To enigma95: Fast to review _ the moment I've posted up the chapter, and yeah, probably I will put neither dark skin macho dude (Jack Rakan) or Negi's old man (his father of course) or maybe his other old nemesis, and that will be in next few more chapters.
To Han-Ko: Thanks for your review~ : )
I do not own Final Fantasy 7 and Mahou Sensei Negima.
[A day without enemies' shows up is a good day, for now. While I was patrolling around, the girls were having a game something called, "The War of the Lips". I find it very amusing, it organized by Chamo and Kazumi as they both formed as a business partner, and their purpose is to make money by making students forming a contract with Negi to get those 'pactio card' through kissing within the hotel area. I know that is quite a bit ridiculous for me, but it can't be help. Like I have said before, I have no interest in their magical card because the power of those cards can be created by mage and those cards can be used by the mage's partner, and since I'm not a mage, it is practically useless to me. And for the winner of the game, it's Nodoka. But, I had a feeling that Nodoka's pactio card power will be invaluable. Somehow, Chamo has done something nice, even without him knowing about this.]
…
Chapter 9: Kyoto Trip part 6 – Battle in the trapped zone
~FFXMSN~
…
Hotel
To Vincent
Inside his room, he did not join the others for breakfast, as he currently polishing and maintaining his each of the Cerberus's parts to keep in stable condition. In this hotel, where there's a bath creating a lot of steam, and contain a lot of moisture in the air. Before battling, he must maintain his Cerberus every time to prevent any moisture in the air of his gun by cleaning and wiping away the moistures that would have caused his Cerberus to start rusting. If his Cerberus started to rust, it would occasionally cause a misfire, and that would have lose many bullets each mechanism had fired, and that would have damage his own gun. He must keep his Cerberus in flawless condition all the time, or else it would be his disadvantage. He must always expect something worse will happen, like if his Cerberus become unusable during in battle, he will bring out other weapons of his.
Once he's done cleaning the each part of Cerberus, he began to assemble it back, and he assembled it back within a minute. 'Done the maintenance.' Vincent thought as he finished his usual maintenance of his gun checking, he then polish it a bit with clean cloth. '…It's almost the time to get ready for today's free activity… but it's best if I keep accompany with Negi and others, the enemies might target at Negi's group.' Vincent thought as he looked at the time beside him and started to clean everything up.
…
Dining Hall
At the next morning after the game, the girls of the 3-A were all in the dining hall for their breakfast, they went huddled up at Nodoka to celebrate for her winning the game and won a prize, a pactio card. "Eh, so this is the 'wonderful prize' of the game…" Yuna commented at the card Nodoka was holding.
"Show me, show me!" The Narutaki twin said in unison excited. "Wah… It's got Honya's picture on it!" The picture on the card was Nodoka in her school uniform with several books floating around, with one in particular in front of her. The others envied by that.
"That was fun! Let's do it again somethime!" Fuuka suggested.
"It sure was-aru!" Ku Fei replied as she agreed.
'I'm not going through that again…' Chisame thought frowned as she doesn't want get squat again as she tries to ignore their conversation.
"Eeeen, that's so cool! Let me hold it, Nodoka!" Konoka asked as she wanted a card.
"Here you go." Nodoka replied and let Konoka see the card.
"So you do get a card when you kiss Negi-kun! I knew it! I should have participated too!" Konoka said while looking at the card that she holding.
"Konoka-san…" Yue dragged on.
"Uuu… you're right, Yue. Nodoka was the one who confessed to Negi-kun, so I'll just have to bear with it…" Konoka replied.
"Ok, everyone! The third day of our trip is free activity day. Go back to your rooms and get ready, ok?" Shizuna clapping her hands to announce them about their today's activities.
"Ok!" The girls replied.
"You did very well, Miyazaki Nodoka-san! From today onwards, I officially acknowledge you as… my rival in love!" Ayaka said she compliment at her and declares Nodoka as her rival.
"I won't lose next time, Honya-chan!" Makie added in too.
"N… no… I… um…" Nodoka couldn't sure what she needs to reply back. Shortly moment later, everyone has left the room. Nodoka leaves the room holding her card happily. Leaving Nodoka putting away her tray and about to leave the gathering room, then she stumbling upon Negi are talking to those who know the existence about his magic at the resting area, they hide and listen to them quietly.
…
To Negi
"What are we going to do about these, Negi!?" Asuna shouted at Negi while holding five failed cards (The Narutaki Twins, Ayaka, Ku Fei, Nodoka, and Makie) on her left hand, and only one proper card (Nodoka) on her right hand. "How do you intend to take responsibility for making all these cards?" Asuna asked as she shows those cards to Negi angrily that she learned that their book worm has unintentionally become Negi's partner.
"Euu!? Me!?" Negi cried surprisingly to learn that he has involved another person.
"Aw, c'mon, Ane-san!" Chamo try to comfort her.
"Yeah, c'mon, Asuna! What's wrong with making a little profit on the side?" Kazumi said.
"Asakura, you and that perverted creature stay out of this!" Asuna yelled at them angrily.
"Ok…" Kazumi stayed quiet as she's frightened by Asuna's anger.
"Perverted creature!?" Chamo shocked to hear that he has a new nickname.
Then Asuna turned to Negi. "Honya-chan is just a normal girl! We can't let her involved in something as complicated as this! We can't do anything about those gift cards that were handed out, but you mustn't use the master cards!" Asuna said as she crossing her arms. They didn't expect that their book worm has involved into their mess.
"It would also help you conceal your identity as a mage…" Setsuna interjected.
"But Asuna-san… you're just a normal girl too…" Negi said back.
"How can you say that after all that's happened, Negi?" Asuna replied as she poked at Negi's forehead.
"I… I guess you're right… we should keep this entire secret from Nodoka-san." Negi said.
"What a waste… that card looked pretty strong too…" Chamo said as he feels that he losing an opportunity to unite Nodoka as their party, he then took out a copy of Asuna's proper pactio card and give it to Asuna. "Well, never mind. I'll give you a copy card too, ane-san."
"Eh? I don't want this! Anyway, all you can do with it is communicating, right?" Asuna complained at the card as she underestimates the card.
"WRONG! You can also use your artifact even when aniki isn't around! It'll definitely come in handy!" Chamo exclaimed.
'So Kagurazaki-san has a card too… it's not just me… and did that ermine talking?' Nodoka thought while observing them as she listening to Chamo's explanation about how to use the card, she noticed Asuna has a similar card as hers.
"To bring the artifact out, just hold the card and says the keyword, ADEAT!" Chamo explained the instruction of how to use the artifact card to Asuna.
"Eeeh? But that's so…" Asuna held the card in her hands and then she says. "ADEAT" A light appeared and in her hands the card been replaced with the giant fan she used during the fight against the mysterious woman. "Wah! It really appeared! Awesome! It's like magic!" Asuna surprised as she holding the fan.
"It IS! Use it properly, ok?" Chamo warns her. "Oh, and to get rid of it, just say the keyword, ABEAT!" Chamo explain again of how to sheathe the weapon.
"Uwaah! This is so cool! It's almost like I'm a mage too!" Asuna excited as she lift up her weapon.
…
To Nodoka
Hallway
Behind the wall where Nodoka hiding against it to hear their conversation, she managed to hear for a bit of their conversation due to the far distance between them, Nodoka begins to walk away from them just as she heard a bit. Then, she begins to try it out, but being interrupted by her assistant teacher from behind her.
"Nodoka." Vincent calls, this frightened her up.
"Hyaa!" Nodoka jumped as she dropped her card, she looked back to see her assistant teacher staring at her with a confused look.
"Did I scare you?" Vincent asked.
"No no! Sorry Vincent-sensei, I was having a thought just now…" Nodoka replied, then, she kneels down and takes her card back with her, and Vincent noticed that.
