Lucky-13
Written by Valerie Fowler
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Rated: PG (13)
Quick notes: It's about to get mildly serious...And I won't be writing these chapters in order, so apologies for the wait...if anybody is waiting.
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3) MINDLESS CONFESSIONS
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The hospital's walls where white, stark and contrasted to Negi's dark outfit as he ran through the halls, sprinting along side the doctor-pushed cart that carried Asuna upon it, beaten and bruised. Thousands of thoughts coursed through his mind, each worse than the next...so many possibilities. He could barely see in front of him past the tears that streamed down his face as a doctor halted him in front of the ER doors. He tried to fight his way past the doctor, mind on the situation.
"Asuna! Let me go, I have to see her!"
"I'm sorry, but you're going to have to stay here...we need to operate." He stopped struggling, sniffling wildly. The doctor explained each thing they where going to do, and Negi gave them the proper information on her name and birthday through choked sobs. His legs could barely support him as the details sunk in...She really had been badly wounded...and it was all because of Eva and Chachamaru... A panic began to set in as he stalked across the waiting room. The doctors could see his obvious anxiety. A small whimper was heard from the other side of the ER door...and he couldn't take it anymore. He sank to his knees, sobbing.
---
"Mr. Springfield?" Negi shot up at the sound of his name. He looked around blankly, realizing that he was in a chair. He must have dozed off...and somebody had to have put him there. He almost sprinted to the waiting area desk, wanting to know what the lady wanted. She smiled and came around, opening a door to the side.
"Ms. Asuna can see you now." He almost leapt in joy, and followed her down the hallways. She watched him as they continued to wind their way through the building, watched the worried look on his face become more and more strained as they continued on. They came to the door and she opened it for him.
"She's probably sleeping...such a devoted brother, you are." He almost fell over as she left. BROTHER! He recovered a moment later, sticking his head in the door. Immediately before him lay the various gadgets and medicine bags, and the end of the bed. He opened the door further, coming all the way in. There lay Asuna on the bed, completely unconscious.
"Asuna...? Oh, Asuna!" He came into the room, collapsing into the chair next to her seat. He took her hand into his, bursting into uncontrolled tears again. "I'm so sorry..." He whimpered, holding that hand close, as if it where a lifeline as he sunk farther into regret.
"Asuna, I'm so sorry about everything... It's my entire fault! If I'd just been paying more attention, you wouldn't..." He looked at her body, the light rise and fall of her chest as she slept. "I'm so stupid! Just...please be alright..." He stopped, watching her again. She seemed so vulnerable and innocent when she slept. He brushed a bang out of her eyes and behind her ear.
"I know I've never said it, but...I really care about you." He began, rambling off thoughts and things he'd been wanting to say forever, but never had the courage. "You're more than just a student, Asuna...you're more than just my friend! You're my partner! The one I always wanted...and...I just...I love you."
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"The little twit...He won't get away so easily next time." Eva sighed, leaning against the wall of the school. She sat on the roof, watching the scenery before her, the lights flickering on and off as the night wore on. It was a beautiful scene, overall, but it did not console her.
"You must be more careful next time, mistress." Chachamaru spoke up from beside Evangeline, watching her closely, as if something might come up and attack. Eva sighed again, nodding plainly.
"I'm not sure what's gotten into me. The thirst for his blood has been overwhelming..." She pulled up her knees, burying her head in them. She'd been having horrible urges to leap apon him in class, or even walking down the street, all in the middle of the day! She didn't even have the fangs!
'Either way,' She thought bitterly, 'I will have him...and soon.'
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"AH, Asuna! You're finally home!" Konoka greeted the girl as she came in the door, assisted by Negi. She had a crutch in one hand, and leaned over Negi's shoulder with the other arm. He led her to a couch, setting her down very gently as she winced. Nobody's smiles faded, however. Asuna was smiling as well, and leaned back gingerly.
"Yeah...It's good to be back in my own room again." She sighed, glancing around. The place had obviously been straightened while she was gone, because it looked much nicer than before. Some of the furniture had been moved as well...perhaps for her easier travel. Negi sat beside her, looking at her with a slightly worried tone.
"Is everything okay? Is there anything I can get you?" He asked quickly. He was about to get up, but she'd taken his shoulder and pushed him back down into a sit.
"I'm fine...I can take care of myself now. Anyway, if you end up doing everything for me, how are you ever going to get back to class? The students might get jealous, you know." He chuckled, agreeing with her whole-heartedly. It already looked suspicious that he was visiting her every day after lessons, and some of the girls had started to talk. They spoke the truth...but he didn't want them to know it: He also didn't want them catching on any more.
"Hey, I'll order some takeout! What do you want Asuna? Negi-kun?"
