Disclaimer: This is a nonprofit fictional story, a FanFiction based on Ken Akamatsu's Negima. I do not own Negima, or most of the other characters included in this work, excepting where it is stated in the author's notes. It is not intended or presented for any commercial profit or personal gain; it is simply a story written for personal fulfillment and presented for public enjoyment, and as an honest homage to the fine story conceived and written by Ken Akamatsu, as well as all the other (innumerable) works that find place herein (and their authors).

Prologue

"Taichô! You have mail!"

The short boy with the serious expression, cold ice-blue eyes and stark white hair, turned as his full-bodied (very, very full-bodied) lieutenant came skipping into the room. Both were dressed in the black of the shinigami, he with a sleeveless white coat over the top of his uniform. He scowled at her. "What are you babbling about, Matsumoto? And where have you been all day?"

"I've been taking care of things, of course, all my duties!" Rangiku Matsumoto declared, tossing her long strawberry-blond hair slightly. "And now, while on my way back, I discovered that you have post…."

"All your duties? Is that where you've been all day? Then you must have finished them all, right? You have my reports?"

"Er…not really…."

"Matsumoto!"

"Look, I don't have your reports quite ready yet, but I do have your mail. Look!"

"How on earth do I have mail, anyway?" the young Soul Reaper captain muttered, finally coming over to take a look at the paper Rangiku was waving around. "Who sends mail to the Seireitei?"

Rangiku smiled knowingly. "Who do you think, Taichô? You have a letter from her."

Still scowling, Tôshirô Hitsugaya took the proffered mail. Inside was a picture of Momo, Mai, Kagome…and one more, a boy that was frighteningly familiar. That rodent was also in the picture, perched on Mai's head. There was also a postcard from Kyoto inside, and on the postcard was the brief message, 'Hello from the Japanese nation's old capital, Shirô-chan! I've been having a lot of fun as a student here at Mahora, taking care of Mai and Kagome like the elders wanted, but now things have gotten more exciting. Kalan-sama's son, Kain Lockeheart, is our new teacher. But it's not all fun…there are dangerous people here in Kyoto after Kagome, so I have to be brief and go back to watching out for them. Hope you're well. Give everyone my best. Love, Hinamori Momo.'

Tôshirô looked over the letter, then tossed in onto his desk, muttering. "His son, huh? Hmph. So he really did have one after all. I guess the rumors were true."

"Oh, that's quite interesting!" remarked Rangiku, who had been reading over her captain's shoulder. "And he's been made a teacher there? It seems he's already getting lots of ties to his father's past, what with Mai-chan and Hinamori there." She picked up the picture. "Oh, and Mai-chan's really grown up! I wonder just how big she'll get…."

"Whatever. I just hope his brat doesn't cause as much trouble as he did."

"Oh?" Rangiku looked over at him and smiled mischievously. "Why, Taichô…I do believe you're getting jealous…."

"What? What are you talking about, Matsumoto?"

"Is the older brother conflicted because his imôto-chan is being taken away by that man's son? Oh, it's a terrible feeling, to have your family pulled away…."

"Enough nonsense, Matsumoto! Now are you going to finish your duties or not?!"

Rangiku ran to the door, but stopped short of exiting. "Do you think we should tell Kuchiki-taichô? I think he'd be interested in finding out that Kalan-san's son has grown up…."

"If Kuchiki cares at all about that, I'm sure he's already well informed. Are you going?"

Finally Rangiku did.

Author's Note: Welcome to Act 3

Now begins Act 3, which will once again take place entirely at school and take place over approximately a month and a half. Our intrepid heroes are now going into training to form themselves into an adventuring group. Several more students are going to join our esteemed clubs, particularly the magical secret club and, eventually, a new enemy is going to surface…a new enemy with an old history with our protagonist. His visit will be brief, but important. Because of this, several paths will be revealed, as well as certain agendas.

Introduced here are Rangiku Matsumoto and Tôshirô Hitsugaya, the lieutenant and captain, respectively, of 10th Division of the Gotei 13. As important friends to Momo, they seemed a proper pair to introduce in a flashback cameo in the prologue since her part last time was so important and there was little more to introduce currently with Lina and her family.

A couple more references were made in this section to previous events…if our readers still haven't figured it out, this section should reveal who Kalan's Soul Reaper companion was.

No more to say. On to Act 3!