Obligatory Disclaimer: Rumiko Takahashi owns Ranma 1/2. Ken Akamatsu owns Mahou Sensei Negima!. I own absolutely nothing, except possibly this fic.

Episode 1: Interlude

"You wanted to see me, sir?"

"Ah yes, Negi-kun! Come in and have a seat!"

Closing the door behind him, Negi walked up to the Dean's desk and sat in the available chair. He did his best to fake a smile. Sure, Negi enjoyed talking to Dean Konoe, but he was still in a state of worry. For the Dean to have called for him so immediately implied an emergency.

"So, Negi-kun, " the Dean began, "how has everything been?"

Negi returned with a smile of confidence. "Everything's been going great, sir. Chao-san's sudden departure has left a permanent mark on the class, but that hasn't stopped them from enjoying the summer vacation."

"Excellent, Negi-kun! And tell me, how have plans been for this trip of yours?"

"Preparations are actually ahead of schedule, sir. The flight isn't scehduled for more than a week, so I've just been doing some extra training with Evangeline-san."

"So you have spare time on your hands?" As Dean Konoe said this, his smile shifted into a more serious frown. "Good, because I need to ask a favor from you."

Negi's smile also quickly faded. "I remember that you needed me for an emergency. What do you need me to do?"

Dean Konoe closed his eyes, taking an easy breath in before opening them. "Before I begin, answer me this: Have you been watching the news lately?"

Negi quickly began to scratch the back of his head with nervousness. "Uh, no, sir, I haven't. I've been trying to watch the news more in order to be more responsible, but too much is happening right now. Sorry."

"No problem, Negi-kun. Perfectly understandable." The Dean moved the computer screen in front of him towards Negi. "Thankfully, this video report has received enough notice that people are posting it on several websites."

Negi looked at the screen, which was paused to show a neat, brown-haired anchorman getting ready for the next report. But what caught Negi's eye was the report's title below:

Magic Sightings Reported in Chinese Mountains

As Dean Konoe pushed the play button, Negi took a gulp of air. He wasn't gonna like this.

The screen cut to shakey grainy camera footage of a rural mountainous area. Screams could be heard from behind as lights flashed across the sky. From the distance, several figures could be made out in the lights and explosions. One seemed to be levitating in the sky, another seemed to be flying towards the first, and the rest seemed to be watching from the ground. However, the camera was too blurry and too far away to make any details out. As the video progressed, the anchorman's voice commentated.

"This footage is one of many videos taken by Chinese farmers in the Chinese mountain range. These videos, which have been labelled as the 'Magic Battle' series, were posted in swarm over a length of several days last week, and have since gained a lot of notice from Internet users worldwide."

The screen then cut to a clearer view of the mountains, with dozens of springs in the background. Two people stood in front, facing the screen. The one on the left was a woman with short black hair and short glasses, dressed in a business suit. The one on the right was a man who was dressed in what looked like a Chinese soldier's uniform. He had a very stereotypical-Chinese face, and even though he wore a hat, he was clearly bald.

The anchorman's voice started up again. "For more info, we go live to reporter Rumiko Akamatsu in Jusenkyo, the Chinese mountain village where this whole incident seemed to have taken place. Rumiko?"

The woman on the left smiled. "Thank you, Mizuki. I am here with one of the local tour guides in the area, who claims to have been an eyewitness to the events shown in these videos. He has asked that his name remain anonymous, so he will be labelled as "Jusenkyo Guide" to our viewers at home." She then turned over to the man on the right and held her microphone out. "Thanks for joining us."

The man closed his eyes and smiled back. "It no problem miss." His voice had a very thick accent to it.

"So, mister, you say that you saw this incident first-hand. Would you like to tell us what happened?"

"Oh, it very easy to explain. Phoenix Tribe king Saffron try to turn into adult by rerouting Jusenkyo spring water. Several Japanese martial artists get very upset because Saffron try draining springs. so they come and fight him. Big fight happen, but no need worry. Everything okay now."

The smile the Guide returned caused Rumiko to stumble on her words. "Uh...okay, then. So, you said that martial artists didn't want the springs drained, correct? Why is that?"

"Oh, they need cure for curses."

"Curses?"

"Oh yes. Hundreds of springs in Jusenkyo, and I know very tragic backstory of all of them. People and animal and thing drown in springs thousands of year ago. Now, whoever go in spring turn into what last drowned."

"Really now. So, you're saying that this whole incident was over a magical cure?"

"Yes miss."

Rumiko then turned back to the screen. "Well, you've heard it here, folks. A live eyewitness to a magical event. This is Rumiko Akamatsu, for Channel 5 news."

The screen then cut back to the anchorman. "Thanks, Rumiko. Coming up after the break: An attempted bank robbery results in a chase that can only be described as 'something straight out of an action movie'. Stay tuned."

With that note, the video timed out. Dean Konoe turned the screen back to him, and got a look at Negi's flabbergasted face.

"Is-Is any of this true, Dean-san?"

Dean Konoe sighed. "I have done some research, and unfortunately, this man's statements have truth to them. Both the Phoenix Tribe and the Jusenkyo Springs are listed in our records. In fact, the Jusenkyo Springs are said to have a magic potential that rivals the World Tree. It's a good thing that the Guide has not provided any actual evidence of magic. Hopefully, these reports will be treated like a UFO sighting and will fade as soon as the excitement passes."

Dean Konoe paused to take in a breath. "Regardless, this behavior is unacceptable. This man has knowledge of magic but seems to be unaware of our attempts at secrecy. And he mentioned martial artists who are most likely as oblivious as he is. However, they may be more...demonstrative of this magic. I cannot say for certain, but this is a risk I cannot ignore.

"The Guide did not give any specifics of these martial artists, but he most likely knows who they are. Negi-kun, your task is to head to China and find out who these martial artists are. If you can find their identities, locate them and ensure that the secrecy of magic does not spread. Report back to me once your investigation is finished. Is that understood?"

"I understand, sir, but why me?"

"My son is still busy trying to return the Kansai Magic Association to full power, and Takahata-san is currently away on assignment. Basically, you're the only one I can rely on right now, Negi-kun. So, do you accept?"

"I would, sir, but this trip is too close, and this assignment will take too much time. I don't want to cancel this trip that Asuna-san and the other girls have tried so hard to set up."

"Well, it won't take long if you use your staff." Before Negi could speak further, Dean Konoe leaned forward on his desk. "Negi-kun, the magic community has remained hidden from society for hundreds of years. This incident could jeopardize that effort. It would be best to have this done as soon as possible. So long as you promise to keep your true identity a secret, I will be willing to...overlook your methods." He then gave a comforting smile. "So I repeat, Negi-kun: Do you accept?"

Negi took a couple of minutes to ponder the decision. After a while, he stood up, smiled, and bowed to the Dean.

"Yes sir. I accept."

He turned around and quickly made his way out the door.

Well, that marks the first chapter of not only my first fic on here, but my first fic ever made. Give it a read; hopefully, this is better than expected.

I've had this crossover in mind for a while, but I'd still like to thank the Fanfic 101 game on TV Tropes for giving me the flimsy excuse I needed to make me finally do this.

Regarding the title, credit goes to Shadow Crystal Mage for coming up with a neat one. I would've used something like Mahou Sensei Nerima, but I don't want it to be confused with the fic Nerima by Japanese Teeth. Check both their work out; they're really good.