A/N: My second take on a Nanoha fanfic. Was originally intended to be a oneshot, but decided to make it a two-shot along the way. Originally intended for AnimeSuki community, but decided to post here as well. As usual - read and enjoy (hopefully) :)

Disclaimer: The author does not own Mahou Shoujo Lyrical Nanoha ... at least i didn't the last time i checked, but i can dream, right ?

Scars of Time

Again.

Once again she found herself standing on this very spot.

Time … is an interesting thing. You don't even notice it passing by. When simply being alive makes you content; facing your friends every day with a smile; leaving for work early with a light heart, knowing that people important to you will be awaiting your return in the evening. Standing together through thick and thin without as much as a worry. Because in the end they all had each other. The joy of being surrounded by friends.

The things we take for granted. She had grown accustomed to it all. Being surrounded by people she held dear in her heart … as long as it continued that way, the passage of time was irrelevant. Because … as long as one can live out their lives with the people they love, the time does not matter.

Then, with a sharp twist of fate, it all came crushing down on her. How much she had treasured those simple times. The importance of every moment shared with her friends. The irreplaceable people in her life; the treasured days she had spent with them. In that very moment she had become aware that time was not standing still. Cruel reality made her painfully aware of the passing time. For a moment it hurt. For a moment it mattered. For a moment, time felt like something irreplaceable.

And then … it didn't matter once again. Her standing on this spot … which time was it again? How much time had passed?

Months? Years?

It didn't matter. Her time kept moving forward, yet theirs had stopped. And so … it didn't matter. If their time was not linked with hers … it didn't matter. Whether her time kept moving or not ... it was not important.

The sixty four grave markers in front of her. Beneath them – the very reason why time is not important anymore. Some of them she barely knew. Some took pieces of her shattered heart with them. Mobile Division 6 … albeit not real, it had been her family. Her home. Her time that mattered. Especially …

Her gaze trailed along a line of memorials distanced from the others. Ten gravestones of special importance. For a moment she struggled to bite back her tears, but then a low noise caught her attention, causing Fate to look sideways.

Two of the graveyard staff seemed to be tidying up another division's resting place just down the path. After a moment of observation she turned her eyes towards the area in front of her and made a brief look over it. Anger instantly swelled up inside of the blonde, making her clench her right fist.

It seemed the grass was not trimmed for a while, causing it look messy and uneven. Red, brown and yellow leaves were sprinkling the area, carried over from the nearby trees by autumn winds. Even the path leading to this particular area of the graveyard seemed to be in dire need of sweeping – something she had not noticed before. Sighing sadly she averted her gaze …

"It's her again. Geez … why did they place them in this cemetery? Nothing but a hassle …"

Her red eyes turned towards the two men who were cleaning the surroundings of a grave that seemed to be more than fine already. Her clenched fist was shaking slightly as she took in a few, sharp breaths.

The men had noticed her penetrating glare, but seemed to ignore it. After a while Fate let out a low sigh and sadly lowered her head, loosening her fingers. She was tired. Tired from arguing with these ungrateful and ignorant people from ground forces.

Soon after the funeral it had hit her hard. The truth what people thought of Mobile Division 6. A happy-go-lucky field group, consisting of former criminals and failures, yet enjoying all sorts of special benefits from the higher ups. Many considered it to be an exact reflection of all the problems, corruption and incompetence in TSAB government. Few were the ones to show any compassion towards the departed. Even fewer had offered as much as a kind word to the sole survivor.

Even the people assigned as the graveyard caretakers seemed to think that way. The grave area of Mobile Division 6 seemed to receive only the bare minimum of care. And even that was only because it would affect the overall scenery and image of the large graveyard otherwise.

Fate had spent one too many times yelling at the staff, arguing with them, lodging in official complaints, and had almost went as far as threatening them. Sometimes she wished for nothing less than to draw Bardiche and let them feel a small margin of the pain and sadness tearing up her heart.

