A Wizard's Fate: Chapter 2 – Books, Pens, and Dinner Too

By Leitbur

Disclaimer: I gave a disclaimer at the beginning of last chapter, I assume you all read the first chapter, so there shouldn't be a need for another disclaimer.

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Sitting next to one another at a small table in the school library, two young college girls were absorbed in their calculus textbooks. The shorter of the two scribbling down notes every so often on a pad of paper, the taller one with the dark blue hair seeming far more relaxed about her studying. Silence filled the rest of the room with the turning of pages and the scribbling of pen to paper being the only exceptions. The shorter girl mumbled something under her breath every now and then, followed up by her scribbling something down.

The doors to the library swung open, breaking the silence, and a college girl with long black hair tied back in a ponytail and glasses entered, removing a long black cloak as she did so to reveal her well-curved frame. Swinging the cloak up over her shoulder, she brushed at her blouse for a moment then called out, "Yue, Nodoka, I made it!"

Looking up from their books Yue and Nodoka frowned at the new arrival. Yue glanced down at her notepad and then whipping out a wand with a crescent moon on the tip, pointed it at the newcomer and called out, "Aer Capturae!" Multiple bolts of light shot out from the tip of the wand and snagged around the girl, trapping her to the floor from where she stood. Waiting a moment for the shock to wear off, Yue then said, "You're late again Haruna."

Smirking, Haruna struggled to move, and found that she couldn't. "Haha, very funny Yue. Now let me out of here."

Yue simply gave her own impression of a smirk. "Nope. Get out yourself."

Gasping, Haruna turned her head towards Nodoka, and said, "Nodoka, how about you?"

Nodoka, who during the commotion of spellcasting had used a un-incanted wind spell to shut the library doors so that no one could see the magic being used, continued to read her book and said, "This is between you and Yue. I can't be involved."

Haruna looked at Nodoka with traitorous eyes, and would have screamed if not for the shock of it all. Pinned and unable to move, it was scandalous. Then, the worse possible thing happened, an itch appeared on her nose. Unable to move though to scratch it, the itch began to increase in annoyance and strength, until finally ending in a massive sneeze. Blinking in the aftermath, Haruna reached up to wipe at her nose, then suddenly realized that she could once again move. "I'm free!"

Giggling, Nodoka set down her book to reveal instead of calculus problems lists of spells, most in Latin, along with instructions on their use. She then looked over at Haruna and resting her cheek to hand said with a smile, "Of course. What did you expect Haruna? Neither Yue nor I have the kind of magical power needed to hold a spell like that for very long without draining ourselves. We're not Negi-sensei after all."

The look on Haruna's face showed that she had indeed forgotten this, though she quickly covered it up and grinned. "Speaking of Sensei, how are things going between the two of you? Any progress since Graduation Day when we caught the two of you deep kissing?"

Both Yue and Nodoka blushed, and returned to their books. Yue, characteristically of herself, moved to save her romantic rival by interjecting, "So why were you late anyway Haruna? It's not like you were busy with classes today or anything."

Haruna's expression lit up and she replied, "Oh, I went to visit Herbert. You know how grouchy he can get when none of us visits from time to time. Plus, I found this."

Reaching into the inside of the cloak, Haruna revealed a long cylinder with a cap on one end. The two other girls once again put down their books and watched as Haruna pulled out a map and laid it down on the table. "This is from that map collection that Negi-sensei let us keep. Check this out, there's a passageway leading down from this room under Library Island. We have to go check it out!"

Frowning, Yue let out a sigh. "Not again. Every time you find a new hidden room or passageway on one of those maps, it means Nodoka and I have to save your big ass from some crazy danger you get us into."

"I DO NOT HAVE A BIG ASS!"

Yue nonchalantly replied, "Would you prefer amply plump?"

Death flashed in Haruna's eyes as her fingers prepared to lash forward at her verbal assailant. But just then the impending cat fight was averted by the library doors swinging open and three petite young junior high school girls walking in. Spotting the college girls at the table, the three walked over towards the table in time to see Haruna putting a large rolled up paper back into the cylinder and Nodoka and Yue looking over their calculus textbooks.

One walked around and took one look at the calculus problems on the page and blanched. It might as well have been Latin for all the sense it made to her. She then turned to look back as Akane, the tallest of the three girls with long violet hair, auburn eyes and the only one of the three with anything in the T and A department, was asking Haruna what it was they were looking at.

Flushing red in panic and slight embarrassment at almost having been caught by these girls, she replied, "Oh nothing you need worry about Akane-san. It's just a project for the university level members of the Library Exploration Club."

