Ohayooooooo peopleeeee~! Wait, just so you know I DON'T speak Japanese...as much as I wish I did. *Sighs* Alrighty. This is my first story on here. I would like very much to hear your opinion on it, grammatical errors, confusing parts, or anything. Wish me luck :D
Disclaimer: I don't own Negima...oh if I did...the things this pairing would do. *Grins evilly*
Another Beginning
Mahora Academy, 1st Day of School
Another year. Another Beginning. Another chance to see her.
She breathed in.
Out.
"Setsuna Sakurazaki, under direct orders from I, Eishun Konoe, you are being sent out onto your first mission since your long training has began. Are you ready to receive your task?"
A jet-black haired girl bowed, head touching the floor mats, as she briefly looked up with eyes burning with determination. A cracked, wooden nodachi lay obediently by her side.
"Yes, sir. I am ready."
The man before her smiled kindly, gesturing with his hands for her to sit up, "Come now, Setsuna-kun. There's no need to be so," he struggled finding the correct word, "-stiff. I was just joking earlier. By tradition, I'm supposed to say the 'under direct orders from me' part. However, you have known me so long, surely there is no need for such formality between us, yes? You've grown to be a daughter to me."
Her calm air broken, the once stony expression on her pale face was replaced with a blushing, nervously smiling one. "Of course, E-Eishun-sama."
Eishun sighed good naturedly, knowing very well this would be the best he could get from the girl.
For now, he added mentally.
"Setsuna-kun, I'm asking you a very personal favor..." he trailed off slowly, eying the clock hovering behind Setsuna's head.
The young girl straightened her back considerably, "Anything."
Eishun couldn't stop the smile from gracing his face, for this girl's loyalty and commitment were to be admired. He cleared his throat, steepling his long fingers together, "This mission will require peak condition, physically and mentally. Many dangers are to be expected on this long term task. And, because of your..." he eyed the cheap wooden sword near her waist, "lack of a quality sword, I'm passing on my most trusted sword to you, Yunagi."
Setsuna's eyes widened, as she snapped her head up to stare up at the chief. "R-r-really?Eishun-sama, I-"
"Uh, Uh." Eishun interjected, untying the red knots holding the previous mentioned said sword to his waist, hidden behind his thick robes. He held the blade in his hands, smiling as he traced over the kanji engraved into the hilt. "I'm giving him to you, because I know you'll treat him well," he placed his trusty sword in her small, anxiously awaiting hands. Setsuna smiled, lovingly caressing the blade, but also trembling as she sensed the power laying dormant inside.
"I will." she reassured, gently laying her gift at her left side with utmost care.
"Think of it as a 'Thank you' in advance. Setsuna-kun, I'm sending you to Mahora Academy."
Setsuna cocked her head curiously, "But sir, I've already educated as high as any teachers here are able to instruct."
"Mmm. They stop at a certain level. You're ready to go into the middle school level of Mahora Academy."
"Your mission is to protect my daughter. Konoka." Eishun declared, suppressing the urge to smirk as he saw the brief recognition flash across her eyes. Chuckling, he braced himself for the meltdown occurring in,
3...
2...
1...
Setsuna groaned inwardly, remembering that meltdown in particular. Somehow, the conversation, in her case, had made a turn for the worse, and Eishun had ended up teasing her about some possible feelings the blushing swordswoman could be harboring over the years for a certain girl.
Following her early morning mantra, she slowly inhaled, then exhaled, and repeated it as she felt necessary. Even with this done, she could still feel her heart hammering away in her ribcage underneath her uniform.
"What's the matter, Setsuna? Afraid to meet your wittle pwinces?" A voice heavy with mirth appeared near the doorway, filtering into Setsuna's thoughts.
Blushing profusely, Setsuna whipped around angrily from her perch on the sink, "MANA!" she whined, watching unhappily as the dark skinned girl next to her burst into a fit of giggles.
When her laughing fit concluded, Mana placed a comforting hand on the shorter girl's broad shoulders. "Hey, there's no need to be nervous. You two were like this when you were little," Mana crossed her fingers together for emphasis, "Hell, I remember being a little shrine girl and watching you follow the girl around like a lost puppy."
"And my point is, I doubt that things could have changed that much from when you were children. Therefore, you have no need to be nervous...and don't you start with your angst about how she hates you because of what happened in the river. She doesn't feel that way about you." Mana added quickly, playing with one of the black braids that framed her face with a blank stare.
Setsuna blew a puff of air through her lips, her bangs floating up in the faux breeze. She stared at her reflection in the mirror, to the hand resting on her shoulder, and finally resting her gaze on its owner. "Thanks, Mana." Setsuna mumbled, shooting a thankful smile her way.
"Don't mention it." Mana replied, lazily patting the thin cloth of Setsuna's shirt, as she turned to walk out of their shared bathroom. "Besides, this is all going on your tab."
Groaning, Setsuna let her face fall into the mirror, making disapproving sounds until she heard her roommate exit their room with a chuckle.
Tiny droplets of water squeezed out of the tap, plinking into the porcelain bowl and swirling into the drain. The samurai watched every drop, becoming entranced by the repeating plink and plunk of each one.
Oh Kono-chan...
It's been so long. I've missed you. The way your laugh tinkled into my ears. The way your smile lit up the world. How we used to play and talk in the backyard together...
