Frozen

Everything was frozen. Konoka looked around in panic as her labored breaths were taking its toll on her being. This pressure that she only ever felt when Evangeline was around at full strength was a little different to the little vampiress'. Though Evangeline's aura was terrifying, it didn't press down on you, trying to choke the life out of you. It was more passive, preferring to show you how much power was at that person's fingertips and reminding you of the terrifying truth that she could kill you on a whim but can't be bothered to do so. This presence on the other hand, was full of animosity. If any normal person, someone who was not a mage was ever to take full force of this, the healer would not be surprised if they died, which completely flipped the fear switch in her mind.

"Ojou-sama!", Setsuna cradled Konoka who had fainted from the presence of the woman across the street.

"My my, she's much more sensitive to the –zone- than I thought.", Chigusa walked over with casual steps.

"Hold it right there!", Asuna ran in front of the group. Her pactio card held at ready in her hands. Chigusa stopped, though it was more of puzzled amusement than any real form of acknowledgement of the school girl being a threat. Asuna continued, "I don't care if you've got beef with us but if you dare try to use Konoka again then you'll have to get through us first.".

Chigusa solemnly placed the straw hat on her head again. She had yet to look back to them when her shoulders began shaking, she was laughing.

"What's so funny?", Setsuna demanded in anger. Chigusa's cold laughter seemed to echo more, further fueling Setsuna's frustration over the state of the Konoe heiress. Speaking of Konoka, she was getting paler by the second and Negi noticed that.

"Amagasaki Chigusa! What have you done to Konoka-san?", Negi interrogated her but laughter still not allowing her to reply. "Speak!", he demanded with more force, pulling out his staff in a threatening manner. He did not care if people saw anymore, a student of his was in danger and he had to help her.

The convicted magess stopped her show of mirth. She faced them again with the same semi-emotionless face she was wearing the whole time, eyes still swimming with silent hatred. "I didn't do a thing.", she spoke with an undertone of satisfaction, "this is just her weakness baring itself to the world.". "Oh yes.", she added as an after thought, "I also have to apologize for losing myself there. I found it quite funny that you think I require the existence of that pitiful weakling for my wishes to be fulfilled.". She further emphasized this point by sending a small blast of dark energy at them.

"Adeat!", Asuna screamed. She was quick to act, pulling out her giant sword to block the attack. Though she had the ability to disperse energy on contact and sometimes without even coming in contact, it was surprising that she was forced back a little by the blast.

Chigusa watched in mild fascination, holding her head as if in remembrance. "Ah yes.", she noted with a mildly interested tone, "I had forgotten that you could dispel demons and magical energy. That certainly will not do at all.". With a wave of her hand, Chigusa summoned one of the shadows that were pooling at her feet, detaching itself from the dark mass and becoming an orb in her hands. She held it affectionately close to herself. "Frag.", she called out to the mass of energy in her hands.

Two eyes, red as burning coals shot open from the void of energy. "Yes, mistress?", it asked her, "Am I to kill again?", its voice sounding with much glee.

"Yes.", Chigusa smiled as she eyed the group as a predator would. "I have a gift as well.", the woman held out her hand as energy sparked about it. With a quick pull, she retrieved a beautiful katana from the cackling air. Her smile only grew as she tossed Frag up high in the sky. "Come forth, destroyer from the flames, igniter of conflict. My shadow be thine body and heed my call!", she chanted with much pride.

The dark glob in the air began to mutate, shifting its shapeless self into something definite. The group of Negi's watched with morbid fascination as the creature that emerge somewhat resembled something human. It's head and body nothing more than hardened magma that was lit aflame from the cracks that adorned them. It had legs like a normal human but it was made of semi-liquid lava, still burning into the ground. It's left arm was hardened with a four fingered hand while the right was non-existent except for a flame that sprouted from where the shoulder was. It turned to Chigusa, the same high-pitched manic voice recognizable as Frag. "Where is the gift mistress?".

