Negima Remix!

Chapter 14: Shadow of the Wizard; Partner Dilemma
Sakura Blossom Alley

Night

The night was cool and breezy, a perfect night for walking out as the Sakura blossoms were in bloom. But it was also a full moon out this night, and usually a full moon was never good for anyone.

Makie was running away, sweating with fear and panic from whatever she was running from that night. She was wearing short shorts, and a white T-shirt, and was carrying a small bath bowl. The wind was blowing and the trees were rustling. But in her run down Sakura Blossom Alley, she tripped and fell on her butt, whining. It was then that when the wind died out, she saw the one that was chasing her. She saw a huge figure with bat like wings up in the air with two glowing eyes, and an evil smile with two sharp teeth.

Makie looked at this figure in terror as a single tear raced down her face, "No…No…!" Then all that could be heard in the night was a scream.

The Next Day

Cafeteria

Every single student was in there, eating lunch as Negi, Seiji, and Laz were sitting with Asuna and Konoka, eating as well. Negi seemed to have trouble with the chopsticks part, while Seiji and Laz had no problems with it. During breakfast Konoka had asked Negi and Seiji if they were still on the look out for partners, but both of the boys declined on that, saying they didn't have the time. They were just picking at their food when all of a sudden; they heard a conversation from Madoka, the Narutaki twins, and Sakurako. A conversation about vampires located in Sakura Blossom Alley.

Sakurako started the conversation, "Hey, did you girls hear about the Vampire of Sakura Blossom Alley?" Haruna got in, "Yeah, Asakura wrote the article in the newspaper this week." However, some were speculating on the photographic evidence, but the twins were getting lost in the conversation, so Fuka asked, "What are we talking about again?" a girl with boy short hair and brown eyes, identified as Misora Kasuga, member of the Track and Field Club, simply stated, "you know, the Vampire attacks on Sakura Alley."

The boys' interests were now peeked as they stealthily listened to the conversation. Misa covered her face and said, "Every full moon, a vampire shows up…", and then gave the twins a scary face with fake fangs, shouting, "…TO SUCK YOUR BLOOD!" The twins screamed out in panic, and surprisingly, Laz did too as he fell out of his chair. Everyone just laughed out loud at this, but Misora looked worried as she pulled out a small crucifix necklace from under her shirt, "I know it seems silly, but I brought my cross for protection, just in case."

It was then that Seiji got into the conversation, "I hate to break it to you, but if there were such things as Vampires, then the cross wouldn't protect you form them, it would just agitate them." Misora looked a little confused, but Seiji decided to explain his theory. After he explained, Haruna laughed as she explained, "You think we were serious? Please, Seiji, vampires aren't real." Everyone nodded, except for Negi and Laz, but Asuna looked at the three, and realized the obviousness of this, 'Wait a minute! If Wizards and Alchemists exist, then…does that mean vampires exist too?'

The very thought of it chilled her bones, but she laughed it off and said out loud, "What am I thinking! Of course vampires don't exist!" "That's exactly right, Asuna Kagurazaka." Everyone turned at the end of the table to see a ten year old girl dressed in a Lolita Gothic dress, with pale white skin, long flowing silver hair, and eerie green eyes popped up. She was Evangeline AK McDowell, member of the Go Club and Tea Ceremony Club. She smiled at Asuna and said, "But if they were real, I'd watch your back. Vampires love energetic young girls like you, Asuna."

With that, she walked away without even caring about everyone's reaction to her. Sakurako then spoke out, completely stunned, "Wow. Evangeline actually spoke out to someone. That's a first." It was then that Negi spoke up, "Something's strange about that girl." Seiji looked at him and asked, "What do you mean?" Negi turned to his friend and stated to him that ever since the first day of class, that girl Evangeline had been staring at him for along time, not even flinching for one second. Seiji raised an eyebrow at that, while Laz chuckled, "Maybe she has a crush on you." Negi just groaned at that, but that was all over with when Ako ran in.

"Negi-sensei! Negi-sensei!"

Everyone turned around and saw her stop in front of them, all out of breath and sweating from her little run. Negi got up and asked, worried "Ako, what is it?" She responded with tears in her eyes, "It's Makie! She's in the nurse's Sick Room!"

