Disclaimer: I don't own Negima! Magister Negi Magi or Ranma ½
Rise of Prodigies
Chapter Twenty: Apprenticeships, Kung-Fu and Denial, Oh My!
Beta:
The morning after 3-A's return from Kyoto, Negi had woken up early to visit Evangeline-san so he could ask her something important. However, as he arrived outside the cottage of Mahora's resident vampire, he found that he wasn't the only one planning on calling on her this morning for Ranma-san was there as well staring at him warily even as he shot her a curious look in return.
"What are you doing here?" Both of them asked at the same time.
Negi would have chuckled at that if not for the narrowed eye look that Ranma-san shot him.
"You go first, Sensei."
"Huh? Oh sure?" Negi said easily enough. "After the Kyoto trip I realised how weak I was and how strong Evangeline-san is, so I, um, decided to come ask her if she was willing to train me."
"What a coincidence," Ranma-san said coldly, her stare transiting into a full on glare. "That's why I'm here to do too for pretty much the same reasons."
"What? Really? Isn't that-" Negi began enthusiastically before cutting himself off as Ranma's look just got colder and colder. "Is there a problem Ranma-san?"
"How many apprentices do you think Eva-san is willing to take on, Negi-sensei?"
The Welshman flinched at that. I hadn't considered that. If we both ask Evangeline-san to be our Master then there's a good chance that at least one of us will get rejected today!
"I-I'm sure it'll be fine and she'll take on both of us?" Negi said hopefully, even as a selfish part of his mind hoped that if one of them was cast aside that it wouldn't be him.
It was perhaps unbecoming of him as a teacher, but he was only human.
"How naively optimistic can you get, you little-"
Ranma-san's snarling, angry words were cut off by the sound of a loud admonishing clap from the deck of Evangeline-san's cottage, causing both Negi and the redhead to spin to face its source.
"Tea is ready." Chachamaru-san said rather sternly from the porch, she relaxed a little though when she had their attention. "Ranma-sama, Master is expecting you."
Ranma-san shot Negi a smug look at that and he couldn't help but feel a touch crestfallen.
"We weren't expecting you, Negi-sensei, but there's more than enough snacks and I've laid out a place for you already." Chachamaru-san said, ignoring the exchange. "So, both of you, please do come in."
"So you two both want to be my apprentices?" Evangeline huffed, twirling a blonde lock around one of her pale fingers. "Well, I suppose I can take Ranma-san."
"Yes!" The cute little redhead cheered while the boya looked dejected.
"Mainly this is because that Book of Origin of yours intrigues me so. If I cannot read it myself, having a student read it for me by proxy is just as good." Evangeline openly admitted and gained a wicked evil smile that was ever so dastardly.
"But in exchange I want you to swear fealty to me and kiss my feet." Evangeline said with a teasing grin. She didn't actually expect that of her new apprentice but if she was willing to do it, well… Evangeline wasn't going to object.
What she hadn't expected though was the way Ranma-san reacted to her joke. One minute the girl was smiling and radiating smugness and the next the light in her eyes seemed to instantly be snuffed out and she began shivering. Worse, her previously normal breathing suddenly became labored and she soon began outright hyperventilating.
She's having a panic attack?! What the hell did I say? Evangeline thought, frozen in shock as the girl she had a crush on was coming undone, and not in a good way, because of something she said.
"I was joking! Just joking!" She informed the girl, waving her arms frantically.
"See Ranma-san, Evangeline-san was just joking." The boya said reaching out to pat the panicking girl comfortingly, only to have Ranma-san scuttle away from him on the couch, almost falling off in the process.
"D-Don't touch me! Don't. I'll be good. The best! So please don't touch me!" The girl said fearfully. Her eyes were clouded though and whatever she was seeing, Evangeline doubted it was their teacher.
"Wha-?"
"Be quiet!" Evangeline commanded the idiot boy with a red eyed glare while she moved to physically block Ranma-san's view of him.
"Ranma-san," she said in a soft, comforting voice. "Whoever you're seeing he's not here."
"He's not?" The redhead asked as she curled herself into a fetal position.
"No. Whoever hurt you isn't here." Evangeline told her with a decisive nod. "If he was I would kill him."
The stupid boy behind her gasped and probably would have said something that would have ruined everything but thankfully Chachamaru had the good sense to cover his mouth before he could get a word out.
"You're sure?" Her crush said in a painfully weak whimper.
And damned she wasn't even denying it to herself anymore was she?
Now's not the time, Evangeline! Get your act together!
"Absolutely." She reassured the traumatized girl. "But can I ask a few questions?"
"Okay?" The other girl said uncertainly before seemingly recovering some of her usual confidence. "Yeah, I guess it's okay."
"This person who hurt you. It was a man, right?"
Ranma just nodded, tears finally breaking free of the tight hold she was keeping on them and spilling from her beautiful blue eyes.
"And he forced you to do things? Demeaning things like I joked about just now?"
The girl nodded slowly, her fear and anxiety palpable in the air as her tears now freely flowed as twin rivers down her cheeks.
The boya gasped in horror loud enough to make it through Chachamaru's gag, but Evangeline and Ranma-san ignored him.
Taking a breath, the blonde said, "I'm sorry."
It tasted like ash in her mouth. She hated apologizing but this situation called for it.
"I didn't know. If I did, I wouldn't have asked you to do that."
The cute little redhead looked at her with wary eyes that twinged her stilled heart but eventually nodded.
"O-Okay, I accept your apology, Eva-san." Ranma-san said while taking a few deep calming breaths.
Once Ranma-san calmed herself with her admittedly cute exercises, Evangeline spoke. "But I cannot accept an apprentice for nothing."
The redhead started at that and the smitten vampire had to admit her saddened face was just as cute!
"So instead you will have to wear my colors!"
Ranma looked at her and tilted her head to the side in curiosity. "And start wearing gothic lolita too?"
"Who do you think popularized the trend in this town?" Evangeline nodded with a pleased grin. If the girl was back to asking questions, which she knew she always had about everything, then she was probably okay.
Still have to be careful though. Don't want to trigger her again. Evangeline thought warily, before another thought came to her unbidden. She'll look scrumptious all dressed up like that! I can't wait to see it!
Ugh! Stupid subconcsious! Can you stop being a pervert for ten seconds? We have a traumatized girl to deal with here.