---
"So, what where you two doing at the hospital?" Kazumi nudged Asuna as the class got seated. Ayaka came up behind her with a sly smile as well. Fuka and Fumika followed suit. Asuna sighed, slamming her book shut that she'd been reading.
"He didn't do ANYTHING while he was there. And how am I supposed to know? I was sleeping half the time!" She countered all of their questions. Of course, they came back with more.
"Did he propose?"
"PROPOSE! HE'S ONLY A KID!"
"You mean he's going to?"
"NO!"
"So, what did he say?"
"Jeez, he just wanted to know how I was doing! Can you all get lost? You're acting like..." She stopped short as the classroom door opened and Negi stepped in the room. Immediately the class bowed, and the lesson began shortly after taking role. Negi noticed first off that Evangeline wasn't there. Chachamaru, however, was.
"Chachamaru-san, do you know where Evangeline-san is?" The robot student nodded plainly.
"She is not feeling well, so she stayed home sick." Negi nodded in understanding and wrote it down in the absent list. He then instructed the class to turn to a page in their book and read. Negi sat down to grade some papers, but he couldn't help but glance up at Asuna from time to time. He always looked down at his papers as soon as he thought he might be staring. Ever since he'd said that, back at the hospital...something had come over him, and he couldn't help but watch her...
And she'd locked eyes with him for a moment. She'd looked quickly back down at her book, and he'd gone straight back to grading papers. As he marked the papers for mistakes, a thought crossed his mind. He took a quick glance back up at her, and noticed that she was blushing...why...why would she react like that, he wondered. Unless...
"Alright, class dismissed! Early release for the school assembly. Have a great weekend!" Negi closed his book as the bell rang. The class quickly dispatched; all of them except for Asuna, who waited for Negi. He followed her out the door, but turned in a different direction. He quickly whirled around.
"Aren't you going to the assembly?" He asked. She nodded and continued going down the hall.
"I'm tired...I'm gonna go back home." Konoka came down the hall a moment later, beckoning to Negi.
"Come on, Negi-sensei! You're gonna miss it walking that slow!"
"I think I'm going to help Asuna-san home. I don't know if she can do it by herself yet, with the trains and all." He came up with an excuse on the fly, waving to Konoka as she ran off with a shrug. Asuna couldn't believe her ears. He was coming with her?
"I think I can do it on my own, Negi."
"No, I insist...I just don't feel right leaving you all alone and by yourself."
"Aww, so concerned about my health. I'm touched." She mumbled sarcastically. Negi sighed and followed quickly after her, taking her backpack with small argument from her. The train was ridden in silence, as well as the walk home. Negi was too pre-occupied in his own thoughts to say anything...and Asuna just couldn't think of anything to say.
"Well, we're here." Negi spoke up, tuning the light on and holding the door for Asuna. She came in without a word or glance at him. His face went from that of a happy person, to that of worry. Did she not want him to help her? She sat down on the couch, curling her legs up close to her and setting her head in them, flipping on the television. Surely, Negi was only doing it out of good will, but it was annoying to her. The girls at school would NEVER stop bothering her if this kept up!
Did he care that much about her that he WOULDN'T care if they talked? She was sure that he'd heard something with all of their jabbering...Negi went into another room and came out in his normal clothes. He sat down on the other side of the room, watching her quietly. He couldn't help but watch her...
"Negi...don't you have something you can be doing?" He looked around sharply, totally aware that someone had spoken to him...He looked back at Asuna. She'd said it. He hadn't realized that he'd been staring. He nodded, shrugging.
"No, not in particular. Did you want something?" She nodded with a huge sigh. Waiting on her hand and foot again... He got up and went to the kitchen, coming back with his hoodie.
"I'm going to check on the assembly. Are you sure you'll be alright alone?" Asuna nodded, eyes narrowed.
"I'm not the kid here, Bozu. You are. Are you sure you're not afraid of the dark?" Negi rolled his eyes, putting his hoodie on.
"Whatever...I got over that, like, two years ago!"
"Yet you still cringe when you hear little noises...things that go bump in the night...the monster under your bed..."
"Monster! There's a monster under the bed that you aren't telling me about?" He demanded wand ready.
"Yeah...little boy-eating monsters that are immune to magic..." Negi gulped, taking several steps back. "And he like's em' just about your size..."
"ASUNA! STOP!"
"And it's gonna get ya!"
"QUEEEEIIITT!" He screamed, running out the door, down the hall and out the front door faster than she could laugh. He might have been thirteen...but he was still gullible.
He didn't come back until a bit later that night. He flipped on the light, looking around quickly. Asuna was not in the room...she must have made her way back to her bedroom. He wandered down the hall, knocking on her door. A small noise beckoned him in. He opened the door and closed it, leaning against the back.