'…That card… So Nodoka has also received that 'pactio' card of her… that's probably she get from the game yesterday…' Vincent thought staring at the card Nodoka holding of it. "Do you know how to use that?" Vincent asked. That question suddenly surprised her. "…" Vincent remained silent for seeing Nodoka's reaction by the question. "Sorry Nodoka, I noticed you peeking at Negi and others back there, and I know what's going on now. So, what did you learned?" Vincent asked.
"I think I caught a little…" Nodoka replied.
"Know how to do it?" Vincent asked, and she nodded as she tries.
Nodoka looked at her card momentary, "…A… ADEAT…" she said the keyword, the light appeared from the card, and it has been become a book from the pactio card. "Wahhh!" She surprised by that, a thick and dark brown hard covered book and with the title Diarium Ejus. "Waah… The card turned into a book… how mysterious…" Nodoka commented at the book she's holding. "It's beautiful… and it's shining as well." She likes the appearance of the book.
"A book huh…" Vincent said. "So… what does it do?"
"I'm not sure what does this do…" Nodoka replied.
"One thing is to find out what's inside there." Vincent suggested. "Try and see the content, then we know."
Nodoka nodded, she opened the book, flipping every page and there were all blank. "It's totally blank… There's nothing written in here." Nodoka said. A moment later, some pictures and words are slowly appearing. "Huh? Some pictures and words are appearing…" Nodoka said, she reads the contents. "On the 24th of April… Thursday…"
"I see… a picture diary huh?" Vincent said, they both looked at the image, on the current page was a cartoonish picture of Nodoka and Negi kissing with a log written under it, saying:
…
24th of April, Thursday
I kissed my beloved Negi-sensei yesterday, Kyaa~! It was only by accident. One day I would like to do it in a more romantic way.
…
They all read the log written there, Nodoka went blushed and confused as she reading her own thoughts from the book, and Vincent is having a thought as he understand the purpose of this book.
'…A mind reading book… with picture and log details. Now this is convenient…' Vincent thought as he interested of that book, then, he recalls back the image from Asuna's pactio card. '…Now Nodoka is a supporter with mind reading ability, and Asuna is a melee strength close combat fighter… And Negi's an apprentice mage. Somehow I'm kind of pity at Negi's role, but that just for now.'
Yue appeared around the corner. "What's wrong Nodoka?" Yue asked, then, she noticed her assistant teacher was right beside Nodoka. "Oh, Vincent-sensei." Yue asked as she politely greets.
"Ah! Yue!" Nodoka surprised.
"Good morning." Vincent greets. And then Nodoka noticed another page revealing a new picture and logs, Nodoka look at the book, the picture was showing Yue been push down by Negi, her face showing some blush and hesitation while Negi was lying above her as ready to seduce her, the logs saying:
…
24th of April, Thursday (Yue)
Yesterday was an extremely troublesome day; Negi-sensei pushed me down right in front of Nodoka while she was sleeping from faint. I couldn't believe how stupid it all was… and even now I worry about…
…
Nodoka slammed the book close quickly as she seen something that she shouldn't, Yue noticed something's wrong.
"What's that book about, Nodoka" Yue asked as she appeared behind her trying to look what Nodoka has had there.
"Ah… nothing… this is…" Nodoka replied as she moves away the book from her.
"Ah! Why are you hiding it? We're friends, right? You don't have to hide a book from me." Yue said.
'AAAAAAH! T-t-t-t-this book… This is a very bad book…' Nodoka thought while having blushes and spiral eyes.
"Yue, that's a fiction book that she said she brought it with her." Vincent said as he's helping Nodoka.
"A… Yes! It's a book I brought it with me." Nodoka responded, and then she mentally thanking three of them for the save. "And there are some things I want to keep for myself, so may you please stop asking about it, Yue…" Nodoka continues.
Yue looked suspicious as the two of them before sighing in defeat, "Ok ok… I won't look into anymore, but Nodoka, you should get ready too we're going to leave soon."
"Then, I will excuse myself, girls." Vincent said as he walks away excusing them.
"Then let's go Nodoka." Yue said to Nodoka, and then Haruna appeared and tackled them both.
"HEY! What are you two doing just standing there? Hurry up and get ready!" Haruna yelled to them as she tackled them. "We're going with Negi-sensei today, right? Come on, hurry up and change into your casual clothes!"
"Haruna, you're way too wound up!" Nodoka complains a bit.
"I'm suffering from lack of sleep, unlike you…" Yue complains too.
…
~FFXMSN~
To Vincent
Wearing back his Turk uniform in his old days, this time is black version, with black gloves. Vincent hears knocking from his door, knowing who. He walks out of the room, and seeing both Kaede and Mana standing outside his room in casual clothes. Kaede was wearing sleeveless green shirt, blue pants and green women flat shoes, and Mana wearing black tank tops along with brown jacket casual, white pants and white sneaker.
"Yes, girls?" Vincent asked them. "How may I help you?"
The girls looked at their assistant teacher's appearance. "…Vincent-sensei, you kinda look like yakuza de gozaru." Kaede commented at Vincent's appearance.
"I agreed…" Mana agreed as she having a same opinion.
Vincent looked at them for a while, 'I guess they didn't learn about this term –Don't Judge by Its Appearance- for I am not a teenager… girls… But, I should take that as compliment…' Vincent thought. "I will take it as compliment… Now back to the questions, what you girls needed from me?" Vincent asked the question again.
"Can we stick with you for this trip?" Mana asked first.
"…" He paused for a while. "So it just the two of you from separate group? What about your other group mates?" Vincent asked.
"Each of us can go everywhere we wanted, doesn't matter with individual groups or with other groups de gozaru." Kaede replied. "It's just from now on de gozaru."
"…Alright then." Vincent allowed them. "Anyway, right now Negi are almost ready to go to deliver the letter to this Kansai Magic Association, and Setsuna should be with him, along with Group 5… So, where shall we heading?" Vincent asked to both of them as they have experienced.
"Let me suggest a place for us to go, Vincent-kun~" Kaede suggest, and Mana's eye got twitched when Kaede calling Vincent '-kun' and not '-sensei', and Mana make a same move.
"We should go to shooting gallery, Vincent-kun." Mana suggested while added '-kun' too, and Kaede got tick mark.
"We better go to shrine for relaxation scene." Kaede cut in and Mana got tick mark.
Then, they both glaring each other like a rival, both keep on arguing for their destination, leaving Vincent sighing for watching both of them. '…This should take a while…'
…
~FFXMSN~
To Negi
To Negi, today he is ready to go meet the leader of the Kansai Magic Association to give the letter to the leader. "All right… everyone has free time today. Now's my chance to hand over the letter…" Negi said while holding a letter.
"Finally…" Chamo relieved.
He sneak out of the hotel avoiding from been spotted by few of the groups along the way, he snuck out the hotel through back door.
"Hehe… Escape through back door successful. I've got to hurry to the Kansai Magic Association's main temple. And also, I can leave Konoka-san to Setsuna-san and Vincent-nii." Negi said. "Where is the main temple anyway?" Negi said as he took out the map of Kyoto that he brought. "Hm…. I don't think it's far from here… I'm sure we'll be able to make up with Kansai once I hand the letter over! I've to give it my best!"
"Will it really be that easy?" Chamo said.
…
Arashiyama Bridge
"Huh? I was planning to go with Asuna-san this morning, and we promised to meet up here, but…" Negi said wondering as he stood there waiting quite longer than expected time.
"Ne~gi-sensei~" A girl suddenly call at Negi with sing-song voice from behind him.
"Eh?" Negi turned around to see Asuna and the rest of the group 5.
Yue was wearing a black and white cloth, a plaid skirt, black stockings and a high cut white boots.
Haruna had on a blue jacket, a white T-shirt, black pants with dark blue skirt, and white sneaker.