Lowering her head she turned around and started walking towards the fence, mixture of anger and sadness evident on her face. The metallic fence towered above her, almost twice her size, but that was none of Fate's concern right now. She simply wanted to get away. She couldn't pay proper respects to her friends in the presence of those people.

With minimal aid from her magic Fate made a jump for it, easily sliding over the decoratively sharpened tops of the metallic bars. Her touchdown on the walkway on the other side was graceful, clearly showing that such activities had not become alien to her.

After dusting off some inexistent dirt from her skirt, Fate turned to right and started to slowly pace down the walkway with downcast eyes, ignoring the stares some of the nearby people were giving her. She knew this was no proper way to leave a cemetery of all places. But in order for her to leave the normal way she would have had to walk past the two workers, and hearing them snicker behind her back was the last thing the red eyed girl wanted. This time, she was unsure about keeping her cool.

The blonde slowly turned her gaze to the right, eyeing the scene of the seemingly endless graveyard passing by as she continued her slow stroll. She felt … lost.

There … on the other side of the fence … laid her friends.

Just … where was she going? Fate didn't have an answer to that. For a long time now she had felt lost.

What was the path she wanted to walk? Where was she heading with her life? She simply didn't know. Ever since that day it didn't matter. She had remained with the Bureau, continuing to work as an enforcer … but that was simply because she didn't care what she was doing. Everything felt so … empty. Her actions – meaningless. Her friends were her life. Nanoha, who had pulled her from the depths of darkness and despair. Hayate and her knights, who had become an irreplaceable part of her life. Erio … Caro … her children. It was all gone.

Where am I heading ?

Once again Fate found herself being engulfed by nostalgic thoughts and sad memories. She continued her slow walk through the streets she used to know so well in the past, without paying any attention where she was going. Her mind was elsewhere, absent emptiness lingering at the depths of her blood red eyes.

Her legs were moving automatically, carrying her across the streets and walkways of the city, unbeknown to her consciousness. Sometimes a member of the Bureau crossed her path, but she didn't notice. Some seemed to recognize her, judging how they stood still and gave the approaching enforcer a respectful salute. But her mind didn't register this information.

She didn't know where her legs were taking her, nor did Fate care where she would end up. People crossing her path … the surroundings changing from the lively city streets to that of a calmer, more quiet one … none of it was important enough for her mind to process the information.

The scenery gradually changed as she walked her path; the lively noises of the city became more distant and eventually the girl was surrounded by silence. The sun that had shed rays of unbearable heat all day long now barely lingered above the horizon, basking the sky in crimson. A refreshing evening breeze was making Fate's long hair sway behind her as she walked.

A sudden, sharp gust of wind made her low ponytail swing to the side, snapping the blonde out of her dazed state. Instinctively she turned her head in the direction wind was coming from and looked upwards slightly.

The setting sun reflected clearly in her scarlet eyes, as she stood there for a few moments, captivated by the scenery. After a brief moment the fact it was already dusk registered, causing Fate to immediately check her watch.

"… I have been walking for almost five hours. Now, where am…"

Her trail of thoughts came to screeching halt the second she had turned around to scan the area. Her red eyes were wide, mouth half open.

This place … the very place haunting her in her dreams. The vision responsible for her sleepless nights. It was right in front of her. The place that was rending her heart … yet, ironically, her subconsciousness had brought her to this very spot.

"… Long Arch …"

Her voice was barely audible and shaky, yet the emotions it bore spoke volumes. Absently she took a few steps closer to the demolished building, a mixture of various emotions and memories surging through her mind. Three years … and it still looked exactly the same as since that fateful day.

The dormitory was missing its windows; glass shards lied scattered in the courtyard, sprinkling brightly under the rays of the evening sun. The main building was in a worse shape. It was sporting a large hole in the middle section, almost as if someone stole a quarter of the building. Various pieces of debris laid scattered everywhere in front of it, making it seem the building had exploded from inside.

Everything was left the way it was after the incident. Nothing had changed, no one had bothered to clean up this tragic place. It stood there as a ghost of the past, serving as a tragic reminder of the misfortune that befell the headquarters of Riot Force 6.

