Chuckling, Nanoha shoved both receipt and vouchers into her jeans pocket and waved farewell to her old schoolmate. Stepping back out, she inhaled the crisp autumn air, rubbing absently at that old, nagging ache in her neck. This was Fate's first night in Tokyo as far as she knew, and Nanoha was being the world's biggest wet blanket. The side of the executive that always took responsibility fought with the selfish part of her that still wished to find a dark hole to crawl into.
Fate watched the executive struggle with herself, heart heavy. This was the consequence of her actions. Certainly, Nanoha did say she could ask anything she wanted, yet she still felt she had been way out of line and was struggling herself to think of a way to get them past this rough patch. Eyes dropping, Fate studied the pockmarked tarmac under their feet, symbolic of all the pitfalls they seemed to keep finding on their journey together.
Fate barely registered Nanoha's boots moving in her direction when the sweet scent of the woman filled her senses as thoroughly as the woman's warmth filled her arms. Caught by surprise, the blonde's arms tightened instinctively around the form she loved. That sensation of being home once more crashed through Fate's entire being and the blonde shook a little while she attempted to process her newly discovered feelings for Nanoha.
"I hate this," Nanoha mumbled into the scarf wound around Fate's neck. "I hate myself. I don't want us to be like this." The executive had her arms wrapped around Fate's middle and with their fronts pressed together so closely, the blonde could feel the woman shaking too. Again, her eyes pricked and she buried her face into the woman's warm auburn tresses. "I would give anything to take back what I said," she whispered, voice laden with sorrow.
She could feel the body in her arms shudder as Nanoha drew in a long breath. "Feito-chan, you remember how I asked for time?" Nanoha felt the blonde nod silently into her hair. "I don't need any more time. I'm over it. I care too much to care." The body Fate held shook with a silent laugh, "I'm not making any sense…"
"You make all the sense," Fate argued, voice thick and heart swelling at the ease with which Nanoha seemed to forgive her. Surreptitiously, she nuzzled at the other woman's hair, soaking in the closeness she thought she had lost for good.
From inside, Ikeda smiled, watching the women hugging, and was that blonde secretly nuzzling her kaichou's hair? Oh my. She needed to give that shitty racoon a call once she closed up.
"I know you care," Nanoha drew back, cupping that sweet face in her hand, "That's why you asked. I was too caught up in myself to understand." Fate remained silent, though her eyes shone with unvoiced emotion as she stared down into Nanoha's azure depths. The blonde's arms tightened even further, trying to convey what she felt to the incredible woman in her arms.
Nanoha looked searchingly into the blonde's eyes, beautiful crimson that seemed weighed down with more than words could express. She wondered if her eyes were the same. Muted alarms began blaring at the back of her mind, reminding her that their closeness was hazardous to her health. She selfishly absorbed the feel of their fronts being pressed together for another aching moment before she stepped back, throwing the glacial beauty a rakish grin, "Ikeda-san gave me some coupons for the izakaya shops here, ever been to one?"
Fate shook her head, already missing that contact. She soon found herself being led by hand to the nearest one, bright lights and raucous laughter greeting them as soon as they stepped in. The interior had a bar counter stretching from one end of the establishment to the other. Since it was still fairly early at eight in the evening, they were able to secure their own side table.
The cheery woman who led them to their seats nodded once Nanoha fired off a rapid series of sentences in japanese, accepting the coupon the auburn-haired woman handed to her. Fate heard her name, but couldn't make out anything else Nanoha had told the woman.
Suddenly, the lights inside began flashing, and a celebratory bullhorn sounded.
"Hai! Minna-san, let's welcome our newest guest, Testarossa-san!" All the staff and the rest of the customers cheered and clapped, Nanoha joining in. Fate glared into eyes of laughing blue, "Nanoha!" Flashing that little dimple at the blonde, the auburn-haired woman gestured to Fate to stand. Blushing furiously, Fate stood and bowed awkwardly. "H-Hajimemashite~ Testarossa Fate desu, yoroshiku onegai shimasu~" Pleased to meet you. I am Fate Testarossa, I am in your care.