Nodoka wears a pale yellow sweater, a green skirt black socks, and brown shoes.
Konoka wore the same thing she wore on the shopping at the Harajuku at the day before the Kyoto trip, a white sweater and a pink skirt with boots.
Asuna was wearing a white T-shirt with long orange sleeves, matching skirt, black pants and running shoes.
And Setsuna was still in her regular school uniform without vest.
"Waah! What a cute clothes!" Negi compliments at them as he astonished, and so does Chamo. "… Wait a minute! W-w-why the others are with you, Asuna-san!? And where is Vincent-nii?" Negi asked whispering at Asuna as he gets close to Asuna.
"I'm sorry! Baru saw me leaving!" Asuna replied apologizing as she gesturing an apologize sign. "And for Vincent, I'm not sure…" (Baru – Haruna's nickname)
"Negi-sensei! You were about to go somewhere using that map, right? Take us along!" Haruna said loudly.
"Eh… doesn't group 5 have plans for free activity time?" Negi asked.
"Nope." Yue replied while sipping juice box.
"Negi-kun, let's take a look around together!" Konoka said as she suggested.
"Asuna-saaan!" Negi said whispering to Asuna as he complaining more.
"I'm sorry! I'm sorry! But all we've got to do is lose them mid-way, right?" Asuna whispered back and she suggested a plan.
"All right! Let's go!" Haruna shouted.
…
Arashiyama Town
The group arrived at the town for having a tour and sightseeing, "Waah! Even the area near the hotel is nice!" Konoka commented as they walking while sight-seeing.
"Yes, The Arashiyama Sagano area has many places famous for their autumn scenery. It would be nice to come here during autumn." Yue explained, while Nodoka still looking at her artifact, the diary book.
"Say, where are we going, sensei?" Haruna asked their child teacher.
"Do you want me to guide you?" Yue the historian expert asked as volunteer for their guide.
"Eh… no, um… I was just going that way…" Negi replied while try to think how to answer, then he not sure where need to go. "W… what should we do, Asuna-san?" Negi whispered Asuna as he clueless.
"Eh… we've got no choice but to try and lose them in a crowd…" Asuna whisper back.
Haruna looked at both Negi and Asuna as both of them having conversation, she asks, "Hey, Asuna. Can I ask you something?" Haruna stopped at behind Asuna.
"Hm? What?" Asuna replied.
"…You're not dating Negi-sensei, are you?" Haruna straight asked, Asuna stunned as she slammed her head on a tanuki (Raccoon Dog) statue, Negi surprised at Asuna's reaction.
"Now that is absurd! This brat is only 10 years old, you know!" Asuna yelled back as she grab Negi and pinch his cheek.
"S… sorry, I guess you're right… I guess normally speaking he'd be a fifth grader…" Haruna apologize, she looked back and noticed their book worm are standing far behind the group. "Hey, Nodoka! Don't just stare at that book all day! Hurry up and come with us!"
"Ah… un…" Nodoka responded.
"Hey, there's an arcade over here! Let's get a sticker photo as a souvenir of our Kyoto visit!" Haruna suggested as she points an arcade nearby there.
"Sticker photo?" Nodoka asked.
"That's right! Together with sensei~!" Haruna said loudly as she grabs Nodoka's hand and all of them are going to arcade.
"Ah… eh…" Nodoka follows.
"Ah, that sounds good! Let's take one together, Se-chan!" Konoka said while grab Setsuna's hand. The group went to take pictures, and took several different photos of the groups, Negi with Nodoka in it, along with Haruna beside Nodoka; Negi and Asuna; Konoka and Setsuna with blushed embarrassed; Yue, Haruna and Negi, Chamo been dragged away from camera by Yue as she doesn't want any animals disturbing their photos due to Chamo's pose always with cigarette.
And then Haruna got something to says, "I wonder… will the atmosphere will change if Vincent-sensei with us?"
"He's with other group, I think..." Yue replied.
"And there's something funny about these sticker photos… I wonder…" Haruna suspected something. "It's just your imagination." Yue replied looking away.
"Negi-kun, Asuna! Come over here where everyone else is!" Konoka calls them.
"Sheesh… we come all the way to Kyoto and they want to play at arcade?" Asuna said while sweat-dropped.
"Ane-san, Aniki! This is our chance! Just play a game for now, and then escape when you see a chance!" Chamo whispered to both Asuna and Negi a plan to escape from here.
"Un!" Negi responded as he understands.
"I guess you're right…" Asuna agreed.
"What kind of game are you playing?" Negi asked as they went beside them seeing Yue and Haruna playing game.
"Ah, sorry sensei! If I play well at this, I can get a limited edition Kansai rare card!" Haruna replied loudly again.
"It's a game about mages." Yue explained.
"Remember the game we were playing on the Shinkanken (Bullet Train)? This is a special edition!" Haruna added in.
"A game about mages, huh… maybe I should give it a try…" Negi said as he wanted to try for once, even though he's a teacher, but still a child.
"Yeah!" Konoka cheers.
"All right! I've been waiting for this!" Haruna said loudly as she waiting for a rival.
"I'll lend you my started set, sensei." Yue said as she lends Negi her cards to try it out. Moment later, as Negi started playing, he won few matches.
"Whoa! You're good! Are you really a beginner, sensei? This is what I'd expect from child genius!" Haruna surprised.
"Mind if I join in?" A boy with a black school uniform and white beanie covering his long black hair asked.
"Eh?" Negi sees a person come. "Sure thing." Negi allowed, this surprises others that someone wants to challenge at Negi.
"A challenger? Will you be ok, sensei?" Haruna said.
"Go for it, Negi-kun!" Konoka is cheering for Negi.
"Don't lose to a local kid! Show him what Tokyo people are made of!" Haruna is cheering too, and also others as well. A battle of mage game between Negi the child teacher and a local kid. The group is keeping on cheering at Negi's fight, and after a while, Negi lost the match.
"Ah… I lost…" Negi said.
"No, that was very good for your first time, Negi-sensei!" Haruna cheer Negi up.
"That's right…" The local boy started to talk. "You're not bad at all. But… you've got a long way to go before you become a proper 'mage'." The boy told Negi while smiling at him. "See you around, Negi Springfield."
"Ah! Hey! You! Don't run away!" Haruna yelled.
"Eh! How did you know my name?!" Negi exclaimed as he surprised, expecting the enemies strike.
"You entered your name into the machine yourself when you started playing, didn't you?" The local boy replied as he points his finger to the arcade machine screen there, revealing Negi's name. Negi scratch his head for being stupidity. "See ya!" The local boy left.
"Hey! He's getting away!" Haruna said loudly to alert others, although she was just joking.
As the boy was leaving he bumped into Nodoka making them fall. The boy had to grab his hat before I fell off his head. "Sorry onee-chan." The local boy apologized as he quickly grabbed his hat and put it back. He then got up and ran away. "I can see you panties!" He laughed as he left the room, leaving a blushing Nodoka.
"There's something mysterious about that boy… he feels just like Negi-kun…" Konoka commented as they seeing the boy left the arcade center.
"Don't think too hard about it. Now let Baru-sama shows you the skills!" Haruna said while taking out her card.
"Then I shall be your opponent." Yue said while taking her card out, both of them challenge each other again.
"All right! I'm gonna grab all the limited edition Kansai rare cards!" Haruna shouted.
"Yeah!" Yue yelled.
"Yeah~!" Konoka added in.
"Aniki, now!" Chamo whisper to Negi and he nodded, three of them are decided to take this chance to leave the arcade.
"Ok, Sakurazaki-san, we're leaving Konoka to you." Asuna said to Setsuna.
"All right, please be careful, you two." Setsuna replied as wishing them good luck.
