Side A : Mahora Sensei Keitaro! Special!

Written by Shaun Garin

Love Hina, Mahou Sensei Negima and Itsudatte My Santa are owned and created by Ken Akamatsu. Timeline references are in the long time frame between Mahou Sensei Negima chapter 1 and 2 and Love Negima chapter 1 and 2 in an attempt to flesh out the universe that I so graciously skipped over in the time frame set down in the Altraverse.

Special 1 : Itsudatte My Konoka! Itsudatte My Keitaro!

"The air is turning cool again," said Konoka as she opened the window to her shared dorm room with Asuna and Keitaro. It had been about a month since the Ronin had come to teach their class of 2-A and some had begun to adjust to the antics of their sensei. Some less than others but it was to be expected.

Across the room, Asuna shivered a little bit and shook her head, her bells jangling in her hair as she got up from her desk that they had pushed to the side of the small room. "It's freezing Konoka," protested Asuna. "Aren't you cold?"

"Not really," said Konoka with a smile. "Back home in Kansai, it's sometimes this cool if not colder during the winter. Sometimes we see snow."

"Brr, I get the chills just thinking about snow," said Asuna.

"How's your homework coming along, Asuna?" asked Konoka and Asuna rolled her eyes at the homework set before her.

"Sensei's trying to teach, I'll give him that much," said Asuna as she set down her pencil. "I think he's in a teachers meeting today and won't be back until later."

"Hmmm... well, I think I'm going to go take a walk," said Konoka as she gathered up a sweater.

"Close the window," said Asuna and Konoka giggled and shut it.

Out in the morning air, Konoka inhaled sharply as she wandered out onto the grounds of the Academy City. The morning frost hadn't even burned itself off as she headed for the center of the city, bag in her hand. "Mmm, feels good," said Konoka as she wandered into the plaza. People milled around, working and cleaning up the remains of the starlight festival the day before. As Konoka wandered around the plaza, looking at the abundance of human and animal life, a running form crashed into her and she tumbled to the ground with a muffled "ouch."

"Kyah, I'm sorry," said another voice and Konoka pulled herself up to look at a cute little dark haired girl. She was dressed in a school uniform that was not native to the area around her and carried a backpack with a stuffed Reindeer slung under her arm. "I'm sorry," said the girl, helping Konoka up. "I'm looking for someone. We got separated while visiting the grounds."

"That's all right," said Konoka with a smile. "What's his name? Maybe I've seen him around."

"Well he's not too tall, kind of plain looking and his name is Santa," said the girl and Konoka blinked. "He was born on the twenty fourth and his parents must have had a vicious sense of humor."

"Ahh," said Konoka with a giggle. "Sure, we'll look for him. What's your name?"

"Oh, um, Mai. Mai Claus." Mai then held up the stuffed animal and said, "This is Pedro."

"Nice to meet you Pedro," said Konoka pleasantly and Mai's expression lit up.

"He likes you, you can pet him," said Mai and Konoka giggled and rubbed the fuzzy antlers.

"I'm Konoe Konoka, nice to meet you."

"So how did you meet this guy named Santa?" asked Konoka curiously as they wandered around the town, looking for a plain-looking guy named Santa. Everyone had just laughed at the name but there had been a few that had seen someone who looked plain and despondent wandering around the city.

"I met him last year actually," said Mai. "I asked him if he wanted to spend the night and we had a lot of fun after that. I've been staying with him for a while since I kind of lost the way to go home."

In essence, it was a half truth for Mai as the year previous, she had met Santa. He had been the most depressed person ever on Christmas Eve and there was something about the boy that made Mai love him on the spot. It was curious to say the least. Grandfather, when she had returned home about six months ago had given her permission to stay with Santa during the fall and winter and she had readily agreed. Santa was not too enthusiastic about Mai being there at times, especially with his family not being home often due to work or the occasional vacation. 30,000,000 yen was something of a stroke of luck but his parents continued to work, making it just him and Mai and their almost daily misadventures.

