A/N: This chapter is a bit long but hopefully you'll enjoy it. I know I found it fun to write. Oh, by the way, in case any of you forgot, I don't own Negima.

Chapters 24. The Jocks (The Big Dance Finale)

Negi checked his watch (the non-magical one) and noticed that it was too late to meet Nodoka. He would simply have to take her to the park on the next go around. Using the watch without the benefit of the World Tree was tiring, and the best he could do was a few hours, but it seemed to be working so far. It was just turning into a VERY long night.

Negi decided to head back to the room and look at Ako's future, now that he had cleared the air with the girl. He also resolved to eliminate the e-mail address of his 'cousin'. Negi started towards the doors and told paused to tell Seruhiko where he was going when he saw someone against the far wall.

Negi saw Chachamaru standing against the wall of the recital hall. Nearly all of the other girls had found other boys to dance with, or in the case of Sakurako and Konoka, girls. Chachamaru however was standing alone watching the other happy couples dance the night away.

Negi sighed remembering the sad look on the robots face as Eva had swept him away and decided to check on the robotic girl. Seruhiko didn't have any robots in his class so it didn't seem that the robot had any one to dance with.

Negi made his way to Chachamaru, who watched him as he approached. "Hasn't anyone asked you to dance, Chachamaru?"

"No, sensei." Chachamaru replied, quietly watching the dance floor. Evangeline was having fun at the moment making young men salivate much to the distress of their dates. Sometimes the evil mage could really be mean.

"Well, would you like to dance with me?" Negi asked. "I'd understand if you didn't want…" Negi was cut off as Chachamaru swiftly grabbed his hand and walked toward the dance floor.

The first thing Negi worried about was his feet. He worried about getting stepped on by the robot who was certainly heavier than a human girl her size. He recalled that Chachamaru had been having some difficulty processing the complex movements of the dance during their practice session.

To his surprise, the robot began to flow with him across the dance floor gracefully, never missing a beat or movement. Negi had never danced with a more capable partner.

"My, it seems you've improved since the last time I saw you dance." Negi said in pleasant surprise.

"I have been analyzing the dancing ability of everyone here and found the best dancer to be Ayaka. I have been recording her movements and applying the same motions." Chachamaru reported.

"I don't remember Ayaka being this good of a dancer." Negi complimented.

"I am equipped with an auto-balance gyroscope that allows me to move more efficiently than the class rep." Chachamaru said looking down at Negi.

Negi smiled up at his gynoid student and tried to think. He was pretty certain that the girl had a "crush" on him just like the other girls, but she was a special case. Emotions were something a little harder to deal with for Chachamaru, not being human, and it was troublesome that there wasn't anyone else for her to relate to. The closest thing mortal technology could accomplish was light years behind the level of sophistication that Chachamaru possessed.

"Sensei, I have something to tell you." Chachamaru said uncertainly.

Negi was shaken from his thoughts for a moment, and as such wasn't really paying close attention. "What is it, Chachamaru?"

"I would like to… confess… to you." Chachamaru said slowly.

"You're confessing to me?" Negi asked incredulously.

"I have been monitoring my system functions when you are near. The gears in my chest cavity always run faster than necessary, and I have a tendency to overheat when I am with you. Even now, abdominal plating is restricting as I speak with you. I have been listening to other girls in the class and these do not appear to be symptoms of an eminent system breakdown, but rather… feelings. I have heard Kakizaki describe a similar phenomenon, just before she 'confessed' to her boyfriend. She said that she felt 'better' afterwards." Chachamaru told him. "I am a little unclear about this 'confession' however. It is defined as 'to admit a secret or fault'. What secret or fault am I supposed to admit?"

Negi considered his response very carefully. Chachamaru was still new to having emotions and he really didn't want to hurt her emotionally since she was dancing this close to him and an upset robot could quite easily hurt him physically. He considered his options and then jumped in.

"Before I answer Chachamaru, is it possible that my magic is having an influence on your internal power supply since you are powered by magic?" Negi asked uncertainly.

