A Little Bit of Magic: The Brat and the Hag
A fanfiction by Kamui Archetype
Disclaimer: Love Hina, Negima, and the characters in these series are the property of Ken Akamatsu and whatever companies, organizations, etc. are involved in their production. The original characters in this story and the storyline are my creations. Mine! Though why I keep them, I have no idea. Stupid freeloaders.
Spoilers up to Chapter 79 of Negima and to the end of Love Hina. Meh, I'm feeling lazy. No extra comment for the spoilers. Well, except this. Oh forget it, I'm just going to stop now.
'These' are thoughts
#These# are just general noises and sound effects, like coughing, things hitting people's heads, etc.
My thanks again to petran for proofreading!
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"Asuna, I've been very worried about your grades lately. And since you have quite a few tests in the next couple of weeks, I was thinking of asking one of the faculty members to tutor you this weekend for your test next week. What subject was it again?"
"I think it was math, Headmaster." Kagurazaka Asuna looked down, a bit embarrassed at her rather dismal academic performance.
"Ah, yes. Well, anyway, I had hoped to ask one of the faculty members, but most of the ones who could help you will be attending the teacher's conference."
"Are you going to that also?"
"Unfortunately," Konoemon stroked his beard, "I have a much more pressing matter to attend to, so I have to send someone else in my place. Actually, my other task has something to do with the solution to your dilemma. Apparently the person I will be visiting knows of a Toudai student living nearby who has some experience with teaching. I'm quite sure she would be able to help you pass the upcoming test. What do you think, Asuna?"
"So, I'll have to come with you?"
"If you wish. Unless you know of someone else other than the faculty here?"
'I guess I don't have any choice,' Asuna thought, as she considered her options. 'Maybe this person can help me. After all, you'd have to be really smart to get accepted to Toudai!' She made her decision.
"Okay, I guess. So who'll be tutoring me?"
"I believe her name is Narusegawa. . .
-o-o-o-
"Naru!" A woman in her thirties called out as she walked through the entrance of Hinata-sou . Urashima Haruka, owner of the Hinata Tea House and aunt to Hinata-sou's currently absent manager, waited near the bottom of the stairs.
"Yes Haruka-san?" A younger woman, twenty years of age with reddish-brown hair, walked down the stairs. Narusegawa Naru had just been getting ready to go out and mail a letter when Haruka had called out to her. "Did you need something?"
Haruka nodded, then took the cigarette out of her mouth. "I'm going to be meeting with an old friend of Grandma Hina's later on this week, and since she isn't around, I'll need to talk to him myself."
"Why doesn't he just wait until Granny Hina gets back?"
"Well, it's a bit of an urgent matter, and since I also know the old guy, he said he could discuss it with me." Haruka then took a drag out of her cancer stick. "But that's not what I wanted to talk to you about. My guest said he was bringing along his ward, and he asked if there was anyone I knew that could help her with her studies while they were here. Apparently, the kid hasn't been doing too well in school."
Naru immediately understood where this was going. "Ah, so you want me to tutor her?"
"If you don't mind. You'll be paid, of course."
"Well, it can't be any worse than helping Keitaro."
"Speaking of whom, shouldn't you be on your way to the post office around this time? Quite the dedicated one, aren't you?"
A light blush graced Naru's face. "It's not like that!!! I haven't even told him I would be his girlfriend!!! And anyway, I was just about to go."
"Well then, don't let me keep you from getting that love letter to your Romeo," Haruka smirked.
"I told you it's not like that!" With that, Naru dashed off, her cheeks now fully flushed.
-o-o-o-
A few days later
Asuna was not happy. She had been up all night finishing her homework and had gotten little sleep. 'Ugh, I wish I could sleep in today.'
Konoemon had stopped at the Hinata Tea House so he could talk privately to the owner, one Urashima Haruka, since the tutor hadn't arrived yet. Asuna asked if it would be all right to explore the area around the tea house and the inn located further on.
"Sure, it should be all right," Haruka had answered as the headmaster of Mahora Academy turned to her for an answer.
And so here she was, bored out of her mind. 'When is that tutor going to get here?'
So caught up was she in her thoughts that she failed to notice a certain individual running at high speed in the direction of the tea house.
'AAAAAHHHHH!!! I'M LAAAAATEEE!!!' Naru ran wildly towards the Hinata Tea House. 'Why did that bus have to break down?!?'
A dazed-looking girl suddenly appeared in her path, not noticing the approaching Toudai student.
"AHHH!!! LOOK OUT!!!"
#CRASH!!!#
"Owwww. . ." Naru rubbed her head for a second, then noticed the girl she had crashed into. "Oh no, are you all right?"
She stood up and offered the middle-schooler a hand up. "I'm so sorry, I. . ."
The girl angrily slapped Naru's hand away. "Why don't you watch where you're going, you old hag!!!"
'OL. . .OLD HAG?!?' Naru fixed a glare at the girl. "Why you little brat!!! I'm trying to apologize here!!!"