"I see," said Konoka with a smile. "It's cute that you found someone you love."

"Eh? How did you know I love him?"

"I'm part of the fortune telling club," said Konoka with a smile. "I'm usually accurate anyhow."

"Heheheh," giggled Mai. "Oh, Pedro said that he smells Santa from over there. I think he's that way."

Following Mai's gaze, Konoka blinked. "The school?"

"Great, first I get hauled here by Mai to go shopping since she likes the European charm, then I get lost and separated. Things couldn't get any worse."

Suddenly, Santa's foot hit a crack and he pitched forward, rolling over and over and slamming to a halt at a door, bottom half of his body propped upwards as he practically lay on his head. "Ow. Yes, it's worse."

The door slid open and the rest of him collapsed into the room with an exclamation of "Ow!" Looking down at him was a dark haired young man with square glasses. "Hmm?" asked the man. "What's a student doing around here on a holiday?"

"Sorry, I'm not a student," said Santa, pulling himself upright. "I kind of got lost and figured someone was in here that could give me directions."

"No problem," laughed the young man. "I get lost myself being new. I'm Urashima Keitaro, a professor here."

"Wow, you're young," said Santa and then reddened. "Oh, sorry. I'm... Santa. Hajime Santa."

"Parents had a vicious sense of humor huh?" said Keitaro and Santa went even more red. "No worries. People still tease me about my name of Urashima Keitaro. So, where are you from, Hajime-san?"

"Um, northwest Shinjuku," said Santa. "Although I'm here visiting with Mai. She dragged me here for shopping and we got lost in the mob."

"Right, well it is the morning of Christmas eve," said Keitaro thoughtfully. "C'mon, I'm sure someone knows where we can find your friend."

"This is a nice school," said Mai. "I'm home schooled myself but I do go to a local high school with Santa every so often."

"I live here most of the year," said Konoka. "Just me and Asuna and Keitaro-sensei."

"You live with your teacher?" asked Mai curiously.

"Yeah. Grandpa is kind of weird and had him staying with us," said Konoka with a giggle. "He's a nice guy, but he tends to get into horribly perverted accidents."

Mai quickly brought up the name in her head, accessing a little bit of magic. The name Urashima Keitaro was spun through her mind and quite easily he was on the Nice List, being that he was too nice, if a bit prone to excessive bad luck. Another spin on the name Konoe Konoka revealed she had been on the Nice List since she was born. "I'm sure he doesn't mean them," said Mai and Konoka giggled.

"The last incident had him fleeing for his life from an angry Chisame-chan in a bathrobe. I haven't seen her that angry since the first time he was smacked around the baths."

"Mai!" Called out a plain looking guy from the other side of the hallway. With him was Keitaro who looked distinctly banged up from some random encounter with a girl. "Mai, there you are."

"Santa, hi!" called out Mai.

"Konoka-chan," nodded Keitaro and Konoka smiled. "Well that's all well and good. Nice to meet you Mai-san."

"Mai will do," said Mai cheerfully. "Here, let me get you two something."

Reaching into her backpack, Mai pulled out a present; a fish. Blinking at the fish, Mai sweated, tossed it aside and pulled out another fish. And another and another and Santa sighed.

Mai felt like she was going to cry. Once again, her skills at pulling things out of her backpack were less than stellar. It was a miracle that she was able to do some things right on Christmas Eve. Reaching out, Keitaro patted her head. "Hey, it's okay. I could use some fresh fish anyhow!"

"You two are nice," said Mai. "Do you two want to spend the night with us?"

"Eh?" asked Keitaro as he shared a glance with Konoka. Konoka smiled up at him and Keitaro chuckled. "All right, lets do it."

"Hurray!" cried Mai and Santa felt a headache coming on.

"Cheers!" called out the four as they sat around a low dining table in one of the restaurants on the Mahora Main Street. Three of them had juice while Keitaro had a fresh mug of beer. Keitaro's turtle, Tama-chan had come out for the occasion and had a small mug for herself. Strangely enough, there was an untouched mug of barley-based beer in front of the stuffed animal.