More cheers greeted Fate, Japanese loved it when foreigners could speak even a little of their language. The woman who had seated them had returned, beaming at the blonde, "Service!" She yelled over the din. Placing a square wooden cup on the table, the staff dropped a saké cup inside of that and poured Fate a serving that overflowed into the larger wooden cup. "Dozo!" At Nanoha's nod of encouragement, Fate gingerly picked out the overflowing cup and sipped at it. The saké had a very sweet profile and Fate licked her lips, "Mmm."
Nanoha smiled, "I asked them for something sweet for us." Fate took another sip, the second taste going down easier than the first. "It's good." Calloused fingers pressed her hand down gently to lower the cup back to their table. "Pace yourself. The night is young." Nanoha cautioned. That was the thing with sweet drinks, it was so easy to get lost in the taste.
Plates of grilled morsels on skewers began appearing at their table, another reason why Nanoha suggested that they should pace themselves.
"Here," Nanoha picked up a skewer of grilled pork and leek for Fate to chase her saké with. Leaning close, the blonde tucked the stray hairs that had escaped her ponytail behind one ear to take a careful bite. Those pink lips and even teeth so close to her had Nanoha biting on her own bottom lip. Apparently, the moment they had resolved their differences was when Nanoha remembered how much she wanted the blonde.
She gave Fate a tight smile and settled back, enjoying the ambience of the place. Fortunately, this was one of the few establishments that cared to enforce the 'No Smoking' law, so the faint haze within the establishment was due only to the constant grilling of skewers. There was a certain comfort in disappearing into a crowd and Nanoha enjoyed watching the striking blonde becoming the centre of attention by virtue of being a beautiful caucasian.
Patron after patron offered Fate a drink, and while the blonde refused some of them, she felt obligated to accept the others. Her cheeks were pink from how much she had drunk so far, and Nanoha had to step in a few times to help the blonde turn down yet another offer of a free drink.
The room had been swept up into a drinking song and Fate was laughing, shaking a tambourine someone had shoved into her hands. She understood little beyond the chanted, "Feito-chan!" between each line and sipped at her saké once the song ended to the cheers of everyone present.
Rising from her place, Nanoha cast a smiling look around and the room quietened, riveted to the auburn-haired woman who commanded their attention with incredible ease. Projecting her alto to reach to the farthest corners of the establishment, Nanoha said, "Thank you everyone for the warm welcome you have extended to my friend. She will be turning down any further drinks. Thank you for your understanding." She bowed to the room and received cordial seated bows in return.
Retaking her seat, she saw the question in the tipsy blonde's eyes and deliberately removed both tambourine and saké cup from Fate's hands. Replacing both with a fresh skewer of yakitori, she closed Fate's hand around the skewer's handle. "I told them you weren't drinking anymore tonight." She laid a cool palm to the blonde's alcohol-warmed cheek, eyes crinkling at the corners, "I have to watch out for my AVP, so I'm cutting you off."
She waved down a server, "Mizu o futatsu kudasai~" Two waters please. Under Nanoha's watchful gaze, Fate took a bite of the skewer, washing it down with the water they were served. "I could drink all night," Fate mumbled, her usually precise words slightly slurred from all the alcohol she had consumed. "I know Nanoha will, *hic* will watch ov' me." She gave the auburn-haired woman a brightly dopey smile.
"Hai, hai," Nanoha replied patiently, bemused. It appeared her little AVP was a cheerful drunk. Giving the woman more time to settle all that saké in her, Nanoha paid for their bill and helped the swaying blonde out. Her eyes stung a little from all the grill smoke and the Japanese woman blinked to clear them. Fate was smiling and waving at the people still inside who were waving back at her. Nanoha checked her smartwatch. It was only a little past ten. Still in good time to head back and rest before work tomorrow.
With Fate leaning heavily on Nanoha, the two women made their way out of the side road. The area was quiet and dark with only one of the many streetlights working in this section. Nanoha knew it would be easy enough to flag a cab down once they got to a busier street and kept a firm hold around Fate's middle as she walked them down towards the brighter lights of Tokyo central's busier areas.
Without warning, Fate felt herself being leaned against one of the shuttered shops they had been walking past. Blinking at the loss of Nanoha's warmth, she pouted, about to make a complaint with the manager about it.
