Draconis: (pulls out a list) Hm...along with what's going to happen during the festival arc..I need to pick out girls to add to the harem which at this point is Negi, Yukari and Miyuki.
Negi: What's wrong with that?
Draconis: Is someone getting jealous?
Negi: N-No! It's just why does the damned thing have to be so big? !
Draconis: Honestly it's because I have trouble choosing.
Negi:...no wonder you're single.
Draconis: Hey, one, eventually I'd run out of ideas for a single person in this story, two, there isn't a whole lot of main male characters in Negima. Excluding you because I genderbent you, there's Takamichi, Kotarou, and Tertium at a later arc.
Negi: Ah...I..I suppose...
Draconis: Hey least I'm keeping Kenshin nice right? It's not like I'm making him a pimp or anything.
Kenshin: (comes in wearing a fur coat, black silk clothes, gator boots, sunglasses, and holding a fashionable cane) Bitch where's my money.
Draconis: Negi.
Negi: Right, Fulguratio Albicans! (lightning hits Kenshin dead center)
Kenshin: (on the ground, smoking) I was talking to Draconis...
Draconis: I know, Negi, do you mind?
Negi: Of course not. Iovis Tempestas Fulgriens!
Kenshin: You...guys...suck...
Draconis: Anyway let's get started.
Negima: Springfield and Kuroshi Redux
Chapter 50
An Impossible Schedule.
Draconis: Begin!
(start)
Kenshin and Negi were walking down the halls to their classroom. "So, you didn't do anything with Atsuki-San?" Negi asks.
"She said she wanted to wait." Kenshin said.
"And so...you ended up doing it with both of your summons." Negi said with an accusing glare.
"..." Kenshin gulped. "Uhm...in my defense it happened on the spot and I don't think I could have taken them both on, with the shape my body's in."
"Yet you were able to beat Ryomen." Negi said.
Kenshin stared at her with an exasperated look. "I was also out of control wielding the weapon of a god, and my heart's condition hadn't worsened to what it is now."
"Oh Kenshin, relax I'm just giving you grief over it because I thought it was funny." Negi said. "Oh, hey seeing as the festival starts in the next couple of days, you wanna go on a date?"
"...Uh...sure." Kenshin said.
"Something wrong?" Negi asks.
"Call it a hunch, but I think I'm gonna be getting asked to spend time with people during the festival..a lot." Kenshin said sweatdropping.
"He he." Negi giggled. "So anyway, how are Sheena and Ryomen doing anyway?"
"They're fine." Kenshin said. "I thought you didn't like Sheena?"
"Well if she's having your back I suppose I can try to get along with her." Negi said. "Besides I'll show her I can keep up with you sooner or later."
Kenshin smiled. "You'll get there Negi. You're too smart of a mage to not catch up to me eventually."
"Hm hm, thanks." Negi said. She leaned up and kissed him on the cheek. "I'll see you in class."
"Lookin' forward to it." Kenshin said as she walked away. As soon as she left his field of vision he sighed. "Something wrong Kenshin?" Arika asked.
"I'm worried about Sheena." Kenshin thought.
"Why?" Ryuujin asks.
"Well I summoned Ryomen after I recovered in the resort and asked her to take me to Makai. After I told her what happened she complied and tried to." Kenshin thought.
"Then what happened?" Ryuujin asks.
"She said her portal to Makai had been shut down. She suggested I have a little patience and said everything should be alright and left." Kenshin thought.
"Then do as she says." Yama said. He failed to notice Ryuujin glaring holes into the back of his head.
"...Hey Shin Tatsu you have a functioning portal to Makai don't you?" Kenshin thought.
"? !" Yama turned his eyes toward Ryuujin who smirked back and whispered 'You can stop me all you like, but will you stop him without revealing your hand?'
"Yeah, I do." Ryuujin said. "The god's portals to any world aren't so easily shut down."
"Awesome, if I locked in on Sheena's signature you think you could take me to her?" Kenshin thought.
"Now wait a second hang on." Arika said cutting Ryuujin off and drawing all three men's attention to her.
"What's up?" Kenshin thought.
"Kenshin you're getting ahead of yourself. One, you almost died less than twenty four hours ago." Arika said. "Two, you can't just up and leave, you have a responsibility here." "Three, your heart still needs to be repaired. Making the journey to and from Makai is tiring for demons isn't it? What if your heart acts up passing through Ryuujin's portal."
"She's right." Yama said. "Remember, your Zenki is a Demon Lord class being, if push comes to shove I'm sure she'll be fine."
"..." Kenshin thought. "...I suppose you're right Arika...it's just...I'm thinking about what we did and what Ryomen told me about Sheena."
"About her wanting a child?" Arika asks.
"Yeah,...what...what if I got her pregnant?" Kenshin thought.
"I wouldn't worry about that, I killed your potency during that whole thing." Yama said. "I didn't, but he doesn't need to know. I can't give Shin Tatsu a chance to coerce him right now." He thought.
Kenshin paled. "Y-You...didn't permanently kill it did you? I..I would like to have a kid with someone someday."
"Oh no no no, It should be back up by now." Yama said.
"You two faced old bastard." Ryuujin muttered glaring at Yama.
Kenshin sighed and took out a charm and pressed it to his head. "Sheena, if you can hear me, try to get in touch OK?" He took it off and looked forward. "Alright time to stop dickin' around." He said making his way toward the 3-A classroom.
