No Strings Attached
The Story of the Fallen Puppeteer of Darkness, Mahou Sensei Evangeline?!
Chapter 2: Family Fairwell
By Zenithos
Disclaimer: I don't own Mahou Sensei Negima. I don't own anything else here that doesn't belong to me, obviously. They are properties of their respective owners and I in no way profit from this, other than perhaps getting my writer's block cured.
"What did you get assigned as, Anya?" Negi's older sister, Nekane, asked as they walked down the long marble colonnaded corridor.
"…ummm…" Anya scanned through her diploma. "Oh, a fortune teller in London." She replied, with a bright smile. Eva couldn't help but smile as well, feeling happy for her friend. Anya's been her best friend for as long as she could remember. Her fiercely outspoken and outgoing nature really made her stand out in class. It was perhaps this nature that started their friendship when Anya, disregarding the fact that the rest of the class was treating Eva coldly, stepped up to her and gave her a warm and friendly welcome. Not to mention throughout the 6 years they were together in the Magical Academy they shared the same bedroom (pretty much because nobody else wanted to).
"Ooh… London…Jack the ripper…" Chachazero cooed, her eyes flashing dangerously. Chachazero was the first doll she managed to animate. Nekane had told her that when she was found she only had Chachazero, Suigintou, Moe, and ring with her. They were her only links to her past and thus she treasured them dearly. Well, she treasured them not only because of that but also because they were the scarce few friends (perhaps even family) she had in the world apart from Anya, Negi, and Nekane. Chachazero was set apart form her sisters by her murderous insanity and her natural instinct to leap and stab anything that moves, though thanks to Negi and Anya's help she's mellowed down somewhat over the past few years.
"…Knightsbridge Tea…" Suigintou murmured wistfully, clasping her hands together. Suigintou was the second doll she managed to animate. Animating dead objects, and giving them a will and life of their own no less, was no easy task, even for master wizards, and Eva's innate ability to do so at a really young age (she was about 4 at the time) immediately set her apart from everyone else. Suigintou was the more refined and calm of the three, sparing with words, and is perhaps the only voice of reason amongst the three. Unfortunately, her aloof nature and constant scorn for anything seemingly substandard made her a difficult doll to deal with.
"Big Ben!" Moe, who was hanging onto Eva's shoulders, cried excitedly, throwing her arms in the air. She gasped as she realized she had let go of Eva's shoulders and yelped as she fell with a crash onto the floor. Eva sighed, turning around to pick up the 'youngest' of her dolls, so called as she was the last to be animated, being the most difficult to bring to life. Even now it still seemed as if Eva had made a mistake somewhere during the animation spell as Moe's clumsiness and bubbly nature made her borderline 'defected'. But she was a natural 'younger sister' for the three and her cuteness and ability to make just about anybody crack a grin more than made up for her constant mess-ups.
"That's a good place for a fortune teller." Nekane remarked, nodding. "What about you, Negi? Eva?" Nekane was like a big sister to Eva and was perhaps the only maternal figure in her life. She was the one who had found her unconscious out in the middle of the snowy street, alone save the three dolls beside her, and she had personally nursed Eva back to health and even gave her a home and a family to speak of. Eva owed Nekane her life and everything good in it. Nothing made her happier than seeing Nekane smile her perpetually cheerful smile.
"It's coming up." Negi said, unrolling his diploma. Eva, Anya, Nekane, and the three dolls all leaned over his shoulder to take a peek as the words slowly emerged.
"A…teacher…in Japan?" Eva, Anya, Nekane, and the three dolls read out. Well, two of the dolls read out. Moe just read along with the others.
There was a pause.
"A social worker…" Eva sighed, shrugging and shaking her head. It was fitting, at least, in her opinion. She's known Negi for as long as she could remember…in fact, one of her first memories was meeting Negi. Being the only child her age in Nekane's family, they immediately became the best of friends. Perhaps it was because they were both orphans? Or perhaps because both were lonely and in search of companionship? Or perhaps it was because they shared the views that through magic they'd be able to find out their pasts? Their parents, perhaps? He's always been such a nice boy, with strong ideals, blessed with a mind as sharp as a razor when it came to anything academic. Unfortunately, as far as coping with life went, he was completely and utterly useless. That's where she, Anya, and Nekane usually come in.
"EEEEEEHH?!" Anya and Nekane cried. Chachazero shrugged. Suigintou nodded. Moe put on a clueless expression.
"Does that mean I can kill him?" Chachazero asked. Eva smacked her on the head.
"H…Headmaster! Excuse us!" Nekane called after the headmaster who happened to be walking down that particular corridor. "Um…this…Negi's appointment as a teacher in Japan…"
"Yeah, what's the big idea?" Anya asked bluntly, putting her hands on her hips.
