The following is rated M for explicit adult situations and may not be suitable for viewers under the age of 16.

This is a work of fiction. Similarities to real persons or events is unintentional.

The author recommends using 1/2 story width to better enjoy the story.

DISCLAIMER:
The story elements and characters
depicted are the property of Ken
Akamatsu and Kodansha. The
Author claims no ownership and
writes with authorization of ffnet.

Negi was halfway finished putting away his things when his master, Evangeline, sauntered through the front door. She glanced at the note he'd half-written and set aside on her dining table, then gazed fixedly on Negi.

"Master?" he asked hesitantly, in Japanese.

"Quit it with that aging pill," she answered back in the same.

Negi glanced out the windows to make sure they were alone. While Evangeline combed out her ruffled hair, he undid the illusion and changed into an outfit more suited for combat training. Evangeline glanced at it and smirked.

"We're not going to train?" Negi noticed.

Evangeline shook her head. "No, actually, keep that on… Come." She beckoned for Negi to follow as she ascended into the bedrooms upstairs.

Negi quickly folded his adult clothes and hurried after her, even as she barked at him to move faster.

The sun had completely set, now, with its orange afterglow barely illuminating the poorly lit enclosure. Evangeline stood at the base of the ladder, staring straight at Negi with her arms folded, lips pursed in a contemplating expression.

She reached out and pulled him by the chin, pressing their lips into a chaste kiss. Negi's eyes spun erratically. He tried to pull away, but she just pushed him onto a bed and crossed her arms again. Sighing, she spoke in English.

"You know I'm not using you to replace him right?"

He thought about it for a while. "Nobody can replace my dad. Master is the kind of person who knows better than that." His words were in American English.

Evangeline blushed, ashamed at having her thoughts read so easily by this… child. "You're awfully calm about it."

"What will you do, now that you're free?"

Negi leaned back, as though he knew the answer, inviting her to indulge. Evangeline stepped forward and slapped him, cheeks as red as ever. "Acting all adult with that body of yours… The nerve…!"

He smiled softly. "Aren't you the same, Master?"

She grimaced and pinched the spot where she'd slapped him. "Call me by my name, you damn punk." The way she said it sounded somewhat desperate.

That stopped him. He stumbled visibly over his thoughts, all the while leaning closer and closer to her. She knelt in front of him awkwardly, trembling slightly as she felt his breath on her chest. Slowly, his lips formed her given name.

"...Evangeline."

She stiffened. What role to play? Innocent? Seductive? Obedient? Defiant?

When he blushed, too, the tension spilled over. She pressed her face against his chest, and they fell flat onto the bed, their legs dangling over the side. "Mou~! Don't get all embarrassed now… Baka…!" She peered up at his face shyly. She didn't need to play a role this time, she realized. Her personality was coming out naturally, and that was what was bothering her so much.

"'Mou'...?" he lay loosely beneath her in surrender.

"What, you get confused when I mix languages?"

"No, it's just…" Negi shook his head, seeing that he was just irritating her. "...nothing, nevermind."

Evangeline cupped her hand around Negi's swollen cheek and stroked it… lovingly? Affectionately? ...longingly?

"Are you going to make me do everything?"

Negi didn't answer. He tilted his face around and around, enjoying the feeling of her touch. She grimaced, hooked her hands around his shoulders, and slid her body up along his. When she cradled his head in her hands, he parted his lips for her while wrapping his arms around her waist.

She wriggled closer. "Mm… that tickles a bit…"

He kissed her cheek, surprising her a little. His fingers ran through her long, golden hair, and Evangeline tilted her neck down, pulling those long, wavy strands ever tighter until they knotted around his fingers.

"You can appreciate me even more, now, after all this time, can't you…?"

"Evangeline."

"Negi." She giggled. "Negi. Negi. Your name sounds pretty weird when I think of it in Japanese."

He sat up, unconcerned, pulling her hips into his lap. "When it's you, I get all serious…" She mewled and locked her ankles together at the base of his spine, hugging him tightly with her legs.

"What, you play with Chachamaru like this?"

In the middle of removing her dress, she burst into raucous laughter as he averted her gaze.

"It's the first time I'm taking you seriously, is all…" He explained. "Those other times, when I was ten—"

"—were serious."

"—hweh?"

She pushed Negi over with her hands and straddled his waist with her legs spread, exposing herself, and leaned over, their noses crossing.

"I'll remind you…"