I do not own Negima nor Ragnarok Online.
Graduation
The alarm clock began its annoying ringing. A hand slowly reached out and clamped down on the top of the device, shutting off the sound. Groggily, she sat upright in her futon, the blanket tumbling off her. Rubbing the sand out of her eyes, the world around her came into focus. Slowly, she got up and made her way to the bathroom. As she turned the tap open, as the splashing water causing her to feel rejuvenated, she started planning out her day. Today was a special day. Today was graduation day. As she returned to her room, her body and hair wrapped in towels, she wistfully looked to the window. The sun, the early morning sun was peeking through the half done blinds. She smiled wistfully, grateful for a sunny day. After having gotten dressed, she paused before her open drawer; a small woolen pouch sat by the side. Carefully picking it up and untying the woolen knot, she pulled it down a bit and revealed out a card.
Iroi-sensei, I am going to graduate today. As much as I wish you were here, I have a feeling there are more important duties that need your attention right now…
It brought back quite a lot of memories. She traced the edge with her free hand, her eyes scrutinizing the details that remained on the card; the card number, the magic circle in the background, her name, the costume she was wearing, and her artifacts. She remembered the man that became her second magister… and sighed. She did change her feelings for him, no longer viewing him as a potential lover and more like a close friend or colleague… someone who accepted her for herself instead of something else… and yet, she could still remember all the special moments they had...
I know I have moved on, yet I can still remember our time together. I would hazard a guess that you would be telling me right now that this is part of life and moving on and moving forward is the right thing to do…
She shook her head and sighed; she pushed the card back into its cloth cover and stringed it up again. She placed it back in her drawer next to another pouch, which contained her first pactio. Slowly she closed the drawer and headed toward the door. She had to be at the school hall in half an hour. She took one last look at the drawer before closing the door.
Sensei, I hope you haven't forgotten us, although I doubt that very much. I hope you have a good day today.
As the door clicked shut, a strange thing happened, hidden from prying eyes. The card in her drawer, the contract between her and her second magister began to glow; all distinguishing features of the contract had been restored and the card became as good as new as the glow died out. The card had been mysteriously restored to its former state.
Graduation was in full swing, with the Dean now beginning to announce the names of the middle school graduates after calling out the last graduate from the elementary side. The hall was full of students and the respective teachers from elementary, middle and high school branches, as well as most of the parents who lived nearby. The whole floor was filled with people, however the raised seating on the upper floor was devoid of anyone save for two hooded figures that sat at the furthest end of the floor away from the main stage. Both figures had black cloaks that covered their entire body, with their black hoods pulled over to shadow their faces. One was a little shorter than the other and had somewhat visible curves. They were seated close together, side by side.
When the name Aisaka Sayo was called out, the shorter one leaned over and asked in a rather feminine voice, "Wouldn't people be asking questions as to why they could see a ghost or how is a ghost able to graduate?"
"I have a feeling the Dean had already spelled out something so that the parents wouldn't notice anything out of the ordinary," replied the other in a lowered, gruff voice.
"Seems like they have a spell for everything," she commented, "Not that it was so surprising…"
"Oh, really? I swear you definitely looked surprised when Lingshen showed up," he teased.
"Wh…" she started to yell but then backed off and muttered, "You're lucky we need to remain unnoticed…"
"And I intend to milk every bit of time I have," he whispered back with amusement.
"… idiot…" she retorted, thankful the hood hid her blushing face.
They went back to waiting in silence. When it came to Chao's turn, she stepped out and walked towards the stage and took her certificate without incident. Though, on her way back to her seat, they could see her glancing up and subtly smiling at them.
"You know, I'm worried that she might give us away despite all the subtlety," the woman said.
"There shouldn't be any problem," he assured her, "Hell… she was able to keep her true identity secret for two whole years. Keeping our presence secret will be easy to her."
"Maybe…" she trailed off as the next name, Nagase Kaede, was called, "We did want to witness the graduation after all, up till the very end."
While Asuna proceeded to beat up Negi for sneezing the entire class' clothes off, everyone else was either laughing or had amused expressions on their faces while a few other girls followed after Asuna, hoping to get a shot in as well.
Evangeline chuckled with a sneer, "It really doesn't feel right without this… peace, huh?"