Evangeline might have just imagined it but she could've sworn she felt her own id blow a mental raspberry at her.
"So it'll be like our uniform?"
"I suppose." Evangeline mused as a thoughtful look spread across her face that slowly transitioned into a smirk. "Just imagine the boya in a brolita getup! It'll be wonderfully embarrassing!"
Negi tried to protest if the muffled cries from behind her were anything to go by but they both just ignored him.
"Why not put him into a dress then? He's cute enough to pull it off." Ranma-san said, her eyes alight with mischief.
Joking around already? She recovers fast. Then again that's what I lo- I mean like! That's what I like about her!
"Oh! I like how you think! Let's do it!" Evangeline said with overplayed enthusiasm to cover for the hastily suppressed blush that threatened to spread over her face at the previous thought.
Giggling madly, both girls turned to the boya to find him shaking like a leaf. Hehe, so worth it.
"Chachamaru, let him talk." Evangeline ordered her gynoid partner.
"Yes, Master." The robot girl said as she complied and moved to change out their by now cold tea with warm refills.
"Y-You're not really gonna make me dress up are you Master?" The boy mage said still shivering slightly.
"I've got an outfit that I think he can wear if you want Shishou." Ranma-san said, shooting the boy a predatory look. She was even licking her lips slightly.
Someone is feeling vindictive. Getting back at the boya for contributing to her freak out earlier? Or maybe just out of the bad blood I've heard they have going on? Both?
"Hush, Ranma." Evangeline said, forgoing the cumbersome use of Japanese honorifics. The girl was her apprentice now. She'd call her what she liked.
And the implied closeness with your crush has nothing to do with it at all, Evangeline. Nothing at all. Her traitorous subconscious sent a thought shooting to the forefront of her mind that she studiously ignored.
"Though why do you even have a brolita outfit?"
Ranma just shrugged. "I collect fashionable clothes. Besides I can pull it off if I want."
Evangeline raked Ranma's body critically for a moment before nodding. "That's true."
"Master? I'm still, um, here?"
So he is. Evangeline realized with a frown. But I want him gone! I have to talk with Ranma about what happened earlier. Yet, brushing him off won't work either. He'll just come back and bug me later. Is there anyway to get him out of my hair, at least for a good long while?
She pondered this for a second. An eternity for a genius like her and an almost malicious grin spread across her face as she came up with the perfect idea.
"Calling me Master already? How presumptuous!" Evangeline huffed at the boya, playing up the part she needed for her little plan.
"E-Eh?!"
Evangeline squinted her eyes at the boy. "I've heard of your little obsession with exorcism magic. I kept an eye on you, while you aren't teaching the rest of those chattering hyenas in class you've been viciously studying it. Why would I want to take on a student whose focus as a mage is so diametrically opposed to my own?"
She had been wary of his study of it. While the blonde could tank some of the worst exorcism spells or rituals around, there were those that could very well harm or even worse seal her into something far worse than some middle school.
"But I need to master exorcism magic!" Negi insisted. "I need it to break the Mage's possession of Fa-"
"Stop!" The vampire interrupted him. "I am uncomfortable working with someone willing to work with such dangerous magic."
"...That's very hypocritical of you." The shrewish boy stated with a pointed look.
"Exorcism magic can kill Shishou." Ranma pointed out with a glare at the boy. "Or did you forget she's a vampire? I think she's justified in being wary of someone obsessed with its study, whatever reasons they might have."
Evangeline's heart skipped a beat at Ranma rushing to her defense like that. It was so romantic!
What!? Romantic!? No! It was considerate. To her master. Yes, to her master… Master...Mm. No stop that!
"But Shishou," Ranma said with an annoyed huff. "He does have a point. My Corrosion element magic and the other stuff I learned from the Book of Origins is dangerous too."
Evangeline shot her a look.
"Just pointing it out," Ranma said with a pout.
Clearly she liked having to side against Evangeline about as much as the vampire did, which was not at all. Yet for the sake of the objective truth she was doing so anyways.
"I guess you two are right this time." The vampire admitted grudgingly even as she searched desperately for another excuse to shoo the boy away. She was looking around the room for inspiration and spotted Chachamaru who was standing nearby watching over the proceedings.
That gives me an idea!
"Well, you're weak and I detest weakness. You have more potential as a mage than Ranma, are a fully trained mage and yet you're weaker than her!" Evangeline told the boy feigning disinterest in him by taking a sip from her cup of tea. It was a little cold from sitting out too long but still passable which she was thankful for since Ranma had imitated her. She'd be mortally embarrassed if she served the girl substandard tea the first time she visited.
She was so concerned about the matter she didn't even notice how Ranma flushed a little at her praise.
"But I beat you-"
"When I was holding back." Evangeline shot back with a dismissive wave of her hand. "If I wasn't I doubt you'd even be able to land a hit on Chachamaru much less myself. Besides, it was Kagurazaka that took me out that time."
The reminder had her groin pulsing in remembered pain and it took more effort than Evangeline would have liked to stop herself from wincing. She would not look bad in front of Ranma. She refused!
"But I'll tell you what," the vampire continued, ignoring her discomfort. "I'll give you a chance to prove yourself otherwise. Spar with Chachamaru one on one in say, oh a week's time? That should be enough time to get strong enough I'd reckon. Yes, spar with her in a week's time and if you can land one blow on her in the fight, then I'll take you on."
"I'll only need one blow?" Negi asked, brimming with confidence. "I can do that!"
"Shishou? Can I offer him a suggestion?"
"Go ahead," Evangeline agreed, nodding at Ranma.
"Negi-sensei, go look up Kū Fei-san to get some training in martial arts. You'll need it."
"What!? Why?"
"I might have abandoned being a martial artist," Ranma told the boy with a pained frown. "But I can still appreciate Kū Fei-san's skills. If anyone in Mahora can train you in such a short time to accomplish the difficult task Shishou has set for you, it's her."
"And why are you recommending he get another teacher when he's applying to become my apprentice? Aren't I good enough?" Evangeline asked, annoyed.
Ranma looked at the vampire with exasperation. "Shishou don't be unreasonable. You've set him an almost impossible task. Of course, he'd need a teacher to help him accomplish it."
