Negima 2: Our Beautiful Christmas Dream
Chapter 2: Coming Home for Christmas
When the day of their trip to Wales came, everyone couldn't sleep that night because of how excited they were. Everyone gathered together outside the academy with their holiday spirits bright and their winter clothes on. Chamo rested on Negi's shoulders while Kotaro stood and yawned.
"I really can't wait to see Nekane again. Aren't you Chachamaru?" Jennifer asked. Chachamaru nodded remembering it was thanks to Nekane inviting them that she met Jennifer.
"Hopefully things start off better than last year....when a few certain LUNATICS jumped me." Evangeline said with her eyes on Sakurako, Kakizaki and Madoka. The three of them nervously chuckled as Evangeline continued to stare at them.
"We said we were sorry Evangeline. Can't you forgive us?" Madoka said. Evangeline sighed and looked away with her eyes closed.
"I suppose I can." Evangeline muttered. As the girls sighed relief, Shade nervously looked away. She was feeling awkward being on a field trip with her new friends.
"Huh? Hey Shade? You doing OK?" Satomi asked. Shade glanced at Satomi and then away. Asuna put her hand on her shoulder and Shade blushed.
"Don't worry Shade. Nekane and Anya are really nice people. You'll get along great. Believe me." Asuna said. Shade nodded before timidly stepping back a bit. Asuna groaned.
"That Shade..." Asuna thought. Negi asked Asuna if she remembered to pack everything.
"Huh? Oh yeah. I sure did Negi. I've got everything plus this." Asuna said. She showed Negi something that she had wrapped up in wrapping paper with a bow.
"What is it Asuna?" Konoka asked. Asuna chuckled with a wink.
"Nothing much. Just a special Christmas cake I made for them." Asuna said "I hope Nekane likes it." Negi chuckled.
"I'm sure she'll love it Asuna." Negi said. Chao kept her eyes opened for the buses and saw them coming. Ayaka turned to the class.
"All right everyone! Though we made a good impression last year when we went to Ms. Springfield's home, I still hope you will behave youselves! You hear?! We're representing our school again. So I don't want any..." Ayaka announced. But when the bus doors opened, the girls seemed to stampede past Ayaka. Ayaka was left standing stiff like a statue with a freaked look on her face.
"Uhh...hey! Wait a second! Don't forget me!" Ayaka shouted. She rushed inside and the doors closed. Konoe, Takahata and Shizuna waved goodbye as the girls did the same. Negi sat near the front with Asuna.
"Well Negi, I have a feeling we're going to have another great Christmas." Asuna said. Negi smiled.
"Me too Asuna." Negi said. In Wales, Nekane had made some fresh hot cocoa and poured some for her and Anya. She handed a cup to Anya and she took a sip.
"Nekane, you always do it. Your cocoa is perfect. I don't know HOW you can keep making it the same way every time." Anya said. Nekane chuckled and joined her at the table.
"Well, I guess it's just in me to make hot cocoa so good." Nekane said. Anya giggled.
"I think so." Anya said. As Nekane took a sip of hers, she glanced out the window at the snow covered town.
"Oh dear. This again Nekane? Negi made it here last time. So don't worry." Anya said. Nekane glanced back at Anya.
"All right. If you say so." Nekane said. Back on the buses, Negi and his class was just getting settled in. Their ride to the airport would take a while, so everyone made sure to bring things to keep them busy.
"Well, looks like everyone made it. And I mean it this time." Asuna said. She saw Kotaro sitting with Yue and Nodoka in the back.
"Wait. Has anyone seen Chamo?" Negi asked. Just then, Negi saw Chamo sticking his head out of his coat.
"Hey there Negi. Heh. Do you know this pocket is a great place to curl up for a nap? Figured I'd sleep here so I'd make sure not to wake up late." Chamo said. Negi sighed.
"Well, do tell me next time. I was afraid we would've left you behind." Negi said. As Negi and Chamo talked with one another, Asuna looked out the window at the snow covered scenery. Soon enough, the buses made it to the airport and everyone stepped out. Fuka and Fumika stretched their arms out wide.
"What do you know? We made it." Fuka said. Kaede chuckled remembering that both twins were just asleep at her sides in the bus.
"Does everyone have all their things?" Negi asked. The girls all nodded and followed Negi inside. Inside the airport, people were all abuzz with Christmas cheer and decorations hung all around the walls. They saw wreaths, tinsel and small bells hanging off ribbons.
"Wow. Everything's so beautiful. Christmas always make things look better." Sakurako said. Kazumi held her hand camera in her hand as Sayo floated behind her. Shade watched as she saw a small band playing "Feliz Navidad" on their instruments.
"Hey. Listen to those guys. They sound so cool." Natsumi said. Shade nodded without a word. Everyone settled into the lobby as Negi took a head count. Shade couldn't help watching the band as they played different Christmas songs. Next to her were Asuna and Konoka.
"Hey Shade. What's up?" Asuna asked. Asuna looked back and saw the band.
"You really like their music, don't you?" Asuna said.
"Of course. You never told me Christmas music was so beautiful." Shade said. Asuna and Konoka glanced at each other and giggled.
"Well, come on then. Maybe the gift shop has some Christmas music. What do you say?" Konoka asked. Shade looked back at Negi and wondered if it was OK. Asuna asked Negi and he agreed to it.
"Then come on Shade. Let's go." Asuna said. As Asuna, Konoka and Shade went off, so did Evangeline. She said she wanted to look around and didn't want the three "nuts" following her again.
