Disclaimer: I don't own Negima, Akamatsu does.

Chapter 1. Homecomings

The blonde woman walked towards the kitchen. She had chosen the blue dressing gown today. She only wore it once a year and every day it had been this day. It had been a present from the little boy to which she had been a cousin in blood but a big sister in heart.

She and her father had taken care of him when his father, her uncle, had disappeared and she had devoted everything she could to him. Even though she had studied in a city far away she had written letters to him every week and whenever she had the possibility she had traveled home to see him. During those times she had slept beside him to ensure that he slept well. The poor boy was terrified of darkness. Then seven years ago he had vanished. Only ten years old at the time he had stolen away into the night leaving only a letter behind. Today was the anniversary of that day.

During the years she had developed a ritual, which she followed every time during this day. First she would take on the blue dressing gown, and then walk out to the kitchen and prepare breakfast for both her and him. Then she would take out the letter and read it the old man came over and ate the other portion.

He had been a great aid for her during these years. Initially he had been furious over what he called "tha' Springfield lads an' their idiocy" but when she had broken down after hearing one of his outbursts he had comforted her and never again spoken of the matter. She knew that he even though he still despised them for abandoning their family he kept quiet for her. Despite his gruff exterior he had a heart of gold and would gladly do anything for his fellow villagers.

As she reached the kitchen her hands moved in an almost ritual pattern from the fridge to the table then to the stove. As the different ingredients were fried she put forth the plates and the silverware. Her little cousin had always had a voracious appetite and she had always made a large breakfast. Scrambled eggs, bacon, sausages, black pudding, mushrooms, baked beans, hash browns and half of a tomato. Like a clockwork. He had always eaten it with fervor.

As she sat down to eat she took out the letter from its resting place on the kitchen shelf. She had always been amazed by how grown up he had sounded in it.

Dear Uncle and Sister.

When you read this I'm far away. I have been forced to this because of things I cannot tell you without endangering you. The reason why I leave is the same reason why I have been so down the last weeks. I'm sorry it had to come to this and if I can I will return home as soon as I can. Don't come looking for me. I know it's hard but I beg you to do as I ask.

I love you

Negi

The entire village had been in an uproar when the news got out. The old man had gone into his hut and for three days the small building had been ablaze with magical power as he called upon all forms of divination and farsight he knew. When the magic died down they had found him collapsed in front of a magic mirror. It had taken him a month to recover.

She was brought out of her reverie by a knock on the door. Had the old man already come? Usually he wouldn't come until half an hour later. She got up and walked to the door.

When she opened she felt like her heart would stop. In front of her stood a man in green robe, with unruly red hair and brown eyes. For a second she thought that it was her uncle but she then realized who it was.

"N – Negi." She said, choking on the word.

"Hi Nekane." The young man said with a nervous smile. "I'm back."

The young man didn't have time to say anymore before his cousin threw herself at him and embraced him. Sobbing to much to say anything coherent she desperately clung to him as if she was afraid that he would leave again. Negi wrapped his arms around his cousin and held her.

For several minutes they stood there. Then Nekane looked up at her cousin. She smiled as she pulled him into the house. Negi remembered that Nekane always would recover quickly from surprises and smiled faintly. That was one thing that didn't change during his absence. His smile grew wider when he felt the smell emanating from the kitchen. On the kitchen table were two plates filled with breakfast. Nekane shoved him into one of the chairs.

"Now eat." She said and took out her handkerchief. Wiping away the tears she sat down at the other chair.

"No." Negi got confused. "I couldn't eat someone else's breakfast."

"It's not someone else's I made it for you." Nekane smiled at the young man. Still a gentleman.

"But how did you know that…"

"Don't wine big bro," a voice said from the hood. "Eat." A small head poked out and the owner jumped down at the table. It was a snow white ermine. "Nekane wouldn't lie about this."

"Albert?" Nekane blinked. "You were with him?"

"'Course!" The ermine said with its mouth full of hash brown. "Can't let big bro run around the world alone now can I?"

Negi shrugged and finally picked up the fork. "Chamo was the reason you didn't find me." He stuck the fork into the bacon. "I tried to leave him behind but he blindly refused."

"I see." Nekane said thoughtfully. "Very well let's focus at the breakfast now. You can tell me everything later. "

As they ate Nekane took a good look at her cousin. He had grown so much that it was nearly impossible to believe that he once was the small boy he once were. Once only four feet and had grown to nearly six. He was broad shouldered with a muscular frame. His face had lost its boyish roundness and he looked even more like his father now. Yet again she was returned to reality by a knock on the door. Negi rose but Nakane stopped him with a laugh,

"Don't, you'll give whoever's at the door a heart-attack. She got up and went to the door.

This time she was greeted by the hawkish and bearded face of old man Stan when she opened.

"G'day tah yeh Nekane." He said with a smile. "Ah thought ah'd step by ta' see if yeh wanted some company."

"Come in, come in." Nekane returned the smile. "Though I have to warn you that I haven't got any breakfast for you today."

The wrinkled old man raised a bushy eyebrow.

"Indeed eh," he said. "Well tha' ain't going ta' stop me." He walked into the hallway. And shut the door behind him. "He noticed the gown she was wearing. "Ah'm surprised tha' coat of yer's still holdin'. Twas' ten years ago yeh' got it ain't it'?"

"Negi has a good eye for quality." Nekane said.

Stan's eyebrows went up across his forehead. "Has? Yeh' dinnae mean ta' tell me…" The old man hobbled as into the kitchen as fast as he could. There he saw a sight he never had expected to see.

"Hi old man Stan." Negi smiled nervously.

"Yeh!" He hobbled up to the table and smacked the young man in the head with his walking staff. Hard.

"Yeh stupid lil' BRAT!" He roared. "Have yeh any idea how worried we've been! What were yeh thinkin' runnin' off like tha'! Yer cousin nearly died o' worry fer yeh yeh lil'…"

"I am very well aware of that thank you!" Negi said loudly. "I didn't leave because I wanted to, did you ever consider that?!"

"So then yeh just…"

"Shut up!" Negi rose to his full height. "Stan I am aware of how much the people I left behind have worried for me." He continued with a softer voice. "And I will explain everything later; right now I only want to eat my breakfast. Is that okay with you?"

Stan stood silently and stared at the young man in front of him. Was this the little meek boy who worshipped his father and who instead of playing with the other kids studied in hope of becoming as good as him? This boy, no, this man showed little to nothing of that. This was a man. One who would challenge the legacy left by his father. He sighed deeply and laid his hand on Negi's shoulder.

"I'm happy tha' yer back laddie'" He said with a smile.

"I missed you too Stan." Negi returned the smile.

"Well I don't have a plate for you but perhaps you would like some tea?" Nekane had been silently witnessing the exchange and now spoke up. "I believe I have some scones too."

"Tha' would be great lassie'," Stan sat down at the table and the breakfast continued in silence. When the breakfast was finished Negi leaned back and gave a sigh of contentment.

"I've really missed this Nekane. Your food is the best."

"Is this a good time ta' ask yeh what yeh have been up to?" Stan asked as he stuffed his pipe with tobacco.

"I suppose you deserve to hear the truth." Negi took a deep breath.