Nurse's Sick Room

Everyone was gathered in the sick room, and they were hovering near a bed with an unconscious Makie laying on it. Ako was the worst of them worried as she was on the verge of tears, in fear of losing her friend. Konoka made a good theory, hoping to calm everyone down, "Maybe she drank some sweet sake and passed out on the alley." Everyone ignored it as they still remained worried about Makie's condition. It was only until Makie stirred in her sleep did she mutter, "I'm hungry…"

This caused everyone to sweat drop and face vault to the floor. Asuna groaned, "She seems alright to me." Shizuna popped up from behind them, and explained, "We found her asleep on Sakura Blossom Alley, so we brought her here for now." The students all sighed in relief at this and left to let their friend rest in peace, but not Negi or Seiji as they stayed, with Laz watching the door. Negi knelt down and touched her forehead; something was just not right about this scene here. It was then that he sensed it, and caught Seiji's attention, "What is it? You look like you've seen a ghost." Negi turned to his friend and answered, "there's a presence surrounding her; a magical presence."

Seiji asked, "You sure about that?" Negi nodded, "It's pretty unfamiliar; a type I haven't encountered before…Dark Magic." Seiji asked, with a look of shock on his face, "You sure? You're definitely sure that there's Dark Magic on her?" Negi nodded at this, confirming to his friend who then asked, "But who else besides you knows how to use magic here?"

"Negi?"

The two looked up to find Asuna leaning very close, with a questioning and worried look on her face.

"Yes, Asuna?", Negi asked.

"Negi…you've been awfully quiet. Is there something else wrong with Makie?"

Feeling no need to worry her further, Negi decided keep both of their suspicions secret for now.

He waved to her smiling, "No, I have no worries about Makie-san, it's probably just a mild case of anemia.", he lied, much to Seiji's dismay. "Look, there are some things I have to go and take care of, so please don't hold dinner for me tonight, I'll be sure and pick something up while I'm out."

Without waiting for a reply, he walked out, already going over in his head the items he would need for hunting a vampire.

Asuna turned to Seiji and asked, "Seiji, what's really bugging him?" Before Seiji could answer, a familiar voice spoke up, "Hey, Seiji!" The two teens turned and Seiji saw it was Maes, leaning on the doorway with a smile on his face. "Maes!", Seiji sounding a little surprised by his appearance, "What are you doing here?" Maes got up and walked toward him and Asuna, "I just came here to deliver your next assignment in person." It was then that he met Asuna and gave her his hand in a friendly handshake, "Hi, I'm Maes Hughes, I'm a personal old friend of both Seiji and Negi."

Asuna, blushing at him, stuttered as she responded, "Ah…I…I'm happy to meet you, Mr.Hughes." Seiji grimaced at this, realizing that Asuna had a thing for dandy men around their thirties. Maes chuckled as he corrected that, "Please, call me Maes. The boys do that, and seeing you're a friend of theirs…" he then looked around, making sure no one else was there, and whispered, "and the only normal person who knows their secret…" he then spoke normally, "…any friend can call me Maes."

She then blushed again, "Uh, okay, Maes." It was then that he pulled out a picture of his daughter and nearly shoved it in Asuna's face, "And this is my darling daughter, Elisia. She's almost nine years old this year. Isn't she a divine vision of cuteness?" Asuna was a little startled by that while Seiji read the file that Maes had given him.

After he had read it, and while Maes was showcasing Asuna his collection of pictures of his daughter, Seiji whispered, "You've got to be kidding."

Night

Sakura Blossom Alley

The alleyway was blowing hard as most of the blossom pedals blew into the wind. Hiding in the trees was Seiji in his State Alchemist uniform, along with Laz in his casual/battle attire. Laz stuttered, not wanting to be out here, "B-Brother….are you s-s-sure that this was the right assignment?" Seiji nodded, "Yep. Mustang gave us the assignment on finding this vampire and stopping it."

Laz looked even more worried, "But, Brother…" Seiji just stopped him there, "Relax, Laz, you've got a metallic body. There's no way the vamp'll bite your neck." Laz nodded in agreement to that, "That's true, but that doesn't mean I'm still not afraid of them." but before anything else, the two noticed the sound of footsteps close by. Seiji turned to face who would be foolish enough to walk into Sakura Blossom Alley, but saw none other than Nodoka. He silently cursed, "Dammit! What's she doing here?"

After working another hour at the library, Nodoka had closed late and was taking the alley as a shortcut. When she had gotten there, it was completely deserted. It was eerie and windy, so in anyway she would be scared. She silently chanted to herself, "I think I'm not scared. I think I'm not scared. I think I'm not scared." Suddenly, a strange noise came around somewhere, causing her to flinch in fear; she turned everywhere and said, "I'm not scared….I think."

