~Pre-story story stuff.~

Disclaimer:

Me: Hmm, this is awkward. ~Looks around.~ Maybe I should have introduced a couple of characters before attempting this, huh? ~Sigh~ Oh well, I do not own anything related to Negima as you all should know. But wouldn't that be cool!? ~Fantasizes...~

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Since I don't want to mess up the speech process of Kaede and Ku Fei (i.e. de gozaru) I am going to leave them out until I can learn the proper methods. ~PM me if you want to tell me! ^.^

Also, sorry if it is completely terrible. I know I'm not that good and this is my first attempt.. XD

Now, on with the show or in this case, story! (It's a bit short, you have been warned! This is due to me wanting to quickly introduce my original character to the story. ^^)

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It has been two years since Fate Averruncus', or Tertium's, contrivance had been opposed and then nullified by Negi and the rest of Ala Alba. With a final disastrous battle between the two parties who narrowly escaped fatalities, the spectacle was finally settled and Fate, along with his allies, were forced to retreat and they have yet to be heard from during these passing years.

It was only soon after this incident that the members of Ala Alba decided to set their own course, to walk their own paths, and separated from one another. Of course some of the members' bonds were just too tight and they formed their own parties. In addition to the divergence of the group, a great many of them decided to be more incorporated with the magical world and either visit on a regular basis or have stayed the entire two years, absent from their daily lives back at Mahora Academy.

Amongst the lot who remained were the three Library Expedition Club members, Ayase Yue, Miyazaki Nodoka, and Saotome Haruna. The latter of the group happened to be doing the shopping in the desert-like city in which the company had taken refuge, alone.

"Darn that Honya-chan. It was totally her turn to go shopping today. How was I tricked into doing this? That girl sure has developed..." Haruna's voice had a tone of vengeance to it.

The overhanging sun on this bright day's noon beat relentlessly on the chocolate hair, emerald eyed Haruna as she spoke annoyed to herself. The lone woman was trekking through the desolate city streets with a single brown bag packed under one arm which contained the groceries and with the other hand, Haruna was attempting to block out the sun by holding it out in front of her face, though it was still able to sift through her fingers and reflect off the lenses of her glasses.

"I know it's a strange thing to be thinking about but...I wonder how the others are doing. It just hasn't been the same without them. ~Sigh~" Haruna spoke softly to herself.

The seemingly depressed Haruna was turning the corner when she thought she heard a familiar phrase and by the time she turned around a thin wooden pillar exploded into a shrapnel of splintered projectiles scattering in each and every direction. Haruna let out a high pitched squeal and dove towards the floor to try and avoid the disaster, throwing the brown paper bag above her head. This explosion was like something she had experienced before or rather, someone she has met before. It can't be...no!

"What the hell was that?" Haruna's voice was filled with shock as well as fear.

The familiar sounding phrase from before was that of Adeat, one which she has used many times before. But who else around here could possibly have a pactio card? A woman with crimson hair and two long demon-like horns protruding from her skull was standing not far from Haruna's position. A beige mage cloak covered most of her bodily appearance and she held a fiddle in one hand with the bow in the other.

"Saotome Haruna, you and that mind reader were the ones who defeated me those years ago. I wonder if it was by some act of fate that we meet on this day. Without the mind reader aiding you, how long can you last?" The fiddle wielding woman's face remained passive and expressionless while addressing Haruna.

"Shi-Shirabe? Impossible! Why...are you showing up at a time like this? We defeated you guys fairly, why are you attacking now?" Haruna remained stunned on the ground with a stutter in her voice.

If it is Shirabe then that explains the attack Haruna witnessed. It must have been a highly amplified soundwave capable of smashing rock into dust with ease. If this woman goes serious, how could someone like our beloved manga artist survive? Maybe she has improved over these last couple of years but the fear in her eyes is possibly proving otherwise. Will she be a simple liability?

