"I'll kill her," Nanoha ground out softly while they stood in the middle of the bedroom. Her calloused hand tightened around the room key as it shook. "No," she growled, "I will kill Hayate, then her. She wouldn't have had the cojones otherwise."
Waking in Fate's arms had felt amazing, it was so tempting to just bask for a while, but they had to quickly separate before flight attendants descended on the cabin to begin requesting passengers to stow their beds and trays in preparation for landing.
Leaving the chauffeur to stow their luggages, they had settled into the short drive to their hotel with little pomp and arrived at the hotel just before two in the morning. The check-in process was swift since they were the only guests at the time. A staff in a kimono had led them to their accommodations and bowed before retreating into the night.
The room was large and spacious. Tatami mats lined the floors, and the decor had a distinctly traditional feel. Shoji doors separated each room, lending a cosy ambience that was furthered by the hushed, trimmed greenery seen just outside their private hot spring pool. Apparently, the only room available in the area had been at an onsen ryokan, a traditional japanese inn with hot springs.
Nanoha was willing to give that a pass. It was the very solitary, very huge double bed that had the executive fuming and she had half a mind to yell at her E.A. at two in the bloody morning for this.
A calming hand laid itself over her clenched one, and Nanoha glanced up at the blonde. "It's all right, Nanoha. It will be like a sleepover with friends, like on the plane…" She glanced guiltily away, knowing she had an ulterior motive for accepting this arrangement. It had felt too good waking from that nap wrapped around the gorgeous executive and she was thirsty for more.
Fate didn't understand, Nanoha thought. It was straining the auburn-haired woman's vaunted self-control to keep her hands to herself around the angelic blonde and to be stuck in the same bed with Fate for multiple nights was going to be her demise. How was she going to control herself without the aid of a conscious mind?!
The worst part was, she couldn't tell if it had been Vita's idea or Hayate's. Both were prone to being overprotective of Nanoha, especially after her accident, but damned if their instincts liked to manifest in the worst and most inconvenient ways possible. She knew they meant well, both liked Fate and liked that she was friends with the blonde. Was this their twisted way of trying to deepen her friendship with her AVP?
Blowing out an exasperated breath, Nanoha scrubbed tiredly at her face, "I'm sorry, Feito-chan. Maybe there is a futon I can ask housekeeping to bring in…" She reached for the room's phone.
Soft fingers closed firmly about her wrist, pulling her hand away from her face and staying her intentions to pick up the receiver, "Nanoha-chan," Fate said seriously, forcing the executive to meet her eyes. The crimson pools were dark in the dimmed warmth of the ryokan's room, full of entreating, "I've seen your 'normal'. I want a new normal for Nanoha. I-If I can help, then let me."
"Feito-chan, if I'm asleep," Nanoha's hand drooped limp in Fate's, the executive's eyes dropping to study the tatami they were standing on, "I… I don't know what I might do…"
"Nanoha-chan has never and will never hurt me on purpose. Not even on day one." Fate tucked errant strands of rich auburn behind the woman's ears, "The White Devil was a lie told so many times that even you began to believe it." Azure eyes shaded with apprehension lifted, and Nanoha was caught in the unrelenting belief in Fate's eyes "Whatever it is Nanoha-chan is so afraid she might do, I forgive her, because I know she did not mean it. Just as she forgave me before."
"Feito-chan…" Oh no, the urge to kiss the blonde was back, stronger than ever. How did she know just what to say? Fate could feel the fluttering pulse in the wrist she had maintained hold of, a tsunami of emotions clashing in those beautiful ocean eyes. It was as if they had formed whirlpools, sucking her into their depths. She felt her breath quickening, the swift rise and fall inadvertently brushing their fronts together. "Nanoha-chan…"
She couldn't take it. Tearing her eyes free, Nanoha took a conscious step back to get some distance between them before she immolated and took Fate down with her right where they stood. "Th-Thank you," she said quietly, "I hope you never regret your kindness." Turning away before Fate could dispute the executive's words, she continued, "Feito-chan should go wash up first, I'll unpack." With that, she hefted up both their full-sized luggages with ease and carried them into the bedroom.
Hand stretched out to stay Nanoha's departure, the blonde dropped it and sighed softly. Fate could sense that gnawing doubt the executive normally hid well. Not all scars she bore were visible, but was Fate all that different? The woman had looked at herself through the lens of her own eyes for too long. It would take time to persuade her to look at herself through Fate's. 'Patience,' the blonde told herself.
