Negima 3: The Most Magical Christmas

Chapter 2: The Hidden Feelings

A few days had passed and it was November 29th, the day the girls were heading out. That morning, Asuna woke bright and early to rouse her friends to double check their bags.

"Come on guys. Rise and shine. Remember we said we would do one final check? Well, now's that time." Asuna said. While Negi woke easily, Konoka wouldn't. She mumbled to herself.

"Not now mommy. Five more minute...." she snored. Asuna sighed. She reached under the blanket and started to tickle Konoka's foot. She saw Konoka start to squirm before doing it for so long spooked her out of bed.

"All right! All right! I'm up!" Konoka exclaimed. Asuna laughed. Konoka looked up and chuckled, realizing it was Asuna.

"Gee Asuna. You're sure creative about waking someone up." Konoka said. Asuna smirked and told her she had her ways. With everyone finally awake, they double checked their things and then went to gather the others. The clock said 8:39 A.M. and the buses would be here in seven minutes. Most of the girls were ready, all but Ayaka. Makie waited impatiently by the door, seeing Kotaro bolt out first.

"Come on Ayaka! What's keeping ya?!" Makie asked. She watched Ayaka trying to fit things into her bag.

"Excuse me! I'm just doing a little last minute check. It wouldn't kill ya to..." Ayaka said. But suddenly, she saw her bag fling open and everything fell out on top of her. Makie sighed.

"I wonder if it wouldn't kill her to plan this stuff ahead of time?" Makie thought. At the door, Makie watched the others start passing her and groaned.

"Uhhh....see ya class rep! Try not to take so long! We'd have to leave without you!" Makie called. She quickly grabbed her bag and made a rush out for the others. Ayaka emerged from her pile with a sock on her head, teeth grinding.

"Makie! You get back here right now and help me! MAKIE!" Ayaka roared. But her cry for help fell on deaf ears. Outside the school, everyone began to line up at the sidewalk. Kotaro and Shade were present as well.

"How we looking Negi?" Asuna asked. Negi counted all of the heads with them and everyone was here, but Evangeline and Ayaka.

"Evangeline? Where is she?" Konoka asked. Just then, Negi felt his shoulder tapped and saw Evangeline behind them. When Asuna asked what kept her, she just huffed and looked away.

"I was almost considering staying back. But apparently, SOMEONE was pestering me to come." Evangeline said, glancing down at Jennifer. She chuckled.

"Come on Evangeline. It'll be fun." she said. Evangeline said nothing, eventually spotting a exhausted Ayaka finally catching up. She glared at Makie angrily.

"Remind me to get even with you soon. Because no one ditches me....not even you." Ayaka panted. Just then, the girls all saw Professor Takahata and Shizune walking over.

"Hello everyone. We just thought we'd see you girls off. Now I know this isn't your first trip, but we wanted to make sure that you girls got to see us before you left." Takahata said. The girls all chuckled, except Evangeline and Chisame.

"Thanks Professor Takahata. Don't worry. We'll be good." Asuna said. Takahata chuckled and wished Negi luck. He would need it to watch all of them. Negi smiled as Kotaro saw the buses approaching.

"Well, we're off then." Kaede said. All of the girls began to board the buses and when everyone was on, the doors closed and they were off. Jennifer and Evangeline sat in the back with Chachamaru. On Evangeline's lap was Chachazero, happily clapping her hands.

"You think Richie will be fine?" Jennifer asked. Evangeline glanced at her for a second.

"If the old man said he'll watch the dog, he should be fine." Evangeline said. A few seats in front of them, Kazumi was already gossiping with Kakizaki about rumors and such. In front of Kazumi was Asuna with Nodoka. Nodoka was quietly reading as Asuna was tapping her lap with her hands.

"Hey Asuna? I got a question to ask ya. Can you hear me out?" Kazumi asked. Asuna glanced at her.

"Sure. What?" Asuna asked. Kazumi whispered into her ear and Asuna suddenly twitched, widening her eyes to a freakish stare.

"Are Negi and I a couple?!" Asuna exclaimed. Kazumi chuckled.

"Hey. It's a rumor that's been going round the school for a while now. I thought I'd ask the source. So, is it true?" Kazumi asked. Asuna chuckled and pushed Kazumi back.

"Uhh....why don't ya button your lip Kazumi before curiosity gets the best of you?" Asuna asked. Kazumi turned away with a smirk, feeling like she got her answer. Sayo watched from Kazumi's shoulder, seeing Asuna blush. She looked up at Negi, sitting in front with Kotaro and Yue.

"You know...I've been wondering that too. Considering all we've done, how DO I really feel about the little squirt?" Asuna thought. That one thought kept Asuna quiet for most of the trip. Ayaka glanced at Asuna, being a seat ahead of her.

"Asuna?" she thought "Never seen her this serious before." But Ayaka kept quiet as the buses brought the girls up to the airport. Everyone stepped out, but surprisingly, Asuna was the last to step out.

"Geesh Asuna. If Nodoka didn't remind you we arrived, you'd be on the bus still." Konoka said. Asuna chuckled.

"Sorry Konoka. Guess I spaced out for a while." Asuna said. The buses closed their doors and drove away. Inside the airport, they all saw the beautiful decorations hung up all around them. Wreaths were on the posts, tinsel wrapped around the railings and a beautiful Christmas tree stood in the center.

"I never get tired of how amazing a Christmas tree looks." Chao said. Satomi agreed. The twins watched on with Shade as a man played gentle piano music. The song he played was "Keep Christmas With You" and he looked on with a smile as he played.

