Lucky-13
Written by Valerie Fowler
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Rated: PG (13)
Quick notes: the story is based three years after the last book I've read, #3. I wonder if this is the only fanfiction out there as of now...Anyway, I'll have drawn pictures by the end of this thing, and they'll all...be in my room until my scanner is fixed. (( ( ) ))
And one quicker note, as for heights, Negi is thirteen now, so just adjust their heights accordingly. I imagine Negi being about up to Asuna's shoulder now. Just a bit below, considering that she must have been growing too.
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1) THE BIG DAY...
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"NEGI!!!"
The shout made it's way through the whole dorm and halfway through the city as Asuna dragged her teacher out of the house for the hundredth time, kicking and screaming. Konoka followed quickly behind, picking up the extra bag of books that Asuna had forgotten in her rage. They quickly boarded the train, collapsing on the available chairs. It was strangely empty... Negi sighed deeply, pushing back his bangs as Asuna continued making evil faces at him.
"It's been three years, and I STILL have to drag you out of bed! You're getting too old for that!" Asuna scolded, Negi covering his face in his hands in embarrassment. The first day of school...he was still used to waking up late for summer! He dragged out his planner a moment, writing notes and scribbling random doodles.
"Sorry...I'll try to get up next time Asuna-san..." He muttered, not at all too interested in Asuna's random morning banter. Konoka noticed immediately that his mind seemed to be somewhere else. She sneaked a a glance over his shoulder at what he was writing...
Dear sister:
Well, it's another year teaching...and it never changes. Asuna-san still yells at me every morning, the students still scare me, even though I've known them all for a long time. I know I'm here to become a master magus, but sometimes I forget with all the craziness around me! But then, I think about you and everything you've taught me! I won't let you down...
She stopped reading there. It wouldn't be right to read any more into a personal letter like that. From the look apon his face, she knew he was certainly putting thought into it. She smiled as she remembered the first bit of the letter. Yes, first year had really been a run! Second, just as crazy...and third with Negi-sensei was about to begin. She ruffled his hair playfully, walking off to another side of the train to try and find some friends.
"I don't know how in the hell I managed to get three years in a row with you, squirt." Negi sighed, a small smile playing over his face.
"Neither do I...But you're stuck with me again." He giggled, and she shoved him playfully as the train came to a stop. Another run to the school, another day with the freak-class. Upon running, several students greeted their teacher, and Negi happily returned it with a smile and wave. It would have been a sin if Chisime had been any more shocked. Eventually, they came to class, Negi setting down his books and the class bowing respectfully, giggling and talking to their friends. Asuna made her way over to Konoka, who was talking to a few other people. The class rep and several students where discussing something.
"Your place? Great! We can get the soda and snacks."
"I'll bring the cake! I can cook really well!"
"I'll help with decorations."
"Alright! We're all set!" Class rep smiled and took her seat, along with all of the other kids. As Negi began his class, Asuna leaned over to Konoka.
"Hey," She whispered, making sure that Negi couldn't hear her. "What's going on?"
"You didn't know?" Konoka answered back, a huge smile on her face. "It's Negi-sensei's birthday today! We're holding a part to celebrate! But don't tell him!" Asuka's eyes widened in amazement. It was Negi's birthday, and he wasn't telling anyone? She wondered for a moment about this, but soon got back to the homework in front of her.
BRRIIIIIING!
"Remember, class! Page 314 questions by tomorrow!"
"Yes, Sensei!" The class responded, picking up their books and heading out the door. Asuna, however, stuck behind. She came up to Negi's desk as he erased the board. He hadn't even seen her, and when he'd turned around, he'd almost hit the wall in shock.
"Hey, Negi-bozu. Everything alright?" She asked nicely. He stared at her blankly, blinking twice, as if he'd been asked a trick question. He quickly turned back around to his work, nodding cheerfully.
"OF course, Asuna-san. Thanks for asking, though..." His sentence wandered off as she left the room. Her thoughts where completely consumed over him for the next three hours. Why on earth wouldn't he say anything about his Birthday? Perhaps it wasn't important in Wales?
'Or,' she thought bitterly. 'He's just trying to get away from all of the attention.'
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"Finally..." Negi muttered to himself, packing up his bag, grabbing his wand, and heading out the door. Several students said their good-byes on the way there, and someone else stood waiting at the park that he wasn't expecting...
"Asuna?" She sighed, taking his bag and slinging it over her shoulder.