When he got there, he wasn't surprised at what he saw, which was chaotic rushing around as the girls hurried along to complete their festival attraction in time. Kenshin sighed and walked up to Negi who was slumped muttering about how bad the situation was. Kenshin placed his hand on Negi's shoulder giving it a comforting squeeze. She turned to him. "You know, I kinda thought you'd be used to the chaos by now Negi." Kenshin teased.
"U-Urusai." Negi muttered blushing.
"Ahh! Kenshin-Sensei Negi-Sensei can we get some help over here? !" Yuuna asks.
"No no over here!" Makie said.
"Hey we don't need to be asking them for help!" Ayaka shouts at both of them. "Besides..." She walks up taking both Kenshin's and Negi's hands. "It's their first year here after all, they should be able to stay back and enjoy."
"Uhm...ye-yes.." Negi said.
"Uhnn...thanks?" Kenshin said.
Yukari appeared behind Ayaka and dropped her hand roughly on the back of her head. "Cool it."
"Hey Kenshin-Sensei, Negi-Sensei!" Sakurako said running up to them flanked by Madoka and Misa. "We'll be performing during the festival, please come see us."
"Hey that's pretty cunning you three!" Fuuka and Fumika said. "Our walking club will be having a walk around event encompassing the whole school. You should come as well!"
"!" Chachamaru, Sayo and the Library Trio all turned to Kenshin and Negi.
Ayaka and Makie made their moves, looking to ask Kenshin out more than anything when they were cut off by Ku Fei and Yukari.
"My disciple, you should come to the martial arts club's event on the Second Day." Ku Fei said patting Negi on the shoulder.
"I heard there was a fighting tournament during the second day Kenshin-nii, what do you say we revisit our old spars?" Yukari said driving her elbow lightly into his arm.
"Ok..." Negi said.
"Alright." Kenshin said with a grin. "Lookin' forward to it."
Yukari was shoved out of the way by Ayaka and Makie. "Kenshin-Sensei, you and Negi-Sensei should come to the gymnastics event during the festival."
"Kenshin-Sensei you should come to the horseback riding event during the festival." Ayaka said. Negi narrowed her eyes at Ayaka, but didn't comment.
"Alright hang on, these two are going to get overextended in a hurry!" Kazumi said. "Kenshin can slot up his own appointments, but let me take care of Negi's!"
(break)
After class.
Kenshin looked at his schedule. He had agreed to see Makie and Ayaka on the first day of the festival. Negi had then told Kenshin she was coming with him on both of those 'dates' to which he didn't object. The Second Day was consisted of meeting with Ku Fei, the Narutakis, Zazie Rainyday, a quiet acrobat that gave him and Negi tickets to her show. Catching lunch with Satsuki, Visiting Natsumi's theater club presentation and rounding the day out with him and Negi hanging out with Asuna. Oh, and he was going to enter that tournament with Yukari and Negi, who decided to enter with them. The third day was his easiest so far as all he and Negi had for that day was seeing Misa, Madoka, Sakurako, and Ako perform.
"Well, looks like you two are gonna be busy." Chamo said.
"No kidding." Kazumi said smiling down at them.
"Eh, it's not so bad. I've had jobs worse than this three day schedule." Kenshin said. "Besides I have a good companion to hang around with." He said patting Negi on the shoulder.
"Hey. The second half of that is my line." Negi said pushing on Kenshin's shoulder.
"Heh heh." Kenshin said.
"Uhm..." Kenshin and Negi look up to see Nodoka, accompanied by Yue and Haruna.
"Oh?" Kazumi said with a grin.
"Go-Good afternoon everyone...and good afternoon to you as well Kenshin-Sensei, Negi-Sensei." Nodoka said.
"Hello Nodoka-San." Negi greeted.
Kenshin waved as Nodoka spoke again. "W-Well...wo-would you...?" She mumbled out the rest of her sentence.
Kenshin put a hand up to his ear. "Eh? Can't hear ya."
Nodoka's hands shot forward with what looked to be tickets. "Th-The library club is having an adventure meeting! Please come!"
Kenshin grabbed the tickets. "Ah sure."
Haruna and Yue stepped past her. The former spoke first. "The manga appreciation club will be doing sketches. Hey maybe I could do a romantic sketch of you and someone you like Kenshin-Sensei."
"Eh heh heh..." Kenshin laughed uneasily feeling Negi's eyes staring holes into his back.
"You're doing it with me...right..?" Negi said tonelessly.
Kenshin turned his head around with an uneasy smile making a circle with his index finger and thumb. Haruna laughed and stepped back. Yue handed him a couple of tickets. "The philosophy club will be going over books of famous authors. You and Negi-Sensei should come by."
"Uh...O...K.." Kenshin said. Negi nodded in agreement. Kenshin looked past them. "Huh...Nodoka, you look like you wanna say something."
Nodoka's cheeks flushed brightly. "U-Uh...Kenshin-Sensei...Negi-Sensei, d-during the school f-festival...wo-would you like to go out with me?"
Kenshin and Negi blinked a small blush crawling up both their cheeks. "...You're...asking.." Negi said.
"Both of us on a date?" Kenshin said.
Nodoka took off. "Ahh! I can't believe I just blatantly asked them both! !"
"Ahh..it's a start." Haruna said. "You two are OK with it right?"
"Uhm...OK..." Negi said.
"I...don't have any objections." Kenshin said.
