Side A : Mahora Sensei Keitaro!

Written By Shaun Garin

Love Hina and Mahou Sensei Negima are owned and created by Ken Akamatsu. All characters used for entertainment purposes only.

Chapter 6 : A Merry Chase? Tama-chan and Kazumi!

"Maaaa, I didn't get a chance to pactio with Negi-kun while on vacation," said Makie as she walked along with Ku Fei and Kaede. "Look at Asuna-chan's, it's such a cute card! And Konoka's and Nodoka-chan's and even Setsuna-chan!"

"Fu fu fu," laughed Ku Fei. "Maybe you'll get your chance later on with Negi-bozu."

"Mm," said Kaede. "Makie-chan, would you like to train with sessha and Ku Fei?"

"Eh?" asked Makie and she blushed. "Well, it wouldn't hurt I suppose."

"You have that ribbon-aru," said Ku Fei. "Rhythmic Gymnastics is good, but can also be adapted into a combat style."

Makie pulled out her ribbon and looked at it. "Eh? But I usually use it to get stuff from when sitting at the Kotatsu. Mostly oranges and all…"

"Fuuuu," grinned Ku Fei as she took the ribbon and gave it a couple of hard jerks with both hands. "With the proper application of chi, you could swing from building to building or even carry your own weight-aru. You do it subconsciously. Remember Library Island-aru?"

Makie flashed back to the night when the Baka Rangers and the Library Team went to Library Island. She had resorted to crawling across the tops of the Canyon-like bookcases and one of the platforms had opened up underneath her. She had lashed her ribbon to the ceiling and caught herself but never really thought about it until then. "You're right."

"Sessha is willing to show you how to use you chi," said Kaede as they turned the corner. "Hmm?"

Kicking up a rock into her hands, Kaede's fingers twitched as she propelled the rock into the bushes. There was a muted "OW!" as Asakura Kazumi popped out of the bushes, camera in hand. "Hey all," she greeted cheerfully as she rubbed the bump on her forehead.

"Kazumi-san, what are you doing in there?" asked Makie curiously.

"Ahahahaha! Funny you should mention that," said Kazumi with a grin.

"Eh? You've been picked up by the Magical Study Society?" asked Makie. The girls had stopped at the nearby Crepe stand for something to eat. Kazumi grinned and winked.

"The Magical Study Society has been paying me top dollar for pictures of acts of magic," said Kazumi. "Of course, they're not too good at determining what is what so I usually give them pictures that aren't very clear or focused. I hate to be ripping them off like this but they insist getting the Journalism Club's help and I'm the only one with the patience to deal with them."

"So you've been taking pictures of anything unusual," said Kaede as she bit into her Gourd Crepe and her lips puckered from the sour taste of the food.

"If that was it, why not take pictures of Satomi's room-aru?" grinned Ku Fei as she demolished a second fruit Crepe.

"I tried," said Kazumi. "So, how was your vacation?"

"Mostly quiet," said Makie, recalling the whole crazed adventure, even though she was mostly stone throughout the big parts of it. "It wasn't much anyhow. Hinata House is really nice though, although the residents are crazy people."

Kazumi picked up on the hesitation in Makie's voice and simply chuckled to herself as she ate her Crepe. Makie was hiding something. And the epicentre of the vacation? One Urashima Keitaro. It was about time she got some shots of the super intelligent hot springs turtle that could fly and reportedly grade papers.

Said Flying Super Smart Turtle was currently on a pleasure cruise around the Academy City. Buzzing a few low-flying birds, zooming past the Robotics Lab in the College section of the school and around several surprised members of the High School Dodgeball Team - The Black Lillies, Tama-chan Myuhed a greeting to Shizuna-sensei and then flew off towards the park where Tama-chan alighted on the shoulder of a surprised green haired girl. "Myuh," greeted Tama-chan.

"Good morning, Tamago-san," said Chachamaru. "Are you here to help feed the cats today?"

"Myuh," said Tama-chan, nodding. Chachamaru nodded as she pulled a dish of tuna and one finger popped open into a can opener. Working the blade through the lid, she scooped out the food into the dish for the little cats who crawled around her feet, mewing happily. Tama-chan had managed to find some way of opening her own can of tuna and shook it out into the dish as well.

"Nya!" Said the kitten and Tama-chan replied with a happy "Myuh!"

Floating up to Chachamaru's shoulder, Tama-chan asked her "Myuh?"

"Mistress has been quiet lately. The full moon passed last night."

"Myu myuh myuuuuuh," said Tama-chan.

"I must obey mistress. She helped give me life and I am her partner."

"Myuuuuuuuuuh."

"Mistress' powers are in waning right now. There will be no more attacks in about a week and a half, just before the new term begins."

"Myuh."

"I will try to make sure no one gets hurt too badly."