The faintest shift of the air around them was all the indication Nanoha had that something was off. Swiftly tucking Fate into a shop alcove, Nanoha ducked, the whoosh of something swinging right past where her head had been a split moment earlier, confirming her suspicions.
One long bound sent her to the opposite side of the street, incidentally luring the would-be assailant away from where Fate was. An abandoned broom was propped against the side of another shuttered stall and calloused hands grabbed it, detaching its broom-head with a quick twist of the wrist. No longer unarmed, Nanoha went for a low sweep, meaning to take her enemy's legs out.
The figure was shrouded in darkness, only the glint of narrowed eyes reflecting the fitful streetlight flickering overhead showed from behind a midnight blue headscarf and mask. They were nimble and jumped over the sweep. It was a feint and with a quick change in grip, Nanoha levered her makeshift staff in a sharp, upward curve, aiming to catch one leg to trip the figure up.
The dull clack of wood meeting wood resounded in the quiet of the street. The figure landed, unscathed. Polished wood tonfa were spun once by the figure before they darted forward again, stance low. Nanoha scooted back, meaning to keep her distance.
Fate was confused over what was happening. Where was Nanoha? She could barely make out some moving shadows on the other side of the street and took a step, one of them moved with a familiar power and grace. "Nanoha?"
"Stay back," Nanoha told the blonde, needing the woman to remain safely in that alcove. Getting Nanoha's intent, Fate slipped back behind the small wall, her tipsiness clearing quickly while she studied the situation.
Nanoha knew she would be at a disadvantage with a long weapon if the tonfa got in close with her, but she couldn't back off too far since it would leave Fate exposed. A blinding series of stabs with her staff harried the attacker as she tried to force a retreat. The person's wooden weapons deflected only about half of her strikes. "Oof!" The shrouded figure grunted, Nanoha's assailant was feeling the power the executive was putting behind her attacks and redoubled their effort to close in.
'You want it that way? Fine.'
Veins on her hands popping, Nanoha brought her knee up, snapping her staff in two across her leg. Grip shifting, she executed a series of attacks that drove the figure back and away from the tipsy blonde. The auburn-haired woman had only had a little saké, just enough to warm and loosen herself up, and the rapid blows weren't lacking in power as the figure struggled to keep up, their tonfa vibrating under each punishing hit, numbing the hands that were holding them.
There was nothing flashy about Nanoha's attacks, her feet remained planted firmly on the ground, lifting only enough for her footwork to aid in her advance on their attacker. With Fate behind her, and the pockmarked tarmac for uneven footing, the executive was taking zero chances against this person. Twisting her torso to avoid a spinning tonfa trying to bash her brains in, she used her momentum to slam one of her crude weapons up and into the soft flesh of the assailant's underarm. The person crumpled with a groan, holding the spot and Nanoha swiftly kicked away the tonfa falling from loosened hands.
The person grunted as she dropped down, pinning them with her knee. The splintered tip of her broken staff was pressed into the hollow of the panting attacker's neck as the Japanese woman stared daggers at the figure on the ground. "Couldn't wait a day, huh, Nii-san?" Nanoha's alto was a low growl, the women's adrenaline still high from the fight.
Nanoha was only slightly winded and her flinty-eyed glare pinned the figure beneath her as surely as her knee did. Panting, perspiration soaking through his dark garments, the taller figure pulled off his cloth mask, "Otou-san," the man huffed, catching his breath, "You know how father is."
Sighing, Nanoha shoved off of her brother's chest, causing the poor guy to grunt again. She offered him her forearm which he clasped gratefully. Pulling him up to stand, Nanoha shook her head at the mess she'd made of her borrowed staff. Placing the broken items into the dustpan that had been next to the broom, she slipped a five thousand yen note under the pan for the owner to buy a replacement with.
The woman's gait was a little bouncy, her entire body still flushed with bloodlust to answer the fight or flight response the man had caused in her. Raking back her unruly fringe with impatient fingers, Nanoha checked on Fate who was wide-eyed and looking between Nanoha and the man garbed in what looked to be a ninja cosplay outfit, except that it actually looked well-used and functional.
Throwing the man a hard glare, Nanoha growled, "You could have waited for me to be alone. If Feito-chan had been hurt, you'd have more than that bruise in your 'pit."
