A/N: I'm sorry it has taken a while to get this out but life has a way of maing it's self take control. Enjoy and review.
P.S. I don't own Negima, darnit.
Part 3 Chapter 4
Shopping with Evangeline
The next day the tour of the UC Berkley campus was the outing. All the girls piled into the tour bus along with the chaperones. The trip across the Bay Bridge gave a lot of the girls plenty to oh and ah about. Alexandra asked where the cars going the other way were. The tour bus driver got on the bus loud speaker and gave them a brief history of the bridge and how it survived the earthquakes in the bay area.
The bus pulled up to the administration building for the campus and they were met by the school dean. John disembarked and went to meet him with Negi close behind.
"Dean Johnston, I'm so glad you could meet us for our tour." John said while taking the older man's hand in a firm shake.
"John, It is so good of you to come visit your old alma matter all the way from Japan. I've set up the tours for your students like you asked and I got some of the freshmen to guide them for you." The older man said.
"Sir I'd like to introduce you to My advisor and mentor at Mahora Academy, Professor Negi Springfield, his wife Asuna Springfield, and Dean's Assistant Evangeline A.K. McDowell. My friends, this is the Dean of the school Robert Johnston." John completed the introductions grinning from ear to ear.
The Dean shook every ones hand then turned to the waiting freshmen. "Ladies and Gentlemen, this is the class from Mahora Academy. They may be only sophomores in high school but I expect you to treat them with respect and give them a great tour around the campus."
A resounding "Yes Dean!" came from the enthusiastic freshmen.
"It seems that we have an energetic group of students for our tour guides." Evangeline commented as she started to tap pairs of students to pair them up with a guide.
Asuna stood aside and looked like she was reading the itinerary for the tour. She was secretly looking at a map where red dots appeared each time Evangeline touched a student. This gave her a real time location of each student. Evangeline came up with this magical tracer after the Kyoto incident twenty two years before.
After the students were gone the Dean walked over to Evangeline. "That was a neat trick. Maybe you could show me that one before you go." He then winked at her.
She took his arm. "I'd be happy to show you."
The Dean blushed a little as Evangeline took his arm. "Well Professor, John, Asuna, and you Miss McDowell, Why don't we go have some tea and talk a little. My house is just a short walk this way." He led them in the direction of an older looking mansion covered with ivy. "One of the perks for administering this university." He joked along the way.
"So are you a mage or just magically aware?" asked Evangeline.
"Just aware enough to know that you are holding a glamour at this moment and that several of your students are magically powerful, and Professor Springfield and his wife, not to mention John who I was aware of already. It helps to be aware when you have several thousand students and some portion of them can sling a spell or two." He smiled. "Normally we have three or four students that have a true gift but we do have several who try and dabble with things that are beyond their ability. Showing up at the right moment to disrupt them is what I prefer to do. It makes them feel a little foolish rather than letting them get something they were not prepared to deal with."
"The Dean kept me busy during my schooling here disrupting those students. It was rather irksome at times when they wouldn't leave well enough alone." John said remembering one time that nearly got out of hand before he could break the spell.
Negi laughed. "I can sympathize with you Dean."
"I'm sure that you can." Chuckled back the Dean. "Miss McDowell, do you prefer blood tea?"
Evangeline looked at the Dean in surprise. "Um, … that … would be nice. How did you know?"
"You are not the first that I have met and may not be the last, but I can say you are the nicest and prettiest one that I have met." He patted her hand gently.
The Dean ushered them into his house and then out into the garden where there was a nice table and chairs waiting for his guests. His maid brought out a tea service and poured for everyone and a special one for Evangeline. They chatted about what the students were like as compared to American students and mutually agreed that student's world wide were alike, risk takers with no sense of their own mortality.
Alexandra and Sayo were strolling along with their guide, Francis, one on each arm. "Um, Francis-sempi, do you know Japanese?" asked Sayo
"Yes I do Sayo-san, and Alexandra-san, I am Majoring in Japanese Literature so that I can get a teaching job in Japan. Would you like to see the languages study building?"
"Um, sure." Sayo silently thought to herself, "Well we can't discuss how cute Francis is"
"I speak English when I'm at home." Alexandra put in. "My father is the head of the English Department at Mahora."
"That would make you Alexandra Springfield?" Francis asked. "I thought your name was just a bit western sounding."
The guided tours of the campus took all of the girls by surprise as to the size and beauty of the campus. The day wound down with no real problems other than getting some of the girls to come back.
The trip back to the hotel was pleasant even with the afternoon rush going on. The girls were then given some free time to wander around the downtown area.
Evangeline took Asuna aside. "Would you like to go shopping now?"
Asuna got that evil look. "Sure Evangeline. Let me tell Negi and then we can go."
She briefly talked to Negi then the two of them departed. Evangeline still felt a chill when she looked at Asuna's face.
They wandered through China town looking for the herb shop that Evangeline had remembered from long ago. As they walked Asuna took the opportunity to drag Evangeline into nearly every bridal shop that she saw. She made Evangeline put on several wedding dresses. Finally it made the light go on in Evangeline's head. "Asuna, it's going to be several years before I can marry Nagi. Why are you doing this now?"
"Evangeline, I want to be a good mother-in-law so I want to plan this out properly. You can never start too soon you know." Asuna said with a grin.
"Whaaaa?" Evangeline looked horrified. "Y-y-you mean that you are going to be putting wedding dresses on me for the next several years in anticipation of the wedding?"