"If you could, please push it to the last day." Yue said.
"Uh...OK." Kenshin said.
Yue turned to Asuna who was staring blankly at Nodoka's retreating form. "What is it, Asuna?"
"Oh...N-nothing it's just...Honya's really gotten courageous." Asuna said.
Yue nodded with a small smile. "I agree." She ran after Haruna and Nodoka looking to catch them before they got too far away.
Kenshin sighed and pulled out his schedule as Chachamaru approached Negi about something. He penciled in the agreed upon dates. He felt someone nudging him on the back and turned to find Miyuki.
"What's up?" Kenshin asks.
"I just wanted to let you know that I'm not going to ask you for anything." Miyuki said. "I'd rather wait until you're all better to have a date."
"Oh? Is that right?" Kenshin flipped to the back of his schedule planner. "After heart repair, take Miyuki out on a date.."
"He he. Baka Onii-Chan." Miyuki giggled jabbing him on the shoulder. "Well I think I'll go chat with Negi-Chan about something we could do."
Miyuki left and Konoka and Setsuna approached Kenshin. "Heya Ken-kun, Secchan has something to ask you."
"O-Ojou-Sama!" Setsuna whined
"Aw come on Secchan, you can do it." Konoka said with a smile.
"What?" Kenshin asks.
"U...Uhm..Kenshin-San, if it's not too much trouble..during the first day of the festival...could we.." Setsuna hung her head.
Kenshin turned his head to the side slightly narrowing his eyes curiously at her. "Setsuna...are you asking me out?"
"WH-Wha? ! N-N-No! N-Not at...at all!" Setsuna stammered out.
"She is." Konoka said simply.
"Ojooouu-Saammmaaa!" Setsuna whined.
"Uh...sure...I don't mind." Kenshin said.
"R-Really? Thank you!" Setsuna bowed respectfully and took off.
"...that was surprising." Kenshin said.
"Why's that?" Konoka asks.
"I was almost certain Setsuna liked...well you." Kenshin said.
"He he he he." Konoka giggled. "She probably does, but she's still in that servant/master routine ...and she's forbidding herself from admitting it to me." "I wouldn't be surprised if she does like you too, or she's just using you as a cover up."
"I see." Kenshin said.
Konoka nodded and smiled at Kenshin. "Say Ken-kun, could we go out on a date during the first day as well?"
Kenshin was looking at her when she said that and turned his head away. He was overextending the holy high hell out of himself as it was and needed to turn her down or get her to change the day. "W-Well..."
Konoka moved in his line of sight. "Please..." She said with a cute begging look on her face.
Kenshin looked up his brow twitching and his body quivering. "Must resist cuteness...!" He looked down closing his eyes. "Not...resisting...well!"
He sighed. "Alright, but I'm kinda...really busy on Day One could we move it to Day Two?"
Konoka smiled. "Sure!" She took off to go find Setsuna and Kenshin opened his schedule and penciled in the dates sighing in exasperation.
"Heeeyyyy Kenshin!" Kenshin turned to find Kotarou and Atsuki making their way up to him. Kotarou had a flier in his hands. "There's a tournament coming up on Day Two of this festival dude let's go sign up."
"Already planned on it Kotarou." Kenshin said. "Yukari already asked."
"Yukari-neechan's entering?" Kotarou said. "Sweet!" He went to approach Negi about it.
"Negi's entering too." Kenshin said.
"Awesome!" Kotarou said excitedly.
Kenshin shook his head at Kotarou as he approached Miyuki about the tournament. Atsuki shook her head as well and turned her head to Kenshin. "Hey Kenshin."
"Yeah?" Kenshin said.
"Could we make our date for the first day?" Atsuki asks.
"Oh thank god." Kenshin sighed relieved.
"What?" Atsuki said confused. Kenshin showed her his schedule for the festival. "Oh! Oh my I'm sorry." "Do you mind?"
"No I got some time." Kenshin said. "Jeez, I might end up having to use a bunch of stencils that might go stupid, or Chao-Chan's time machine."
He walked toward Negi and the others whom were talking to Ako and Madoka. Madoka noticed him. "Hey Kenshin-Sensei, do you happen to know the guy that was with Asuna a couple of days ago?"
"Eh?" Kenshin said before internally facepalming. "Oh damn..." "Uh...well why do you ask?" He said.
"Well Asuna said he was your cousin who shared your name or something like that." Madoka said.
Kenshin sent a sidelong glare at Asuna. "Oh...did she now...?" "Well...here's the thing, he came to visit us and my mother, and I kinda roped him into having a practice date with Asuna, so she could have some dating experience." "He left the country yesterday saying he had work back home and wouldn't be around for a long while."
"Oh..." Ako said. "I see." "Well Kenshin-Sensei...if you don't mind...could..we...ahh nevermind!" She took off with a scarlet blush.
"Ah! Ako!" Madoka said.
"Hm hm hm. Quite the heartbreaker aren't you Kenshin?" Everyone turned around finding Evangeline and Hikari standing behind them.
"Aw come on Eva-Chan, he did the right thing, he'd ultimately be stringing her along by reappearing as his older self." Hikari said.
"Right?" Evangeline said. "So what's this I hear about a tournament?"
Negi and Kotarou paled. "Entering yourself?" Kenshin asks.
"But of course. I have to see how my disciple is faring after all." Evangeline said with a small, snide grin. "Besides Shin Tatsu and Yama can't enter themselves so I have to track yours and Yukari's progress as well."
