A/N: This story was originally created to be a one-shot. (I just suddenly had this idea in my head and my hand ached for me to pen this down.) It's raining now and I strangely feel like writing. Depending on the response there may be subsequent chapters? AU.

Chapter 1: Of that Canvas in your Hand

The first time I saw you, it was at the school gate, the first day of my junior high days.

You had your hair tie back into a ponytail, with a black ribbon.

You knocked into me by accident, and had frantically apologised to me. Those enchanting red eyes, were so sincere, so gentle.

"It's okay."

You were a person of a few words, but your eyes seemed to speak for you. Those eyes the colour of blood, returned my gaze and you smiled. Those rubies, however, didn't sparkle as I thought you would.

Your smile never did reach your eyes.

Our bags had spilled onto the ground, our items scattered on the ground. Nyahaha seemed like you didn't like to zip your bag either.

We picked up our stuff and shared a small conversation. Your eyes shone, for a moment, bright with mirth as we shared a joke. After a while, those rubies, were back to being slightly sad again.

I spoke the most, since your eyes spoke for you, and you answered with that unique smile of yours.

I found myself wanting to make those eyes shine again.

The school bell rang, halting our conversation.

Your eyes softened.

"I have to go now. It's been great knowing you… Once again, sorry for knocking into you."

You said that before running off. Your golden hair shone brightly, reflecting the sunlight, and the sight was scorched into my eyes.

Ah I forgot to ask for you name.

I watched as your figure gradually became further away, your uniform fluttering as you sped past the students.

Once you're out of sight, I shook myself out of the reverie, and when I took a step forward, I stepped on something.

I lifted my leg and saw an implement consisting of bristles.

It was a brush. The bristles were bent, some colours were left on it. On the handle, there were two words engraved on it.

They were faded, and I couldn't make out the first word. The only word I could make out was Testarossa.

Ah. I recalled your bag spilling over and a case containing brushes were split open. We must have missed it amidst the other stuff.

I picked that up and pondered, wondering when would be the next time we meet, so that I could return it to you.

The second time I saw you, it was at the entrance ceremony, three hours later.

You stepped on the stage, giving your speech as the student topping the entrance exam.

I see. You're a first year student here too.

Holding the mike in your hand, you paused for a moment as if calming yourself down. With unwavering clear voice, you spoke to the whole school.

You introduced yourself, but I didn't catch it. I was too busy looking at your eyes.

They seemed to tell me more than what you said in your speech.

I could feel everybody hanging on to your every word.

It was a simple and short speech.

The melodious voice floated and resonated within the school halls.

You had everybody's attention.

When you finished, it was as if a spell had broken. The claps you received was thunderous.

You bowed shyly and retreated to the back.

I glanced at the brush in my bag and wondered when I could have the chance to return it to you.

I never saw you that day again and I was disappointed. Seemed like we weren't in the same class either.

Hayate Yagami, my table mate, quickly spoke of you.

"Fate-chan didn't top the exams this time huh…?" Her voice was small, sounding almost sad but I caught it.

"Fate…chan?" I questioned the name.

"Ah..! S-She's my middle school best friend. She's been topping the school exams for years." She ended her sentence with a clear emphasis on the last word.

"Nyahaha. She must be very smart."

"Of course… It's too bad that…" The voice of Hayate couldn't be heard, over the ringing of the school bell.

The first lesson had begun.

The third time I saw you, was weeks later, at the club try outs.

Out on the courts, the hot scorching star in the mid-afternoon was shining bright down.

Everybody's attention wasn't at the star in the sky, but at the shining star playing basketball.

Your golden threads, looked as if they were made out of the sunlight itself. Your hair was tied into two twin tails this time.

You jumped and the ball left your hand, only to land within the hoop.

You smiled confidently as the members of the girls basketball team smacked you on your back.

I hid behind a pillar as you walked away from the basketball team, saying that you're off to try other clubs.

I watched you walk across, trying the tennis club next.

It was a totally one-sided game, as you crushed one of the second years to dust.

At the last moment of the game, you smacked the tennis ball so hard, that after bouncing off the courts, it landed near me.

I picked up the ball and handed it over to you.

You smiled and said thank you.

It was so polite. So polite that it hurts. Those eyes doesn't look as gentle anymore.

It was as if our meeting on the first day of school didn't matter at all.

I watched as you turned away, unable to speak.

The brush was still in my bag, and I wondered when I could finally return it to you.

The fourth time I met you, was at a quiet classroom, with barely five people in it.

It was two hours after I saw you at the tennis court. I had wandered around the school, and after a few try outs, decided that sports just wasn't my thing.

While I was taking out my ringing phone from my bag, I spotted your brush lying innocently within.

"Hello?"