"What took you so long?" She asked gently. Her voice was smothered in tiredness, as if she'd been awoken. He shrugged, letting his head fall down a bit.
"I stuck around for a while to get some cookies. The food was really great...Konoka isn't going to be back for a while. She said she was going to a restaurant with some friends afterwards. She's sorry you couldn't come, by the way." He added on. She sighed, sitting up with a quiet flinch. She heard him, but her mind was elsewhere. Those words he'd said...she'd only been half-awake, but they'd filtered into her mind like a disease.
"Negi-kun? Can you come here for a minute?" He looked up quickly, eyes meeting with hers.
"What is it?" He asked curiously, slowly walking towards her.
"Let me see you. Come up here." She spoke with a strange urgency that made him obey her every word...but not without raising an eyebrow. He climbed up the ladder and sat in front of her. As soon as he'd started climbing, he'd gotten nervous...the strange feeling of butterflies wouldn't leave him, and only grew stronger as she scooted up closer. "It's alright." She assured him, smiling gently.
"Look, Negi-kun, I...well, I heard what you said...back at the hospital," She saw his eyes slowly widen, as if he'd been caught red-handed doing a horrible deed. He immediately tilted his head down, cheeks glowing red. She'd heard that? He'd thought she had been sleeping!
"Look, Asuna-san, I just...well, I mean-" He immediately began to try and come up with excuses, blatting out anything he could think of, when he was cut off a kiss. He blinked twice, trying to understand what was happening. It was over as soon as it had started, Asuna staring at him quietly, waiting for a response, face only inches from his. His eyes wandered past her, to the floor. She could sense his nervousness as he bit his lip, keeping his eyes averted. This could mean so much...
Without a word, he returned the kiss, this one more passionately than before. In that moment of bliss, he didn't care about what anybody thought, or what they would say. Asuna was what he'd come to Japan for, and now, it was all he lived for. Asuna lifted a hand to push a few stray bangs from his eyes, then pushed him down onto the bed, removing his hoodie as she did so. She didn't care, as she felt her pajamas being un-buttoned and removed, nor the feel of his hands on her as their kisses deepened. It was time to show him how she really felt...
---
Negi awoke the next morning as the sun came in his eyes. He looked down at the clock that read ten and smiled, curling farther into Asuna's arms like a cat. He just didn't want that moment to end...that moment of being able to look her into the eyes and say everything he'd ever wanted to and more. 'You'll be proud of me, sister' he thought to himself as Asuna shifted in her sleep, pulling Negi even closer to her, like he was some kind of teddy bear. He heard a soft moan, and felt a small kiss being planted on his neck.
"'Morning, Asuna-chan." He purred. Asuna only made another sleepy noise and sat up lazily. It was only as she gathered her hair up behind her back that the events of the night before came back to her with startling quality. She also realized that it was Saturday. She sighed, laying back down and gathering up Negi again.
It hadn't been that bad at all for the first time, really. Both of them had their equal share of things to work on, but she'd been so caught up in the passion of the moment, that she hadn't cared about any of that. Apparently he hadn't either. It wasn't perfect...but it was still heaven to him. Even just lying there close in her arms was enough for Negi. 'I can't believe I actually did it...' Asuna thought to herself mildly, as she curled a lock of his hair around her finger.
For a moment, they both felt the impending threat upon them, but it slowly faded away as the sun came up higher in the sky. They where officially 'together', and the thought frightened them both. It was bound to spread around the school in a matter of hours if the information somehow got spilled... The class rep was bound to have a heart attack, along with half of the other class. Negi might get fired if the teachers found out. 'But then again, he's only a kid.' She thought to herself.
"So, what now?" He asked quietly, his innocent voice asking the question she'd just been thinking of. He turned around to face her, eyes glued to hers. She sighed, burying her head in his shoulder. She had no answer. She knew what would be best...but couldn't bring herself to say it.
"Rise and shine you two! It's a beautiful day! I've let you all sleep in long enough!" Konoka's voice came from the other side of the room. Negi leapt up as her face appeared, hitting his head on the ceiling and falling out of the bunk bed to the ground with a large and resounding thump. Konoka covered her eyes with a huge smile and walked out the door.
"Way to get naked Negi-kun! Was it too warm for you last night?" Her voice came from down the hall. He muttered inaudible things to himself, gathering up his shorts and pants. Asuna giggled quietly, sitting up and coming down and getting dressed herself. Negi was about to open the door and go out when he'd gotten caught up in Asuna's arms again. Instead of fighting it, he simply stood there smiling. He knew what she was doing. He turned around and kissed her gently.
Time to play fake.