"It…It must be a mistake, Headmaster. There's no way a 10 year old could become a teacher." Nekane said, worriedly. Eva and Negi looked at one another.
"Yeah, Negi's unreliable, not to mention his head's too small." Anya added, helpfully. Eva looked Negi up and down. Negi couldn't help but pull his mage hat down over his ears. Eva knew Anya wasn't saying this because she doubted Negi's talents. Rather, it was out of worry and concern. Anya had always shielded both Eva and Negi in class who were both always singled out because they were so very different from the others.
"Well, what's written in the diploma couldn't be changed." The headmaster said. "For the sake of becoming a master wizard, your only option is to train diligently. You have nothing to fear, however, as the headmaster at the school is a good friend of mine. Do your best, Negi."
"Y…Yes, sir. I understand." Negi nodded with determination. That strong determination of his was one of the things Eva liked about Negi. It was one of his chief defining points.
"Social worker…" Eva coughed, a small smile lingering on her face.
"By the way…what about your assignment, Evangeline?" The headmaster asked.
"Oh, I almost forgot." Eva looked down at her diploma. "It'll surely be a magician or entertainer of some sort. My dream is….Err…." She froze.
Negi, Anya, Nekane, and the three dolls clustered around Eva and looked down at her diploma. "A Teacher in Japan." They read out, before looking at one another.
"…Mistress?" Moe asked, tugging on Eva's robes. "…Is there any way Moe can help?"
"Shall I go kill someone, mistress?" Chachazero asked.
"I don't think anything can help her at this point." Suigintou said, closing her eyes.
"…Who's the social worker now, eh?" Anya asked, knocking the frozen Eva on the head. "Hello? Anybody home?" A few cracks formed where Anya knocked. "Wow, she's frozen solid from the shock."
"Take care, ok?" Anya said, taking Eva's hands in hers. "The world's not a very friendly place, so be careful." She said. The engine a few carriages down whistled impatiently as the passengers around them miled around, saying a few last minute goodbyes.
"Yeah, don't worry." Eva smiled back. "I'm Evangeline, dark sorceress extraordinaire!" She said proudly.
"Haha, I can still remember that old show you used to put on. I really do wonder why they didn't make you a performer of some sort." Anya giggled, remembering back to the days they shared together in school. Eva would often put on puppet shows and dramas in their bedroom, much to Anya and Negi's enjoyment.
"And be sure to make proper pactios this time." Anya warned. "It's a bit sad for a mage if their only partners are dolls." She whispered conspiringly, nodding over at Negi who was chatting animatedly with his sister. "…If you know what I mean…"
"H…HEY!" Eva cried. "I have no such intentions. He's just a brat and….and…" She stammered nervously, doing a very good impression of a ripe tomato. Thankfully, the engine let out a hiss of steam which blew across the platform, obscuring her face for a few brief moments in which she quickly tried to regain her composure.
"Hahaha, I was only kidding, but then again, I know there's some truth in it." Anya winked. "Shall we see who gets Negi first? You've got a head-start, obviously. So unfair." She made a good show of pouting.
"A-Anya!" Eva cried with indignation. "Now that's going too far. It's not my business if you have an interest in the brat." She said, turning away angrily.
"Hahaha, same old Eva. I was only kidding." Anya giggled. "Come on, the train's about to leave. You should say goodbye to Nekane as well."
"Oh, ah, yeah." Eva said, looking around at Nekane and Negi. "umm….Oneesan…" She still called Nekane her Oneesan, even though she knew it wasn't true. But she still found comfort and reassurance in calling Nekane that, that she wasn't alone in this world. Nekane understood that and always smiled her warm sisterly smile whenever Eva called her that.
Nekane kneeled, reached out, and pulled Eva into a tight embrace. "Eva, you've grown up well. We're so proud of you." She whispered. "Now, remember, your past doesn't define who you are. What you make of your future is what matters." She smiled. She drew back slightly and looked up into Eva's eyes. "No matter how far you go, no matter where you path takes you, remember, we're family, and you'll always have a home to come back to."
Eva hugged Nekane back, squeezing her tightly. "I'm home at this very moment." She sniffled, rubbing into the softness of Nekane's dress. "Thank you, thank you so much for being my family." She sobbed. "…Thank you…"
"There's nothing to thank me for. We're family and nothing will ever change that." Nekane smiled down at Eva. "Now, please take care of the little boy. He's quite inexperienced and he's bound to get himself into heaps of trouble. When that happens, you as his sister must guide him."
"I…I will, Oneesan." Eva said, with determination. "I promise."
"Oh, and remember, he still needs his favourite blankie." Nekane added, with a smile.