Setsuna cupped her face in her hands, as an incredibly vivid image of herself and Konoka tossing a red ball together. (Actually, the very same ball was in the chest laying underneath her bed, shined regularly of course.)
Something hot and wet rolled down her cheek, dripping into the sink, rolling down the drain. She sniffled, dragging a hand over her eye to rid herself of blurred sight.
"But, you probably wouldn't want to be friends with me anymore. I'm just a lowly servant.." Setsuna murmured sadly, wringing her hands together, as she covered her emotions up with a mask of coolness.
"I should get going." she told herself, watching herself in the mirror still. With a final adjustment of her uniform, she glided over to the door, where Yunagi was faithfully waiting for her, and bounded out of the door and onto a nearby dorm roof.
Swinging nimbly onto a blackened branch of a tree high above ground, Setsuna analyzed her position carefully. She had a high vantage point, far above any pathways a random student could be taking at this time. Once assured she was hidden, she knitted her fingers through the leaves, making a small hole for her eyes to gaze through.
She mentally made a bet with herself, betting five dollars someone would make a ruckus, and to seal it, shook her own hand. After realizing the silly action she just did, she chuckled, bringing Yunagi closer to her side.
CLICK. CLACK.
WHOOOOOSH
BOOM
As she bet earlier, two girls (one with bright red hair in pigtails and the other with free flowing chocolate brown hair) burst out of a dorm door, charging towards the school at quite impressive speeds. Nodding in approval (and also ignoring the butterflies taking flight in her stomach), Setsuna leapt from her perch, absorbing the shock with her knees, as she landed on a rooftop. As soon as her balance adjusted, she dashed forward, keeping a good amount of distant between her and the pair scrambling ahead of her.
Now these are the kind of people she could run with.
Setsuna ran a calloused hand through her hair, sighing in frustration.
She was already failing Eishun.
Carefully, she reaccessed her actions, trying to think of how she could've done things differently. First, she had went to Konoka's dorm, staying out of sight of course. Then, she had given chase when Konoka and her redheaded friend burst out of the room. She had jumped and climbed over the buildings, being careful to stay out of sight and keep the pair within reach. However, she had gotten caught up in... 'a very beautiful bird' flying. Consequently, she ended up smack dab on the side of a very soft brick building.
Setsuna paced back and forth on a rooftop, rubbing her face, red from her lovely little high five with the wall. "What am I kidding?" she growled as she reconsidered her 'A very beautiful bird' thought, sinking down to her knees, eyes searching for even the smallest trace of a red or brown blur. After a few minutes, she temporarily gave up, allowing her mind to wander.
She's gotten so beautiful...
Setsuna repeated this over and over again in her head, wishing to have been with her all through the years. The image held within her mind was slightly outdated, but that had earlier been slightly updated with what she had glimpsed earlier.
Oh...To be able to hold the chocolate haired girl in her arms and...and-
"WATCH WHERE YOU'RE GOING SHRIMP!"
Bolting up, Setsuna peered over the edge of the building, staring in amazement as the girls she had just lost appeared right before her eyes. Only this time, a dark red haired boy laid in a tangled pile of his own limbs on the ground in front of the girls. The orange haired girl seemed to be ranting for no apparent reason, and even though Setsuna could've picked up the exact words, the expression the boy on the ground's face said enough. Suddenly, the red head was shoved aside, being replaced by a girl peering down at the poor boy sweetly.
"Don't you mind her, are you lost little boy? The elementary school is down that way." A cheerful voice rang through the air, and upon immediate recognition, Setsuna felt her jaw slacken as her mouth suddenly grew dry.
Her body froze, a leg propped up on the ledge, as a breeze rustled her hair. Onyx eyes widened, locking on the girl kneeling down to help the boy up.
She sounds like an angel. An angel straight from heaven...but forced to walk this Earth with us lowly humans.
..and half humans.
I wish...I wish she would look at me. Offer me that soft looking hand.
That kid's...lucky.
So, so, so very lucky.
Setsuna gulped, another breeze rising up, tussling her raven locks across her face, as well as flaying her bright red tie from her uniform jacket to wave freely in the air.
As if on cue, the girl that was frequently on Setsuna's mind lately turned around, gaze being drawn to a girl standing frozen on the roof of a building behind her.
Their eyes met.
Chocolate boring into Onyx.
Recognition.
Shock.
Longing.
Painful fireworks exploded in Setsuna's chest, as she stared down at the girl, unable to break her gaze filled to the brim Earth shaking longing. Her heart thrummed powerfully in chest, making her feel as if in any second she would pass out, yet she kept her gaze steady.
She was gorgeous, Setsuna decided then and there. Konoka's hair had grown out, brushing her lower back, as it shown with a glossy color similar to melting chocolate pouring out of a bowl. Her eyes sparkled with carefree happiness, a color the exact shade of her hair. She had most definitely grown a few feet taller, Setsuna noted.
The beautiful girl's face, so smooth and radiating health was a pale shade of peach, adorned with a set of thick bright pink lips.
Kissable lips, Setsuna thought, before mentally kicking herself.
She's my charge dammit! I need to get out here, damn teenage hormones!
Shaking her head of incoming thoughts, Setsuna stole one final glance at Konoka, before holding two fingers close to her mouth and disappearing into nothing more than a blur of moving colors.
So, how was that? Good? Fantastic? Weird? Makes you wanna puke? Let me know people!
Peace~