When she was looking around, she stopped dead in her tracks as she looked up a lamppost. Standing on top of it, was a figure, mainly female, dressed in a torn black cloak and a witch's hat. Nodoka whimpered slightly as she trembled with fear; she was screaming in her head to run, but her legs wouldn't respond at all. She could see a vampire smile from the figure as the vampire spoke up, "Nodoka Myazaki…you know books and blood have one thing in common." She leapt off the post and pounced at her, "THEY'RE BOTH RED!"

Nodoka closed her eyes as she screamed out loud in panic. Suddenly, Seiji with his hood up, came out of nowhere, and clapped his hands together and placed them on the ground. Suddenly, a wall and two stone fists shot upward, hitting the vampire slightly. The vampire skidded a few feet away and quite astonish muttered, "Alchemy without the use of a Transmutation Circle? Quite a rare talent."

Nodoka looked at the stranger for a moment, but suddenly fainted, but not before the stranger caught her in his arms. Suddenly, the stone wall busted apart, with the vampire about to go for Seiji and Nodoka. "MAGIC ARCHER. A WARNING WIND ARROW!" Suddenly, a wind arrow shot straight at her, but not before she threw something at it, causing the arrow to be deflected.

Seiji looked up with his hood off and saw Negi run towards in with his staff at the ready. When he stopped he looked to Seiji and asked, "Are you two alright?" Seiji nodded, "Yeah, but Nodoka fainted." Negi was glad at that response, but he and Seiji then turned back to their opponent, who finally spoke up. "Surprising power, Negi. You and your friend there have got some serious game." With the hat now blown off, the two boys saw who the vampire was as they both shouted together.

"EVANGELINE?"

She smiled at their reaction as she licked a little blood from her finger, "Hmm, the two of you are more powerful than I expected, dodging my freeze spell like that and using Alchemy without even drawing a circle." She then seductively smiled at the two, "Fifteen year old boys with that much power and skill…clearly you both must be their sons."

The girl smirked at their reaction, but Negi shouted, "Who are you? We're both wizards! So you owe me an explanation!" Evangeline smirked as she reached into her cloak to pull out two catalysts, "Fine. I'll make it easier for you: there are good and bad wizards, Negi-sensei." She then threw the catalysts at them, "Guess which one I am!" They then suddenly touched one another and exploded creating an ice shield that nearly froze them up. Thankfully, Negi's shield had protected them, but Seiji got a powerful blunt to it, but used his Alchemy in his left hand to slow it down. Unfortunately, it took away most of his sleeve and glove, exposing his metallic left arm and hand, but stopped to his shoulder. It now showed that his upper arm was a metallic bicep and tricep as well. Evangeline then shouted, "Come and catch me, boys!", and took off at lightning speed.

Negi shouted, "Hey! Come back here!", and used his magic to follow after her. Meanwhile, Seiji opened his eyes again to see that both Evangeline and Negi were both gone. But something else caught his eye. Nodoka was still unconscious in his arms, but her clothes were half gone as she was half naked in his arms. He blushed crimson at this, "Oh, man, I'm so sorry, Nodoka."

Just then, Laz popped out of the bushes, "Brother! I…", he stopped as he saw the scene unfold in front of him, "Brother!" Seiji shook in defense, "Laz, it's not what it seems! And what kept you?" Laz scratched the back of his head, trying to come up with a valuable excuse, other than being scared of Evangeline. Then they heard two other voices, "Seiji-kun! Laz-kun!" The two looked behind them and saw Konoka and Asuna running towards them.

Seiji started to panic, as he saw that his left arm was almost exposed. When Konoka and Asuna stopped Konoka went all bug-eyed and waved her arms hysterically, "S-Seiji-kun's the vampire?" Seiji nearly face-vaulted by that and shouted, "Please, Konoka! Do I look like a vampire to you?" Before she could answer that, he got up and laid Nodoka in front of Konoka, "We're going after Negi to catch the real culprit!" He turned to his brother and they both ran after the two wizards. Asuna then turned to Konoka and said, "I'm gonna go follow them!" And with that said, she left Nodoka and Konoka in the dust.

