Note: this is an idea that just popped into my head with the help of a movie called 'tangled'. this story and that movie are in no way related. the only similarity is that there is a beautiful girl trapped in a tower. That is all. . .
. . . oh, and i do not own any negima characters. . .
I had always thought that I was not good enough to be near 'normal' people. Maybe that's why they locked me up here in this ridiculously high tower. Maybe my 'unnatural' abilities were what frighten the villagers. No one appreciates getting their magical power reduced to zilch. Or maybe I just had a really bad personality.
The point is that I don't know why they did it but one thing is certain, I ain't gettin' out of here any time soon.
In a village not too far, yet not to close to the ocean, there was a dark and dusky pub that served the backwaters of society. And in this pub is where our story will begin. . .
"Oy, young man."
A young boy of seventeen looked up at the dark hooded figure who had tapped his shoulder.
"Ah, yes, is there something I may help you with?" The boy asked cautiously, if there was anything he had learned from his travels, it was to always be wary of hooded figures.
"Oy, there is sumthing, boy." The person pointed to the empty chair across the table where the boy was sitting at. "Mind if I join you?"
"Oh." The boy was puzzled. He had heard that this pub was filled with unsavory people. There would be no friendly interactions here, if there were interactions of any sort, there was a high probability of it leading to a fist fight or to illegal business.
The boy came to this realization immediately. With a guarded tone he said, "Sure, of course you may join me. Just as long as there is no trouble."
Even before the boy had finished speaking, the person had plopped himself down on the chair. He was surprised at this person's forward action, but he wasn't going to let that unnerve him. Preparing himself for a silent atmosphere, the boy closed his eyes and took a long sip from his drink.
He wasn't planning on making small talk.
"Oy, you drink rum, kid? Aren't you a little young for that kinda stuff?"
The boy looked at the person with curiosity. Why would a stranger comment on him drinking alcohol? Even if he had never drank before, he still looked old enough to do so. Heck, he knew kids younger than him who were alcoholics.
"This isn't rum, sir. This is black tea with milk. I do not waste my time draining that sort of undignified beverages down my throat." That sounded conceited coming from someone who looked like him, but the boy figured that he might as well not lie about drinking to this stranger. As advantageous as lying is, he wanted at least one truth in the pack of lies he would tell this person. That was as polite as he could get in this dangerous environment.
The person chuckled at the boy's response.
The boy could tell that this person would not be easy to shake off. He saw the person rest his elbows on the table and with amusement in his voice, the hooded person said, "You've got a nice, sharp tongue on you, boy. Tell me, what's your name?"
"I prefer to not answer that question, sir. Nothing personal but it's difficult to trust anyone nowadays." The boy took another long sip from his tea and said no more.
"Fair enough. Can you at least tell me whatcha doin' here, boy?" The person began to impatiently drum his fingers on the old wooden table as if expecting more from this conversation.
"Alright, I see no harm in that." The boy put his cup down. "My main occupation is treasure hunter and occasionally, a bounty hunter as well." That should scare off this suspicious person, the boy thought. You have to be on a high power level to be a bounty hunter.
"Interesting." The person leaned in closer to the boy. The boy, surprised by the person's reaction, leaned slightly back. The person whispered to the boy, "Listen here, kid. I know that you have no intention of befriending me. And I also know that you are stronger than almost everyone in this bar." The person paused to look around and then leaned in closer. "So I'll cut to the chase: I've got some information that would greatly benefit you in ways you can not imagine."
With this, the person pulled out a small, grey handkerchief. On it, the boy noticed it had words written along lines that seemed to form some sort of crude drawing. The boy felt curiosity swelling in his mind but he quickly controlled it. He then realized why the handkerchief had looked so familiar.
"Wait." The boy said quietly. "Is this a treasure map?" He pointed to the cloth.
"Shhhhh! Can't you see that this has to be secret?" The person hissed at the boy. "You're killin' the suspense! How are we gonna look cool if you yap loud enough for everyone to hear?"
The boy felt like laughing. This person was no trouble-maker, just some buffoon with good luck. Or bad, depending if this thing turned out to be a fake.
"Excuse me, sir, may I ask you a question before you continue?" The boy couldn't stop his curiosity from slowly surfacing again.
"Uh, yeah sure kid. Shoot." The person said as he folded the handkerchief neatly in the shape of a square with the pathetic drawing facing upward. The boy saw it was a drawing of a building or a stick, he couldn't tell which it was.
"If this is a treasure map, how come you haven't gone and gotten it for yourself? I'm sure the treasure must be worth something." The boy was starting to feel like this was all some sort of lame prank to waste his time or get him hexed. "If you are willing to give me information on a treasure that is valuable, then you must want something in return. You wouldn't just risk a stranger taking the booty and leaving you in the dust, unless. . ." The boy paused and narrowed his eyes suspiciously, "unless this treasure is cursed and you wish ill-fortune on me."
When the boy finished, there was silence. Then suddenly the person let out a bellowing laugh that made the people in the pub turn to stare at him.
"I keep liking you more and more kid!" The person said in between laughter. "You remind me so much of her." The person wiped a tear from his right eye and continued laughing. He then clutched his stomach with both arms, still in the middle of wild laughter. "Oh god! my stomach hurts!"
"What? What do you mean? Have we met before?" The boy couldn't help keep his curiosity, yet again, from overpowering his sense of caution. He had to find out who this fool was. It better not be some joke that one of his past acquaintances had formulated. He actually thought about going after the treasure.
Now he wasn't so sure if that was a good idea.
The boy stared at the person.
His hood had managed to stay on even with all that wild laughter coming from his head. The boy had the urge to yank it off. His patience had started wearing thin and he had come to the conclusion that this person was insane.
The person had barely recovered from laughing when he suddenly got serious again. "Nope kid, we have never met before this. As for what I mean, I won't explain. That's for another time. And about the treasure, it ain't cursed and I don't wish you ill-fortune in any way." The person paused as if to think carefully about his next words, "For the reason as to why I haven't gotten the treasure, you can say I'm too old for it."
The boy couldn't understand what this person was saying. Did this stranger know him or not? What kind of excuse was being too old to go treasure hunting? The stranger clearly appeared youthful enough for one last hunt. With every second that passed the boy felt more suspicious about the motives behind this person's action, yet in the end, his curiosity won.
"I don't know what you mean by that last part but something tells me you wouldn't trick me." I don't know why I'm doing this. "Even if I distrust you, I am willing to seek out that treasure you speak off. But be warned, if you do end up deceiving me, i will not hesitate to come after you and make you suffer." He watched the person for any reaction. None, must mean he has some sort of strong power. Still, he couldn't possibly be on my level. Then he added with a small smirk. "I do hope that I am not too old for this treasure."
"Oh, I'm positive that you are the perfect age, kid." The boy stared at the person. What was that supposed to mean?
In the darkness of the man's hood, Negi caught the faint shape of a wide, goofy grin.