"Aaah, it's a going to be a good year, I can feel it," exclaimed Keitaro as he took a long drink.

"So you're trying for Tokyo University for the third time?" asked Santa and Keitaro nodded. "Wow, three times. I couldn't do that. I'm barely in my third year of high school right now and I'm not sure where I'm going afterwards."

"Sensei is probably the only person who has made it as a sensei when he's still a Ronin," giggled Konoka as she sipped her juice. "How's your drink, Mai-chan?"

"It's good," said Mai with a giggle. "So, Keitaro-sensei, are you and Konoka-san seeing each other?"

Keitaro nearly spat out his drink. "Eh? Me and Konoka-san?"

"You two look so cute together," added Mai and somehow Santa got the impression that Mai had something else added to her drink at the way she slightly slurred her vowels. "Not like girlfriend and boyfriend but like brother and sister."

Konoka laughed. "I'm not sure if we're that close yet."

"But you did accept him more readily than the others," said Santa. "I can tell that much."

"Eh, the jury is still out on that one," said Keitaro, earning a hammer to the head. "Ow!"

Mai smiled and she drank some more. "But you know, there's a very strong line of destiny between the two of you. If anything, it's almost a fated encounter. Or perhaps, even a fated chance at meeting again."

Keitaro stiffened. "A... fated reunion?"

"Something the matter, Keitaro-san?" asked Santa and Keitaro sighed.

"The reason, I want to get into Tokyo University is that fifteen years ago, I made a promise with a girl that we'd get into Tokyo U. I don't remember her name anymore. All I remember is the promise." Glancing at Konoka, she sipped her drink to cover up her blush. "But... Konoka-san's too young."

"I'd be just under a year or maybe two," said Konoka. "It's hard to think about it but I'd have to be seventeen to even be his promise girl."

"It's definitely romantic though," sighed Mai. "Tell you what! Tonight, we'll go and find this girl!"

"Eh? What? That's impossible," said Keitaro and Mai laughed and got up.

"Uh oh. Mai, don't do anything reckless!" cried Santa but it was too late.

The building shook with howling magical winds as the girl was lifted up a few inches into the air. Her body grew and her hair became a curtain of spun golden hair. Clothing wrapped around her, dressing her in a short-skirted red and white Santa Claus dress as she lowered to the ground. Patrons checked their drinks to make sure they hadn't been drinking anything hallucinogenic.

"Eh?" Chorused Keitaro and Konoka, slack jawed in shock.

Mai grinned as she turned towards them. "You see, Keitaro-san, I am Santa Claus. And I asked if you wanted to spend the night with me."

Konoka got up to her feet, looked at Mai and said, "Wow... you're so pretty."

Mai blushed and she picked up Pedro. "Shall we be off?"

On retrospect, Keitaro figured that his life would be interesting since he took the job teaching a class of thirty-one female students. Never did he think that he'd be dressed in a silly looking Santa Suit along with Konoka in a short skirted Santa Suit and Santa who seemed to be able to pull it off better than he did. Also he didn't expect to be riding around on a sleigh that was pulled by a reindeer named Pedro, who liked Konoka but liked to bite Santa and Keitaro.

"Whee!" cried Konoka as they soared through the skies. Santa was at the reigns and Mai stood with one foot propped onto the sleigh front and seemingly listening into some unheard sound.

"Aren't we going to get in trouble with your grandpa with this?" called out Santa as they blatantly ignored several common route-houses.

"No! I called Grandpa and he's handling it tonight! He said it would be good for his bones!" called out Mai through the howl of the winds. "That way!"

Urging Pedro forward and dipping low across the houses, Konoka shrieked and laughed as they ducked under several high-standing trees and around telephone poles. "Isn't this exiting, Keitaro-sensei? Santa Claus is real!"

Keitaro laughed and he held onto his hat as they made a nice little turn around an overpass. "I think this is exiting for all of us!"

"Myuh!" added Tama-chan.

"I mean, who'd think magic is real?" called out Keitaro and Mai grinned.