Meanwhile

Negi had chased Evangeline for some time; Negi was further surprised when he found himself having trouble keeping up with her without expending a small amount of magic. He was ready for her when she took to the air, using her cloak as a pair of bat wings; he already summed the wind around himself and followed her riding upon his staff. Something about her actions doesn't add up', he thought to himself as he chased her, 'To hold a flight spell without a broom or other magical item requires a level of mastery well beyond my own, yet at the same time she was using catalysts to cast the freeze spell' he smelled a trap, but at this point in time, he didn't have a choice, I have to find out what the hell is going on before she goes after anymore of the other students.

"Stop it Evangeline-san! I don't want to hurt you!"

She simply laughed in response, moving faster, and saying, "Come on, Negi. You don't care about me, you care about knowing what I know about your father." Negi muttered, "I was right; she does know something."

Having no choice now, Negi summoned the wind sprits even as he kept a second spell in reserve to break her flying enchantment. "I SUMMON THE WIND SPIRIT!", and then suddenly, seven wind clones of himself, holding sword like weapons materialized as he finished the incantation, "SWORD-WIELDING BROTHERS IN ARMS!" And charged right at her. She was equally amazed by this as she smirked in delight, "Impressive. I didn't know he could access that kind of spell. I must admit it, for a fifteen year old version of his father, he's unbelievably powerful."

With a few acrobatic flying moves and using her catalysts, she reflected them all, showing a level of mastery that gave Negi pause before the full force of his second spell hit home, "WIND FLOWER, DISARM WEAPON!" A huge wind shot straight at Evangeline, disintegrating her cloak. The wind had forced her down onto on of the rooftops of the Cathedral of Mahora. The two landed soon after. Evangeline stood up without even wincing in pain, and smirked at Negi, "Very impressive, Negi. I must say."

Negi, on the other hand, was not into being flattered as he demanded, "Now, Evangeline, tell me why you were attacking the other students."

"And why should I do that?"

"Because if you won't tell me by choice then I'll have no choice but to use force…"

However, he was bluffing; he just hoped she didn't realize that. To his misfortune she seemed to catch on as her stance became defiant as she crossed her arms and smirked, "Oh really? The son of the Thousand Master attacking a defenseless student? I think not."

As those words left her lips Negi found himself frozen, shocked by her reference to his father. He had never seen him since the day he passed on his wand and left him and Nekane in the care of their grandfather. Ever since then, he'd been working as hard as he could, hoping one day to reach his level and go beyond so that when he finally does come back he would be proud. The fact that this girl knows about him worried Negi on some level, there is more to this that he knew…for now it seemed that the two Magic Users were in a stand off. Plus, she also claimed to have information on Seiji's father, which was perhaps a surprise to him. But she was out of catalysts and Negi knew he wouldn't attack a defenseless opponent. The problem is Negi still couldn't allow her to escape; All Negi needed was just to find a more…subtle method to prevent it. If he kept her talking then perhaps, he could buy Seiji and Laz enough time to get here, and for him to think of something better…

So he stalled by asking questions, "How do you know about my father and Seiji's father as well?"

She simply laughed in answer to the question.

"Oh, I met the two of them once, a number of years ago..."

It was at that moment a shadow detached itself from the rooftop above and land behind and to the side of her. This was bad news, the fact she has partner changes this entirely, she has someone to defend her while she casts. Negi on the other hand, realized that he was stuck depending on his own reactions. This battle just got a whole lot harder…

"Let me introduce my partner. 3-A student number 10, Minister Magi, Chachamaru Karakuri." Negi got a good look at her, and saw her. A girl with pale white skin, and robotic like joints on her legs, with light green hair and sparkle-less blue eyes and a dead pan face, dressed in a black dress shirt, blue tattered skirt and vest, black dress gloves, and two strange ear ornaments.

Before Negi could react Chachamaru had closed the distance between them, slipping through his defenses and putting him in a rough arm lock. She spoke up to Negi with a similar British accent, "I'm sorry, Negi-sensei. But I must do what Mistress Evangeline commands." With his arms held behind him securely, there was little Negi could do to stop Evangeline as she walked towards them, grinning widely.

"Now, you wanted an explanation didn't you?" She then stopped in front of him, looking upward, as Chachamaru forced Negi down on his knees, "Here it is…I've been sucking blood from most of the students in this school just so I could gain enough strength to rival yours." She then lowered her head as her eyes were encased in shadows as she went on, "Now that I have you where I want you, I can finally break the curse he put on me."

