Chapter 10: One Long Night! Part One
A/N: Please R&R! I've got nearly five thousand hits but very few review's these last few week's!
The Path to The Kansai Magical Association HQ, 4:13PM
Negi shot awake and nearly fell off of the rock he had been laying upon. He was a bit disoriented because his hearing had a strange ringing going on and his vision was a bit blurry. He could hear muffled voices talking to him and he could make out two indistinct shapes, but that was it. The memory of his fight with Kotarou came flooding back to him and he had only one thought, What happened near the end?
With a jolt, his senses readjusted themselves and the blur's became Asuna and Nodoka looking worried. "Negi! Are you all right?" Negi blinked and looked himself over. No pain? That's odd. He gave both girls a smile and said, "I feel fine. Better then ever in fact!" Impossibly so...
He shook his head a little to clear the cobwebs and tried to stand. Asuna and Nodoka moved to assist, but, after a wobbly start he stood tall (Well as tall as a 10 year old can). He looked at Nodoka and remembered her appearance during the fight. "Ano... Nodoka-san, not to be rude, but why are you here?" Nodoka reddend and, looking away, said quietly, "I... I fallowed you from the game center, Sensei. I just wanted to see you."
Negi gave her a small smile and said in a soothing voice, "It's ok Nodoka-san. I was just wondering what you where doing there. I have to ask though, that you not talk about what you saw." Mainly because I don't know what happened either. "The consequences for me if you said anything would be... unpleasant for me." Nodoka returned the smile and said softly. "I won't tell a soul Sensei. But to think that Negi-sensei is a mage and a child teacher! It's just like something out of a adventure book!" Asuna's thoughts on the matter where along the lines of 'people who read lots of book's sure are different...'
Chamo leaped onto Nodoka's shoulder and started to talk excitedly, "Aniki! I think she should be a part of our group! I think she's wonderful partner material, I mean just look at her artifact!" Negi and Asuna where about to respond when distant chatter could be heard drifting down the path. Negi, oddly enough, instinctively assumed a defensive stance.
Setsuna, Konoka, Yui, Haruna, Kasumi and John where all ambling down the path, chatting up a storm. Well the girls where, John was busy looking for threats. A few words where exchanged and the two groups joined up. Nodoka, Yui and Haruna moved a little bit foreword, while John, Negi, Asuna and Kasumi hung back.
Asuna whispered to Setsuna, "What are they doing here? And what's with John? I thought he was still in a coma!" Setsuna looked away and muttered a little bit red faced, "They fallowed me and John-san woke up about thirty minutes ago. He helped me protect Oojou-sama and I decided to come here." Asuna cocked her head to the side and asked confused, "What do you mean?"
Setsuna was about to respond when Kasumi rushed foreword yelling, "Hey, what's that?" Yui and Haruna fallowed excitedly causing Asuna and Negi to freak out a bit. The sound of three dozen voices speaking in sync caused Asuna, Negi and (Briefly) John to stop and stare.
"Welcome Home Konoka Oojou-sama!"
Main Hall, K.M.A. HQ, A few Minutes later.
"Umm, Chief-san, I have a letter for you from the Chief of the East, Konoe Konoemon and principle of Mahora Academy. Please accept it!" Konoka's father smiled and took a quick glance around the room. Asuna, Yui, Haruna and Kasumi all looked a little dazed. Konoka looked as she always did and Setsuna hovered protectively in the background. The blue clad stranger was scanning the room silently.
The Chief was very interested about John. He had heard a lot of story's about him since his strange arrival and he was going to find out if at least some of them where true. But he had thing's to attend to first. He smiled and said, "I know all about it Negi-kun and I thank you for coming here." He gently plucked the letter from Negi's hand and looked it over quickly.
'Can't you even get control of you're henchmen, son-in-law-dono!' Huh, father-in-law is still harsh as always. He smiled again and said softly, "Thanks' to this I'll be able to get rid of the differences between the East and West!" He gave everyone a soft smile. "Now I'm sure you're all tired. I suggest that you all spend the night here and I'll send you all back to the hot spring you're staying at by car in the morning."