Wincing, the man stretched his arm a little, feeling the sore spot under it, "Yea, well, you're a hard one to pin down. I left her alone, didn't I?"
Arm kept protectively around Fate, Nanoha snaked out her hand to pull at the taller man's forelock, so similar to her own, though his hair was a dark brown. "Introduce yourself, you oaf."
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"Ow, ow! I will, sheesh!" Slapping Nanoha's hand away, he bowed, "Hajimemashite~ Takamachi Kyoya desu~ Yoroshiku onegai shimasu~" Slipping into fairly decent english, he continued, "I am Na-chan's older brother, nice to meet you."
"Fate Testarossa, nice to meet you…" The blonde gave a bow, still throwing questioning looks to Nanoha, who sighed again, "My family is a little… obsessed with the arts. My father is very insistent that we do not let our skills slip. I was going to drop by…" She finished acidly, still unamused with this stunt her family had pulled.
"Were you? Ginga-san said…"
"I share nothing with Ginga," Nanoha spat, not even bothering with the honorific as her arm tightened unconsciously around the blonde who wasn't complaining one bit.
Kyoya glanced from his sister to the blonde she was holding so closely. The taller woman was certainly beautiful, and she was just standing there blushing, appearing quite content to remain where she was. Eyeing his headstrong sister, he combed back sweaty bangs. That had taken more out of him than he'd expected. At least their father couldn't complain about that.
"Anyway, drop by before you leave, will ya? Kaa-chan and Mi-chan miss you. Bring your friend if you like." He wandered over to where Nanoha had kicked his weapons, retrieving them to slip into holsters in his belt.
Heaving out a long breath, Nanoha shrugged, "If work allows me." Slapping forearms with her brother, they shook farewell.
Muttering unkind things about 'that old fart' as she watched her brother disappear down the other end of the road, Nanoha released the blonde to give her another once over, "Are you absolutely sure you're all right?" Her brow was furrowed while she looked the woman up and down. She noted that Fate's colour seemed high, and assumed that the woman was still a little sodden from their time in the izakaya.
"I-I am fine," Fate murmured, more concerned with Nanoha. The woman had been a blur as she fought. Peeking around the wall's corner, she'd felt her breath quickening to see the woman's powerfully graceful movements, hair flying through the air as she beat back her brother's attempts to get past her defence. "What of you?" She had seen the vicious swipes from the wooden weapons Kyoya had used, heart in her throat when it had swung through the air where Nanoha's head had been.
Fate was pulling up Nanoha's sweater sleeves, hands feeling down the other woman's forearms to check for any injuries, and Nanoha felt her heart rate pick up far faster than when she had been fighting her brother off. "I… I am all right." 'Get a grip, it's just your arm she's touching.' Swallowing, she threw Fate a grateful smile for checking and carefully extricated her arms from the woman's soft hands. Instead, she took the blonde's hand and led her down the street towards a nearby cab stand.
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Back in the ryokan, Nanoha tilted her head whilst unlocking the door to their room. While she hadn't been hurt, she had pulled at muscles that had already been tense prior. She was lucky the saké had loosened her somewhat, or she may have actually strained something.
Dropping the keys on the side table by the entrance, she left the lights and heater controls to Fate, falling gracelessly into a chair to tug off her boots. She felt that residual bloodlust that she had needed to draw on to win the fight and once the adrenaline had worn off, all she was left with was a big ball of lust she was assiduously hiding from the blonde.
The ride back had been quiet, but it was the comfortable quiet Fate was used to, instead of the painfully strained one from before. She had all sorts of questions about Nanoha's family, though the woman seemed reticent and so Fate kept quiet, simply enjoying the lack of tension between them. Well, one sort of tension, anyway. The other tension that made her want to jump the gorgeous executive was worse, especially after that beautifully deadly display she had witnessed back in the deserted street. 'That did not look like Judo…'
She frowned when the executive stretched her neck again, "Did you pull something?" She asked quietly, flipping the light and heater switches on for their room. She knelt down to help the auburn-haired woman to remove her boots. "That fight looked intense."