"That's so beautiful." Shade muttered. As they went on, Shade stayed close to the group. Kotaro stretched his arms and put them behind his head.

"Okay everyone. We've got twenty minutes before our plane departs. So make sure to keep your eyes on the clock." Negi said.

"We will professor." the girls all said. They then dispersed to check out the airport. But Asuna didn't count on what she would be seeing as she went to explore with Konoka. She kept seeing lovers together, holding their hands and smiling. Asuna started to fluster and look away.

"Asuna? What's wrong?" Konoka asked. Asuna glanced at her friend.

"Huh? Oh. It's...It's nothing." Asuna said. Konoka sighed.

"It HAS to be something. You're acting like Nodoka. And that's not you." Konoka said. Asuna sighed.

"All right. But promise to keep this between us?" Asuna asked. Konoka nodded and listened to every word Asuna said after that. After Asuna finished, Konoka chuckled.

"That's so sweet. So I guess you really DO...." Konoka said. But she was quickly shushed by Asuna as they both saw Kazumi pass by with Sayo.

"DON'T say that out loud. If Kazumi heard you, she'd have a field day with me." Asuna muttered. Konoka apologized and promised to keep her lips zipped. Asuna sighed.

"Thanks Konoka." she said. Meanwhile, Kotaro and Negi were browsing the gift shop and checking out the strange objects. Kotaro found an animated toy Santa, sitting in a bathtub. But after playing with it for five seconds, he put it back.

"Really, who would BUY these creepy things?" Kotaro groaned. He then strolled off as Negi was browsing the greeting cards. He found few that he liked, especially one that played a beautiful song when he opened it. He smiled.

"Nekane will surely love this." Negi thought. He had picked at least five that he liked when he went to check out. But shortly after leaving, he saw Asuna sitting by herself on a bench. Negi walked over and looked down at Asuna.

"Asuna? Is something wrong? I don't think I've seen you this worried before." Negi asked. Asuna looked up at Negi and gave a smirk.

"I'm fine. Why should you worry about me anyway?" Asuna asked. Negi chuckled.

"I...I guess you're right. I'm sorry. But, where's Konoka?" Negi asked. Asuna said she went to use the bathroom and she was waiting for her. Negi sat down besides Asuna and asked if she would like to see the cards he bought from the gift shop.

"Sure." Asuna said. Negi took the cards out of his bag and showed them to her. She looked on at all of them and read the inner message inside.

"And you got these at the gift shop? Wow. Last year, they didn't have much." Asuna said. Negi chuckled. Just then, Asuna got an idea and asked Negi how much time they had left before they had to board. Negi checked the watch on his wrist.

"Uhh...about ten minutes." Negi said. Asuna smiled.

"That's enough time. I'll be back. I just gotta do something quick." Asuna said. She then got up and hurried off. Negi wondered what was going on as from his coat pocket, Chamo's head popped out.

"Hey Negi. What's going on? What was all that you and Asuna were talking about?" Chamo asked. Negi shrugged and told Chamo everything that happened. The small ermine smirked.

"Heh. Oh ho. I see. Don't you get it? If she was acting like THAT when you saw her, it must mean she's been thinking about someone special. And I think that "special someone" has to be YOU!" Chamo exclaimed. Negi gasped.

"Y...You think so?" Negi asked. Chamo crossed his arms.

"Heh. Trust me. What an ermine says is ALWAYS right." Chamo smirked. Negi started to blush bright red. Back at the gift shop, Asuna entered and looked at the cards Negi had found. She started to read a few as a smile was on her face.

"Yeah. Negi's right. There are some good ones. Maybe I'll get some too. It sure beats waiting until half way through the month to pick out cards." Asuna thought. In the lobby, Yue was reading a manga with Haruna.

"Haruna? WHY did you pack these again?" Yue asked. Haruna chuckled.

"I thought we could tease Nodoka a bit with these." Haruna smirked. They were the same books Haruna used to tease Nodoka when she had her boy phobia. Haruna showed them to her a while ago and now Nodoka was trying to forget about it as she sat in the lobby. Yue groaned and yanked on Haruna's ear.

"No. Bad Haruna." Yue said. Haruna groaned and begged Yue to let go, feeling Yue tightening her grip. Yue held Haruna's ear until she cried uncle and let go. Nodoka suddenly looked up at the clock.

"Oh. Come on girls! We've got to tell Professor Negi that it's almost time!" Nodoka called. Yue glanced at the clock and agreed. Elsewhere, Negi and Asuna were just going around and gathering the others. By the time Nodoka and Yue arrived, they realized Negi already knew.

"Okay girls. Let's go." Negi said. With two minutes to spare, Negi and Asuna were able to round up their class and they all boarded the plane. Negi had called Nekane beforehand and told her they were just boarding now. With everyone on board, the plane began to take off and it left the station.

"Here we go again. Next stop....beautiful Wales, England." Natsumi said as she watched from the window. As the plane took off, Negi and Asuna didn't realize they were now sitting next to each other. When they did, Asuna and Negi were surprised.

"Oh. Hey Negi." Asuna muttered.

"H...Hello Asuna." Negi said. They then turned away from each other, looking away and their faces bright red. Chamo peeked out of Negi's jacket and looked up.

"Heh. I knew it. I wonder how THIS romance tale is gonna turn out." Chamo thought with a smirk. The plane continued on as the girls couldn't wait to see Wales and, mostly for Negi, to have Christmas with Nekane and Anya.

END OF CHAPTER