"Nanoha-chan? Hey hey what club have you decided to join?" Hayate's voice rang through my ears.

"The art club maybe…?" The words were out of my mouth before I could stop it. I wondered whether the person whose red eyes were so gentle would belong to the art club.

"Art club?! Are you serious? I'd never took you as a person who could draw." Hayate's laughter floated across the device.

"Hey!"

"She will be there too." I caught Hayate muttering.

"Huh?"

"I heard they were on the verge of disbanding the art club though… There wasn't enough people." Hayate sounded rather sad suddenly.

"Really? Hey I will call you later okay? I am having try outs now."

"Okay. Bye." The phone clicked shut as I opened the door to the art club.

That was the fourth time I met you, in that nearly empty classroom.

It seemed like you let down your hair after trying out for sports. It was tied back with a black ribbon again, just like the first time I saw you.

The evening sun was setting and club try outs would end in half an hour.

I watched as the orange glow from the outside, calmly caressed your golden threads. The colours mixed together, and my breath was took away by the beauty of it.

You were engrossed, your pencil flitting across the paper, the black lead leaving trails on the white.

Those gentle red eyes glazed over as you concentrated.

Soon the other two people left the room and it was just you and me, along with the teacher in charge.

In that period of time, I had also, took a pencil and paper and had begun sketching.

Sketching what? I mindlessly began to trace the pencil, trying to conjure the image in my mind.

I ended up sketching you, with the evening sun shining through the windows, illuminating your figure.

"Alright it's time for clubs to end. The school is closing soon." The teacher said, snapping you out of your daze.

I stopped my pencil and rolled my paper up. The teacher, Carim Sensei, walked across to you and her eyes caught sight of your sketching.

Shamal sensei had her mouth hanging slightly open, as she coughed.

"Fate-chan would you join the art club? You're in the art club since middle school right?"

Ah so you're called Fate.

"Yeah I intend to join."

"Good."

I stood up at that moment, and peered at the paper you're trying to roll up.

It was a beautiful sketching of a woman, along with a child that somehow looked like you. It was also so wonderfully shaded, the details were so carefully drawn.

I signed my name up afterwards and you caught sight of me.

Recognition flickered in your eyes this time and you smiled.

"Hey… It's been a long while." It's the pair of gentle eyes again.

"Y-yeah…"

"Glad to know that you're joining too."

"Same here." I rummaged in my bag and my hand finally grabbed the item I wanted.

"Hey I hav-"

My sentence were cut of abruptly as you looked at the clock anxiously, and saying you have to go.

Just like our first meeting, you ran off soon afterwards, leaving me behind in an empty classroom.

My fingers, that grasped your brush, let go slightly and the brush dropped onto the floor with a clatter.

After that I joined the art club. I never did return you the brush I found, for that day at the try outs, I lost the brush in this very club room.

I was happy to have become friends with you.

Your gentle smile and your soft red eyes, never ceased to amaze me.

You called me Nanoha after two weeks. I was so happy that you called me by my first name.

I would call you Fate-chan and you would reply with a smile. It was nothing like that day I met you at the tennis court.

It turned out that we were the only first years to have joined. With the term exams around the corners for the seniors, you and I were the only ones in the room.

That day, I asked a burning question.

"Fate-chan why didn't you paint? You never did a single painting." Shamal sensei had made us join this upcoming competition, and the medium could be either pencil or paint.

You had chosen pencil instead.

I recalled the brush and was suddenly very curious, for it was clear that you could paint.

"Ah…" You turned away shyly as crimson coloured your face.

"Hmm…?" I waited for you to say something.

"I-I promised… s-someone that my first painting on a canvas would be of the person I liked."

"Ah is that why you never did any of your paintings?" I chuckled.

Shamal sensei had been quite furious that you didn't even attempted to paint for it was clear that you're a talented artist.

"Y-yeah… It was an important promise. Though I think she wouldn't remember it anymore…" Your voice trailed off.

In a span of three weeks, various things happened. Hayate Yagami became my best friend.

We would stick together every lesson, have lunch together and gossiped together, though mostly it was just her teasing me.

"Mou… Stop it Hayate."

"Hehe. There's club today right? You get to enjoy it with your hot blond again so stop complaining."

I blushed while I furiously tried to deny.

I began to look forward to club sessions more and more often.

It had become a routine. I would dash out of classroom right after school ended, running the in corridors, just to see your face a little sooner.

I would stop right in front of the art club door, calming my heartbeat before stepping in and smiling at your face.

I had extra English lessons every day and that's why I was always later than you.

Without actually realising, I stared at you more than I stared at my art piece.

Your beautiful form, so utterly concentrated on the job at hand.

Your drawings and sketching were alive. They spoke of stories that you wanted to tell.

You captivated me to no end.

That day you asked me whether I had someone I liked and my heart skipped a beat.