Smiling her thanks, Nanoha rubbed at her neck again, sighing, "Just an old problem spot. I'll use the onsen to help. You should give it a try, it's very relaxing." Setting Nanoha's boots back by the door, Fate froze. "I, um, how…"
"It's easy, Feito-chan, just have a shower before soaking in it. You can go first. I want to do some stretches." The auburn-haired woman shucked off her oversized sweater, tossing it into the laundry basket provided by the ryokan. Emptying her pockets of cellphone, card and cash, she pulled her jeans off as well, the garment dropping into the same basket as her sweater.
Fate whimpered to herself. The Japanese woman had absolutely no compunctions about wandering about in her underwear and it was driving the blonde insane. Jumping into the bathroom, Fate hid behind the closed door and splashed at her face with cold water. That saké haze was long gone and when she stared at herself in the mirror, she could clearly see a different haze in her eyes.
"I am in so much trouble…" She mumbled to her own reflection.
"What was that, Feito-chan?" Nanoha had pulled on a crop top and shorts and was doing cool down stretches in the spare space just outside the bathroom in the bedroom.
"N-Nothing!" came Fate's strangled reply. Nanoha wondered why Fate sounded higher pitched than usual, but chalked it up to the drinks the blonde had earlier.
Fate knew better than to have a cold shower in autumn, and it wouldn't have made a lick of difference, anyway. Coming out of the bathroom, her hair up in a bun and a fresh yukata on, she almost tripped over Nanoha who was in the middle of doubling herself over, forehead to knees. Her loose shirt had fallen down that lean torso thanks to gravity, and Fate itched to run her hands over the sculpted back that was revealed.
"Oops, sorry." The blonde sidestepped before she could crash into the woman.
"My bad, it was the most open space the room had." Flowing back upright, she lifted her arms to stretch towards the ceiling, groaning softly in relief.
"It's fine." Fate murmured, looking elsewhere before her eyes could give her away. "I'm going to check on some emails while you wash."
"Sounds good, DoCoMo's offices probably sent you some things. Blind copy me in." Fate would've, even if Nanoha had not asked, but she knew the executive was just being protective, not micromanaging her AVP. "Always," she smiled.
Emerging from her shower, Nanoha felt a lot closer to fine. The heat helped a lot, and she was looking forward to soaking in the hot spring. It was one of the few things she truly missed about her home country. Singapore had two very tiny hot 'taps' which were hardly like the real deal.
Fate was at the kotatsu, long legs curled under her while she scrolled her mouse. She had her wire-rim glasses on, her eyes slightly obscured by messy blonde bangs. The tie on her yukata had come a little loose, causing the garment to droop slightly in the front, revealing a hint of creamy pale cleavage. Nanoha silently prayed for strength. She reminded herself this was a work trip and moved behind the blonde to peek over the taller woman's shoulder.
"What's the noise?" She asked the blonde facetiously.
"Mmm, just some sensible requests for clarification from Inoue-san's office. A few questions needed Teana's input. I'll see what she sends me tomorrow."
Azure eyes scanning the email Fate had opened to illustrate what she was saying, the executive nodded. "Time to soak, then." Standing, she offered Fate a helping hand. "We've earned it, I think." Fate wanted to flinch, thinking about earlier, but the easy lopsided smile Nanoha was giving her helped soothe away her worry - The woman was as good as her word about putting the past behind them.
Curiously, she was handed a thin towel as they cracked open the glass door that led out to the private hot spring pool the inn provided. The pungent scent of sulphur hit Fate in the gut, a lot stronger than the stray hints her nose had been picking up since they'd arrived at the ryokan. "The towel is useful for perspiration," Nanoha explained. The executive was also in a fresh yukata, the thick mass of her hair held up by two ornate chopsticks.
Nanoha slipped out of her yukata and draped it over one of the two chairs provided by the hotel for guests to rest in if they got too warm. Fate gulped audibly at the sight of the auburn-haired beauty's bare back, noting the tiny criss-cross of scars dusting her body that were barely visible in the dimness of the pool's area. The woman kept her tiny towel to her front, obscuring the most intimate parts of her while she slowly lowered herself into the steaming water with a happy little sound. "Oh, I've missed this," she purred, leaning her head back to eye the blonde still standing by the pool.
"You might need time to get used to the temperature. Here, sit." Turning, she patted Fate's bare feet, encouraging the blonde to come closer. "Dip your feet first." Pulling her yukata up a little, Fate did as she was instructed, gasping as the heat of the water enveloped her legs up to her knees.
