It was their first meeting.

Burgundy eyes peered up at the board, searching for her own name among printed papers laid out on the wood.

"Ah...found it," she muttered to herself, and glanced to the top of the pinned paper. "Class..."

"...I-D."

A chance meeting.

She blinked. Someone had just echoed her own words. Someone who was considerably close to her.

...Next to her, actually.

She turned to meet curious blue eyes.

A girl.

A slender girl, half a head shorter than her, with long, silky hazel brown hair. Which was tied up in a...ponytail? A side...ponytail, if it could be called one.

An unexpected, coincidental meeting...

The corner of her lips twitched into the beginning of a smile. That was a rather interesting hair...style.

The girl who was staring at her raised both eyebrows. "Is something funny?"

She had the grace to flush a little.

But she didn't have the time to reply, not when the other suddenly stumbled forward into her.

"Wa - !"

Reflexively, she grabbed the shorter brunette, steadying them both before they could fall.

"Sorry!" a boy shouted from a short distance away before he ran off in a rush.

The girl in her arms grimaced. "Ow."

Fate glanced down at her. "Um...are you okay?"

Blue eyes blinked back.

Silence.

Then the brunette flushed, laughing a little nervously, seeming to get her voice back (at last).

"...Y-yes."

Another pause.

She felt a smile forming on her lips.

"...Can you stand?" she asked softly.

"Oh! Er, y-yes, of course!" The brown-haired girl straightened instantly, and took a step back. "Sorry about that."

"It's all right."

A pause.

A long, awkward pause.

"So! Um...class 1-D?" asked that girl.

"...Mm."

"Then I suppose we will be classmates." A grin spread across the brunette's face as she lifted a hand. "My name's Takamachi Nanoha."

A gust of wind blew.

Or was it fate?

Her gaze locked onto dark blue.

There was a hint of purple in those eyes.

She smiled, grasping that hand lightly.

"Fate Testarossa."

It is merely one of the many accidental occurrences. Many, many events in this world are made up of coincidences. This was also one of them. And for everything that happens, there will always be a rebounding effect.

And the set of questions that comes with them are always similar, if not same. What kind of effect, and how much would it effect? Would it be good or bad? Or would it be something so insignificant it doesn't matter?

On that day, two paths begun to gravitate towards each other; as if pulled by some kind of magnetic force, one a negative pulse, the other positive.

Soon, they will intersect. Not if, not maybe. The past is something that cannot be changed, and this one meeting is something that could not be changed. Ignored, possibly, but not changed. Neither, however, would ignore it.

Or perhaps they couldn't.

Will they join to form a new path?

Or will they inevitably erase each other in the collision?

- - -

Impasse
A Magical Girl Lyrical Nanoha Fanfiction, brought to you by Eagle8819

Thanks to Astarael00 for beta-ing.

Disclaimer: Magical Girl Lyrical Nanoha does not belong to me. Characters used copyright to respective owners.

-

Chapter 1:
First Meeting
- - -

"Year one student representative: Fate Testarossa, class 1-D."

"Hai."

The sound of a chair shifting backwards across the floor resounded faintly in the silent auditorium.

A tall, slender girl, with long, silky yellow hair, walked forward. Her steps were soundless and graceful, posture straight and solid. Eyes, so a deep shade of red they almost seemed black in the shadows, were aloof and distant.

The perfect picture of a cool beauty.

"Pretty, isn't she?" murmured Suzuka.

Nanoha didn't reply.

She merely watched, curious about the girl who seemed aloof.

"Fate Testarossa, sixteen years old. Apparently she scored full marks in the entrance exam," a male's voice whispered from behind them.

Three pairs of eyes blinked, and as one, they turned.

"Yuuno-kun?"

He smiled.

"Are you interested in her, Nanoha?" His eyebrows waggled suggestively. Of course, the blond boy had to be the observant one. He always seemed to notice everything. Always.

The brunette flushed. "How did you know she scored full marks in the entrance exam, anyway?" She was interested in Fate, though it was for an entirely different reason than Yuuno seemed to think. Those burgundy eyes, so calm and aloof, were also painfully kind, gentle and...tired. So exhausted and...defeated.

And she wanted to know more. Wanted to know why she seemed so...sad.

Yuuno tsked. "The rumors are all over the school. Or at least among the first-years students. Just think about it..." he pointed an index finger at the podium, where the blonde had just stepped up to. "Our school's entrance exam isn't that easy, you know. And that girl, scoring full marks in it? If no one knew about it, now that would be a surprise."

Arisa grimaced at the memory of the exam. "Oh, don't remind me."

Yuuno chuckled. "Maa. I wonder what she will do later..."