Asuna matched the older girl's stare, her already bad mood getting worse. "Whoopdee freakin' do! You want a medal or something? You ran into me!!!"
"I said I was sorry!!! And it's not like you weren't paying attention either!!! You just blindly walked into my path!!!"
"So you're saying it's my fault?!? You're the one who's running people over!!! "
"I was trying to apologize!!! You didn't have to suddenly get all pissy about it!!!"
"Oi, what's with all the racket out here?"
Haruka and Konoemon stepped out to a sight of two girls pulling viciously at each other's hair. The two stopped at Haruka's voice.
"Mind telling us what's going on?"
-o-o-o-
"EEEHHH?!? This old hag's my tutor?" Asuna looked at Konoemon and Haruka in disbelief.
"It's not like I'm happy with this either, you little brat," Naru grumbled under her breath.
"What did you say?!?"
"Calm down, Asuna," Konoemon admonished. "Like I've told you before, Narusegawa-san is a Toudai student and has had some experience with teaching. It would be a good idea to listen to what she has to say. After all, you wouldn't want to disappoint Takahata-sensei with your test scores, now would you?"
The headmaster of Mahora smiled as that last comment finally got Asuna to settle down, at least grudgingly. She bent her head to hide the blush on her face. "No sir."
Naru raised an eyebrow at this. 'Takahata-sensei? Hmmm. . .a crush?'
-o-o-o-
"So, I thought this was a girl's dorm. Where is everyone else?"
"Visiting family and friends or doing something important." Which was true. Shinobu had decided to see how her parents were doing, while Mutsumi went on a trip to see the rest of the Otohime clan. Su and Sara, on the other hand, were both in Tokyo to fill out some paperwork with regards to their respective home country. Kitsune, much to her chagrin, had the job of chaperoning the two there, as Naru had to tutor Asuna. Speaking of which. . ."So Asuna, your guardian tells me that you've been having trouble with history and math."
Asuna looked up at the girl with a sour face, but decided to answer back. "Yeah. But I'd rather we work my math first, since I have a test coming up."
"All right then."
The rest of the walk was spent in silence.
-o-o-o-
"So, do you understand?" Naru looked over at her student, whose eyes were spinning. "Uh, are you all right?"
"Aaagh!!! I thought I had this last night! I can't believe I had it wrong all this time!!!" Asuna banged the table in frustration.
"Er, maybe we should take a break for now." Naru looked over at the spot that the younger girl had made a crack in. 'She's pretty strong for her age.'
The middle-schooler protested this. "But. . ."
"No buts, we can tackle this a bit later." The Toudai student stood up, brushing her skirt off. "I'll get us something to drink."
Asuna looked around the room as soon as her tutor had left. She spotted a picture lying nearby on the ground. Curious, she padded over to where the photo lay. She looked at the two bespectacled men depicted in the picture. The older man was wearing a lab coat and had a bit of stubble on his face, which gave him a more rugged look. 'Not bad, but Takahata-sensei is a lot cooler.'
The other male in the picture was much younger, though he was obviously in his twenties. 'He looks kind of unreliable. . .'
"What are you doing?"
Asuna turned to see Naru stepping into the room with a tray full of drinks. "You left this on the floor. So who are these guys?"
'Oh! I can't believe I forgot that.' Naru thought as she gazed at the photo. "The older guy is Seta-san. He's a really cool and handsome archaeologist who's gone all around the world! He's a real-life Indiana Jones!"
"Really?"
"Mmmhmm!" The older girl nodded. "The guy beside him is the manager of this dorm, Urashima Keitaro. He's a pervert and really stupid though! It took him three times to get into Toudai!"
"How in the world did he become the manager of a girls' dorm?" Asuna asked in disbelief.
Naru blushed in embarrassment. She had insulted Keitaro out of reflex. "Keitaro's not really that bad, though. He works hard and he's helped us out a lot. Plus, he's in America right now studying to be an archaeologist. In fact he's actually Seta-san's apprentice. "
Asuna was still doubtful, especially after she heard that. "Some manager. He just left his duties here? How can someone that irresponsible be an archaeologist?"
The Toudai student's eyes narrowed at that. It was one thing to call Keitaro a pervert and an idiot. It was another to belittle his hard work and his dreams. "You shouldn't blame him for that. All of the tenants, including myself, encouraged him to go. And Keitaro will become an archaeologist! He worked hard to get to Toudai and made it, despite his failures. He also has a talent for archaeology. Did you know he made two major discoveries when he was working in an archaeological dig last year? And he was still an amateur then!"
The Mahora girl looked slyly at her tutor. "Gee, you sure seem defensive about this Keitaro guy. He your boyfriend or something?"
"N, no! What made you think that? Hahahahah.. . ." Naru laughed unconvincingly while blushing. "And I was just defending his good points since he's a friend!"
Asuna remained unconvinced. "Suuuuure you are."
"It's none of your business anyway!" Naru yelled heatedly. 'Ooooh, this runt is such a pain! Wait. . .' "And what about you? Why are you studying so hard?"
