Disclaimer: This is a nonprofit fictional story, a FanFiction based on Ken Akamatsu's Negima. I do not own Negima, or most of the other characters included in this work, excepting where it is stated in the author's notes. It is not intended or presented for any commercial profit or personal gain; it is simply a story written for personal fulfillment and presented for public enjoyment, and as an honest homage to the fine story conceived and written by Ken Akamatsu, as well as all the other (innumerable) works that find place herein (and their authors).

Chapter Three: Pasts and Promises

Takamichi was well enough to leave shortly after this, leaving Kain with his friends and students. "Quite a battle, Kain-kun," Kajirô offered. "You even beat Takahata-sensei, as strong a magical fighter as I've ever seen. With those techniques, you're just about invincible, aren't you?"

Kain looked up at him in surprise, then laughed. "No. Not a chance. First of all, even I can see Takamichi went easy on me. If he'd ever wanted to, he could have wiped me out at any time. As for those…the more I use kanka and true kanka, the better I'll get, but right now, they're incomplete. They wouldn't work in a real battle."

"Well said," Alyssa noted. "Still, Kain, that was impressive, even for you. Most importantly, you never had a moment's hesitation. Your powerful imagination has been your greatest weakness—fear stemming from what you imagine your foe being able to do to you. I never saw it in that fight. Simply your resolve."

"Only because this was a mock battle," Kain said. "Because it wasn't serious, I knew I didn't have to worry. That's the only thing that kept my mind so calm."

Mai glowered at him. He looked up at her in surprise. "Mai?"

She slapped him on the back suddenly, hard. "O-ouch! W-what was that for!?"

"Oh, a 'mock battle'? 'It wasn't serious'? Give me a break. You and Takahata-sensei got so messed up fighting each other and 'it wasn't serious'? You men have a serious problem with how you think of fighting…."

"C'mon, Mai-san…Kain's right," Kenjirô retorted. "Sure, it was more than a friendly game of tag or something, but if Takamichi-san had wanted to, he could have torn Kain to pieces at any time. Compared to that, it wasn't serious."

"I guess…but it doesn't make it any easier to watch," she complained.

"Isn't yours starting soon, Mai?" Kagome asked her. "You might want to get going. You too, Momo…."

Mai looked up in alarm and sighed. "Is it that time already? I've been dreading this…."

"Well, we better get it over with. Let's go, Mai. Kain-sensei…take care." Bowing to Kain and the assembled group, Momo left the room, followed by Mai.

They watched them go, and then Hinagiku suddenly demanded, "I've been wondering for a while now, but…what are you doing here, Kaji-kun?"

Kajirô jumped. "Er, ah, no reason, really. I was just watching the fighting with Higurashi-san and decided to come congratulate Kain-kun. With her. You…also did well in your fight, Hinagiku-san, considering you were fighting Tear-senpai…."

"Ah…don't mention that, please," Hinagiku muttered, scowling and looking away, red-faced. "I still lost. I can't bear that. What about yourself? Of course, as a Tsukai, you're one of the twelve ruling families, so naturally you know all about magic…."

"Er…yes…are you angry, Hinagiku-san?"

"Angry? Angry because another one of my friends was keeping secrets from me all this time? Oh, no, not at all…."

('She's angry,') the assembled group thought. ('She's definitely angry….')

Kajirô sighed and shrugged. "What can I say? If I could have, I would have told you, Hinagiku-san. I'm sorry I was never able to say anything. And…I thought you were better off that way, anyway. The magic realm…isn't as great as it's cracked up to be…."

"Really?" Kain replied, blinking. "I can't imagine a life without magic. I mean, maybe it's not good for everyone to know, but I can't imagine wanting out of it…."

The group stared at him, and this time the group thought was, ('This is the reason over half the class has found out about magic….')

"In any case, perhaps we should get going," Kajirô put in. "If we want to see the rest of the fights, we need to get down to the arena. They should be ready any time."

"Right…."

Takamichi's main reason for leaving, even more than leaving the children alone to discuss things among themselves, was to indulge his addiction. He lit up and drew in a double lungful of smoke. "That far in just two months, huh?" he said to himself. "If he had a year, he might even surpass me…."

"Takahata-sensei? So you're here…."

Takahata turned to the approaching pair. "Ah, Mai-kun, Hinamori-kun. Shouldn't you be getting ready for your fight?" He inclined his head as he regarded Momo, dressed in her shihakushô. "Already a shinigami, Hinamori-kun? Will that do for a public tournament?"

"With Sakura-san, it probably won't be a problem," Momo replied. "She's made me visible in shinigami form before. I doubt she'll leave me hanging here…especially since my gigai really can't fight. More importantly, how are you doing? You and Kain-sensei really went at it…."

"Haha…you're right…I'm a little embarrassed that someone my age was so serious in a little duel against Kain-kun. It was rather childish. I bet you were worried, Mai-kun."

"E-eh?" Mai started. "N-no, not really…I mean…."

Takamichi laughed again. "No, it was my mistake. Halfway through that fight, I wanted to see what Kain-kun was really capable of…."

A sudden sound cut him off, and Momo drew a cell phone from her pocket and answered it. "Yes? Hmm. Thank you. Yes…."

"What is it, Hinamori-kun?" Takamichi asked.

"I've been wondering about something for a while now, so I sent my gigai to search the tournament grounds. She says she's found something about Sakura-san…."

"Hmm…so she's already established a presence here at the Saginomiya shrine? Well, now that my fight with Kain-kun is finished, I suppose I should look into this. I'm sorry I'll miss your match, but…."

"Eh? M-maybe that's for the best," Mai said. "I wish everyone else could. I'm just going to embarrass myself…."

