Disclaimer: I do not own Mahou Sensei Negima nor its characters or Mana Khemia's Alchemy. All I own are my OCs Isaac, Xak, Az and their familiars and any other character not in the Negima Series.


Chapter 9: Bullet Time

--

Isaac's POV

--

Right, so I've been trekking this place for over an hour, my wound's are almost healed up, Carbon's just lying on my shoulder as I walk, and Yuuna's been yelling her lungs out looking for this guy.

Yeah, my life is average.

"Where do you think he went?" Yuuna asked, her eyes scanning the stalls and shops as we walked past. "He usually gets his coffee from there." She pointed over to a coffee shop which didn't stand out much, but was still eye catching.

I wandered in and asked if anyone saw Az anywhere. Though I knew he was pretty capable and could take care of himself, I felt that since Xak is gone.. It's my job to look after the guy.

"Have you seen a white-silverish haired guy, around my age around here?" I asked the same question to multiple people, though I kept getting the same / similar replies:

"Nope."

"I don't think so."

"White-silverish hair? Doesn't ring a bell."

I sighed heavily as I slumped into a free chair, Carbon hopping off my shoulder and onto the table. "Where could Az be..?" I muttered under my breath. Carbon mewed as she looked up at me.

"Master, I don't think we'll find anything around here; let's try somewhere else." I sighed and petted her, standing up, I was right about to call Yuuna to leave.

"Isaac-kun! Come here!" I was curious, I walked over as Carbon followed. She stood at the counter, as I followed up, I wondered what had happened. "He says that he saw Az!"

"Really? Do you know where he went?" I asked the clerk, his eyes were partially closed, kinda reminded me of Kaede-san. "Or do you know anything else about him?"

"There was a fight outside." Hearing these words a pit in my stomach appeared. "That lad, he went out to see what happened. From what I could see from in here, he tried to stop the fight, yet almost got himself struck by one of the men who were in the fight." Guh.. Right, he'll be fine. I'm sure of it. If he can break himself out of a pair of cuffs, chained to a wall. He can take a beating. "He followed one of the men; Crowly, his name was."

Crowly huh? Well, atleast we've got a lead. Time to figure out who this guy is. If I can find him, I'll find Az. Though I wonder what he's doing walking around with a fight starter. He doesn't seem like the type to hang out with that kind of guy.

"Well, Thanks. We'll carry on from here." I bowed in thanks and rushed out, Yuuna followed in suit, with Carbon hanging on to her shoulder.

--

Az's POV

--

"Remember, don't use your eyes. Your senses are your greatest weapons. If you're ready; find me."

His words echoed through my head as I stepped forward, the cloth blindfold still over my eyes. I didn't bother feeling around, I could already tell, guessing by the type of terrain that I was walking in, it felt like solid rock, the air felt damp and I could hear dripping water ahead. I made a whistle and I heard it echo through wherever I was. The sound continued far forwards. He told me he would go ahead and set an obstacle course for me. Should I be able to make it to the end, and find him. He'd show me how to utilize my senses to the point of 'bullet time'.

This is gonna be awesome!

"Alright! Here I go!" I shouted ahead, grinning to myself. I kept my head facing forwards as I took step after step. I felt confident in myself, but I didn't want to push my luck. A few steps in I felt my right foot catch on to something. At that moment I heard wind gushing past, I randomly came from my right, inside a cavern that didn't feel too natural, so I rolled forwards incase my suspicions were right. Not a few seconds later I heard a loud thud behind me. Chances were it was a trap and I almost got taken down by something.

I'd better be more careful..

But if I think this through right, he'd be expecting me to be running in head first, and going slowly's too slow paced for my likings. Plus, I wouldn't want to disappoint. I took a deep breath, and dashed forwards. I felt more and more wind signals as I did earlier, feeling the wind, it allowed me to figure out where the traps were coming from, giving me the chance to dodge, or counteract them. After one last trap sprung, I stopped in my tracks. Something didn't feel right. I felt it in my blood that something was there with me, and it didn't want me to know it existed.

I held my breath, expecting something to come. I wasn't armed with anything, so I'll have to depend on my fists this time around.

No problem.

--

Isaac's POV

--

"Alright, thank you." I bowed in thanks and moved on. I met up with Yuuna in the center of the street, Carbon hopping from her shoulder to mine. "Still nothing here; you got anything?"

"Nope, I haven't heard anything." she sighed, slumping in distress. I did the same as I looked around. I noticed a single round on the floor not 2 meters ahead of us. I moved myself over to take a closer look. I crouched down to pick it up as I motioned Yuuna to come closer. Knowing she was as much as a 'Gun Nut' as Az, she'd know where this would have come from.

"Looks like it came from a really old gun! Look at the rifle markings here Isaac-kun" She pointed at the side of the round, I squinted to see the markings etched into the side of it. "I think this came from a revolver or something."

Huh, Az doesn't carry his revolver around everywhere, he only uses it when we've got a demon to hunt. "So any ideas on who would have something like this?" I questioned, though not knowing much about any of this gun stuff myself.

