Disclaimer: I do not own Negima or any of the characters they are the property of their respective creators. Please be aware that no profit is being made from this work of fan fiction.
When I finally awoke the first things I noticed was that, to my surprise, there was no pain, even the earlier aching of my muscles had now ceased and second of all I seemed to be lying on top of something quite a bit softer than concrete. Feeling a little confused by this I opened my eyes, only to be greeted by what I could only describe as an 'unfamiliar ceiling'. Now even more confused, I tried to sit up only to discover there was something heavy resting against my chest. Tilting my head upwards to get a better view I discovered it was not so much something but rather someone, Asuna to be exact, her auburn hair no longer tied into its usual pony tails and instead falling around her face freely.
Her eyes were closed and for the moment she appeared to be sleeping, but despite that it looked as if she had been crying. Uncertain whether or not it would be a good idea to wake her, instead I focused on inspecting as much of my surroundings as I could, given my situation. Turning my head to my left I was able to get a better picture of the room I was in. It was reasonably sized, built in the traditional Japanese style with what seemed like paper or cloth walls set into wooden frames that could be slid open or closed as desired. There were a few furnishings but nothing that gave me any clear indication of where we were, as best as I could tell we might even still be within the confines of Cinema Village.
Now turning my head to the right I discovered that we were, in fact, not alone. Setsuna and Konoka were seated a little way away from us, also both asleep with Konoka's head resting on Setsuna's shoulder. As for the others I couldn't see them, or Chamo for that matter. Turning my head so I was looking at the ceiling once again, I couldn't help but wonder just how long I was out for…my thoughts cut off abruptly when Asuna began to stir slightly, she shifted and her eyes opened leaving my eyes locked onto her own mismatched gaze. For a moment we simply remained there, frozen, before the spell was broken and she launched herself at me, flinging her arms around my neck and hugging me tightly, I could feel moistness against my cheek, she was crying again.
Not knowing what else to do in this situation, I gently lifted up my arms to encircle her, holding her gently.
"Asuna!? What's happening? Is Negi-sensei alright?"
Looking over at them I found that both Setsuna and Konoka were now awake, both of them looking concerned about something…a look that only faded when I turned my head to meet their gazes.
"Um, hi?"
What I didn't expect was when the two of them moved over to my side, Konoka hugging me just as fiercely as Asuna while Setsuna hugged me more discretely from the opposite side. In truth I was a little overwhelmed by all the attention and it left me wondering, I now noticed that Konoka and even Setsuna seemed to have been crying as well. What exactly had happened that had gotten them all so upset? Finally, Asuna pulled away from me, drying her eyes with the back of her hand as the others did the same. I was about to open my mouth to say something when out of no where she slapped me hard across the face, angry and confused I turned back to glare at her but my rage evaporated when I saw the look on her face.
"You stupid, stupid, idiot! Don't you dare do anything like that ever again! Do you hear me Negi Springfield! Never!"
"Asuna, I…"
"No! I don't care! Just because you wanted to play the hero doesn't mean that you get to go and almost get yourself killed like that! I-I…"
She broke down again, this time Konoka led her away, leaving Setsuna to explain.
"Sensei, when you attempted to protect ojou-sama the arrow struck you in the chest…it pierced your lung and grazed your heart. If it had not been for ojou-sama using her powers…"
She faltered, not needing to continue. I already knew what she was going to say, and could finally understand why they were all so obviously upset.
"This is my responsibility. I should have been the one to project Konoka-ojou-sama. If I had been doing my duty then you would not have been hurt."
"Setsuna, it wasn't your fault. I shouldn't have acted so rashly, after all if I'd thought about it more carefully then perhaps we wouldn't have been attacked at all."
"Negi-sensei…thank you."
Asuna seemed to have calmed down now as she and Konoka returned to sitting at my side. Now it was Konoka's turn to speak as she fixed me with a stern gaze.
"Thank you for saving me Negi-sensei…but please, don't scare us like that ever again."
Not really knowing what to say to that I simply nodded in reply, thankfully Konoka seemed content with that and said nothing further. Now left in an increasingly uncomfortable silence I began to wonder about my surroundings and what must have happened after Konoka saved me…one way or another I am going to have to make this up to all of them later. Still, right now I should actually try and work out where we are exactly, despite my initial thoughts I get the feeling that we aren't in the cinema village any longer. Deciding to try a simple spell my grandfather taught me, just a minor cantrip useful if one were lost and wanted to find out their current location. Calling forth a tiny bit of magic, I was surprised to meet resistance, probing further I was greeted by a large number of rather high-level wards.