Fate started to walk towards, ever so slowly. Most likely it was her legs moving on their own again … she was too shocked to tell either way. Step by step she approached the demolished spot that once served as the front entrance to the building. Almost tripping over a pile of debris in her dazed state Fate stumbled in to the remains of the lobby and slowly allowed her shaky gaze to travel across the room.

She was instantly hit by a wave of memories … memories and emotions she had tried to bottle up inside her. The lobby she would cross several times each day … the cheerful attendant greeting her at the reception … the lively voices of people rushing across the place …

It hurt. Remembering all that … it hurt. Fate felt her tears gathering as she eyed the emblem of Riot Force 6, etched in the wall behind the reception desk.

Walking slowly and unsteadily she made her way across the hall, stopping in front of a stairway leading upwards. Placing her shaking hand on the railing she started to scale the stairs with trembling legs. It looked like she was about to collapse. Yet another memory hit her as she was climbing the stairway.

"Erio! Caro! Don't run on the stairs! It's dangerous!" the blonde scolded her adopted children, as the two had just rushed past her, almost tripping an unsuspecting man along the way.

"Yes, Fate-san!" The red haired boy yelled over his shoulder while continuing his dash downwards, without bothering to slow down.

"We are sorry!" the young summoner added, letting out a small yelp as she almost tripped, trying to keep up with the faster boy.

Their guardian sighed at the sight and remained standing on the spot, looking after her fleeing children with a slight scowl. Her expression quickly changed to a smile though, and she let out a quiet, content laugh.

At this point Fate had reached the second floor; tears were freely running down her fair cheeks. Just what was she doing here? This place was overflowing with memories … each of which almost made her want to curl up in a corner and go to sleep, never to wake up again … but that would not help. The memories would just come back to haunt her in her sleep … something Fate knew all too well. Yet …for some reason … she just couldn't turn back and leave. The memories hiding in these walls kept drawing her towards, as a sweet yet very painful drug.

She took a left turn, seeing the right path was completely blocked by the ceiling that had caved in and slowly continued her slow walk, footsteps echoing loudly in the empty hallway.

"Ah, Fa … no, I mean – commander Testarossa"

Signum gave her a salute, cracking an amused smile when the blonde pouted at the formal treatment.

Quiet sobs could be heard as Fate made her way forward, unable to keep it back any longer. Her shoulders were shaking slightly, failing to hide the emotions that threatened to overflow at any moment.

Shamal let out a deep sigh, heavily hanging her head downwards for a few seconds, before quickly jerking it back up and looking directly at Fate with a stern look.

"I keep telling you not to overwork yourself, and what do you do? Almost collapse from lack of sleep!"

The purple eyed knight sighed and her expression changed from angry to one that exhibited sadness. "We are all worried about you…"

Fate leaned against the wall with her left hand, while bringing the right one up to her chest and tightening it, as if trying to grasp something. Why … why did her chest had to hurt so much? …

Few more steps forward … and then she came to a halt, feeling the evening breeze once again tickling her skin. This is where the hallway ended. The continuing part of the building was destroyed, leaving Fate staring at the few hundred meters of empty space that separated this end of the hallway from the continuation at the other end of the enormous hole. Light of the setting sun reached her again, illumination the space in front of her with warm evening light.

"Today was a hard day, right?" Her best friend asked while walking down the hallway, hands clasped behind her back, head turned to the right so she could observe the sunset. "But, the forwards did really well. They trust each other and believe in their strength." Nanoha scratched her cheek with her index finger rather nervously "it makes me a bit proud. Nyahaha …"

With her short laugh she quickly spun around and continued walking backwards. "That's why …" She titled her head to the right while closing her eyes and smiling brightly "lets work hard tomorrow as well. Right, Fate?"

The blonde collapsed on her knees at the edge of the hallway and clasped a hand over her mouth while shaking all over. The tears that had started to flow a while ago were trailing down her moist cheeks with no foreseeable end. It had been a long while since Fate had cried … since she had allowed herself to cry. Now she was letting it all out. Sadness. Loneliness. Pain. Anger. Everything.

