DISCLAIMER: I do not own Negima or any of the characters – Ken Akamatsu does.

Chapter 1: The Dream

She awoke up in a start. Sweating. Panting … Afraid. It felt too real. Immediately she got up and dressed herself in her regular uniform skirt and shirt, grabbed Yuunagi and bolted out the door. She made her way towards her destination calming her mind and trying to normalize her breathing. She shouldn't be so disturbed, she wasn't supposed to show fear, yet at the present moment she was gripped by it.

She stepped outside into the cold and icy air. She surveyed her surroundings before spreading her wings and dashing at incredible speed into the air. She flew up higher and up to the dormitory window she was seeking. It was still dark but her eye sight was extremely sharp.

She looked into the window and saw Kagurazaka Asuna sleeping on the top bunk, Negi cuddled up to her. She quickly shifted her view downwards and saw Konoe Konoka. Her breathing quickly calmed down, she was sleeping quietly and safely. Nothing had happened.

She didn't understand.

It had felt real, too real. It had shaken her up, unsettled her. It caused her to feel fear.

She felt stupid.

It was just a dream – a nightmare. She descended down and slowly stepped onto soft soil. Knowing fully well that she wasn't going to be able to sleep she headed back to her room. She was the only student in Mahora Academy to have their own dorm room. She changed into her Kendo uniform and began her daily practice outside in the woods. She practiced arduously for hours her techniques until she could no longer muster any more strength to continue.

Sakurazaki Setsuna.

She was quiet, didn't like small talk – didn't see the point to it. At a very young age she surpassed all expectations in the art of Kendo and combat. A mercenary paid by the school principal to destroy monsters and ay other demons to trespass the school barrier and that may be dangerous to the students. She is partners with the equally and almost-silent Mana, another student at Mahora, as they rarely speak to anyone but each other. Stoic, with an icy glare and could aura. Her goal: to protect her childhood friend Konko-Oujousama and the thought of failing her duty was enough to make her feel something.

"It was just a dream" Setsuna thought to herself. "But it felt so real, I thought it was real" her thought echoed in her head. The screams, the sweat the cold air and the blood, she swore she thought she was there watching helplessly, trying to struggle to get out of the grasp of the beast that was holding her best friend and princess was tortured to death.

"No not friend", she couldn't think of herself as worthy enough to be a friend. She was her bodyguard and that was good enough.

The sun was rising. Setsuna got ready for class and headed towards Konoka's dorm room to escort the princess to class. It still felt strange being so close to the princess after guarding her from the shadows for many years. She knocked on the door.

"Who is it?" she heard a familiar British accent from the other side of the door.

"Negi-sensei, Good Morning, it's Sakurazaki Setsuna."

"Ah, Morning Setsuna-san" said Negi as he opened the door greeting Setsuna with a warm smile. "Come in." Setsuna bowed before stepping in to see Asuna running around the room trying to get ready for school.

"Hey Setsuna".

"Good Morning Asuna-san" Setsuna was always formal, not being used to the company of others, especially friendly company.

She scanned the room looking for Konoka. The bathroom door opened and out came the princess, ready for school in her uniform unlike her friend Asuna.

"Secchan!" Konoka was smiling like always but her smile was even bigger that usual whenever she was her childhood friend. She quickly hugged her friend causing Setsuna to become flustered and stumbled backwards out her grasp.

"Good Morning Ojousama" said a flustered Setsuna and stepped back to bow. The young samurai always became flustered and blushed when she was around the young princess. She didn't understand the girl. Here was this princess – beautiful, friendly, kind and always smiling, but what confused her the most was the Konoka was all these things when she was around her. Konoka could never harm anyone and was always very friendly with everyone – she was all the opposite of Setsuna. Setsuna had a past she wasn't too proud of, yet the princess didn't seem to mind at all. After the Kyoto incident she was sure Konoka wouldn't speak to her or even be near her yet this morning here she was hugging her.

"Secchan, how many times have I told you that you don't have to call me that?"