They both started to went toward to their destination, which is Kansai Magic Association lie inside the temple. "All right! Let's get that letter delivered and stop all these annoying things from happening, Negi!" Asuna said as both of them began their journey.
"Ok! Asuna-san!" Negi replied cheerfully as he glad that he has a reliable partner beside him.
…
Somewhere inside the alley
The boy who challenged Negi to the game had run into an alley. He stopped and spoke to someone in the shadows. "I knew it, His last name was Springfield." The boy stated.
"Hmph. So it's true… He's the son of the Thousand Master… He will be a worthy opponent…" The woman stated. "Huhu… I'm gonna pay you back good for before… you little brats… and that mysterious man…" The figure stepped out of the shadows to reveal the monkey woman accompanied by two other peoples. The one to her right was Tsukuyomi and to her left was a boy with white hair in a blue school uniform. Behind them there are few beasts with a charm on their foreheads.
"Where are the other two? Nero and Weiss, where are them?" The woman asked as she didn't see Nero and Weiss with them.
"They are currently out there somewhere, and their target is the long black haired man that you faced before." The white haired boy replied.
"Hm… I see, that way they could distract him from me." The woman said grinning.
…
~FFXMSN~
Meanwhile to Negi
While Negi, Chamo, and Asuna are heading toward to the Kansai Magic Association, they didn't notice Nodoka was following them all along secretly from behind.
"Negi-sensei, Asuna-san… Where are they going?" Nodoka said.
…
To Vincent
Arashiyama Town
Vincent, Mana and Kaede arrived at the Arashiyama Town by following Vincent's instinct. He decided he choose the place. Mana and Kaede has done with their arguing and they frowning, showing slightly tears while their heads having a plus-shape bandage that Vincent slightly knocked their heads for stopping their arguments.
"My apologies, girls. That's the only way to stop both of you two arguing each other." Vincent said to them, and they nodded.
"Hai, Vincent-kun…" They both said in unison.
"Anyway, following by my instinct, Negi and the group 5 should be inside the arcade." Vincent stated Negi and others' location.
"How did you know they are inside the arcade? Vincent?" Mana asked.
"My instinct told me." Vincent replied, this cause Mana and Kaede sweat-dropped. Few minutes later, they arrived inside the arcade, and also thanks to Vincent's height, he can see Setsuna and others over at near corner there are playing, Setsuna just leaning at the wall there watching over them. Vincent and two of them are went over there, Vincent stopped and pat on Setsuna's shoulder, causing her to jump at surprise, Setsuna turn around and sees Mana and Kaede giggles, along with Vincent making 'Silent Please' gesture. Setsuna turn around and look at Konoka, Yue and Haruna is still focusing on arcade, and then she turns back.
"Vincent-sensei, Mana, Kaede, what are you guys doing here?" Setsuna whispered at them with blushed.
"Mana and Kaede having a bit argument to decide which place to visit, and in the end, I pick here according to the map." Vincent whisper back. "And… Negi and Asuna left to deliver the letter already?" Vincent asked.
"Yes, sensei, they left a while ago." Setsuna replied his question, and then Vincent noticed someone else is gone missing.
"*Sigh* Setsuna, I have to be a little harsh for you. If I give you an assignment to keep an eye on VIP people, you will fail the assignment miserably." Vincent stated, causing Setsuna get confused by that, both Kaede and Mana realized by that means.
"Eh?" Setsuna confused. "What do you mean by that, Vincent-sensei?"
"It seems like you've forgotten Nodoka." Vincent stated, Setsuna widen her eyes and look around, and then she look back at Vincent, and Vincent sigh for knowing her answers. "And let me guess… no one noticed Nodoka was following Negi and Asuna… am I right?" Vincent replied with intelligence, causing Setsuna shocked for not noticing Nodoka gone.
"Ah! I'm sorry for my carelessness!" Setsuna is apologizing as she bowing down.
"Don't worry, I will find them and also Nodoka." Vincent said with normal tone.
"Ah… Thank you Vincent-sensei." Setsuna replied.
Then Vincent says, "Setsuna, don't call me sensei when we are not in class. Understand? I'm still not getting used to those honorifics." She nodded. Vincent can see the distance between her and Konoka. "You know, Setsuna. You could just standing beside her, you're a nice girl and strong, you have to accompanying her by her side all the time. That's not how a childhood friend acts."
Setsuna blushed at the praises, then she says, "It's because… Konoka-ojou-sama is enjoying herself. She's made a lot of friends and become a lot more cheerful since she started moved to Mahora and attending Mahora Academy. This is the best way after all living peacefully together, with Konoka-ojou-sama not knowing a thing… I've gotten a little too close to her during this school trip, once we go back to the academy, I'll have to return to normal and protect her from the shadows like I've always done…" Setsuna stated humbly.
Vincent, Mana and Kaede listened, Vincent noticed both Mana and Kaede went closer to her and smacked her on the head at the same spot. Setsuna confused by that sudden.
"Setsuna. Don't keep on hiding your true feelings de gozaru." Kaede said while patting Setsuna's shoulder.
"Yeah… bottling your feelings is not good. You want to stay alongside Konoka-san right? Then you should just do it." Mana said while patting Setsuna's other shoulder.
"Eh? B-b-b-but… I…" Setsuna don't know what to say.
"No excuse. Just follow what your heart tells you to do, there are always had other ways to protect what you wanted to protect. And also, I noticed Konoka become unhappy and worry while we on the train." Vincent said, and Setsuna surprised by that. "You keep on ignoring her when she greets you, and that's why she grew unhappy, and she will be sad if you stopped talking to her after this trip. Do you really want that?" Vincent lectures to Setsuna. Setsuna didn't realize this, Vincent continues. "Think about this, will you?"
Setsuna nodded in impulse, Mana and Kaede smiled from her answer and they both went to see and talk animatedly to the girls.
"Vincent-s… ah… Vincent-kun, I think I need to check on Negi-sensei and Kagurazaka-san first." Setsuna said, Mana and Kaede both surprised by Setsuna started to call Vincent by add '-kun'.
'…Again with that Honorific...' Vincent thought."Setsuna, don't tell them Nodoka was following them, just say in normal, alright?" Vincent said, and she nodded.
"Hai!" Setsuna replied.
"I'll go and look for Nodoka." Vincent tells her. "Mana, Kaede, stick with them, I go look for Nodoka, and I try to help Negi, if he need some assistance." Vincent tells Mana and Kaede and they both nodded before Vincent walks out from Arcade Center. Then, Setsuna took a piece of substitution stencil paper and started to chant as she also wants to back them up.
…
~FFXMSN~
Inside the train
To Negi, Chamo, and Asuna
They are taking a train which heads to Kansai Magic Association's area. "Sorry about make you come with me, Asuna-san." Negi said.
'That's right… why is an ordinary high-school student like ane-san agreeing to help us? According to Asakura-nee-san, she has a strict anti-kid policy…' Chamo thought.
'… Hehehe… Don't tell me ane-san is in lo-MMPFFH!?' Chamo thought but his nose been blocked by Asuna.
"Hey, what kind of rubbish are you spouting now!? Would a normal person let a 10 year old walk into a dangerous situation by himself?" Asuna said as she recalls from what Vincent told her.
…
Flashback
Yesterday's night, outside the hotel
Late night, the moment after the game, everyone heads back to their room. "Asuna." Vincent calls before Asuna leave.
"Yes? Vincent?" Asuna asked.
"Tomorrow, you and Negi are going to Kansai Magic Association right?" Vincent stated.
"Yeah, why?" Asuna teases.
"If you and Negi met into some kind of trouble, use this, this will help you two." Vincent said before he took out a something.
…
Flashback ended
"Asuna-san…" Negi said. Asuna recalls back but been snapped out by Negi.
"What-what!?" Asuna exclaimed.
"Are you alright Asuna-san?" Negi asked concerns.