The convicted magess' smile was unmistakable. "Here.", she handed it the sword she crafted.

Frag took it in his hands and swung it a few times. "Nothing special to this blade milady. It will only be good for slashing mere mortals.", it commented as a couple more practice swings seemed to rend the air.

"That is all I shall need you to do.", she turned her sights from Frag to Asuna and the demon's hollow eyes followed. "That girl over there.", Chigusa told him, "is a canceller, had I added enchantments, the blade would have been useless.".

Frag nodded, "Understood.".

On the other hand, Negi was already planning out their next move and relaying orders to his two conscious partners. 'Setsuna-san, you'll have to take care of Konoka-san, me and Asuna-san will hold them back.'.

'Negi', Asuna answered back to him, never taking her eyes off the two before them. 'Why are we running, shouldn't we just take them down now? We're already fighting something dangerous, if we'll have to deal with this perverted woman again, I don't think we'll be much help to Kyoto's problems.'. She twitched slightly when the demon Frag turned to them after another short instruction from Chigusa.

'That would sound like a good idea, but there is also the possibility that Amagasaki Chigusa is the problem we have to solve.', Negi spoke gravely to his students.

'Then all the better.", Asuna held her sword high-ready to strike.

'Don't be foolish Asuna-san!', Setsuna mentally blared at the girl. The twin-tailed red-head paused mid-rise and conked her head with her own blade.

'What was that for!?", Asuna demanded indignantly in telepathy though her physical antics showed the sentiments without words being needed.

Setsuna looked grave as she held onto Konoka for dear life, which was a bit ironic. 'We have to be more careful. We have no idea how powerful she has gotten since we last saw her.', the samurai girl warned.

'That's right.', Negi agreed. 'Looking around us, we'd know just how powerful she's become.', his combative stance only strengthening as that fact sunk in.

'What?', the red-head of the group looked around. 'Holy crap why's everything stopped!?', she mentally screamed.

She was ignored as Negi decided to tell them, 'This is rather high level even for western mages. Actually I doubt many mages in the world can even do this on a whim.'.

'That is the same for us onmyouji.', Setsuna informed. The hanyou was getting antsy from all the tension of the stare down. A small cry of discomfort called her attention to the person in her arms. 'Konoka-ojou-sama!', she grit her teeth in frustration. "We must go, now.", she whispered to them.

With the thought of Konoka's suffering, they all agreed that backing off would be for the best right now. Asuna had just retaken her position of vanguard when a high-pitched voice whispered in her ear, "I'm over heeeere.". This prompted Asuna to swing away when she realized that Frag had somehow approached them without notice.

Asuna's much larger blade clashed in a marvel of sparks against the smaller edge of the demon's weapon. Frag pushed with his one arm to overpower Asuna's two-handed grip. With that their battle was sent far from the group with that exchange lasting barely two seconds.

"Asuna-san!", Negi called out as the combatants smashed into a nearby wooden fence.

"Now,", Chigusa's voice called the attention of the two remaining. "If you two would so kindly step out of the way", she approached closer to where they were. "I would like to do as I have already planned in wiping this planet free of the Konoe clan.", the magess eyes turned venomous by the end of the statement. Her hands shot forward while her lips chanted in an ancient language that neither Negi nor Setsuna recognized. A moment after her chant finished, a huge blast of ice emerged from her hands. Correction, a large blizzard hail materialized before her hands.

Setsuna immediately grabbed Konoka and jumped away for safety of the latter. Negi on the other hand, was forced to separate from them as the pointed chunks of frost impeded his upward escape. Instead, he was forced to conjure a barrier and withstand the brunt of the spell.

Chigusa noticed the runaways quickly. She narrowed her eyes in annoyance sneering, "You won't get away.". She held one hand out in Setsuna's projected direction while the other was still focused on keeping Negi down. After a few seconds of ancient mutterings, the convicted magess let loose a ripping row of lightning bolts that were headed straight for Setsuna. The samurai girl was still in mid-air, trying to get atop of a building where it would be safer but the lightning came and in the mess of keeping both of them from harm's way, Konoka was left to free-fall.