"You know...I think I'll enter as well." Hikari said.
"E-Eh? !" Negi and Kotarou said. "A-A member of the Ala Rubra is entering? !" Negi said.
"Now I'm glad I'm not entering." Miyuki said sending a wistful gaze at her mother. "I was asked by Konoemon to help with security so I'll just stick to that."
"I see." Hikari said. "Want me to make you a bento for the three festival days?"
"Sure." Miyuki said.
"Alright, now then." Hikari turned to Kenshin. "If you can't defeat me given all your training Ken-Chan, then you must accompany me during the last day of the festival in that older form of yours."
"Say what?" Kenshin said.
"What?" Negi said.
"Aw come on Ken-Chan you're always so busy." Hikari said. "It wouldn't be anything more than a friendly outing, in your older form anyway."
"Fine." Kenshin said. "Negi come here."
"Uhm...OK." Negi said.
The two walked away from the group and Kenshin turned to her. "How's your schedule looking?"
"Uhm. Combined with the stuff I'm doing with you I have to meet with Chachamaru-San, Sayo-San and Miyuki-San." Negi said.
Kenshin pushed his schedule book toward her. "E-Eh?" Negi said. "You have to meet with Atsuki-San and Setsuna-San on the first day and Konoka-San on the second day?"
"Not to mention I have to stay on my training on top of that." Kenshin said taking his book back to pencil in his meetings with Ryuujin. "Also the girl that came to pick me up to take me and Yukari to my doctor wants to spend some time with me during the festival."
"Should I come with?" Negi asks.
"No, she doesn't seem to be interested in me." Kenshin said.
"I see, well have fun." Negi said.
Kenshin sighed as she walked away. He heard some rustling behind him. He turned to find Iris walking up to him. "Heya Iris."
"Hi." Iris greeted. "How are you?"
"...fine.." Kenshin said confused.
"What?" Iris said.
"Nothing, uh have you decided on which day you wanna spend time with me on?" Kenshin asks.
"Uh...the second day I..I guess." Iris said.
"Are you Ok?" Kenshin asks.
"Uh! Y-Yeah! Why do you ask?" Iris asks
"You're stammering, your cheeks are flushed and you're tettering." Kenshin said.
"I...I'm..fi-" Iris fell forward.
"Iris!" Kenshin shouts rushing up to catch her. He bent forward to cradle her and placed his hand on her forehead. "Oh man you are burning up."
"Eh he he...sorry." Iris said smiling tiredly at him.
"You OK?" Kenshin asks.
"Y-Yeah...just..a little tired is all." Iris said.
"A little tired my ass, you look like you're running a fever." Kenshin said.
"?" From inside Kenshin, Ryuujin watched this proceeding curiously.
Iris pushed softly on Kenshin's shoulder. "Kenshin, let me up I'll be fine really."
Kenshin sighed, and against his better judgment let her up. She took five steps away from him before stumbling forward. Kenshin appeared in front of her using the power of wind. "Grab on."
"Eh, bu.." Iris said.
Before she could answer Kenshin had already grabbed her legs and lifted her up onto his back. "I don't wanna hear any protests from you Iris." "I'm going to take you to your hotel room."
"..." Iris remained silent.
"No answer?" Kenshin said. "Alright then, I'll take you to my place then. I'm sure Evangeline won't mind yet another house guest."
Iris blinked. "K-Kenshin...y-you wouldn't be referring to Evangeline A.K. McDowell would you?"
"The very same, why?" Kenshin said.
"O-OK I'll point you in the right direction to my hotel room!" Iris said with a fearful whine.
"Knew you'd see things my way." Kenshin said grinning. He heard a chuckle inside his head. "Shin Tatsu?" Kenshin thought.
"Huh? That wasn't me." Ryuujin said.
"You sure? Cause Yama's over there reading about more ways he could blow Yukari's training off on you." Kenshin thought.
"IS THAT WHAT YOU'VE BEEN DOING OVER THERE? !" Ryuujin roared.
"Not at all." Yama said calmly. "She merely doesn't require my training anymore. She's got the book on illusions, can summon her Saigo-Shi and no longer has a control problem."
"Whatever...you lazy Shinigami." Ryuujin said.
"Well there's that and Arika's over there 'petting her kitty'" Kenshin thought.
"!" Arika looked up with a furious blush. "Kenshin so help me when I get out of here the first thing I'm doing is kicking your ass!"
"BWAHAHAHA!" Ryuujin laughed.
"Kenshin.." Kenshin turned his attention to Iris who had taken to gripping his shoulders.
"Hm?"
"Isn't this bad for your heart? This kind of overexertion?" Iris said.
"Oh please Iris-Chan, the guy mentoring me puts me through stuff way worse than this." Kenshin said.
"Eh? You've got a mentor now? What's his name?" Iris said.
"His name's Shin Tatsu." Kenshin said
"...Hm..." Iris said.
"Something up?" Kenshin asks.
"I can't place why, but I've heard that name somewhere before." Iris said. "I'm trying to remember it, but my head just gets all fuzzy."
"Shin Tatsu, do you know Iris Rose?" Kenshin thought.
"Huh? Wha? No, not at all." He said.
"I get the distinct impression you're lying." Kenshin thought.
"...You know I could just come out there and kill you right?" Ryuujin threatened.
"Fine fine sheesh." Kenshin thought.
