Melody of a Broken Memory

A/N: Well, this is...my first attempt at an AU fic. It's not my best first chapter, because I'm not really any good with introductions, but give it a chance until the second chapter. It will get better, most definitely, since I have a PLOT! Mwuahahahaha! ...AHEM, anyways, read and enjoy. I will need reviews on this, because I'm not sure if I'm doing it right and if the image in my head came out right. So please. Review. And the pairing is NanohaXFate, as always. Because I simply can't stand Ferret Boy and Nanoha together. And the characters from A's will appear too. Next chapter. If anyone wants to request a pairing, let me know.

First Edit (19/03/09): I barely changed anything. Just a few stupid mistakes. XD So yeah. Don't be alarmed or anything.

“I wanted you to know…that I love the way you laugh…”

Her insides continually flipped over as she walked ever closer to the gates. The looming building seemed less and less inviting with every step, even if there was beauty in the nature surrounding it. She had half a mind to turn back and run away. But that wasn’t what she was expected to do. She was expected to show up to at the boarding school like the good little angel she was and take her classes for the rest of her high school years.

Sadly, this good little angel felt mutinous.

Which was why she was reluctant to take another step once having gone through the gates.

Now that she was inside, she noticed two other buildings a ways off the central one. She supposed those were the dorms, though she couldn’t be too sure. Her heart flipped again. She took a deep breath and made reluctant way across the path towards the central building. Pretty soon she was out of breath and cursing the people who had the audacity to build a boarding school at the top of a mountain.

Another gate was visible through the foliage, and she hurried towards the end of the path, eager to get everything over with. Once she stepped through, her breath was taken away.

In the center of the small square, there was hardly a tree in sight. A single fountain stood in the center, emphasizing the impact of the school’s looming building. Her parents had said this was the best boarding school in the country. They had probably been right. The air about the school inspired seriousness and dedication, and at once she straightened her posture, her eyes flickering from side to side nervously.

Classes were obviously currently in session, or she would have seen the students walking around the school grounds. With that in mind, she realized she was late and mentally berated herself for being so slow. She set off immediately up the stone steps of the main building and opened the door, panting as she heaved her heavy bags up the stairs after her.

The lobby was probably the most sophisticated place she had ever seen, but she had no time to sit and gawk as a strict looking woman marched rigidly towards her.

“The new transfer, I presume?” She asked, her voice as dry as the rest of her seemed. Without waiting for a response, she stated, “You’re late.”

She bowed her head.

“I’m sorry. I didn’t realize-”

“No excuses. I will let you off with a warning since it is your first day. We do not tolerate tardiness Miss…” The woman raised an eyebrow at her.

“Takamachi…Takamachi Nanoha.”

“Well, Miss Takamachi, I expect you to adapt quickly, for if you do not, you will be expelled, no doubt.” Nanoha was beginning to like this lady less and less. “I, myself, would be in charge of that task. I am this school’s dean, Takamachi. Do you know what my name is?”

“N-no…”

“Have you read the papers sent to you by the school’s administration?”

“…No, I haven’t.”

“I would advise you to do that. Take them out, Miss Takamachi, and get to your first class.”

“But I don’t know my schedule, or my way around the school.”

“Find your way. One must always be ready to do things by themselves. If you cannot do something as simple as this by yourself, you will surely fail in this school. Leave your bags here. They will be taken to your room.”

And with that, the woman stalked off without a second glance. Utterly disoriented, Nanoha took out her papers and clutched them in her hands, praying that something would happen and they would lead her the right way. But of course, nothing happened and she stared blankly at her first class.

Lindy Harlaown

English

Third Floor, Room 38

She sighed and set up the stairs, her heart heavy. She already had such an intense dislike for the school it wasn’t funny. Once at the third floor, it was only a matter of picking from three different corridors. She chose the one to her right.

35…

The classroom was full of people, but there was a respectful silence as the teacher continued his lectures.

36…

Much like its predecessor, this room was also full of students, and Nanoha quickly walked past it, her stomach again doing nervous flips.