Negi noticed this from his pinned down position. The spell that Chigusa had cast against him however was already weakening, not enough to dispel itself but enough for him to break out of with relative ease. He did so with a quick spell. "Raskil Maskil Magistel! Ventus Paries!", he called out, smashing his current barrier away and most of the ice blowing his way. It bought him enough time to get on his staff that sped away towards Konoka. He caught her gallantly but he was so focused on getting to her in time, he forgot to regulate his speed which crashed them into a traditional japanese two story house.

Negi cradled his head in one hand. "Ugh,", he then looked around after registering that the girl he meant to rescue was no longer in his arms. "What- Where's Konoka-san?". Luckily he found her a few feet away and scurried over to her.

Back outside, Chigusa took a step towards the house which stuck out from all modern buildings that it was built so close to. "Stop!", an authoritative voice shouted from above. Chigusa immediately recognized the particular whistle of the wind and looked up to parry away a spinning projectile with her bare-hand. It clanked loudly against the side-walk with a hollow wooden sound. Standing on the roof of building beside the house was Setsuna, Yuunagi drawn and in her hands. The swordswoman held her blade to point against the magess, "You will not proceed any farther.".

The announcement was met with a snarl from the convict. Chigusa, once again gathered a ball of dark energy from her shadows saying, "I don't have any time for this. Surpassing light and overwhelming power! Calamity's greatest agent! Come forth! Lund.". She chucked the mass of darkness right at Setsuna who avoided it. The dark mass landed onto the roof before mutating itself much like the fire demon before.

The creature resembled hollow armor. Its head was a helm with a cross-shaped visor and blonde tail. The arms were segmented into three parts: an arm brace, a black magnetic sphere and a gauntlet. It had no legs but instead had five large metal rings with each one stacking over the other top to bottom. It arose, lit with electricity that was crackling from within its core. "So you are to be my opponent.", it spoke in a high and mighty fashion. It held its chin in thought, saying, "I pray you are worth the trouble of being summoned.".

Setsuna could not retort when one of the five rings was flung in her direction. She leaned back to let the object fly over her. The motion succeeded into a backflip which gave her a clear view of the ring going right through a concrete electric post, the sliced section sliding clean off if it weren't for the electrical wires holding it up. Setsuna completed the acrobatics by landing on her feet in a battle stance.

"Oho.", Lund said in surprise. "How about we raise the bar a bit?", it fired three more of the rings.

Setsuna did not think twice as she swatted the bladed implements away with Yuunagi.

"Exquisite.", was the lightning fiend's only comment as it caught the returning first ring and threw it at the samurai girl from its hands.

The hanyou swordswoman was set to smash it off course once again but this was not to be. The spinning blade met her steady one, grating against Yuunagi no matter how much she tried to force it away. Instead, it pushed her back, forcing her to fly through the air and into another building.

"Now", Chigusa watched the exchange in satisfaction. "I pray that there will be no more distractions.", the convicted magess said as she entered the house where her target was currently located.

From Setsuna's crash site, the metal ring was roughly sent flying away. "Ojou-sama!", Setsuna screamed, rushing to where Konoka was. The Shinmeiryuu swordswoman felt a change in the air and immediately brought up her weapon to block. She successfully saved herself from being cut in half but the impact made her spin in mid-air. The attack was followed up with lightning which blasted her into the paved sidewalk.

"Don't go now.", Lund taunted. The blast of lightning he fired before was actually his left gauntlet of a hand. He currently held up the swordswoman while choking her, a good ten feet away and thirty off the ground. The demon's voice turned dangerous as he said, "I'm just beginning to have a little fun.".