"Of course magic is real, why wouldn't it be?" asked Mai as she looked into the skies. "THERE!"

Spinning upwards into the air, they came over hill and vale until they reached a town down below. "There's where the trail ends," said Mai, pointing towards the middle of the town. "Someone down there has a strong destiny tie to you, Keitaro-san. Lets go Santa, Pedro!"

"So... how do we get in?" asked Keitaro as Pedro touched down onto the roof with nary a clatter. "This place looks familiar."

"Apparently it's from your childhood," said Mai as she climbed down and heaved up her bag. "Lets get going. I'm sure someone in there is also on the Nice List."

"But HOW?" repeated Keitaro and Santa grinned as he jumped off and walked over to where a small window was set.

Santa pulled it off the hinge and said, "In through here. Mai doesn't have enough magic to get us all down the chimney so we need to do this stealthy-like."

"Hmm, delivering presents is a lot like breaking and entering without the breaking part," said Konoka as she and Mai wriggled through the window. Once inside, Santa replaced the window and the group crept down the ladder.

"Is this a dorm?" asked Keitaro in a hushed whisper as the four-man procession made it's way down the stairs.

"I think so, and keep it down," said Mai. "We're passing an inhabited room."

Creeping down the stairs, they made their way to where a tree was set up, all still lit up. "Aah," said Mai. "I'll just unload these presents first and then we'll trace the rest of the Destiny Line."

Opening her bag, she pulled out several gift-wrapped items and then with deliberate precision, set them under the tree. Turning to go, her foot came down on a strangely shaped device.

Without warning, klaxons blared and the room was lit up. The four had barely a chance to yelp as a net dropped on them and weapons burst from the walls. "Oh my god!" cried Santa in a panic.

"Nyah ha ha!" laughed a voice. "I got you now!"

Skidding around the room, a girl dressed in a pair of pyjamas that were festooned with bananas came into view, holding a big device that looked a cross between a scanner and a weapon of mass destruction. "Oooh, I caught me four Santas!"

"We're screwed," swallowed Keitaro as he held up his hands, the others doing the same.

There was a thudding of several feet on the stairs and then several girls came out. "Su, what's with the racket?" asked a short-haired girl who was dressed in a night shirt. "Hmm?"

"Intruders?" asked another, one hand on her sword. She was dressed for bed as well and the third was all still bleary eyed. Keitaro recognized her immediately.

"Naru-san! Am I glad to see you!" exclaimed Keitaro.

"Eh?" asked Naru as she finally got the sleep out of her eyes. "Wha? Keitaro? What the hell are you doing here in the middle of the night! And in Hinata House for all intents and purposes?"

"They're looters!" cried the last girl as she pointed towards Mai's bag still slung over her shoulder.

"No no no, it's a big misunderstanding!" cried Keitaro but his protests fell on deaf ears.

"Oh no," moaned Santa as the angry girls advanced. "Mai, do something!"

"Um, I'm not too good at this, um..." Mai fished into her bag and pulled out a large fish. "Nooo!"

"They're fish looters!" announced Su.

"CHEESE IT!" cried Keitaro and grabbing Santa, Mai and Konoka around by the shoulders, hurled himself towards the door. The group hit the ground in a tangle of bodies and they tumbled out of the dorm, through the lobby and into the courtyard. Hitting the top of the stairs, they tumbled all the way down to the bottom. Pedro flew down, picked them up by his teeth and threw them back onto the sleigh, drawing a curious look from a sleepy-eyed Haruka who had poked her head out of her Tea House.

Naru looked at the mess and then looked at the pile of recently grown presents. "Um... Su? What was all this for?"

"I was gonna catch me a Santa, and you let four get aways!" said Su, disappointed. Then her gaze fell on the newly grown stack and she exclaimed, "OOH! PRESENTS!"

"One of those people knew you," said Kitsune. "Who was he?"

"That... was Urashima Keitaro," said Naru and Kitsune raised an eyebrow.