Brushing out her long hair, Fate returned to 'their bedroom', as she had secretly dubbed it. She'd changed into one of the yukata for women provided by the ryokan. At her height, it rode up to just under her knees and Nanoha smiled at the adorable sight. The executive had been buried in dark thoughts while she hung out various business suits and skirts, but it was impossible for her to remain so once the blonde was around again.
"Feito-chan, it is right then left. Here." Coming up behind the statuesque blonde, Fate felt Nanoha pressed up along the back of her and her eyes fluttered closed. The heat of contact even through multiple layers of clothes was overwhelming. Nanoha easily untied the crude knot the Midchildan had made and the blonde felt the wash of cool autumn air wafting over the hot surface of her naked body. "Right, then left," Nanoha repeated, her low voice stirring soft hairs by Fate's reddened ear as her arms went around the slim body of her friend, demonstrating how to properly wear the garment.
The brush of calloused fingers over her bare hip sent all the blood rushing to Fate's nethers and she swallowed hard. "I… I see," she murmured weakly. The sharp rustle of cloth signalled her sash being re-tied. Shifting the knot to the small of Fate's back, Nanoha stepped back and patted the blonde's shoulder, "There, all done." Before Fate could recover, the executive was gone, sliding the bathroom's door closed behind her to perform her own nightly ablutions. Still throbbing there, Fate shakily made her way to the bed, turning down the covers and dimming the lights with the room's remote.
Nanoha leaned over the bathroom sink once the door slid closed. Her heart was threatening to beat itself right out of her chest and she could see the raw hunger in her eyes when she looked in the mirror. What had she been thinking?! She had practically molested the almost naked blonde just now. Groaning, she turned the tap to cold and splashed her face repeatedly.
Reminding herself sternly that this was for work, Nanoha took a fortifying breath and stepped back out in her own yukata. Fate was propped up against fluffy pillows on one side of the bed, her laptop on her lap. The too-small on the blonde yukata had ridden up to mid-thigh in bed and she had on her cute reading glasses. Her glorious mane was draped over her shoulders, fringe falling fetchingly into her eyes, prompting her to hold her hair back with one graceful hand.
…Nanoha's iron will laid down on the tatami mat in utter defeat.
"Feito-chan," she chided once she found her voice, "It's almost 3AM."
The blonde glanced up, eyes running down Nanoha's form. "The yukata suits you," her quiet voice warmly admiring, not arguing that it was indeed three in the morning. The executive's lean form seemed made for the garment, her strong shoulders tapering to a trim waist providing a classic silhouette drawn in every fashion designer's portfolio.
Derailed, the auburn-haired woman forgot what she was going to say next. She was used to the joking flirts from Hayate, the mindless fangirls back in high school or college who just saw her as a symbol on a pedestal and nothing more. She was completely unused to the simple and sincere compliments the blonde paid her and it was thoroughly discombobulating trying to formulate a proper response.
Thankfully, Fate saved her by closing the laptop to set it on the bedside table. "I wanted to go over the account again. I do not wish to embarrass you." Shyly, she added in a hushed whisper, "And I wanted to wait up for you." Fate was also hoping that going through dry numbers and statistics would cool the fires that had settled between her legs, but not with Nanoha looking this amazing in her yukata. Her heavy mane of auburn tresses flowed down her back like a silken cloak as she padded across the tatami floors and the urge to play with it made the tips of Fate's fingers tingle.
That got her that lopsided smile she adored. "What did I do to deserve such a good AVP?"
"Hmm," Fate appeared to consider the question seriously, before looking up at the woman now gingerly getting into her side of the bed, "You were born?"
Settling in, the executive propped her head up on one hand and threw Fate a dubious look, certain the blonde was merely bantering. Fate returned her look with a gaze steady as a rock. "Guess I'm glad I was born, then," Nanoha husked.
"I know I am." Fate laid her head down, expression open, "With every fibre of my being." There it was again, the air heavy with emotions, with words left unsaid.
"Feito-chan, could I… hold you?" The executive ventured to ask. Pale lashes lowered, immediately assenting to Nanoha's request. "I'm still cold," Fate's soft voice carried a smile in its tone, giving the Japanese woman a plausible reason for why she should hold the blonde. Silently, they arranged themselves, Nanoha doing her painful best to keep her hands to the most platonic places. Burying her nose into Fate's lilac and rose scented mane, she exhaled slowly.