Without further explanation, Shirabe, close companion of Fate Averruncus, connected the bow with the strings of the fiddle but when she attempted to strum her benevolent artifact of an instrument a monstrous piercing blare was heard followed by the sound of a ricochet which originated from near Shirabe's hand, sending the bow flipping from her hand. It was a bullet? But who could have fired it?

"Who was that, Negi-sensei? Boy does he know when to make an entrance. Even after all these years!" Haruna's fear was stricken for even just a moment at the thought of Negi Springfield coming to her personal aid.

"Who dare interrupt me? Show yourself." Even in time of anger, Shirabe remains without over induced expression.

But it was not Negi, he was nowhere to be seen. Who was this savior of Haruna? It would have been expected to be Negi, right? Why has this day in particular become so strange and abstract?

"I'm sorry Ms. Shirabe but I cannot allow you to hurt this girl. What kind of a gentleman would I be then? Hehe..." A mysterious voice of a man was coming from far off in the distance.

Both Shirabe and Haruna's heads jerked towards the direction in which it came from. A young man between the ages of seventeen and nineteen was standing on a cliff side high above the city grounds. He was propping up his light brown western cowboy hat with the barrel of his .357 Smith & Wesson magnum revolver, revealing a few locks of his strawberry blonde hair and his undeniably handsome face. An identical firearm was limply hanging in the opposite hand which drooped at the side of his well built body.

A trench coat of a color similar to his hat was draped over his white button-up dress shirt and ended directly behind his knees, pressing against his black slacks. Slung over his back was a bolt-action rifle, an M40A3 equiped with an ACOG scope.

"The Gentleman Mercenary of the New World, Alastair Forrest who is often compared to the likes of Tatsumiya Mana. We hired you yet you are breaching your contract by stopping me? What is the meaning of this?" Shirabe, now absent of her artifacts bow, had no choice but to lower her weapon and wait for this Alastair's explanation.

Haruna could not do a thing but listen to this conversation between the apparent acquaintances as she was stuck between the two. Was this newcomer an ally or foe? Such a strange situation.

Shirabe said they hired him but he seems to be protecting me. What's up with this hot mercenary guy? The Library Expedition Club member was clueless, completely appalled by this current play of events.

"Please don't call me by that title, it's really quite unfitting. Also, I cannot be compared with someone as incredible as Mana-senpai, she is on a whole other level. We just happen to be in the same business per se. Lastly Ms. Shirabe, you lot hired me to take out a certain Negi Springfield so everything else I do is of my own accord." Alastair pulled open his trench coat and holstered his two revolvers, sensing that the fighting had ended.

"I see. If that's the case then I have no choice but to retreat and report back to Fate-sama. Be forewarned, this is not the last time you will hear about this incident, Alastair Forrest." With this prediction, Shirabe vanished from all sight, transportation magic.

The mercenary lept from the cliff side landing gracefully on the ground beside the bewildered woman. Taking into consideration a proper greeting, with the removal of his hat, Alastair bowed ever so gently which was accompanied by a flush bright smile which was only inches from Haruna's own face, something that could definitely not be faked. This was absolutely sincere.

"Good day to you, Saotome Haruna..."

Haruna remained speechless and equally as breathless at the mere sight of the up close image of her rescuer. Her cheeks began to burn a bright crimson as Alastair's breathing brushed softly across her face.

"Ju-just...who are you?"

~End chapter one~

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Me: Yay, now that I finished the first chapter, I have company! How did you like it Paru-san?

Paru: Why did you make me the damsel in distress? You should have used Honya-chan for this part, you make me sound too innocent. You write as me terribly! I should have beaten her ass! You need to improve before posting on FanFic...

Shirabe: Is that so? Would you like to back those words up?

Paru: Gah!? When did you get here?

Me: ~Leaves the room~ Shesh, they barely interacted in the true series, why did I make them seem like rivals? Heh heh, how troublesome. Anyway, until next time!