"Perhaps. What I was saying earlier, Mai-kun…about talking…would it be all right if tomorrow sometime we meet? We could see the Festival together, and I can tell you some things…answer some questions I know you have."

Momo looked at Mai carefully as she digested this proposal. "Er…sure…I-I guess so…."

"Right. I better go meet up with Hinamori-kun's gigai. I'm looking forward to tomorrow, Mai-kun." Waving, he departed.

And soon found his target in a rather unusual place…in a tunnel underneath the estate, a large sewer system. "So, you're Hinamori-kun's gigai…."

"Please, call me Honoka," the pseudo-girl requested.

"All right, Honoka-kun…so…Sakura-kun has infiltrated this place…?"

"Yes…it seems to run in the direction of Mahora Academy. Based on the location of the Saginomiya Shrine, it probably goes to the Robotics Development Society, doki doki."

"Eh? Ah, yes…I didn't know that there was such a large underground drainage system between here and Mahora…knowing the Saginomiya family, they probably don't know it exists, either."

"Yes, and it connects to Sakura-san's room up in the shrine, doki doki. In any case…."

She suddenly moved in close and grabbed Takamichi around the arm. "It's dark, so we should stick together, doki doki."

"Er…right…let's carry on, then…."

We should perhaps explain something that hasn't had an opportunity to come up yet. Gigai, the artificial bodies used by Soul Reapers when they deal with humans, can be animated by gikon, or artificial souls created by the Soul Society's Research & Development Department. The artificial souls have pre-built personalities. The head of the Women's Soul Reaper Society, 11th Company Lieutenant Yachiru Kusajishi, had taken the responsibility of selecting gikon for Soul Reapers dispatched on missions requiring gigai…and she always chose gikon with interesting personality traits, including a constant verbal quirk. For Momo Hinamori, she had selected a gikon who was an ojiicon (a girl with a fetish for older men) and a tendency to say 'doki doki', the sound for a heartbeat.

With 'Honoka' clinging to Takamichi, the two began exploring the tunnel…but it wasn't long before a form came out of the shadows.

"Sakura-kun," Takamichi murmured. "I'm surprised to see you here. Weren't you watching the match?" He looked her over…the white overcoat and black kimono were both vaguely familiar to him, and by reputation, very familiar. "That's an interesting outfit…."

"To answer the question, I was and I am," Sakura replied easily. "In regards to your comment, I prefer the more noble attire, but we all have our uniforms. In any case, Takahata-sensei, you really shouldn't be here right now."

"Really? What's the meaning of this, Sakura-kun? What are you planning?"

"Ah, I can't answer that yet, I'm afraid. Nor can I let you go past here. I'm afraid I'll have to have you sleep until after the Festival ends tomorrow…by the time this is over, like me, everything will be a dream for you." She gripped the hilt of the wakizashi at her side. "Sleep deeply…."

She was sitting on the edge of the pier, gazing up at the sky, her legs swinging aimlessly in the manner that children do. She was half-listening to the conversation of the two men sitting cross-legged in front of each other off to the side. Both were dressed in light suits and had light hair, but one was far older than the other, with glasses, an unshaven face and a cigarette in his mouth.

"Listen up, all right? Mana in the left hand, ki in the right…."

"Mana in the left hand, ki in the right…." the younger man repeated. "Gah!" he exclaimed as the power burst and backlashed with the general feeling of a powerful static shock.

"Wrong, wrong," the older man scolded. "Listen up, Takamichi…you've got to make yourself into nothingness. At this rate, it'll take you five years to learn kanka…."

"R-right…."

Mai silently turned to look as she heard the footsteps approaching. As usual, the flame-haired, white-cloaked young man smiled at her as he approached, flanked by the dark-haired man with the black cloak and the other man with the slick black hair and glasses. "Yo. How's the princess feeling today?"

"Ah, Kalan-san, good morning!" the young Takamichi declared, rising and hurrying over.

"Ba-ka Takamichi…I told you to stop calling me Kalan-san, Hawk. Just call me Kalan.

"In any case, what are you guys doing?" Kalan asked, changing the subject before Takamichi could fall into over-apologizing.

"Ah, I was just doing a little training with Gato-san…."

Mai glanced down at her hands. "Mana in the left hand…ki in the right…."

Small flares of power gathered in her hands, and she put them together, creating a surge of energy that rolled through her. Still, she felt nothing. And since there was no reason to keep the energy now that she had it, she simply let it go.

But her action had not gone unnoticed. Takamichi stared in shock. "W-what?"

Eishun laughed and clapped him on the shoulder. "You're falling behind, Takamichi-kun."

"Amazing," Kalan congratulated her. "As expected of the princess."

"She'll make a great mage disciple at this rate," Jynx commented.

Gato winked at her. "Ojô-chan, want to become my partner?"

She shook her head, eliciting a raised eyebrow from the older man. "Oh?"

She turned her head and pointed. "I want Kalan."

The five men stared at her, surprised, for a few seconds. Jynx broke first, turning his head to stifle a laugh. Kalan spoke first. "Nice, nice. After all, Mai's a girl who knows what she wants…."

"Why the hell are you always that popular with everyone!?" Eishun demanded ruefully.

"So, this old man is no good?" Gato pined.

"Master, Mai-chan hates cigarettes…" Takamichi pointed out.

"Everyone, thank you again for your patience! Please observe the incredible speed at which the stage is repaired! All this destruction replaced in only minutes! All facilities connected with the Mahora Festival are provided for by the Mahora University Public Constructions Department!"

"Kain-sensei, are you all right?"

"Kain-sensei, that was awesome! It was like a movie!"