Why … why did such a thing … ?

The moment this thought entered her head mind some of the sadness was instantly replaced with swelling anger and immense hate … hate that threatened to spiral out of control … hate she herself was afraid of.

It was no accident. It was not a random terrorist attack. It was not a mistake on their part. It was all cleverly set up by that selfish and arrogant person. He had always held a deep dislike towards the Riot Force 6. The dislike turned to deep and personal hatred once the division exposed his Einherjar project, which caused him a lot of problems.

The 'accident' that soon followed was a set up by that man. It was clear to anyone. The reason why the demolished buildings of Long Arch had been left they way they were … to serve as a reminder what happens should you compromise the whole command chain of Ground Forces. It was an unexpected stroke of luck that Fate was not here during the dreadful night.

Yet there was no evidence. The investigation came up empty handed. Acous had tried to dig up anything that would help, yet even he couldn't find a lead. The Navy was in uproar, Chrono being the first to make accusations and doing everything in his power to make the man pay. This only worsened the already tense relationship between the Navy and the ground forces, to the point where the main office had to step in and forbid any further discussion of the subject, effectively tying Chrono down.

The Saint Belkan Church had expressed their suspicions about the matter, Carim and Acous being one of the main supporters of Mobile Division 6. But in the end it was all for nothing. Three years of struggle, yet nothing was gained.

Regius, on the other had, had managed to solidify his position as the chief representative of the Ground Forces. His beliefs didn't lack followers, and using some cleverly crafted speeches, which often involved spreading dubious information about Riot Force 6, he had managed to gather a lot of supporters who lacked liking towards the Navy.

Fate slammed her left knuckle against the wall and stood up slowly, pushing herself up with the other hand.

Why? Why? Why?

Why was such a man allowed to reign supreme, while her friends were …

She bit together her teeth and let out a low growl, allowing the anger to overtake her. Her friends … her family … her life … everything was torn away from her simply because they proved to be a hindrance in Regius's way. Even after their death he didn't stop dirtying their memory, continuing to use the Riot Force 6 as a cornerstone for his accusations against the Navy, thus gaining more supporters. He couldn't even let them rest in piece.

She turned around slowly, still leaning against the wall with her right hand. It hurt. The feeling of anger. Sadness. Confusion. Loneliness. Being helpless. It hurt. These mixed feelings clashed together in her heart, giving birth to an emotion she couldn't describe. This new feeling danced in her head, making her dizzy to the point of wobbling.

Supporting herself against the wall Fate started to move away from the destroyed end of the corridor. Her legs were visibly trembling; her mind once again being assaulted by the illusions of past these memory filled walls seemed to project. Illusions she knew would never come true, but still she allowed herself to be emerged in these nostalgic feelings.

"Teana! Waiiit! I said I am sorry!" The blue haired girl pleadingly ran after her visibly annoyed friend, disappearing around a corner.

…

"Geez, you are being too easy on them." The ever-small girl noted, resting Graf Eisen on her shoulder while closing her right eye and observing Nanoha with the left. "They need a real workout, not this baby stuff."

…

"Rein is not a kid! Hmph!" The small unison device crossed her hands over her chest and put on a cute, pouting look, definitely not helping to support the statement she just made.

Her vision was blurry. Either the tears were to blame, or these intoxicating memories. Or both.

The stairway she took up was reached and Fate started to descend, gripping the railing with her trembling fingers. Slowly. One shaky step at a time.

Vivio blinked her heterochromatic eyes, constantly switching her confused look between Nanoha and Fate in front of her. "Mama?"

A new wave of dizziness hit her, causing her senses to fade for a heartbeat, making Fate stumble on the next step. The loosened grip she had on the railing didn't help – the relaxed fingers lost grasp of it. Next thing the enforcer knew was breath being knocked out of her and pain in her elbows. She lay sprawled on the dusty floor of the lobby.