"Master, I've brought a change of clothes," Chachamaru announced to her softly as she held up a white dress. The vampire just held her hands up, still smiling at the sight of Negi getting a beating, while the gynoid slid the dress onto her.
"You know, I swear that drama always follows the kid wherever he is," said a rather amused voice. The girls turned around and got a great surprise… except one Chao Lingshen. Two cloaked and hooded figures stood behind them, but with one swift motion, the two threw aside their covers and revealed themselves.
"Sensei! You're back!" yelled Konoka as she leaped for joy. True enough, there was the former assistant teacher standing behind them with his wife. The girls that were not chasing after Negi for retribution clamored around the pair in a semi circle. Curina was in her usual assassin cross outfit, but Gamiya was in a different one. The cassock was now longer, reaching just below the knee with the front part buttoned up at the abdomen area while the bottom of the garment was connected together by three ensembles of straps and belt buckles. A yellow or gold colored sash went round his neck, seemingly attached to the collar and both ends reaching his thighs. The collar itself was elaborate with gold-threaded embroidery. This time, the color motif was black, sky blue and gold yellow. The only exception to that was a silver cross hanging in front of his chest on the top of the buttoned up area, to which Mana recognized as the gift she had given to him before Ala Alba left for Mars many months ago.
"What… how the hell did you get back here?" questioned the shocked vampire. Turning to the grinning genius next to her, she asked, "You had something to do with his, didn't you?"
"And hello to you, old hag," deadpanned Iroi Gamiya, looking nonchalantly at her seething face.
"Now, now, I think we promised Chao here that we wouldn't tease them too much. They are now mature young ladies aren't there?" asked Curina with a knowing smirk.
"Except the pipsqueak here," he jabbed at the still seething Dark Evangel, who was trying to be calmed down by Chachamaru. He then focused on Mana, who was standing stock still next to Lingshen and Satomi. "Are you at peace, Tatsumiya Mana?" he asked.
"Huh? What…"
"Are you at peace, Tatsumiya Mana?" he repeated. All the girls present fell silent and wondered why he asked her that question, looking quizzically between the two of them.
The girl in question looked a little clueless at first, but then her look changed to one of understanding. Much to everyone's surprise, she smiled and replied confidently, "Yes, I am at peace."
He returned her smile and announced, "Then, let peace be with you forever more." Then, his eyes moved to another girl. "Sakurazaki Setsuna," he called out, "Meet me at our usual training ground. Now…" Having said what he needed to say, Gamiya unlinked himself from his wife's arm and teleported away.
Setsuna's face took on a calm and serious approach. She turned to Konoka, who nodded as if letting her know it was alright. The swordswoman nodded in reply and proceeded to unleash her wings to their fullest, followed by a bright yellow aura which covered her entire being. She launched herself into the air and sped off to the place designated by her teacher.
"Er, what did Iroi-sensei mean by that?" asked Kazumi curiously, already in her 'reporter' mode.
"Today is going to be a double graduation for your friend," explained Curina, "If she passes, she would be the first person in this world to have made Two-Hand Quicken her own." Turning to Konoka, she asked, "I presume you know of the place that my dear husband speaks of?"
"Yup," the young girl nodded with a smile, "Please allow me show the way."
After finally calming down the rest of the girls and getting them back to the dorms for a change in clothing, Konoka and Negi led the entire class to Albireo Imma's place under Library Island, but more specifically to the front door. As expected, everyone who had never been invited to that place post Mahorafest were quite astounded and were busy questioning the members of Ala Alba for explanations. The whole group was pretty noisy up until they could hear the clash of metal in front of them.
"Ah, here we are," Konoka said with a smile. They were pretty much in silent awe as they watched blue and yellow auras clash with each other multiple times, not to mention the jet black dragon lying down on one side, looking sort of disinterested with the whole proceedings.
After a while, the auras stopped clashing and became still. The glow around them cleared up and they could see the two figures, Gamiya and Setsuna.
"You've become quite skilled, Sakurazaki," he praised her. His breath was a bit heavy, his sweat was rolling down the side of his head, and his hand was gripping his mace tightly.
"Thank you, sensei. I made sure to set aside time for practice," she acknowledged. She was pretty much in the same condition as he was, with her gripping her sword in a guarded stance.
"Well, shall we prepare for one last pass?" he asked with a smirk, "Be sure to give it everything you got."