Anger registered on Setsuna's face despite the abuse her windpipe must've been going through. "I… don't…", she began wheezing, her grip on Yuunagi strengthening. "Care!", she screamed. With what strength she could muster, she smashed the but of her nodachi into Lund's gauntlet arm, breaking a section of it into tiny little fragments. The grip loosened enough for her to grab the offending appendage and throw it away. She spread out her wings which ripped most of her shirt off but she didn't care. Whatever needed to be done to save Konoka, she would do it. With that in mind she charged the demon, prepared to strike it down.

Negi Springfield, right now, was in a confrontation with Amagasaki Chigusa, a battle of the leaders so to speak. The stand off took place in one of the hallways of the house. It was cramped giving Negi the disadvantage of making it hard to escape.

"There's no way to run my dear.", Chigusa informed Negi. "Be a good boy and drop that thing will you?", she pointed at the unconscious figure of Konoka in the child teacher's arms.

Negi tensed up. "She's not a thing!", he declared loudly. To insult him was one thing but to insult his students and the people he cared about was another.

The convicted magess was unabashed as she continued, "Well she'll just be a symbol to the beginning of the Konoe's end as Kyoto's head.".

"Not if I can help it.", Negi grit his teeth in concentration. He was guessing that now would be a good time to use those power-up spells he had been practicing for awhile. "Raskil Maskil Magistel! Cantus Vis Vires!", Negi felt strength flow into him, more so than when he used Cantus Bellax. He held onto Konoka tightly as he smashed into the wall. It gave way easily even though he tackled the structure in an odd position to avoid injuring the girl in his arms.

Chigusa narrowed her eyes at the hole in the wall. "Vexing.", was the only word she could say to describe her feelings. A snap of her hands and her shadows whipped out to make a similar hole in the wall, big enough to fit her person. She hopped through it and into the house's yard. Negi was all the way up the fence now and jumping away. Chigusa once again gestured with her hands to shoot shadows into the ground. Muttering in the same language as she had used before, a large spike of ice blasted from beyond the fence. Negi was hit with the spell and sent high into the air, Konoka still in his grasp. With another physical command, the convicted magess sent a lance of shadow to extend and skewer the two in mid-air.

"Paries Aerialis!", Negi regained consciousness in time to cast the barrier. It did not stop the shadow lance but it did slow it down as well as change its trajectory enough to safely dodge. The landing was none too smooth as both student and teacher fell onto the ground in a heap.

Lips curled into a smile, Chigusa approached them, the taste of victory already intoxicating her. "Finally.", she said with satisfaction. "The first step to my plans can now be put into motion.", she laughed as she held out her hand, no doubt to summon her shadow lances to assault them once again.

Negi was already conscious but could do nothing since he landed on the bottom to prevent harm from befalling the unconscious Konoka, effectively pinning himself down. 'Oh no!', was all he could think as the inky blackness condensed into one figure.

Chigusa was triumphantly smirking as she screamed, "DIE!".

"INUGAMI!", a lone shout echoed the air as wolf heads of shadow descended to devour the black blade, breaking them to pieces.

"That move.", Negi watched in surprise as the shadows returned to their respective owners. "There's only one person I know who can do that.", the child teacher immediately looked to the air where he was sure the interruption came from. "KOTAROU-KUN!", he yelled in recognition.

Up in the air was Negi's rival, with raven mane blowing lightly in the wind. He gave a joking salute, "Yo! How're you holding up Negi? Or should I say keeping down?". The hanyou snickered at his rival's predicament. He immediately stopped though as a sharp kick to his back almost sent him from mid-air to the ground, face first should I add.

"Quit acting cool and get down there", Yue's familiar voice and figure made itself known as she held both herself and Inugami in the air with her broom stick.

"Fine you little twirp!", Kotarou blew her a raspberry as he jumped down to where Negi was.

The child teacher already had himself on a vertical base as Kotarou landed soundlessly beside him. "Kotarou-kun.", Negi9 called the hanyou's attention.

"What is it?", the reply quick after noticing the serious look on Negi's face.

Negi shook his head, "It's Konoka-san.". "She's in bad shape, if we don't get her away from this aura then she might not last.", the child teacher explained to his rival with worry.

