Well, I think this story is getting a little better. Maybe it's time to move the story along a little more. Negima does not belong to me.
Chapter 6: How Did I Do That? Well, Let's Rock Out!
Dylan walked from the back of Class 3-A to meet Negi at the front after homeroom was over.
"You w-wanted to talk to me, professor?" Dylan asked. He thought he was in trouble for almost falling asleep again.
"Yes. I wanted to ask you a question about your Pactio," Negi said.
"What about it?"
"I've been wanting to know what kind of spells you are able to cast. So please meet me later by the World Tree and we can figure it out."
"Thank you, Professor Negi." He bowed and walked out the door, breathed a sigh of relief, then ran (literally) into Misa.
"Owww!" she groaned. She looked down and saw Dylan with swirls in his eyes. "Oh, Dylan. I'm sorry. Coincidentally, I was looking for you," she said, blushing and giggling nervously.
"What for?" he asked, rubbing his head where it might be bruised again.
"Remember when you said you played drums?" she said, very enthusiastic.
"Yeah. But I've never played live," he said.
"Well, we need a drummer for our band. And you seem like a valid candidate."
"Wait, who's we?" he said, circling his finger in the air.
"Me, Sakurako, and Ako." He blushed at the mention of her name. "Hmm? What? Was it something I said?"
Dylan refused to answer as his blush started to lessen. "I'll see what I can do. Now, I've got to meet Negi somewhere. I'll give you my answer by dinner. Okay?" he said, winking. She nodded in understanding and walked past him.
Dylan arrived at the World Tree and looked around. "Negi? Negi, are you here?"
"Why, yes I am," answered his voice. Dylan's eye shot upwards to see Negi standing on a branch overlooking him a good few feet off the ground. Geez, he thought to himself.
Negi floated down to Dylan on his staff and hopped off when he arrived. "Now, shall we begin?" Negi asked. Dylan nodded in reply. Negi traced the air with his pointer finger and a circle appeared around Dylan, then the light faded and before his eyes stood a red orb and a white orb. "Hmm, a fire and a wind magi. What exactly does your Pactio look like?" Dylan shrugged in a "I'm not sure" fashion, then activated his Pactio.
Dylan stood in black combat boots, one with a sheathed knife attached around it, dark blue jeans and a black belt with another knife attached to it. He wore a black shirt with a black, white, and gray jacket over it and a communications headset over his right ear.
"Whoa. I had no idea this is what you looked like," Negi said. "Can you perform any incantations?"
"Maybe," Dylan said. He removed a knife and said, "Dominus flamma, mitte iram tuam cunctus hostibus tuis. Decem flammae pugiones!" He swung his knife and the ten flaming missiles that had formed followed the path and leveled at least a patch for a quarter mile. "Whoa. I didn't remember being able to do that."
"Yet, you said it and it rolled off your tongue. It's good to see you haven't forgot your incantations," Negi said. Dylan nodded in agreement and deactivated his Pactio, returning to his school uniform.
In his next class, he leaned his head on his hand and paid attention (sort of) to the lesson while fighting inside his head.
Should I join the band?
Of course you should. Just think: you'd be famous around the school, and spend plenty of time with Ako. What more could you want with that?
Did you not remember me being scared of getting in front of people?
Maybe you're one of those people who completely lose their uneasiness when they rock out in front of people.
Ok. It's settled. I've made my decision. He looked up in time to the bell ringing and walked out with the rest of the class to their after school activites.
He remembered the day after he arrived. He shook his head and laughed at the thought.
The last bell rang and Dylan walked out of the classroom. He was stopped by Fuka and Fumika who immediately dragged him out of the school. "What's the meaning of this?" he asked them.
Fuka started by saying "We are members of the Walking Club. And with you as our bodyguard-"
"And big brother," Fumika added.
"We feel it necessary for you to join us and find more clubs to join." The two were smiling in a way that Dylan just couldn't say no.
After 10 minutes of walking, the three arrived at the sports fields outside of the school building. All around, he saw various girls warming up or playing their sport. He looked over to the soccer field and saw Ako coaching the boys elementary school team, then looked over at the field and saw Misora stretching.
"Well, any you like?" Fumika asked after he looked around.
" No. None yet. Anything else sports-related?" he asked. The two nodded and each grabbed a hand and led him away. They led him a hallway with two doors at opposite ends of the hallway. They walked through the one on the right and he saw the school's swimming team. He looked around and saw the how huge the one room was. He heard a splash and saw Akira stepping out of the pool and drying off her hair. The twins led him to the last door, which led them to the school's gym.
Just about every indoor sport was going on right now since the room was so large. Dylan looked at one corner and saw Makie doing some dance moves with her ribbon. He looked in another corner and saw Misa, Madoka, and Sakurako doing a pyramid with the cheer squad. He brought his attention back to the main court where he saw Yuna running a one-on-one drill with a teammate on the basketball team. "How about now?" Fuka asked.