"What are you talking about?" Naru's young student looked confused. "I just want to pass!"
"Of course, of course. This definitely has nothing to do with. . .," Naru grinned evilly, "a certain teacher? By the name of Takahata, I believe?"
"How. . .how the heck did you find out about that?!?"
"Oh please, it was so easy to see what you were thinking when your guardian mentioned his name. And don't think I didn't see your blush! I know all of the signs of a schoolgirl crush on a teacher! I've seen them all before!" 'Mostly on my own face. . .' Naru thought, remembering her own crush on Seta.
"So what, you old bag?!?" An embarrassed and angry Asuna shot back. "At least he's a lot cooler than your loser of a boyfriend who probably won't do anything worthwhile!
Naru's clenched her hands into fists.
"Take it back," She whispered. "Mustn't kill the midget, she's my student, mustn't kill the midget, she's my student, mustn't. . .'
"I bet he's not only a pervert, but he's a moron who forgets to mmmph!!!"
"Shut up!" Naru had covered Asuna's mouth. Asuna then pulled hard on Naru's hair.
"Kyaaa!!!" The older girl retaliated by pulling on Asuna's cheeks. Soon, the two were rolling on the ground scratching at each other and pulling on the other's hair and/or cheek.
After a while, the two separated from each other, each breathing heavily from the hair- and cheek pulling. Their glares met across the room as both waited for the other to attack. The silence was almost unbearable as their muscles tensed.
Suddenly both rushed at each other, Asuna lashing out with a punch, which Naru easily blocked. A kick to the head soon followed, though again Naru foiled it with a smirk. She then launched her own counterattack, aiming a knife hand at Asuna's head, but this was slapped away by the Mahora student.
Naru leapt back, smirking and said, "Not bad, kid. Pretty soon you'll actually be able to beat up a 2-year old."
Asuna sneered back. "I'm surprised an old bat like you could keep up with me. You'd think that huge butt you got from all that sitting around and studying would slow you down."
"I do not have a huge butt!!!" Naru glared. She then looked evilly at the other girl. "But I'll forgive you, since you're just an immature little monkey who doesn't even have a chest that the teacher she has a crush on would notice. Or any chest to speak of."
"Shut up!!! I'm getting there, gorilla-woman!!!"
"Why, I bet you still wear panties with cute little unicorns and kitties on them, just like a little kid!"
"Shows what you know! Mine has bears on them! Some genius Toudai student you are!"
"Aha! Thank you for proving my point, Teddy-Bear Panty-chan!!!"
"ARRRRGGGGHHHH!!! I'LL BEAT THE CRAP OUT OF YOU, GORILLA HAG!!!"
"BRING IT ON, MONKEY BRAT!!!"
The two met again in a flurry of kicks and punches and the fight soon went out of Naru's room and began to move all over the second floor of Hinata-sou. While both seemed equal at first, Naru's training under Seta and her greater strength and reach soon gave her the upper hand. Asuna soon found herself on the defensive, with several of Naru's strikes already going past her defenses.
'I'm in trouble!' The younger girl didn't notice Naru was pushing her back towards a wall until she felt herself slam against it. 'Oh no!'
Naru stopped for a moment, but still ready to strike. She knew she had the upper hand. "Apologize!"
Despite being cornered, Asuna's pride was not about to let her give in. "Never!"
"You asked for it!!!"
Asuna flinched as Naru's final attack came at her. Fortunately for her, Naru tripped on a banana peel carelessly left behind by a certain princess of Molmol. At the same time, Asuna inadvertently pushed a hidden switch on the wall as she pressed back against it, opening the entrance to a passageway that went downwards diagonally, like a slide. Naru smashed into Asuna, and both girls fell into the darkness of the passageway.
"AAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHH!!!!"
-o-o-o-
"Owowow! That damned midget!" Naru rubbed her head, then looked around. "Great. Now I'm stuck in another one of these stupid secret passages.
She stood up and dusted herself off.
"Ugh, and it looks like this is one we haven't explored yet. Wonderful." She then remembered her young charge. "Crap. I have to look for the brat too."
Naru began to walk the darkened halls, hoping that she would eventually find either Asuna or a way out. After a while, she began to get frustrated.
"Aaauuuuggghhh!!! Why the hell did my weekend have to turn out this way?!?" She was about to kick the nearby wall in frustration but something made halt her foot in mid-kick. "Huh? A door?"
Naru walked up to the rather old doorway. After hesitating for a few moments, she opened the door. Dust flew from where they rested for decades and Naru had to cover her eyes and cough out the dust she had breathed in. Once the dust settled, the former ronin looked at the room beyond the door.
"I wonder what's inside?" Usually, she would have the good sense not to walk blindly into one of the rooms in the secret passages of Hinata-sou without someone with her, but something in her mind nagged at her to go in. "I guess I can just beat the crap out of anything that tries to attack me."
Nodding to herself, Naru opened the door and stepped into the room. As she walked in, the Toudai student failed to notice the sign taped on the frame of the door.