"I figured I'd walk you home. Just in case you're still afraid of the dark." Negi's face slowly turned a tomato red, and he stuffed his hands in his pockets. It was still the same Asuna. They walked home in silence for the most part, with a hint of small talk and random gibbering. Once at the dorm, Asuna stopped outside the door. For a moment, she felt whole-heartedly sorry for Negi. This was exactly the thing he didn't want...but on the other hand, maybe it would cheer him up. She smiled, opening the door to the dark room. He stepped in with a thank you, then fell back against the wall...
"SUPRISE!! HAPPY BIRTHDAY NEGI-SENSEI!!"
"Wh-Wha-" He stammered, completely taken aback. How had they known! The entire class came forwards, wishing him happiness, giving him his birthday punches and handing him presents. He'd been completely swept into the party, and by the time he'd started to open his presents, he'd completely forgotten about any troubles he'd had. Asuna stuck along with the group, keeping to talking with Konoka.
"How did you guys find out?" Negi questioned them as he unwrapped Nodoka's present: A book.
"Takahata-Sensei was talking about it a few days ago with some other teacher."
"Oh..." Muttered Negi. Some keeper of secrets HE was.
"So, why don't we all play a little game." Ayaka spoke up, clapping her hands together and smiling slyly. The girls all crowded around excitedly and waited for her to tell them what it was. Asuna stayed towards the back of the group, wary.
"It's a little game I'd like to call Seven Minutes in Heaven. And, our birthday boy gets to be the 'heavenly' guinea pig." The girls began giggling and shouting, leaving Negi in the dark. What the heck was that game? And what did they mean by...guinea pig...
"Alright," The class rep continued to speak, fluttering names in a hat. "The first one to go is..." Her face went blank, and her eyes narrowed gently. Of course...let HER go first.
"Asuna-chan." Asuna's eyes widened in shock. When did she say that she wanted to play? Negi was already looking at her, completely clueless as to what he was supposed to be doing. She looked at him in the same way, but before she could protest, Fuka and Fumika pushed them quite heartily into the closet, slamming the door behind them with very loud giggles and a 'you go girl'.
"Asuna...what are we doing in here...?" Negi asked through the darkness. He'd found the light a moment later, and switched it on, revealing her red-tinted and very embarrassed face. She tilted her head down, eyes narrowed in anger. Why did SHE have to go first...why did she have to go at all?
"It's seven minutes in heaven. Two people go in the closet and do whatever they want-"
"Can we play cards...?"
"-With each other."
"Ea-" He cut his word off, eyes wide. Did that mean that he had to...
"Come on, let's get this over with already. I want out of here." Asuna muttered and began to take a few steps towards him. He immediately took several steps backwards...and tripped over something on the ground. He reached out blindly for something to hold onto...and Asuna came tumbling down with him. A noise was heard from outside the door, and when Ayaka opened the door, she gasped in surprise. The rest of the girls cooed lightly, giggling.
"Way to go Asuna! That was fast!" Asuna groaned, holding her head and getting off of the shocked boy. Her hair was messed up, and her skirt was halfway down her knees. She jumped up quickly, waving her hands wildly and jumping out of the way of Negi, who still lay there.
"Ah! It's not what it looks like!" She screamed offensively. Negi pulled himself into a sit, and before anybody could say anything, he'd run out the door, slamming it behind him and leaving the girls alone. Asuna could have sworn she'd seen him crying.
"What was that all about? Good going, Asuna. You scared him away!" Fumika smiled, tilting her head to the side. Asuna pulled up her skirt and rushed after him without a word. She was already halfway down the hall when she sore loudly. He could have flown off, for all she knew! She wandered out the door, heading down the street...Lo and behold, Negi was sitting on the sidewalk, leaned up against the building.
"Negi?" As soon as he'd spotted Asuna coming towards him, however, he got to his feet. He was about to run off again, but she'd grabbed at him from behind. He'd squirmed quite a bit to get out of her grasp, yelling and shouting, but she was too strong for him. "Hey! I'm sorry, Okay?" She yelled, getting a firm grip on his arm. "I didn't know about this!" He stopped struggling, but still said nothing. It was obvious that he was mad at her... "I'm sorry...I know that you didn't want all the girls to come up, but I couldn't do anything about it! It wasn't even my idea! It was Konoka's! And even SHE didn't know!"
"Alright...it's alright..." He mumbled, finally managing to squirm his way out of her grasp. He turned around to face her, whipping his eyes as he did so. "I...I just need some air, okay, Asuna-san?" Asuna nodded, backing away a few steps. Before he turned around, her voice caught his attention.
"There...there was something in the mail for you from your sis...I checked on the way back." His eyes lit up immediately as she handed over the letter. He stared at the letter, opening and letting Asuna go on her way. As she was about to enter the building, she heard him shouting at her.
"Asuna!"
"Yeah?" She answered, turning towards him.
"Thanks."