"And, of course, she's referring to us." Kakizaki muttered. Sakurako and Madoka nodded.
"Wait. If you think about it, Ayaka's really the one to blame here. She's the one who got us following Evangeline to begin with. Right?" Sakurako asked. Unknowing to them, Ayaka could just barely hear them and they stopped when they heard her growling. At the airport's gift shop, Shade was looking at the different Christmas music in the stands.
"See any you like Shade? There's a sampler over there if you want to listen to them." Asuna said pointing behind her.
"OK. Thank you." Shade said. As Shade chose some to listen to, Konoka remembered that she forgot something back at the lobby. Asuna joined her in getting it after telling Shade they would be back soon.
"All right then." Shade said. For a few minutes, Shade listened to some of the CD's she chose. She selected some and bought them from the clerk. Just as she left to head back to the lobby, Shade saw a little girl looking around. It was actually Princess Valkyrie in her child state.
"Excuse me. Are you lost little girl?" Shade asked. Valkyrie nodded.
"I...I can't find Kazuto! I can't find Kazuto!" Valkyrie cried. Shade knew Valkyrie was too sad to speak right now. She gently took Valkyrie's hand as she looked at her.
"Don't worry. I'll help you find your friend." Shade said.
"Oh. Really? Thank you miss." Valkyrie said. Shade chuckled and introduced herself to Valkyrie. She did likewise as they went together. A few moments later, Asuna and Konoka returned to find Shade gone.
"Ehh.....Konoka? PLEASE tell me we left Shade here earlier." Asuna stuttered. Konoka was speechless before Asuna's eyes widened.
"Where's Shade?!" Asuna shouted. Shade was still amongst the crowd in the airport trying to help Valkyrie find Kazuto. Negi soon was behind Asuna and Konoka.
"Hello girls." Negi said. He noticed Asuna's frozen stiff face.
"Uhh....Asuna? Is something wrong?" Negi asked. Asuna creaked her head to face Negi and she told him what happened. Negi gasped and started asking Asuna how this could've happened.
"I...I don't know! But I'm really sorry Negi! Konoka had to go back and get something and we told Shade we'd be right back. But when we got here, she's gone!" Asuna said. Negi calmed Asuna down and told them that they had to find her soon. Their plane would take off in ten minutes. Konoka gasped.
"Then come on! We have to hurry and find her!" Konoka shouted. Negi and Asuna nodded. The three hurried off back towards the lobby looking for Shade. Meanwhile, Shade and Valkyrie were gazing through the various crowds in the lobby trying to find Kazuto.
"Do you know what your friend looks like? It might help me out a bit if I knew." Shade asked. Valkyrie took out a photo of her with Kazuto in front of their bath house.
"Oh. This is him? Don't worry. We'll find him soon. I promise." Shade said. But as Valkyrie was feeling much happier, Shade noticed the clock.
"Uh oh. I need to hurry. The others are probably worried about me and.....oh no! Asuna! Konoka!" Shade thought. Asuna, Negi and Konoka were watching for Shade as they squeezed their way past some of the crowds. Eventually, Asuna passed by Evangeline.
"Where are you going to in such a hurry Kagurazaka?" Evangeline asked. Asuna caught her breath and asked Evangeline if she saw Shade. Evangeline huffed.
"Last I saw of her was with some little girl. We passed by each other while you and Konoka were heading back to the lobby." Evangeline said.
"Huh? A...little girl?" Asuna said. After getting back to Negi and Konoka, they began retracing their steps.
"But...Asuna. If Shade is helping some little girl, she could be ANYWHERE by now." Konoka said. But, by sheer dumb luck, Negi just noticed Shade passing by with Valkyrie.
"Wait! There she is!" Negi shouted. They all hurried to Shade.
"Oh. Guys! There you are." Shade said.
"Shade! Where were you?! We got worried when we came back and you were gone!" Asuna shouted.
"I'm sorry guys. I really am. I've been trying to help this girl find her friend and...." Shade said. She stopped when she heard a loud "So THERE you are!" calling out. It was coming from Hydra.
"Uhh...hello there." Negi said. Hydra asked Shade if she was helping Valkyrie and Shade nodded. Valkyrie immedietally hugged Hydra with a big grin on her face.
"Hydie! We found you! We found you Hydie!" Valkyrie exclaimed. As Hydra struggled with Valkyrie, Hydra thanked Shade and told her she could take over.
"All right then." Negi said. As Hydra and Valkyrie strolled off, Hydra bopped Valkyrie in the head.
"Geez! You really had us worried! You know that? Next time you have to go, make sure you take Ms. Sanada with you or something!" Hydra mumbled. As they walked, Valkyrie looked back at Shade and waved. Shade smiled and waved back.
"They make an odd pair, don't they?" Asuna said. The others nodded. Just then, Fuka came rushing over.
"Hey you guys. Come on. The plane's going to be taking off soon. We've got to board it now." Fuka said.
"Oh. Right. Coming!" Negi said. They hurried off together as Hydra and Valkyrie just returned to their group.
"Here she is. Next time, someone PLEASE go with her. Because I am NOT going to keep waiting in the bathroom for her to get out." Hydra groaned. As Ms. Sanada was pleased to see Valkyrie safe and sound, Valkyrie hugged Kazuto tightly.
"So Valkyrie, what happened while you were gone?" Kazuto asked. Valkyrie looked back and smiled.
"I met someone. A new friend." Valkyrie said. Valkyrie continued on as the plane with Negi and his class took off.
END OF CHAPTER