"Yes, he is squishy." Evangeline noted consideringly. "Fine! Let's see what he can do with a little Kung Fu."
"Thank you, Master." Negi offered with a sincere bow.
"You aren't my student yet! Hmph!"
"As for you, Ranma, there's a story why you aren't a martial artist anymore isn't there?"
"Yes, but-" Ranma hesitated, eyeing Negi.
So it has something to do with that man who hurt her.
"Get lost boya." Evangeline said turning to shoot the Welshman a red eyed glare. "No men are allowed for this."
"But-"
"Negi-sensei, please leave." Ranma said in a voice that was too close to the broken tone she used during her panic attack for Evangeline's liking. "I-I don't want you to hear this. This is private."
"Okay." The boya said as he stood, while shooting Ranma a deeply worried look that had the girl looking away. In shame? No, she was stronger than that, surely. A desire not to be pitied, Evangeline reasoned. She'd feel the same if in a similar situation.
"I'll walk you to your dorm, Negi-sensei." Chachamaru said and Ranma shot her a look of surprise.
"This sharing is between Master and you, Ranma-sama. I will not intrude." The gynoid servant said offering Ranma a bow before escorting the concerned looking child teacher out.
The two remaining girls waited in silence for a long moment, both of them passing the time by nervously drinking their tea and nibbling on the snacks laid out to accompany it, before Evangeline turned to look at Ranma.
"They're gone." She reassured the redhead. "We're alone."
Ranma nodded and took a deep, fortifying breath before she began to tell her tale.
"Let me just start by saying I wasn't sexually abused." Ranma said with a haunted look that sapped any sense of relief Evangeline might've felt at the revelation. "But I was in practically every other way. It all started when my sperm donor, Genma, took me from the psychopath that was my mother for what he claimed was a training trip. I was just a toddler then, not more than two years old. And that was when my hell began-"
Dressed up in matching gothic lolita outfits picked by Shishou herself, ones with plenty of petticoats, frills and bows, Ranma and her vampire master walked arm in arm to the site of the Midnight Showdown between Chachamaru-san and Negi-sensei. Yes, the match's name was capitalized even in her mind. She could thank Asakura-san for coining the name and emphasizing that point until it had drilled itself into her subconscious with her nattering about it everyday the past week.
It was annoying enough that she shot the wannabe journalist a glare as her fellow redhead was setting up her recording equipment between a pair of the dozens or so Shield Maidens that Haruna had conjured in a circle to form a makeshift ring.
"Onee-sama! You're here!" Haruna said in lieu of greeting as she raced over and grabbed her by her free arm. "Come and sit with me on my improved Flying Manta Ray! It'll give you a great view of the match!"
"Haruna, aren't you being too conspicuous in your use of magic?" Ranma grumbled as she gestured to first the Shield Maidens and the landed Flying Manta. "We might be in the warded area of campus but we still shouldn't go overboard."
Shishou snorted from next to her but said nothing, which Ranma was grateful for. She was trying to make a point here to her reckless little sister, she didn't need nitpicking even if it was valid, undermining it.
"Eva-san are you stopping me from dragging Onee-sama away?" Haruna asked the vampire, totally ignoring Ranma's scolding.
"Not at all." The vampire said, quirking an eyebrow in confusion. "Why do you ask?"
"'Cause usually it's child's play to pick her up or drag her around."
Shishou frowned and her eyes narrowed.
She's getting angry on my behalf. Part of Ranma cooed, but thankfully the more rational part was in charge and hastily moved to stop the situation from escalating.
"It's because your usual monstrous strength is a result of your unconscious use of your magical power, Haruna. Now that you're actively using that power to create and maintain your golems, of course you wouldn't have the power to fuel your super strength."
"Huh? That makes sense." Haruna said, blinking in surprise as she considered the matter. "When did you figure this out, Onee-sama?"
"Just now?" Ranma replied with a shrug. She pointedly did not add that she'd done so as a desperate attempt to stop her overprotective Shishou from mauling her sister for manhandling her over the years.
"Ranma-san, how did you figure it out with just one look?" Nodoka-san asked curiously.
"I only need one look," Ranma said with a shrug.
That earned her looks that made it seem like they thought she was crazy.
They're the weird ones! She thought defensively, her grip on Shishou's arm tightening slightly in distress as the looks rattled her nerves. It's not that hard to figure it out.
The vampire shot her a concerned look for a brief second before she let loose a short but nevertheless maniacal sounding laugh.
"And that's why I accepted Ranma as my apprentice." The Dark Evangel crowed as she pulled the redhead closer to her side and using her magical flight cloak she was wearing to fly them both up to set on the top of a wall overlooking the wouldbe arena.
They ended up all but snuggling on their spot and were met with grins from everyone, even Kū Fei who probably hadn't known about them before now. Though preoccupied with each other, neither of them noticed at all.
"I thought you said it's because of her Book of-" Haruna tried to correct after a moment of everyone's silent teasing of the couple in denial achieved nothing.
"Shut up! I get to decide my own reasons and they're subject to change when I feel like it."
The others exchanged exasperated sighs at Shishou's tsundere behavior, but Ranma just smiled indulgently.
"Enough chit chat!" Shishou decreed angrily as she eyed everyone's reaction. "Let's get this match started already."
"Yes Master," Chachamaru-san said as she took an unhurried step towards Negi. Clearly the gynoid felt sure in her superiority.
"Very well." Negi-sensei said from across the ring as he took a basic quánfǎ stance he had learned from Kū Fei.
Chachamaru-san was unfazed by his show of skill and raised her arm towards Negi's head, her hand in a position as if she sought to flick his forehead. It was a demeaning move, one that spoke of how little she thought of him as an opponent. Or maybe it was her being sympathetic and she was going easy on him, her expressionless gynoid face made it hard to tell.
Either way, Negi-sensei easily ducked under the flick and using her lax guard attempted to use both his hands to strike at her midsection at the same time. The gynoid's robotic reflexes were up to the task however and with a short burn from her thrusters she managed to pull away from him before he made contact.
Undeterred, Negi-sensei smoothly switched into a spinning hook kick that due to his short height and the robot girl hovering in midair ended up aimed towards her groin instead of the head. If it had hit, it would have raised some rather pointed questions about what Negi-sensei was doing with his students but thankfully he missed as Chachamaru-san just jetted out of his reach.