37…

This room was full of laughter, and as she passed through the open door, she spotted the teacher in the midst of demonstrating something to her students with a smile on her face.

38…

And she stopped in front of the door, her mouth dry, and her legs feeling like lead. With a trembling hand, she tapped on the doorway.

The young teacher stopped mid explanation and turned to her, as did the rest of the class.

“And who might you be?” She asked in an amused tone.

Nanoha swallowed and began, “I’m the new transfer…Takamachi Nanoha. N-nice to meet you.”

The teacher smirked and suddenly struck out with her chalk. Nanoha pressed herself against the wall, hands up high, eyes wide as the teacher pressed the piece of chalk to her throat.

“Are you responsible, Miss Takamachi? We do not tolerate tardiness.” There was something familiar about the way she said it.

The students began laughing quietly in their seats. The teacher then turned on them all.

“Didn’t I say you couldn’t laugh, joke, speak, or breathe?”

At this, the students began laughing harder, and Nanoha suddenly realized why. She began giggling quietly and slowly eased off the wall. The teacher smiled at her and stretched out her hand.

As Nanoha shook it, she said, “Is that woman always like that?”

“Sadly, yes. Akito-sama is a very…strict person. You make sure not to get on her bad side, even though we make fun of her.” She said, “I’m Lindy Harlaown. It’s nice to meet you, Nanoha-san.”

“Same here, Harlaown-sensei.”

Lindy walked over to her desk and handed her a few papers.

“Take these and fill them out. After you do, give them back to me and I’ll assign your roommate. For now, take the seat beside Yuuno-kun.”

Nanoha held the papers gingerly in her hands as she turned to face the only empty seat there was beside a shy looking boy with long blonde hair and green eyes. She smiled at him, and was amused to see a blush beginning to form on his cheeks. Taking her seat, she turned her attention to the papers and began filling them out as the teacher resumed her lesson.

For a moment, she paused. A peculiar sense of foreboding stole itself around her heart.

Almost as if something would happen.

She shook her head, and continued filling out the papers.

Later that day would find her tired, panting, and out of breath as she ran up the stairs up to the fourth and last floor, trying to find the music classroom. It was set apart from the rest of the classrooms, as the noise would probably prove itself a distraction for the other classes. She rounded a corner and stopped at the only classroom on that floor. Walking inside, she spotted the boy she had met that morning, Yuuno Scrya.

“Takamachi-san.” He greeted her, motioning towards the seat beside him.

In his hands, he held a flute. Nanoha was suddenly painfully aware that she did not have an instrument with her. Not that she could bring her instrument either way, but…

“Yuuno-kun.” She said, brimming with false cheer.

“Tough first day?”

Nanoha immediately deflated onto her desk.

“I have an intense dislike for our dean…” She moaned, banging her head on the desk. “I’m on her hit list…”

“Everyone’s on her hit list.” A new voice came.

Nanoha raised her head to look at a handsome boy she had seen a few times around the hall.

“I’m Chrono Harlaown.” He said, taking the seat in front of her. Turning to Yuuno, he said, “You’re still helping me with that project, right, Yuuno?”

Yuuno nodded at the question.

“We should show Takamachi-san around after class first, though, since she’s new.”

Chrono smirked.

“Oh yes. Since she’s new.”

Nanoha wrinkled her brow in confusion. Was Chrono implying something?

Unfortunately, their conversation was disrupted before she could ask. The teacher walked inside and introduced himself as their music instructor.

“I believe we will have a very interesting year, due to the competition this year.” He said. “So, anyone here that can play an instrument?”

Nanoha and Yuuno were one of the very few who raised their hands.

“Good. Scrya-kun, what do you play?”

“The flute, Kubo-sensei.”

“And you, girl. State your name and weapon!”

Nanoha felt a smile tug at her lips.

“Takamachi Nanoha and I play the piano.”

Kubo rubbed his chin in concentration.