He walked over to Yuna, and stole the ball from behind. She gasped and shouted, "Hey!" and took off after him down the court. She tried the same move and managed to take the ball back. She brought it back and dribbled at half-court, then saw him wink. She look stunned, then smiled, getting the idea.
She came up, still dribbling, and went right, then faked left, but he saw past it and swiped the ball back. He took back up to the three point line and took a shot and then heard the satisfied twick! Yuna stood astonished, then offered a hand, which Dylan shook while she said, "Welcome to the club!"
Dylan walked to the locker room and changed into the basketball uniform. He shut the door and blushed at the one thought of Ako. He shook his head and tried to focus as he walked out the door. He joined the others in warming up with pushups and stretching. Yuna brought out some basketballs and the group started shooting drills.
Misa was stretching with Madoka, Sakurako, and the rest of the cheer squad. "Well, did you manage to get Dylan to play with us in the band?" Sakurako asked, reaching for her left foot.
"Not yet. He'd said he'd tell us tonight at dinner," Misa replied.
"And..." Madoka said.
"That's it. Nothing else to it." The rest of the day continued without a hitch or anything out of the ordinary.
Dylan walked towards the dining hall to meet and talk with the others about being in the band. He left his shoes on the shelf outside the door and grabbed a pair of slippers and walked in. He grabbed his meal and looked for the girls. He saw a girl with purple hair wave her hand in the air. He acknowledged her and joined them at their table.
"Well, what's your decision?" Sakurako asked, leaning in. The other two did the same. Dylan looked at her, then at Misa, then at Madoka, then back to Misa.
"I'm in," he said, smiling. The three cheered so loud that his ears started ringing. "Okay. Wow. I never thought you girls would get that excited over that."
"Are you kidding? Our first gig with our band is next weekend. If we didn't find another drummer before that, we would lose that deal," Sakurako said.
"And that deal would be..." Dylan said as if he were implying something.
Madoka sighed and looked up. "The owner promised these two that if they played, they would get free drinks and sing karaoke as much as they want."
Dylan gave a smile and sweat dropped. All this for karaoke? Whatever. I finally can try and conquer my fear of being in front of a public audience, he thought.
Later that night, Kaede and Fuka had fallen asleep while studying for their math test. Dylan and Fumika had already fallen asleep while the two insisted on waiting 'til the last minute. Kaede and the others were sleeping like a rock. Dylan, however, was not so fortunate.
Dylan continued to run through a building, his Pactio active and magic assaults all around him. More winged, skeletal form demons continued to chase him.
"INFERNOS!" A giant fire ball consumed the last group. He rounded a corner and stopped to catch his breath. He breathed a sigh of relief. He turned and jumped. There was a girl with her pulled into two buns. Dylan squinted, trying to make it out better. He soon realized it was-
"Fumika?" He walked forward and saw her tied and struggling. "Hang on." He knelt down and cut the ropes that binded her. She got up and jumped into his arms, sobbing loudly into his shoulder. Dylan hugged her and tried to comfort her as much as he could.
"Heh, heh, heh," she laughed evilly.
"Fumika? GAH!" Whatever he was hugging bit him in the neck, then was gone. He put a hand to his neck and pulled it back, revealing blood. He left his hand there to try and stop the bleeding as he got up and started walking down the hall again.
"Everyone that you trusted and held dear will turn against you," said a gravelly, demonic voice.
Then the hall turned into a dark mist that surrounded. This is just like my last dream, he thought, panting heavily. Whatever that bite was seemed to drain him of his strength.
"Dylan," said a voice. He turned to the source and saw Misa standing with Madoka and Sakurako. A giant bat-like demon appeared behind them and grabbed the girls, who started screaming in terror as the flew high into the sky. "NO! Damnit!" He continued to walk on through the dark mist and it grew thicker as he continued.
He came upon Kaede, who wore an angered look. "I trusted you to watch them, to protect them alongside me, to watch them grow up. But you had to let your guard down. I won't forgive you!" she shouted, bearing her giant shuriken and then charged at him. The blade struck deep into his stomach.
Dylan shouted in pain, jolting upright and out of his dream. He panted, sweat running down his head and sticking to his clothes, catching them against his skin. He looked over at the others who had already fallen asleep as well. He felt a slight sting in his lower abdomen, but ignored it as he grabbed a towel and headed for the baths.
He ditched his clothes and slipped into the water just above his upper lip. He shut his eyes and let the warm water relax his aching muscles. He listened to the running fountains and tried to concentrate on his dream. "What are these dreams?" he said to no one. "What do they mean? Are they really visions of the possible future?" He opened his eyes. "Will everyone I know and love turn their backs on me, or worse, die before my very eyes?" He was so wrapped up in his thoughts that he didn't hear the door shut.