"Huh?" The young woman noticed an object covered by a blanket at the back of the room. "I wonder what's under this thing." She walked over to the object and slowly lifted the dusty cover. Coughing a bit from the dust, her eyes shone at what she found.
"Wow, what a pretty looking doll!"
'Thank you.'
Naru froze, then looked at the doll. The blond-haired figure just stared back at her. 'It. . .it must have been my imagination. Yeah, that must be. . .'
'Ne, you look really familiar. Oh, I remember now!. You were with Kei-kun and that other girl, Mu-chan.'
Naru stared in shock as she heard the doll talk in her mind once again.
'So how is Kei-kun? It's been so long. . .'
After a long moment of silence, the stunned girl finally managed to find her voice. "Er. . .huh? Wha?"
That didn't mean she was coherent.
'You don't remember?' The doll sighed. 'Well, it has been several years, after all.'
"KYAAAA!!!!!!!! IT'S A HAUNTED DOLL!!!!!" Naru's brain finally caught up to her voice. She fell on her bottom as she backed away in a panic, but then continued scurrying backwards.
The doll sweatdropped, then smiled reassuringly. "Don't worry. I'm not going to hurt you, so please calm down."
"Calm down?!? You're a talking, moving doll!!!! And you're speaking in my mind!!!"
'You have nothing to fear. I can't even move from this place.' The doll 's voice seemed to become sad when she said that, but covered it up with a smile as she continued talking. 'Also, even though I am speaking into your mind, I cannot read your thoughts. Please relax and calm down. I only want to talk, Na-chan.'
Naru took several deep breaths. The doll had made no move to follow her, but it could just be waiting to strike. 'Yeah and it might just switch souls with me and trap me in the doll!' However, Naru decided to hear out the mysterious doll. 'She doesn't sound evil, though. . .let's see how this plays out.' She then blinked. 'Did that doll just call me Na-chan?'
"Who. . .are you?!? Are you for real?"
' I am one who has been waiting.'
"Waiting?" Naru's face matched her confused tone.
'Yes. For a promise to be fulfilled.'
"Promise?" 'Wait a minute. . .' the doll mentioned a certain 'Kei-kun' earlier. . . "Are you. . . .are you talking about Keitaro?"
"Ah, so you do remember!"
"Well, no, but you did mention his name earlier." Naru stood up and dusted herself off. She had already forgotten her doubts about the doll's intentions. "So you knew us before?"
The doll nodded. 'You three would often come here to play with me.'
Naru shook her head, still unbelieving at the situation. "I still can't believe I'm really talking to you."
'You really shouldn't be surprised. There is such a thing as magic in the world. You, Kei-kun, and Mu-chan should know better than most.'
The human girl blinked. "What do you mean?"
The doll sighed. 'I suppose you wouldn't remember that either. Well, it doesn't matter if the spell fulfilled its purpose. In any case, did you come with another girl?'
Naru then remembered her student was still lost somewhere. "Oh crap! I've got to go find her! Did you happen to see her?"
'Yes, I heard her yelling as she passed by the door. I can tell you where she is.' The doll's voice then took a wondering tone. 'She was rather angry at something, though. I think I heard her blame you for it a couple of times.'
Naru's face flushed. "That brat! I can't believe she's blaming me for this!"
'Why are you two fighting, anyway?'
Naru proceeded to explain to the magical doll about the two girls' argument and the subsequent fight that led both of them into the inner bowels of the Hinata-sou.
'I see.'
"It's all her fault, you know! I'm trying to help her out and she pays me back by making fun of Keitaro and I! How rude is that?" Naru huffed. "Then she picks a fight? Ugh!"
'She attacked you for no reason?'
"Well. ..no," Naru admitted, lowering her head a bit. "I kind of. . .sort of made fun of her crush on her teacher. . ."
'Oh.'
"Okay, okay! So maybe I could have handled that a bit better!" The Toudai student crossed her arms and looked away from the living doll, frowning. She then sighed and dropped her arms. "I really should have acted a bit more mature and understanding, shouldn't I?"
The room's only other occupant decided to stay silent.
"I'm such an idiot. How can I expect to be a teacher if I do things like this?"
Naru sat down, pulled her knees to her chest and placed her head on her knees.
"All of those times I called Keitaro a loser. . .in the end, I'm the one who's useless."
Both the doll and the young woman sat there in silence for a while before either spoke again.
'That child,' the moping girl raised her head at the mysterious doll's voice. 'She is still lost.
Naru's eyes met the doll's own.
'I can't do anything as I am right now, though I wish I could. It would be better than sitting and doing nothing.'
'Sitting. . .and doing nothing.' Naru blinked for a moment, then stood up. "You saidknow where she is, right?"
The living doll turned to her. 'Yes, she's not too far from here.' She smiled. 'Are you going to go get her?'
"Yeah. I'm her tutor, right? I can't just leave her there." Naru dusted herself off again as she stood up. "Thank you."