Still not giving up, Negi-sensei quickly got his footing back and ran towards his opponent before pushing off the ground in a flying kick.
"Is he an idiot?" Shishou said with a face palm as Chachamaru-san just used her thrusters to propel herself to the side of Negi's kick.
"Not quite." Ranma said, pointing at the barely there chains of wind that were wrapping around the gynoid with each missed attack Negi-sensei made. "He's distracting her."
"Are those variants of the Sagitta Magica, Aer Capturae (Magic Arrow, Wind series) bindings? I didn't know he could do that."
"He is a magical genius in his own right, Eva-shishou." Ranma pointed out.
"Hmph. I wouldn't go that far." The vampire said stubbornly. "Those bindings are too weak anyways. And a toy wand? How blasé."
"Which is why I'm sure he's saving them for later." Ranma concluded. "Wonder what he has in mind."
"Sagitta Magica, Una Lucis. (Magic Arrow, One Light)" Negi-sensei cast with the expandable toy wand that he'd slipped out of his sleeve. With a thrust of his wand, he sent a bolt of light at Chachamaru-san, who dodged in time. But not without getting herself entangled in even more of the ethereal looking wind chains.
The gynoid closed in and in a move that would have left a viper green with envy, grabbed the wand and pulled it out of Negi's hand before she snapped it like a twig.
"Ha! That's what he gets for bringing a toy to a fight." Shishou sniggered.
She had to change her tune however when Negi-sensei used Chachamaru-san's close proximity to perform a snap kick that just barely missed grazing her nose as she quickly jetted back.
"He almost got her that time." Ranma noted with a grin. "He's getting close."
"Close isn't a hit, he'll need to-"
"Sagitta Magica, Series Fulguralis! (Magic Arrow, Lightning Series)" Negi-sensei cast while Shishou was still mid-sentence, sending a brace of lightning arrows at Chachamaru-san who jinked around them with her thrusters.
"Did he-? Where does he keep getting those baby wands?" The Dark Evangel asked with a frown as Negi-sensei used his opponent's distraction with the lightning to close and start attempting to hit her with a flurry of martial arts moves that Chachamaru narrowly avoided.
"No wand this time, Shishou." Ranma said as she looked closely at the boy's tightly closed fist. "I think he's using that ring as a focus."
"Where the hell did he get one of those?!"
"I did hear he was nosing around the magical market recently."
"...Shit. I forgot we had that."
"Shishou, no offense, but you've been living in Mahora for how long?"
"Hush, you!" The vampire said slapping Ranma's thigh lightly, causing her to cheeks to glow a light pink at the contact. "I'm forgetful alright. You try keeping everything straight after a hundred years then you can talk."
Ranma rolled her eyes and rubbed her thigh lightly. "Whatever you say, Shishou."
Asuna was mystified. There was an epic demonstration of magic and martial arts on display right in front of them, but was that the focus of all her friends' attention? No!
"I wonder when those two will kiss," Konoka said looking not at the fight but at Ranma-san and Eva-chan with sparkling eyes. "They're already so lovey dovey!"
"Oujo- I mean, Kono-chan. Please stop watching them like a tween movie."
"Never. I will have my OTP." Konoka said with stars in her eyes.
Fortunately for the peanut gallery, Ranma-san and Eva-chan were too engrossed with Negi's fight to pay them attention. Especially since Negi had just missed hitting Chachamaru-san by a hair's breadth with a Iaculatio Fulgoris (Lightning Spear Throw) conjured lightning javelin.
"Huh, I guess he's been upping his studies." Ranma-san noted loudly enough for even Asuna to hear.
"Heh, good on him." Eva-chan smirked as she leaned in to get a closer look of the fight and almost fell off her perch on the wall but Ranma-san caught her and pulled her into her side, before wrapping an arm firmly around the vampire's waist to prevent a repeat.
"Haruna-san is Ranchan and Evangeline-san really dating?" Ukyo-san asked from where she was sitting with Paru-chan atop the greenette's golem.
"Yeah, but neither of them even notices the fact." Paru-chan said with an exasperated sigh. "It's such a perfect match for the stereotypical clueless couple trope that it's like we're in a harem manga."
"Sounds like Ranchan." Ukyo-san opined. "She's oblivious to her real feelings a lot of the time."
"Tell me about it." Paru-chan said with a groan.
"Hey, guys, the fight." Asuna glared at the gossiping gossips. "We're here to support Negi, remember?"
At least Asakura-san and Yuna-san were paying attention, but the others? They were treating Ranma-san and Eva-chan like they were some kind of reality tv show.
"Yes, but Ranma and Eva dating, aru?" Kū Fei-san, of all people, asked curiously.
"Totally," Chamo replied.
"You guys are terrible," Asuna said with a face palm. "I hope Eva-chan hears you and punishes the lot of you."
There was little chance of that. The couple were both too busy snuggling, they were practically fused at the hip with how close they were, and enjoying Negi's fight too much to bother with the gossips. Not that Asuna could blame them. The fight was exciting.
Negi's javelin might have missed (and shocked one of Paru's Shield Maidens out of existence when it moved to block it from shooting off to gods knows where) but that didn't faze the boy mage at all and he surged close to Chachamaru-san to attempt to engage her in fisticuffs. She jinked and dodged out of the way of every move he made, but he was relentless.
"And you're mine!" Negi exclaimed suddenly as hundreds of wind chains appeared seemingly out of nowhere around Chachamaru-san's body and snapped taut, binding her and holding her in place.
Having played what Asuna could only imagine was his trump card, Negi raced towards Chachamaru-san at his rather impressive top speed with his fist cocked back. The moment he was within range, he threw a textbook perfect Kenpō punch. Just as the gynoid broke out of the layered chains, Negi's fist connected with her chest with some force. This caused the gynoid's right boob to compress just like a normal girl's would, which quite surprised Asuna considering Chachamaru-san's robotic nature. That was the first thought that she had, the second was one of sympathy as she clutched her own right breast and imagined the agony she must've felt if she'd received a punch like that.
"It why must wear good bra." Kū Fei-san said with her own sympathetic hiss. "Boob punch. Never fun."
Chachamaru-san definitely agreed as she clutched her chest with a grimace of pain on her face and staggered back from the blow.