The attendants lining the walls took that as their queue to show Negi and co. around the estate. He motioned at Setsuna and John and the attendant's headed toward them backed off. Both Setsuna and John noticed the gesture. Setsuna prostrated herself before the Chief and started to speak, "Sir! You would speak to me?" The Chief waved a hand in the air. "Mah mah, no need to get so formal."
His voice grew a little softer as he started to speak, "I want to thank you for protecting Konoka for these last two years. You responded to all my selfish requests and you did well." Setsuna blushed under the praise and started to speak hurriedly, "Ah... no protecting Oojou-sama has always been my wish. I... I must apologize. Today I was unable to protect Oojou-sama and if it wasn't for John-san I don't know what I would have done."
"I heard all about it. It seems I have to thank you... John was it? May I call you John?" John paused in his scan to give a small bow and say. "It was the right thing to do." Setsuna looked at John for a quick second, her face showing confusion at John's choice of words. The Chief smiled and remarked, "I think that if meant nothing happened to you Setsuna-kun, I would say that's quite fortunate."
The Chief placed a finger on his chin and adopted a thinking pose, "I think a lot of you're problems, Setsuna-kun, could be solved if Konoka knew about magic. I thought by hiding it from her, she could have the life of a normal girl. I guess I was wrong." He then spoke in a serious tone then. "I want you to tell her about magic... discreetly please, Setsuna-kun."
Setsuna was speechless. "Chief... are you sure?" He smiled. "Yes." He then turned to John, "Now then. I've heard many thing's about you, John. And I have a hard time letting someone I don't know be around one of my best friends son's." He leaned forward a bit, "So, with you're permission, I would like to spare with you!"
John's jaw fell a bit and Setsuna started to sputter, "But, but, but... Chief!" He laughed at that and wore the biggest grin Setsuna had ever seen him sport, "You know the old saying! The only way to truly know someone is to fight them! And I haven't gotten to fight in ages, so I want to see if I still got it."
John took a whole ten seconds to compose himself and answered, "Alright..."
Main Dojo, K.M.A. HQ, Five Minutes Later
Kasumi happened to be walking by when she had overhead a few attendants talking, "Have you heard? The Chief is going to be fighting that foreigner!" One responded, "The little boy?" The one who spoke shook her head, "No! That hunk of a man the little one brought with him!" Kasumi smiled and whispered, "What a scoop!" She arrived just as both fighter's walked into separate changing room's and found a place to observe the fight unnoticed.
The Chief and the Chief (A/N:I Just realized this... HAHAHA *Chokes*) had changed into gi's of opposing colors (John blue and the Chief red) and after walking out into the middle of the massive dojo, had assumed defensive stances. John's stance was loose with a emphasis on his lower body while Konoka's father's was extremely tight with no emphasis.
A full minute passed in silence before Konoka's father attacked. Taking a big step forward he lashed out with right straight. John responded by quickly slapping away the fist and lashing out with a quick left straight kick. The Chief grabbed John's ankle with his left hand and swiveled around trying to land a elbow strike on the top of John's head with his right arm. John leaned way back, used his left knee to block the elbow strike, struck the Chief in his side with his right foot and turned his lean into a back flip.
Both fighter's paused and took stock of each other. The Chief touched his side lightly and spoke quietly, "You held back... why?" John answered promptly, "Because at full strength I can punch through a M1A3 Abrams tank's front armor."
The Chief opened his mouth, closed it, then opened it again, "Oh... thanks I guess..." Konoka's father looked around the dojo quickly and placed his hand in a peculiar hand gesture. He muttered a few words and several hidden charm's on the wall's glowed, causing the wall's to glow golden as well.
"You can stop holding back now. The wall's are now enforced with magic to prevent sound and any damage we might cause." John looked around quickly and nodded. Kasumi, who had hid in a adjoining room, thought. God! I wish I had my camera now. This is getting good!
