You can see clearly in her eyes that she won't back down from taking the Jewel Seed, though it doesn't concern you much, combat was a time honoured method of problem solving in Gensokyo after all.
Nanoha runs towards her, "I didn't get to introduce myself last time, I'm Nanoha..."
She gives the same introduction that she gave you and Fate's weapon states, "Scythe Form" in response.
You can see where this is going, and so you stop it.
"I am the one with the Jewel Seed, fighting Nanoha is useless here. I am Ibara Kasen, though perhaps before the fight we could leave the building?" She turns towards you, and gives a small nod as she leads you to the exit.
There is one last thing you have to ask before the fight begins though, "By the way, what type of barrier is it that has been set up?" You had felt it earlier, however it doesn't seem to force any restraints on you so you had not thought it was important. That could change in a battle.
"It is a temporal barrier, isolating the magical to one side, hiding magic from public view." Yuuno says.
"What about the damage to the surroundings caused by magic?"
"When the field collapses the damage to any non-magical object is reversed." Excellent.
"What are the rules of engagement?" You are not sure if spellcard rules apply here after all.
It is Fate that responds this time, "We each bet a Jewel Seed and fight until one side loses." Concise, and without any of the usual constraints you have been put under when in Gensokyo. You wonder though why Fate or Nanoha haven't been killed under such lax conditions, but remind yourself that Nanoha is a human child, and Fate might be as well, they might just assume that the fight being nonlethal is obvious enough that it doesn't bear mentioning. You don't really want another Jewel Seed, but if that is the rule of engagement you don't really care if you get another.
As you finally get outside, you realize that you don't really have need to hide your abilities here. That you could use your abilities to your fullest for the first time in a long time. You can be genuine. You can Act Without Acting.
First however, there is one more question to ask, you assumed last time, and you'd rather not again.
You are Fate Testarossa, and you once hoped that Nanoha would have been the only other mage after the Jewel Seeds.
You shouldn't have been so naive. This is just another hardship, you have been taught to fight, and to succeed.
That the pink haired woman has to ask what type of barrier they are in is baffling, why would they send such a novice mage? You hate yourself more every time you had to hurt someone else in your quest.
That won't stop you from collecting the Jewel Seeds. Self hatred is a small price to pay for your mother.
The next question makes you pause, "What is your age?"
Age doesn't matter, determination does. The silence lengthens, then shatters.
"Have you learned how to halt aging? How to use magic to change your physical age?"
There are certainly some spells that could temporarily make someone a different age, though rare, complex, and uniquely tailored to each individual but, "magic to halt aging is impossible." Your grip on Bardiche tightens. You prepare to strike:
"Blitz Action,Scythe Slash," you move behind her and strike down. Yet to your surprise, she is facing you and her bandaged hand is grasping Bardiche's energy blade. Her eyes are calm, her expression neutral, and for a second, as you jump back to make room, taking to the sky, she reminds you of a still lake, peaceful, your strike not stirring the waters at all.
"
I guess it isn't surprising that knowledge of magic has deteriorated outside Gensokyo," she states, as she ascends after you, "Though, your opening strike's speed and power were good, for a human child." To your surprise, it doesn't sound mocking when she says so, but gives you the impression that it was a genuine compliment. Why did she feel the need to specify human though?
Oddly she doesn't seemed hurried to catch up to you, and the distance in between you widens.
"
Photon Lancer." Four balls of lightning appear around you and shoot towards her. She doesn't react until the last moment. Her movements to avoid them are erratic, but smooth as she weaves through them, often times nearly touching but never quite, no matter how many times your bullet turns towards her again. When you force the bullets to collide together in front of her, with a sudden burst of speed she is outside of the area of the explosion, unharmed.
She looks up at you, having never once ascended to your height, her expression unchanged, "Your control is good but you need to improve the quantity of your attacks." No grand gestures are made, no magic circles are formed, yet in an instant hundreds, or perhaps more blue orbs form around her and shoot towards you. Rather, in your general direction. If it had been more concentrated you would have been completely unable to weave through, but as it is, with a few Blitz Action's thrown in you are able to navigate through the hail of attacks until they stop. Literally. For a moment every single energy ball halts and you realize that you are in the center of a field full of her power, then all the bullets change colour, half going black, the other becoming white, as the converge into a large sphere around you. The bullets twist and turn and you move throughout, unable to escape. The density of the attacks are deceptive and you are forced to always back off before reaching the outer shell. You aren't skilled at avoiding this many attacks at once, and though you manage to hit a few with Bardiche before they hit you, doing so takes concentration that would be better used dodging causing you to be hit more. You don't understand though, if she converged the attacks all at once towards you, there would be no way for you to escape or to defend against such quantity.