She looked at Naru with a smile on her face and a twinkle in her eye. 'What for? I haven't told you where she is yet?'
Naru smiled back. "Well, thanks for that too."
'Of course.' The magical doll asked the human girl another question. 'So you've forgiven that child?'
"Yeah. It was a stupid thing to argue about. And I'm not exactly innocent either."
The doll smiled at the young woman. 'Well then. I think you should pick up that other girl. Just keep going down the passageway outside to find her. You'll also find an exit if you turn right at the first intersection.' The living doll then remembered something. 'Oh, and please do not tell Kei-kun about me.'
"What?!?" Naru was surprised, to say the least. "Why?"
'His promise to me wouldn't have any meaning if he didn't. I want him to remember on his own.'
"But if you leave it up to that idiot, you'll be stuck here for a really long time!" Naru argued. "Can't I give him a hint or something?"
The doll nodded her head, 'I suppose that telling him about a new secret passage would be all right. Though you really should have more faith in him.'
Naru looked down. "I guess you're right. He's a clumsy fool, but he always keeps his promises."
'Yes. Even if it takes a thousand years, he'll do his best to keep his word.'
Naru nodded, chuckling. "I don't think you have to wait that long, though. I was planning to write to him tomorrow, so I can tell him about it. He won't be back in a couple of months, though."
'It's all right. Now, you should go and get that other girl.'
"Ah, right! Thanks!" Naru waved as she ran out of the room.
'Good luck.'
It didn't occur to Naru until much later that she had forgotten to ask the doll's name.
-o-o-o-
"Where the hell am I?!?"
Asuna had been wandering the dusty passageways in the depths of the Hinata-sou for the better part of an hour now after she and Naru had fallen through the secret passageway. Confused at first, the middle-schooler decided that finding the way out was the best course of action. Unfortunately, she had not had much success in that.
"Is this place some sort of former ninja house or something? What kind of a weirdo builds secret passages in an inn?"
She had tried every trick she knew of that would allow her to retrace her steps. So far, all she had done was wander around in a circle.
"If that stupid tutor hadn't attacked me, I wouldn't be stuck in this mess." Asuna sighed. No, that wasn't true. It wasn't entirely her fault. 'Okay, maybe making fun of her boyfriend was a bit too much. Especially since the guy wasn't here to defend himself.'
She'd have to apologize, the girl realized. "But that'll never happen, since I'M LOST IN THIS STUPID PLACE!!! DAMMIT!"
Asuna angrily punched a wall, tears of frustration streaming from her eyes.
"You know, I don't think that teacher you have a crush on would think that's attractive."
"Narusegawa-san!" Asuna looked relieved for a moment, but then covered it up again with a frown. Wiping away a few tears, she glared at her tutor. "Whaddya want now? Come to make fun of me again?"
Naru shook her head. "No, I'm not. I was worried about you."
"Worried? You're joking, right? I thought you'd be glad to get rid of me."
The older girl sighed. "Look, we don't have time for this. I know I wasn't being all that friendly upstairs. . ." Asuna snorted at that, which Naru ignored, "but I'm not here to pick a fight. I just want to get out of here."
"And you know the way out?" The middle-school student asked skeptically.
"I do live here you know. " Naru held out her hand. "Now come on!"
Asuna hesitated. "Why are you so willing to help me now?"
"Despite what you might think, I don't want to just leave you here to starve. Besides, what kind of a tutor would I be if I left you here?"
The younger girl stared at Naru for a while before taking the offered hand.
"Great, now let's get going!"
As they walked down the passageway, Asuna asked Naru, "Why in the world are there secret passageways in an old inn, anyway?"
Naru shrugged. "Personally, I think Keitaro's ancestors were crazy."
Both of them left it at that, though Naru had a niggling thought.
'I have a feeling I'm forgetting something. . .'
Eventually, the two were able to find the exit, which led to the outside of the inn. The two then headed back to Naru's room.
"Sorry," Asuna mumbled.
"What?"
"I said I'm sorry!" The shorter girl yelled. She bowed to Naru. "I'm sorry insulting you and your manager and for not accepting your apology earlier."
Naru smiled gently. "Apology accepted. I suppose I should apologize too. You know, about the whole thing with your teacher. Sorry about that. I didn't really mean it." The college student faced forward as she continued talking. "Actually, I was in the same position as you back at your age. I fell for an older man, my tutor."
"Eh?"
"Yeah, but I realized it was just a silly crush."
"Well, I guess you're wrong then. I really am in love with Takahata-sensei!"
"If you say so, kid," Naru smiled, obviously unbelieving of the younger girl's words.
"Hmph!" Asuna turned away from her tutor as they continued walking back to Naru's room.
"Aw, crap! I forgot to ask what the promise was!"
"Huh? What promise?' Asuna looked confusedly at her tutor.
Naru remembered that she wasn't alone. "Ah, er, it was just something that I forgot to ask one of the tenants! Don't worry about it!"
"Oookaaay. . ."