Konoka's father smiled and disappeared after whispering, "Instant Movement!". He reappeared behind John swinging his left fist with enough Ki to destroy a small office building. John ducked underneath the blow and the gem on his left hand announced in Greek, "Hermes Flash!" John reappeared behind the Chief throwing a right straight kick. The Chief was momentarily surprised at the movement spell, so he was caught off guard. The kick slammed full force into Konoka's father's back, but he managed to use his Ki to guard against the majority of the damage.
The Chief forgot one important thing though even if he did nullify the damage, John had just kicked him with the force of a anti-tank missile. Konoka's father went flying. He reoriented himself in the air and threw a charm at the far wall of the dojo and said a single word, "COME!" The charm burst into smoke and a green man sized beetle appeared.
The beetle spread it's wings, took flight and caught the Chief. It gently placed him on the ground and dismissed itself. The Chief quickly threw four charms into the air and shouted, "THE FOUR WINDS!" Each charm started to hover in the air before bursting into the shape of the kanji symbols for East, West, North and South.
John, meanwhile, had closed the distance by half in the half second it took for the Chief to right himself. The Chief gestured at John and the North symbol turned into a massive ball of air and shot at John at super-sonic speeds. John rolled underneath the ball and used his momentum attempt to slide kick the Chief. He gestured at John again and the South symbol changed into a pillar of air that flew along the floor right at John.
John responded to this threat by teleporting himself beyond the pillar. The Chief gestured with both of his hand's this time at John and the two remaining charms changed into two wind blades that zoomed toward the Spartan at point blank range. The Chief's mind caught up with his action's a micro-second later. Oh shit! My body reacted automatically and responded with lethal force! Come on kid, MOVE!
John stood his ground and, with a deceptively slow motion, slashed with his left hand at the approaching razor sharp winds. His left hand was instantly shrouded in blue fire and the gem announced, "Demos' Aspect: Shield Of The Moon!" Just as the blades where about to hit a large dark blue magic circle with a crescent in the center appeared in front of the Spartan.
The two forces collided and large amounts of dust obscured John for a few seconds. When the dust cleared John stood unharmed with a dark blue metal gauntlet now adorning his left arm. He quickly raised his right palm and blue fire sprouted from his tattoo taking the shape of a elegant dark blue long sword still in it's sheathe.
His gem announced, "Peruses Aspect Engaged!" The Spartan, lightning quick, slipped the blade through the belt of his gi and prepared to draw the sword right handed. The Chief, seeing John was ok, prepared another charm. He threw the charm into the air and with a pop, another man sized beetle appeared. This one was colored blue with the kanji for 'Defense' on the tip of it's massive horn. Konoka's father nodded once at it as it looked at him and it assumed a position in front of it's summoner.
John's gem announced "Hundred Cut's!" as he drew the blade in a flash of light. Spark's started to fly all around the beetle and the Chief as the sound of a machine gun hitting a gong filled the room. John reseethed his blade and dozen's of very small cuts appeared on the beetles shell. Three small cuts on the Chief's left arm started to bleed as well.
Konoka's father was about to order the beetle to attack when John unsheathed his blade again with his gauntleted hand this time. The moment the two pieces of magical equipment made contact a dark green flame design emerged on both weapons. The SPARTAN-II crouched slightly and the gem, that was still visible even with the gauntlet on, announced, "Titian Fusion: God Cut!"
Both sword and gauntlet changed color to gold and started to crackle with lightning before John disappeared. A second half second ticked by and the Chief was starting to wonder what had happened when his beetle split evenly down the middle before bursting into a cloud of smoke.
The Chief quickly looked around and with a frown summoned a small army of beetles. Damn. This kid is good! I did not think this fight would last this long, let alone with me on the defensive! His thoughts where interrupted when about five of his beetles split down the middle and burst into smoke. I saw nothing... Damn this is bad. Another ten beetles split down the middle. A half second later twenty fallowed their comrades in being bisected.