Negi strained as he tried to break free of Chachamaru's chokehold, "Wh...What curse?" Evangeline shot back, "The curse cast by your father!" Her clawed fingers shook as she went on, "For the last fifteen years I've been stuck studying here, with my powers sealed up, along while imprisoned in this place, suffering endless hours of torture." She then grabbed Negi by his jacket collar and yelled in his face, hysterically while glaring daggers at him, "LISTENING TO THESE ANNOYING, DITZY, JUNIOR HIGH JAPANESE SCHOOL GIRLS, DRIBBLING ON AND ON ABOUT PRE-ADOLECANT HEARTHROBS IN THE FLAVOR OF THEIR GLITTERING LIP GLOSS! IT'S ENOUGH TO DRIVE A PERSON CRAZY!"

Negi struggled a bit as he asked, when Chachamaru pulled his jacket off, "Well…what does that have to do with me?" Evangeline snickered as she explained with an evil smile, "The only way to break it is to drain a large quantity of blood from the Southern Master's next of kin…guess who the lucky relative is?"

She stepped closer mouth opening to show her fangs, Negi braced himself for the pain but was shocked when it didn't come. Opening his eyes, Negi found her standing there, that same look from before on her face, like a predator sizing up its prey.

"Of course, blood isn't the only way, it's just the simplest.", she simply said to him, "Other bodily fluids work as well…well, one other in particular. And the best part is it doesn't have to be taken orally…"

Negi's eyes widened as he caught on, now he was struggling desperately but to no avail, Chachamaru had a firm grip on his neck and arms. Evangeline's hands moved to his black shirt, ripping it open with her claw like black nails without bothering to pull it off. Her hand moved up to his chest, gently stroking across the exposed flesh.

She then looked at him lustfully as she grinned, exposing her vampiric teeth "I don't expect you've ever been with a girl before, have you? Hmmm, perhaps if you're good enough I might keep you around afterwards as my love slave."

"Oh, yeah! That's pure torture coming from you bloodsucker!"

Evangeline got up and looked away as suddenly, blocks of rock were shifted from the roof. They shot up straight at Evangeline as she jumped for cover, with Chachamaru still holding Negi as a hostage. As she and Chachamaru landed safely, she noticed on the rooftop over, Seiji and Laz Crevantes sizing up their prey. She shouted, "Hey, watch it!" Seiji just shouted towards her, "Oh, yeah right! Like I'm gonna listen to a little pipsqueak and her trashcan!"

That was what struck a nerve in the vampire girl as she growled, "Pipsqueak?", Chachamaru, completely unfazed, asked, "Trashcan?"

"Hey, You!"

Everyone turned their attention and saw Asuna, on the rooftop, charging at Evangeline at full speed. Evangeline shrugged, "Oh, spare me." She was about to enchant a spell, until Asuna jump kicked the two of them, shouting, "YOU LEAVE NEGI ALONE, YOU HALF PINT HEFFER!" Evangeline, suffering from the kick, thought only one thing, 'This can't be happening…' the two perpetrators skidded to a stop at the edge of the roof. Asuna then checked on the now freed Negi, as Seiji and Laz ran up to the two. Negi asked in alarm, "Asuna! What are you doing here?"

She then shot Negi a death glare, but then softened into a concern face as she just merely smiled, "Trying to make sure you don't become someone else's breakfast, Negi." Negi was a little surprised, but was interrupted as Laz shouted, "They're getting away!" The whole group saw that Evangeline and Chachamaru jumped off the roof and had bolted out of there, but not before Evangeline shouted rubbing her sore cheek, "Asuna! The full-time troublemaker, you had better watch your back. All of you, this is not over!"

Seiji shouted in frustration, "Oh, great! They got away!" he then hung his head in disappointment as he mumbled, "Mustang is not going to let me hear the end of this."

Far Away

Chachamaru was holding on to Evangeline, while the girl flew with rocket packs on her back. Evangeline watched the whole thing as she snickered, "Okay, so there are some obstacles we haven't foreseen." She then looked at the two brothers as she smiled evilly; a wicked thought crossing her mind, "We'll have to take care of the State Alchemist and his bodyguard." Chachamaru asked, "Do you wish for me to dispose of them, Mistress?" Evangeline shook her head, "No. I have something a little more cruel for them than mere death."

She then looked at Negi, "And seeing that Negi Springfield is without a partner…it's only a matter of time." They then flew into the night, preparing for more evil deeds and wicked practice for the young heroes.

Next Chapter: Vermin Ermine Problems; A Man's Pledge (Maybe)