"It is theoretically possible, but my power source is shielded to prevent such surges. Neither Master, Konoka, or any of the other magically inclined teachers has induced such a response." Chachamaru reported. "Also, this occurs when I replay the video images I have created."

"I see." Negi said quietly. There simply wasn't any help for it.

"A confession, Chachamaru, in the context you are speaking of, is to admit your feelings to the person. What Kakizaki said to her boyfriend was that she was in love with him." Negi said uncertainly.

Chachamaru's eyes widened as she realized what exactly what it was that she had been doing. Negi started moving his hand slowly toward her breast in case of another meltdown. Chachamaru however seemed to settle down quickly.

"It will not be necessary to initiate a shutdown procedure sensei. Systems are returning to normal." Chachamaru said quietly.

"I'm glad to hear it." Negi said with relief.

"Unless… you really want to initiate a system shutdown." Chachamaru said uncertainly.

Negi looked up at the robot in confusion.

"Actually sensei, I am beginning to register an increase in internal heat. This may lead to another system overload. Safety protocol would dictate that you be prepared to initiate a system shutdown in case of malfunction." Chachamaru said placing his hand over her breast as they danced.

Negi looked around nervously. Fortunately no one was in close enough proximity to realize he was groping one of his students. Negi turned so that he was dancing with Chachamaru's back to the dance floor to prevent any misunderstandings.

"You say this happens even when you replay the video images you've created?" Negi asked.

"Yes sensei, since we spoke last I have created my own dream." Chachamaru said as the internal heat problem caused the area around her verbal interface module to redden. Namely, her cheeks were blushing.

"I see." Negi said uncomfortably remembering Chachamaru's last conversation with him about her dream.

"Would you like to see my dream?" Chachamaru offered.

Negi stammered for a moment as the music ended and he was left standing there with his hands all over his student. "You can do that?"

"Certainly sensei, I can replay the video image on my emergency video display." Chachamaru said leading Negi over to some chairs set aside for people to rest while dancing.

"Where is your emergency video display?" Negi asked praying that Hakase wasn't as perverted as he feared. After all, putting the 'off' switch on Chachamaru's breast was a little strange even for her. At least while they were sitting he wouldn't be groping the girl anymore.

Chachamaru leaned forward and placed her forehead against Negi's. Negi realized it probably looked like he was getting lip locked by a robot from the dance floor, but there was little hope of undoing things now. Negi stared into Chachamaru's eyes as the emergency video display system turned on.

What Negi saw was a perfect video image of the yard outside Eva's house. Unless he missed his guess, it was the view from the front windows of the cottage. Chachamaru was there in the video and Negi was standing there with her. From the look of the image it looked as if his image had been created from a composite of different still images and short video files and then compiled to form a computer generated replica that had been digitally enhanced.

Beside the two of them, a young child was running around the yard playing and chasing butterflies with a small kitten. It was such a beautiful image that it nearly caused Negi to start leaking reticular cleaning fluid.

It was now official. Chachamaru was definitely in love with him. Somehow through the union of magic and science, Hakase and Eva had managed to create a robot with emotions. Now that robot wanted to have his baby.

Negi sat back in his chair thinking of what he was going to do. This wasn't as simple as fixing up Chachamaru with the other girls. The closest thing that had come to being as sophisticated as she was, were the robotic henchmen that Chao had tried to use to attack the World Tree. Unfortunately, all of them were trashed and were currently collecting dust in the engineering department basement.

These things could never hope to move independently without a magic power supply like Chachamaru's. Negi sat thinking of how he was going to get out of the predicament he was in, when divine inspiration struck him. He wasn't going to get out of it. If Chachamaru wanted a baby…

"Chachamaru, let's make a baby!" Negi said emphatically.

The sudden gasp drew his attention as he turned to find Makie, Ayaka, and Asuna on their way over to break up what had looked like a very intimate moment on to hear those words immediately after what had looked like a kiss. Makie had gasped, Asuna slapped her forehead with her palm, and Ayaka's eyes rolled back into her head before she promptly fainted.