Nodoka, Yue, Ami, Kazumi, Yukari, Matake and Eita were now storming into the contestant's area to congratulate the teacher. Mai sighed once again.

"Isn't this place off-limits except for the contestants?" she asked wearily, looking over at Kajirô, Kagome, and Alyssa, who were already here…and non-contestants.

"I wouldn't worry about it," Momo said. "Everyone else wants to see our teacher too, right?"

"I guess so," Mai said as she watched the group gathering around Kain, bantering with him.

"I'm fine," Kain was assuring his students. "Takamichi went easy on me, so…."

"That's going easy?" Matake demanded in shock. "What are you guys, some sort of demonic supermen?"

Mai watched them coolly. "…Yeah, he sure is popular."

"That's one of the few things he got from his father…wouldn't you agree, Momo?" Alyssa chuckled. As Momo made an unreadable face, Alyssa glanced at Mai and her smile deepened. "Still, you were pretty intense there during the fight…you looked like you were ready to faint at any moment. And then, afterwards...scolding Kain-sensei…something like 'if you think that wasn't serious, you have a serious problem'?"

"E-eh? W-what?"

"So worried about him, yourself…and you act like you aren't one of his giddy fans…."

"H-hey! What are you saying…?"

As Alyssa began to torment Mai, the conversation with Kain continued, and Yukari was bringing Kenjirô into it. "Your fight was great, too, Kenjirô-kun, as short as it was. It was pretty amazing, that trick you did, and a very kind way to deal with that poor Sakura girl. Still, after watching your fights, isn't it obvious Kain-sensei is much stronger…?"

"W-what!?" Kenjirô barked, reddening in anger.

"N-no, that was a completely different situation…" Kain said piteously.

"That's right! You just wait! You can't tell until we have our match…."

"Oh…that won't be until the finals…will you make it that long?" Yukari teased.

"Don't doubt me…."

Kain's gaze met Yue and Nodoka's, who were standing back away from the thronging group. They gave thumbs-ups, and Kain returned them with a smile.

"The repairs to the stage have been completed! Will the two contestants please enter the changing room!"

"Changing room?" Momo murmured.

Kain glanced up in surprise. "Ah…that's right…." He hurried over to the contestants. "This next match, between Mai and Momo…." He faltered, as if eager to say something, but unsure of the words.

Mai regarded him carefully. "…What?" she asked finally.

"Ah…well…." He sighed. "Both of you…do your best…." He bowed.

"You're not going to cheer for either one of us?" Momo teased.

"Er…how am I supposed to?" He laughed. "You are two of my first and most important allies…and friends…I don't want to see you two fight any more than you want to fight each other. It's just a match, but…just do your best."

Mai sighed and glanced down at her card. "Right…I still don't believe I have a chance, but…it is all right to use the contract's power?"

"We should have more than enough power between us for that right now…my next match won't be for a while yet," he assured her.

"That way, you'll be a match for my reiatsu," Momo agreed. "You using the contract power alone should be enough of a handicap that this match won't be as one-sided as you believe."

Mai sighed and bravely turned to the door. "Okay…let's get this over with…."

Kain bowed as they headed out. "Good luck!"

There was silence in the drainage tunnel underneath the tournament grounds. The passage was quite empty…there was only a pack of cigarettes lying on the ground.

Now, with that little camera shot, we return to the tournament.

"Changing room…what's this about?"

It was a usual locker room for changing, but there didn't seem to be anything out for them to change into. Nanami, however, quickly appeared.

"A premise," she informed the pair. "First of all, after the incredible people we've been watching fight, two otherwise nondescript middle school girls is…well, it lacks flash, so we've got to have something to give this match pizzazz…."

"Thank you for the encouragement," Mai growled.

"And so," Nanami continued, "we need you to have some interesting outfits…that's the surest way to catch the crowd's interest. I personally thought that two cute girls fighting in, say, some short-skirted maid outfits would be great, but Sakura-chan said that Momo-chan would be best as a shinigami and Mai-chan could wear one of her outfits…I guess the one you wore when we fought the baron would be good.

"And, of course, the changing room, and announcing it publicly, is a good excuse to show you off in these new outfits, since many, including our classmates, have seen you in your ordinary school uniform. So, go ahead and change, take five minutes in here, and then head on out." She turned and began to leave.

"Wait," Mai demanded. "I've been wanting to ask you about this since last night, Nanami-san…what are you doing helping Sakura-san with this?"

"What am I doing?" she asked in surprise. "Just doing a job. She just told me she'd pay me to announce for her. I don't know anything else, and really, I don't care. Good luck!" And she departed.

Mai sighed and pulled out her card again, and summoned forth the same orange outfit Nanami had mentioned. "So, like this, huh? I guess it's better than a maid outfit…."

"She's right in a way," Momo said. "We're not famous teachers, renowned martial artists, popular student council members, or mysterious vagabonds, so 'two middle school girl roommates' does lack flair, I guess. We'll just have to wow them with our skills." She regarded her friend more seriously. "Still, I think you really need to give yourself more credit. You've come a long way…you're very strong now, yourself. It's rather surprising. Why are you so driven?"

"Eh? I-I'm not…well…I don't know. I just can't leave him alone…."

"Who? Kain-sensei?"

"Yeah, it's just…that idiot is always trying to take everything on himself. Even now, even after promising to rely on us more, he still…well, I still think he's putting far too much on himself. It might not be intentional…he just gets so involved in things, so single-minded when he's chasing something, that he doesn't even think about asking for help. Even after all we've been through, he forgets about us….

"And…I guess I'm just worried…no, I know he'll jump into something he can't get himself out of. I can't stand to see that…if I can, I have to help him."

