Home Again
The last few days of school went by fast and before long, the class had its annual Christmas party and gift exchange on the last day of school. Negi was both happy and relieved that winter break was starting. As much as he enjoyed teaching at school, his class tended to overwhelm him and it seemed that out of all the things he could do, from surviving the end of year exams, to exploring the depths of Library Island, and fighting a super powerful vampire, the one thing he couldn't do was to control his own class.
But the last day of class he didn't really mind and let the girls have their fun. The girls came in on the last day with their arms stacked with presents and party assortments. And of course the girls couldn't resist dragging their young professor into the fun as well.
Normally, Negi would have wanted to stay out of this commotion but he soon found himself being passed around by his students for various games and such. When class ended, Negi looked back on that moment and realized that he actually enjoyed himself.
All that was fun and all for Negi, but the biggest present for him has still yet to come as he and five other students were going back home to Wales for a little vacation and to visit his family. Negi and the Dean had already arranged for most of the travel expenses such as passports and taxi rides for the six of them. So when the day finally came for Negi, Asuna, Konoka, Setsuna, Evangeline and Chachamaru to leave for the airport, they only needed to double check their luggage and make sure that no one wondered off at the airport.
On the plane, the six of them sat in pairs, Negi with Asuna, Konoka with Setsuna and Evangeline with robotic servant. It was a rather weird feeling for the group as they got on the plane and followed the procedures. Most of the group had not flown on a plane before much less a commercial 747 flying five miles above the surface of the ocean.
"Isn't this fun Secchan? We get to sit next together like this!" Konoka said not an hour into the flight.
"Um...yes..." Setsuna mumbled back.
"C'mon don't those clouds look so fluffy and soft? Oh! Look at that one! I just want to jump on it right now!" Konoka almost shouted earning a raised eyebrow from Evangeline.
Since they had quite a bit of free time on their hands, Negi decided to teach the girls a few Christmas hymns and songs in between meals. Afterwards, he left the others to do their own things.
Half a day later, the plane touched down in London International Airport and was a little past noon since they were flying toward the sun rather than against it. Of course, Asuna was completely caught off guard by this.
"Eh? How could it still be noon here? I mean that flight was like 14 hours long!" she exclaimed.
"If you had paid attention in class you would know that flying toward the sun you don't lose as much time than as you would if you flew against the sun." Chachamaru explained to her.
"Oh, I knew that, I just didn't realize it right away." Asuna said defensively. But Negi, Asuna and Konoka laughed and found it a bit funny.
"Come now girls. We still have a bit of a ways to go. We still have to catch a train to Wales." Negi said after he caught his breath. "Oh, you might want to put on you coats just in case, it's going to get cold really fast." Negi said as he pulled on his own green coat. The girls soon followed suit and soon their was a rainbow of various colored jackets and raincoats.
They walked outside the airport amid a chilly noon. Negi signaled for two cabs to take them to the train station where the group was going to be taking a train to Wales to complete the final leg of the trip.
The girls all looked wide eyed at the city of London. It was so different and looked so much older than the modern cities in Japan. Negi noticed this and made a mental note to see if it was possible for everyone to take a day trip to London during their holiday.
The six of them arrived at King's Cross Station not a moment too soon. They only had ten minutes to spare and there was that adrealine rush when they felt they might miss their train. Luckily, they managed to find their train alright and boarded just as the conductor had yelled, "All aboard!" and tooted the train's horn.
"Wow! I've never ridden on a steam engine before! It's so different than the subways back home!" Asuna said as she pulled her bags down the hall of the train trying to find an empty compartment.
"This is my first time as well, it feels so different that when we go to school" Konoka added.
Eva however said, "Whatever, its just a train ride. It's nothing special."
The others heard another long blast of the horn and felt the train lurch suddenly and started moving slowly underneath their feet. The six of them walked a little further and finally found a compartment that was free. They took a little while to pile all their belongings on top of the rack and finally sat down to watch the scenery. There was just enough room for three people to sit on the velvet benches. Evangeline and Asuna both got window seats.
Soon the train chugged through the London Metropolitan area and crossed into the countryside. It hadn't snowed yet but the day was exactly bright and sunny either.
For several minutes the six of them were silent and simply watch the trees and telephone poles whisk past them. Before long, the train was winding through the lush green hills of Britain and passed several quaint villages, ruined castles and keeps, and it was traveling through a storybook.
"Wow! You were right Negi! It really is beautiful!" Asuna said putting her hands against the window, her nose so close that her breath created a small circle of fog on the window.
"Yes, it certainly is really beautiful, I've never seen the hill and mountains so green before!" Chachamaru said.
"I told you so." Negi added back and also looked outside.
