I do not own Negima
Author's Note: This ones pretty long by comparison to my others. I'm so proud!
Ethan had spent the night reading himself to sleep. Hours of reading and rereading the same handful of passages desperately trying to bore himself until someone knocked on the door.
"Come in." He said on the verge of passing out as he had always been.
Haruna stepped through the door looking excited. "I have good news Ethan-san, I know someone who likes you."
Ethan slammed the book shut and sat straight up. "You have my attention. Why don't you have a seat. Also you could tell me who likes me, that would fun."
She sat down, turned away, and manipulated her glasses. "Hold on. This information is expensive." She said seeming serious.
To respond he seemed equally serious. "How does a man without money purchase such a thing?"
"Time is a valuable thing. A few hours of yours should do it."
"How about tomorrow?" He said.
"Why not today?" She said slightly confused.
He paused. "It's late. Come to think of it why are you still awake?"
She shook her head before looking up at him and smiling. "You've been up all night haven't you? It's almost noon."
Ethan seemed surprised for a moment before accepting facts and bowing his head slightly. "My time is yours."
/\/\/\
The two had agreed at a karaoke bar a few blocks away. As the time to leave approached, he carefully devised his fail-safe plan.
With single minded determination he strolled leisurely to the front door.
"Demandepace-san, why don't you wait with us until everyone else arrives?" Ayaka said.
He turned to her and spoke in completely serious tone and exaggerated a straight face. "I like grape juice." He continued to stare for a few moments, worsening the confusing situation, and left before the silence was broken.
/\/\/\
Several detours and shortcuts later he had made to the bar. Haruna was sitting outside. "Took you long enough." She said jokingly.
"Think about what you just said, by that logic I'm right on time." He helped her to her feet and motioned to the door. "Shall we?"
She began to pull him along as soon as they walked inside, constantly changing direction to keep him off balance and confused. Next thing he knew, he had been thrown into a chair and was seated with Misa, Madoka, and Sakurako. "Ethan-san, glad you could make it." Misa said.
Ethan took a moment to collect himself. "So am I."
"Well, Ethan-san the punishment for being late is..." Madoka began. "You have to sing first!" The cheerleaders announced and pointed in unison.
He got defensive and a bit hysterical. "I- I thought you liked singing, whats all this about a punishment?"
Sakurako laughed before responding. "We do like singing, but we know that don't."
He stuttered for a moment. "What about Haruna? She was also late."
She leaned on the table. "I was only late because I was waiting on you to show up."
He walked indignantly to the stage, grumbling as he walked.
Lynyrd Skynyrd – Ballad of Curtis Lowe
Well I used to wake the morning
Before the rooster crowed
Searching for soda bottles to get myself some dough
Brought them down to the corner
Down to the country store
Cash em in and give my money to a man named Curtis Lowe
Old Curt was a black man with white curly hair
When he had a fifth of wine he did not have a care
He used to own and old Dobro used to play across his knee
I'd give old Curt my money he play all day for me
Play me a song Curtis Lowe Curtis Lowe
Well I got your drinking money tune up your Dobro
People said he was useless them people all were fools
Cuz Curtis Lowe was the finest picker to ever play the blues
He looked to be 60 maybe I was 10
Momma used to whoop me
But I'd go see him again
I'd clap my hands, stomp my feet trying to keep in time
Well he'd play me a song or two then take another drink of wine
Play me a song Curtis Lowe Curtis Lowe
Well I got your drinking money tune up your Dobro
People said he was useless but them people all were fools
Cuz Curtis Lowe was the finest picker to ever play the blues
On the day old Curtis died nobody came to pray
Old preacher said some words
And they chucked him in the clay
Well he lived a lifetime playing the black mans blues
And on the day he lost his life that's all he had to lose
Play me a song Curtis Lowe Curtis Lowe
I wish that you was here so everyone would know
People said he was useless but them people all were fools
Cuz Curtis your finest picker to ever play the blues.
There was a short applause and Ethan spoke. "Can I come down now?"
"No, no. Do one more." Haruna insisted. Ethan pantomimed that he couldn't hear. "Do one more!" She said louder.
He inhaled deeply. "WHAT?" He screamed into the microphone for the entire bar to hear. A few moments of waiting for laughs and feedback to subside followed. "What did you want to say?"
"N-nothing." She said trying to stop her hysterical laughter.
"Funny you should say that, also tell me who likes me." He said rapidly changing tone and subject.
The cheerleaders seemed strangely quiet for a moment.
"Sing one more song and I'll tell you." She said after a thoughtful pause.
Ethan seemed surprised and confused. "About that... That wasn't part of the deal." Haruna stood her ground. "Fuck." He said, defeated.