"No-Nothing! It's just that… when it comes to people who try their best at everything… I don't hate them, whether they're brats or not! You got a problem with that?" Asuna said while putting her arms behind her head.
…
Genhiko Temple
Later, Negi, Chamo and Asuna arrived in front of the Genhiko Temple as they are staring at the grand entrance with awe face. "This is the headquarters of the Kansai Magic Association…?" Negi asked with awe face.
"It looks a lot like the Fushimi Shrine…" Chamo said while looking at the map.
(Note: The Fushimi Inari Shrine is a popular temple in Kyoto most notable for the many wooden gates along its main path)
"Uwaah… it feels like someone's going to jump out at us any second!" Asuna commented.
"All we have to do is to hand the letter over to their leader…" Negi said.
Asuna noticed there's a small light appeared somewhere, and then the light popped into a mini Setsuna in priestess robes with tiny sword appeared, Asuna jumped.
"Kagurazaka-san! Is Negi-sensei all right?" The mini Setsuna asked.
"Wah!?" Asuna surprised. "W… What the heck are you!?" Asuna asked.
"S… Setsuna-san?" Negi said.
"Yes, this technique is one similar to the body-splitting technique. It lets me communicate with you. I was worried about you guys, so I came to see how you were doing." The mini Setsuna replied. "Oh, please call me 'Little Setsuna'." Little Setsuna introduced while bowing to them, they all sweat-dropped. "I'm pretty sure the leader of the Kansai Magic Association is in these mountains somewhere…"
"You're taking my role!" Chamo exclaimed.
"Please stop that!" Chibi Setsuna hold Chamo back. "They don't welcome mages from the east like Negi-sensei and I pretty sure Vincent-sensei also, so please watch out for traps! We don't know what those people who attacked us the day before yesterday are up to…" Chibi Setsuna continues to explain.
"Understood! Little Setsuna-san! I'll be really careful!" Negi said.
"I don't know how much use it'll be, I'll bring out that fan too!" Asuna said as she summons out her fan and quickly hide behind the column.
"All right! Let's go!" Asuna, Negi, Chamo and Little Setsuna charged into the shrine. They stopped behind each of those wooden gates, while try to scanning the front.
"Nothing's coming out…" Asuna said while panting.
"I can't feel any strange magic here. This is going well… isn't it?" Negi said a bit naïve tone.
"All right! Let's cover the rest in one go!" Chamo said.
"OK!" Asuna and Negi said in unison.
"Ah! Please don't drop your guard, you two!" Little Setsuna warns them, but they didn't listen. One of the Gates suddenly appeared some runes, and behind the Gate, someone was standing there while observing them.
…
30 minutes later
Negi and the others still running through many stairs, Asuna collapsed from exhausted. "These stairs… go on… forever… I… I'm actually tired for once…" Asuna commented before collapse.
"Haah… haah… we've been running for 30 minutes now…" Negi almost exhausted.
"Could… could this be…?" Setsuna suspected something.
"Eh… what is it? Little Setsuna-san?" Negi asked as he knows Little Setsuna know something.
"Let's scout ahead, Negi-sensei!" Chibi Setsuna said as Negi and Chibi Setsuna went ahead, leaving Asuna and Chamo resting behind.
"Asuna-san, please rest here!" Negi tells Asuna.
"…I'll leave it to you…" Asuna replied as she unable to stand up.
"Take care, aniki!" Chamo said as he wishing them farewell.
"Haah… haah… this is weird… we've run far enough to go all the way around Kyoto by now…" Negi commented.
"No… this is…" Little Setsuna said as she aware of something.
And then they suddenly appeared behind Asuna. "Asuna-san!?" Negi asked as he surprised by Asuna suddenly appeared in front of him.
"Kyaah! What the… Negi! Why in the world are you suddenly appeared behind me!?" Asuna exclaimed asking the same thing.
"I knew it! Negi-sensei let's go to the side!" Little Setsuna said. Once again they ended up in the same spot they were originally at. "There is no mistaking it. This is an infinite time-space spell! We're currently inside a looping field that extends in a sphere for 500 meters around us! In other words… we're trapped within the Thousand Gates!" Little Setsuna concluded. This panicked them all.
…
Somewhere inside the bamboo field
There were two persons hiding behind the bushes and bamboos, spying on Negi and others. "Hehehe… looks like they've totally fallen into our trap… he really is just a brat after all…" The woman said from within the trees. "We'll just let them rot here, since there's no escape. All you guys have to do is sit here and watch them."
"What? That's so boring…!" The boy exclaimed. "I hate boring plans like this… it's not like they're really powerful or anything… I just like face to face confrontations better!"
"You just keep quiet and do what you're told, ok?" The mysterious woman jumped down and disappeared.
"Tsk… this is no fun…" The boy muttered as he dissatisfied.
…
Back to Negi's group
"Aniki! Let's try escape from above!" Chamo said as he suggested.
"Right!" Negi got on his flying staff and began to fly upwards, but when he reached at the certain height, he reappeared behind Asuna again and landed on Asuna.
"Goddammit! We can't even get out from above! We got sent right back down here!" Chamo exclaimed.
"Hey! Maybe we're going to be stuck here forever!" Asuna exclaimed.
"C… Can't the real Setsuna-san come and help us!?" Negi asked Little Setsuna.
"I… I'm sorry, but the enemies are after ojou-sama too, so I can't leave her side…" Little Setsuna replied.
"Oh… wait… how bout Vincent-nii-san? He can help us with his tricks!" Chamo said.
"Oh yeah! Vincent is smart! He sure can help figure it out!" Asuna exclaimed.
"But what if Vincent-nii doesn't know how to get out of this? Wouldn't he be stuck in here just like us? He won't be able to help Setsuna-san if he was here." Negi said reasoned to Asuna, then, Asuna realized something that is very important. She needs to go to the toilet.
'This is bad! I need to go to the toilet!" Asuna thought as she started to tremble. Negi and others noticed that.
"…Asuna-san?" Negi asked.
"AAAHH!" Then Asuna suddenly run ahead screaming, causing others surprised.
"Please calm down! Asuna-san!" Negi follows her, and so does others.
"Uwaa! Let me out of here!" Asuna shouted.
"Wait for me Asuna-san!" Negi keep on follow her.
…
~FFXMSN~
To Nodoka
Entrance of the Shrine
Nodoka was in the front of the shrine, looking at the direction that Negi and Asuna has just gone. 'Negi-sensei and Asuna-san, where did they go…?' Nodoka thought, she saw a sign on front that said no entry. "Huh…? No entry? Maybe I should look somewhere else." Suddenly, she felt a hand patted on her shoulder, she jumped and then turn around, and it was Vincent.
"Nodoka, I knew you were following Negi and others…" Vincent said.
"Vincent-sensei, what are you doing here?" Nodoka asked.
"Two reasons. Number one: You suddenly disappeared from Yue and others, so I come and look at you, and I found you here." Vincent said. "Number two: Since you know the existence of magic… then I don't have to hide this from you, Negi and others are in trouble, and luckily we are here, arrived at the right place." Vincent said as he looks at the warning sign, then Nodoka heard Negi shouting in help, she open her book and saw a picture of Negi and Asuna running around while crying in despair. The log was short and simple, it was from Negi, and the words are in big bold letters, it saying:
…
24th of April, Negi
UEEEE-N! HELP-!
…
Vincent looks at the picture and examines. "They trapped in here." Vincent stated. "Nodoka, your book here is an essential key to help them." Vincent stated.
"Eh? But… how?" Nodoka asked.