"I did it!" Negi crowed. "I scored a hit!"
"Oh, Negi-sensei! Why hit there?" Honya-chan said with a dismayed look on her face as she crossed her arms over her bust defensively.
The only girls who weren't doing something similar were Ranma-san and Eva-chan, who just looked down at their own flat chests with frowns before seemingly noticing their shared misery and pulled each other into a hug.
Can they be any more sickeningly sweet with each other?
"Huh?" Negi said unaware of the response he'd garnered from the girls, spun to look at the bibliophile. "I don't get it. D-Did I do something wrong."
With his guard completely down, he failed to notice as Chachamaru-san walked up behind him and smacked him on the back of his head hard enough to have him eating dirt.
"Negi-sensei, please don't hit a woman there in the future if you can help it." The gynoid told him even as she helped him up. "We're sensitive there."
"Oh! I, um, very sorry!" Negi said hastily, his eyes widening as he realized what she meant. He started to bow repeatedly in apology.
"That aside, congratulations on your victory." The gynoid said, offering him a respectful bow.
One he hastily returned.
"Good. Good." Kū Fei-san said with a nod while stroking a fake beard she got from somewhere. "Mutual respect."
"I won!" Negi cheered again as they finished exchanging bows. "And I did it without getting more than a chipped tooth!"
All the girls made some display of exasperation at that even as Eva-chan summed up their collective thought on the matter. "Boys."
"Negi-kun, come over here. I'll fix that right up." Konoka said while pulling out a toy wand of her own.
"Seriously, is there a bargain sale on those things?" Eva-chan muttered with an eye twitch as she and Ranma-san hopped down from their couples' perch.
"Maybe a clearance sale?" The redhead suggested. "They have those pretty often. They have to make space for new stock and all that."
"They do?" Eva-chan asked, perking up with interest. "Anything good? I'm in the market for some cheap potions or ingredients to make some. The boya wiped me out during the blackout."
"We can go shopping soon to check?" Ranma-san suggested shyly, toeing her foot in the ground.
"Set the date and I'll be there."
How can they not realize they're dating!? Asuna thought as she just looked at the two oblivious fools with her mouth hanging open.
"Denial is powerful with those two, Ane-san." Chamo said sagely, 'smoking' one of his chocolate cigarettes.
"Ano, Master, sorry to interrupt your date planning."
Even Negi can see it!
"But can I check if I passed?" The Welsh boy asked warily, quailing a little as Ranma-san and Eva-chan both glared at him.
"Huh? Oh, yes. Your sexual harassment punch passed." Eva-chan scathingly noted, a dirty frown on her face. "You can start by running around the campus one hundred times. Your stamina could use the work out."
"My what-?! And how many?! I-I have papers to mark Master!"
"I'll explain it to you later, Negi." Asuna said with a sigh. As uncomfortable as she would be teaching him Sex Ed, better her than any of the others. She shuddered to think what the others might teach him.
"Too bad," Eva-chan said vindictively. "That'll teach you to not disturb me when I make arrangements for outings."
"That's why I'm being punished? But-"
"Just run." Ranma said materializing her crossbow.
"Do it, Sensei." Paru-chan said with a sharp intake of air. "Onee-sama is serious. She has the crossbow out."
Negi looked like a deer caught in the highlights of an oncoming semi-trailer truck for a moment before a magical arrow exploding next to him made him realize they were serious and he raced off.
Smart boy. Asuna thought as he sprinted away as fast as his legs could carry him. Maybe he'll learn not to mess up a pair of lovestruck girls as they plan their first date.
"Shishou, I know why Negi-sensei and I are here but what about the others?" Ranma asked, gesturing to Konoka-san, Setsuna- san, Asuna-san, Haruna, and Nodoka-san who set across from her in the vampire's living room.
"Blame it on Konoe's father." Shishou said with a shrug. "Before we left Kyoto, he asked me to take charge of her magical education."
"Wow! That's great news! It means three of us will all be Master's apprentices!"
"And you're telling us now?" Ranma said with a frown in contrast to Negi-sensei's enthusiasm.
"I forgot okay," Shishou said with a blush. "And Chachamaru just reminded me this morning when I sent her to summon my apprentices."
"It did not come up before now." The gynoid replied stoically.
"It isn't a problem is it?" Konoka-san with the same devastating pout that she used to cow her girlfriend into submission all the time.
Ranma had seen it plenty enough to develop an immunity to its effects so she just shrugged. "So long as my own training isn't affected I won't mind."
"It'll be fine." Shishou assured her. "Three students is nothing I can't handle. I am the great Dark Evangel after all! Ohohoho!"
Ranma smiled in fond exasperation at the vampire's gloating laugh.
"Well, you'll have help won't you?" Asuna-san said with a roll of her eyes. "I mean Negi is also training with Kū Fei-san and Konoka is doubling up with the school's magical healers isn't she?"
"Don't remind me," Shishou said deflating from her high, an air of gloom about her. "Just like with the boya I have to share Konoe too. Argh! Why do you have to specialize in the one school of magic that I know squat about?"
"Even though I'll need to split my time, I'll do my best Shishou." Konoka-san reassured the vampire. "I want to be as strong as I can to protect Set-chan."
"Kono-chan!" The hanyou cried out with a blush. "It's my job to protect you!"
"Shush, Set-chan." Konoka-san said patting the swordswoman's head. "We'll protect each other."
"You two have an interesting relationship, you know that?" Asuna-san said with a visible sweatdrop.
Ranma, Haruna, Nodoka-san and Yuna-san all made various signs of agreement with the orangette's observation. Leaving only Negi-sensei to look on in confusion while Chamo, who had been riding on his shoulder, facepalmed in exasperation at the boy's naivety.
Shishou expertly ignored the byplay of the cute couple as she produced a pair of glasses from her pocket and perched them on her nose. It made her look scholarly and really, really cute.
"Now! Since all of you are here, let's start with my first lesson. The types of role mages specialize in. There are many different specific roles when it comes to mages but broadly speaking they can be simplified into two categories!" She proclaimed and slapped her hand on the whiteboard that Chachamaru-san had helpfully wheeled out behind her on which were the images of a chibi figure with a staff and sword while the other was a robed chibi with a larger staff. "You have your magical swordsmen and artillery mages!"
