Clamier: I OWN THIS STORY
Disclamier: I DO NOT OWN ANYTHING OF NEGIMA! ANYTHING
Copyright 2011 by IceDragonMist

"GRANDFATHER!" Konoka shouted as she flung open the door to her Grandfather's office. The Dean was startled a bit as he jumped out of his seat. He quickly ran to his Granddaughter examining her rather whitish face.

"Oh my word! Are you ill? Do you have a fever? What is wrong? You look so pale!" Konoka was only able to shake her head "no" to her Grandfathers questioning. She wasn't even able to get a word in edge-wise as he acted very over bearing.

"Grandfather… please. Allow me to speak." She said in her sweet sounding voice.

"O-of course my dear. Are you sure you're alright?"

"Yes I'm fine. I'm sorry for barging in this way."

"You had me very upset Konoka. I thought something was dreadfully wrong the way you came rushing in here like that. You gave me quite a fright my child." Konoka looked down at the floor. Her Grandfather placed his hand behind his back, placing them on top of one another. He took in a sigh of relief that his Granddaughter wasn't sick. But he still looked on at her with concern.

". . ."

"Konoka? What is it my dear?"

". . ."

"Something must be wrong." Konoka chewed at her bottom lip for a while before answering the Dean.

"Grandfather… I'm sorry but I overheard you and Setsuna." She said softly as her eyes stayed focused on the floor.

"I see…" The Dean said. He let out a long sigh as he stroked his uniquely shaped bushy long beard.

"So did you hear everything then?" Konoka looked up at her Grandfather and nodded firmly at him, but quickly shook her head in dismissal.

"Yes and no. I… was looking for Setsuna I was wondering where she was. When I heard her voice I came over to your door Grandfather. That's when I heard you speaking to her; and that's when I began to eavesdrop." He chuckled a bit and smiled through his beard.

"This is a side of you I haven't seen before. Sneaking around and eavesdropping isn't something I would suspect you of doing, Konoka."

"Forgive me Grandfather. But when I heard her voice and heard how coldly you were speaking to her I felt I had no choice but to continue listing." The Dean nodded in agreement with her. He understood Konoka's feelings about her friend and felt it was only naturally for her to worry.

"Please tell me what the conversation between you and her was about. I've only heard a little so I don't know or understand what it was about. And I'm worried about Setsuna… I never saw her so upset before."

"She seemed upset?" He quickly asked. Hearing what Konoka just said took him by surprise.

"I didn't think it was such a big deal for her."

"Yeah well tell that to the wall!" A tiny voice soon interrupted the two.

"Chamo?"

"That's right baby! The one and only!" Chamo hopped into the room and ran up Konoka's leg, taking a seat a top her shoulder once again. He crossed his tiny arms and furrowed his bold eyebrows.

"Alright Deanie spill it! What going on with Konoka's girl!" Chamo brashly yelled at the Dean. Konoka blushed and put her hand over the Ermine's mouth.

"C-Chamo! Don't say things like that!"

"Hmm, I see. If even he is worried then I see no point in hiding it." Both Chamo and Konoka watched as the Dean walked back slowly over behind his desk. He took a seat in his big leather chair. His droopy old eyes were fixated on the two that stood before him.

"In a way I suppose… Setsuna has every right to be upset. I basically threaten her; I told her I would send her back to Kyoto if she didn't uphold our agreement."

"And what agreement was that?" Konoka boldly asked her Grandfather. He swiveled his chair to the side and began stroking at his beard again.

"She would be relived of her duties. In other words… she would no longer need a reason to protect you Granddaughter."

"SAY WHAT!" Chamo shouted. He jumped off Konoka's shoulder and ran over to the desk, climbing up the side of the wooden leg of the desk. Chamo go onto the surface of the desk and hopped over near the Dean.

"C'mon tell us the truth! What really going on here? Setsuna would never agree to leave Konoka's side!" He turned his chair back to its rightful position. He then stood up and walked over to Konoka, completely ignoring the Ermine.

"HEY DON'T TREAT ME LIKE I'M INVISIABLE! HEY! HEY!"

"Konoka… do you remember how I've been setting up meetings for you with potential suitors?"

"Yes I do." Konoka's body tensed up as she answered.

"Well that was part of it. The agreement she and I talked about."

"WAIT A MINTUNE! YOU MEAN TO TELL ME YOU'VE BEEN SETTING UP YOUR GRANDDAUGHTER WITH STRANGE MEN!" Chamo yelled as he jumped up and down from the desk. The Dean turned and faced him shaking his head.

"You misunderstand. It's for the benefit of our family. These are young gentlemen who are willing and capable of being a husband for my Granddaughter. This is simply to set up an arranged marriage."

"MARRIAGE? BUT SHE'S JUST A KID! YOU WANT TO MARRY HER OFF AT SUCH A YOUNG AGE!" Chamo loudly shouted and questioned. He sounded very objectionable to whatever the Dean was telling him. The Dean shook his head.

"I didn't say I would marry her off to anyone… yet."

"Grandfather…" She said softly. Chamo quieted down as Konoka began to speak.

"This is what was upsetting her. I never really told Setsuna about these meetings, because if I did I knew she would begin to feel useless. If I do… marry someday there would be no reason for her to be by my side. What I heard Setsuna saying, about how it's against my will… Grandfather in a way it is." Konoka tightened her fists. She felt herself shaking as for the first time she was truly standing up for herself to her Grandfather.

"I don't even know if I do want to get married someday. And if I choose to… I want it to be for love and not because of some family tradition!"

"OH YEAH GIRL NOW YOU'RE TALKIN'!" Chamo proudly shouted as she hopped off the desk and ran to Konoka's side.

"But Konoka—

"Grandfather I know you're only trying to do what's best for me because you love me. I know I've been agreeing to meet with these people but I only do it because you want me to. If I could I would love to stay here at Mahora with Setsuna, Chamo, Negi, Asuna, and all of class 2-A. I rather live out life here then to be forced to marry someone I don't even love!" As Konoka turned to run out of the office, she unknowingly had accidently stepped on Chamo.

"Oh my. What am I to do?"

"Ugh! You… could help me up! Old-timer!" Chamo spoke from his squished position on the floor. The Dean laughed and he bent down and peeled Chamo from the floor.

"This isn't fair… why me? Why am I always getting squished and stomped on and pushed around?" Chamo sadly said feeling utterly defeated.

"Because Chamo you are but a small and puny creature." As the Dean said those harsh words, tears started to stream down Chamo's cheeks.

Meanwhile Konoka had made her way back to the classroom. She wiped away any tears she had before entering the room. She quickly headed over to where Setsuna was in her seat. Their return to the classroom went unnoticed as the boorish brawl between Asuna and Ayaka continued on. The other classmates and Negi's attention were focused only on the two.

"Setsuna…" She looked up at Konoka but then quickly looked away.

"Miss Konoka…" Setsuna shyly answered. Konoka grabbed Setsuna's hand.

"Come on I need to speak with."