"Where are we?"
There was a brief pause, the girls looking at one another before by silent agreement; Setsuna was the one to explain once again.
"We are currently in one of the guest rooms of the head temple, the headquarters of the Kansai magic association…and Konoka-ojou-sama's home."
Ok, we're at the main temple of the Kansai magic association, so at least Asuna and Nodoka made it. No problems there, although I would have preferred to arrive while awake…moving on, this is Konoka's home. Hmmm…what the hell!?
"Hold on a moment…Konoka lives here!? This is her home!? But that would mean…"
"That is correct Negi Springfield-san."
I looked up to find a man at the door; at once Setsuna knelt and bowed to him while Konoka…well, sufficed to say she had a rather more enthusiastic reaction.
"Daddy!"
She ran over and hugged him, while the man simply smiled at her fondly while scolding her for her behaviour.
"Control Konoka, control."
Overly conscious of my position I tried to sit up, but was halted by a gesture from the older man.
"That will not be necessary Negi Springfield-kun. Setsuna-kun has already informed me of what happened at Cinema Village. You need not get up on my account."
"Um, thank you sir."
To my considerable surprise, he then bowed to me.
"Thank you Negi-kun, for protecting my daughter. I am sure that Nagi would be very proud of you."
It took me a moment to recover from the shock of the gesture, before realising just what he had said. Without thinking I sat up suddenly, asking him the one burning question.
"You…you know my father!?"
He chuckled and immediately I regretted my outburst and the breach of protocol.
"I'm sorry sir, I shouldn't have blurted it out like that. It's just…I came to Kyoto looking for information about my father and this is the first I've heard of him since coming here."
"There is no need to stand on ceremony Negi-kun. You're father was a close friend of mine after all."
He paused, turning his attention to the girls.
"Perhaps, you girls should join your classmates, there are some matters I would like to speak with Negi-kun about."
Konoka simply nodded and made to depart, pulling a reluctant Asuna along behind her. Setsuna on the other hand remained where she was.
"Setsuna-kun, you are also free to go."
"But Elder…"
"It is fine. I am very grateful to you for watching over Konoka all of this time, now please go and enjoy yourself."
She flushed slightly before bowing once again.
"Yes Elder…thank you."
Without another words she departed, leaving the two of us alone.
Shifting so I was at least in a sitting position, I bowed to the man before me.
"I am sorry Elder, it was my fault that Konoka was forced to use her powers, the headmaster informed me that you did not wish her to find out about them."
Once again I was surprised when he moved to sit opposite me, before gently waving off my apology.
"No, it was unavoidable. I was aware that one day Konoka would uncover her powers, I had only wanted for her to live a normal life for as long as possible. Still, I suspect that the pacto she made with you may have been the catalyst for her discovering her powers, although I can think of no better partner for her than my oldest friend's only son."
"I…thank you Elder."
We lapsed into silence again for a moment before I finally spoke up, asking about my father again.
"Elder…can you tell me more about my father?"
The Elder simply chuckled, apparently unconcerned by my question.
"Of course, I was one of his travelling companions at one time, before I became Elder of the East. Come, the baths should be empty now we can soak as we speak."
Thinking of all the trouble I had put myself through today I couldn't help but agree with his suggestion.
"Yes, that would be fine."
I got to my feet, and followed him out of the room and down the hallway. As we walked I suddenly recalled about the letter.
"Elder, I have a letter for you from the Head of the Kanto Magic Association…"
"Ah, yes. Asuna-san already passed it on to me when she arrived; seeking our assistance, your mission is taken care of. Please inform father-in-law that I will deal with these rogue elements swiftly."
I was glad to hear it was dealt with, at least that is one less thing I need to worry about now. Still, I hadn't realised just how late is was…
"Um…Elder? We are on a fieldtrip, it might be difficult to explain if we weren't to return to the inn."
"Ever the worrier, Negi-kun, just like your father. Do not be troubled as I have already made arrangements, a series of paper doubled have been sent in your place. Rooms have been prepared for you here; you and your students can rejoin the rest of your class tomorrow."
"Thank you Elder."
With that taken care of, we continued on to the baths, and I found myself pleased at the thought of soaking in the hot water.
When we reached the baths the Elder and I continued our conversation, although this time the Elder was the one asking the questions. I was a little surprised at first, but answered them as best I could. Telling him about my experiences before I had come to Japan, and an abridged version of things that had taken place since I took over the class. At points he would interject, often sighting how similar I was to my father and the troubles he had with the girls when he was my age. Apparently, Chamo had not being lying when he said my father had a lot of contracts, although according to the Elder the first one he had ever made was with my mother…it sounds odd, but then again the Elder told me that was just how my father was back then, he didn't want to settle down even if he was already in love.