Ranma knew this already and nodded along. As did Negi-sensei and Haruna, though everyone else seem engrossed like this was some new revelation.
"To give you all some examples, Ranma is a classic artillery mage since she always tends to fight from range."
"And my Father?" Negi-sensei asked eagerly.
Shishou shot him a look for interrupting but nevertheless humored him.
"The Thousand Master? Well, he was an unorthodox one but strictly speaking he would be considered a magical swordsman due to his propensity to fight at close range."
"I myself am not so limited and am in fact a mix of the two." Shishou said as a segway to flaunt her prowess. It was cute, like someone trying to act as if they were way taller than they actually were.
Not that her Shishou needed to be taller. She was better small and cute.
Pointing at Ranma's sibling disciples, the blonde vampire declared. "I want the two of you to pick how you want to be trained. That way I can make a proper training regimen and plan out what you should focus on first."
"So Ranma doesn't need to pick because she's already chosen?"
"I've made my choice long ago." Ranma told her fellow redhead with a hard look.
"Why be an artillery mage though?" Yuna-san asked, curiously. Obviously missing Ranma's hint to not push it. "I've seen you during PE, Ranma-san, and I bet you'd be great at all the martial arts that's gotta be part of being a magical swordsman."
"Onee-sama doesn't need martial arts." Haruna insisted, even as Ranma frowned.
She didn't want to have to justify herself. Not to these people! The reasons for her aversion to martial arts were private damn it!
"Huh, why?" Asuna-san asked but before she could say anything about it, Shishou interrupted.
"Leave it!" The vampire ordered, glaring at all of those in the room even as she reached over and gave one of Ranma's hands a comforting squeeze that had her blushing.
"But Ranma," Shishou said turning to her and speaking in a softer, careful tone. "If you're going to be an artillery mage you'll need familiars or Ministers to defend you from enemies who try to get close."
"But I've been getting along fine without them so far." Ranma whined with a pout.
The blonde vampire's eyes blew wide at her display and froze for a moment before she took a deep steadying breath to gather her strength before continuing.
"And how well would you do if I attack you right now?" The vampire said softly but firmly. "No crossbow, no chance to chant a spell?"
Ranma winced at that.
"So either find someone to pucker up with or I'll have to start teaching you puppet magic."
"You already know my answer to that, Shishou."
"I know. I just like pointing things out."
Everyone else blinked in shock, even Chachamaru-san. Ranma didn't know what they were going on about? What was with the faces?
"They can even have unspoken conversations already?" Asuna-san said with a smack to her forehead. "How can they still not get it?"
"The Denial is strong with them." Chamo said trying to sound sagely.
What the hell are they talking about? And why is Konoka-san smiling like she's watching quality entertainment?
"Ignore them." Shishou said even as she opened a box that Chachamaru-san had been holding and tossed what was inside at Ranma.
With skill drilled into her by torturous training, the redhead caught a small doll that looked like a childlike version of Chachamaru.
"What's this?"
"Channel your magic through her and she'll be your first doll."
"Now?"
"Yes, you'll need her. I intend to start training today."
Giving her Shishou an affirmative nod, she channeled her magic into the doll. The joints immediately clinked and twisted as it leapt to life. Its limbs twitching like how a biological creature might if it was having a seizure as it slowly shifted from a limp posture into a sitting one whilst cradled in Ranma's arms.
"Hiya! Name's Chachazero." The doll greeted happily, a wide creepy smile on its face. "What's yer name Mistress and who ya want me to go kill?"
"Uuh." Ranma said as she looked at Shishou questioningly.
"That's perfectly normal for her. Yes." The vampire told her with a sigh. "She's always been a murderous psychopath."
"So yer name's 'Uuh', Mistress? That's a strange name. Not attractive at all."
"It's Ranma. Saotome Ranma." Ranma swiftly corrected.
"Right." Chachazero said with an enthusiastic nod. "So who you want me to kill? That broad over there with the orange hair? She's looking at ya funny. Or maybe that redhead kid? Killing kids are always fun, they scream the most funny things when you stab them. All mommy this and daddy that! Even when you've already butchered their precious mommy and daddy in front of them."
"Eva-chan want to tell us anything?" Asuna-san said, with a raised brow. Ranma actually joined her on that front.
"S-She got that from movies!" The vampire said hastily as she practically teleported in front of Ranma and looked earnestly into her face. "I've never had her do anything like that! Ranma, you've got to believe me!"
"Only Ranma? What are the rest of us? Chopped liver?" The orangette magic canceller said with a sigh.
"We're not Eva-shishou's crush." Konoka-san said with a teasing giggle.
Ranma heard none of the roommates' exchange though, she was a little too busy nodding along in frantic agreement to the denials of the vampire in her face. That and trying hard to suppress an atomic red blush at said vampire's close proximity.
"And if she mentions the Rabbit Incident, it's a filthy filthy lie."
Chachazero looked back and forth between Shishou and Ranma a couple times before asking, "Mistress, are you and Old Mistress having sex?"
"W-What!?" Ranma shouted as the shinso vampire just paled.
"They would like to," Haruna said with a cheeky grin, but neither of the two girls she was talking about heard her.
"Chachazero! She's my apprentice! My apprentice!"
"Doesn't mean you can't boink each other, Old Mistress." The doll said with a dismissive wave of her hand. "It's happened plenty of times in the past."
"You've had relationships with your previous apprentices?" Ranma asked sounding both sad and hopeful all at once.
"W-What!? No! You are, uh, you three are my first apprentices!"
"At least she remembered to include us this time." Konoka-san noted with a giggle. "This is so cute though. I could watch for hours!"
"Kono-chan, should we be just sitting here watching this? This should be private, no?"
"Well, they're the ones who decided to do this in public." Asuna-san said with a shrug.
"Gah, shut up peanut gallery!" Shishou shouted, her cheeks red with anger. Or embarrassment. It was hard to tell.
"Peanut gallery?" Ranma said, blinking in confusion before Chachazero helpfully pointed at the gathered friends who were sitting around watching the scene unfold.
"Oh!" The petite redhead said as she blushed scarlet at the attention. "Them."
"Gasp! We've been caught!" Konoka-san called out.
"Konoka-san, you're enjoying this too much." Negi-sensei said with a sigh.