Akane squinted at Haruna suspiciously, but did not inquire further. Instead she turned her attention to Ryoko, the shortest of the three with shoulder length orange-brown hair and green eyes. "So Ryoko, what did you think of Negi-sensei's lesson today? Or were you too busy doodling again?" Both Yue and Nodoka's ears twitched at the mention of Negi, and while they pretended to keep reading, the conversation now had their full attention.

Having blushed deeply at the question, Ryoko hugged her notebook tightly and looked away. It was so embarrassing, and in front of Yue, Nodoka, and Haruna as well. Girls like that were what men like Negi liked. Yue for example was so well endowed; they were practically melons compared to her own flat chest. Haruna meanwhile, while lacking the melons that Yue possessed, still had wonderful curves, and a nice behind. Lastly there was Nodoka. While she certainly was slimmer than Yue and Haruna in the T and A department, far more balanced really, she was the one that Ryoko admired the most. She was so pretty, and she had such confidence and courage in herself. That was the kind of girl Negi liked, not someone like her. Still, she couldn't deny the rapidness her heartbeat whenever she saw Negi smile at her. Blushing even deeper, she answered softly, "I… I liked Negi-sensei's lesson today very much."

Haruna, observing this, smiled devilishly. My, now doesn't this look familiar. So my little art prodigy has taken an interest in Negi-sensei. I'll have to get a look at that book of hers. As Haruna moved to do so however, Nodoka slammed shut her own book, face flushed red herself, and standing up turned and said, "My, it's getting late, and we need to get going. Come on now Haruna, we have to be getting along now." Grabbing Haruna by the arm as she said this Nodoka dragged her off towards the door, Yue following in suit.

Flabbergasted, Haruna responded, "Hey, Nodoka, what do you think you are doing? Don't you-"

She was cut off however by Yue, who now grabbed her other arm and helped in dragging Haruna out of the room. "No, it's not our concern. Besides, Nodoka's right, it is getting late."

Though she tried to resist, Haruna found herself being forcefully removed from the room. Once outside the library, the two girls released their friend, and turned to head off towards the college dorms, Haruna, after hesitating momentarily, turning to join them. "Damn you two, that would have been some good viewing material. Who knows what sort of dirty secrets that notebook held?"

Without looking back, Nodoka responded, "Yes, but that notebook is Ryoko-san's private sanctuary. How would you feel if I used my artifact to enter your mind? Imagine what dirty secrets I might find in there."

Haruna closed her mouth. Although all three of them possessed artifacts, in many ways Nodoka's was the scariest. Sure it lacked some of the brute force, not to mention every day practicality, that their artifacts possessed, still that diary, when Nodoka chose to use it, was not just the ultimate in interrogation. And with the advent of those pen and eraser accessories the possibilities that arose made Haruna shiver in dread.

Deciding it best to change the subject, Haruna said, "So, why don't we drop off our things in our room and then go check out the room on the map that I-"

"NO!" was the collective answer.

Lifting up the book she was carrying and passing it backwards for Haruna to take, Yue then continued, "Why don't you put more effort into learning magic like Nodoka and I have. If you'd learn more than the few basic spells you currently know then you wouldn't need us to go with you to explore all those places on the map."

"Nah, my artifact is fine with me right now. Besides, I don't really enjoy studying magic all that much."

Nodoka giggled. "That's not what I recall you saying last night." She then whispered, "Adeat" and the diary appeared in front of her. Grinning warmly, Nodoka then inquired, "Shall I go check to see if I'm right Haruna?"

Shuddering, Haruna quickly replied, "NO! I uh, I mean that's not necessary Nodoka. Yes, I seem to recall saying something like that last night, but I…"

The two girls stopped walking and turned to look back at Haruna, each with an eyebrow cocked. Lowering her head in defeat, Haruna reached out and took the book from Yue, saying, "Fine fine, you win." This time.

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"I must say Asakara-san, I am constantly amazed at the stories you are able to get." Rereading the article Kasumi had turned in as he said this, the Editor of the Mahora News shook his head in astonishment. "You not only found out where that gang that had been causing all that grief was hiding itself, but even caught them confessing to it on tape?" The editor exhaled deeply.

Smiling broadly, Kasumi winked and replied, "Yeah well, it wasn't as hard as you'd think. I had a good source."

The editor nodded. "I see, well keep up the good work, and you'll be going places in no time."

Kasumi watched the editor walk off towards his office, likely planning to figure out just how he wanted the article placed on the front page. As he left view, she let out a deep exhale herself, then turned to head back to her tiny cubicle desk. These days she was finding it harder to keep the truth on how she was getting the stories secret from the newspaper than it was to get the stories.