"I see…so are you in love with Kain-sensei, Mai?" Momo asked, causing her to face-vault.

"Now you, Momo!?" Mai screeched. "Were you reading too much into what Alyssa-chan was saying? I-I care for Kain-sensei, sure, but…not like that….

"Anyway, what about you!? You were in love with Kain-sensei's father, after all…."

"T-that wasn't it, and besides, anything involving him was over twenty years ago! And Kain-sensei is an entirely different man…!"

Both of the pair stopped and took in deep breaths, then they began to laugh. "Well, anyway, let's not talk about any of that anymore," Mai said dismissively. "Neither of us is comfortable thinking about that…."

"Right…in any case, what are going to do about Kain-sensei? He's certainly still taking ridiculous risks…like how he threw himself into kanka in that last fight…."

"That's true…I really wonder about him. I wonder what he really wants from this tournament. Kenjirô-san forced him into this because he wants a real rematch against him, but he was as reluctant to enter as I was…at least until he heard his father's name mentioned. I wonder what he's fighting for…just to chase that shadow again…?"

"Maybe you should ask him. Of course, it'd be best to do so in the ring…."

"Hmm? Maybe I should…?"

"Well, if that gives you a reason to fight and win, keep that in your heart. Let's…make a promise, shall we?"

"Eh? A promise?"

"Right. Like Kain-sensei and Kenjirô-san did, to meet again in the ring. Let's promise that, whichever of us wins, we'll move on to face Kain-sensei…that we'll fight him with all our strength, and prove to him that we're equal to the task of standing with him. And, no matter what, we'll make sure to see this through…all of us together."

Mai finally smiled back. "Of course," she said, taking Momo's hand. "We'll see this through to the end, together."

"Right. Now, then…I think it's about time to head out." And immediately Momo turned and headed for the door.

"Huh? W-wait! I'm not quite ready…."

"And here are the flowers of this tournament, Hinamori Momo, the mysterious lady samurai, and Tokiha Mai, the dancing flame of summer! With the appearance of these delicate and beautiful flowers, the crowd thrills with an entirely new kind of anticipation."

The two were again standing with the other participants (Kagome, Kajirô, and the rest of the noncombatants had been sent off) and Alyssa (who for some reason was being allowed to stay) discreetly approached Momo. "I overheard a bit of that conversation in the locker room," she said. "Mai is certainly driven, but she's a bit of an idiot, isn't she? No matter what, she doesn't stand a chance against you. Why don't you mess her up good…?"

"Alyssa-chan…."

Akari and Kiami, standing behind the child, shared a glance. "Mai-chan certainly has improved…but I'd say there's no chance she could stand up to as experienced a fighter as Momo-chan…not if she was serious," Kiami noted.

"I'm not an expert on reiatsu or Mai-chan's magical powers, but fighting-wise she's way behind," Akari agreed.

The black-cloaked James Bond suddenly appeared at Mai's elbow. "That's necessarily true," he insisted, skillfully positioning himself to draw the previously clueless Mai into this conversation. As Mai looked at him in surprise, he reached out and tussled the hair on her head affectionately.

Mai recoiled in shock and stared at the man, red-faced. "W-w-what do you think you're doing!?"

Alyssa regarded him carefully…and then her eyes flew open in shock. "Y-you…it can't be…!"

The man wasn't paying attention to the smallest girl, however…he was still addressing Mai. He chuckled. "Even looking at you close, I can't believe it's you, Mai-san. You look just like a doll. For you to grow up into such an energetic, lively girl…."

He looked around at the assembled fighters. "And for you to be blessed with so many courageous friends…it seems Gato Kagura Vandenberg did right by entrusting you to Takamichi-kun."

He leveled his mostly-hidden gaze at her again. "Don't think about anything," he instructed her. "Try making yourself into nothingness, Mai-san. You should be able to do it."

Mai stared at him. ('That name…this voice…this…it all seems…what…?') "…W-who are you…?"

He smiled at her. "When you receive Kain-kun's magical energy from the contract, don't think about anything. Just relax, and turn yourself into nothingness. If you do that, you should be able to imitate Takamichi-kun…and Kain-kun."

"The same…as them…?" Mai shook her head. "W-what do you mean? Furthermore, who exactly are you…!?"

"Oi, oi, you!" Alyssa cut in, even more loudly. "What are you doing here right now? Even I've heard that there's a lot of people looking for you…!"

In response, the man smiled, chuckled slightly, and then disappeared, vanishing slowly into the air.

Hikaru Tsukino regarded the empty space coolly. "Hmm. Interesting. Akari-chan, Kiami-chan…you two have really attracted some interesting friends…."

Kiami stared at the empty space as well, then turned to Alyssa. "Alyssa-chan, do you know that man? Who is he?"

"An old friend…and old rival," Alyssa huffed. "Ridiculous that I didn't notice until now. He's Kalan Lockeheart's best friend. I never knew most of Kalan's later companions well, but that man spent all his time with Kalan and me in Wyoming and in Japan. His name is Al—"

"Bond," insisted the man, suddenly appearing behind the three veteran fighters. "James Bond. The name is on the tournament board there, you see? I know an English name like this is hard to pronounce, but…."

('I didn't feel his presence at all') Akari thought in shock.

"Don't mess with me!" Alyssa seethed. "Where have you been loafing around all this time!? Furthermore, why the hell do you know Tokiha Mai?"

"Oh? You didn't know, Alyssa? Is that so?" He began to chuckle again. "Well, for now, it's a s-e-c-r-e-t!" he insisted, putting a finger to his lips.