"Yeah, them. Who are they anyways?" Chachazero asked. "If I can't kill them then they must be allies, right? So introduce me!"
A quick round of introductions followed, during which Shishou glared daggers alternately at the audience to her embarrassing herself and the doll which had set up the whole mess.
"Alright, so I only promise not to kill the bubbly one." Chachazero declared as they finished the introductions. "She heals people right? That means I can torture them more!"
"You don't touch my sister or Ucchan either." Ranma warned. "Or else."
"Okay, okay." The doll said with a disappointed whine. "I promise. Killjoy. Show me who this Ucchan is later."
"Yeah, I'll introduce you two tonight."
That the others didn't even bother commenting about how they weren't covered by Ranma's order to Chachazero was probably because they had gotten used to the doll's antics. Considering this involved promising casual murder as a tease, this was a scary thought.
"Alright, so we're done here." The vampire said with a decisive nod, her cheeks lightly pink. "So follow me. Ranma, take my arm."
"Why does she have to do that?" Asuna-san asked with a teasing grin as Ranma complied, but not without a blush.
"Because I said so!" Shishou defected as she wrapped an arm around one of her apprentice's own and led them to the back of her cottage.
"It's not 'cause you just want Ranma-san close?" Yuna-san asked, joining in on the teasing.
"It must feel nice to have your crush so close." Nodoka-san of all people said with a wistful sigh, even as she shot a blushing Negi-sensei a look.
"I will murder you all!" Shishou snapped.
"No." Ranma told her.
"...Maim?"
"No dice."
"Ugh~!"
"Master, we're here." Chachamaru said as they arrived in a back room of the cottage that was empty save a large glass bottle with some kind of diorama inside.
"I know, Chachamaru! I'm not blind."
"But you are distracted, Master." Chachamaru said innocently. "You always are when Ranma-sama is around."
"Are you teasing me too?" Shishou asked, blinking at the gynoid in shock.
"I am merely stating the truth, Master."
"See even Imouto-chan knows you've got the hots for Mistress, Old Mistress." Chachazero said with a chuckle. "You've got it bad!"
"I am being sassed by my minions now. Great. Just… great."
Thankfully for Shishou's composure, the others were all too perplexed by the innocuous looking glass diorama sphere with some strange buildings inside that dominated the otherwise empty room she'd led them to for them to pay attention to her misfortune.
"Is that a miniaturized world?" Ranma gasped as she realized what it was.
"Exactly," Shishou said with a proud grin as they were all surrounded by the light of a teleportation circle.
"As you can see, the sphere is set to a permanent summer-like atmosphere." The blonde smugly pointed out as they rematerialized inside the diorama. "The top of the tower contains a pool and spa combo. Just inside there's a residential area for sleeping and a fully stocked kitchen for when you get hungry."
Everyone oohed and aahed at that and with a proud smirk Shishou continued.
"At its base we have a tropical beach with a pseudo-ocean. Within the tower we also have my private palace, off limits to you lot unless I give permission except Ranma who is welcome anytime, featuring a large indoor bath with all the goodies a bath could ever want thanks to some magical effects. There's a large dining room that overlooks the ocean. It also holds a library and study stocked full of books and scrolls on various magic techniques, practices and spells." The small vampire finished with all the smugness a child could carry.
It was adorable.
"The flow of time is altered inside here too isn't it?" Ranma asked, her eyes surveying her surroundings with her Origin Sight. An enhancement spell she'd recently learned from the Book of Origins that let her read the Origins of things and decipher intimate knowledge about them at just a glance. "A full day inside here is tantamount to an hour outside? I'm right aren't I?"
"Your ability to decipher magical effects at a glance is astounding as always, Ranma." Shishou said with a proud grin, "You're right on both counts. But can you discern any other limits of my resort's magic?"
"Hmm," The redhead pondered, looking around and snapped her fingers. "I don't think people can use it for more than once a day?"
"Ha! Exactly!" Shishou clapped and her fellow apprentices gave small claps of appreciation, impressed by her ability as well.
"As impressive as this place is though, there are a few things to note. For example while my resort can accelerate a person's time, it can only be used once a day from the outside perspective like Ranma said and those inside have to-"
She trailed off and looked at Ranma meaningfully.
"Stay inside for at least one full day, from their subjective perspective, once they've entered."
"You truly are a genius, aren't you?" Shishou said with a grin and Ranma preened at the praise.
"It's thanks to the Book of Origins actually." She nevertheless had to admit. "I'm mainly figuring all this out using the Origin Sight spell I learned from it. When you can see something's very root, understanding everything else about it is easy."
"That makes sense," The blonde cutie (Where did that thought come from!?) said even as an uneasy frown stretched across her face.
The others shared none of Shishou's misgivings however and applauded, impressed again by Ranma.
"Your magic is great Ranma-san! And this resort is too! It's amazing that something like this even exists. Wow! Magic is really cool!" Konoka-san said as she looked around the place in awe and the four Ministras all nodded in agreement.
"With a place like this, we can get a lot of training done!" Negi-sensei offered his two cents.
"It's why I dug up the resort in the first place." Shishou said with a dismissive flip of her hair over her shoulders. "If I'm going to train apprentices I'm going to use every tool available to me to do it right."
"Well, you certainly are pulling out the stops." Chamo commented. "This place is a bloody paradise."
"What you think my resort would be any less than one?" The vampire asked the fairy with a raised eyebrow.
"Guess I should've expected that." The ermine shaped miscreant allowed. "Still good job!"
Shishou rolled her eyes like praise from such a lowly creature was beneath her. Which to be fair, it was.
"Alright girls and boy." Shishou said after allowing everyone to gawk for a minute or two. "You'll be following a special schedule that I'll be drawing up."
Chachamaru-san walked over and handed her some timetables.
"That Chachamaru drew up." She corrected herself, before adding in a barely audible whisper. "I wanted to do it, you damned gynoid."
"Apologies Master. I was merely trying to be helpful."
"Yup, don't blame Imouto-chan for being a slowpoke." Chachazero chimed in to add oil to the fire like the imp that she was.
"Zero!" Ranma hissed at her new familiar in warning and the doll sighed but quieted.