"Very well, sensei. I shall," she replied as she nodded, her feet slowly inching into position.
"Right, here I come," he muttered aloud, the mace suddenly crackling with electrical energy. Seconds passed, and suddenly, they moved. Flashes of blue and yellow streaked past each other and they stopped with their backs to each other, with only six feet separating them. Everyone watched with bated breath; who was the first to fall down in defeat?
Multiple gasps began to echo through the cavern as everyone watched Setsuna suddenly fall to her knees. "Se-chan," the young healer of Ala Alba muttered sadly.
But to everyone's confusion, the man suddenly said, "Well done, Sakurazaki. It really does seem I have nothing more to teach you." Without warning, blood suddenly gushed out as a very visible slash appeared on his chest. Almost all the girls in the graduating class and the young teacher cried out in alarm. But to their amazement and relief, he whispered something and both combatants were surrounded by a white aura for a few seconds. His injuries melted away like nothing was ever cut. He then turned around to walk over and lay hand over the swordswoman's head. A white mist covered her for a second or so before dissipating. She easily got to her feet after he removed his hand.
"Se-chan!" cried Konoka joyfully as she suddenly ran up and glomped her best friend, whose cheeks started glowing bright red while muttering weak protests.
"It seems this young lady passed with flying colors," stated Curina as she linked her arm up with her husband.
"Of course she did! Who do you think thought her?" he replied proudly as just about everyone congratulated the blushing swordswoman.
"There is still something I don't understand… Why is Iroi-sensei able to use his mace? I thought he was a spirit like Aisaka?" Yue suddenly asked.
"That is very easily explained!" declared Lingshen rather proudly, "After I redesigned a more compact mana battery, I decided to fill up the empty space with an electromagnetic field emitter. In theory, ghosts and spirits use the energy from the field to cause things to happen. So I figured that if the theory is sound, I should be able to help Iroi-sensei here handle his mace despite him being dead and all."
"And if that didn't work?" pressed Yue.
"Then, I'll just find another way," the genius replied with a smirk.
"You really don't have to, you know," cut in the former teacher, "I could just get a blacksmith or a master smith to create an elemental mace for you, you know. It would save you all the trouble."
"But it did work, didn't it?" she asked back.
"Yeah…"
"So there! No need to thank me, lao shi!" she fired back with a grin.
"I think that's enough, you two," Curina spoke up with a smirk, "Mind taking us back now?"
"Ah, of course!" she complied as she whipped out her dimension hopper and started calibrating it.
"Do you really have to go, Iroi-sensei?" asked Negi, "I would have thought that you'd like to help with the class when they start high school next semester."
"I am not needed here any longer," Gamiya started to explain, "You can do this fine on your own. I think even if I wasn't here, you could have managed all this yourself."
"But…"
"No 'buts'. You're a young man now," he continued in mock seriousness, "A man needs to forge his own path. Never forget and always remember to look forward. Are we clear?"
Negi paused, as if in thought. Slowly, he nodded as his determination surfaced on his face.
"Good to hear. Though if you do need help or anyone else even," he summed up as he looked round at all the girls, "Get Chao to come and fetch me. I will help you as best I can."
"Now then, hurry up Chao, I need to go back home and continue something with my wife," he urged the genius Martian with a grin. Most of the girls then started blushing.
-PANG-
"What was that for, woman!?" he yelled.
With a huff, Curina dismissed the pan and said, "We are definitely not continuing where we left off."
Scowling with discontent amidst embarrassed laughter, he went and stood with her in the magic circle that formed next to a rather amused Chao. With a sigh, he decided to perk up and say, "Good bye, ladies. Don't give the young man too much trouble, yeah?"
"Good bye, sensei!" they all pretty much shouted as they were engulfed in a bright yellow light that sent them back to Niflheim.
FIN
And now it has come to this... The story has come to an end, one and a half years later. It's been quite a long while since I put something on so grand a scale such as this. I think I will miss this. Yeah, i will definitely miss writing this. I do have something planned for my high priest... or maybe I should say archbishop. Yeah, I decided to promote him in the story. I did have him use Coluseo Heal and Clearance after all. Thank you all very much for following and reading and reviewing this story. I truly appreciate it. Also, be sure to visit my other crossover I'm still working on, titled Fate Level Zero. Until later, everyone.