Kotarou understood quite clearly as he gave a big grin. "I understand. No sweat. Me and the nee-san-tachi will keep the enemies here.", he reassured his friend. "Take the twerp with you.", he jabbed his thumb in Yue's direction. "She knows the way out of here.".

Negi nodded with a confident grin on his face. "Alright, take care of everything then.", the child teacher jumped up to a very surprised Yue who barely held her broom straight more out of surprise than any sort of impact Negi's landing made.

"N-Negi-sensei? Konoka-san!?", the little witch gasped in surprise at the new arrivals. "Konoka-san?", she tried to wake the unconscious girl. She turned her attention to Negi, asking, "What's wrong with her sensei?".

Negi just shook his head, "No time to explain, we need to get out of this barrier.".

"What about everyone else?", Yue asked.

Negi paused. Everyone was fighting hard. Somewhere was Asuna, still slugging it out with that demon Frag. Setsuna was also keeping pace with Lund. Now Kotarou was taking his place in facing Chigusa.

"Oi!", Kotarou called from below. "What are you guys still doing up there? If anything happens to Konoka-nee-san then those two will be seriously pissed.", he hollered up.

Negi looked down to see that the hanyou and the convicted magess were still at a stand off. Kotarou was right, they were counting on him. The child teacher turned to Yue. "It's alright. They can do it.", he nodded for her to do her thing. The small witch nodded in reply, silently acknowledging the decision. Negi thought to himself as the broom he was standing on began to shoot forward, there were people who were putting their faith in him, so he had to put his faith in them as well.

Down below Kotarou was still facing the woman in black kimono. He smirked, "Still badly dressed as ever eh Chigusa?".

The smirk was reciprocated as she taunted, "And you still haven't grown out of that gakuran.".

Kotarou held his hands up with an amused sigh, "It's a sign of my manliness, women would never understand.".

"Still a brat.", Chigusa spoke disgustedly. She whipped her hand backwards, ready to lash out.

Kotarou spoke with an equally frigid demeanor, "Still crazy about revenge.". He cocked his fist back.

Both combatants flicked their arms forward with their own respective attacks.

"Shadow Dancer!"

"Inugami!"

The convicted magess' shadow stretched forward as inky blades shot up and dropped back into the darkness from whence they came. A host of wolf heads was Kotarou's reply. The two powers smashed into each other and caused an explosion to erupt.


Somewhere up above, Yue was flying away with Negi standing at the broom head and Konoka in his arms. The explosion behind her grated on her nerves as she sighed in exasperation, "Oh that idiot.".

Negi looked to the girl. "Don't worry about Kotarou-kun, he can take care of himself.", he comforted her as the explosion was followed by more explosions from roughly the same area.

Yue looked unabashed as she spoke, "I know that.". She fought the urge to turn around and smack the dog hanyou upside the head, explaining, "This place we're in mustn't be damaged too badly or else we might harm innocents. Not to mention the cover-up will be much harder to pull off.".

"So shouldn't that be normal? We're in the real world after all.", Negi told her with confusion written all over his face.

The little witch merely shook her head. "I've checked with my artifact before hand. This place is not the real world, it's an alternate plane of existence created by that woman.".

Negi almost dropped the girl in his arms out of surprise. "This is what?", he shouted incredulously, careful not to slip up his footing.

"An alternate plane of existence.", Yue continued biting her lower lip in nervousness. "To be exact, this place is known as the source world. No matter what happens, we can't let any by-standers get caught in the crossfire.".

Negi gulped at her serious tone. "W-", he stuttered, "What happens to them in the real world if they do get hurt here?".

Yue's hands held onto the broom tightly, "They disappear, regardless of the injury's nature.".

Negi was now very worried, Amagasaki Chigusa was nothing like she was a year before.


"Ha!", Kotarou barked as he separated from his latest clash with the loose-kimonoed Chigusa. "You've gotten better at this.", remarked the battle hungry hanyou. His claws still extended out.