"Feels nice, doesn't it?" Nanoha grinned. The blonde gave a mute nod, trying desperately not to look at the executive's front. Strong fingers began to massage her right foot and Fate twitched in shock, "Sorry, are you ticklish?"
"Not there," the blonde whispered huskily, "Just wasn't expecting it. I-Is this part of my reward for today's p-presentation?" Her entire body felt flushed, sticky, and her hands opened and closed convulsively. The need for Fate's hands to clutch at the stunning creature doing absolutely illegal things to her sensitive feet under the steaming hot water was staggering her senses.
Nanoha's lopsided smile wasn't helping, "No," the executive answered quietly, azure eyes glowing softly at Fate which did weird things to the blonde's tummy... and lower, "I just wanted to do it for you." The base of Nanoha's thumb pressed hard into the arch of the other woman's foot, and the blonde proceeded to turn into goo right where she sat.
"I w-was hoping it was a reward," Fate murmured after swallowing against the dryness in her throat, "Then I would know what to do to get it again." She jumped when her big toe was tweaked under the water.
"Silly Feito-chan," Nanoha chided lightly, "She only needs to ask." The executive ran her knuckles from the ball of the blonde's foot, right down to the heel repeatedly, pressing in firmly. "Nngh…" At Nanoha's concerned glance, Fate gave her a shaky smile, "Feels good."
"It's supposed to." She felt fingers slipping between her toes, curling down to grasp her foot firmly. Nanoha began rotating her foot, her other hand massaging up past her ankle to the muscles in her lower calves, squeezing away tension that had collected from wearing heels at work all day.
It felt natural to be pampering the blonde this way, Nanoha having had no plans to be doing this until it simply happened. Fate seemed to be appreciating it, from all the little sounds she was making. Sounds that were sending gooseflesh to chase itself all over her body. She was glad for the cover of the onsen, else the tight nubs of her nipples would've been far too obvious. Done with Fate's other foot, she patted the blonde's knee. "All done." Surprised at the husk in her voice, Nanoha cleared her throat and turned her back to the blonde to catch her breath. She realised now, why she had done it. Any excuse to touch Fate's bare skin. She was such a crook…
There was a rustle of cloth, it was the sound of a yukata's belt being loosened. Too far gone to consider neatness, Fate let the light kimono pool to the floor as she shakily slipped into the onsen. It was good that she was already so close, since her legs were incapable of holding up her weight at this point in time. She draped the thin towel over her front the way Nanoha was doing so, sinking in until she felt an arm around her middle stopping her descent to lift her a little ways back up. "Keep your heart above the water, Feito-chan." Her already pinkened ears grew redder from the damp wash of Nanoha's words. "You don't want to strain it with the heat."
"I-I see." She bit hard at her lower lip, she had felt Nanoha's hand brush against the side of one breast and had almost, almost moaned aloud. She knew it was just an innocent touch and tried not to think too much about it, but it was hard, SO HARD, while she sat next to the subject of all her naughty dreams, naked.
Feeling like she had to give back, she reached a tentative hand over to touch the spot Nanoha kept rubbing. The water had warmed her hands greatly, and Nanoha twitched violently at the feel of hot fingers on her neck. Afraid she had hurt the executive, Fate began to pull back, but Nanoha's hand had come up, holding hers in place, "Onegai~" she whispered. Please.
Lifting her arms up, Nanoha crossed them over the lip of the pool. Pillowing her head on them, she silently presented her back to the blonde. Happy for the chance to do something for the woman, Fate scooted forward and began kneading Nanoha's shoulders. Broad and solid, the blonde found the Japanese woman's back incredibly attractive. Velvet skin encased muscles that were neither big nor bulky, merely lean with graceful lines, and it was intoxicating to the touch.
Nanoha felt like melting. Between the heat of the onsen and the feel of long, soft fingers digging into the nagging aches of her back and shoulders, it was easy for her eyes to drift shut to better enjoy the sensations.
Fate knew she wasn't as skilled as Nanoha, but it was simple enough to move from muscle to muscle to knead each individual one she found; the woman's leanness helped. "Feito-chan is good at this…" Nanoha murmured on a purred breath, boosting Fate's confidence.