The two stopped in front of a building. "This it?" Kenshin asks.
"Yeah." Iris said. "If..you don't mind could you carry me up to my room?"
"It's cool." Kenshin said walking in. He approached the desk clerk and said. "Excuse me."
"Hm? Oh yes sir what is it? Do you need a room?" The clerk asked.
"Nah my man I just need the key to Iris Rose's room, this is her on my back. She collapsed right in front of me." Kenshin said.
"Oh dear. Right away sir." The clerk grabbed the key off of one of the hooks on the wall and turned to Kenshin. "Follow me sir."
"Ah that's fine she can direct me there, right Iris? ...Iris?" Kenshin said turning his head.
"Zzzz...zzzz..."
"Poor girl must have nodded off." The clerk said smiling.
"Yeah, well lead the way then." Kenshin said.
"Hm hm." The clerk chuckled.
Kenshin moved his hands to Iris' hips making sure he didn't drop her. "Mm..." Kenshin's ears twitched hearing her moan. "What the heck?"
"You're stroking the back of her hip dumb ass. She's probably got sensitivity there and on her butt." Ryuujin said.
"Ah." Kenshin thought.
"Someone's acting a little more snappy than usual." Arika said.
"Fuck off." Ryuujin said gruffly.
Kenshin and the clerk walked up a couple of flights of stairs and stopped at a door in the middle of the hallway. "You know I was kinda surprised at all the money Miss Iris had." The clerk said. "I wondered why she didn't stay at one of the ritzier hotels."
"Eh, she doesn't seem to be someone who'd be into that sort of thing." Kenshin said. "She seems like a real modest girl."
The clerk nodded and opened the door. "Now I can leave her alone with you without anything happening right?" He said with a teasing grin.
"..." Kenshin glared at the clerk.
He sweatdropped. "Very well then." The clerk left and Kenshin entered the room. "Hmm...just a bed, dresser, mirror and bathroom..very plain." "Whelp..better lay her down." He sits down on the bed and lays back trying to put as little weight on her as possible. Letting go of her legs he gets up and sets her legs on the bed and her head on the pillow before covering her up. He smiled. "Sweet dreams."
He turned heel to leave when Iris called out to him. "Ken...shin..."
"?" He turned around and walked up to Iris' bedside. "What's up?" "...?" When he got to her he noticed her eyes were still closed.
"Where are you...?" Iris said. She started rubbing her cheek into the pillow. "Cold..."
"..." Kenshin extended his hand to cup her cheek as she started to turn her head.
"Ah..." Iris gasps softly and her eyes crack open. A small smile appeared on her face. "Heya..."
"Are you OK?" Kenshin asks.
Iris closed her eyes nuzzling her cheek into his palm. "...mm.." She nodded.
Kenshin nodded. "You should probably stay in bed for now. You wouldn't want to pass out again would you?"
"You worry too much." Iris said grabbing his wrist.
"Maybe I do, but..." Kenshin said
"Come closer.." Iris said.
"?" Kenshin was confused by the request, but complied nonetheless.
Iris' other hand grabbed the back of his head. Kenshin's face flushed, his face inches away from hers, her breath brushing his lips. "I'm glad though..."
"Huh?" Kenshin said.
"I'm glad..that there is someone..worrying about my well being...my elder brother was the same way..." Iris said.
"?" Kenshin thought.
"..." Ryuujin closed his eyes. Recalling a scene from his past.
"It's all your fault I'm sick like this Tatsu-niisan! JUST LEAVE ME ALONE! !"
"You really think I can? ! You're the only family I've got left!" Shin Tatsu said back to a smaller girl in front of him.
"Keh! We maybe related by blood, but I do not consider you to be my brother any longer! !" "Now leave me alone before I end up dying because of you! !"
"Ah..." Shin Tatsu extended his hand toward the girl's retreating form. "...Guh!" He laid his fist into the wall.
Ryuujin opened his eyes. "Why am I recalling that painful memory?" "She ended up apologizing and forgiving me anyway..."
"Iris...?" Kenshin said.
"My elder brother...is the reason I'm alive today..." Iris said. "This...problem you just saw me having..used to be a lot worse." "He made me all better...I still feel faint from time to time, but that's beside the point..."
"..heh...I'd never be able to compete with that.." Kenshin said.
Iris' smile broadened. "Who said you had to...?"
Kenshin watched as she got up and set herself up on her knees. "Hey Iris..."
"If you're concerned...then hold me." Iris said moving his arm to her waist.
"She said she wasn't sure about having a crush on me a few days ago...now she's like this?" Kenshin thought.
Kenshin feels Iris' hands cupping his cheeks. "I...probably..shouldn't do this..." She said inching closer to him.
"What's she's saying and doing are completely different!" Kenshin thought.
"..." Iris stared into his eyes, seeing herself reflecting in them. Her cheeks flushed. "Kenshin..."
"I...ris?" Kenshin said.
"...Mm..."
"...!" Kenshin's eyes widened as she pressed her lips to his.
"Well you going to kiss her back or not?" Ryuujin said. "If she's gonna kiss you then you need to return the favor as a man."
"..." Kenshin's lips parted and his tongue slipped out and pushed against the tip of Iris' tongue which had been trying to force it's way into his mouth.
"Mmahh..." Iris rubbed the top of his tongue with the tip of her own. Kenshin meanwhile pushed his further in, closing the gap between their lips again.
