Disclaimer: This is purely fanfiction, anything appearing in here is a homage to the original creators. Mahou Sensei Negima is owned by its creator Ken Akamatsu. Rest of the stuff, except the plot and stuff that you can't relate to, belongs to someone else.
A/N: Thanks for the reviews! Hope to hear more from all of you for the sake of improvement
Chapter 7
The first light of the morning sun stretched across the land of Mahora as it crept higher into the cloudless sky, blessing the land with warmth, rousing the residents in the academy. The cool morning air caressed the warm cheeks of the energetic weekend joggers.
As he jogged through the waking streets, Negi noted the sparse amount of people around him: most of them were the regulars who faithfully followed their exercise regime. Then there was the old friendly road sweeper, who had seen many batches of students in his time, greeting him with a smile and wave. It was just like any other peaceful weekend morning, though his mind was anything but peaceful.
By a chance assignment, his childhood friend had arrived at Mahora yesterday, reuniting them for the first time in eight years. However, the reunion was less than ideal with her leaving in a huff yesterday apparently due to a misunderstanding. It was unfortunate that he had not asked for her contact or her lodging address earlier, or he would have clarified the misunderstanding with her. He inwardly sighed at that thought.
Turning at a bend, a movement caught his attention. He made his way to the quivering tree by the side walk and was surprised to see Mrs. Chidori on one of the lower brunches, reaching high into the tree with the other hand holding a brunch for balance.
"C'mon Adonis, get down here." She cooed with an edge of frustration in her voice. The white cat stubbornly ignored her instead began to clean himself. Her out reaching hand clenched into a fist, "Don't you dare ignore me!" she snapped to the cat. Adonis tried to humour her by taking a glance at her, stood up and took a few steps towards the tree truck where the fuming landlord was. She smirked a little, thinking that the cat was finally listening to her.
Unfortunately, like all self-important felines, Adonis decided to spite her by climbing a tier higher. "Argh, come here you…" Mrs. Chidori, using the bark of the tree as traction, managed to get a few steps higher up the tree, just enough to grab the cat. However, she slipped and missed her landing. She cradled Adonis tightly and braced herself for impact onto the ground below. It never came. Instead, she felt like she floated for a split second before falling into the arms of someone.
"Chidori-san, are you alright?" Negi asked, helping her onto her feet.
She looked up at her savoir, feeling a strange flutter in the stomach which she dismissed as an aftershock of the fall. "I'm alright, Negi-kun, t-thank you." And of course the blush was from the adrenaline rush...right?
"Well, it's good that you're unharmed, but do be careful next time, Chidori-san." He smiled then bent to the mischievous cat, scratching its head. "And you, Adonis, don't give Chidori-san any trouble." Adonis responded by batting his hand away.
"Well, I guess I'll be returning back to the dorm, Negi-kun. Thanks again!" Mrs. Chidori bid him good bye. She waited until she was out of ear shot from Negi before looking down to Adonis, "Thank goodness Negi-kun was there to save us, Adonis." Adonis just stared at her with his piercing blue eyes. "But was it just me or did we just floated before landing into his arms?"
Adonis did not answer her. Instead, he just looked intently at Negi returning to his jog. 'This is worth checking out.'
Negi felt a sense of achievement as he placed the last marked assignment onto the pile with the others. Stretching his arms into the air, he popped the kinks in his stiff back. He then took a sip from his mug and inwardly blenched. The half cup of green tea had cooled, rendering it a cold bitter beverage. He should have brought a small warmer.
Bringing up the stack of papers, he leafed through the results written on the top right hand corner of each page. There were a number of good results mixed with the usual amount of relatively weak ones. 'Maybe they were just unprepared' Negi hoped.
The staff room was empty, save for a few others rushing their weekend work. It was a Saturday after all, when the students' co-curricular activities were held. As a new teacher, Negi has yet to choose a club or activity to supervise or head.