You feel Arf's anger at the situation and a tug as she begins to pull on your magical power, only for whatever spell she was starting to halt mid way.
"
You know," you jerk back, Kasen sounds like she is just in front of you, in fact, every time she spoke to you she has, no matter the distance. You get hit by more attacks in response to your alarm, getting knocked towards a large cluster of the balls, you raise Bardiche:
"
Defenser" and just barely manage to get a shield up before hitting them, breaking through them even as your own shield breaks, and finally get out of the field. You turn to look back and for a moment you see what the sphere really was, a giant ying yang orb, before it breaks apart, the orbs shooting in every direction, with one more " Defenser" you manage to block the few that would have hit you. You turn quickly trying to find Kasen, only to see that she hasn't moved at all since casting that spell.
She continues, "Getting distracted on the battlefield is dangerous. So is using magic with a long casting time when you don't have anyone to defend you."
It takes you a moment to realize that last sentence was a reference to Arf and you look around well telepathically sending a message "Arf are you ok?" You spot her a ways off on the ground struggling to get up.
"
Look out Fate!" You just barely dodge the energy bullet in time, as Kasen looks at you with that same emotionless expression.
"
Listen when people tell you things. Distraction leads to injury or death. Now," You throw an Arc Saber at her and without even pausing she continues talking as she catches it in her bandaged hand. Good, "what-"
"
Saber Blast" the saber starts to light up-
"
- desire causes you to seek the Jewel Seeds?" her arm warps, the bandages flying around the saber and devouring it before it explodes. Her expression doesn't change, she never breaks eye contact with you, and it doesn't cause her to stop talking for a moment. She just looks at you expecting an answer, like your failure wasn't even worth noting. You pause agape at her feat, at its apparent nonchalance.
You shake your head, back away to gain more distance and point Bardiche towards her as it returns to device form, "Thunder Smasher."
Your beam arcs out and she raises her hand, causing a blue beam that collides with your attack. Normally, you realize, even if two opponents are similar in strength the beams would move back and forth as they push against each other. Yet here, that doesn't happen. Every fluctuation of power in your attack is precisely met with the same amount of force and though the beams collide neither attack pushes back the other. Arf tries to pounce on Kasen while she is distracted but Kasen's mouth moves soundlessly and a gust of wind hits Arf down from above her, followed by Kasen shooting multiple energy bullets causing Arf to fall back, she tries to use Circle Protection to defend against the attacks, just for it to shatter a few seconds into the assault. You break off using thunder smasher, noting that Kasen also ceases her attack at the exact same time. You move to assist Arf. Luckily it seems Kasen is content to let you do so. As you land beside Arf on the street, Kasen follows. You raise your device at her ready to attack if she tries anything.
"
I'm alright" Arf telepathically sends to you as she struggles up onto her four legs once more.
The two of you turn your attention on Kasen once more, "It is good of you to rush to the aid of others, though against a less kind opponent, you would be dead for doing so here." You wince, it is all the more painful to hear because of the tone, it isn't reprimanding, it isn't angry, it isn't annoyed, it is spoken as if it is every day fact, and it resonates through you as the truth. You would be dead if she had wanted you dead there, though really, you would have been dead before then if she wanted to kill you.
"
You still didn't answer my question, what desire causes you to seek the Jewel Seeds?" She doesn't take a step towards you but she does tilt her head slightly as she waits for an answer.
You're not done yet. That doesn't mean she hasn't earned an answer, "I want my mother to smile again." Arf turns into her human form and casts chain bind, four chains flying at Kasen at the same time you take to the sky and begin chanting. Her arm morphs, the bandages flying out and yanking on the chains, to no effect as they just lengthen. She follows through though with a blast of blue energy from the smoke emanating from the arm, Arf's hastily constructed shield shatters under the pressure of the blue tide, sending her flying away. She doesn't get back up, but registers as alive by your connection, and doesn't seem to be bleeding or in need of immediate attention. You flinch, but finish your spell, lightning bind. However, as they start to form, before the spell finishes, they are broken. Once you see that happen you know there won't be time-
"
What," the word comes like a whisper from behind you, despite her being below you. A gust of wind slams you from behind into the ground. She continues, her voice at a regular level once more, "does your mother want with the Jewel Seeds?"
You struggle to get up. You don't know the answer to her question, "Will getting them really cause her to smile again?" That second question comes in like a physical blow. You...
"
I... don't know. I have to try." you stare back at her resolutely.
"
It is natural for humans to have some earthly desires. Too much drags you down to hell." She takes a step closer to you as you get back on your feet. Is she implying what you think she is?
"
Are you saying its wrong to want my mother to smile?" Bardiche switches to Scythe mode in your hand.