Iris moaned her hand rubbing Kenshin's stomach, moving downward. Kenshin felt it go into his pants and grabbed her wrist softly.
"?" Iris broke the kiss and stared at him. "What's wrong?"
"N-Nothing...it's just..you need to lay down, Iris." Kenshin said.
"...!" Iris gasped softly. "W-Wait...Kenshin..d-did I just..f-force a kiss on you?"
"?" Kenshin blinked several times.
"Did I? !" Iris said her voice going a couple of octaves higher than usual.
"Uh...Y...Yeah...?" Kenshin said.
"Uuuu..." Iris looked down blushing before grabbing his shoulders. "I'm Sorry!"
"Uh...it's OK...uh..just.." Kenshin said.
The very next moment Kenshin was out of the room with the door slamming shut behind him. "...what just happened?"
"She shoved you out of her room after kissing you in a daze." Ryuujin said.
"I get that, but why did she go into a daze in the first place?" Kenshin thought.
"Well..." Ryuujin said.
"What?" Kenshin thought.
"She probably went into heat. Who knows" Ryuujin said.
"Heat? You mean Iris is a demon?" Kenshin thought.
"How do you think she's able to come to Mundus Vetus without being anywhere near a gateport?" Ryuujin points out. "She probably represses her youki."
"So...should I have let her keep going?" Kenshin thought.
"Doesn't matter. She would have snapped out of it before it went too far." Ryuujin said. "So..I guess you were right to stop her. Less awkward."
"I see." Kenshin thought.
Kenshin left the hotel and looked up. It was turning to nighttime. Shrugging he went to the forest using Shundou. "Well...seeing as my schedule's already swamped, might as well see about adding one more." He flashed through handsigns and slammed his hand down. "Kuchiyose! Ryomen Sukuna no Kami!"
While he was summoning her he thought. "Please don't be in the shower again."
Ryomen appeared wearing a blue tanktop and a pair of jeans. "What is it Kenshin? I've told you already my portal is shut down."
"It's not that this time. I can't leave right now anyway." Kenshin said.
"Then what is it?" Ryomen asks.
Kenshin took a breath. "Well..there is a festival coming up in the next couple of days..and..I wanted to know if you were free at all."
"Kenshin..I live in a house by myself that I rarely leave from...I've got nothing, but free time." Ryomen said.
"Oh, right.." Kenshin said grinning bashfully. "Anyway, you wanna spend some time together on the last day of the festival?"
Ryomen blinked. "Kenshin...uh..." She raised all four of her arms.
"Hm...I could let you borrow my jacket." Kenshin said. "It's really loose fitting and I've had it since I was ten you could hide your lower arms inside."
"Well, Thanks..." Ryomen said. "I suppose we could do something." "Is that all you wanted to ask?"
"Kinda." Kenshin said. "You need anything else while you're here?"
"No, not really." Ryomen said. "If that's all I suppose I'll take my leave." She ripped open a portal behind her and turned to walk inside when she stopped. "Oh, one more thing."
"Yeah?" Kenshin said.
"You can use my summoning charm to come to my house if you like, just let me know you're coming before hand." Ryomen said.
"Oh? Well thanks Ryomen, I'll keep that in mind." Kenshin said.
"Ok, see you around." Ryomen said leaping through the portal.
"Whelp...my schedule's packed..." Kenshin thought penciling in arrangement with Ryomen. "Hopefullly...nothing else gets stacked on top of that."
(break)
Overnight.
"Be quiet with that hammer" Haruna snapped at Sakurako.
"That's impossible" Sakurako whined.
"Oh man creeping around at night like this makes me tremble." Makie said.
"Ugh...I am dying to sleep." Chisame muttered.
"I hear you there Hasegawa." Yukari muttered right next to her.
"The rules clear prohibit staying here overnight, even I as the leader of the class had to break this rule..." Ayaka whispered rubbing her temple.
"It can't be helped though...we need to get this done before the festival begins tomorrow...we'll probably be doing this again tomorrow night." Yuuna said.
"I know that...!" Ayaka said.
"Besides, we're here as well." Kenshin said lifting a piece of wood in place while Negi hammered nails in as quietly as possible.
"Sorry, Kenshin-Sensei, Negi-Sensei...!" Ayaka whined.
"Someone's coming, it's Nitta!" A girl from another class said.
"Everyone hide!" Yuuna said.
Kenshin walked up and grabbed a flashlight turning it on and exiting the room. "What's he doing?" Yuuna said wanting to shout.
Nitta saw Kenshin and shined him with his flashlight. "Kenshin-Sensei? What are you doing here?"
"Oh, sorry for alerting you." Kenshin said with a smile. "I occasionally suffer from random bouts of insomnia so I thought I come and give a hand with the nightwatch."
"Oh my, that is unfortunate." Nitta said.
"It is, anyway I just checked this classroom and 3-B's classroom." "Nothin' in there, but a few rats." Kenshin said.
"I see...I'll have to tell Konoemon-Sensei to call an exterminator during summer break." Nitta said. "Well you try and take it easy."
"Will do." Kenshin said. "You have not met my teacher." He thought with an inward shudder.
"Heh heh heh." Ryuujin chuckled darkly.
Kenshin feinted a few steps in the opposite direction until Nitta was out of sight and re-entered the classroom. "Nice work Kenshin-Sensei!" Yuuna whispered giving a thumbs up."