Alyssa gritted her teeth. ('Him, of all people. He's certainly learned to talk back to me in the time we haven't seen each other…then again, I did bully him incessantly when we…when he and Kalan were kids, and I heard he'd grown some stones from his adventures in Arcanus Myrror. I guess he's intent on getting a little revenge now that he's become a great mage and I'm a powerless little girl….')

'James Bond' turned his attention back to Mai. "Mai-san, do you want power right now? In order to help protect Kain-kun? In order to walk alongside him?"

Mai stared in silence, unsure of how to respond.

"I'll lend you some of my power…" he whispered, "…so that nobody has to die in front of your eyes ever again."

Again, the strange sentiment, the strange feeling of a lost past assaulted Mai's senses….

Finally Mai and Momo walked out to their respective corners, thoughts churning. ('W-what's going on here? What's with that man? He kept going on about things I couldn't understand…and, he's a friend of Kain's father…?')

('So, he's here,') Momo thought. ('Other than Kalan, he's the other member of the group that has completely disappeared, about fifteen years ago…to see him here, at Mahora…what's going on? Does he know something about what happened to Kalan? And all that advice…is he trying to make her…? No, I shouldn't worry about that. I should show Mai proper respect and just focus on fighting her….')

('And now, after saying he'd help me out, that guy's just gone and vanished again!') Mai continued.

"We're late!" Kenjirô growled as he and Kain came charging into the stadium. "It's all Yukari-san's fault!"

"It's starting!" Kain panted.

They were brought up short by the mass of the crowd. "I swear it's gotten thicker," Kenjirô complained. "When we were coming back from the nursing station after your fight, we almost got mobbed by our new fans. It'll happen again if we try to force our way through…."

Kain handed Kenjirô a cloak and swept his hood up. "Cover your face, and we'll find a place somewhere else."

"I'll take it for now, but next time just a hat, please," Kenjirô insisted, taking the cloak and obscuring himself with it.

Chisame scanned the messages on the screen of her laptop, swapping between windows and tabs quickly…until a white-cloaked figure suddenly slipped in next to her, briefly distracting her.

"Okay…here I come, Momo!"

"Okay," Momo agreed.

But then something else started talking to her.

'Remember, turn yourself into nothingness, Mai-san.'

'W-what? Kain…?' But no, it wasn't his voice, and….

'The world in your left hand, yourself in your right hand, and you are one, you are merely the window to…'

'W-wait a minute! Don't just suddenly talk to me in my head! It's weird enough when Kain does it! I can't understand what you're talking about!'

'Okay…I suppose…just think of it as blanking out.'

'Eh…I suppose I'm good at that….'

"Now, match seven…."

"Chisame-san! You really came! Thank you for coming!"

"…I-it's nothing, I just had some free time…." ('What's he doing here?') she thought. "Anyway, you idi—I mean, Sensei, there's something I'd like to ask you…oi!"

Kain had immediately switched to greeting Rei with surprise and delight, and then turned the other way to salute Miyu.

"I'm surprised you didn't join us, too," Kenjirô mentioned to Miyu.

"There was no reason to. I have other duties assigned to me. In any case, well done with your matches…."

Chisame began to seethe over the boys' lack of attention, but then her own was taken away as the fight began between Mai and Momo.

Mai's rings flashed to life and she began to fly, which was amazing enough, but she exploded into battle, descending on Momo with a speed that surprised even her…and Momo was thrown back by the force of Mai's first kick.

Momo was taken aback. ('T-this is…!')

And so was Mai, of course. ('I-I did…this!? Well, anyway…here we go!')

"And our 7th match is…showing us quite a surprise! This duel between Tokiha Mai and Hinamori Momo is…well…."

…Surprising to all involved, even Kain and his friends. In all honesty, the hundred-year-old (plus?) Soul Reaper Momo was a more experienced fighter than any of the group, and she showed it. She was generally reserved when it came to fighting and didn't like to show off, so she hadn't shown herself as someone high above her fellows, but the fighters knew instinctively that her training and experience put them to shame. It was this knowledge, more than anything else, that had brought Mai her own depression over her first opponent. Despite this, Mai was dominating the fight. She followed Momo everywhere she went, chasing her down with speed and attacking with such fervor that her foe seemed unable to counter attack. Momo's most mobile maneuvers failed to shake Mai.

('I can't believe it…I can follow her movements?') Mai wondered in bewilderment.

('As I thought…this is…let me test it….')

Momo had not hit her stride, of course—for one thing, she had not yet used her shunpo. She finally did so, slipping in behind Mai with that impossible speedy step, and attacked her open back.

But Mai's body half-turned and her arm raised to intercept, and Momo's sword slammed against Mai's ring. She threw her off bodily and tossed fire her way.

Momo stepped again, right to the ground just in front of Mai, but she again took no time to react to the maneuver and sent Momo retreating with a savage kick.

('Yes…it's not her eyes, as good as they are, but her entire body is following my movements….')

"Snap, Tobiume!"

Momo's sword sent fire sailing Mai's way, but she blocked it effortlessly with her shield, then charged in immediately again. Momo retreated to the air, gathering perch on it in the odd way that Soul Reapers do, and Mai flew up after her. Momo prepared to meet her charge, but Mai abruptly flew past and above her, and then dropped another blaze of flame on top of her friend.

Momo dodged it with a flash step. ('Her speed has increased significantly as well…that man really is….') She used shunpo again to meet Mai in the air once more, and her sword again clashed against Mai's bracelet. Still holding the locked sword with one hand, Momo pointed the other Mai's way, palm out and up, and she intoned: "Hadô 31: Shakka-ho!" In response, Mai raised her own off-hand to Momo's and began to gather fire of her own.