"It's just like those pictures in our textbooks, it looks so magical! Don't you agree Secchan?" Konoka exclaimed with a cheery smile.
Setsuna looked at Konoka and nodded in agreement.
Eva merely grunted and stared.
"Hey Eva? Is something wrong?" Asuna peeled her eyes off the window and looked over at the diminutive vampiress.
"It's nothing........" she said quietly and drifted off.
Eva continued to stare outside the window. They rounded a hill and was soon passing another ruined castle that was built out of stone and brick. As she looked at the timeless edifice, she drifted off into her own thoughts.
It was true that she lived in Britain before, back when it was still the Kingdom of England, and a much different world. Heh, she could remember a time when armies used to fight across the plains and sieged castles. She also smiled, one of her signature mischievous, evil smiles.
"Hey, I just realized something. You must have originally came from around Britain right?" Asuna suddenly asked Eva after about five minutes shocking Eva out of her little stroll down memory lane.
"Um, pardon me?"
"Yeah, you're last name is McDowell, so that must be....Scottish or something right?" Setsuna turned to ask Eva.
"Meh."
"Now that I think about it, you do have a slight British accent when you talk, almost the same as Professor Negi." Konoka noted.
"I suppose coming here....brings back memories......" Eva said not looking at her.
"Wait a sec.......how long ago was that........" Negi asked his Master.
Eva was slightly irritated. "Why do you need to know?"
"C'mon Evangeline! We're curious!"
"Yeah, was it really like the movies? Like when Knights dressed in armor and fought with shields and swords on the battlefield?"
Eva took a deep breath and steadied herself. She thought I couldn't hurt to tell them a little about medieval England. "I.......was born in the middle ages.....during the hundred years war......" Eva began.
"EH?!! that was like........over 500 years ago!"
"Hey, that must mean you must have lived during the time when Knights used to ride around and protect a princess! Aww that must have been so romantic!" Konoka exclaimed."
Negi had a sudden realization. "Yeah, so I guess that is the western version of what Setsuna here does!"
"Heh, I suppose you're right!"
"My duty is to protect ojou-sama." Setsuna said slightly blushing. She was being compared to a knight after all and couldn't help but be slightly embarrassed.
Eva continued on ignoring the outburst. "Yes, it was. I can remember when these castles used to house nobles and knights, and remember all the bloody battles the feudal lords and nobles fought for control of this tiny island." She smiled slightly at all the sight of blood. "Quite frankly I didn't mind, besides, I got free blood!" Eva finished with a short evil laugh. The others simply sweat dropped.
About two hours after they left the train station near the airport, they pulled into the station in a Newport, where Negi's hometown sat adjoining.
Negi and his students walked a little ways and was finally in sight of his home town. They were barely within the town's borders when Negi heard a voice calling his name.
"Nekane!" Negi cried. His sister ran towards him from across the hill and before he knew it, Nekane Springfield had the young teacher in a bear hug.
"Negi! It's so good to see you again! I was beginning to worry when you'd arrive!" Nekane cried still holding on to Negi like an over sized doll. Nekane tended to be more of a mother than a sister for the young professor. After a full minute she set him back on the ground and looked up to see the five girls and bowed.
Negi took this opportunity to start the introductions, "Everyone, this is my sister Nekane, as you could see we are rather close."
Nekane giggled and said, "It's a pleasure to meet you all. I'm very honored to have you all here in Wales for Christmas."
"Oh sister? Where is Anya? I thought you'd said she was with you?" Negi asked.
"Oh, she's coming right now, she fell behind when I heard you were coming and I decided to run outside." Nekane replied.
"Heeeeyyyyyyy! Wait up!" cried a voice towards town. Negi could tell right away that it was his childhood friend. It was not long that another figure appeared over the hill, Anya Cocolova.
"Jeeze Nekane.....you didn't have to run all the way out here just to see your brother......." Anya panted as she walked up alongside Nekane. She and Nekane both wore coats, scarfs and mittens. Anya's face was half-covered by hers. Konoka could barely stand still after seeing Anya. Konoka, like Nekane also had a knack for grabbing and hugging any object they deemed cute whether it was artificial or not.
Negi waited until Anya caught her breath and then started to introduce his students. He looked over at his five students and started with Asuna and Konoka.
"This is Asuna Kagurazaka and Konoka Konoe." Negi began. "These two were kind enough to allow me to room with them at school. I have gotten to know them quite well."
"How do you do?" Asuna bowed and Konoka followed suit.
Negi moved on to Setsuna who also bowed, and to Chachamaru. He decided to not mention to his sister that she was a robot.
"Finally, I would like you to meet my magic teacher......"