The staff room door suddenly burst open, allowing a scowling Sakai Kentaro to his desk across the room. The alternative to choosing a club was the school events committee where, Negi noted, the members always seem overworked and stressed due to the many consecutive events in Mahora. Kentaro was one of the committee members. It was said that he used to have a pleasant personality but apparently he changed ever since he was placed into the infamous committee. Furthermore, looking at the small mountain of papers on Kentaro desk next to a calendar overflowing with post it notes, Negi understood why everyone tried to avoid being a committee member like a plague.
Perhaps he should choose one of the sports clubs, that way he could keep healthy and, more importantly, avoid being pushed into the events committee. He would have chosen quickly if there were not more than a dozen clubs to pick from. Negi watched amusingly at the mountain of papers starting to show signs of an imminent topple as Kentaro stormed away. Making sure no one was looking, he cast a spell to shift a few of the papers, stabilising the stack.
Negi glanced at the clock on the wall. It was just past three in the afternoon. Maybe he will take a walk around the shopping district today. Quickly tidying his table, Negi grabbed his coat and prepared to leave when an envelope slipped from his pocket, reminding the errand he had to run.
Perhaps a visit to Setsuna's dojo first.
Nestled at the edge of Mahora, Setsuna's dojo was sited among natural settings where students could practice their martial arts in the tranquility of the place. It was quiet when Negi arrived as the weekend class seemed to have ended. He made his way to the front door and was treated to an intriguing sight. Clad in her hakama, Setsuna was in the midst of performing a kata. From high blocks to a knife strikes, she flowed through each movement with such grace that would make a ballerina ashamed. Her strikes were executed with precision and poise on top of her flawless footwork. She was relaxed and exercised great control of her breathing. Her form was perfect.
With a slow exhale in the ending stance, Setsuna finished the kata. "How long do you plan to wait there?" she said without turning around. Negi blinked, his concentration broken. Taking off his footwear, he made his way into the dojo, only to meet with the swordswoman holding up a hakama set, offering it to him with a smile, "Well, since you're here, how about taking a moment to spar?"
Negi blocked a kick, nearly jarring his arm. Setsuna nimbly flipped away from his counter. He stepped forward, engaging her with a roundhouse kick which was dodged yet again.
Having travelled the world, Negi was awed by martial artists displaying their art. From the disciplined students of Shao Lin to the tribes in Africa, their strength and speed was something anyone would be wary of. But none of them could compare to the moves Setsuna was executing.
Even unarmed, Shinmeiryuu students are a force to be reckoned with, especially when a fully trained student is your opponent. Fortunately his lessons from Ku-Fei, along with past experiences help even out the playing field, however slight.
At the moment, Negi had managed to dodge a punch Setsuna threw which was followed up by a palm strike to his chest. He stumbled back, slightly winded 'Time to get serious,' He considered. Shifting to a more aggressive style, Negi executed a series of kicks and strikes, gaining momentum steadily. Setsuna responded with evasive movements and counters which were in turn countered by Negi.
The rules were simple: Take down the opponent and Negi could use any style he likes. They were experienced enough to judge the maximum strength they could use without inflicting permanent damage.
Setsuna unleashed a technique, swift and precise, targeting any openings. But Negi's form was as solid as a rock with attacks as furious as fire, fluidly flowing through each movement all the while evading her strikes. He was a worthy opponent. Setsuna actually felt herself enjoy sparring with him.
Negi suddenly slowed and thrust out his arm with the heel of his palm aiming for her head. Setsuna dodged and caught his arm. Following the momentum, she threw him over her shoulder… almost too easily. In the split second when Negi landed on his feet locking her arms in an awkward angle, she realised that he had planned this feint.
Taking advantage of her moment of unbalance, Negi executed a leg sweep which managed to take her down. But the swordswoman would not fall without a fight. Pivoting on her arm, she used her legs to grapple his and with a twist, Negi fell unceremoniously onto the ground.
There was a pause for them to catch their breath. Setsuna recovered first. She jumped onto Negi for a submissive pin. Negi, attempting a reversal, grabbed onto her and rolled to the side which was immediately countered with another roll and which ended with Negi being pinned on his back, Setsuna straddling him.
Both stared at each other. For Negi, it was the best workout he had in a long time. He tried to sit up but Setsuna, in symbolic dominance, flicked a finger to his forehead and pushed him back onto the ground.
