I do not own Mahou Sensei Negima. I only own the OCs in this fic.

Underlined – Chanting in Latin

Shadow Hunters

Chapter I

A Dark Mission

The soft footsteps echoed through the metal-lined corridor as the cloaked figure moved towards the training fields. The illumination for this hallway came not from light bulbs fixed to the ceiling, but from paper thin lines embedded in the walls that glowed with a pure white iridescence. Soon, however, it became evident that there was another source of light at the end of the passage. With the same soft-footed steps it had used before, the figure advanced out into the open sunshine. In the daylight the being's cloak was seen to be dark green in color but none of its facial features could be seen through the shadow of the cloak's hood. This was odd considering the wind that was causing the hood to ripple and flutter.

Just then shouts could be heard up ahead. It was mostly the chanting of spells.

"Ever-burning fire of purification, Lord of Destruction and Sign of Rebirth, gather in my hand and strike my enemy! Red Blaze!"

"A bolt of lightning to cut through the night, spring forth from my hand and strike my enemy! White Lightning!"

The sudden discharge of magical energy from the training field sent sparks into the air and a bang to the ears of everyone around. The green cloaked figure grimaced.

"That's Sati and Herald for you," came a deep masculine voice from inside the hood. "Always going all-out. Even when it's only mock combat."

The hooded man stopped when he saw the team he had come to find. All four were huddled together; two were standing and breathing normally while the other two were down on their knees and close to hyperventilating. All of them were between thirteen and fourteen years old, except for one of the two who were standing; she appeared to be around sixteen.

"That was a good move there, Herald," said the girl on the ground between huffs. "I never thought you'd be able to get off your lightning spell in time to counter my attack."

"Ya know, Sati," started the boy who was also grounded. "Nether did I. I figured you had me. Especially with those strings of yours keeping my legs pinned. I love your puppet-master tricks when we're on missions but in training I hate them!"

"Oh enough already," said the older girl who was towering over both of them. "Why must you guys take everything so seriously?"

"Well, we are Shadow Hunters," argued Sati. "We're always supposed to take things seriously."

"Yeah," added Herald. "Besides, not giving it your all against an enemy is fatal when on a job."

"Very true," said the green cloaked man, making his presence known. "But that's no excuse for getting careless during simple practice. As humiliating as it sounds I've seen some of our operatives badly injured while training because they dropped their guard."

The fourth member of the group, who had remained silent up to this point, bowed to the taller man. "I'm sure my teammates appreciate your advice, master," said the boy. "But I am fairly certain that, if you took the time to come here yourself, you must have an important mission for us."

"And so I do," replied the boy's master. "Our clients at the New England Magic Association have put forth a request for a team of Shadow Hunters to retrieve an artifact known as the Fang of Pain. If you choose to accept, you may want to start your search with a mage terrorist cell in Nigeria. It was the people of this cell who were the last ones to be seen with this object. That was ten years ago but they should still know something."

"What do you guys think?" asked the unnamed boy. "Feel like hunting down an item with a scary title?"

The response was a group nod.

"Very good then," replied the hooded man. He then regarded each of them in turn. "Team Delta members: Sati Singh, Herald Torgesen, Rebecca Clayton, and team leader Negi Springfield, you will have twenty-four hours to prepare for this assignment. Then you will depart the island using all standard stealth procedures. Good hunting."

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"Another day, another dollar," thought Negi as he packed his collection of back-up weapons. Included in this was a magic short sword (it was lighter that normal), a serrated hand knife, his antique magic gun (several bullets came with this), and his emergency catalyst supply. While he was fairly certain that he would need only his staff for this mission one could never be too sure in this business. "I wonder what Asuna-san or the others would say if they knew where I ended up?" he mused. "A top-level mercenary in the Shadow Hunters. Asuna-san probably wouldn't be too pleased, although Tatsumiya-san might get a kick out of it. When last we met I was terrified of her professional attitude. Now I've adapted one of my own. Life can be real funny sometimes."

There was a knock at the door to his quarters just as he finished packing.

"Captain Negi," said Rebecca's voice. "The rest of us are all set. How about you?"

Negi walked over to the door and raised his hand to it. In reply the door slid away to reveal his three teammates, all rested and equipped for the coming mission.

"I'm ready," said the teacher-turned-mercenary. "Let's get going."

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(Time: 12:45 A.M. Place: Nigeria, City of Lagos, Underground Night Club)

Two tall, lanky men stood in front of the elevator that led to the main hall of the compound. Dressed in suits and ties one might not guess that they were carrying portable wands in their pockets. Herald, however, knew this full well and was ready for anything that could happen as he approached.

"Hold it there, kid," said one of the guards. "What's a twerp like you doing in a place like this? Isn't it past your bedtime?"

"I don't have one," replied Herald smiling. "Most Shadow Hunters don't, you see. And anyway, I have an appointment with your boss."

The men stiffened. Anybody who's anybody in the criminal underworld had heard of the Shadow Hunters at some point. Being that they were an international mercenary organization and that most of their agents had twice the power of the average mage it was impossible not to know of them. But it was the fact that one of them was here without an invitation that made these world-hardened men want to run in fear.

One guard moved to press the alarm button sewn into the lining of his suit while the other pulled his wand and tried to fire an unincanted Sagitta Magica spell.

Neither of them got very far as their limbs were suddenly tied together by wires and Herald bashed the men's heads into one another, knocking them out.

Sati dropped down from the ceiling as Negi and Rebecca walked into the light from the darkened corner where they had been standing. Not one of them spoke as they opened the elevator and stepped inside. The silence continued all throughout the trip downwards. It lasted until the group had departed the elevator, traveled the hallway between the meeting hall and the exit, and was standing behind the assembled terrorist cell.

At this point Negi called out, "Excuse me, we're looking for an item known as the Fang of Pain. By chance, have any of you heard of it?"

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An unusual first chapter. Please review. I want to know what I can do better.