Their smiles … she wishes to see them again. But this wish is more of a nightmare than anything else.

She wishes to drown in her memory; to go back to those happy days. But this wish is a death plea.

She wishes to be with them … and this wish is her sin.

The sin of not being able to do anything; in past, present, or future … only bewailing her loss.

As the dizziness left her, new tears swell up in her red eyes; her fingers clenched, grasping at the dusty floor. She wanted to scream, yet the words would not come out. Her very soul was crying in agony … a deep, sorrowful scream no voice could ever portray.

Why? Why!?

Her friends … her family … her life.

It was too cruel to be true.

Too painful to remember.

Too wrong to be fair.

Fate bit her lip furiously, drawing some blood. The small, red surge trailed down her chin, mixing with tears along the way. She pushed herself up from the dirty floor. Her uniform was dusty, yet she didn't bother to wipe it. The voices of past had stopped whispering in her ears; the visions of times long gone had faded.

Without looking back she proceeded towards the exit in a steady pace. If something seemed out of place it would have definitely been her eyes. The ruby colored orbs now seemed to have lost the shine usually reflecting in them, making them seem eerie and lifeless.

That's right … there was no one that could stand up to Regius and bring him to justice. No one. Their hands were tied by the same laws that failed to protect her friends. If that's the case …

She stepped through the opening that once was the main entrance of Long Arch, ignoring a memory of the cheerful receptionist biding her farewell.

If that's the case … she would do it herself. By his hand sixty four people had died … simply because they were a nuisance to him. A thorn in his side. An unwanted variable.

They had lost their lives, yet he didn't hesitate to sully their honor even after that.

Yes, she should definitely …

Once outside Fate was greeted by the last rays of the crimson disk disappearing behind the horizon. A silhouette of a man was standing a few meters ahead of her, his long ponytail swaying in the wind.

"… Yuuno?"

Her voice was cold and indifferent, the very opposite of her usual soft tone. She looked barely interested in his presence.Their eyes met, and the male could instantly sense a presence of danger and animosity in the woman's gaze. Her eyes … he had seen such a look before. During the time Nanoha got injured…

The look in Vita's eyes before the knight launched herself forward with full force … The first time Vita had dealt a killing blow during a mission. The empty look in her eyes … something he would never forget.

The same look Fate's eyes were burning silently with.

Next he noticed was her moist cheeks and a small trail of blood, coming from her bottom lip. Her clothes were covered in dust, giving Fate a rather uncollected look. Last rays of the dying sun were falling on her, covering her hair with a crimson shade. But above all else she had a look he knew all too well himself – a mixture of loneliness and despair… the look of a human barely keeping himself from breaking down completely.

"Here." He took a step closer, pulling a handkerchief from his pocket and holding it towards her.

She eyed the piece of fabric for a moment with a slightly confused look before finally lowering her head a little. "I am fine… I have no need for anything".

How can you possibly be fine?.

"Um… your lip?"

This caught the girl's attention, as she looked at her friend with another confused look. Her eyes … he felt a chill passing down his spine just by looking at them. These lifeless red orbs, void of their usual warmth. The look of a broken doll …

"My … lip?"

The question was asked in a slightly surprised, almost amused voice, yet still Fate raised her hand and touched her mouth. The blonde girl ran her slender fingers across her chin, then withdrew the hand and eyed it.

Lively red smears on the fingertips immediately caught her attention. For the first time she felt a sting of pain in the area her fingers had just traveled.

Blood? My … blood? Blood … what have I …

She gasped sharply, as if suddenly waking up from a bad dream. The lifeless expression in her eyes faded, replaced by the usual look.

She shifted her gaze towards Yuuno who looked relieved for some reason, and noticed the handkerchief he was still holding in his outstretched arm. After a moment of hesitation she nodded slightly and took the offered piece of fabric.

The male watched in silence as Fate tidied herself up. He could well imagine the emotions she had gone through just now. If anyone, he knew the toll this was taking on his long time friend. The solemn looks she showed once in a while. The occasional drift of her thoughts, coupled with a distant expression. The puffy eyes she had once in a while, indicating yet another sleepless night of tossing and crying.