"I won't forget that." Eva chuckled through her tears.
"Oneesan! I'm 9 and a half already!" Negi cried, blushing a bright red.
"Yes, you're all grown up now, I can see that." Nekane huffed, putting on a haughty expression. "My two little angels have grown up to become such wonderful adults." She sighed, her expression softening again, pushing Eva in Negi's direction. "Go on, the train's waiting. Your adventure's about to begin."
"Oneesan, take care. You too, Anya!" Negi cried, boarding the train.
"Goodbye…" Eva said, waving rather sedately as she followed Negi onto the train. Negi grasped her hand and waved it wildly. "H-hey, brat!"
"Come on, Eva, where's all that evil sorceress energy? Come on, WAVE!" He shouted excitedly.
"Uh…ok…" Eva said, letting Negi wave her hand around. "ONEESAN! ANYA! GOODBYE! I'LL COME HOME ONE DAY! I PROMISE!" She shouted as the train slowly moved way from the platform.
"YEAH! WE'LL COME HOME TOGETHER!" Negi shouted, waving back. "GOODBYE!"
"GOOD LUCK, YOU TWO!" Nekane and Anya shouted, running after the train, up until the end of the platform.
"Good luck….and Godspeed…" Nekane smiled, tears streaming out of her eyes as she watched the train leave. "…Negi…Eva…"
"So, where do you think we go from here?" Negi asked, unfolding his map as they stepped out of the Tokyo International airport. The fresh spring breeze welcomed them as they finally had their first glimpse of Japan.
"How should I know? You're the one with the map." Eva said dispassionately while looking around. The wind gently ruffled her black gothic dress and cloak, causing them to come to life for a few seconds. She was still rather unsatisfied with her assignment but then again, it was her path, and she had to walk it, whether she liked it or not. "So this is Japan, huh? Where are all the samurais and ninjas?"
"I hear this is the land where 4chan came from…" Chachazero said, happily, dangling from Eva's backpack while reading a guidebook.
"Be quiet, Chachazero." Eva warned. "Try to act like a doll for once. You already gave us enough trouble at security."
"And what guidebook is that?" Negi intoned under his breath, looking down at Chachazero.
"How was I to know they wouldn't like my kitchen knife collection?" Chachazero pouted while peering at Moe. "As if Moe's weapons weren't a problem."
"That's because Moe keeps them concealed, Oneesan." Moe, who was hanging from Eva's backpack beside Chachazero, supplied quietly, pulling her heavy cloak closer around herself. Suigintou, who was right beside Moe, coughed dryly. Eva had a sneaking suspicion that Moe had more than just dust-bunnies underneath her heavy cloak. Moe never revealed much, other than the fact that she could mysteriously store her toys in it.
"I think all we have to do is catch the train to Mahora." Negi said, folding his map and tightening his jacket. "Shouldn't be too difficult, right?" He said, hefting his large backpack. It was packed to bursting with all the essentials, from clothes, food, books, to an assortment of magical wands, magical gear, potion materials, and even a portable cauldron. That's Nekane for you.
"If you say so…" Eva shrugged, picking up her suitcase. "Would two 10-year-olds walking around in the streets carrying bags without adult supervision rouse suspicion here?" She peered back at her own backpack. Even without the three dolls dangling from it, it was still quite noteworthy. Nobody in the street could help but stop and stare at the backpack which had everything Negi had (courtesy of Nekane) plus a few more odds and ends any self-respecting witch wouldn't want to be caught in the rain without (also courtesy of Nekane). This included things like a cosmetic box (huh?), a long knobbly staff for back-up purposes as well as to impress wizards (why?), as well as basket of apples and other fruits(what the?!), among other things.
" Japan's a pretty safe place, so we wouldn't have to worry much walking around in the streets." Negi said knowledgeably, patting his guide book. "It's child friendly, you see?" Negi said, putting one foot on the road.
Eva put one hand on Negi's shoulder and pulled him roughly back onto the airport terrace. "Huh? Eva?!" Negi cried, falling backwards.
Just then a white van roared past, skid across the road, flew up onto the airport terrace before coming to a crashing stop at a tanuki statue which, ironically, said 'safety first'.
"Oh dear…oh dear…" a voice came from inside. The driver's door suddenly opened, revealing a bespectacled zombie with blood running down one side of his face. "Oh my…I smashed my artifacts again…"
"Whoah… Japan really is the land of violence..." Chachazero commented.
"Moe thinks Moe has seen that man before." Moe said, frowning in concentration.
"….you were saying?" Eva asked, pulling Negi onto his feet. Obviously, Japan was going to be lots of fun.
"Well, on average, statistically." Negi added, coughing lightly, as he dusted his clothes.
To be continued...