Soon only the Chief and five of the toughest, biggest beetles remained. All of them where searching the area for their assailant franticly. A whole ten seconds ticked off and the Chief was starting to sweat. Another second ticked off and, suddenly, the beetles heads slide off their body's and burst into smoke. The Chief felt a blade pressed against his neck and a steel hard voice say quietly, "Yield..."
The Chief glanced at John from the corner of his eye and smiled once before bursting into smoke and a small piece of paper with his name on it floated toward the floor. A blade shaped like a insect wing was pressed against John's throat and the Chief asked in a cheerful voice, "I think yielding would be a good idea..." John was silent, but, when his gem announced, "Blade of Illusion!" a tiny smirk tugged at the corner of his mouth. He faded from view and the Chief felt a familiar blade pressed against his throat.
"Yield... please." The Chief laughed and said, "Alright, alright. I yield!" The blade was lifted away and Konoka's father let out a sigh of relief. That's when the gem on John's hand announced, "Illusion Off!" and John faded from view again only to reappear on the other side of the room. The Chief jaw fell a little bit and he mumbled out, "He never got near me..." John reseethed his blade and both the gauntlet and sword turned to blue tinted ash that was sucked by some invisible force into his gem.
"All Aspects Retrieved!" The Chief shook his head a bit and smiled. "I think I've seen all I need to. Thanks' for the fight! I haven't felt this good in ages. I have to ask though what is that gem's name?" John walked over a little unsteadily over to the Chief and said, "S.H.R.I.K.E." The Chief, seeing John's condition, asked, "Are you ok?" The Spartan steadied himself and shook his head before speaking softly, "I can't keep that many Aspect's up for long. Take's up to much mana. Anyway, the gem's name S.H.R.I.K.E. stand's for Special Heuristic Responsive Intelligent Kinetic Engine. Means it's a magical A.I. that can predict the possible outcomes of any situation and comes with some serious magic based firepower."
The Chief's brow furrowed and nodded, "Huh... well I've worked up quite a sweat. Let's go collect Negi, I've got some things to talk to him about and I think the hot spring we have on the grounds would do us both some good..."
Kasumi was in shock at what she just saw but after a minute of stillness started to curse, "DAMNIT! I WISH I HAD MY CAMERA!"
End Chapter 10 Vole 3
Musical Inspiration:
The path to the HQ, Fist Negima! Anime opening song.
Main hall, Let The Good Times Roll, Powerman 5000
Dojo, When Worlds Collide, Powerman 5000
PREVIEW CHAPTER 11 VOLUME 3
Zeio: WHAT IS YOUR'E NAME?
Konoka's dad: I DON'T KNOW!
Zeio: HOW CAN YOU NOT KNOW YOUR'E OWN NAME?
Konoka's dad: BECAUSE YOU DON'T!
Zeio: Ohhhhh... Right.
Chamo: *Opens mouth to say something*
Zeio: Silence walking dish rag!
Chamo: *Crushed... Again*
Zeio: I need help for the preview!
John: Not me. You're turning me into a manga action hero... God I miss my gun's. *Sigh's*
Negi: Not me. I only got a little bit of screen time and my contract clearly states that 'I' am the lead of this little escapade. *Pull's out cell phone to talk to his lawyers*
Zeio: *Turn's on hidden cell phone jammer* None of that now! Quick! Konoka get you're lesbo ass out here!
Konoka: I resent that remark...
Zeio: *Long stare*
Konoka: *Looks away* Even if it is true...
Zeio & Konoka: Next time on Negim-
Zeio: Damnit! Not again!
Next time on Negima! Void Callers Chronicle: One Long Night! Part Two!
E/N: Hey all! Sorry this chapter is so short I got caught up in work and Final Fantasy XIII. The next chapter will be longer I swear. Anyway the votes on pairing's is still with Mana in the lead so if you want a different leading lady VOTE! Talk to you later, bye!