Chigusa merely readjusted her clothes with arrogance clear across her face. "I could say the same for you.", she said rather grudgingly. Her shadow pooled around her as they soothed her aching body.

Kotarou noticed her shaking legs, commenting, "Not quite used to rough physical combat yet I take it?".

"Shut up.", was Chigusa's answer. She sent a lance of shadows at him. Kotarou managed to dodge with ease. While the hanyou was distracted, Chigusa was swallowed up by her own shadow. Instantly, she reappeared right behind Kotarou where her shadow had stretched. She swung at him with a shadow blade but he blocked her by the arm out of reflex and flipped her into the air. The shadow caster had yet to give up as she made her shadow that was still cast on the ground and under Kotarou to shoot up shadow bullets. Once again, with more instinct than actual thought, Kotarou dodged each and every shot. Chigusa landed like a cat, pouncing like one right after her feet touched ground. Both of her arms were held out with shadows covering them in claws. Kotarou was still recovering his balance and didn't have time to dodge, instead he somehow stopped her attack by grabbing her wrists.

The two of them stood there in a face off, Chigusa doing all she could to stab the much younger boy while Kotarou was surprisingly using most of his strength to keep the woman that was twice his height from impaling his heart.

"You've become much stronger.", Chigusa hissed as she tried to force her shadow claws to reach. Changing the shadow's shape was no good however since most of her attention was being spent on keeping the hanyou's grip from crushing her wrists.

Kotarou was in a similarly dead-locked state, keeping her from killing him while at the same time unable to actually do harm against her due to the shadows that were precariously poised to kill him from right beneath his feet. Despite the situation, he couldn't help but talk back, "You've gotten some muscle yourself you old bat.".

"You really haven't changed a bit.", she bit out with exertion. "Except for the fact you're helping those western mages and their supporters now. How low have you sunken to be their dog?".

Kotarou's anger arose as he said, "I'm no one's dog and I'm no friend to any western mage.".

Chigusa winced when the hanyou's grip tightened over her wrists but she didn't let it show. Instead, her face was set in a sardonic grin, "Is that so? You follow young Springfield around like a lost little pup that I couldn't even tell it was you from the start.".

"Shut up!", Kotarou yelled with fury evident in his tone.

'Just a little more. If he does anything rash, I'll be ready.', Chigusa cheered on. "You really have become their dog. A slave to those dirty westerner's that-".

"Quiet!", the hanyou roared. His breaking point already past, Kotarou threw the shadow caster's arms open wide so he had an open shot. He rushed forward.

Chigusa smirked as the shadows beneath stirred and rushed forward in a multitude of spikes, placing themselves into and right through Kotarou's body. "Naïve little boy.", the convict smiled ecstatically at the sight of blood. The lifeless form of Kotarou leaned forward limp and lifeless while being held up by the spikes. Chigusa approached it with a certain haughtiness to her voice, "Had you just stayed faithful little puppy then you might not have died so pitifully.".

"Hehehe…".

"Wh-what", the shadow caster stepped back when the body of the supposedly passed hanyou began to move once more.

The corpse looked her right in the face, with its own completely void of anything but lifeless white eyes set in featureless shadows. "The naïve one.", it pointed up with a weak hand, "is you.". The body blew into a large cloud of smoke that sent Chigusa into a coughing fit.

She opened her eyes to see through the smoke. "What is this?", she demanded through coughs.

"It's simple.", a familiar voice surprised her as his outline became visibly solid through the fog.

"Just a little something I picked up while I was away from you is all.", another voice commented from a different direction.

The smoke was blown away when Asuna and Frag's nearby battle caused an explosion. The field cleared and the shadow caster watched Kotarou in all his glory. About twenty Kotarou's stood before and around her. "Nifty ain't it?", they all grinned at once, "Perfected Kagebunshin that is.".

Chigusa recoiled at the sight. Had Kotarou really grown this powerful in so short a time? She was beginning to doubt her chances of winning at this rate. She had a few other tricks up her sleeve but if she used them recklessly, it might cost her in the long run. What to do?