-o-o-o-
"Good job, Asuna! You're definitely getting the hang of these concepts! Now, in order for you to. . ."
Asuna yawned as the two tackled another math problem. 'Ugh, I wish I could get some sleep when I get home. But I still need to study then. . .'
"You shouldn't push yourself too hard." Naru interrupted Asuna from her thoughts. "You didn't get a lot of sleep, did you?"
"Eh? How did you. . .?"
"You look like you're about to collapse." Naru shook her head. 'I should have realized it earlier.' "No wonder you've been irritable. "
Asuna yawned again. "I need to pass this test, even if I have to study all night!"
The older girl leaned back and stretched her arms. "Resting and playing around is part of learning too. If you don't relax once in a while, you start to break down mentally and all that studying just becomes a burden. It's a sure path to failure."
Asuna looked at Naru skeptically. "And you've had experience with this? That really sounds fake."
Naru smirked. "Actually I do. I studied real hard the first time we took it together, with no breaks. And we failed."
Naru's young student blinked. "But. . .you had the top scores in the nation for the practice exams!"
"And that didn't do me a lot of good. But the second time, I decided not to force myself to study day and night without any breaks." The Toudai student smiled. "And I finally got in. So don't be so stubborn and try to take some time off once in a while."
"Hmm." Asuna began to consider Naru's words. "I guess that's a Toudai student for you. You do have some good things to say. Even if you're a aggressive shrew," she added with a teasing smirk.
Naru smiled back evilly. "Hmmph, this from a loudmouth dunce. But, if you can get that little lesson through your head, there might be hope for you yet."
"Gee, thanks for the encouragement sensei." The girl laced the last word with a great amount of sarcasm.
"You're welcome, munchkin."
-o-o-o-
Asuna, with Konoemon beside her, bowed to both Haruka and Naru. "Thank you very much for your help."
Naru waved her hand and laughed. "No problem. Just make sure you pass or I'll look bad."
Asuna snorts. "Like I need to fail todo that."
"Grr. ..little brat."
"Old hag." 'Calm down, calm down, don't want to start a fight. . .' Asuna smirked. "Well, anyway, thanks again. But tell your boyfriend to close off those secret passages will you? I don't think you want your guests to fall down there and starve to death."
"I told you he's not my boyfriend, you immature little runt!"
The two girls glared at each other.
Ignoring the two, Konoemon turned to Haruka. "Well then, thank you also for your help." He then whispered to Haruka. "And I'm glad you'll allow us to make sure that the item in question is kept under watch."
The owner of the Hinata Tea House flicked a few ashes off of her cigarette. "Just make sure they don't get noticed."
Both Naru and Asuna missed this exchange, however, as the two were once again yelling and pulling at each other's hair and face.
"You flat-chested, violent monkey brat!"
"Who's violent, you ugly gorilla hag with the big butt!"
Konoemon and Haruka sighed, then went to pull the two girls off of each other.
-o-o-o-
. . .and finally that annoying little snot left! I hope we don't have any more troublesome guests while you're gone. Bad enough that I have to take up the slack for you while you're probably partying out there. Eheh, just kidding! But. . .you know, it's kind of boring now. That was the only excitement I've had for a while. . but don't worry about us! We're doing fine. Just keep having fun there, and chase your dreams, okay?
Most of the letter had been about Naru's little tutoring session (though, as she promised, no mention was made of the mysterious living doll that she had met). Naru looked over at the last part of the sentence. "That sounds too cheesy."
The young woman erased the last part, then continued writing.
Just keep having fun there, but don't slack off on your studies, okay? Well, then, until next time.
Sincerely,
Narusegawa Naru
PS
Oh, and Keitaro? When you get back, could you look around the second floor for a hidden doorway? I found another passageway, and you might want to check out where it leads and map it along with the others we've found. I really don't think it's such a good idea to let Su and Sara do it. I'd do it myself, but I got lost when I fell in and I barely got out myself.
Naru chuckled in embarrassment. She really had forgotten how to get around that particular passageway. She tried finding the doll's room again, but had wound up getting lost. It was a good thing she had the foresight to tie a rope around herself to lead her back to the exit.
I figured that if you were the one looking, you'd have better luck at it. After all, you seem to be really good at finding things, right Mr. Archaeologist? OK, take care!
Naru
She folded up the letter, then sealed the envelope and put a stamp on it. "I'll send this tomorrow. It's Sunday today, after all."
The Toudai student leaned back on her chair. "I wonder how that Kagurazaka kid's doing?"
-o-o-o-
The following Monday
"You look happy," Konoka commented at her friend and roommate.
"Heh, heh, you noticed?" Asuna smiled back at Konoka. "Well, it's 'cause I'm feeling pretty good about today's test!"
"Oh, so you that tutor really helped you out for the history test, huh?"
"Yeah!" Asuna then paused. "Wait. . .history? Wasn't the test today for math?"
"Asuna, today is the history test on ancient Japan. Next week is the test for math. Don't tell me you got the two mixed up!"