"So, Negi-kun, I am sure you're grandfather and sister are very proud of you, becoming a teacher at such a young age."
"Well, I…"
"You should not be so modest about it. It is quite an achievement to have come so far. I am certain that if Nagi were here he would be very proud of what you have done."
His words meant a lot. I found myself bowing to him once again.
"Thank you Elder."
"You are far too formal Negi-kun. Now, let us speak of other matters…there are some things I would like to speak with you about regarding my daughter."
"About Konoka?"
"Yes. Father-in-law told me that Konoka has already shown some interest in you after she ran away during the o-mimai he prepared for her. Given your heritage a match would be advantageous to both of us and might help to calm the tensions between the two factions."
I found myself in shock; I mean I never would have expected him to say something like that! I mean, I like Konoka but to get married now? Age fifteen? I just don't think I could…it's too sudden.
"I'm sorry Elder, but it's a little sudden. I do care for Konoka…but we are too young to be considering such things. No only that, but it would be inappropriate while she is still my student."
He paused for a moment, looking thoughtful before responding.
"I see. Well, no matter. Although perhaps you are right, you are both still too young…besides, considering how Setsuna-kun and Asuna-kun were crying when they did not think you would wake up it might not be a wise decision."
I couldn't help but flush slightly at that statement, I was very very glad that none of the girls were here to hear any of that.
"Now, in regards to what has happened while you have been in Kyoto, please allow me to apologise on behalf of my people."
"It's alright."
"There've been those in the past who haven't exactly been fond of the east, but that so few took action this time…that's something to be thankful for. It would be best to leave the rest to us. It's unfortunate that we're currently so short-handed, and that my most reliable people are scattered across western Japan. Come noon tomorrow, though, a good number will be back, and we'll be able to address the problem properly."
I nodded in response, before correcting myself and giving a verbal response. It's difficult at times, remembering the Japanese don't considering the nodding of ones head a sign of affirmation.
"I understand."
We lapsed into silence for a few moments as I pondered what the Elder had said, it matched up with what Setsuna had told me previously…I just don't understand why fellow magi misuse their power like that.
"Elder if I may ask…what exactly was Monkey lady after?"
"Monkey? Oh! You mean Chigusa Amagasaki. Call it a…a grudge against the magi of the west. It's a long story really, rather troublesome."
His eyes turned distant for a moment, causing me to hesitate for a moment before asking my next question.
"But, why was she after Konoka? If she has a grudge against western magi shouldn't I have been the one she came after?"
He shook his head.
"It's not that simple Negi-kun…Konoka comes from a long line of powerful magi, dormant within her reside a large amount of magical powers. That power could potentially even be greater than that of your father…they want to use that power as a trump card of sorts. They plan to use Konoka's dormant power to conquer the west and then perhaps the east as well. They are trying to unite the magi of Japan under a single banner, and then take the fight to the foreign magi, starting a magi war the like of which has not been seen before. That was why I sent Konoka to live at the academy, I hoped that there she would be out of danger…a fact that she herself is unaware of."
But that would mean that if I hadn't brought Konoka here then she wouldn't have been in any danger…how could I have been so stupid! I should have listened to the headmaster rather than forcing the issue to follow my own selfish agenda! The Elder seemed to notice my inner turmoil because he spoke out.
"You should not blame yourself Negi-kun. No matter if you had journeyed here or not the result would have been the same. The time had come that they would enact their plans, had you been in the east they would have come after you there and even more people would have become involved."
"I…thank you again Elder."
For the third time I found myself bowing to the older man. I was about to say something else when I heard familiar voices approaching, Konoka and the other girls were coming to use the baths!
"Dear, oh dear! The ladies are coming. Not good! Perhaps they mistook the time…this is an emergency Negi-kun! We'll have to sneak out the back way."
I quickly followed, feeling more than a little nervous.
"Um, uh Elder…"
Hurrying to catch up, I never noticed the obstruction until I had already tripped. Fighting my hands out to try and break my fall I found that they came into contact with something rather warm and soft. It took me a moment for my brain to actually register what it was…
Oh my god! I'm groping Asuna's breasts!Realising what this must look like I hurried to let go, forgetting that my arms had been all that had kept me upright. At once I resumed falling forwards, landing completely on top of a very naked Asuna, our lips locked…
I am so very dead.
That was when the other girls walked into the baths.
AN: Cruel time to end it but I think I'll save what follows until the next part.
Thanks in advance for the reviews,
H.