"Well, it'd be hard to get your hands on an old fashioned revolver like this one. I'd say you'd have to be an antique collector or someone really old with good connections to have one of these." She held the round up to the sunlight, squinting at it. "Not much else I can say about it."

"Well it's something, we know that he's either an antique collector or really old." This Crowly guy's still unknown to pretty much everybody around here. Beh, this is getting really annoying. It's times like these I just wish that Carbon was a dog so she could sniff out Az.

At that moment I felt four sharp claws pinch into me. "I rather like being a cat, master." Wait.. What? Since when could she read my mind!? "Wow, we've been to gether for so long and you still didn't know about the telepathic link between master and familiar?"

...Say whut? "You didn't know Isaac-kun?" I saw Yuuna looking at me surprised, "Az knew as soon as he brought Luce back"

My face drooped, "Guh.. Jeeze am I the only one out of the loop?" I didn't bother listening for an answer. "Wait. So, if there's a telepathic link.. Maybe Lucifer knows where Az is?" Though I was thinking out loud, it was starting to make sense. Afterall seeing as I only figured all this out on the spot.

"Hmm, that's a good idea, I didn't think of that!" Yuuna gave me her usual smile, it was uplifting, atleast. Considering the usual... uhh, crap, that I have to go through.

We made our way back to the dorms and entered Yuuna's dorm room. "Lucifer!" Yuuna called out, expecting him to come down. Now that I think about it, I haven't seen Luce in a while. Not since that mission with the giant spiders... I shuddered at the memory. Spiders and I don't mix.

"Yuuna?" I heard a voice call out. "Alright, I'm coming." Lucifer flew in, and wow.. He.. Grew.. quite a bit. Lucifer was about knee height the last time I saw him... Now he's about as high as my waist. "Isaac! Carbon! I haven't seen either of you for a while, what's the occasion?"

I shook off the sudden growth of the dragon. "Err.. Az's missing, you think you could use your telepathy, mind like thing to contact him?" I stretched myself, after walking around so much, I was starting to get tired.

I felt a slight trickle down my side. I didn't dare look down as I knew full well what it was, I stayed in that stretched position for a few seconds. "Yuuna.. I'm bleeding again aren't I?" All it took was a simple nod and the pain suddenly struck. "D-Damn it.." I groaned, clutching my side.

I felt my side go warm, and I stopped feeling the pain, I looked down to see Lucifer breathing his flames on me. I panicked a bit "W-what're you doing!?" He stopped for a second and explained.

"Don't worry, I call it a healing ember. It's what I use to help master whenever he gets hurt." He continued to breath on me. So, that's how Az's always in top shape no matter what kind of mission we go on.

That cheating Bastard.

--

Az's POV

--

Alright, I stood in my battle stance, my eyes still blindfolded, I didn't want to cheat my way out of this challenge.

I slowly released my breath. I stepped forward, still not knowing what was watching me. I suddenly felt the wind again. But it was coming from all sides, I wasn't sure where I was meant to dodge. Out of instinct I jumped into the air as high as I could. I felt something rush below me, I figured I dodged it, but not a second later I felt a stab through my left shoulder. I twisted in the air due to the impact. I landed flat face first into the ground. I pushed myself up with my good arm. I breathed heavily, the sting was worse than I thought it would be. I felt the blood seep through my shirt and down my arm.

I felt the wind again. This time accompanied by growling. Crap! Time to get moving. I got back on my feet and stumbled backwards, narrowly feeling the creature brush past my foot. What the hell am I fighting!?

I felt myself panic a bit, as I felt more of the wind. This time it was concentrated in front of me. It was coming right for me!

Bu that doesn't mean I'll back down! I got back into my stance, and readied my right arm. Although my eyes were covered, I closed them to highten my senses. I'm not sure what happened, but I could see a faint image of a creature.. like a lion or something.. I saw it plunge, out of instinct I released my right arm and snapped it forwards into a punch. I felt it connect.

I continued the attack and spun my leg around and felt another connection. With each connection the image of the creature became more and more vivid. I resumed my flurry of attacks into an upward kick. I stopped there as I couldn't feel the wind coming from the creature anymore, but I could still see it's image. My eyes strained as I focused on it, despite them being closed. What's going on!? The image moved again, but slower. I could see an outline of it's next move!

I followed the image's trail and sidestepped it, releasing a heel drop. I could tell I made another connection as I heard a cry coming from the creature. Whatever was going on, I felt like I had more and more control as I got more into the fight. Nothing can stop me now!

Atleast, I felt that way until I felt another stab in my right leg. What!? Another image appeared in my head, there were two of them now. I forced myself back on to my feet. Fine. If it's a fight they want, it's a fight they'll-

Master? Master where are you? Luce? Luce is that you? I'm kinda in a tough spot right now. Can I call you back later? Master...

I narrowly dodged another strike from the beasts.

Look Luce, I really don't know where I am! I think I'm in a cavern or somethin- I was hit, left shoulder again, I found myself spinning to the ground clutching it in pain. Damn it all! I was too cocky!