“Piano, you say?” He said, “Are you any good?”

Nanoha fidgeted in her seat.

“I’ve been playing for a while…” She answered, uncomfortable with the question.

“Okay, show me what you can do.” He said, and pointed at the piano at the end of the classroom. “There’s already a score there, although it may be a bit difficult for you. But try it, and let’s see how well you do.”

Nanoha gaped at him.

“Sensei?”

“Go, shoo. Play. We’re here to have fun in this class.” He motioned to the piano.

Nanoha sighed and stood up. She sat down on the stool, and passed her fingers through the keys. She peered at the score, and after a moment, began to play.

She was completely swept away by the feelings within the melody, her fingers suddenly moving of their own accord, her eyes diligently reading the score while her mind was elsewhere. Her mind with her heart, exploring the nostalgia within the melody, the melancholy that seemed to sweep within her heart and take her someplace else. And suddenly, the score was finished, and the melody was complete.

But the emotion was not gone. She was suddenly nostalgic, but of what, she did not know. And the feeling of foreboding was stronger than ever.

“That was very good, Nanoha-chan…Very good…”

The classroom was suddenly very quiet, but Nanoha only had thoughts for a question. She turned to the teacher, who sat on his desk, watching her with pensive eyes.

“Who wrote this? I’ve never heard this melody before.”

It felt urgent to know who had written it. She needed to know.

“That score…was written by one of my students…”

“By a student?” Yuuno asked, “But that score was…”

Kubo nodded his head.

“A musical genius. She arrived at the school a few years back. I was surprised at her talent, and awed by her capability to listen to a melody once and be able to play it immediately without making a mistake. I’m surprised, though, that she would choose to skip my class today…”

“She’s in this class?” Nanoha asked, curiously.

Kubo nodded and looked at the scores in silence. For a moment, Nanoha thought she had seen a flicker of intense sorrow as he stared at the scores, but then it was gone, and she ruled it off as her imagination.

“Her name is Fate Testarossa…”

“Fate…” Nanoha repeated.

It was almost familiar.

After the class ended, Nanoha slumped in her seat, glad that her first day was finally over. The sun was setting gently on the horizon, and the evening glow began to intensify as the day wore on. She watched as the classroom emptied except for Yuuno, Chrono, and herself.

“Are you going to come?” Yuuno asked her.

“I want to take another look at the score if you don’t mind. I can catch up later.” She answered, moving towards the piano.

“Okay, but remember that dinner is at 7:00 for us.”

“Right.” She nodded.

As they exited the classroom, Nanoha sunk back slowly into her seat. She stared at her desk, something gnawing at her chest. She wanted to be alone for a while, to ponder what had happened during the day. She felt lonely at the school, and nervous for some reason. She sighed and picked up her stuff.

There was no denying it. She had been nothing but a nervous wreck that whole day.

She left the classroom, about to go back down the stairs to find her dorm room, when something caught her attention.

A sorrowful melody, jagged and raw in its pain. She dropped her things to the floor and her legs moved without her consent. She walked up the steps beside the classroom, up to a door that opened out to the roof. The melody wafted through the crack of the slightly open door and she approached it cautiously, in a trance-like state. With her hand, she pushed it farther open, and her breath was torn from her throat.

A girl as beautiful the melody she played stood in the very center of the roof, the evening light making her seem to glow. She stood in a perfect poise, holding the violin in her hands as she played, her eyes closed as she lost herself in the passion of her instrument and the melody she had chosen. Long, silky blonde hair was tied back in a black ribbon. She seemed lost in her music.

Nanoha trembled.

Beautiful…

And she knew. This girl was…

Fate Testarossa.

And the girl’s eyes opened. And Nanoha found herself staring at the most hauntingly beautiful eyes she had ever seen. Eyes the color of burgundy, which spoke of pain and heartbreaking loneliness.

And immediately, Nanoha knew.

She had been ensnared by the girl with the lonely eyes and the broken melody.

“I wanna hold you high and steal your pain…away…”