(A/N: Negima! is owned by Ken Akamatsu.)
Prologue
"You have, two, messages."
"Eishun here, I know that you just came back from Rome, the investigation has gone cold as far as I know. I apologize for calling you back here to Japan so suddenly but this matter is really important. But before everything else, I believe that the Tsuchimiya court is calling upon all members to attend the quarterly meeting. I can't attend this time because I am needed here. I am truly sorry for asking you, yet again, to represent me there.
Anyway moving along…my daughter together with Setsuna came up here for a school field trip and stayed here in the mansion for a short while with a couple of classmates and their teacher, Nagi's son, Negi-kun. Although, even when they were inside the bullet train, the whole group was plagued with prank-like leveled magic. But things gradually go serious when they were able to take Konoka from me. I am embarrassed to say that I became overconfident on the strength of the barriers you put up that I ended up turning careless and got myself petrified. But if it weren't for Negi-kun, we could've been annihilated. I'll call again to continue our discussion. "
The click signals the end of the first message and moves on to the second message.
"You have, ONE, message."
"Eishun again, continuing from the last call, with Konoka's latent powers starting to manifest, I fear that there might more attempts on taking her away from us, especially since that white haired boy surfaced…again. It's not that I look down on Setsuna, I am aware that being one of her students, she is more than capable of protecting Konoka. I've heard from Fujiko-sama that you have taught young Isayama well, I couldn't expect less from a great teacher like you.
I'm simply taking precautions because for one, I do not wish anything from today to ever repeat itself. And second, I do not want to lose anyone important to me, especially family.
Well, if it isn't much trouble, could you come up here to Kyoto for a short while so I can fill you in on the other details plus a special request from you? See you then, Sensei."
The answering machine clicks, ending the last message.
"You have, NO, messages."
After a short while, a raven haired female finishes and exits the shower. She wears a bathrobe then makes her way to the phone while drying her hair. As she picks the receiver up, she dials a series of numbers. She clamps the receiver between her shoulder and head as she continues to dry her hair while waiting for someone to pick up.
"It's me, I wanna talk to Eishun…" she lets go of the receiver and holds it with one hand while the other continues to dry her hair. "So he's the third you say…well, I'll set up a new barrier for you when I get-…huh? So what else do you want me to…you sure about that? ...true enough…alright then…yeah…I'll be there in a short while. And one more thing, the contract is gonna expire soon, are you ready with another ritual? …I'll leave that to you then. Stay in one piece 'til I get there."
She hangs up and sighs. "I miss the simple life."
"When was your life ever simple?"
Next chapter: School Uniforms, Reunions, Revelations. First Feather: First Day, First Impression.