"
Any desire in excess is wrong. Do you think your familiar being knocked unconscious is worth it," you flinch, "Do you think the pain you go through worth it," of course, "the pain of others?" baring the weight of their hatred, and the weight of your own self hatred is worth it.
She doesn't stop, taking yet another step towards you, "You're not even sure that it will bring you your desire. The Jewel Seeds are dangerous, and even if your mother's desire for them is noble, more harm than good will come of someone trying to use them with insufficient knowledge.."
"
Mother is a great mage-" you begin to protest.
She cuts you off "- not if she needs to send her daughter to collect them." You know you can't convince her of the truth. You raise your scythe behind you as she reaches with her right hand underneath her front rose panel. You try to take a step forward but Bardiche doesn't move with you. You turn to see that her bandaged hand had somehow teleported and grabbed Bardiche without the rest of Kasen following. As you try to yank it away, blue shines and blast out from the hand slamming you and flinging you away from your device and past Kasen. You feel your barrier jacket dissipate.
"
Put out." The words echo from Bardiche as a jewel seeds is taken out of its dimensional storage and lands in Kasen's hand, before she quickly tucks away. It is over, you have lost.
"
Fate!" The girl in white voice rang clearly. She lands beside you, helping you up eyes wide and frantic.
"
A thousand years ago, I had destroyed, maimed, killed, and caused pandemonium just to see the one I love smile," her expression might be peaceful, but as she walks towards you with these cruel words you can only think she is merciless, even as she tosses Bardiche beside you, "I know well what ruin an innocent desire in excess brings. If you need guidance I will give it." She reaches out her hand for you to grasp if you desire, and you know there is no ill intent in the gesture, but you can't grasp it. You can't agree with her, you can't follow her. You can't stand with someone who thinks that you are wrong.
You pick up Bardiche and run towards Arf. The spell might normally be excessive for travel in the same city, but you can't carry Arf with you. Nanoha tries to follow but Kasen puts a hand on her shoulder.
Even as you begin chanting the coordinates you know it is not wise to do so. Kasen would be able to follow if she wanted to, if she is as good a mage as she seems.
Your dimensional transfer spell teleports you and Arf to your apartment, and everything goes black as you lose consciousness.
You are Ibaraki Kasen.
You watch Fate go as your calm shatters, your frame of mind dissipates and you are no longer Acting Without Acting.
Nanoha moves to follow her but you stop her. She looks at you.
"
Forcing her here would bring more harm than good." The words you said to Fate were correct, you feel, but you are not sure that they should have been said in that way to a child. There is nothing you can do about it now though. You watch as she says a nonsensical string of numbers and letters before both her and her familiar disappear. You don't know where she went, but you do know that eventually she will be back. You doubt that was enough to break her resolve.
Nanoha seems to deflate, "I wanted to talk to her, to make her understand." You feel like putting children through a hunt like this is unfair, and that both will break if it keeps on. Yet, you are reminded once more of the strength of humans, as she focuses on you, her worry not forgotten, but pushed aside, "Kasen, why are you after the Jewel Seeds?"
You smile, "I have no desire to use the Jewel Seeds. Worse than not using a tool you have is to misuse it, and I don't have the knowledge to use them correctly."
"
We also don't want the Jewel Seeds to be misused, couldn't you help Yuuno and I?"
You believe her. You believe that she doesn't want it misused, and that she believes that Yuuno really does intend to send them off to be properly researched. Yet, "I'm sorry Nanoha but I can't. At least, not yet."
"
You don't trust me do you?" Yuuno says as he walks towards Nanoha before leaping up onto her shoulder.
"
Yes." You don't bother beating around the bush.
"
But why wouldn't she trust you Yuuno?" She pouts as she looks at him.
He bows his head, "I got you involved Nanoha! You were living a normal life," Well you certainly didn't know she was living a normal life before this, it just makes it worse, "then when it was my responsibility to take care of the Jewel Seeds, I failed and relied on you. You only have my word on why I want them. No proof. Also the mistake I made with trying to open telepathy with her, my first impression was..."
"
I might have started because of you Yuuno but I already said that I am doing this for my own reasons now!" She turns her face away from Yuuno and back to you, as she starts walking towards you, "what do I need to do to get you to trust him?" the look in her eyes, it makes it hard to deny her anything.
"
Does he has any proof he is who he says he is?" That was the first and simplest step.
Yuuno replies, "I was stranded here when I came over, I am sorry but I don't have anything, my signals I sent for aid have all been blocked since I came here." That doesn't make it any easier for you to believe him.
"
Then it would come down to coming to know and trust you."
Nanoha seems to smile at this answer, you wonder why, "Then perhaps we can get to know each other later? Is there a place we can meet? My parents don't know about the Jewel Seeds or magic so we can't meet at home. Perhaps tomorrow after school we could meet up somewhere?"