Dylan was brought back to Earth by a splash of water. He turned and saw Asuna. "AHHHH!" she screamed. She jumped out and covered herself with a towel. "WHAT ARE YOU DOING IN THE BATHS?" Dylan looked at her with a forlorn face and turned his head back towards the water. "HEY! I'm talking to you!"
"I'm not much in a talking mood," he replied with a sad, tired tone in his voice. Asuna's angry exterior softened up when she heard this. She got in the tub with her towel still wrapped around her. "Isn't that towel going to get soaked?"
"There are extras sitting outside the door. So, what's up?" she asked.
Dylan inhaled and let out a long sigh. "Have...you ever felt that...things will change too quickly in your life? Things...that could change...your friendships, your ties with other people?"
"What do you mean?" Dylan dove into everything; his dreams, his feelings, his thoughts. Asuna sat and nodded her head in understanding. "I see. Do you think these dreams...could be the result of the person after the twins?"
"I've been wondering that. But that person would have to be evil incarnate to do such a thing. And if these dreams are true, then..." His voice trailed off into nothingness as he slowly started to break down and cry. Asuna was at a loss of words at what was going on. A boy was trying to be strong, but is afraid of possible events to come. Asuna did the last thing she expected to do: she put an arm around his shoulders and rubbed his arm in comfort.
"I can understand what you're going through. I've been through this once before. I refused to let my friends help me and I died in a deal with the devil. But they never gave up; not even Negi," Asuna said, slightly giggling at the thought. "He did everything he could, even traveling back in time to change the outcome of my future." Dylan brought his head up and looked into her eyes, seeing no falsehood of any kind. "Trust your friends to always be there. Ignore the dream, 'cause it's a lie." She smiled encouragingly to him. He smiled and gave her a hug.
"Asuna, I believe this is the beginning of a beautiful friendship," Dylan said, backing out. She laughed and smiled. Asuna walked out and allowed Dylan to change. They both went back to their rooms, and Dylan did not sleep with a nightmare tonight.
The next day, Misa, Ako, Dylan, Madoka, and Sakurako were in the school's basement practicing their set list for their big premiere. "Ok, girls and, Dylan, one more time!" Misa shouted. Dylan counted off a beat with his sticks and let the guitars' melody come in.
Misa: This time, I wonder what it feels like Tonight, out on the street, out in the moonlight Cause nobody wants to be the last one there
To find the one in this life, the one we all dream of
But dreams just aren't enough
So I'll be waiting for the real thing, I'll know it by the feeling
The moment when we're meeting, will play out like a scene
Straight off the silver screen
So I'll be holding my breath, right up 'til the end
Until that moment when, I find the one that I'll spend forever withEveryone: Cause nobody wants to be the last one there
Cause everyone wants to feel like someone cares
Someone to love with my life in their hands
There's gotta be somebody for me like that
Cause nobody wants to do it on their own
And everyone wants to know they're not alone
There's somebody else that feels the same somewhere
There's gotta be somebody for me out there
And dammit this feels too right, it's just like déja vu
Me standing here with you
So I'll be holding my breath, could this be the end?
Is it that moment when, I find the one that I'll spend forever with
Cause everyone wants to feel like someone cares
Someone to love with my life in their hands
There's gotta be somebody for me like that
Cause nobody wants to do it on their own
And everyone wants to know they're not alone
There's somebody else that feels the same somewhere
There's gotta be somebody for me out there
Dylan: When you're looking for
Ako: A diamond in the rough
Dylan: Cause you never know
Madoka: When it shows up
Dylan: Make sure you're holding on
Sakurako: Cause it could be the one, the one you're waiting on
Misa:Cause nobody wants to be the last one there
And everyone wants to feel like someone cares
Someone to love with my life in their hands
There's gotta be somebody for me, oh
Everyone: Nobody wants to go it on their own
And everyone wants to know they're not alone
There's somebody else that feels the same somewhere
There's gotta be somebody for me out there
Nobody wants to be the last one there
Cause everyone wants to feel like someone cares
There's somebody else that feels the same somewhere
There's gotta be somebody for me out there
Dylan hit the last cymbal note and everyone held theirs as it faded out beautifully. Everyone looked at each other, smiling huge and cheering loudly.
"We did it!"
"That was amazing!"
"Tomorrow will rock!"
"We'll kick ass!"
"They'll love us!"
The five friends all joined in one big group huddle/hug and stayed there for a minute. Needless to say, Dylan didn't notice who he had his arm around: Ako. The two were blushing madly, but did not back out. They felt comfortable in each other's embrace and with this new bond comes a new band.