He was worried about her. Even more so at times like this, when her appearance alone indicated she was an emotional wreck. Times she looked to be at the breaking point.

He … he would be fine himself. After all – he had promised by Nanoha's grave to keep on going… and he would. He needed to be strong. One of them did. For themselves … and for the friends they had lost.

Fate finished wiping the last spot on her face, carefully folded up the handkerchief and handed it back to Yuuno. "Sorry … it is dirty now …".

The boy only smiled at this lightly, taking the handkerchief from her outstretched hand. Her voice was quiet, yet the tone alone was enough for him to relax a bit. "Don't worry about it". Their hands touched for a brief instant, but it was enough for him to notice hers was shaking ever so slightly.

He placed the handkerchief in chest pocket and made a mental note to wash it later. He was always carrying one around. Not for himself, but in case she needed one.

A moment of awkward silence ensued; Fate lowered her gaze and gripped her left arm with the right one. "How did you know that … I would be here?"

A simple question… one he was expecting. "You were not by the graveyard, so I figured … " his green eyes shifted to the building behind her "… you might have come here".

"… Oh.". She downcast her eyes even more.

Again. Again she had made Yuuno worry about her. She almost bit her lip, but the quick surge of pain when her teeth touched the flesh made her stop. She hated it. Although Yuuno didn't show it, he was suffering inside as well. Yet she selfishly made the boy worry about her, making him carry double the burden.

He was always there for her, yet she was never for him. He worried for both of them, while she just provided more reasons for worry. She was afraid. Afraid of the fact she was grown accustomed to this. To having Yuuno around, always ready to support her. Just for once she wanted to stand on her own feet.

"I am sorry".

Yet all she could do was apologize.

Yuuno blinked through his glasses while looking at his companion. "For what?"

A small, almost invisible smile appeared on Fate's lips. His voice did not betray the false curiosity behind those words. He knew she would say that. She knew he would ask the question in turn … he knew the answer she was about to give.

"For making you worry …"

As expected, the chief librarian corrected his glasses with one finger and smiled slightly. "Don't worry about it … that's what friends are for, right ?"

"NO!"

Her sudden outburst made Yuuno take a mental step back. This was not one of their usual routines. Her head was downcast, hair covering her eyes. Yet a single tear could be seen trailing down her cheek. He took a step closer while slowly lifting his hand, but was stopped by her words.

"I … I am no friend! All I ever do is make you worry… I know it hurts for you too, Yuuno." This made the boy frown a bit "Yet still… still… all I can do is trouble you even more. Friends don't do that. They share their pain, yet a burned like I … I …". Fate's voice cracked, and she used the small pause to bring up her index finger to wipe away the tear rolling down her face.

"So … it is fine. I am fine… so please. Don't wo …

She was cut short when a feeling of warmth wrapping around her shoulders made her pause in shock. Slowly, she lift her red eyes, only to find herself staring over Yuuno's shoulder. She could feel his hands tightening around her back; she could sense his heartbeat due to their closeness.

"Yuuno … I am fine, so …"

She thought she had run out of tears to cry. Yet she was proven wrong, as these small reflections of human soul fell from her eyes yet again. "so … please …"

"Baka". Don't say things you don't want to say … bottling it up won't make it better … neither for you nor me, Fate. Why do you have to be so … "I am not doing this for you".

"Eh?" her head jerked up suddenly, obviously surprised.

"You are right, Fate. I am hurt as well, so …

…is that a reason good enough?"

Yuuno…

"Mmh" She nodded, circling her arms behind Yuuno's broader back and burying her nose in his shoulder, allowing the tears to run freely once again.

"… Thank You.".

Fate sighed happily and closed her eyes for a second, then opened them again. A gasp of shock escaped her lips as she found her friend no longer beside her. The warmth she felt from the touch had faded, replaced by a chill climbing up her arm. The darkness no longer felt soothing; it was frightening.