"Your book can read people's thoughts at the moment." Vincent said. "Okay, let's test your book before we go in there and save Negi and others. So, Nodoka, what am I thinking now?" She opened her book and saw a new entry showing, the picture was showing Vincent pointing his head with a question mark above his head looking at Nodoka, and she reads the logs saying:
…
24th of April, Vincent
Your book can see the people's thoughts, and don't worry about others. Mana, Setsuna and Kaede are watching over them, so they should be fine, for now. After we rescued them, you will stay here with Asuna and Negi, I'll go back help others, because there's a huge possibility the enemies are after Konoka, your classmate.
…
Nodoka got surprised and shocked as she finished reading it; Vincent looked into the book and read the entry. "Vincent-sensei! What do you mean the enemies are after Konoka-san?" Nodoka asked in confused.
"…It's a long explanation. Let's go help them first, shall we?" Vincent said, and Nodoka nodded. "Let's go." They both ran into the space of looping.
…
~FFXMSN~
To Negi, Chamo, and Asuna
As the group continuously running ahead of them, Asuna want to find the toilet as soon. "I can't take this anymore!" Asuna cried out still running.
"Ane-san we just can't keep on running recklessly like this!" Chamo told her.
"Huh?" Little Setsuna noticed something. "W… what's that!? A roof… there's a stop over there!" Little Setsuna pointed out to the group there's a resting stop ahead.
"Thank god! There's a toilet here!" Asuna shouted joyfully as she hurry went into it.
"HELLO? Anyone here?" Negi shouted. "There's a vending machine here. Let's buy something to drink and calm down." Chibi Setsuna said. "It's no use, Aniki. It looks like it's just a rest stop." Chamo said. A few minutes later the group was sitting down a drinking some tea from the vending machine.
"Phew… now to catch my breath…" Negi said as he drank green tea can.
"Let's assess our current situation and find a way to break out of here..." Little Setsuna said to the group.
"Sheesh! Why do they want to stop us from handing over a letter, anyway?" Asuna shouted complaining.
"I…I guess they don't want relation between east and west." Negi replied.
"Why don't they want relations to improve? That's so stupid…" Asuna said while sighing.
"Um… that's because…" Negi try to explain but don't know how.
"Apparently it is because the people of Kantou have forgotten tradition and become influenced by Western magic…" Little Setsuna help explains.
"I see… ah, how about a sandwich, Asuna-san?" Negi said as he bought some sandwich from the machine.
"Oh, thank you!" Asuna replied as she took a piece.
"More importantly, we should go over our combat capabilities at the moment." Chamo started discussing some strategies for their countermeasure.
"You're right. We don't know when the enemy might attack…" Little Setsuna agreed as she started discussion with their veteran strategic Chamo.
"That's right! We had Setsuna-nee-san and Vincent-nii-san with us the day before yesterday, but if we get attacked right now, it's just aniki and ane-san!" Chamo said.
"Speaking of that… I was wondering before, but how much stronger do I get while the contract is active? Am I going to be of any use at all?" Asuna asked wondering of her own strength.
"Ah… let's do a test and find out!" Chamo suggests as he jumped down and pointed at the nearby rock. "Ane-san, kick this rock as hard as you can!" Chamo tells Asuna.
"This one!? That looks like it would really hurt!" Asuna surprised.
"It's ok! Just do it!" Chamo said, and then Asuna try an axe kick the rock but it didn't change anything. Asuna is hopping around grabbing her injured leg.
"Ok, aniki! Activate the contract!" Chamo tells Negi.
"Activate the contract for 30 seconds for the Kagurazaka Asuna, the disciple of Negi!" Negi chant the words and an aura suddenly surrounding Asuna. The enemy boy noticed there's something's going on.
'I can never get used to this weird feeling…' Asuna thought.
"That faint nimbus around you is magical energy, ane-san! Try kick the rock again, this time should be different!" Chamo explains the detail. Asuna consider a bit before try kick the rock and this time the rock been destroyed into pieces. She surprised by the power, Negi praising her.
"You won't lose to any mere human, even if he's a pro wrestler!" Chamo commented while smoking.
"This works on a similar principle to the 'Ki' used by the Shinmeiryuu!" Little Setsuna said as she started explaining. "The swordsmen of Shinmeiryuu gather the 'Ki' from within their bodies and use it in their combat techniques, this 'Ki' is also used for Onmyou (Yin and Yang) techniques, but it takes many years of training to learn to manipulate 'Ki'." Little Setsuna explained about the Ki of the eastern.
"A Ministra Magi draws magical energy from the mage in order to greatly enhance their physical abilities! As long as Negi-aniki has magical energy, ane-san can use that power to become a superhuman!" Chamo explained about the magical energy of the western. "Well… ane-san has a pretty good body to begin with…"
"And furthermore… Ek!" Little Setsuna attacked Asuna with the blade for demonstration.
"Kyahh!" Asuna screamed as she reacts defend herself with her arm, she feels that her arm didn't injured. "Huh? It doesn't hurt at all!" Asuna examined her arm and there's no wound.
"The magical energy around your body protects you from attacks. This is why I was confident in Kagurazaka-san's fighting ability the day before yesterday!" Little Setsuna said.
"Eh… I get it now… so, what is this 'Ki' and 'magical energy' stuff all about anyway?" Asuna asked.
"That would take too long to explain, ane-san." Chamo said.
…
At the boy's position
The boy observed something that interested him from the group. 'Hm… these guys are more interesting than I thought…' The boy's thought grinning.
…
To Negi
"By the way, how about your magic, Negi-sensei?" Little Setsuna asked as she wanted to know about Negi's strength and capabilities.
"No problem! This guy's really strong, you know!" Asuna said loudly while patting Negi on the back to cheer him up.
"That's right! Aniki graduated at the top of the class in magic school!" Chamo said showing off.
'But… but I…' Negi thought of something, he slowly recalls back all his trainings during his time in Wales. 'Coming to think of it… I only know nine combat spells in total. The magic school wouldn't teach us anything beyond the basic 'Magic Projectiles' and 'Kazahana Disarm', so I sneaked into the book reserves behind the teacher's back to see if I could learn anything useful… Most of the combat magic I know is self-taught… if we were attacked by the professionals… can we really deal with them by ourselves?' Negi thought as he began to recall back. An imaged flashed in Negi's mind. On the last, an image reveals a man with a robe holding and choking up a strange being by its neck. All rubbles and ruins are surrounded at the mysterious person in Negi's mind, and blazing flames are danced in the background, this gives Negi's an idea. "Maybe, maybe I can make myself stronger by drawing on magical energy too?" Negi suggested in his thinking pose.
"Well… I guess you could do that…" Chamo said as he begins to think.
"Yes, it works on the same principles." Little Setsuna said as she slowly think of it.
"This is why's a ten years old like aniki can run so fast! It's like a reduced version of the same thing!" Chamo added in to recalls back when Negi used an enhancement on his feet to hastening himself.
"I wouldn't recommend it, though…" Little Setsuna said.
"Yeah! A mage should be using magic!" Chamo agreed.
"Don't worry about it for now. I think you two could handle most of the ordinary spellcasters from the Kansai Magic Association, along with Vincent-sensei…" Little Setsuna said as she feels like she's not able to help much despite her small body currently.
"Un! No problem! Those guys are no match for us!" Asuna said cheerfully.
"Hehehe… I can't let that comment go!" A voice from above said, this caused the group quickly raised their guard and looked around.
"Who's there!?" Asuna took out her card.
Something falling right in front of them, and that was a gigantic spider and atop it was the black haired boy they met before. "Maybe you should try me on for size before you start mouthing off like that."
…
~FFXMSN~
To Setsuna
Arcade
Back to arcade, where Setsuna and others along with Mana and Kaede are there, "I knew they'd come! Negi-sensei, Kagurazaka-san! Be careful and hold on, Vincent-sensei probably on the way!" Setsuna telepathy, but been interrupted by Konoka.
"Se-chan!" Konoka shouted near her ears.
"Waaah! O… ojou-sama!" Setsuna got surprised.