"Sorry to be selfish, Feito-chan." Fate laid her hand over the strong arm curled around her middle. It was glorious torture she would endure every night if she had to, with pleasure. "What are best friends for?" She snuggled more closely back into Nanoha's arms and her mild scent of cinnamon and vanilla spice, and both women groaned internally. Fate's rear fit perfectly into Nanoha's pelvis, their curves connecting as if they had been made for the other. "Yes, best friends…" Nanoha murmured. It took the pair little time to fall into Morpheus' thrall, senses filled with nothing but their most precious person.
----------------------------------------
Morning came far too early for Nanoha, her body's clock still tuned to Singapore's time. Slivers of moonlit silver streamed through thin glass panels installed over the ryokan's shoji doors that led outside into the little private garden that was a signature of the inn, caressing the downy cheeks of the blonde nestled in her arms. The slow rise and fall of Fate's breathing indicated her continued somnolence and Nanoha knew no better peace than waking with the princess in her arms.
'I should hit the gym. I won't think of… that, if I tired myself out enough,' she pondered, eyes adjusting to the dim confines of the room while she thought.
It was a tempting idea. Even now, while the blonde lay completely unresponsive and asleep, Nanoha felt the burn, the beast inside her demanding its tribute. Millimetre by millimetre, the executive extricated herself from around the blonde. Propped on her elbow, she studied Fate for long moments, calloused fingers a whisper-light touch that traced the blonde's high brow, down her fine bridge and over the tip of her classic profile to brush gently across shining pink lips.
Ordering herself to cease taking liberties with the trusting blonde, Nanoha closed her hand into a fist and quietly rolled out of their shared bed, easily slipping into the stealthy movements that were part of her family's lesser known arts. She took a moment to tuck the blankets warmly around Fate's shoulders, not wishing for her to feel the chill of autumn's night. Shrugging out of her yukata, Nanoha walked naked to her luggage and pulled out her workout clothes, slipping into them and out of the room without sound. In a strong, bold script, she wrote a note in case the blonde woke before she returned.
'At the gym, back for breakfast.' - N
The door leading out of the room closed with a faint click. Opening her eyes, Fate slowly levered herself up, the blankets pooling around her hips as she touched her lips. "Nanoha…" The boundaries were blurring. Where did their friendship start or end? Did friends touch each other's faces like that? But that was as far as Nanoha would go, and Fate's heart ached. The executive didn't think of her that way. Why would she? She was perfection while Fate was… a discarded tool, occasionally useful, but ultimately of no intrinsic value.
Hugging herself against a cold that came from within, not without, Fate let herself fall back down into bed, hot tears tracking into her pillow. No, she could still be of value to the executive. To ease her workload and provide some company when she did things. 'It has to be enough. It's all you'll ever get.' She turned her face into the pillow to muffle her sobs.
If you discover this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation.
----------------------------------------
The ryokan's gym was a contrast to the sedately traditional style of the inn. Decked with the most modern equipment, some obviously never touched before, Nanoha eyed the area, pleasantly surprised. She hadn't bothered with more than a sports bra and booty shorts, assuming correctly that the place would be deserted anyway. Slinging her room towel over a convenient hook, she began her warm ups in earnest.
It felt good to push herself. She'd built a sturdy body in the years following her accident and it felt really satisfying to work it to its upper limits. Typically, she kept things light to moderate for Fate to keep pace with her, and she didn't begrudge the blonde that at all. Her Saturday mornings were far more about the pleasure of Fate's company and she truly treasured that time. Even so, the blonde had almost strained things to the point of injury keeping up with her.
Here, however, alone with all this equipment, she could truly cut loose. Perspiration poured freely down her body and her muscles trembled under the strain. This was a good ache, it was a needed ache, it helped her forget for just this window that she wanted nothing more than to take that beauty in her bed in every conceivable way possible, and then some.
So focused she was on her workout that she never registered the slight cooling of the air, indicating that someone else had entered what she thought was her sole domain at five in the morning. "You haven't skipped a beat, have you?" The words were in japanese, spoken by a familiar voice, and she froze in the middle of her dead-lift. Teeth gritted, she counted the requisite seconds then dropped her weight and turned.