The two flames collided in a big blast of fire, and both Mai and Momo fell to the arena floor. They landed on their feet, seemingly none the worse for wear, but the mêlée had been broken and they took some seconds to observe each other.

('I'm…what am I doing? I'm fighting her…as an equal….')

('So, this is the real power of the princess…I wonder how much longer until she changes entirely…I'm half afraid of this, but…what can we do now…?')

"M-Mai, sugoi!" Kain exulted.

"H-how does Tokiha Mai have that much physical ability!?" Alyssa demanded in half-shock, half-anger. "She has a few natural magical powers, but they don't explain this…!"

Next to her James Bond (who hadn't been there a moment earlier) began to chuckle. "These are Mai-san's original talents."

"You…popping in and out," Alyssa spat. She narrowed her eyes at him. "What did you do to her back there, anyway?"

"What did I do? Nothing, really…just gave her a little push. Well, Alyssa, for old times sake…how'd you like to make a bet? I bet Mai-san will win this fight."

"…A bet? And what is your wager?"

"Information about Mai-san."

"Hmph. Fine then. Even with this, I doubt she could beat a Soul Reaper like Momo."

"So, the bet is on, then? Good…right, if Momo loses…you're going to perform in the concert this afternoon, right? If Momo loses, you'll have to give your performance in this school swimsuit." And said school swimsuit appeared in his hand…the standard blue model, but with a name strip on it for 'Golden Angel' in Japanese.

"Wait! What is that!?"

Meanwhile, while the mysterious mage (spy?) tormented Alyssa, Mai and Momo continued their battle.

('She still has a lot useless movements, but she's coming along beautifully. No…she's relearning it all….')

('I-it's just too amazing…all this power…everything is so clear…so easy…it's different than just when I'm getting power from Kain's contract…this is…something grand. If I had this all the time…he couldn't leave me behind anymore….')

The pair withdrew again, and, with exceptional timing, right about as she was beginning to get used to her superhuman ability, it seemed to drain away. "E-eh? Ah…so…tired…."

'Seems you're low on gas,' James Bond said in her mind. 'Well, it can't be helped since it's your first time.'

"Ah…you again…?"

'Now, one more time, do what I told you earlier….

"B-but I still don't know…."

'No, that's just it. 'Don't know'. Be nothing. Just do it.'

"R-right…okay…mana in the left hand…ki in the right…."

And the power exploded from her as she put it together.

('There it is…just like before…all right!')

Momo smiled. ('No mistake. That's kanka. I wonder if she picked it up while she was traveling with them…and he's teaching her to access it again….')

"I-impossible! Kanka, 'Magic-ki synthesis' took Takamichi years to master! He used my resort to do it, even! For her to do it that easily…Kain I can excuse, but her!? That brainless bimbo!?"

"Yes," James Bond agreed, "Takamichi-kun sure worked hard. It's a highly difficult technique that allows the user to obtain amazing powers by combining mana and ki, by melding one's inner body with the outside. Well, Mai-san is still an amateur, and she couldn't go head-to-head with Takamichi-kun, but she's still able to get that much power."

"And why can that girl use it!?"

"Hmmm…I wonder why…."

"You bastard!"

"Mai seems even more amazing than usual," Kagome commented. "She seems…intense…and strong…just like Kain-sensei was during the last fight…what's going on?"

Kamo, who had migrated to her shoulder, chuckled and explained, "A friend of ours has just…awakened her a little. She's remembering the skills she lost."

Kajirô, once again with Kagome, watched with care. "You're kidding me," he murmured. "The Crystal Princess?"

"Hmm? What's that, Kiddo?"

"I...studied a bit about the last great Mage War. I read about her. Her appearance—and her disappearance—was one of the great mysteries of the war. And now she's here…I thought she would be a lot older…?"

"Eh? What? What? Eh?" Kagome kept glancing back and forth between Kamo and Kaji.

"Later, Ojô-chan," Kamo assured her. "A little later, and we'll all hear it…."

Mai and Momo resumed their battle, dancing back and forth and exchanging spells and blows. Momo, never one for enjoying combat, still had a small smile on her face…a somewhat twisted, regretful smile, as if she was enjoying a joke against herself.

('No more hiding. Takamichi-kun planned on talking to Mai tomorrow, but he may have pushed the time table up. She might not need to hear anything….')

Alyssa began to fret. "What are you doing, Hinamori Momo!? That little school girl is nothing to you! Just kill her already!"

"Alyssa," the cloaked figure offered suddenly, "would you like to raise the stakes? My new wager is…Kalan Lockeheart…information about the Grand Archmage."

Alyssa stared in shock, images racing across the theater of her mind, old memories and thoughts and desires….

"What do you think? Will you stay on the bet?"

Alyssa gritted her teeth and began to tremble. "Grr…of course I will!"

"Right…good…in that case, for you…." He gestured again, and this time had a new prize in his hands…. "We'll add nekomimi, glasses, and a sailor suit to your wardrobe for the concert…."

"Stop screwing around!"

Hinagiku stared at this exchange going on…a battle seemingly more intense than the battle between roommates on the stage. "T-this is…quite a duel…."

"I-I wish I knew what was going on between these two," Erika agreed.

But even this couldn't distract them from the real battle for too long.

"The match between Hinamori Momo and Tokiha Mai…although initially it seemed like a match between two beautiful but unimportant middle schoolers, it has transformed into our most beautiful battle yet! Their exchange of attacks and defenses is like a beautiful dance, the heat of their flames, even their movement where they seem to be walking on the very air…they have enchanted us!"

This was mostly true…Chisame sourly noted Kain's rapt attention. Alyssa, however, was the only one agitated by the battle. In her mind she ground her two concerns together…win, and many questions would be answered for her. Lose, and she would be terribly embarrassed….