A great crash sounded behind her, she watched as the lightning fiend, Lund, stayed barely held together. "Milady.", it addressed her. "It pains me to say this but we must retreat.".

"Lund.", she warned him with one look that if he said anything that displeased her then consequences would be dire.

The demon shook its helmed head as it spoke. "The mana. We are running dangerously low. Extended periods of keeping us within this space as well as giving both Frag and I bodies is beginning to take its toll.", Lund explained as it held out its gauntleted hands. Both of them were in a wretched state but one of them was cleanly broken by Setsuna, the other however looked like it was breaking itself into pieces through sheer incapability to support its own structure. "The weakening may be small now but Frag must be feeling it as well.".

The convicted magess cursed the situation. Her intentions on cutting off Kyoto's support and striking the first true blow in this battle had just gone down the drain. She pulled a little at her mana. She was sure Frag and Lund both felt the split-second drain of mana from their bodies, it was the agreed sign of retreat. She turned to the group of half-demons that she had been facing against just then. "I'll remember this Inugami.", the woman snarled at the crowd. Lund turned back into a ball of shadow and joined another shadow that flew straight for the palm of Chigusa's hand. Once they were joined back with her shadow again, she seemed a whole lot more rejuvenated. One last glare and one wave of her hand, the shadows closed upon her and she disappeared.

Once sure that there was no one else around, Kotarou released the technique, leaving his original self to plop down on the paved road that they were fighting on. "Crud, that took a lot more out of me than I thought it would.", he grunted out. He slowly flexed his fingers before his face and was not surprised that he barely had the strength to completely curl his fingers even. "Not good.", he muttered to himself while straining to get back-up. "I still need to round up Asuna-nee-san and Setsuna-nee-san."

The ground began to tremble while the sky was visibly cracking. Kotarou's mind realized what was happening since he had similar experiences before. "Definitely not good, this world is crumbling without Chigusa to keep it running.". The hanyou tried to force himself up on his feet but the strain his last move did had exhausted him. "Crud, maybe twenty was pushing it.", he cursed under his breath. He lay his head down, taking deep calming breaths. He needed to think of something quickly, a way to get everyone out if not at least signal for some help. What could he do though?

Kotarou was deep in thought when his ears twitched. He swore that he could faintly hear someone screaming his name. Couldn't be, he must've been overthinking, which wasn't exactly bad in his scenario.

"Kotarou!"

Okay so the hanyou definitely heard that one.

"Kotarou-kun!"

The hanyou's ears perked up. "Negi?", he yelled out in question.

"Kotarou-kun!", Negi's voice was becoming clearer. "I think I heard something over there Yue-san.", the teacher audibly told one of his students.

It was really Negi. Kotarou realized that they might not have heard them properly so he began to call out. "Negi! Runt! I'm over here!", he shouted out to the sky.

The sounds of whipping wind landed right beside the hanyou and he could feel the rushed footsteps in his direction. "Oi, dog! You okay?", the purple-eyes of Ayase Yue looked down at the hanyou.

The warrior boy gave a big grin, "Just lying around.".

The girl rolled her eyes as the familiar face of Kotarou's rival joined in the fuss. "Kotarou-kun. We need to go, it seems this place is falling apart.", Negi pulled up the hurt boy to a somewhat vertical base.

"Heh.", Kotarou winced when all his muscles protested to the forced strain they were undergoing. "How about onee-san-tachi?", he asked the boy.

Negi smiled at the boy, even when battle-crazed the hanyou still found it in himself to be concerned over his allies a clear sign of mental growth they had both achieved while in the magical world. He gestured to a particular direction with his chin and said, "See for yourself.".

The injured boy looked over and found Konoka, Setsuna and Asuna all out-cold with the two warrior women injured. They leaned against the facade of a nearby establishment, peacefully sleeping as they leaned on each other.

Yue jogged along side them asking Kotarou, "Think you can stay conscious?".