Negi graciously accepted defeat and laughed along with her for the gesture. When they finally settled, they remained in that position, studying each other.
Somehow, the rubber band that held Setsuna's hair came off during their match. Her raven black hair framed the sides of her face like a flowing curtain. Negi resisted the urge to run a hand through them to brush them aside for a better view of her sharp facial features.
Although Setsuna did not have the body of the stereotypical beauty, there was something about her that made her attractive in her own right.
Negi could feel her powerful thighs, befitting a swordswoman, pressing against him, strong, yet supple. Her moonlight white skin was roughened by her constant drive to perfect her skills. She had the eyes of a warrior, ever vigilant and focused, now looked down at him with the same intensity of a hawk observing its prey. Negi could have sworn he saw her tongue licking her slender lips and for some reason, he wanted to do the same.
A stir within told Negi they had stayed in that position a little too long. He should get up soon to avoid embarrassment as he was starting to get aroused…though a part of him was really reluctant to move.
He bashfully cleared his throat to get Setsuna's attention. "Err, Setsuna-san? Do you mind…helping me up?" She blinked, as if being pulled out of deep thought.
It took Setsuna a few seconds to process his request. Then, sporting a full flush, she jumped to her feet, muttering a barely audible "Excuse me." She offered her hand to help him up. Negi took it and, perhaps she had overestimated the force needed to pull him up, almost fell forward onto her. He got a whiff of her light sakura scent before regaining his balance.
Negi cleared his throat again, a little louder this time, and excused himself, hurriedly making his way to the baths. Thank goodness for the loose fitting hakama he was wearing. A cold shower was definately in order.
Setsuna waited for Negi to leave the room before letting out a breath she did not realise she was holding. Her heart was racing and felt warmth that could not possibly be just from a sparring match. There was a strange excitement when he had brushed against her as he stood up and the spot on her hand where Negi held pleasantly tingled. 'Is this normal?' The only person who had ever made her felt this way was her lover.
"Thank you," Negi graciously accepted the warm cup of tea and took a sip. The drink had a mild sweetness with a hint of sakura. "This is really good."
"You like it?" Setsuna smiled, pushing stray strands of hair behind her ear. "It's our school's special blend."
Negi took a longer sip. This time, he felt refreshed as his aches soothed. Remembering the reason for his visit, he took out Konoka's letter. Setsuna looked slightly surprised and accepted the sealed envelope. Opening the letter with a short tantō, she read through the contents. A fleeting look of disbelief crossed her face.
"What's wrong?" Negi asked, concerned as Setsuna casually folded the letter.
There was a moment of silence as she thought of what to say, "Not at all. Ojou-sama just surprised me." She assured him before changing the subject. "That was quite impressive moves you did earlier, especially when you reversed my throw. The style you used was not any common style, I suppose."
Negi smiled, "Actually, I borrowed the moves and stances from many different styles and used them together. I made it up."
"Then will you be participating in the martial arts demonstration during the mid-autumn festival? You can show what you've learnt."
"I would rather not. My skills are not that proficient."
"You'll be fine. Just consider it." She took a sip of tea. "I am curious of your swordsmanship though, how about a sparring session tomorrow?"
Negi almost spilt his tea. "Now that's going overboard. Demonstrating is one thing, Crossing swords with you is just unfair!"
"Relax, it'll be a spar. No secret techniques, I promise." she stiffled a giggle.
Considering for a moment, he eventually agreed, "Only if I get to choose my weapon."
"Of course," She smiled.
"Well, it's almost dinner time. Would you like to join me?"
Setsuna politely declined. "I appreciate your offer, but I have a date tonight."
Negi saw a light blush on her face which sported a dreamy look. A twinge of disappointment tapped his heart for a split second. This brought a few questions to mind. 'Who is this person she is seeing? What is the meaning of that look? ...and why would I care so much?'
The World Tree plaza was quiet. It was no wonder that many couples would pick this place to meet. Bright lights shone on the majestic tree, breathing a gentle glow onto the plaza.