"Kalan…" she whispered.

"Really looking forward to the results?" her tormentor teased again, once again breaking her calm.

"H-her movements are too much!" Mei Sakura insisted. "E-even after what we saw before…how can a normal girl be capable of this!?"

"Because she's not a normal girl," Rin breathed. "I wish I knew what she was…."

"Of course she's the academy's ward," Tear mentioned. "And there has to be a reason…but how is she capable of this…?"

"It's a fire sale on kanka," Kenjirô noted. "Now Mai-san can do it easily? No, even more than that…her skill, her instincts are at a much higher level. She's not the same Mai-san anymore…."

Kain said nothing. He just continued watching his first disciple as she battled it out….

'Mai-san….'

Mai started. 'W-what is it…sir? I'm kind of busy right now….'

'Momo-chan is still underestimating you...well, more like she's still holding back. If you act now, you should be able to defeat her easily. Are you listening? Please do as I instruct….

'E-eh? Wait a minute….'

Momo wasn't privy to the conversation, but she noticed Mai's sudden distraction. ('An opening…!')

'Look, here she comes. Duck your head, then swing your left hand quickly. After it makes contact, drive into her with your right shoulder….'

Instinctively, Mai complied with the instructions. Her tackle knocked the surprised Momo to the ground, and then, continuing to follow the mysterious man's instructions, Mai straddled her and brought a fist into a finishing position.

Mai stared down at Momo, as surprised as her opponent that she had just performed such a masterful counter. The majority of the crowd was cheering, but those from Kain's circle stared in shock. The usually arrogant Alyssa looked like she'd swallowed a whole herd of bugs.

Momo stared up for a second, then took advantage of Mai's confusion to break free, throwing her off and retreating with a flash step. "Incredible, Mai. You've come a long way."

"Eh? N-no…it wasn't…."

Still instinctively following James Bond's instructions, Mai leapt in to attack Momo again. Momo responded by moving to meet her, increasing the speed and ferocity of her own attacks, seeing just how far her friend was going to go.

As Mai's movements continued to improve, even as her face was contorted in confusion, Momo was being forced back. As Mai ducked under a thrust and immediately sent Momo flying back with an elbow, Alyssa's furor finally reached a peak.

"Hinamori Momo!" she screamed at her. "What are you playing around for!? You're a top officer-class shinigami of the Gotei 13! A little girl like that shouldn't be anything to you, even if she's powered up just a little!"

Momo blanched in the midst of her fight. "What's she saying? She shouldn't be mentioning things like that right now…."

"Are you listening to me!?"

"Look a little more closely!" Momo replied hotly as she managed once again to break off for a brief moment. "Mai's fighting at my level!"

"Gah! That's just because this guy is cheating!" Alyssa jumped up and wrapped herself around Mr. Bond's neck, attempting to strangle him. "Hey, you! Stop using telepathy!" The man merely laughed as Akari and Kiami removed the struggling demon-child from her victim.

Momo shook her head and smiled grimly. Well, the truth was she still could go a bit farther…and if Mai was at this level, she deserved to show her everything she had….

'Okay, Mai-san, next….'

'W-wait a minute, sir!'

'What is it?'

'P-please stop this! I'm fine on my own!'

'Oh? Don't you want to win this fight?'

'W-well….'

'You seem reluctant, but don't you really want to move on so you can fight Kain-kun? So you can prove to him that you're capable of walking alongside him, of fighting beside him?'

'H-how did you…? Well, anyway, it's unfair! I want to fight…on my own terms, with my own abilities! It doesn't mean anything if I don't get there on my own!'

'I see…however…in that case, you won't win…is that all right? Leaving Kain-kun…to be like that?'

The conversation now was joined by an image returning to her mind, the image of the tiny Kain-kun wrapped in the white cloak, watching his father disappearing into the snow….

"Mai!"

Mai glanced up and saw Momo above her now, the spell she had been chanting complete in her hands. "Sorry for the wait. Here's a real taste of my serious power! Hadô 91: Senjû Kôten Taihô (Thousand-Hand Bright Heaven Culling Sear)!"

Six spears of light appeared around Momo and then shot towards Mai, closing in from multiple angles.

Time seemed to slow, to stop, as Mai numbly watched those shots hone their way towards her. They were reiatsu, and not magic, and yet she could feel the power inherent in this Soul Reaper spell. And then….

["Yo, Takamichi…can you give me a light? This is…my last smoke…."

The camera, in the beginning surveying a wide forested area running with water, zoomed into the forest until the forest, singular, became trees, plural, and finally lit upon three figures. In the back, a young Mai was staring sadly at the other two. Takamichi was kneeling in front of Gato Kagura Vandenberg. The older man had his back to a tree, leaning heavily against it. He took a deep draw and then held his cigarette down. "Ah…sweet…."

Lines of blood ran from the corner of his mouth. His torso was also stained with a great amount of blood…his own, apparently. He looked over at Mai. "…What's wrong, little lady? Are you crying? Showing your tears…that's a first." He chuckled softly. "I'm happy."

The youthful Takamichi stared at the older man with a grief-stricken face. "Master…."

Gato turned back to the young man. "Takamichi…if you would, take away all her memories about me….will you, please?"

"W-what are you talking about, Master!?"

Gato coughed. "She won't be needing them from now on."

"No," Mai insisted softly, coming forward to Gato. She placed her hands on top of Gato's right, which was holding his cigarette and resting on his knee. "Kalan is gone…now, Ojii-san too…no…."

Gato put his cigarette back in his mouth and attempted to smile at her. "Live a happy life, young lady," he commanded her. "You have that right."