You blink.
"
Your parents don't know? It's wrong to keep them in the dark." You mind flashes to Fate for a moment, "unless they would take advantage of you," She shakes her head at the implication, "I am also new to the area, and don't know this town well. Access to my home will be hard for a while," returning to Gensokyo would be easy but getting out again would be difficult, "so I don't know anywhere to meet you here."
She tilts her head, "but where will you be staying?"
You smile in return, "Nature." You aren't exactly new to the idea of living without a home, and you always have the companionship of animals to keep you from getting lonely.
Nanoha will want to meet up with you at some point after school where will it be:
[x] at the school entrance
[x] At the park
[x] At her home.
[x]write in.
You are not sure if it is right to let her keep her family in the dark:
[x] don't say anything more.
[x] convince her
-[x] go with her to explain to her parents.
[x]write in.
You don't have a place to sleep for the night, where do you go:
[x]look for a forest outside of town.
[x] When searching see the park and decide to use the forest there.
[x] write in.
Any ideas on how to look for more Jewel Seeds?
[x] try utilizing animals in the city.
-[x] how?
[x] write in.
***
Admiral Lindy Harlaown, and the rest of the crew of the Arthra looked over the footage of the battle against the Pink haired woman and the Yellow haired girl.
"
Can you replay the footage, please."
Author's note: You know, in canon Nanoha, when this Jewel Seed caused a dimensional quake (like it did in this fic when it started to shine in the nexus of power that is Kasen's arm which caused the earth to shake), the TSAB was able to detect it quickly. Quickly enough that they knew that there was two Seekers clashing over the lost logia before Fate and Nanoha's next clash, which means they must have been able to zero in on the scene and see them with their scrying spells, before they left the scene of the dimensional quake. They aren't close enough to do a dimensional transfer in yet, but it isn't like they weren't watching 
Besides that, this is also probably the only setting which could detect the ripples in space time caused by Pink Text. Which I admit I didn't really expect most people to catch since it was invisitexted due to Kasen not being able to notice it.
In my original outline of the battle there was more oni related stuff but it didn't really flow as intended when I tried to put it on paper, so the only oni related ability you used was:
Oni's Whisper: Even an oni's whisper can blow an enemy away.
Which is your equivalent to Suika's sigh and Yuugi's scream. Luckily that doesn't really scream Oni 
You were able to talk as if always near Fate though:
Throw voice: Connect the sound of your voice to another place within line of sight.
It is similar to your ability to detach your arm like you did (shown in the manga as well when Kasen grabbed the Tube Fox) and your ability to summon animals. Ultimately though it is something I made up to make you be able to talk to your foes and allies in a fight without relying on Telepathy, and as a way to make Oni's whisper close to being as useful as Oni's Scream and Sigh.
Obviously you were never going at full power at the battle.
As for Act without Acting, forgetting the fact that the other options would have had much different battle scenes:
You wouldn't have been able to react in time to stop the Saber Blast without it.
You wouldn't have so perfectly matched Fate's Thunder Smasher.
You wouldn't have broke out of lightning bind before it fully formed. You would still have broken out of it after it formed though
Arf's chain bind would have had enough time to reach you after your attempt to yank the chain failed. You still would have been able to break out easily.
The impression you made was quite a bit larger because of those feats though.
Besides that... well maybe being unfailingly truthful while also not necessarily thinking about how you're saying things, might make you lack a bit of the required tact needed when talking to an nine year old, much less a nine year old that has been heavily emotionally and physically abused like Fate.
That and you admitted to being 1000 years old, and having maimed and killed in the past in front of Yuuno, Fate, and Nanoha. Don't worry that isn't forgotten
Really to take the unfailing truthful option with the option that guarantees a lot of talking (lecturing) was an interesting choice
My opinion of the most interesting potential fallout from the fight options?
Fighting with overwhelming force (lecturing or not lecturing) would have ended up with Fate and Arf unconscious, which meant they would have to be brought somewhere other than the middle of the street... like say Nanoha's house. The situation would have forced the rest of the Takamachi's to learn about the situation and made things a bit awkward for you because on one hand you stopped the person who apparently injured their daughter twice, on the other hand, you just knocked out a nine year old
Fighting defensively would have been the option that the TSAB would probably have the lowest opinion of how dangerous you are.
Both overwhelming force without lecturing and Act without Acting without lecturing would have ended the match in one or two attacks (two if the first attack didn't hit Arf )
As always I read over what I write alone and shortly after writing it which isn't the best way to edit, so please feel free to point out any mistakes I make.
Thoughts? Concerns?
edit: Added link to music when fight starts.