"Naru-yan, come unwrap your new present!" called out Su as she had ran upstairs and dragged Negi out of bed.

Naru picked up a present and on the front, it read "To Naru, from K-Santa." Unwrapping it, she found a watch nestled in the wrapping paper. "Well... looks like you're not a bad guy after all, Ronin-sensei," she whispered.

"Naru, stop standing there and help us unwrap!" called out Kitsune as she pressed a present into Negi's hands. "It's already twelve fourty five in the morning!"

"Well that was a complete and utter disaster," said Keitaro as the four landed on the rooftop of the Mahora Girls Dorm. "What now?"

"Well I'm sure someone or something is tied very closely there, but now everything is all muddled up," said Mai. "I'm sorry I couldn't be of more help."

"Aw that's all right," said Konoka. "Tell you what; why don't Keitaro-sensei and I help you deliver presents all over Mahora? It's the least we can do."

"You sure? It's a pretty long night," said Santa. "Magic helps keep things easier but it'll be a long night since Mahora is pretty big."

"Sure, I can't let you guys do it alone, can we?" said Keitaro with a grin. "C'mon lets go."

"Shhh," said Konoka with an exaggerated whisper. They had decided on taking two homes at once. Currently they were working on the residential area. "Who's next?"

Keitaro checked the labels on his packages. "Shizuna-sensei and Takamichi-sensei. I didn't know they lived together."

"Eew, how kinky," said Konoka as they popped the top window open and squeezed into the house.

As they got into the living room, the pair crept to the tree and set their presents down. Then, a light clicked on and the pair whirled to look at Takamichi. He was a lot different at night, dressed in silk pyjamas and his hair a mess. "Oh, hello you two," said Takamichi. "I was coming down to stoke the fire."

"Er, we're not here," said Konoka with a sheepish grin and Takamichi chuckled softly, smiled and placed a finger at his lips in a sign of secrecy. The pair nodded gratefully and Takamichi let them out the back door.

"Try a bit more stealth next time," whispered Takamichi and he disappeared into the house.

With a soft clatter of hooves, Pedro landed and the pair got on as Santa and Mai dropped down next to them from scaling the wall from the next house over. "How did it go?" asked Mai quietly as Pedro took off.

"About per usual," said Keitaro. "You two?"

"That Ayaka girl has a lot of security," said Santa. "We nearly got caught several times. Who's last on the list?"

"Hmm," said Mai, thinking. "One more house, one person. A girl named Chachamaru."

"That's the last one?" asked Keitaro. "Konoka-san, do you want that one?"

"Sure," said Konoka. "I'm still up for one more."

With a jangle of sleigh bells, Pedro took off and soon they were touching down in front of the small cottage in the middle of a wooded area. Pulling out the gift for Chachamaru, Konoka circled the house, and checked the lock. Undoing it, she crept into the house.

Inside, Konoka looked at the huge amount and assortment of dolls. Looking around, she found a small tree that stood in the corner. Sneaking over and resisting the urge to chant "nin-nin-nin" Konoka placed the gift down and turned, only to look at the impassive gaze of Chachamaru. "Oh, good morning," greeted Konoka as she bowed and then headed for the door.

"Thank you for the present," said Chachamaru and there was a hint of a smile in her level tones. "I will make sure to get Mistress on the Nice list next year. Please make sure the door is shut."

Konoka bowed briefly and she left. From the top of the stairs, Evangeline looked down, all bleary eyed. "Chachamaru, was that Santa?" she asked curiously.

"A helper," said Chachamaru and Evangeline nodded, staggering upstairs with a muttered, "make sure the door is locked now."

"Well, there's the night," said Santa. "Mahora all done. You guys off now?"

"I suppose it's been fun," said Keitaro, sharing a smile with Konoka. "We're kind of tired now."

Mai giggled. "Wait, hold on, I want to give you both your presents." Digging into her pack, she came out with two small boxes and handed them to them both.

"Oh, and here's my phone number," said Santa, scribbling down his address on a tag. "If you want to come and do this again next year."