As if on cue with that thought, Sayo appeared next to Kasumi and asked, "How did it go Kasumi?"

Winking and nodding to her friend, Kasumi gave a thumb's up that caused Sayo to clap her ghostly hands together and then smile brightly. "You did good today Sayo. Sure we're still in that cubicle even after five straight exclusive scoops, but pretty soon the boss will be giving us that corner office and we'll rake in the money and all the fame and glory that comes with it."

Her smile fading slightly, Sayo replied, "That's wonderful of course Kasumi, but… um I've been wondering…"

Kasumi paused as she arrived at her desk, then slowly sat down. "Oh, what's on your mind?"

"Well, I was just wondering if I could be given some of the credit too. I mean of course your artifact is most useful, but I do a lot of the work too. I guess I just want to get some recognition like you're getting."

Forcing a smile, Kasumi watched her close friend. She really did feel sorry for her; unable to be seen by almost everyone in Mahora, so few people to talk to, and here she was exploiting her friend's abilities as a ghost. She had been unsure about this at first, the whole concept of being haunted. The thought actually kind of spooked her out, and it had made dating a little difficult. Knowing every time she was making out with her boyfriend that Sayo was watching… it explained why she had remained single for so long now.

Time though, had allowed Sayo's presence to grow on her. Sure there was the occasional circumstance where it was still eerie, but she had grown to care for her friend a great deal, and found, much to her shock, that she wouldn't mind sharing some of the glory. Unfortunately explaining Sayo to her editor wasn't a good idea. "I know Sayo, I just don't think it's possible right now."

Sayo drooped, then nodded. A pain shot through Kasumi's heart at the sight. Then, she remembered. "Tell you what though, how about we check in with Negi-sensei sometime soon and see how work on 'the spell' is coming along?"

Sayo's expression lit up at this, and she nodded vigorously. Kasumi couldn't help but grin. It made her so happy.

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As the sun began to set in the western sky, a pair of redheaded youths made their way down the street towards their destination. The boy was dressed casually with a hooded sweatshirt and jeans, the girl wearing a blue and white long-sleeve shirt that hugged her fairly busty frame comfortably along with a skirt and heeled boots. As they walked, the teenage boy continued to talk as the older girl listened with a smile.

"I'm really enjoying my class this year Asuna. The girls seem so smart once they actually try. Yumi-san for instance reminds me a lot of Makie-san from when you were in my class. So energetic, yet so happy whenever I see her."

Grinning and laughing to herself, Asuna couldn't help but think that her enthusiasm in class probably had less to do with her interest level and more to do with Negi's physical appearance. She had once been the same with Takahata. The wind caught her long orange-red hair, causing her to become quite the sight. "That's great Negi, as if you hadn't told me twenty times already. I swear, sometimes you still act like the brat kid that you were when I first met you."

Grinning back at her with that smile he had that still caused her to blush, Negi looked into Asuna's blue and green eyes and replied, "Well sometimes it's good to be a brat kid. That way you never forget your youth."

Asuna blushed, then rolled her eyes. That might have sounded cornier when she'd first met him as a shrimpy little ten-year-old, but now that he was taller than she was… it was sort of cool in its own way. It was still corny though. "Well just keep up the hard work. Those girls' future education depends on you and all. Even though you're pretty strong now, I can still kick your ass if I hear that you've been slacking." She then put Negi into a mock headlock.

As she released him, Negi glances around at the plaza they'd just entered. "This is the place right? Are we early, I don't see Konoka and Setsuna anywhere."

Making their way over to the statue of a female magician standing next to a kneeling knight in the center of the plaza, Negi scanned the crowd. Before he could finish though he heard a squeal from behind as a familiar female voice shouted, "NEGI!"

Negi turned just in time to be tackled in a warm embrace by a voluptuous young girl. Trying to get up, Negi found it slightly difficult as his cheek was rubbing up against a smiling Konoka, and her ample bust pressed down against his chest. Glancing down to see that whatever type of shirt Konoka was wearing was apparently low cut, Negi's cheeks turned to match his hair color as he struggled to get up. It wasn't of course that Negi particularly minded the view, or how nice Konoka looked, but given that she was wearing a skirt, unless she'd begun to take up Setsuna's habit of wearing shorts underneath the people in the plaza were getting a nice upskirt view. The many bloody-nosed men suggested his prediction to be true.

Finally Konoka got up, and Asuna reached down and helped pull Negi to his feet. Setsuna now arrived, having taken her time to reach them unlike her roommate. Wearing a white, button down blouse that matched her pure white hair that she had tied off to the side as she always had nicely, her red skirt likewise matched her crimson eyes. "Hello Negi, Asuna. We're not late are we?"