"Why are you all spaced-out like that, Se-chan?" Konoka asked.
"Ah… no… no real reason…" Setsuna replied while backing off in embarrassment.
"Come on, Se-chan! Let's play!" Konoka dragged Setsuna somewhere else.
"Ah, no… ojou-sama… I…" Setsuna is trying to explains, but she couldn't.
A mysterious girl hiding behind one of the arcade machine, and that was Tsukuyomi, spying on them. "Hu huh u… Sakurazaki Setsuna-han… is it? I just love strong girls…" Tsukuyomi commented as her hand holding a charm that used to conceal her presence from others to detect.
…
~FFXMSN~
Inside the walkway of the temple
To Vincent and Nodoka
To Vincent and Nodoka, he's running while carrying Nodoka on his back to not slow them both down, they running through the gates constantly looking at the book in case of more danger appearing.
'…It's been at least 20 minutes since we've entered here, an endless road with thousands of these gates…' Vincent thought as he looked around to check any odds, then, he realized it. '…I see. There's a trap filled this place that caused an endless loop? Interesting magic they have, this situation almost like stuck in the Coral Prison with endless desert walking beneath the Gold Saucer there, trapped there eternally.' Vincent thought as he smirked for meeting such a thing. 'Think something like this can stop me?' For Vincent that he can easily break through all these loops, but due to Nodoka was beside her, he cannot do anything that can endanger his student.
"Ah!" Nodoka surprised sudden.
"What's wrong, Nodoka?" Vincent asked as he stopped his running, he lowered Nodoka down to ground. Nodoka shows the page that appeared to Vincent, they saw a giant spider appeared into the book, and they knew Negi and others is in danger. "A giant creature huh… It seems like we have to hurry." Vincent said as he grab Nodoka and bring her to his back, and Vincent start to run very fast. '…It's not an endless road, there's a limited.'
…
To Negi and the others
[Music Started: Press to Victory – The Last Remnant]
Negi and others faced an opponent that appeared sudden, and it's the boy that they met an hour ago. "Bring it on, mage of the west! Or should I say… Negi Springfield!" The boy stated.
"You're…!" Negi knows the opponent.
"Ah! You're that boy from the arcade center!" Asuna exclaimed as she points at the boy.
"Oh no! Then that means Konoka-san is under attack now!" Negi realized.
"No, it seems like we're safe for now!" Little Setsuna said.
'Is this guy the one who set this trap? Was he at the arcade center to scout me out?' Negi thought while looking at the boy and that spider. Negi is planning a strategy. 'That one-chan from the day before yesterday had a goki as well… it's going to be another mage against Onmyou user partner against goki battle after all…' Negi thought as he plans to fight on the Onmyou user, while Asuna is going to fight against the giant spider.
"Negi!" Asuna calls to Negi to ready before she dashed forward.
"Ok!" Negi replied as he began to chant. "Activate the contract for 90 seconds for the disciple of Negi, Kagurazaka Asuna!" Negi chants to Asuna, aura surroundings her to enhance her capabilities.
"Don't expect me to go easy on you just because you're a brat!" Asuna shouted, she charged toward the spider and gave a straight powerful punch at the spider along with the boy, the boy jumped away from the punch, creating a dent on its exoskeleton, sending the giant spider fly back away.
"Woah!" The boy surprised from the strength.
"ADEAT!" Asuna summons out the fan, she jumped as to prepare a strong attack from the air to the downed spider. She strike at the spider and instantly destroyed the spider and turning it back to a charm.
The others are amazed. "Oh!" Little Setsuna amazed by Asuna's skill.
"Waah! That was amazing, Asuna-san!" Negi praised.
"I'm pretty good at this!" Asuna said as she landed on the ground.
"That's ane-san for you! You don't see that kind of power often, even with the contract!" Chamo praised her.
"How was that!?" Asuna asked.
"Ahaha! Not bad, one-chan!" The boy praised loudly enough to let them hear, Asuna looked at the boy standing on the roof of the building. "I heard that a middle school girl with a strange power to break enchantments was with you, so I brought along one with powerful wards, and yet you returned it to charm form in just one blow…" The boy commented, then, he faced at Negi. "But as for you, you're just a small fry!" The boy said as he pointed at Negi. "The amazing one is that onee-chan over there! Aren't you embarrassed to be protected by a girl? This is why I hate western mages!" The boy said as he looked down at Negi here for not able to fight like the close combatant.
Negi losing confidence when he heard what he said. "Come on, Negi! We can't lose to this guy in a shouting match!" Asuna run to Negi's side. "You're just a sore loser because your goki was defeated, you little brat!" Asuna taunted back at the boy.
"Yeah! You've got zero chance of winning now! If you're going to surrender, now's the time to do it!" Chamo taunted also.
"Hehe… onee-chan… you just don't get it either too… I'm not just any magic user…" The boy said as he ready to make a move.
"Eh?" Asuna confused.
"Please be careful! This guy just might be…" Little Setsuna warns them, but the boy already made a move.
The boy jumped from the roof and charged toward Asuna and attempt to attack her, Asuna reacts to send many attacks onto him but he dodged it all with ease. "Give it up! You can't hit me!" The boy mocks. The boy jumped over the last move, sweep kicked Asuna, tripping her and charged at Negi.
Negi surprised at the speed but he has already chanting a spell, "RAS TEL MA SCIR MAGISTER FLANS…" Negi chanting, while the boy took out some barrier charms and, "EXCLAMATIO!" by Negi has done chanting and send some magic attack toward the boy, but the boy blocked the magic with barrier charms. The barrier charms didn't managed to shield the boy completely, and it managed to blow away the boy's hat, revealing ears of a wolf. "REFLECTIO…" Negi got surprised by the appearance and quickly to chant another spell, but he wasn't able to finish chanting and been sent flying by that boy's punch.
"Negi!?" Asuna exclaimed as she wasn't able to protect Negi from the enemy.
[End of the Music]
…
~FFXMSN~
To Vincent and Nodoka
Nodoka was watching the situation from Negi goes on in the book while she sat down leaning to a fence, quietly wondering if this was real. She didn't even notice that Negi and others was actually nearby her, except Vincent, he's quietly watching the fight. A moment later, they suddenly disappeared as they went through another loop.
'That boy… he's a close combatant type like Ku Fei, a very disadvantage against Negi, and he also blocking all attacks from Asuna at the same time… That kid quite good in close combat… his level about like Ku Fei… Should I enter into their fray, or just stay still here?' Vincent thought as he having a consideration whether he has to go in or not, then, he decided not to. '…I think this should give Negi have some close combat experience, to let Negi's knows long range magic not always can help you. But, if Negi dares to interrupt his fight, I will come.' Vincent thought while watching. '…And beside of that… I sensed something that is lurking inside these thick bamboos…' Vincent thought as he feels a hostile presence hidden within the bamboos. 'Can't tell what it is, but it's a large monster…'
…
To Negi and others
"Where do you think you're running off to… you little runt!" The boy angered. He did an upwards palm thrust, breaking through Negi's magical barrier. Negi landed on the ground and cough out some bloods. "Hehe… how was that? I broke through his barrier!" The boy mocks. "That one really affected him!
"This is bad… we can't win…" Chamo said in panic tone while hopping on Little Setsuna's head, they both leaning against a vending machine.
"Y… You! You should have told us from the start that you were a fighter instead of a mage!" Asuna exclaimed angrily. "And stop picking on Negi! I'm your opponent!" Asuna yelled.
"Whatever~ you were the ones who just assumed…" The boy talked back with his hands behind his head as he does not like to fight girls. "Fighting is a man's job! I don't hit girls even an incredible strong girls like you, onee-chan." The boy looked back at Negi. "Hey, you western mages are no good after all! You're so weak! I bet your dad, the Thousand Whatever isn't so tough either, you shrimp!" The boy mocks again, and Negi snapped from those words.