Once every twenty-two years, the World Tree would glow naturally. To the general public, the luminous moss growing on the tree was the cause. What they did not know was the tree's magical quality, although a few inquisitive scientists came close. And if they did, the backlash would be undesirable.
From where he was standing, Negi saw a figure near the World Tree. Thinking it was one of those scientists, he decided to investigate. When he got closer, he noticed a familiar face staring intently at the tree. Just the person he was looking for. "Hello," he simply said.
Anya glanced at the crystal dangling at the end of a fine gold chain she was holding before pocketing it. "Good evening," she greeted, more obligatory than warm, keeping her eyes on the World Tree. Negi inwardly winced.
"I'm still upset, you know." Anya started, "Upset that you forgotten our promise. But I don't blame you," she raised a hand to silence him. "It was a long time ago, a childish promise. I'm sorry I over-reacted yesterday."
Negi stared at her with his mouth agape before recovering and wordlessly nodding. Now was not a good time to mention that he did not have the faintest memory of any promise she was talking about.
Anya giggled at his reaction. "It's only natural to have another girl in your life after all this time. It's not as if you have a harem or something," Anya joked, not noticing how pale Negi became. "Besides, Nodoka seemed like a nice girl, a good choice for a life partner."
"She's not my life partner," Negi interrupted, taking out Nodoka's pactio card, showing its temporary status. He sucked in a breath for what he as about to say next. "In fact, I have made many temporary pactios with many others." With a slight shift of his thumb, he fanned out the cards he had.
Anya was momentarily dumbfounded. "You chauvinistic…"
Negi quickly continued, waving his hands. "Most of them were made during times of need!" Panic started to set in as he saw Anya colour, presumably fumbling to find her wand. He had to think of something before she does something really unpleasant. Every spluttered reason fell to deaf ears. Backed up this far, he blurted, "Kamo made them!"
"Kamo? That perverted ermine?" Negi sighed in relief when he saw her calming down, "That explains a lot." Anya folded her arms, seemingly not convinced entirely.
She regarded the cards, "Why is this so special?" indicating Asuna's card, examining it.
Negi hid a twinge, keeping the rest of the cards. "She was the first person I made a pactio with, but our contract was broken."
"Why's that?"
"She died." Negi said after a pause. "She was the main reason why I left to travel the world."
Anya looked sympathetic "She's beautiful. How did she…"
"It's complicated." No explanations, he was not ready yet. "I'll tell you some other time. So what brings you to Mahora?"
It did not take a genius to realise that he wanted the subject changed, so Anya obliged. "I'm here to check out the magical places in Japan, somewhat like doing reconnaissance. Mahora was arranged to be my "home" while I'm here." Anya gazed at the World Tree, "besides, magical energies seem to focus here."
"Was that what that crystal was for?"
"This?" Anya took out the brightly glowing crystal from earlier "Yes, I made it myself. It is used to detect and show the intensity of the magic in the area. The more the energy, the brighter it becomes."
Negi picked the artefact and noted the intricate runes etched onto the gold mount carefully holding the crystal with a fine golden chain was attached to it. Within the depths of the crystal, a glow burned like a candle light. To an outsider, it looked more like a novelty keychain."Fascinating," he whispered as he returned the crystal.
"The difficult part was to get the enchantments right, then adjusting the sensitivity to work properly in a place like this. This campus is full of magic!"
"I see. So have you been oriented around the campus?" Anya replied no. "I can show you around, if you like."
Anya playfully smirked. "Is that an invitation for a date? If it is…I will be more than happy to take up your offer."
Negi knew she was jesting with him like when they were younger where Anya would twist his words to her advantage. He smiled "Yes, it is. And I'm glad you accepted."
"You should be. I don't normally accept invitations." Anya looked at him pointedly.
"And I don't offer them often." Negi countered.
They stared at each other for awhile and finally broke into laughter. Anya pulled him into a hug. "I miss you."
"I miss you too."
A/N: Thank you for the reviews everyone. your feedback was much appreciated. As for those who raised requests/questions, you would not be disappointed when the plot reaches the timeline. Have a nice day!
