shook his head. He didn't know what he had done in his life to deserve such happiness, but he sure wasn't complaining about it.
Sora squirmed in the stroller, grunting as he kicked his legs around. Looking down, Fate smiled softly as she rubbed his belly, causing him to smile up at her, though he still kicked his legs around. "I guess it's time to go now."
After they said their goodbyes, Reiko sighed as she watched them teleport away. "I'm going to miss them." Oh well, she'd see them again when they got married.
(---)
Rein stretched as she woke up and looked over to the bed that Hayate was sleeping in, before gasping as she saw it empty. "Hayate!" She looked all around the room, but couldn't see her. "Agito!" She turned to her bed mate and shook her violently. "Hayate's gone!"
"What?!" The little demon shot up and looked around. "But, she shouldn't be anywhere!"
"If you two don't calm down, you'll wake the whole hospital up." The two looked from the shelf they were on to the bathroom and saw Hayate standing there as she spoke to them softly. Smiling, the short-haired woman walked over to them and patted them on their heads. "Sorry, I didn't mean to take that long."
"Are you okay, Meister?"
Hayate nodded at Agito. "Yeah. My stomach's still a bit touchy, but my fever broke finally."
"I'm glad." Rein smiled at her happily. "As soon as the house is fixed, we'll throw you a big party."
Hayate giggled at her. "Rein, I was just sick, I'm okay now." Really, her device was rather silly at times, but she wouldn't trade Rein in for anything in the world. “Where’s everyone else?”
“Um, fine, they’re all fine, just over at Shamal’s place and…” Agito trailed off at the look Hayate gave her. “They didn’t want you to worry, Meister. You were sick and they didn’t want it to get worse and…”
“Agito.” Hayate sighed and shook her head. “Really, it’s okay, I just want to see them.”
“You sure?” Rein asked as Hayate nodded at her.
“I can feel them, all of them, and they’re hurting right now. I want to at least look at them, please?”
Both Unison Devices looked at each other before sighing.
(---)
Zafira looked up from his spot on the floor. “Hayate…” He said softly as she walked into the room. “Are you okay?”
“I’m fine, Zafira, just a little unsettled right now.” She knelt down and hugged him gently. “I’m sorry.”
“For what?”
“Not being able to be there when you were in trouble.” Hayate had tears leaking out of her eyes as she hugged his neck. “You, Vita-chan, Signum, all got hurt because I couldn’t be there to help you.”
“Hayate…” Zafira sighed softly as she hugged him. “We’re all okay. None of us wanted you to get hurt and we’d all gladly get hurt again, if it meant that you were safe.”
“I know.” Hayate nodded against his fur. “I know. But we’re family, and I don’t want to see any of you get hurt for my sake.”
“I’ll be fine.” Zafira nodded his head towards the beds. “But Signum and Vita are going to need some time to recover.”
“I know…” Hayate sighed as she stood up and looked at her sleeping knights. “Rein told me everything.”
“Hayate…”
“Don’t worry.” She smiled at him. “You’re all alive and safe now, that’s all that matters.” Internally, her thoughts were much, much darker. ‘If I ever find the people who did this to all of you, I will not let them get away with this.’ She was going to have a serious… Talk with the person who burned Vita so badly, but as for Signum and Zafira’s opponents… She doubted that she would be much help against either of them, but if she ever saw them, she’d do all that she could to help her family out.
She would never fail them, never again.
"What are you doing up?" She nearly jumped out of her skin as Signum looked at her and tried to sit up, before just giving up, since her muscles could barely get any strength in them. "I thought you were sick?"
"I'm better now. I just need to take it easy..." Hayate said as she gently sat on the edge of Signum's bed. "I wish I could have been there."
"I'm glad you weren't." Signum's voice was soft as she looked at her master's upset face. "I'm glad that no one else was there fighting that man."
"You'd rather be hurt like this than see someone you care for die, huh?" Hayate smiled softly. "I know." She gently grabbed Signum's hand and squeezed it. But I just wish that I could have done something too."
"I'm alive, Hayate..." Signum sighed softly. "Feels like he cut up the tendons on my muscles, I can barely lift a finger right now."
Hayate grabbed her hand and squeezed it gently. Her eyes misted up as she rubbed Signum's hand. "I know you are, but if you hadn't been alone, this wouldn't have happened."
"More people would have been hurt." Signum sighed softly. "I'll get better, Hayate. I'll be undergoing treatments in the morning to get my muscles healed."
Hayate nodded and looked at the other bed, where Vita was sleeping. "...I just wish that this never happened to any of you." She blinked as she felt Signum squeeze her hand.
"It's okay, Hayate." Signum, despite the pain she felt at times, smiled softly. "I'm just glad that you aren't hurt." She gasped as Hayate turned and hugged her, before sighing as the sharp pain she felt disappeared quickly.
"Sorry." Hayate pulled back, but not before kissing Signum on her cheek. "You're my family, it pains me to see you all hurt like this."
"Hayate..." Zafira spoke up, causing his mistress to turn to him. "Any of us would give our lives for you, never forget that." The fact that she was crying because they were hurt meant a lot more to them than Hayate could ever really know.
(---)
"Hello, Miyuki."
"Mom." Miyuki smiled as she saw Momoko walk into her room. "What's up?"
"Just checking on my daughter, is that a crime?" Smiling, the older woman walked up to her daughter and sat down near her bed. "I heard you gave the doctors a major scare there."