She quickly sat up, frantically eying the space all around her. Nothing. She found herself alone in the darkness.

"Fate-chan?"

The blonde gasped, jerking her head towards the noise. This voice … it couldn't be…

Yet her vision told otherwise. Her red eyes were widened in shock, as her mind frantically struggled to keep her overflowing emotions in check. It was not true. It couldn't be true. It was not supposed to be true. Yet she wished for nothing more than this …

"Nano…ha ?"

The brown haired girl smiled brightly, tilting her head slightly to the left.

"Nanoha!"

She didn't care if this was a dream.

"Nanoha!"

Before she knew it she was already on her feet, desperately running towards the girl in front of her.

"Nanoha! Nanoha! Nanoha!!"

She threw herself forward, pulling her friend in to an embrace.

Yet her hands caught nothing but air.

Surprised she looked at the white clad girl in front of her, confusion evident on her face. Nanoha's expression was one of sadness and worry. Apologetic look, large tears falling from her blue eyes.

"Nano…"

The image of Nanoha shook violently; the brown haired girl crouched down, hugging herself with both arms, agonized look on her face.

Blood.

Bloody tears fell down her cheeks, leaving red trails on her pale skin.

A desperate scream. Sound of the familiar voice tore deep in to Fate's mind, echoing in the very depths of her soul. The image of Nanoha faded instantly, disappearing on to the darkness with abominable screech. "…ha?"

Fate found herself to be panting heavily, her eyes suddenly wide open. She was drenched in cold sweat, heart beating violently. The bed sheets around her were ruffled, indicating she had been tossing in her sleep again.

She swallowed heavily and took in a deep breath, trying to calm herself down. Turning her head to left she could see Yuuno sleeping right next to her, her sweaty palm having a firm grasp on his wrist. Fate stayed like that for a bit, allowing her beating heart to settle down before letting his hand loose.

Carefully, not to wake the sleeping boy, Fate got up and slid out of the bed they shared tonight. Another nightmare … but this one was different. She never had sleeping problems when she had Yuuno next to her … but this time even that did not help.

She felt miserable. Like a small child, afraid of the darkness of night. The blonde girl felt pathetic each time she came over, asking whether she could sleep beside him for the night. He never refused her, always placing her problems above anything else. And so, she slept beside him, gripping his arm tightly. This helped to keep the nightmares away.

A miserable, childish approach … another burden she placed on her childhood friend. Yet he never said 'no' … she was always welcome here. If Yuuno thought of her as a nuisance, he never showed it.

But tonight … the dreams plaguing her heart had returned. No matter how hard she had held on to Yuuno's hand… now matter how much she wished for peace … they simply didn't leave her alone. Painful memories, etched deeply in her subconsciousness.

Again … that man …it was his fault. The things he had said today were beyond ridiculous. She would never forgive him. Never.

Without a noise she slid across the room and circled around the desk, snatching Bardiche in the process. Not bothering to put on any decent clothing she made her way to the door leading to balcony and turned the handle, wincing at the squeaking sound coming from the hinges.

She cast a quick gaze towards the bed, but found Yuuno still asleep, much to her comfort. At the same time a wave of sadness washed over her, as she eyed his sleeping face. What would he say in the morning? What would he think of her? Once again she could do only one thing when it came to Yuuno… Yuuno … I am sorry.

She stepped outside and closed the balcony's door behind her, instantly feeling the chill of night. Her eyes were closed; hands stretched out to the sides. For a few moments she simply enjoyed the refreshing night wind brushing against her bare skin.

A minute had passed before Fate finally took in a deep breath and slowly opened her eyes, revealing a serious, dreadful look.

Anger, drowning her mind in a pit of darkness…

Endless pain, clawing away at her very heart…

Revenge, threatening to overtake her …

The feelings she was afraid of herself.

Tonight, she would embrace them.

Her gaze fixed upon a large shadow, towering over the nighttime city. A new surge of anger and despair tore in to her consciousness, causing her to squeeze Bardiche with all her might. Tonight… she would make him pay for his crimes.