"Uh…" My heart pounded furiously against my ribcage and I could hear the thump thump sounds in my ears.

Your face was anxious and you waited for my answer.

I like you. Realisation hit me.

I almost said it out but as I opened my mouth to speak, you sighed.

"Never mind. Sorry for asking that." You looked down at the ground and stayed like that for a few moments.

"W-why did you ask that?"

"E-Eh? It's nothing." You blushed and stuttered. "It's so stupid." You sighed as you lay your head within your arms, your pack of pencils left unopened.

I shifted my chair over to your table and we just lay like this, gazing into each other's eyes, our head resting on our folded arms.

You had a troubled expression on your face as your eyes glazed over and I doubt you're looking at me anymore.

"The person I like…" I continued and you sat up straight, burgundy eyes alert and curious.

I chuckled as you blushed.

"Is a wonderful person." I stopped abruptly as you leaned your ears closer.

A moment passed and you blushed a furious crimson again, realising that I wouldn't continue my sentence.

"Ah… Stop teasing me Nanoha." Those red eyes looked at me, abashed and shy.

I chuckled as you continued on.

"Nanoha?" You looked into my eyes and my vision was covered in red.

"Next Friday after school… are you free?"

"Hmm… Maybe?"

"Do wanna come to my house? Everybody would be out so its okay. We could finish our art pieces together."

"Okay."

That was the worst decision I ever made.

That Friday, we walked together to your house after school.

You took out a bunch of keys and selected one, inserting it into the keyhole.

"Click." The door creaked open after it was unlocked.

You brought me to your room and there we silently did our pieces. I was rather nervous, since we would be the only ones in this room.

My gaze would occasionally fleet towards you, somehow you were oblivious to my stares.

After a few hours, you abruptly stopped and gasped, making me worried.

"Nanoha! I just realised I didn't serve you tea or anything!" You placed your pencil aside and hastily stood to stand.

"Nyahaha it's okay."

"No it's not. It's basic courtesy. I have to go to the toilet anyway." Your cheeks were dyed the colour of red as the last sentence become a whisper.

You're just so cute.

You left your room and I was left behind.

I stood up too, bored, and started exploring your little room.

Your bed was lined with white sheets, neat and proper, just like you.

The room was rather plain though I was curious as to why there wasn't any photographs around. I mean normally people would have their parent's or sibling's photo around right?

After a while I decided I explored enough.

I walked over to my art piece again, only to accidently knock my pencil off the table.

It rolled across the wooden floor, to straight under your bed.

I followed the trail, and reached my arm in. My hand touched something and it was not my pencil.

It was a collection of sketches you have done, bundled up together.

On the top, was the very first sketching I saw, the one you sketched the day I entered the art club.

I moved my hand over the paper, my fingers trailing the pencil lines. The face of the child within the picture, was so happy yet those eyes, were just like that of yours when I first met you on that day.

The smile of the child in the picture, never did reach the eyes.

Only you could draw something like that I was sure of it.

I flipped over the paper, and looked at the sketches you made.

Each one was stunning, beautiful, magnificent master pieces of art. It was done in detailed, each pieces, showing clearly what the artist had been trying to express.

I reached the second last sketch and my heart stopped.

It stopped pumping.

On the paper, was a face that I was so dreadfully familiar with, attached a slip of medical appointment.

It was Hayate's face.

My best friend.

My world spun to an abrupt stop as I shoved it back to under your bed, my mind halting all thoughts from forming as I dug for my pencil.

It's nothing right? She told me they were best friends in middle school.

My hand hit a hard wooden edge and as I trailed my fingers across, one of the splinters dug into my skin.

I pulled out the offending item only to just annihilate any doubts that I had.

It was a canvas, painted with calm and steady strokes.

An incomplete painting.

I could see however, the face in the picture, was smiling.

It was the face that I had seen earlier.

On the wooden edge, there was just a small mark made in red marker.

One small heart.

It hurts you know.

Did you know?

You couldn't know.

I didn't even stand a chance in the very beginning.

"I started painting. On a canvas." She declared out of a sudden.

A sharp pang of pain shot through my heart.

I smiled, though inwardly I was thrashing madly.

Why did it hurt so much?

"That's good." I said and you smiled, seemly encouraged.

It hurts.

My heart ached.

For you.

If I told you I liked you, would your decision change?

I stamped out that thought furiously.

It wouldn't change anything would it?

Your heart was already taken by someone else.

You whose eyes were the only ones that I could see.

You whose figure is etched, scorched and imprinted in my mind.

You whose heart I could never obtain.

After that day, club sessions were a little more awkward.

You didn't notice however, as you concentrated on your canvas.

After the competition was over, I excused myself from club sessions for a while.

My absence… didn't matter right?