Almost as short as Vita, with hair a few shades lighter than the E.A., the woman stood in a set of workout tank and shorts with a hand on her hip. She was smirking when Nanoha turned to face her, though the sight of that leanly fit body had the redhead licking her lips. "In fact," sauntering closer, she circled around the sweat-soaked executive, close enough to feel the heat coming off of the panting woman, "I think you've picked up quite a few new beats."
She leaned closer and licked a shoulder, "Mmm, you taste just as good as I remember, too." Stiffly withdrawing from the conventionally attractive redhead, Nanoha snaked one long arm out to retrieve her towel, pointedly wiping the spot the woman had licked, "Agito," she greeted shortly, "How did you know I was here?"
"I have my sources," the redhead smirked, refusing to leave Nanoha's personal space. "I knew if anything, this would be where you'd be." One small hand trailed manicured nails up the slight dips and bumps of the executive's bare abdomen, "That is, if you weren't with someone. And it looks to me like you aren't."
Hand striking out quick as lightning, Nanoha snatched Agito's hand away from her person. "Whether I am or not is of no concern to you, Agito." The executive's voice was lowly menacing, which only served to delight the redhead even more. She made a token attempt to free her wrist from Nanoha's iron grip, but pushed closer to press the full length of herself to the auburn-haired woman.
"Isn't it?" The redhead murmured as she deliberately rubbed herself against that incredible body, heedless of the perspiration coating the executive. Enjoying it, in fact. "Because I could think of how we could… reconnect, since you're in town." The woman probably felt her breathy whispers were a turn on, but it only served to remind the executive that this wasn't Fate. Giving the woman a small shove, Nanoha stalked to the water cooler to hydrate.
"I've moved past that, Agito." Alto cold, Nanoha raked the smaller woman from head to toe as she wiped her mouth on the back of her hand. Admittedly, Agito had kept up with her own exercises. The redhead's petite form was tight and supple, alluring in its compact way. Something Nanoha would have easily enjoyed toying with, back in the day, "You should too."
Unfazed, Agito stalked her prey, hovering over the executive who had taken a seat on one of the exercise benches to rest at. "Come now, Nanoha, when have you turned down a perfectly good fuck?" The claw of her nail traced the auburn-haired woman's bicep, "No strings, all fun…" Straddling one of Nanoha's thighs, the redhead sucked in a soft breath at the feel of that tensed muscle digging into her core. "How about it, your room or mine?"
"I'm not playing your game, Agito." Sounding more weary than anything, Nanoha again pushed the redhead off of her. Every second this woman pressed made Nanoha miss the blonde even more, and she'd only been in the gym for two hours. 'Christ almighty, I'm pathetic.' She scrubbed tiredly at her face with her towel.
This was different. Agito stood as she was pushed away a second time, eyeing the gorgeous executive curiously. "You aren't joking, are you?" The redhead observed in wonder, "What changed?"
"Nothing," Nanoha muttered, Fate's angelic visage flashing in her mind's eye as she lied. She proceeded to dry her arms and torso, "I got over myself, grew up. Things you could try."
Agito scrunched up her nose in distaste, "Where's the fun in that?" She ran lustful eyes over the executive's barely clad form, "Colour me disappointed." Sighing, she took a corner of Nanoha's towel to dry herself off a little, "Guess I'll see you around, Nanoha-san." She ran a covetous hand down Nanoha's beautifully contoured back, "Such a pity." Before Nanoha could slap away her hand, she winked and left.
"Ugh…" The executive wiped at every spot the redhead had touched, and she still felt soiled. She wondered if Fate was resting well, and buried her face into her sweaty towel. There was nothing that could override the soul-deep marks the blonde had ever so gently, so sweetly, branded into her psyche. Agito's unexpected visit had only emphasised how lost the auburn-haired woman was.
The need to go back to the bed where Fate was suddenly took over and Nanoha quickly began her cooldown routine. Shower, and another few hours spooning the blonde, sounded amazing to her right now.
----------------------------------------
Fate spun around and gazelle leapt around the corner to avoid bumping into the strange redhead she'd heard Nanoha call 'Agito'. She'd gotten tired of waiting for Nanoha to return and had set out to look for her. The note had said she would be in the gym but said nothing about this woman rubbing herself all over the executive like a cat in heat.