Firewind – Falling to Pieces
Be yourself tonight
Don't stress yourself to death
Don't try to fight the time
Synchronize your health
Don't think you'll lose it all
It all comes back to you
So get your soul alive
Things will go on through
Don't hide behind a dark and empty soul
Don't lie to yourself no more
Everything is you
But you're falling to pieces
Let me get you through
I'm falling down with you
Everything is lost
I help you through the darkness
Let me lead you to a place that's calm for you
Like stormy weather
You're moving with no goal
Feeling kind of strange
Feel you want to growl
Don't hide behind a dark and empty soul
Don't lie to yourself no more
Everything is you
But you're falling to pieces
Let me get you through
I'm falling down with you
Everything is lost
I help you through the darkness
Let me lead you to a place that's calm for you.
Another applause and Ethan took a bow before sitting down. "There's your second song. So... who likes me?" He said slightly excited.
Much more excited was Misa. "Yeah Haruna. Tell him."
She blushed. "Uhh..."
"Come on, just tell him." Sakurako said.
"Err... Nobody!" She exclaimed. "Nobody, I lied." She was uncharacteristically on edge.
Ethan sat down. "You are a strange one. We should do this more often, mostly so I can figure you out."
"T-that sounds good." Her face was still deep red.
"In fact why don't we go for a walk?"
"T-that's ok. You go ahead."
He chuckled. "I'm not leaving without you. That's just not going to happen."
"Actually, can we have a few minutes?" Madoka said with just the slightest irritation in her voice.
Ethan threw his arms up and walked away. As crossed the floor he managed to hear a few words. "What happened to your plan?" Sakurako quietly yelled with surprise and disappointment.
He went outside to give their minute in the company of fresh air. He stared at the sky and breathed. The ethereal voice interrupted. "One day in a pocket dimension? Boring, and entirely ineffective." It said smugly.
He walked into an alley, seeking a quiet place to meditate. "I just wanted to show you that you can't beat me. Frankly I haven't even put much effort into the last few times I killed you."
"I'm invincible as long I have this... thing of yours."
"I want it back. Now."
"Not until I say you can have it."
"And when will that be?"
"When I say so."
"Hurry up and say so. You're starting to bore me." He ceased his meditation and walked into the light. The setting sun bathed the street in warm, golden light. He resumed his meditation. "You did this didn't you?" He asked.
"Hehe. All it takes is a moment, and it may cost you many."
"How dare you quote my own doctrine at me." He hissed back.
"I love these abilities!" He said, satisfied with himself. "Those four women are quite offended you decided to leave them, and all of their friends are angry that you do such a hurtful thing as well."
"There will be no mercy when I get my chance. Mark my words."
"Calm down Echo. I'm just messing with your head."
/\/\/\
He approached the hotel and prepared for the worst. The moment he stepped through the door there was a flash of pain, first in his face and a second one from when his head hit the ground. He looked up to see Brent with his fist where Ethan's head had been a few seconds prior.
"What the hell have you been doing all day?"
He began to stand up. "Presumably I've been standing in the same place for a few hours."
"Is that a joke? You abandoned my friends you bastard."
"Brent, when I get punched that hard the joke is over." He held up his hand submissively.
"You better apologize to Haruna right now."
"That's all I want to do."
He stepped aside, but continued to glare. Ethan walked to Haruna's room, and knocked on the door. The entire time everyone was giving dirty looks. "Who's there?" Came Madoka's voice.
"It's Ethan."
The door unlocked and opened. "What have you been doing this whole time?" She said angrily.
"I've been standing around doing nothing. I know that's a shitty excuse, but I just want to apologize and explain it a bit better."
She sighed. "Get in here."
Haruna, Misa, and Sakurako sat at the small table in the center of the room. Madoka sat Ethan down across the table from Haruna, who's eyes were very red.
"Can we have a few minutes?" Ethan asked.
"Anything you have to say to Haruna you can say to us as well, Ethan-san." Said Sakurako.
He took a breath. "Actually, no I can't" He was very desperate for Sakurako, Misa, and Madoka to leave. His efforts were vain however as they stared at him, silently telling him no. Once again he had been defeated. "I... am 700 years old."
Misa interrupted. "We don't your stupid story Ethan, give us an explanation."
"This stupid story is my explanation." He snapped. "I'm sorry. Please just hear me out... I am 700 years old, and I belong to a group of demon hunters. I was born into it."
"We can't believe you without proof Ethan." Haruna said.
He pulled a small, red book off the chain that hung around his hip. The cover read 'Originis aut Echo VII, Ethan Demandepace' in gold print. "Read that. It should be sufficient proof."
The book detailed the events of a rural road between Rome and Terni in 1306.
/\/\/\
The next chapter is going to be all about that book. It should be up double-quick since I've already written it once before. Thanks for corrupting all my work, Windows.
Originis aut Echo VII, Ethan Demandepace – Origin of Echo the seventh, Ethan Demandepace