I rolled backwards and on to my feet. I kept the image of the beasts in my mind. I focused again, once again seeing them move slowly and the faint outline of their moment. I flipped myself over one of them and brought my heel down on the other. I backed up as far as I could until I felt myself back into a wall. I coudn't do it. The pain took all my focus away. Bah! I can't believe I'm gonna lose out like this.

I heard an explosion accompanied by gusts of wind.

..What? I moved my head over to the right and more figures came into my mind. Isaac... and Yuuna?

"Az, you're really gonna be the death of me." I could hear Isaac's voice echo in the cavern as I heard another explosion. "Just hang tight. I'll get you outta here! Yuuna, go tend to Az." I'm not sure what's going on... I can't see right, I reached up to remove the blindfold and opened my eyes.

Pure darkness... I can't see anything.. What's going on!? "Yu-Yuuna!? I can't see!" I felt her rush over to me and helped me up and lead me out of the cavern. I could feel the warmth of the sun, but I still couldn't see anything... What's wrong with me? Was I in the darkness for too long? Bah.. Damn it all..

"Az.. Are you okay!? You're bleeding everywhere.."

I took a deep breath. "I...I'll be fine.. By the way.. Did you happen to bring a gun?" Though I couldn't see anything, an image came to my mind. Yuuna's smile.

--

Isaac's POV

--

Well, Az sure picked a fine bunch of lads to start a fight with. I sighed to myself as I stretched my arms out. This is gonna be a pain. I threw my arm down towards Carbon. "Carbon!" I called out to her, she nodded in reply and jumped towards my hand.

I'd been thinking about her ability to shape shift, she could change her form into any possible object I could think of.. Now, what if I took advantage of that.

She wrapped herself all around my arm, she'd morphed into a claw which went from my shoulder down to the end of my hand. My entire right hand had become Carbon's paw, my hand retracted her claws. "Ready Carbon?" I asked as the 'cat's eye' on my shoulder blinked. I heard her voice echo through my head.

READY!

I dashed forwards avoiding a quick slash from the beast, it was nothing like I'd seen before, but I had a gut feeling telling me it was a manticore, a lion-like creature with a giant scorpion's tail. I jumped above the stab of the stinger and slashed the claw into the tail, slicing it off.

Hmph. Not even a challenge. I landed and rolled forwards, trying to distance myself from the beast.

Wait.. weren't there two? I heard a growl coming from behind me, I turned to see the manticore with its tail up and ready to strike. "ISAAC! GET DOWN!" I heard Az's voice shout, shouldn't he be out of here!? Without hesitation, I dropped to the ground to hear a gunshot. I looked up to see the manticore burst into flames. Woah, "Isaac! Watch out behind you!" I rolled forwards onto my feet and turned to the manticore, to realize that I managed to avoid it's claws.

I heard another gunshot and watched the manticore become surrounded in gusts of wind as it got cut over and over. Wind magic I'd assume.

Master.. something seem's wrong with Az.. He said that he couldn't see..But he managed to hit that thing perfectly, yet I can't see him anywhere

"It's probably nothing. He's been through worse. He'll probably heal up after a while."

I held my claw in front of me, and Carbon disengaged herself. My arm returned to normal and Carbon returned to her cat form. We made our way out of the cavern only to be stopped by something. A man stood in front of us. Could he be.. Crowly?

"Hey. Are you Crowly!?" I shouted out, keeping a fair distance. He stayed quite, just looking at me. I reached into my side bag for another bomb and held it at the ready. "Answer me!"

"You're friend. That boy's eyesight." Is he talking about Az!?

"What's wrong with him!?" I called out. "If you did anything to him, I'll take you down!"

"His eyesight can not be recovered. Unless..." He didn't finish, he just turned and walked away. I ran after him to find myself at the entrance of the cavern. Yuuna holding Az who was on the ground.

"How is he?" I noticed the gun in his hand. "He must be fine if he managed to save me twice in there." I smirked. Yuuna's face was a little too serious for my likings. Something was wrong.

"Az.. he was clutching his forehead when he called out to you and pulled the trigger, he managed to shoot from all the way out here, after the second shot he just passed out." My stomach churned again. I saw Yuuna looking down at him. "Az.."

Damn it.. It's happened again.. Just like what happened to Xak..

I stared into the sky again. And screamed, "DAMN IT!"

--
Xak's POV

--

I sneezed vigorously, I sniffed as I rubbed my nose. "Hey, someone must be talking about you" Kyo approached me and leaned on the railing of the freighter. "You must be quite popular."

"Oh go stuff yourself Kyo." I gripped the polearm that he gave to me. It's been 5 days since this ship left port. "When do we hit land?" I sighed, being bored out of my mind with nothing to do will kill me.

"Oh I'll tell you when we get there. But first." I felt the end of his wooden tonfa prod me, "Don't go telling me you've gotten rusty. You've still got alot to learn"

Hmph. I pushed off the railing and held the polearm ready in one arm, and with my other I held it ready for a snap. "Don't treat me like a kid."