The hanyou nodded, his ego kicking to full gear. "Of course I can, this is the great Kotarou-sama you're talking to here.", the hanyou chuckled proudly.

"Well good.", Yue huffed as she watched the three passed out females before them. "I'll need the great Kotarou-sama to carry one of them. I can fly well but I've never really flown with an unconscious passenger before.", the young witch held her chin in thought.

"Whaaaat!?", Kotarou's mouth gaped open. "I'm hurt and half ready to faint here woman and you expect me to carry someone?", he spluttered out.

A questioning eyebrow lifted above one of Yue's purple eyes. "I thought the great Kotarou-sama could handle it? Or was that all just talk?", she said airily.

"What was that? Just bring it! Heck I'll carry all three for the trip!"

The bickering between Kotarou and Yue went on for a bit while Negi just stood there with uncertainty on how to handle the situation. The young mage had to venture in between the argument however before they got stuck there in the collapsing space so he tried, "Guys?". They ignored him and continued to heatedly debate whether Kotarou was half the man he kept saying he was and what the point of manliness actually meant. "Guys!", Negi yelled at them.

"What!?", the two snapped in his direction, Kotarou being the louder and more irritated of the two.

"I think we should get out of here.", Negi pointed out as the cracked sky now began to peel off in some places.

The hanyou and the witch turned from him to each other and sent their most hateful glares. A few moments passed as tremors shook beneath them, one of them being extremely strong and enough for Negi's knees to buckle. Neither of the two showed any signs of feeling that shock except for one word that both chorused, "Fine!".

Negi scratched the back of his head with a exasperated sigh. He then smiled though as he told them, "Let's go home.".

With that being said, they left the source world that Chigusa had created and true to his word, Kotarou carried all three unconscious women with much agony and difficulty.


At the Konoe manor's receiving room, Konoe Eishun, one of the heroes of the magic world, former member of the legendary Ala Rubra, a master of Shinmeiryu and leader of the Kansai magic association was talking to a guest who had just arrived.

"I see.", Eishun noted as he read the letter clutched in his hands. "So Evangeline sent you over to study our onmyou techniques?", he questioned.

"Yes, she did.", the guest nodded in confirmation. "I didn't quite see the point of it myself but she said it would prove to be quite educational for me.", he added.

The Kansai head smiled with pride as he informed his guest, "I daresay that onmyou magic is much more potent than most are led to believe. I think it was wise of Evangeline to put this idea up to you. I still find it hard to believe that she would seriously take another formal apprentice besides Negi-kun.", the middle aged man rubbed his stubble in wonder.

An anger vein popped up on the young guest's head, thankfully the back, as he answered, "Yes, I still find it hard to believe myself.".

Eishun snapped himself out of thought a moment later though as he said amiably, "Please, you must be tired and hungry from the journey. Please eat to your heart's content.", the magician head gestured at the feast that was spread between them.

"Thank you.", the guest bowed, "It's very kind of you, despite your busy situation or so I've been told.".

The laugh that escaped Eishun's lips was one of unease and concession. "That is true. But pay it no mind. As long as you stay under our hospitality, we will do everything in our power to make your studies as successful as possible.".

Footsteps thumped against the wooden halls outside the room, quickly followed by the sight of one very nervous servant who approached the host with a sense of urgency. The guest never took his eyes off the two as Eishun's features turned from one of neutral warmth to one of slight anxiety that resembled the servant's.

"Excuse me.", Eishun stood up. "It seems my daughter and some of her friends have decided to drop in. Please continue to make yourself at home.", he said genially, stepping out of the room. Before he could make the turn to be completely away from the room however, he turned back and asked the guest, "I feel somewhat rude about this to be so late about it but I seem to have forgotten introductions. I am Konoe Eishun.".

The young man shook his head as he stayed seated in his place. "It's alright,", he replied genially. "My name is Kadoya Tsukasa, I'll be in your care starting today.", the youth said with a cool smile.