"Cool," said Keitaro as he tore the tag in half and scribbled his own number down. "Here's mine and Konoka-san's."

"All right. You know, feel free to call us up. I'll be here till spring anyhow. Have fun you two." With a nudge, Pedro took off and they flew off into the skies where they were met by another shape of a sleigh and twelve reindeer at the front.

"Wow... so magic is real, or at least Santa is," said Keitaro with a smile. "You wanna call it a night?"

"Sure, I think I had enough excitement for one day," said Konoka. "Merry Christmas, Sensei."

"Merry Christmas Konoka-san."

"Sensei?"

"Hmmm?"

"Call me Konoka-chan."

"All right. Konoka-chan."

"Wake up, Konoka, it's Christmas!" called out Asuna. "The dorm tree is overflowing this year!"

"Mmm, all right, Asuna," said Konoka, getting out of bed and feeling refreshed than before. It must have been the effects of Mai's magic doing it as Keitaro was already up as attested to his rolled up futon in the corner.

Downstairs in the lobby, it was a madhouse with the girls giggling and laughing. "Hey you two!" called out Asakura Kazumi. "What took you two so long?"

"Oh this and that," said Konoka as they sat down.

"Here's a present!" called out Fuuka. "It's addressed to Keitaro-sensei from Mai! Who's Mai, sensei?"

"A friend," said Keitaro, accepting a drink from Haruna. "Konoka-chan and I met her last night along with a very interesting guy."

"Hmm?" asked Fumika. "Who was the guy?"

"His name," said Keitaro, touching a finger to his lips in a sign of secrecy, "Was named Santa."

The girls burst into laughter as Keitaro unwrapped the present in his hands. Sakurano looked at the present and said, "Wow! Look at that ring!"

Sitting in the middle of the box was a perfectly fitted golden ring. Across the front was a delicate engraving that when held to the light, read simply "Merry Christmas". The adjoining card read "Just Believe" with a number next to it.

"Sensei has a girlfriend!" cheered Madoka and the girls dogpiled Keitaro.

"What's with calling Konoka-chan Konoka-chan now huh?" cried Sakurano as she grabbed his leg and Misa and Madoka got his arms. The Narutaki Twins were on his back as they twisted his legs and arms. "Sensei's getting a little close to our Konoka-chan, hmm?"

"Ack, she just asked me to call her that!" protested Keitaro as the small dogpile turned into a wrestling fest. "Spleen!"

"They're all so energetic in the morning," laughed Konoka. "Hmm?"

"Um..." said Setsuna as she sat down next to Konoka. "Um, Konoka-ojousama... I... here. Merry Christmas."

Konoka took the package and opened it up. Inside was a little UFO Catcher Doll of Konoka with Tama-chan resting on her head. "I got it custom made," said Setsuna, beet red. "Because... we haven't spoken in a while and..."

"It's beautiful," said Konoka with a smile. "I'm glad you don't hate me Sechan."

"I... could never hate you," said Setsuna softly and Konoka hugged her friend. Setsuna stiffened and then relaxed.

"Cuuuuuuute," said Kazumi as the pair looked at her. Kazumi's camera went off and she laughed. "Hey, c'mon you two. Here's another present for you Konoka from that Mai girl."

Konoka opened the small package and blinked. "Wow, look at this."

Sitting in the wrapping paper was a pale white gold ring that read "Merry Christmas". The card that was stuck into the box simply read "Call us next year". "It's gorgeous," said Konoka as she held up the white gold ring in the light. "Sechan? I want you to have this."

"Huh?" said Setsuna, surprised by the sudden gift. "But... it's yours."

"Silly, I want you to have it. Here." With that, she slipped the ring onto Setsuna's right hand and closed her other hand around it. "Keep it."

"Thank you," stammered Setsuna.

"Lets get some alcoholic egg nog into sensei!" laughed Sakurano.

"Aiyeee!"

Outside, two people grinned as they were peeking through the windows. "Shall we get home?" asked Mai and Santa nodded. With the jangle of sleigh bells, Pedro took off into the morning light.