"UH-huh." nodded Asuna.
"Well I guess that I deserve this considering the trouble I gave you and Negi all those years. But could we please go and find the herbalist shop?" Evangeline pleaded.
"All right I guess that's enough cosplay for one trip. Let's find this shop of yours."
The shop was down a side ally and was dimly lit inside. The ward on the door looked like the face of a demon. It lit up as Evangeline approached the door. "Asuna this is as close as I can get to that ward without causing problems. Could you go in and ask the proprietor to speak to me? I'll wait here for you."
"Ah, OK" Asuna nodded.
The proprietor came to the door but didn't step beyond the threshold. "You not human, what you want?"
Evangeline responded in Mandarin "Pardon good proprietor, I mean you and your family no harm I just wish to purchase some items if they are available in your shop. I will leave if you choose not to help me."
The proprietor was taken aback at the response and could see that Evangeline was holding her distance despite her ability to destroy the ward. "What is it you are looking for? I'll check and tell you."
Evangeline handed the list to Asuna who took it to the proprietor. He considered the list for a moment. "Wait here please." He disappeared into the shop then returned a few moments later. "I believe that this is everything on your list. What you doing with these things? They are for making the spirit grow and releasing the darkness if combined correctly."
"That is precisely what I'm trying to do good proprietor. I have lived in the dark for far too long and now my chance to grow old with someone I love is here. I thank you for your time and for your kindness." Evangeline handed some money over to Asuna who tried to give it to the shop owner.
"No, you take as a gift. I wish you luck and many happy days if you succeed." He then closed the door and turned out the lights.
Evangeline started to shudder then lost control of her glamour. She was crying as Asuna pulled her into an embrace. "I'm happy for you Evangeline. Come on lets get back to the hotel."
The small vampire just shook with sobs of happiness as Asuna led her back in the direction of the hotel.
The proprietor looked out his window as the two walked away from his shop and smiled a gentle smile. "That one has led a long unhappy life. I hope it works out for her."
Back at the Hotel
"John Sensei, do you have the mathematics books?" Kazike asked quietly.
"Humm, let me see here." He opened his backpack and reached in. He felt around for a moment before pulling out Kazike's math book and his notes. "Here you go."
Mist looked amazed. "How did you do that?"
"My bag has an enchantment on it where all I have to do is think of something before I reach in and then I can pull it out. What I want has to be able to fit through the opening of the bag though."
Mist looked at the bag skeptically. "So if I were to open the bag and think of pulling out say a gold bar from Fort Knox, I could do it?"
"No, I said, I have to think of an object. If you tried all you would do is reach into an empty bag." He explained.
"Oh, the bag is keyed to you only. I get it. Nice toy. Would you show me how to make one?" Mist begged.
"I don't think so, my mother told me not to show anyone how to make one of these due to the nature of man, or in your case dragon." John said with a cautious tone.
"Hurmph! Spoils sport!" Then she laughed. "As long as you can get my notes on Japanese Literature, I'll be happy."
"Gladly." He thought for a moment the plunged his hand into the bag and retrieved her notes and textbook.
"So did you notice the glasses the Dean had on today?" Mist asked.
"What about them?" Kazike asked. "They looked pretty normal to me."
"They are an old artifact from about two centuries ago. They give the wearer the ability to sense magic and the direction of it." John supplied. "That's how the Dean could keep ahead of students dabbling in things they ought not to dabble in."
"Humm, sounds like a pretty important artifact. I'm glad he is putting them to good use." Mist commented.
Nodoka walked in. "John Sensei, do you have a moment?"
"Sure Nodoka. What can I do for you?" He replied.
"Well, I was wondering…. Do you have the ability to make pactio's" She finished blushing.
"You mean like a western wizard? Not yet but I'm learning that from Evangeline and Negi. I heard from Negi that he had to break the probationary contract with you but I'm not even close to that level yet. My Shaman medicine is different in nature, it's more of a religious power than a magical power." He said knowing what was on her mind. "When I can do a probationary contract I'll let you know though."
Nodoka nodded in understanding the lowered her head allowing her bangs to drop over her eyes. "I see."
"Nodoka, I mean it. You already know more about the magical than I do by your exposure to Negi. I'm still learning. Besides, I want you for my partner. My Ministra Magi, when I know enough to do it." He blushed knowing that wasn't what she wanted. He felt that she wanted it now, almost like a junky needing a fix.
The surprise on his face was complete when she hugged him. "Then I guess that it's time for you to start taking your studies seriously. And that means spending lots of time in the Resort with Evangeline and Negi." She kissed his cheek then handed him a tomb written by Yue. "My best friend has compiled a list of spells that you should be able to master. I looked through them and think they are perfectly suited to you."
John took the book and started flipping pages. His eyes started to widen in surprise as he read the titles of the different spells. Arrows of light, Arrows of ice, Ax of heaven, Thunder clap, Mist of concealment, and so on. These sound like some of the things I already know. "Where did Yue get these spells?"
"She said that the Western Mages have been compiling information for several centuries and have been visiting the native people of North America for much of that time. They have noted and recorded most of the magic of this continent. Yue being the head librarian of the Merdiana Magic Academy in Wales managed to index and catalog these spells and rituals and compiled this tomb for you and specifically tailored to you. She also enchanted the tomb so that all you had to do was think of a spell type and the tomb opens to the correct page. She did it as a favor to me." Nodoka smiled.