Konoka stopped walking when she noticed her friend had not replied. She looked worriedly over at Asuna who just stood there stunned.
"Asuna?"
"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!"
-o-o-o-
OMAKE: Party On!
(the set for "Let's Learn Magic", is still decorated for a party; everyone is milling about and eating the food on the buffet)
KA: Well, can you blame me? We've missed doing the entire holiday season. So I'm just combining all of the parties into one huge one for everyone's benefit
Noel: No, you're just being lazy. And a tightwad. You could just do a "Let's Learn Magic" based on Moe.
KA: Should I bring out the maid costume again?
Noel: Shutting up.
Negi: Umm, aren't some of these the same decorations for the last party?
KA: Yes, but you'll notice that I also put up holiday decorations! (smiles)
(everyone looks at the decorations and most shudders at the disturbing combinations, particularly the Santa Claus statue with a bloody chain saw and the decapitated head of Rudolph)
Chachazero: I like it!
Tavi: You would. (mutters) Psycho freak.
Keitaro: (pokes at the manger scene) I don't think one of the Three Wisemen was a bat-winged gargoyle.
Naru: So you're saying you've left everything up forthree months now while throwing together some random decorations from the holiday season?"
KA: Yes. Yes, I have.
Everyone else: (thinks) Moron.
KA: And the food's three months old too.
(everyone pales, then stampedes towards the rest rooms)
Noel: But I thought the caterer replaced the food.
KA: Yup. But they don't know that, do they?
Noel: You're evil.
(after the misunderstanding is cleared up, everyone begins to relax; well, relax as much as they can, considering the décor)
Noel: You know, this really isn't as fun as the last party.
KA: Well that's because we had a waitress to amuse us.
Noel: (flips KA the finger)
KA: Okay, how about showing them the latest trailers and screenshots of the Negima anime?
(Keitaro walks up to the two)
Keitaro: Err, are you sure about that? Someone showed a preview of the Love Hina anime to everyone in Hinata-sou before it came outand. . .well, I really don't want to know what the girls did to that guy.
KA: You worry too much. And even if worst comes to worst, I have a plan!
Keitaro: (still skeptical) Uh huh. . .
(KA steps up to the microphone on the stage)
KA: Attention all Negima cast members! We will now be showing a slide show of the latest screenshots of Negima, as well as the newest trailers! If you would all gather into the theater to the right, we can begin the program!
(the Negima cast goes into the theater)
Keitaro: This is not going to end well.
(after an hour or so, the theater doors suddenly explode outwards and a huge glow emanates from the darkness of the theater)
Motoko: This killer intent. . .I haven't felt anything so powerful before. . .
(the Negima cast marches out of the room)
Negi: E, everyone, please calm down!
Misa, Madoka, and Sakurako, a.k.a. theCheerleader Trio: Our breasts are larger than that!
Chisame: Why the hell is my hair green?!?
Asuna: My eyes! I look like a space alien!
(KA again steps up to the mike)
KA: Now everyone, I know that many of you are frustrated at the trailers right now. So we have decided to provide you with an outlet for your anger!
(A large, bear-shaped piñata is lowered from the ceiling; unusually enough, there seems to be some muffled noises coming from inside the piñata)
KA: Now, please take these 2x4s and beat the bear to your heart's content!
(the Negima cast, with the exception of a few like Negi, grab the pieces of wood and begin to beat the piñata; several muffled yells of pain come from the bear)
Tavi: Where's Noel? You'd think he'd be here beating the crap out of that bear too.
KA: He's around. (looks at the beating) They're still pretty mad. Those trailers must have seriously pissed them off.
(meanwhile, someone else has his own plans to stop the violence)
Kamo: Well, looks like it's up to me to calm the girls down!
(Kamo pours some alcohol into all of the punch bowls)
KA: What are you up to?
Kamo: Eh?!? Uh, nothing, nothing,
(the girls decide to take a break from beatingthe bearand get a drink; in no time at all, everyone has gotten a drink and is inebriated)
Kamo: Yes! It's working!
KA: Aww, crap. (turns to Kamo) You do realize most of the people in this room are underage?
Kamo: So?
KA: (grabs Kamo, then hands him to a security officer, who popped out of nowhere) Here you go. Put him somewhere nice.
Security officer: Yessir! (talks to Kamo) Well, it looks like we get to try out that new. . ."interrogation" room that creepy little doll designed for us!
Kamo: NOOOOOOOO!!!
(Kamo is carried away)
KA: (looks at the now drunken cast and sighs) Now, what to do?
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Author's Notes:
Wooo! It's been a loooong time, hasn't it? Sorry about the delay, folks. I finally finished my undergraduate thesis, got my BA, and now I'm looking for a job. Stupid economy. I was also busy trying filling the application for JET Program. Plus there was Thanksgiving, my birthday, all of the Christmas shopping. And I was also watching Mao-chan. Cuuuuute! Yuriko and Chinami are my favorites! Then there were the Negima Japanese scans. They were just one blow after another (in a good way!). Oh and the upcoming Negima anime. Yay, 13 episode OVAthen a TV series! Ahem, back on topic. I was only able to do short fics while I was busy and I had to put this chapter on the back burner. Well, I hope I can get back to writing this. I wanted to get this in before New Year's Eve. Oh, well.