"Weren't you the one giving me crap about going out there in the first place?" Kenshin said with a small grin.
"Ah..y-you heard that?" Yuuna said bashfully.
"I hear everything." Kenshin said.
When the sun came up everything was done...well almost...they had only built the entrances while the insides were only halfway done. Everyone took off earning the ire of one Yukihiro Ayaka. Kenshin and Negi set their hands on her shoulders. "Don't sweat it Iinchou-San, we could use a break." Negi said.
"Yeah you could use one as well right?" Kenshin asks.
"Oh...well of course." Ayaka said smiling with flushed cheeks turning toward Kenshin, completely missing the annoyed glare Negi was shooting her.
"Huh, so Negi doesn't let everyone at you." Yama said.
"I think it's just because she's being too forward." Arika said.
"Watch out Kenshin, your harem could be dismantled by your jealous first girlfriend." Ryuujin said.
"...Goddammit Shin Tatsu." Kenshin thought resisting the urge to groan.
Kenshin and Negi left with Asuna, Konoka, Setsuna, Yukari and Miyuki. "So Asuna, seeing as Negi loaned my brother out to you did you work up the guts to ask Takamichi out?" Yukari asks.
"Remember Onee-Chan it took you a few months, so I'm not sure you're the one who should be giving her grief." Miyuki said.
"Ha." Chamo laughed. Yukari sent a deathglare at him. "Uuuu..."
Asuna turned and grinned. "Actually I asked last night and he accepted!"
"Really? Congrats!" Negi praised.
"Ditto!" Konoka said.
"But the next part isn't so good. He was with Shizuna-San when I saw him so she's already won by that virtue, but I have to try to win him over!" Asuna said running her fingers through her scalp.
"Like I said before, it was probably a friendly outing." Kenshin said. "Oh speaking of which there's Shizuna now."
"Eeuueh? !" Asuna said.
"Kenshin-Sensei the headmaster needs to see you..." Shizuna said.
"Oh boy, am I being framed for some graffiti that was inconspicuously sprayed on Gandolfini's house?" Kenshin quipped jokingly.
"...actually...he wanted to see Negi-Sensei, Setsuna-San and Yukari-San as well."
"Huh?" Negi, Setsuna and Yukari all said.
"Whelp, off to the headmaster's office." Kenshin said.
"The office? Oh no no, he wants you four to come to the World Tree Plaza." Shizuna said.
"...I should seriously set up a sleeping bag there." Kenshin said his shoulders slumping. "Alright lets go."
(break)
World Tree Plaza.
"Ah Kenshin-kun, Negi-kun, Setsuna-kun, Yukari-kun, glad you could make it." Konoemon said.
"Sorry this was kind of sprung on us at the last second." Negi said smiling.
"I do apologize, but we needed to gather all the mage teachers here." Konoemon said.
"Eh?" "Seruhiko-San, Akashi-San, you're both mages?" Negi asks a little surprised by the revelation.
"Yes, sorry for keeping it from you." Seruhiko said.
"We just didn't see a reason for you to know." Akashi-Sensei said.
"Not just teachers however, some are students here as well." Kenshin said shrugging. He narrowed his eyes. "Kotarou? What are you doing here?"
"I got asked to help out...with whatever's going on here." Kotarou said.
"Shouldn't the arrhythmic murder sit this one out, this job doesn't require his skills." Gandolfini said.
Kenshin crossed his arms grinning. "Gandolf, you ever gonna take your balls out of your purse and challenge me to a fight?"
"HA!" Kotarou said going into a fit of laughter.
"Kenshin." Negi said reprimandingly.
"Gandolfini, if you and Kenshin don't stop pestering each other I'll pair you together for this next job." Konoemon said dropping the honorifics.
"Gotcha." Kenshin said.
"Fine." Gandolfini said.
"Alright, now then a very serious problem has come up." Konoemon said.
"Really? ! Is it a enemy? !" Kotarou said excitedly.
"Again?" Negi said. "Is it someone, that's really strong?"
"Will you two cool it?" Yukari said. "If there was an enemy we'd have already been alerted and Kenshin-nii and I would have already dealt with him."
"So anyway, what's up old man?" Kenshin asks.
"Have you five heard of the world tree legend?" Konoemon asks.
"Oh that?" Kotarou said. "Supposedly if a couple confesses here during the festival the confession comes true." "Sounds like a buncha hogwash to me."
"I don't really see the reasoning in it either." Negi said. Setsuna nodded in agreement.
"Well it is very much possible." Konoemon said.
"Heh?" Negi, Kotarou and Setsuna said. Kenshin and Yukari spared a glance at each other before turning back to Konoemon.
"I'm being serious, the request will probably come true." Konoemon said. "The legend has helped in intervals of twenty two years."
"What?" Kotarou said, waves of surprise and confusion in his voice.
"From now, until the end of the festival, the legend of the tree behind us will come true." Konoemon said. "I want all of you to observe this behavior and stop any confessions from being made."
"Huh? ! You're not gonna let their wishes be granted? !" Kotarou exclaimed.
"Isn't it just a huge superstition? !" Negi asked.
"To be brief the students call it the world tree and take care of it, but it is actually a magic tree that stores massive quantities of magic in it's roots and wood." Konoemon said. "Anyway, every twenty two years the magic overflows from the boundaries from six points around the tree at a radius of 1.5 kilometers."
"So what does it do?" Kenshin asks.