You had someone else now.

Someone else in your heart.

My best friend.

My thoughts were constantly filled with you, just you and your eyes. Those eyes with emotions I couldn't explain.

Hayate would. She would take care of those sad eyes and make them happy again.

I saw you again, with two twin tails tied up.

You and Hayate were at the lockers, and it was well after school hours.

The sun had already set.

You leaned over and gave her a kiss.

My already wounded heart, was torn into shreds.

So your feelings were mutual. I laughed inwardly, a little madly.

What had I expect?

My best friend, who wouldn't stop teasing me about Fate Testarossa. Was actually an item with her?

Somehow these tears, just wouldn't stop.

Betrayed.

I was betrayed.

You were a little different from when you're around me.

You wore a confident smile, barely any hint of shyness, as you teased Hayate.

Your hands, those hands that painted such beautiful pictures, caressed Hayate's face.

It hurts to look.

Her face was painted into one that was in shock and the two of you hold hands.

You raise another and tilted Hayate's chin.

Lips locked together and the two of you were consumed by passion.

I couldn't tear my eyes away, as you looked into a different blue.

Your burgundy eyes no longer saw mine.

They stared into cerulean blue eyes of Hayate's.

A week after that, as if my world hadn't been crushed enough, you gave me a call.

A call asking me whether I would come back to the art club.

A call saying that you missed me.

A call of lies.

You asked me to come on Tuesday and you would show me a painting, to judge it and give some critical comments.

That painting.

No doubt it would be of Hayate.

You stuttered on the other end of the phone.

I wonder, whether our relationship of friends would end?

I promised to come and ended the call.

It would be the last thing I ever did for her.

For I was quitting the art club.

I came on Tuesday, as promised.

I wanted a quick end. A quick end to the pain I felt every single day.

I slide open the door and you were there as usual.

What's different was that you're painting on a canvas.

You stood up, a little shocked, brown paint splattering on your arms.

Brown, for the colour of Hayate's hair?

"Ah! Nanoha~! Give me a minute. I just need to touch up on this." You smiled a little nervously, blushing a little.

I clutched my hand to my chest and stood at the door way.

Watching you paint another girl.

Your golden threads, tied into a ponytail, swayed as the evening breeze brushed past.

Your white school shirt, was splattered with paint.

Stupid Fate. Why were you in such urgency to complete the painting?

I didn't want it to be completed. I don't want to see it.

Once you complete it, you would completely belong to Hayate.

My eyes stung.

Your face blurred.

"Neh Fate-chan. You wanted to know who I liked right?"

You stopped your brush as you looked up at me, a little stunned and a little red.

"Uh…uh…yeah." She said it a little unwillingly.

If we were ending our relationship, maybe I would at least confess. Maybe I would at least not regret not confessing.

"I liked a certain blonde…" Her eyes, which had been looking down, shot up and looked at me with such intensity that I would melt.

Those eyes were filled with emotions I couldn't decipher.

"A certain Testarossa…" Deeper and deeper, her eyes seemed scream something.

"That person was good at sports, a good artist and studies. She aced the entrance exam." I finished.

"That painting." My voice quivered. Because that person you painted, would never be me right?

"Was that of Hayate? I saw. You kissing her." My voice trembled.

The brush in your hand, fell.

Those eyes, looked as if they were about to cry.

Why though?

When you stood up, my mind halted.

My legs carried me out of the room, my body desperate to prevent anymore damage.

My foot stepped on something and I tripped.

Such luck.

I clambered, scampered to my feet as I noted the item on the floor.

It was that very brush of yours that I kept for weeks.

I picked it up and as if telling me something, the orange glow of the light shone and reflected on the handle of the brush.

Alicia Testarossa.

I made out the words. Alicia Testarossa. Why was it so familiar?

My breathing hitched as I heard a sickening thud in the club room.

Dashing into the room, I saw you on the floor, with blood trails on your mouth.

A flash of the memory when I saw at your house rang warning bells.

The medical appointment had your name on it.

The canvas, on the table, was half painted in red.

I could just make out the face. It was that of Nanoha Takamachi.

I cried as I make my way over to you.

Your cold hands grasped mine as you tried desperately to say something.

No words came but blood.

Your eyes, seemly resigned to fate, looked at me with such sadness that my heart broke.

Your hand, released its grasp and landed on the floor with a thump.

Beside your hand, was a brush with your name on it.

Fate Testarossa.

I would never be able to return the brush to you anymore.

How was the story? Omg I cried a little while writing this. I am a cry baby hehe. I guess I just can't stop this story anymore. The little idea developed into some plot while I was writing. I will explain everything the next chapter and write in Fate's POV hehe. My stories all weren't beta-ed so…

It isn't very confusing right? O.o Hope you enjoyed it!