Nanoha gave him a confused look. "Do about what?"

This time he shrugged and gave a vague smile.

"You will see."

And soon enough, it became rather obvious what Yuuno was referring to.

A group of girls and boys had surrounded the startled first year representative once homeroom period was over.

"Testarossa-san, is it true you scored full marks in the exam?"

A cat-whistle. "Be my tutor - ack!" Poor boy got nudged in the rubs, hard.

"Don't listen to the dork. So where're you from?"

"A foreigner?"

Fate forced a little laugh out, lifting her hands in a calming gesture.

Her replies were polite and almost humored, a gentle smile on her face.

But her eyes, thought Nanoha, were as distant as always, if not quietly amused.

Then their gazes met.

Red against blue.

It was only then that she realized how striking those burgundy eyes were. A subtle, dark shade of wine that seemed to pierce so sharply, as if they could see everything within her.

And her heart pounded for reasons she could not describe.

That gaze was as bland as it was beautifully sharp.

She was pulled into it, and all she could see was...indescribable redness. It was suddenly so quiet, so quiet that she felt her ears had gone deaf.

"Alright, settle down!"

And then the spell was broken, when Fate turned to look at the front. The teacher had arrived.

"...You're really interested in her, aren't you?" an amused voice murmured behind her.

Nanoha twitched, but did not turn to give a patented death glare.

Oh, just you wait, you little ferret...

- - -

"Just look at all these people hunting for freshmen to join their clubs," grumped Arisa. "They are really beginning to annoy me."

"Maa, maa." Suzuka smiled. "This will only be for the first week or so, won't it?"

"Hey, hey! Listen! A first year female student is beating all the seniors in kendo!" Boy A rushed forward to his friends.

Nanoha glanced up from the killer grip she had on a suffocating Yuuno, who was furiously pounding on her hands in a bid to make her let go.

"Which first year student?" Boy B.

"Her name's...uh...I can't remember."

Boy C groaned. "Oh, so typical of you."

"But I know she's the first year student representative!" protested Boy A. "That pretty blonde girl. Remember?"

That caught Nanoha's attention.

Boy B raised an eyebrow. "Fate Testarossa?"

"Yeah! That's the name!"

"How about Signum-sempai?" Boy D asked.

Signum? That name was familiar...

"The kendo...c-champion...in the last spring t-tournament...undefeated for the past t-two years...also the captain of the team..." Yuuno managed to gasp out despite the tight hold.

He was also quickly turning blue.

The brunette blinked, saw the changing color of his face, and released him instantly.

Yuuno sucked in air immediately, rubbing at his chest. "I'm saved," he muttered.

"There's a ten minute break now," Boy A said. "I'm pretty sure next up will be the duel with Signum-sempai, though."

Nanoha stuck out a tongue at the blond boy, before tugging at Arisa and Suzuka. "Let's go see the match."

- - -

Shinai clashed together.

"It's started." Arisa peered at the center of the ring.

"Whoever gets first hit wins, apparently." Yuuno commented idly. Randomly.

Nanoha twitched again, but ignored the boy in favor of the match.

Thwack!

Clack!

Clack!

Fate swiped to the left of her opponent's ribs, which was immediately blocked, Signum's shinai curving downwards.

The older girl retaliated by forcefully shoving the stopped weapon upward with great strength, and launched herself forward.

CLACK!

A second clash, and Fate was forced back a step before she regained her balance. Now neither moved from their position; seemingly glaring at each other through their headgears, the weapons shaking lightly from the contact that had yet to be broken off.

Nanoha was visibly impressed. "They are good." She was definitely no expert on kendo, but she was bound to know at least something - since she was born in a family that practiced martial arts. Even if she totally failed at sports.

And this, she knew for certain; they were definitely skilled.

Signum-sempai had the power, but Fate had the speed.

The taller kendo student jumped backwards a few steps, hands gripping shinai firmly.

And then she ran forward.

THWACK!

The referee raised a hand towards Signum.

"Men!" A hit on the top of the headgear. Senpai may have struck there but...

Then he raised another for Fate.

"Kote!" The forearm of the gauntlet.

Nanoha smiled.

"Both hits struck at the same time. It's a draw!"

The cheering that came after was loud and resounding in the hall.

Fate smiled an enigmatic smile when headgears were removed.

There was a hint of amusement and...enjoyment?... in that - always distant - gaze.

Signum offered a hand, smirking slightly. "Good match."

"Aa," the blonde agreed, smile growing, and took the hand. "A good one indeed, sempai."

A few boys (and girls) near Nanoha and her friends swooned at the sight of that smile.

And for some reason, the brunette had a feeling they were just going to be trouble.

Very big trouble.

