Chapter 1: The Coming Darkness

I do not own Negima, but I'm still gonna have fun writing about it!

Quietly sitting behind his desk, an elderly man with a peanut shaped head and bush beard and eyebrows reads a report from the previous night detailing the fight between a certain vampire and teacher. Chuckling, the old man nods with a bit of pride at the results, "Ho ho ho. You've done well Negi-kun. I'm starting to think you may be suited for my granddaughter yet." Allowing himself to entertain that thought for a moment, a knock outside of his office brings him back to reality. Clearing his throat, "Come!" Opening the door, another gentleman of middle age with spiky hair and stubble enters, "Dean Konoe."

"Ah, Takamichi-kun. I was just finishing your report on the fight between Eva-kun and Negi-kun. I am quite impressed with how far Negi-kun has come."

Walking across the massive room, Takamichi stands before the dean's desk, "Indeed Konoe-san. Soon enough, his power will be rivaling that of his father. But, that is not why I'm here, am I?"

The dean quietly strokes his beard for a moment, "Alas! That is not the case. Lately, I've been having a foreboding feeling that something is on the horizon. While Negi may have beaten Eva-kun with a pactio he made with Asuna-kun, I cannot shake the feeling that whatever is coming will be more than what the young man can handle."

"If that's the case, certainly I can take some time to train Negi to-"

"Unfortunately, I have thought of that and the conclusion is simple. Even if you could take the time off as a guidance councilor and from all organization to teach Negi-kun, you lack the ability to train him magically." Standing up from his seat, the dean quietly walks to the massive windows behind him and stares outside as he carefully phrase his plan, "Instead, I would rather you continue with your work. I believe we need a new teacher, someone who could teach Negi-kun and watch over the safety of his students."

"Certainly that would be ideal, but who can we find in such short notice?"

Without turning around, Dean Konoe wave towards his desk where a folder rests. Hesitantly Takamichi reaches for the folder and reads the information contained within, immediately he is shocked, "D-dean... Certainly you cannot be considering him!"

"... Indeed I am."

"There must be a better choice. Any other choice would do! This... man, if he can be called such is infamously known everywhere! It's already bad enough with his reputation, but what will we do when hunters that are after him hear that he is currently under the employ of the school?!"

"..."

"Even if you were willing to take the risk, who is will to go and collect him? We don't even know where he is!"

"... Turn the page. About three paragraphs down lists a set of parameters where he is usually spotted. For whatever reason, weal or woe, those very parameters will be met in a few days. In theory, you should be able to reach him over the weekend and bring him back by the start of the school day."

"Me?! ... I understand."

Turning around with a smirk, "I'm sorry if you think I'm sending you alone, I've assigned a few of the other magic teachers with you. In case the rumors are proven true. Best of luck with you Takamichi-kun."

Nodding Takamichi takes his leave to prepare for the difficult mission ahead.

Dean Konoe returns his gaze to horizon, I truly hope that this sick feeling is from the sake from last night...

A day later:

A young woman is dancing around the trees in the forest laughing merrily. Turning around to see a young man lagging behind she practically bounces over and wraps her arm around his waist, "That was the best day ever! Did you see the looks I was getting! They all thought I was beautiful!" The young man smiles and nods and simply follows her. The two wander the forest while the young woman happily recounts about everything she's seen and experience as the young man remains silent.

As twilight approaches the two make it to a clearing and noticeably the mood tapers off. When the two arrive before an iron gate, the mood has become downright sad. As the young girl reaches the entrance to the gate, she turns to face her partner with tears in her eyes, her voice carries her desperation, "Please. You don't need to do this. Just let me go, please."

"I'm sorry." Moving past her, he opens the gate as the girl reluctantly heads inside.

The two walk in silence, carefully picking their way past the headstones. Seeing her final destination, the young woman tries one last time to plead for her freedom but the man simply shakes his head.

Standing in a middle of powder circle the girl cries openly, "It's not fair! Why me? Why can't you let me go! I finally got to finish my costume... I-I even got to show it off! It's not fair! Say something!"

"... You're right. It isn't fair. But you knew this had to happen." Resting his hand on her face, the man gently wipes a tear away with his thumb, "Even if you hate me, know that what I do now, I do with a heavy heart and as much love as I can give."

Shaking like a leaf, "... I know..."

Smiling gently the man carefully places a soft kiss on her forehead , "Good-bye my Mia."

"...Good-bye, my Rhys."

"Now close your eyes. I promise. This will not hurt. Trust me."

Letting out a shuddering gasp, the girl nods and closes her eyes. Never seeing the flash of the dagger or the splatter of blood.

It was night by the time Takamichi and his fellow teachers arrived at the graveyard. It was by luck that they had heard that someone saw a man stabbing someone in the graveyard.

Spreading out, the group make their way to where the witness claim they saw the murder. Takamichi took point and simply walks up to the grave site where a man is kneeling down wiping something with a bloody cloth. Shaking in fear, quickly tucks a hand into his pocket. Taking a moment to calm his nerves and making sure everyone was in place, "Ahem. Excuse me. I am Takamichi T. Takahata. May I ask who you are?"

The man doesn't so much as stop or look behind him and continues his work before wiping the sweat off his brow and standing up. Turning around to greet Takamichi with a smile, "I know of you Takahata-dono, just as I am sure you know who I am." Walking up to Takamichi, who tenses up, the young man stop a foot away and kneels to pick up a pile of clothes off the ground. Huffing a bit, he carefully brushes away the detritus that was deposited on it by the wind before folding the clothes into a bundle, "Is there something I can help you with Takahata-dono or are you on a business capacity?"

"Who do those clothes belong to?" Realizing he might have asked a bit too forcefully, Takamichi is surprised when the man simply laughs.

"Not what you're thinking of, I assure you. I do not know her name, but she was before I showed up and I only returned her back to where she needs to be." Placing the bundle of clothes in front of the grave, he carefully props the stage sword and leather boots on top of the clothes. "I never learned her name, but I couldn't ignore her. Died before she finished her costume for those anime/game convention things. Can you imagine what it must be like, to be buried only half a mile away from the convention center with a clear view of it? ... I offered her my services, helped her finish her Mia cosplay, and took her there with her promising that she would rest by the next evening." Pressing his index and middle fingers to his lips and resting them on the headstone. "Notice how the circle of dead grass around her grave is slowly receding? That means she's finally found rest and my job here is done. Now. Would you and your comrades like to come into my cottage for some tea and why you've sought me out?"

AN: Whoo! Didn't expect that did you!

Finally got back to writing. Had to do something before the brain worms in my head drove me nuts.

A small explanation to those who's read my one other work, I'm not giving it up. Something bad has happened to me in RL and it's kind of affected me in a bad way.

Anyways...

I've always wanted to do a fan-fic on Negima. After a week of debating with myself if I wanted to do Negima or Diablo. In the end, a combination of a friend daring me to use one of my old D&D characters in a story and me needing something light-hearted, I finally settled on this. A bit short, I admit, but next chapter I'm going to introduce my OC properly.

I hope you enjoy reading this as much as I did writing it.