XXXXXXXX

"I'm dead serious Asuna." Negi confirmed as he walked back to the dorms with Asuna, Takamichi, Konoka, and Setsuna (whom he had insisted should change back into a dress before anything else happened). The dance was finally over, for the fourth time, and he was looking forward to getting back to the room to check on Ako's future and get some rest.

"But, I mean having a baby with Chachamaru; it's a little serious isn't it? How are you even going to pull something like that off?" Asuna said worriedly.

"Asuna, I assume someone explained the 'birds and the bees' to you. You do know where babies come from don't you?" Negi said teasing the tall girl.

"Do you?" Takamichi said with a grin. "You know the other teachers and I have been wondering just when and who was going to have to give you 'the talk'."

Negi chuckled a little. "No need for that. I've had everything graphically explained, suggested, and offered by various members of my class."

"Not these three little angels I hope." Takahata said giving the girls a jovial glare.

For their part the girls only smiled and did their best to look like three sweet little innocent young ladies, despite various reports of partial to full nudity, fondling, kissing, and waking up in the same beds together.

"Oh no, the only thing Asuna describes graphically is the excessive physical harm she intends to inflict on me." Negi said uneasily rubbing the back of his hair. "And to put your minds at ease, I'm not going to do anything unseemly with Chachamaru. This is one case in which I can make her dream of having a child come true without having an affair with one of my students. We currently have an ample supply of robotic equipment in the engineering department. Therefore I am going to ask Hakase to teach Chachamaru how to build a robot. This normally wouldn't be enough since the sheer size of the power supply limits what can be done with a robotic frame. Chachamaru is different because her power supply is magical. That was when the idea struck me. Why couldn't I create a power supply like Chachamaru's? She can build the body any way she likes, and I will create the power supply. She can then raise the young robot and teach it about the world just as Chizuru did for her. A quite ingenious plan if I do say so myself."

The four of them looked at Negi with looks ranging from surprise to the self assured smirk Asuna was wearing.

"Negi," Asuna said still smirking, "you do realize that Chachamaru's power supply isn't removable don't you?"

"Yeah, what of it?" Negi asked in confusion.

"Well, since you're going to have to see how the thing hooks up to Chachamaru, you're going to have to study it rather closely don't you think?" Asuna said continuing to grin maniacally.

"This does not bode well." Negi said getting nervous.

"Which means at some point you're going to have to have Chachamaru take off all her clothes and lay down on the vaguely bed shaped table in Hakase's lab so you can open her up and take a look inside." Asuna said enjoying herself immensely at Negi's expense.

Negi let out a defeated sigh. "It does sound rather intimate doesn't it? I guess that's why Chachamaru was blushing when I proposed the idea."

"What was that, you proposed? When did this happen?" Asuna asked.

"It was while you were helping them take Ayaka to the ambulance. I think we need to get that poor girl checked for hemophilia. She keeps getting such horrible nosebleeds." Negi said miserably.

"Well, I wouldn't worry about it Negi-kun." Takamichi reassured him. "Whatever similarities might exist, you still aren't doing anything wrong in what you're trying to do for Chachamaru."

"Thank you Takamichi." Negi said gratefully.

The five of them finally arrived in front of the dorms, where Takamichi's Dodge Viper SRT-10 convertible (sweeeeet…) was parked. "Well, guess we had better walk to the restaurant." Takamichi said looking at the two seat sports car.

"Oh, that's okay Takahata-sensei." Konoka said grabbing onto Setsuna's arm. "You and Asuna go ahead and get us a table. There's likely to be a line for a table with everyone going out tonight. We'll catch up."

"Good point, well if you're sure." Takamichi said opening the passenger door for Asuna.

Asuna had a look on her face similar to what drivers see reflected in their headlights immediately before collision with some sort of woodland creature. The poor girl stammered and stuttered without saying anything as Takamichi took her by the hand and helped her into the passenger seat of his car.

Asuna looked back at her friends with a strange mixture of jubilation and stark terror as Takamichi got into the driver's seat and the two drove off into the night.

"It's a pity that car doesn't have a back seat." Konoka said sweetly.

"You mean you really wanted to go?" Negi asked.