- - -

"Fate."

The blonde turned to see amused blue eyes.

"Chrono-niichan."

He blinked once, then his expression changed from humored to embarrassed.

"We are not kids anymore, Fate."

A smile curled on Fate's lips. "Of course...Chrono."

He gave her a half-hearted glare, then sighed when the blonde attempted to look innocent.

"You're settling in well, I see," the black-haired boy commented lightly.

The younger girl sensed a hint of relief in that voice.

"...It's a nice place," she said after a moment, smiling faintly.

Concern flickered past those blue eyes.

"It is," he said instead, and gestured. "Shall we go...home?" Your home too, now, he did not say.

"...Mm." I know.

They walked in silence.

Neither noticed a certain brunette watching them curiously.

- - -

She leaned back against the chair, and dark red stared up at a familiar and unfamiliar ceiling distantly.

Home...is it?

Memories threatened to flood back into her mind, and she shook her head; forcing them out.

Then her cellphone rang.

Fate glanced at it, staring for one long moment.

Then she reached for it, studied the caller ID, and felt her heart squeeze uncomfortably.

She took in a deep breath.

Beep.

"...Hello?"

"..."

"...Mm. I'm fine."

A pause.

"Yes, I'm eating properly."

Blonde eyebrow creased, and she closed her eyes. Her figure slumped against the cushioned chair. She was tired, so tired all of a sudden...

"Chrono-niichan and Lindy-san helped a lot. I'm settling in fine."

"..."

"Mm. School was...interesting."

Another pause.

Fate opened her mouth, once, before shutting it.

Her grip on the armrest tightened, and she felt her eyebrows knit involuntarily.

"...Aa," she acknowledged after a moment, her words softer...and almost shaking. "Please take care, then. We can always talk...another time."

"..."

"I will."

"..."

"...Mm. Bye."

Click.

The blonde sat motionless for a long time, phone still pressed to her ear.

Du du du du du du du du du...

- - - -

A/N: Translations to be noted:

Shinai - bamboo sword

Nii-chan - Older brother

Sempai - senior/older schoolmates/colleagues.

And another thing. Freshmen at high school means age 16. It shouldn't be hard to figure out the rest, but I'll clarify it the next time when more characters come into play.

Well...first, allow me to emphasis on this fact. I will not guarantee timely updates as I did for previous fictions. This is a rather spur of a moment fic, and while I do have some stray ideas here and there, they will most likely not come into play till a long while later -- because I'm going to need some time (and chapters) to build up characters, as well. And because I have no plot, this will probably take a very long time. Chances are updates will be very long and sparse in coming, between random procrastination, lack of inspiration, life, and etc. That's usually the case when it comes to long fictions for me.

Also, a particular thing I'm worried about is the consistency and quality of writing/style...while it is more manageable in short fictions, it is considerably harder in long stories...so do forgive me if the quality seem inconsistent at times, or if sentences and all just seemed odd. I'm trying, but it's not easy. Particularly since emotions do not go tumbling here and there like this chapter...and probably won't be for a little while more. My style of writing seems to work better when there's something drastic, yes? And, well, with the beta being busy lately, I'm going to be a whole lot more doubtful about my writing than I usually would be.

This random author rant aside, let's move on to the fic.

The first thing I want to say is...I'm actually surprised no one - or no authors - considered kendo as a possible club for Fate to join. I mean, with the duels with Signum and all...but I suppose there's also the fact that there's not many fictions in the MGLN section. Bah. In anycase, on the topic of kendo, I'd like to point out that whatever information I have on said subject is googled. Otherwise, my knowledge about it is close to zero, unless if you want to count some martial arts experience of my own. So, here, if there is anyone who wishes to point out something wrong, or wants to help me where this is concerned, I will gratefully accept it.

Secondly...this high-school fic is probably going to be rather predictable drama-wise as events get written. Life is always predictable, in this sense. -waves airily- And if you, my dear readers, have read enough of my stuff, you will probably know that this will become angsty (maybe really angsty) at some point. To be honest, I'm still considering whether I should include the elements of magic...but I'm leaning towards no. My brain is too fried to think for a plot that involves magic.

And I cannot decide if I want Arf and Zafira as human beings or puppies. Zafira as a puppy will be a really amusing sight, but...well.

All these said and all, I hope it was an enjoyable...or at least readable...chapter. Next update will probably be RoE 3...but, well, if I'm finally done scrutinizing a certain one-shot fic, that one will probably get posted first.

Reviews are inspiring, dearest readers. It will help this particular author to know that there're readers who are interested in this fic, which may make her double her efforts... :P

Till next time,
Eagle.

12/11/2007.
1st Revision: 20/08/2008