She could see the woman relaxing under her touch and felt glad. Fate still felt horrible about what happened before, still wanted to hate herself. The simple act of Nanoha forgiving her meant the world to her and any tiny bits of kindness she could return to the woman she loved was a moment to be treasured.
This woman, powerful in so many ways, was here, submitting to her clumsy attempts at a massage, when she could be with that 'Agito' person… that had to count for something. Right? She began to knead up the back of the woman's neck, which earned her a low groan. The sound of Nanoha's dark alto sent a stab of heat to thud damply between Fate's legs and she chewed at her bottom lip. 'Gods help me…'
So focused was Fate on the massage and not giving in to her base desires that it took her a while to realise Nanoha had dozed off. Immediately gentling her touch, Fate seized the opportunity to draw closer, studying the stunning woman in repose.
Long lashes cast shadows on her high cheekbones and the years fell away while she lay in slumber, looking far younger than her twenty-eight years of age. Lush lips lay slightly open, glistening in the moonlight and tempting the blonde to her very limits. Leaning closer, she fancied Fate could see faint indications of scars littered around the woman's forehead and she allowed her fingers to trace finely arched brows.
Eyes fluttering open at the light touch, Nanoha's azure gaze took a moment to focus. Fate, hovering close enough she could hear the blonde breathing. She felt the light touch over her forehead and smiled, "Counting scars?"
Startled at being caught admiring the woman, Fate fell back into the water, flailing and splashing. Water flooded into her mouth, the instinct to cry out her downfall as heated sulphurous waters flooded into her throat.
"Feito-chan!" Diving down into the shallow pool, Nanoha found the blonde by touch and wrapped her up tightly in her arms. Getting her legs under her, she powered them up, pulling the blonde out of the hot water's grasp. "Feito! Are you all right?"
Coughing and sputtering, Fate spat out the foul-tasting water. Knowing Nanoha had her, she ceased her struggles and just tried to catch her breath. Carrying the blonde to the side, Nanoha lifted her upright, helping Fate to get her own feet under her. "I'm so sorry, I didn't mean to startle you." Nanoha cleared the hair from Fate's face, eyes dark with concern.
Taking gulping breaths, the blonde clung to Nanoha, the secure feeling of being held by the Japanese woman the only thing keeping her panic at bay. "It's… It's fine…" She assured Nanoha between hiccoughs. "I just… a moment."
"Shh, take your time." Hugging Fate, the executive rubbed her back soothingly.
At some point, both women realised they were pressed together with nary a scrap of clothing on and with a jerk, Fate pulled back as if burnt. Nanoha too, released Fate post-haste and floated a pace back, cheeks burning. "Um, I'm glad you're all right." One of their towels floated by, as if to mock their awkwardness. Snatching the bit of cloth, Nanoha offered it to Fate, who plucked it out of her boss' hand whilst refusing to meet her eyes. "Th-Thank you."
"Yes, sure, I mean, you're welcome." Nanoha scanned around for the other towel, and spotting it on the other side of the pool, quickly splashed over to retrieve it. "We um, should wash this out of our hair, or we'll never get the stink out. Y-You can go first, Feito-chan. I'll stay a bit longer." Making a big show of draping the cloth over her face to cover her eyes, Nanoha leaned back against the side of the pool and recited prime numbers.
"S-Sure, thank you, I'll be quick." Nanoha swallowed at the sounds of the blonde getting out of the pool, imagining sheets of water sloughing off porcelain skin she had been hugging just moments before. 'Augh…'
Once certain that Fate was gone, Nanoha removed the towel over her eyes and just scrubbed at her face with it. 'She's a bloody innocent, Takamachi. You keep your soiled hands off of her.' Oh, but she had felt so perfect in her arms.
Sighing, Nanoha lifted a hand up to the lunar body painting the pool and herself in shades of silver and white. Drops of hot water dripped down from a hand that closed into a fist, a futile attempt to capture that heavenly body in the sky. The drops landed on a face filled with regret for what could never be. Someday, the blonde would find someone, and Nanoha would have to watch while Fate walked away holding hands with them, rendering her world as colourless as her current surroundings. She paid no heed when the drops of water mingled with silent tears.