Negi smiled. "Not at all. We just got her ourselves." He then surveyed the two girls, noting how nice Konoka looked with her new haircut. Sure the waist length hair was lovely, but the shoulder-blade length haircut looked nice too. "My, you both look so lovely today. I like your haircut too Konoka."

Smiling warmly with flushed cheeks, Konoka, who was likewise sizing up the teenager, thanked him with an extra sweetness to her voice. Asuna and Setsuna glanced at one another, then grinned and winked. "Well," Asuna finally broke in, "why don't we head over to the café before it's too late out."

The rest nodded, and the quartet take off towards the café, Asuna and Setsuna skillfully falling back to the rear as Negi began to relay to Konoka the same story he'd just been telling Asuna. They reached the café as the story reached its conclusion.

As they took their seats, Negi making sure to pull out the chairs for all the ladies as befit an English gentleman, Asuna commented, "You know, it's kind of strange thinking back on it. Remember the first time all four of us spent time together, way back during the Kyoto field trip?"

Konoka nodded her head. "Yep, that's when Set-chan and I started to talk with each other again. Of course so much has happened since then. Still, despite all the training, my pactio with Setsuna" this comment caused a deep blush from the Shinmei swordswoman, "and everything, it seems just like yesterday that we were on that field trip."

Setsuna chimed in. "You're right. We've all just been so busy. Things may have calmed down lately now that the war's over with, but it was crazy there for awhile."

Asuna nodded. "I can't believe we were able to graduate, given all the times Eternal Wind called our team in. I mean, you'd think they'd give a mission to someone other than the Neo-Crimson Wing for a change."

Negi gave his usual, super hottie smile. "Well we were needed Asuna. That's what Magister Magi do after all. I have to admit, I'm surprised you graduated from high school too."

"HEY!" Konoka and Setsuna began to laugh as Asuna put Negi into a far more real headlock.

"Now now you two, can't you wait until you get home for that?" Konoka interjected. The pair looked at Konoka, then at each other, and separated.

At that moment Negi recalled something. "Oh, I just remembered. Konoka, guess what your grandfather did today?" Cocking her eyebrow with curiosity, Konoka asked what it was. "He offered Chizuru-san a job as the new preschool teacher!"

Surprise and joy covered the three girls' faces. "Oh wow" Setsuna replied, followed by similar comments from the other two. Negi then spent the next half-hour explaining the details of it all.

As Negi finished, Setsuna checked her wristwatch, and then standing up said, "I'm sorry Negi, Konoka, but it looks like it's already time for Asuna and I to head over to prepare for tomorrow morning's Kendo Club meeting. Please try to enjoy yourselves." She then bowed to them both as Asuna rose from her seat. As she was leaving, she leaned in close to Negi's ear and whispered, "Have fun kiddo."

Winking at the pair as she reached the door, Asuna then departed leaving Konoka and a somehow clueless Negi, who didn't quite understand what Asuna had been getting at. It wasn't like she could have been suggesting that he and Konoka… He shook his head. No, that couldn't be it.

Turning to look at Konoka, Negi then said, "So, do you want to go see a movie or something? We still have time before the theaters close."

Smiling happily, Konoka nodded, and after paying their bill the pair headed off towards the movie theater, Konoka sliding her arm around Negi's as they walked. "Hey Negi" she said as they walked, "How about after the movie we go take a little walk by the World Tree?"

Negi smiled and nodded. After all, it wasn't like the World Tree's magic would be effecting him this time.

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Author's Notes:

Wow, this chapter was much longer than I had originally planned on. This is part of the reason for the delay in getting it out. However, I just thought I'd let you all know that the likely delay between chapters will most likely be about 7 to 9 days. This is due to my job hours, the fact that I'm writing multiple fanfics right now so my attention is divided amongst them, the need to conduct research on certain areas of the story, and so that there can be ample time for reviews.

Also, I chose to make this rated M because that's the rating that's supposed to go with a 16 and over story. I chose it based on the fact that Negima itself has that rating, and since this is based on that body of work, I went with it accordingly. I doubt very much that there will be any lemons in this story, lime maybe at most. Sorry if this disappoints any of you, but I will still be throwing in some fanservice. This is after all based on an Akamatsu story.

I also note that while there is no official hair color I can find listed in the manga, I decided to call Asuna a redhead since comparing the color to that of Negi's who is a redhead, it looked close enough for me to rule on it that way. I know some sites have listed it as brown, but it looks orange-reddish to me, and so that's what I'm going with.

As always, feel free to read my other stories if you like, and don't forget to R&R everyone, it does motivate me after all.