"Aniki, no!" Chamo shouted at Negi while holding a drinking bottle.
"Let's retreat for now!" Little Setsuna warns. Little Setsuna began to cast a spell, and Chamo threw a bottle with great might toward the boy, "ONBU FUI RAUN KRA SHA RA KU MAN…" Little Setsuna cast the spell toward the bottle, and the bottle exploded, surrounding nearby with mist, and blinding the boy's sight.
"Ane-san! Take care of aniki!" Chamo alerted at Asuna.
"Damn! Mist? I can't see!" The boy shouted as he tries to sweep away those mist as quickly as possible, Asuna use this chance to escape as she quickly carry Negi away. By the mist was clear, they all disappeared. "Ah! They got away! Damn it! You cowards! You can run away from me, but you'll never escape from here!" The boy shouted angrily.
…
To Vincent and Nodoka
"Ah… thank goodness! It looks like they got away!" Nodoka said watching the situation through the book, Vincent was behind her, looking at their situation, tracking the boy's presence, and also keeping an eye on the unknown monster stationing within the bamboos.
'…Sooner that monster will show out.' Vincent thought. 'I need to keep an eye on that monster… it's not an average one.'
…
To Negi
Somewhere around in the same place
The group found a place for them to rest that is within the area of infinite loop, "Argh! What the hell is that cheeky brat's problem!? And what's with those stupid ears he has!?" Asuna shouted anger.
"That boy is a kuzoku." Little Setsuna replied.
"K… Kuzoku!? …What's that?" Asuna asked as she calmed down.
"It's a wolf or fox type monster. In other words, he's a youkai (Demon)." Little Setsuna replied.
"He's like a wolf-man, they're really strong." Chamo commented.
"What the heck? So we're fighting another monster? This is such a pain… sheesh… nothing surprise me anymore…" Asuna sighed as the situation getting tougher and tougher.
"I… I'm sorry…" Little Setsuna apologizes.
"What are you apologizing, Sakurazaki-san?" Asuna asked. Then, she turned to Negi. "Negi, you beat Eva-chan, the so-called strongest monster, didn't you? You should be able to take care of a brat the same age of you in no time!" Asuna said, causing Chibi Setsuna knowing something that she didn't know.
"That's unreasonable, ane-san." Chamo said.
Asuna stopped her mid rant as she noticed Negi was bleeding. "Huh? You're… you're bleeding! Does it hurt!? Just wait, I'll get a towel!" Asuna said, she get two towels, one is dry, one is been wetted, she's cleaning Negi's bleeding face with wet towel and rub his face with dry towel, while Little Setsuna and Chamo discussing something regarding about Evangeline.
"Asuna-san… I… I studied how to fight because I wanted to find my father…" Negi started a conversation.
"U... un…? What? A serious conversation?" Asuna wondered.
"I believed that I would need combat ability in my search for my father." Negi continued and Asuna listened. "And, Takamichi spend a whole month teaching me, you know!"
"What!? Takahata-sensei!? Tell me in more detail about that…" Asuna surprised as she wanted to hear more while forcefully push the towel onto Negi's face.
"Maybe… next time… but… It was a near-miraculous coincidence that I managed to beat Evangeline-san… Now that I think about it, Evangeline-san went easy on me for some reason…" Negi continues to say.
"R… really…?" Asuna pretend not to surprise.
"A win is a win! Although she never uses any of her shinso powers…" Chamo added in.
"…I'm still inexperienced… but I've got to become stronger, or I won't be able to continue my search for my father! That's why I have to beat that guy!" Negi said. Others were touched by his words.
'Getting fired up just because he got beaten… I guess he is just like a normal boy in some ways…' Asuna thought.
"B… but how are we going to win against him, aniki!?" Chamo exclaimed.
"Don't worry, Chamo-kun, I have a plan!" Negi said in confident while thumb up.
…
To Vincent and Nodoka
"Eeh? A plan to beat that really strong boy!? This is incredible! I want to see what happens next!" Nodoka chirped. Vincent smiled at Negi's determination.
Vincent smirked as he sees. 'That's good Negi, to have that great determination, keep on going like that, and you will become the youngest and strongest mage ever. Although I have no knowledge about that kind of magic of your being use.' Vincent thought. Later, they both stopped when they heard rustling sound. Nodoka put her book away.
"ABEAT!" Nodoka sheath back her artifact, and that moment Vincent readied his left fist for knowing what will happen later.
"Found you! Huh?" The boy shouted and realized it was wrong persons he after. The boy went straight to Nodoka and unable to divert his path, but Vincent appeared in front of Nodoka and gave the incoming missile boy a punch the boy with minimized force directly to his face, stopping his momentum and landed on the ground, saving Nodoka from the incoming crash.
"Boy, don't just suddenly charge to my student." Vincent said before he went toward to the boy, he held his arm out to the boy and offering to help him up.
"Sorry! It-it's my fault for that! It wasn't on-on purpose!" The boy quickly apologized as he gets up from the ground, this caught Vincent's attention.
'…Oh? It seems like he's a polite one, even though he's an enemy.' Vincent thought.
"You gave me a one good punch…" The boy said while rubbing his cheek, while hiding his ears. 'Ouch! What a punch…' "Oh, aren't you that onee-chan from the arcade center? So you're her teacher?" The boy asked as he looked at Vincent.
"No, but I'm her assistant teacher." Vincent replied while shaking his head. "Both of us got lost track of her friends somewhere, and we thought they came up here, however we didn't expected of this. My student here and I have been walking around here a while ago, and it seems endless plus I don't see someone." Vincent looked towards Nodoka and sending her a wink, she noticed he want her to play along, and she nodded.
'Damn… did they follow me?' The boy thought. "You can't be here! There was an 'Entry Prohibited' sign outside, wasn't there?" The boy said.
"Yes, we know that, but we ignored it just to find my missing students." Vincent said in calm tone. "Perhaps you can help us?"
"Ye… yeah… sorry…" Nodoka stuttered.
'…Crap! Did other people entered here as well?' The boy thought."Well, it doesn't really matter, I have something urgent need to done, I have to go right now, and I'll be back here later to help you both get out of here plus help you find your missing students. Can you take care of her, nii-san?" The boy asked Vincent.
"Hmph… I am." Vincent replied.
"That's good. You both just stay here okay?" The boy said and was about to run off and then Nodoka suddenly called out to him.
"Wait… um… my… my name is Miyazaki Nodoka, and my sensei here is Vincent Valentine, what's your name?" She asked the boy, Vincent noticed Nodoka planning something meaningful.
'I see. Nodoka, you planning to read the boy's mind right?' Vincent thought smirked secretly.
"Oh? Name? …Since you told me yours, it would be impolite for me not to tell you guys mine… I'm Kotarou, Inugami Kotarou." The boy then ran off while saying something, "See you later, pink panties onee-chan!" Nodoka got blushed and embarrassed from that comment, "And nii-san! Let's try to have some spar sometimes!" Kotarou asked as he points at Vincent, and Vincent just ignored it with his blank face.
When the boy was out of the hearing range, Vincent says, "Nodoka, you have a plan, right?"
Nodoka nodded, and then she summon out her book. "Yes, as long as I have the person's name… my book can read their thoughts and show what they are thinking inside my book…" Nodoka replied.
'…If she was a Turk member, she'll pass the assignment given.' Vincent thought. "That was a pretty smart move, Nodoka. As expected from one of the top students… I'm proud of you." Vincent said as he smiled a bit.
"Ah… thank you… sensei." Nodoka replied with embarrassment from praised.
"Let's go then, Nodoka. We cannot keep stall the time." Vincent said. She nodded as they begun to head forward.
…
…
END OF THE CHAPTER 9