"But Ojousama, it's a term of respect, I respect you and…"

"And you put yourself down every time you say it" said Konoka looking at Setsuna with a hint of melancholy in her eyes.

Setsuna opened her mouth to retaliate when Konoka silenced her by placing her index finger over her lips. "Please don't call me Ojousama"

"But Ojousma…"

"As your princess… I'm ordering not to call me that, call me Kono-chan just like you did when we were kids, "said Konoka in a tone that meant she didn't want any arguments yet she still smiled.

Setsuna was in a predicament, she wasn't even worthy of calling Konoka, Konoka-san and now she was going to call her Kono-chan?! And on top of that they were orders!

"Ko..Kono..chan." the girl replied while looking down at the floor.

"There was that so hard?" asked Konoka trying to look at the other girl in the eye. She was clueless to the fact that Setsuna felt like she was breaking the law. For years Setsuna was taught and trained to honor and respect those who were in a higher position that herself. All those years of training told Setsuna that what she was doing was wrong.

Setsuna remained silent.

"Well Konoka-san, Setsuna-san I'll be leaving. I'll see you in class and don't be late." Negi smiled and left the room.

"Where's Negi?" asked an anxious Asuna as she hurried around the room in search of her shoes.

"He just left. Are you almost done because we're going to be late" said Konoka as she grabbed her school bag. "C'mon Secchan" she grabbed the girl's hand and headed out the door dragging Setsuna along with Asuna behind them.

Class passed by like any other day with commotion from most of the girls, a fight between Asuna and the class president and a distressed Negi trying to get his class under control. Setsuna sat at her desk, as usual not caring about what the other girls did but this time she was in deep thought.

"Don't look so helpless. After all aren't you supposed to be some type of warrior?"

Setsuna heard a familiar voice speak in an arrogant manner. Evangeline walked by not looking at the girl with her held up high.

"She's right" thought Setsuna. She mentally kicked herself for thinking too much about a little things like this, but something told her there was something wrong. She silenced that other part of herself and looked up to see that Negi had calmed down the girls.

There was a knock on the door. Negi opened the door and greeted the people.

"Takamichi! Hello it's good to see you."

"Hello Negi-sensei, I see you've managed to get your class under control. Well don't mind me; I just came to escort a transfer student to your classroom. She will be a new member of your class. I do hope you can handle another student."

Negi smiled "Of course. Welcome. Come in I'll introduce you."

Negi turned to the class "Mina-san we have a new transfer student joining us today. Please welcome her to the class."

The girls of class 3-A were quiet as they saw the new student step in front of the classroom and introduce herself.

"Ohayo gozaimasu. Mizuki Nakamuri desu. Yoroshiku onegai shimasu." The girl bowed slightly and looked around the classroom smiling. She seemed to scan the entire class and when her gaze met Setsuna's she held it there, staring at her, still smiling yet her green eyes showed a hint of something else. The girl was dressed in a Mahora uniform, she had medium to long black hair, and one side was slightly pulled up with a silver hair pin. She looked very friendly yet something about her made her look a bit fierce.

Setsuna was taken aback. She lost composure but quickly gained it back and just stared at the girl until Misuki looked away. It seemed nobody noticed the uptight atmosphere between both girls. "This can't be. What is she doing here?"

Misuki took a seat right across from Setsuna to her left. Setsuna could feel a pair of eyes watching her. Before Misuki sat down she greeted Konoka. "Ohayo Konoka-Ojousama it's a pleasure to be in the same class as you. Konoka smiled at the girl. "Welcome to the class if you need anything just ask me okay? It's nice to meet you Misuki-san." Setsuna watched the girl from the corner of her eye.

She didn't trust her especially around Konoka. She wasn't going to make a scene either especially since the girl posed no threat and had been friendly so far. Accusing her of nothing would make her look paranoid or over protected of Konoka. She didn't need any of the other girls teasing her about Konoka and causing a scene was not something Setsuna did voluntarily.

But she wasn't going to sit back and take it lightly. That was the same girl that was in her dream the night before.