"Fine, fine." Shishou said, dismissing the whole thing. "Here's your schedules. You'll be spending a whole day inside the resort for training everyday from now on unless I say otherwise. I don't know how you spend your days otherwise and I don't care, just make sure you set aside the hour I designate each day to show up here."
Ranma and Negi-sensei both eagerly nodded at that.
"And if we can't make it on any given day?" Konoka-san asked as she examined her schedule.
"Then let me know ASAP." Shishou said with a shrug. "I don't want to be stuck waiting for you only for you to be a no show."
"Sounds fair," Ranma opined.
Konoka-san shot a look at Setsuna-san who nodded at her, before she turned back to Shishou. "Sounds good to me."
"Eh, Eva-chan," Asuna-san said, raising her hand as if they were in class. "Why do we get schedules too?"
Shishou rolled her eyes at this. "You lot are these three Ministras or as good as, aren't you?"
The four girls nodded.
"Well, while I won't be directly training you bunch. I do want you to join in with your Magisters' training. And train here on your own as much as possible." The vampire explained with a flip of her hair and crossed her arms in a haughty manner. "Your strength is my apprentices' strength. If you're weak, they're weak. You get what I'm saying?"
The Ministras exchanged looks before nodding.
"We understand." Setsuna-san said as their spokeswoman. "We thank you for offering this opportunity to use your resort."
"Yeah, yeah, enough talking." Shishou said with a look to a watch that she wasn't wearing. "Time's a wastin'. So if we're all on the same page, let's get started with training!"
"Ready when you are, Shishou." Ranma said confidently as the others nodded their agreement.
"Good, so the first step is to gauge your power levels." Shishou said with a malicious smile. "So today, I'm going to work you three to the bone to see how you stack up against me."
"Um, Shishou?" Ranma raised her hand, drawing the blonde's attention. "There's no need for that. I can read everyone's Origins and give a percentage comparison of their respective magical levels against your own."
"Truly? That's amazingly useful, Ranma-san." The Welsh boy praised. "I didn't think such a thing was possible."
Shishou however had a tiny frown on her face as she said, "Do so. I'm curious as well."
"I'll start with myself then. Um I'm about 55% of your level." Ranma admitted with a blush. It was quite a feat she knew, she was comparing herself against the Dark Evangel after all and in the magic rich resort she was at full power too. But against her fellow disciples she couldn't help but feel mediocre.
"Negi-sensei's at 70% and Konoka-san measures at 75%."
"Well, Konoe's to be expected with her lineage." Shishou stroked her chin. "Same with the boya considering who his damable father is."
"Oh, oh! Read me next Ranma-san!" Asuna-san cheerfully asked.
"Onee-sama, me next! Me!" Haruna grinned, pointing at herself with a glowing smile.
"I'm on deck, right Ranma-san? Right?" Yuna-san asked, showing as much energy as Asuna-san.
"Um, Ranma-san I too am curious of where I rank." Setsuna-san coughed into her hand, looking hopeful.
"Ah, ano, Ranma-san, i-if you could maybe rank me as well?" Nodoka-san interjected.
"Stop!" Shishou said before Ranma could go ahead and shot the Ministras a stern look. "You lot don't seem to get how dangerous what Ranma is doing is so let me spell it out. She's reading your Origins to do this. She's literally seeing you at your most basic level, stripping away everything. Invasive doesn't even cover it. And then there's Ranma's side of things to consider. How much can her brain handle seeing something so far beyond human comprehension?"
"Uh, it's not quite so bad?" Ranma said placatingly. "My brain filters out everything I don't want to know. So I don't get overloaded or see things that I shouldn't."
"It's still dangerous. What if you lose control of the spell and it shows you more than what you want?" Shishou insisted. "I forbid you from using it outside of an absolute emergency without permission."
Aw~! Ranma thought with a pout. She was having so much fun with the spell too!
"Alright, Shishou. I promise."
"Good, now since Ranma has saved me some time." Shishou said before looking towards Chachamaru-san. "Is the training area by the beach set up?"
"Yes, Master. I've had my sisters prepare them."
Shishou laughed maniacally at the news and everyone tensed for a moment.
"Oh this is gonna be fun!" The Dark Evangel said with a smirk that promised pain. "You'll all be getting the full taste of my power today. It's time for our first spar! I know your magical strength, now it's time to see how you use it in a fight! Prepare to get having the stuffing beat out of you."
Why did that sound like the most ominous thing I've ever heard? Ranma thought with a shiver.
She was right to be afraid. The pummeling she and the others got from Shishou was something she'd remember for the rest of her life. As she fell asleep in the resort that night, she swore her bruises had bruises. It was so bad she almost couldn't fully appreciate how her Shishou had snuck into her bed and cuddled up to her in the middle of the night.
Almost.
Done and done! Thanks to Nameless as always!
Whoo! Been a while since we've done a long chapter. Feels nice to get back at one. And what a chapter it was. First off, we changed up Negi's fight with Chachamaru thanks to Ranma bringing up a good point for Negi's defense of knowing how to fight. And we gave Negi a slyer nature that he showed off in early Negima with his using those toy wands and then showed off his new spell ring. And yes, we know Eva gives him one but he would have scoured for his own to win that challenge.
Nameless: Negi was a minor collector of magic foci in canon if I remember correctly, so with our version of Mahora having a magical market it only makes sense he'd buy some goodies.
And now onto the fluff. And I mean the FLUFF. Eva and Ranma's flirty and 'not' being a couple was so hilarious to write that it honestly wrote itself. I mean, we had a blast just penning those shenanigans.
Nameless: Can I say I love the denial running gag? It's hilarious. Though at this rate I've got to wonder, can Eva and Ranma qualify for divine status as the goddesses of denial just on their pure level of wilful obliviousness?
And now, for something completely different. So, we hint at the small things of Eva eyeing the Book of Origins. I mean, Eva is wary the frick out of the thing and honestly probably hardly trusts it in Ranma's hands. I am sure she's seen a few cursed artifacts back in the day.
Nameless: Yup. We also have our first hints of the bad sides of Ranma's dabbling into Origin magic through Eva's little rant. There'll be more to come and people familiar with the Nasuverse from which we borrowed the concept will have some clue as to what might happen the more Ranma explores her Origin by using Corrosion magic. Remember what happened to Lio Shirazumi?
You know what to do! Smash that review button and tell us what you love! No flames and peace off my peeps!