"NO WAY!! ARE YOU OUTTA YOU"RE MIND NEGI?!!!" Anya screamed and in the blink of an eye, she grabbed Negi's arm in one swift move and dashed off about 300 feet in the opposite direction.
"Oh my, she sure runs fast." Nekane said putting a hand up to her mouth as she smiled.
"Dear me, did I scare her? Whatever did I do? I'm just a weak little human girl who happens to be a house guest." Eva said with a sarcastic tone and obvious faked innocence.
The other three girls looked at her and sweat dropped. Nekane however wasn't fazed by Eva, something that the little vampiress was intrigued by.
"Hmm? You're not scared of me?" Eva asked the other blond.
"Hmm? Why should I be afraid?"
Eva was now very intrigued. This person was also a mage, she could feel it. If so she surely must have heard about her. "Because I am an evil scary vampire?"
"Aww, but I didn't expect a vampire to be so cute!" and without warning, Nekane grabbed Eva and hugged her. The other girls had to do their best to hold back their laughter.
"HEY!! Let go of me!! I'm not some doll! I am the Dark Evangel! You're supposed to be scared!!" Eva cried.
"Hmm, looks like Eva can't scare everybody." Asuna said to Setsuna.
Am I becoming too soft? Evangeline wondered.
When Anya had pulled Negi far enough that she deemed safe from that 'monster' Anya spun Negi around to face her. She had face that made her look more like a mother concerned for her child rather than an eleven-year old fire mage.
"Negi.......do you realize the danger you're in? I don't think you need to be reminded that she was the same vampire who has haunted us magi for years, "
Anya had every right to be scared of the little vampiress. Then again, who didn't? Back when Anya and Negi attended school together, her parents had told her stories of the evil blood sucking vampire who would take away naughty kids and suck their blood. Anya believed every word and lived in fear of her own shadow thinking that the 'Maga Nosferatu would suddenly pop out if she did anything out of line.
"Anya, please it's alright. Eva is not as bad as she seems, besides she isn't that bad once you get to know her." Negi tried to explain.
But Anya wouldn't hear of it. She knew what Eva was capable of.
"Still, I think that..."
"Tell me what Anya?" said a cold voice behind Anya.
Anya froze in place and slowly turned her head around dreading who it was. Sure enough it was Eva with her classic evil smile and narrowed eyes.
Anya reacted logically by trying to blast Eva with a fire ball spell. Eva dodged easily.
"Oh ho! Trying to best me are we? Where are your manners? I thought you shook hands with your guests not attack them." Eva taunted Anya.
"Wah! Stop it you two! This is supposed to be a vacation!" Negi cried trying to stop the two little girls.
"Boya is right, I really don't feel like fighting you. Not worth my time." And with that Eva turned away.
Negi and Nekane suggested that the eight of them get out of the cold. It was past four in the afternoon, and they were traveling for over half a day. The eight of them followed Nekane and Negi into town and to their home. Anya made sure to keep her distance from Eva who gave her one of her evil glances now and then. Anya shivered not because of the cold weather, but from the uneasiness that she felt when she was around the infamous vampire.
The Springfield's home was a little ways from the middle of the quaint little down. It was built in the classic English style with stucco and crisscrossing wooden frames. It had two floors plus and attic, and was a comfortable size with three bedrooms, living area, dinning room and kitchen.
"Here we are. I'm so sorry that Anya reacted that way to Evangeline." Nekane apologized to the others as she took off her scarf and hung in on the coat rack.
The other girls also started taking off their scarfs and coats to hang on the coat rack as well. "It's alright, her reaction was predictable." Chachamaru told Nekane.
"There aren't many who aren't scared of our little Eva!" Asuna added as well."
"Heh. I like to think of my 'job' to scare other people."
Nekane showed the five others to their rooms. The six of them walked up stairs onto a hallway and Nekane opened a door to one of the rooms. This room was a medium sized and had two bunk beds. The other one down the hall was slightly smaller and had twin beds. Subconsciously the six of them agreed that Asuna, Konoka and Setsuna would share one room and Evangeline and Chachamaru would share the other.
To Asuna and Konoka, sharing a room was second nature to them and subconsciously Asuna got the top bunk while Konoka got the bottom one.
"Um, Nekane? Do you mind if I share a bed with you again like we used to?" Negi asked as they left the other girls to unpack their things.
Nekane giggled and said, "Do you even have to ask? Of course you can! But why don't you take a nap for an hour or so, I'm sure you and your students must be tired from your journey."
Nekane and Anya left Negi in his room and went downstairs to cook dinner for tonight. Negi set down his bag and took a look around. This was the same room that he used to sleep in every night before he came to Japan. And without even removing his glasses, he slumped down on the large bed with his eyes staring at the ceiling. He really did miss the comfort of home.
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