I also got the Love Hina Infinity fan book, so now I have a better idea of when "Magic and Memory" and this chapter takes place. Kanako arrives at Hinata-sou at the start of April 2001, so "Magic and Memory" should start at the end of February and continues throughout March, and the Brat and the Hag occurs around that time.
Moe wasn't originally supposed to talk to Naru in this. The first scenes I had involved Naru being guided by a mysterious voice to where Asuna was. However, after re-reading the Tokyopop translation, I noticed they put a reference to Moe in the dialogue. Ugh. And since one of the rules I set for myself in this fic is keeping it canon as much as possible (yes, even with regards to the Tokyopop translation, unless it's an absolutely stupid addition), Moe gets her own scenes! Also, the reason I wanted Moe in this chapter is for another idea I had. Come on, with a doll mage in Negima, it's kind of hard not to use Moe in a fic involving a Negima and LH crossover! But I think it's kind of obvious that the Moe-Naru conversation wasn't in my original plans. I'm not too satisfied with how that turned out, especially with Naru's moping.
I also had some trouble finding a spark for the Naru-Asuna argument. The arguments themselves were easier to write, but providing a reason was a bit troublesome. After all, Asuna's less prone to being violent when she's angry compared to Naru. Asuna also has a pretty good head on her shoulders. Then I figured, "Hmm, Asuna studying all night equals grumpy Asuna! Naru crashing into grumpy Asuna results in instant argument!" I also figured that Takamichi would be another sore spot I could use.
The omake was short this time. Sorry, sorry. For some reason, I couldn't get a lot out for this and my brain kept insisting on making it a setup for the next omake. I know I'm not satisfied with this one. Bleh.
Alrighty, go reviewer's corner!
Akuma-sama: Hmm, as for where I get the Negima scanlations, I get them from Meow's websites. Just Google "Meow" and "Negima" and the first two links should have them. They're up to chapter 64 though. As for the Japanese scans, Google "Point-blank" and "Negima", though you'll need Bittorrent to get the scans. You'd probably like chapter 76, heh heh. Also, chapter 79 has a cute pic of Asuna, Konoka, and Setsuna in Santa clothes. Though I especially like Setsuna's stocking cap. Two words: Cat. Ears. (swoons) She makes nekomimi look good.
petran: Heh heh, yeah. You can't go wrong with a cute psycho doll! Also, thanks for the Negima trailer screening idea! It's a bit different from what you suggested, but it still gave me a good excuse for the setup for the next omake. Three of my complaints about the Negima anime were in the omake, but I hope it's fixed. Ah well, I'm just glad Negima's being animated.
Homura: Yup, Setsuna will eventually be making an appearance. However, as you've probably noticed, I write slower than a turtle stuck in molasses. But so help me, I will get to Setsuna!!!
bdisaster: Thanks! I'm glad you liked it. Cool, you're in Kanagawa? What's it like over there? When I was doing the application for the JET program, I put Kanagawa as one of my choices since I heard the climate was pretty good (actually that's the reason for my choices on where to be placed; I get sick way too easily in colder climates).
Random thoughts:
The latest Del Rey translations. Oh. My. Goddess.
SOUTHERN MASTER?!? SOUTHERN MASTER?!?
I can't believe it. Despite the fact that it makes a lot of the dialogue nonsense, they keep up the mistake for two chapters! Plus there are all the mistakes with the other names (Negi's sister being called Anya, which I thought they fixed in the second volume, and Chao Lingshen's name, for example). Arrrgggh! I also don't like the sarcastic tone they gave Setsuna. She's supposed to be polite and formal most of the time.
It looks like the official translation for Kamo's name is Albert Chamomile. I'll stick with that as the full name, but I'll keep the nickname as Kamo instead of Chamo for the fic, since I think Kamo looks better.
I'd put my thoughts on the recent chapters of Negima (65 to 79), but that would take up waaay too much space. Suffice to say, I've done a lot of XD-ing and "Awwww"-ing and the sort. Sayo just went on my favorite character list too. Cute and clumsy, she reminds me a bit of Shinobu if she were playing Casper the Friendly Ghost. Chachamaru's chapter also made me go "awwww". Hakase's morning look is cute too. Definitely didn't expect Satsuki Yotsuba to be one of the people Eva respects. And Negi's past. . .wow! Also, Nekane's got some sexy legs, rrrrowwrrr. I want her to visit her brother soon! More Nekane! Now!
I recall someone calling Negima "Harem Potter". I can't help but think how appropriate that is considering the most recent chapters. XD
Okay, well, off to work on the next chapter. As usual, feel free to offer your thoughts with a review! Constructive criticism is appreciated, but flames are not and will be ignored. Thank you all for reading!