"No…." Mai's tears suddenly began to flow, and she cried out, "You can't, Gato-san! I don't want you to die…!"

The explosion happened before the spears reached Mai. Fire exploded out from her, engulfing the energy and snuffing it instantly. The look in Mai's eyes was completely different as she stared up at Momo.

('I-impossible…a fully-incanted nineties level Hadô, completely nullified!? This is…the Crystal Princess…!')

With a visage that now more closely resembled Miyu or Rei, Mai returned to action. Moving faster than shunpo, she slipped in behind Momo and sent her flying with a kick. Momo recovered quickly, but Mai was already on her once again. By the third strike, she managed to call forth her artifact, which managed to buy her another two strikes before Mai sent her crashing to the ground with a torrent of flame.

Momo picked herself up more slowly this time, but Mai did not pursue her. She remained in the air, hovering over Momo, and then put her hands towards her chest. She threw them out and a sword of light emerged hilt-first from her breastbone….

And then, in a great explosion, Kagutsuchi was in the air with her. Momo stared up in shock as the great beast regarded her for a few seconds. Then it opened its mouth, and, with a roar, it unleashed that massive blast of fire towards Momo….

Momo's sash flew up to stand in the way of the fireball and she barked out a Bakudô barrier spell to help block the spell. Kain's heart leapt to his throat as he estimated that both actions were futile….

He hesitated just a moment as he tried to wrestle with how he could help save her…mostly, if he should leap in and try to help or not. To his shock, Hinagiku and Erika were faster, leaping in front of the girl, Hinagiku with her sword raised to help deflect it…and then Tear, Rin, and Mei joined the growing group of young magelings all attempting to try their hands at stopping that Armageddon-worthy blast….

And then it was gone. Something invisible, some sort of unseen blade, slashed lightly through the air and the flame was gone, as if it had never existed. A second earlier, the unfortunate souls in its path and the entire audience could feel it, but then it vanished into thin air as Sakura, now standing in front of the brave contestants, waved some sort of handle around. As it moved, only the merest hint of distorted light or a translucent lens showed the outline of a sword, indicating that there was some sort of blade connected to that rod in her hand. As Kagutsuchi regarded the girl with something that might have been curiosity—it was hard to judge the emotional state of a huge fire-breathing dragon-bird—she swept the nonexistent blade back in another slash-like action and Kagutsuchi faded away. A third sweep and the invisible blade became visible, and she slid it into her umbrella, then took up her little tool into a more recognizable lady's posture.

Mai's eyes stared with that empty malevolence for a moment more, then the light returned to them and Mai fell to the ground. She had been up a ways, and did not fall limp, but did not scream, either—she kind of toppled to the ground, but landed on her hands and knees with minimal impact. She glanced up at the shocked crowd now on stage with confused eyes. "W-what…happened?"

Sakura glanced back at the rest of the contestants on the sideline and smiled slightly. She turned to Mai and began to address the entire audience. "Well, that was certainly an impressive show for us…but what Tokiha Mai just did was summon a companion spirit, the one thing that I specifically forbade in this tournament. Therefore, despite the wonderful match she just showed us, she is regrettably disqualified…and Hinamori Momo is the victor of this match."

With no further explanation or description, Sakura walked back towards the main doors (her suite was located inside) and entered the building. The watchers exploded into noise as Nanami attempted to bring some sense to the viewers. "W-well…that was…we just witnessed something incredible, and you heard from our sponsor and ultimate authority…for the, ah, summoning of that spirit, contestant Tokiha is disqualified, and contestant Hinamori advances!"

Author's Note: Mai's Past…and Future….

All the hints and flashbacks are starting to come to a head with Mai here. Her past is, in fact, more important than her actual fight with Momo. Hence the reason why, even though this long chapter only involved one fight, it was more dialogue and thoughts than actual combat.

Of course, the actual facts of who exactly Mai is and where she came from remain a mystery, but a little more is revealed. We have learned that Mai knew all of Kalan's party (although the flashbacks have revealed that already) and that she is apparently an individual known as the Crystal Princess. More about what that means later, but for now I can reiterate that Mai is a most unusual girl with the most unusual powers that Kalan picked up at some point during his adventure. He kept her with him during all his adventures, until around his disappearance…and then he left her with his companion Gato Kagura Vandenberg, who also traveled with Takamichi. Gato continued fighting against dark mages, up until he was finally killed…at that point Takamichi took Mai to Mahora.

The Crystal Princess was involved with the war in some manner, as well, and is a figure of note, although only a very select few know that the dreaded Crystal Princess was the little orphan girl Kalan rescued and kept with him.

Asuna, the original heroine Mai is replacing, had, naturally, a similar past that I'm basing this all on, but from here on things will begin to drift from that point. Asuna took forever to come to a complete knowledge of her past, but Mai will learn much more, and more quickly—just after the Festival, in fact. There are a couple significant reasons for this—number one is Kain, who is smarter and more aware than the naïve Negi and has been wondering about Mai's unique powers for some time. Number two is, as I have mentioned before, the larger variety of characters who are 'in the know'. Kamo, of course, was a veteran of all these times in this universe, although I keep forgetting to put him in the flashbacks (although he wouldn't have made any significant difference in any case, and wouldn't have been around for all of them anyway). Also, Momo, as we saw in one flashback, met the child Mai years ago when she was with Kalan, and she knows her real identity. I give a preview to the near future: Momo will soon admit, as Mai re-learns her past, that watching Mai is one of Momo's duties at the school (and it is also one of Iori Sendô's four responsibilities as well).

All I have to say on this score at this time. Let's move back on to the action!