"No, I already told Takahata-sensei that Setsuna and I are going to go karaoke. I was just thinking that Asuna might… Never mind Negi-kun, you don't need to know." Konoka said happily before kissing Negi on the forehead. "We'll be out late, so you can work."

"Yeah, I bet." Negi said smirking at the two remaining girls as they darted off into the night for their evening of fun.

XXXXXXXX

For once, Negi had the room to himself. Most of the girls had gone out after the dance since they didn't have class in the morning and club activities had been cancelled for the day. Asuna didn't even have to worry about work.

Negi sat down in front of the mirror and awakened the power to see into the future. The mirror hummed with excitement until it finally settled on the scene of a campfire. Two cloaked figures occupied the campsite, one of them asleep and the other sitting up watching the mirror.

Negi sat there staring for a long time at the woman looking back at him. She was more beautiful than he would have ever imagined. "Ako-san?"

The woman smiled back at him. "I wondered if it would be you that came to the mirror."

"So this is my future with you?" Negi asked.

The beautiful young woman nodded. Negi decided that Ako was going to turn out to be a quite lovely woman. Her hair style was the same, but the plain young girl had apparently yet to blossom. The woman in front of him was stunning.

"So do you know why I'm looking into the future?" Negi asked.

"I had hoped it was because you were interested in what life with me would be like, but you told me that it was most likely because you were looking for information on Chao." Ako said pointing to the sleeping figure.

"I see." Negi said in embarrassment. "Forgive me, you only found out about magic about a couple of hours ago."

"The Sadie Hawkins dance? Oh man, that brings back memories." Ako said blushing.

"So what can you tell me about Chao in your future?" Negi asked.

"She doesn't exist." Ako replied.

"Then how did you know about…" Negi started.

Ako pointed to the sleeping figure. "We've been waiting for a couple of hours since the mirror portal appeared. We made camp and you, that is he, cast a spell to figure out what was going on."

Negi nodded, relieved that he could at least mark Ako off the list. "So are the two of you married?"

"Sort of." Ako said impishly.

"Sort of? I've not done anything improper have I?" Negi asked aghast.

Ako smiled calmly at the boy. "After I became your full Ministra Magi, marriage seemed somewhat redundant."

"Redundant, how? I know some mages get married to their partners, but there's a lot about the actual process that I don't understand." Negi said in confusion.

"Well, becoming partners runs deeper than merely being married. You share everything with your partner. It's probably why most men are embarrassed to have male partners; they aren't as open as women are." Ako explained.

"I don't understand." Negi said truthfully.

"I can feel you." Ako said simply. "I feel your same feelings within my own. If you are happy, I become happy. If you are sad, I become sad too. I can even feel your physical pain when you're injured. It makes healing you much easier."

"So you've become a healer?" Negi asked.

"Yes, after I graduated I went to nursing school. I then learned magical healing arts from Konoka after she completed her studies. I may not know as many spells as you, but when it comes to my combined healing ability I blow most of you out of the water." Ako said smugly. "I think that's why you asked me to come along on your adventures."

"I see. So we've never…" Negi asked uncomfortably.

"I think I'll keep that one a secret." Ako said winking. "Though I will say that whoever you pick for a partner had better be someone you're very comfortable with."

"How do you mean?" Negi asked wondering exactly what she meant by 'very comfortable'.

"Well, let's just say that considering the spiritual link between us that allows me to feel what you feel physically and emotionally, that if you were to ever have sex with some woman I'd know it… immediately." Ako said impishly.

"I'll remember that." Negi said seriously.

"Well, now that you know I guess I better wake you up. You promised me another 'adventure'." Ako said giggling.

Negi got the impression she was playing with him as the mirror went dark. The two were obviously camped somewhere in the middle of a mission. He hoped he was more professional as a mage than to do something like that during a mission, especially with a woman he wasn't married to. Albeit a young gorgeous woman that looked like she stepped right out of some man's most fevered, desire-filled, fantasies, he wouldn't do something like that would he?

A/N: I find the last comment to be an interesting question. What do YOU think? Is Negi a pervert or a gentleman?