"Well it doesn't fulfill materialistic wishes. For example, Negi-kun couldn't ask the tree to make her Queen of the World." Konoemon said.
"I wouldn't do that!" Negi shouted.
"Kotarou-kun and you Kenshin-kun would not be able to ask the tree for a hundred billion yen." Konoemon said.
"Why would I want that?" Kotarou said.
"Aww...I wanted to be obscenely rich." Kenshin said in a crestfallen tone.
"Nor can it grant asinine wishes like wanting a girl's panties." Konoemon said.
Yukari leaned over whispering to Setsuna. "Looks like you gotta pinch Konoka's panties the old fashioned way."
"Yukari-San...!" Setsuna whined.
"But what it does do is essentially a trap for the young...which is why we're so concerned about stopping confessions." Konoemon said. "The confession would achieve a guaranteed success. A spell of such power must be used correctly!"
Kenshin and Yukari looked over at each other again before turning away. "This really should be happening next year, but because of sunspots and the fact that gods have been fighting here it's come early."
Everyone barring Negi, Kotarou, Setsuna and Yukari stared at Kenshin. "What?...How many times do I have to tell you they would have came anyway!"
"Doesn't it seem kind of cruel that we have to stop people from expressing their love though?" Negi asks.
"Yeah, that sounds like a real dick move." Kotarou said.
"Well what if the love was one sided?" Konoemon said. "The man or woman who didn't reciprocate the feelings expressed by the other would become a slave to them in a way. That's an unpleasant situation don't you think?"
"..." Yukari looked down at the ground, a pang of guilt hitting her chest. "Uhm...Konoemon-Sensei."
"Yes?" Konoemon asks.
"You said that until the end of the festival the magic would be overflowing from the six points including here, right?" Yukari asks looking up him.
"Yes." Konoemon said.
"When exactly did the magic levels start rising and could they affect someone who made a confession within close proximity to the tree?" Yukari asks.
"Hmm...interesting question." Konoemon said. "The magic levels started rising at the beginning of the month, but I'm not sure if someone could be taken in by the tree's magic before now." "My guess would be yes, but like I said I'm not certain about it."
"I see...thank you." Yukari said.
Kenshin looked over at her concerned. He was about to move toward her when he heard the sound of rotors spinning. Acting quickly he threw one of his charms into the sky. "Bakahatsu Aikyou!" An explosion completely obliterated a spy drone.
"Ah...he realized it even before I did..." A girl Kenshin recognized as Sakura Mei.
Konoemon turned to Gandolfini. "You, Mei and Takane go after whomever is responsible."
"Right." Gandolfini said disappearing with the two in tow.
"So anyway, our main concern is that our students here don't make a dire mistake." Konoemon said. "This meeting is adjourned."
Everyone either nodded or said something before leaving. "Kenshin-kun, Negi-kun. Do you think you can handle this?"
"Hah...I don't see why not?" Kenshin said. "Our schedules are already stacked to high heaven."
"Oh ho ho ho. I appreciate it." Konoemon said walking away.
Kenshin looked out in the distance sensing something. "..."
"What is it Kenshin?" Negi asks.
"I sense a retreating, yet familiar magic." Kenshin said.
"You don't think that whomever was spying on us was a mage do you?" Negi said.
"I probably should have froze that drone." Kenshin said. "At least then I'd be able to I.D the maker."
"Well lets get a move on, we still have things to do." Setsuna said.
Negi and Setsuna walked out in front with Chamo perched on Negi's head, while Kenshin and Yukari hung in the back. "Is something wrong?" Kenshin asks.
"..." Yukari looked away.
Kenshin grabbed her hand. "It's what Konoemon said isn't it?"
"...yeah.." Yukari said.
"Well, what's the matter? So what if we confessed at the World Tree?" Kenshin said.
"I..It matters because it might not have been genuine...the tree's magic might have got to you." Yukari said hanging her head.
"Did you forget already?" Kenshin said making Yukari look over at him. "I was the one who confessed first, remember?" "Besides, I don't think Yama would let me be a slave to a tree's magic."
"I wouldn't." Yama said.
"Another thing...even if the confession wasn't genuine...the love that came from it is very much genuine...right?" Kenshin said with a smile.
"Kenshin..." Yukari said. She closed her eyes, squeezing his hand back as a small smile appeared on her face. "Thanks."
"Anytime." Kenshin said leaning in and kissing her on the cheek.
Kenshin and Yukari were about to catch up to Negi and Setsuna when a figure crashed in between them. Negi and Setsuna turned around. "Hey are you OK? !" Negi said.
"Yeah are you...? !" Kenshin's eyes widened.
"Chao Lingshen?" Yukari said.
"Eh he he he...Kenshin-Sensei, Negi-Chan it's just you two..." Chao said smiling. "Could you guys give me a hand, suspicious people are chasing after me!"
Five shadow dolls dove down at the five of them. Kenshin scooped up Chao in his arms. "Split up!"
"Right!" Negi, Yukari and Setsuna all said taking off in different directions.
(chapter end)
Draconis: Abrupt Ending is Abrupt.
Kenshin: No kidding.
Anyway I'm gonna keep this short. The impossible schedule set, Kenshin, Negi, Yukari and Setsuna find Chao Lingshen, a girl who claimed to Kenshin that she and he were related, being chased by suspicious mages. For what is she being chased for? Find out next time!
Draconis678 out.