Nanoha didn't seem to object much, only pushing the woman away half-heartedly, it seemed to her. Was she Nanoha's type? Small and petite? Fate looked dejectedly down at her own almost six foot frame, hating everything about herself again. Rushing back to their room, she slipped back into bed, recreating the pose she'd been in when the executive had left the room.
Fate felt like an utter fool, sneaking around spying on her boss in their off-hours like some jealous, green-eyed witch. They were just friends. Maybe best friends, but still friends. She'd no right to get jealous. 'Curse me, I still am.' She couldn't give it away, though. She had just washed away all evidence of her crying. Heart thundering, she could hear the executive returning to their room, showering, pulling on her yukata…
The blonde was still fast asleep. Glad to see that she'd not woken Fate up, Nanoha got herself a quick shower, scrubbing extra at every spot Agito had touched. It wasn't that long ago that she would've tumbled the woman without a second thought. The White Devil was losing her edge, and Nanoha wasn't certain if that was a good or bad thing.
Brushing out her still damp hair, her feet moved of their own volition to take her back to where Fate lay. She could watch the sleeping beauty for hours and not get tired. Pulled by unseen forces, she laid aside her brush and slipped back in behind the blonde. She set the alarm for nine in the morning to give them another three hours of rest and carefully spooned around Fate once more. Sighing into the woman's flaxen tresses, she mumbled, "Missed you," and dropped off into an exhausted sleep.
The shell of misery Fate had been encased in shook at those mumbled words from Nanoha. She… missed her? Mind racing, she was surprised that Nanoha was back here and not with the woman who had been obviously throwing herself at the executive. Surely that counted for something? The arm around her was unquestionably Nanoha wanting to hold her, and the woman had said she missed her. Perhaps… Perhaps Fate didn't rank at the absolute bottom to Nanoha.
Nurturing that tiny little flame of hope that was bolstered by the too real warmth wrapped around her, Fate exhaled silently and allowed herself to feel a little better about herself.
----------------------------------------
Waking was an awkward mix of bliss and heartache for both women. Greetings were stilted, accidental brushes froze them, and trying to manoeuvre around each other even in the multi-room accommodations was like a comedic dance where the floor was lava and they'd lose a life if one mistake was made.
This trip was going to be a wash if nothing was done, and it was only ten in the morning. Nanoha couldn't take it anymore. Considering Fate's reactions in the past, the executive decided to shove aside her own pining for the woman and just sit her down for a talk. As a boss, and a friend.
Room service had delivered a light repast to the women and Nanoha was setting the table with a traditional breakfast of grilled fish, steamed rice, miso soup, fermented soy beans, pickled vegetables and sweet rolled omelette. Fate was helping to iron both of their chosen outfits for the day.
For Nanoha, a woollen business jacket and high-waist skirt, the deep blue hue matching her eyes. Beneath, would be a cream silk blouse, buttoned to her neck where a ladies cravat bow would be tied, the same deep blue as her jacket and skirt.
Fate had chosen a dark maroon satin blouse with two-thirds sleeves tucked into a black sheath skirt. Over which would be a mid-length trench in deference to the cooler weather in Japan.
"Feito-chan, come eat before it gets cold," Nanoha called, pouring a glass of juice for herself and Fate.
There went her excuse to avoid the auburn-haired beauty. Fate couldn't get the sight of the redhead on Nanoha's lap out of her head and meeting her boss' eyes took immense effort. Breakfast was at a two-seater affair set out on the little porch that looked out into their private garden. The hushed peace was a marked contrast to the conflict warring in Fate's eyes and Nanoha wondered when it'd become this easy to see when her… friend, needed a reset.
Seating Fate as was her habit, Nanoha didn't take hers, instead leaning over to wrap Fate in her arms from behind. "Feito-chan," she began, feeling the blonde stiffen at her hug, which saddened her. "I couldn't have made the flight comfortably, or gotten any rest without you. Thank you. More than anything, your presence keeps me sane a-and I wanted you to know that you're very, very important to me. I-If I make you uncomfortable doing this, I'll stop. Your comfort is the most important thing to me." Sadly, Nanoha loosened her arms to stand, but found herself kept in place by a strong grip placed over her arms.