"Yeah..." Miyuki nodded at her and sighed softly. "Felt weird, like everything was off-color. I think there was something about a woman and a fire, but I can't recall."
"Probably not." Momoko smiled at her. "I'm just glad that you're not dead."
"So am I." Miyuki leaned back against her bed. "I'm out of here this afternoon, finally. So tired of being in here."
"I can imagine." Momoko shook her head. "Although, I wonder about your relationship with that woman, Miyuki."
"...You mean Shamal?" Miyuki sighed as Momoko nodded at that. "Why do you ask?"
"Because... I wonder if you're happy with her."
Miyuki closed her eyes. To be honest, she didn't want to talk about it. She felt like she had too many problems and Shamal was too stifling at times. "I wonder myself... We talked about a lot before I went to sleep."
Momoko nodded as her daughter went quiet. "Did you know? That when your father was injured, I was a lot like Shamal is to you now."
"Huh?" Miyuki blinked a few times as she looked at her mother, who had a far-away look on her face. "Mom?"
"Right after Shiro was injured and recovered, the two of us had some arguments about how I was a bit stifling to him and how he always worried me."
"How did you two work it out?"
"Lots of angry sex." Momoko giggled at Miyuki, who blushed and blanched as she heard that. "But, in the end, the two of us had to come to a compromise."
"Which was..?"
"I'd stop worrying about him so much, as long as he promised to not take so many jobs." Momoko chuckled at her look. "Shiro might be retired, but whenever I see his scars, I always feel like I could have done more to stop those injuries."
"So, what should I do?" Miyuki asked, sighing heavily as Momoko shook her head.
"Whatever you do, Miyuki, you need to realize that she'll worry about you all the time." Momoko squeezed her shoulder. "So, you need to make her realize that you're likely not going to take it easy."
Miyuki nodded. Even so, her mind was awhirl.
(---)
Looking at the young boy, Subaru smiled at him softly as she sat near a river, the two were washing their faces, trying to wake up fully. "So, what are you going to do now, Touma?"
His hair was damp as he pulled his head out of the river in time to hear that question. "I don't know." He answered softly. The two had spent the night together and had only woken up a short time ago, when the morning was nearly done. "What would you do?"
Subaru shook her head at that question. "I don't know." Really, she couldn't imagine what happened to him happening to her family. But, then again, there was always a chance it could happen. "I'd probably spend my time traveling, trying to ignore the pain that I feel, work with the Bureau so that I would never have to be home again. I don't know." She couldn't imagine not working with the Bureau, even if her family and loved ones were dead. The thought of letting people die because she couldn't handle it wasn't something she wanted to think about.
Then again, something like this had a habit of changing a person, and generally not for the better.
"I do know that I'm going to be heading home soon." Seeing the way his body seemed to slump in defeat, she tapped her chin in thoughts. "Do you have any other relatives?" He shook his head, though Subaru could see that there were some tears he was holding back on her. "You could live at an orphanage for a little while, I'm sure that there's some around here."
"I guess..." Touma said softly as he sighed. Something like that though, it didn't really appeal to him all that much.
"...Would you like to come with me back to Mid-Childa to meet my family?" Seeing his eyes widen as he turned to her in shock was both surprising and slightly comforting. She wasn't sure why she felt that way, was this how Fate felt when she found Erio, Caro and those other kids and saved them? She'd have to ask the blond when she saw her next.
"You mean it?" There was nervousness, wonder and even hope in his voice. Subaru could only smile at him. "I can come with you?"
"If you want to, sure." Subaru smiled at him. "You don't have to, I can find you a temporary home until you're older."
"...Can I come with you, please?"
"Sure." Subaru found herself on her back as Touma hugged her tightly, his body shook and trembled slightly as he cried softly against her.
Closing her eyes, Subaru hugged him back and rubbed his back gently. As he thanked her, she just told him that it was alright, though a part of her mind was wondering and pondering just how her family would take this piece of information.
Oh well, she was certain that they wouldn't care.
The bigger issue was that she was going to have to head back far sooner than she had originally planned. She wouldn't begrudge Touma over it though, it wasn't like he had done this on purpose after all.
As for Touma? He was sad that he had lost everyone, but was very thankful and glad that Subaru had made that offer. He was just glad that he wasn't alone at that moment.
(---)
Shamal looked up from her position on the couch, her eyes were blood-shot, her hair matted down and bags were under her eyes as her door opened. "Yes?" Weird, she could barely see straight at that moment.
"Shamal?" She blinked a few times as her vision cleared. "What the hell? Haven't you gotten any sleep at all?"
"Mi... Miyuki?" Shamal started and stood up, but found herself faltering before Miyuki rushed to her side and grabbed her. "What..?"
"Shhh..." Miyuki whispered to her as she led the blond to bed. She mentally sighed, but for some reason, she just couldn't find herself getting upset at her. As she put Shamal into bed, she blinked as the blond grabbed her arm. "Shamal?"
"Please, Miyuki? Stay close..." Shamal sighed softly. "After this... If you don't want to..."
"Shamal." Miyuki put a finger on her lips. "We'll talk about that later, for now, just get some sleep." As Shamal nodded, she leaned her head back and closed her eyes, falling asleep almost instantly.
As for Miyuki? All she did was gently carress Shamal's face as she slept before sighing and sitting on the bed. "Mom, I hope what you said was the truth."
Chapter End
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My fics Due to certain things, I am not here, find me over on TFF.
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