Eyes filling, Fate shook her head silently. How had Nanoha known? She tried to convey her feelings by holding on tightly to the arms around her. She needed this. Needed to hear that she was important to her most important person. Even now, the executive was being so patient in the face of her greed, her neediness. Fate felt lips pressing into her temple and she drew in a shuddering breath. "N-Nanoha… You don't make me uncomfortable. I'm just afraid y-you will tire of me."
"Impossible," the executive countered, whispering into the soft mass of the blonde's hair, "Feito-chan is essential to my well-being," she stated plainly. Slowly pulling away, she knelt by the blonde's chair, gently brushing away the tears she knew she'd find. Touching foreheads with her friend, she smiled, "I will say this as many times as I have to, until Feito-chan believes me. You are stuck with me, at least until you tell me you are sick of me."
Fate gave another shake of her head, "It is beyond me to ever say that," she whispered. Feeling foolish for doubting the executive and suffering through the night, she closed her eyes, absorbing the intimate moment, needing it to heal the hairline fractures of her heart.
"If ever you have questions, I will do my best to answer, that is my promise to Feito-chan." She felt calloused fingers tucking her hair behind her ears, the touch lingering over her cheeks. Her eyes fluttered back open and there was no escaping the deep azure of Nanoha's gaze, "I may not be able to give you the full answer, I may have to say 'later', but you can always, always ask."
"It's more than I deserve…"
"No, it is your right." Fate felt herself being shaken, not hard, but for emphasis, "It is the right I give to my best friend." The Japanese woman's lips twitched into a tiny smile, "I choose you, Feito-chan, and you can't change my mind." Fate was getting flustered. These words, the physical closeness, it was becoming too much again.
"I… Thank you. I will do my best to be worthy…"
"This is not earned," Nanoha caught herself before adding an endearment, "It is given," Nanoha's smile turned wistful. "I never thought I could ever again. Feito-chan is special, please, never forget that."
SHE was special? "I'll remember… i-if you remember that you are just as special to me," the blonde ventured, boldly.
"Nyahaha. Making a bargain with the Devil already?"
Fate gave the executive a tentative smile. She could never tire of that cute laugh, "It is for a worthy cause."
"Hmm. Deal, then." The Japanese woman held out a pinkie finger, and Fate recognised it as the Japanese way of sealing a promise. She hooked her finger with Nanoha's and the women smiled warmly at each other when their thumbs met, cementing the vow made.
"Nanoha-chan, guess what?"
Finally seating herself, her boss gave her a curious glance whilst laying out the provided napkin over her lap.
"The food is cold again."
Giggling, Nanoha affected a put-upon sigh, "Mou, it's because I had to convince Feito-chan how much she means to me again."
"Who is this Feito-chan?" Fate murmured sedately, picking up her chopsticks and waiting to see how Nanoha tackled breakfast before copying her, "She sounds really dense. I think you need to find a new Feito-chan, this one is defective."
"Sorry, there is only one Feito-chan for me." Utterly delighted that the blonde was twitting her back, Nanoha broke into a huge smile, the brilliance fair blinding the blonde seated across from her. Realising that Fate was waiting for her cue, she got started on their now cold breakfast. "It doesn't matter when you drink the soup in this instance," the executive explained, eyes crinkling in the corners while the lesson on her country's cuisine continued.
Switching gears, Nanoha brought her mind to bear on the reason why they were in Japan in the first place, "Our team on the ground will meet us. We'll finalise our presentation once we get their latest updates," she shared.
Fate nodded, carefully clipping off a piece of grilled fish with her chopsticks to have with a mouthful of rice like how Nanoha had done. This was so different from her usual bowl of milk and cereal, but in such a serene setting, with this perfect woman, it felt so right to be taking her time to savour the textures, colours and taste. Such a dichotomy of a society always working non-stop, to have built-in brakes that forced one to appreciate the simpler things in life.
"I want you to take point," Nanoha added, piercing blue eyes watching her AVP. Fate almost choked. "I beg your pardon?"
"The competing team knows me since this is my home turf. You're a wild card they won't be prepared for." Nanoha pointed out, "There's no need to speak in japanese, so don't worry about that."
If Nanoha needed her to do it, she would. Nanoha smiled at the determined nod the blonde gave her. 'Let's see Tourist-san and friends try something while my AVP takes front and centre.' Agito aside, Nanoha was feeling rather optimistic about the trip now. There was nothing to be done about the leaks in TSAB. An organisation this large was impossible to keep a lid on, though she made a mental note to drop Signum a line afterwards.