"Myuh. Myu-Myuh!" With a flip of her flippers, Tama-chan flew off towards the school.

"Man those guys at the Magical Study Society don't let up," said Kazumi as she walked out of the building that was supposed to look like some kind of black magic occult building but merely managed to look kind of upbeat at the same time. "Get more clear shots my backside. Hmm?"

"Myuh," said Tama-chan as she flew past Kazumi. Alighting on a mailbox, Tama-chan looked at her and asked "Myuh?" and waved a flipper.

"You want me to follow?" asked Kazumi and Tama-chan nodded. "All right, I can spend a lazy afternoon playing Follow The Turtle."

"Myuh!" With a flap of her flippers, Tama-chan flew off with Kazumi hot on her trail.

Tama-chan seemingly had no predestined location in mind, Kazumi noted as she followed the turtle through several baths, a building or two, over hedges, into through the window of Headmaster Konoe, over a sleeping Asuna and Konoka, around several mailboxes and then heading out towards the ocean. 'At the very least, I'm keeping fit,' grinned Kazumi to herself as she reached Tama-chan who floated near the edge of the water. "Well?"

"Myuuuh..." Tama-chan sniffed the air and turned towards the west. "Myuh!"

Maching their way across rooftops and through restaurant kitchens, Kazumi soon found them standing at the base of the World Tree. The huge gnarled tree loomed over the whole Academy, as it was rumoured to be older than the school itself. "Myuh," said Tama-chan, floating straight up and landing on a high branch. Glad that she didn't wear heels or a skirt that day, Kazumi set to climbing. Twice she nearly slipped off the bark but soon, she was sitting in the crook of the tree as Tama-chan sat on her knee. "That was entertaining," said Kazumi with a smile as she stroked Tama-chan's shell.

"Myuh," said Tama-chan as she looked over at the sun that was starting to sink into the distance.

"Yeah, it really is nice here," said Kazumi. "Hmm? Where are you going now, Tama-chan?"

The little turtle looked up and then floated upwards to a new green branch. Taking the end in her mouth, Tama-chan broke it off with surprising strength and then floated down onto Kazumi's knee, offering it. "Myuh."

Kazumi took the piece of the World Tree. Most students were not allowed to do this and Kazumi was certain that the little turtle was doing this on purpose. "You want to get me into trouble, don't you?"

"Myuh? Myuuu..." said Tama-chan, shaking her head. "Myuh!" She then saluted and moved her flipper in a way. "Myuh!"

"Oh, you want to play still? All right." Kazumi moved the piece of the World Tree around with Tama-chan and then as one, pointed it towards the sunset and chorused, "Myuh!"

The branch suddenly vibrated and Kazumi nearly dropped it in shock. "What?"

Tama-chan looked up at her and said, "Myuh," and made the pattern.

Slowly, Kazumi repeated the motions and then pointed it at the sun. "Myuh."

A shaft of light suddenly struck the wand and Kazumi tried to pull away but found out she could not. Another one hit and then another. And then, a thin beam of light soared out of the distance and then struck the branch as the light suddenly died. Kazumi held her hand as it wouldn't stop trembling as she looked at the branch. "What... was that?"

"Hmm?"

"Something wrong, Negi-san?" asked Shinobu.

"For a moment, I thought I felt a little bit of magic stir. Aw well."

"So... what are you, Tama-chan?" asked Kazumi as the pair shared a little dish of ice cream. "Some kind of magical mascot?"

"Myuh," said Tama-chan, shaking her head.

"An alien turtle?"

"Myuh," said Tama-chan in the negative once more.

"Or are you actually really just a smarter than average turtle?"

"Myuh!"

Kazumi chuckled as she took a spoonful of ice cream. "So, how do I use this?"

Tama-chan waved her flippers and started Myuhing rapidly and Kazumi laughed. "Oh geez, slow down! I can't understand turtle!"

"Myuuuh..." said Tama-chan and then got an idea. Flying over and pulling a thing of lipstick out of a nearby purse, Tama-chan grabbed a napkin and scrawled something. Picking up the paper, Kazumi blinked. "Wow, you really ARE the one who grades essays," she said as there was a remarkable detailed drawing of movements and then a "Myuh!" with the M stressed. "Here is fine?" asked Kazumi and Tama-chan nodded.

Picching up the branch, she moved it up, left, down, right and down twice before she pointed and said, "Myuh!" while stressing the M.

"I thought you said this was FINE!" Shouted Kazumi as the potted plants on the side of the room had exploded into flames.

"Myuh! Myuh MMMMMMMyuh!" Exclaimed Tama-chan, waving her flippers in a pattern.

"MMMMMMMyuh!" With a sucking sound, the burning pots were extinguished with a sound of air suddenly rushing into fill an enclosed space. Some of the management were worried but turned down the lights, hoping it would stop the problem. "I think we need to head outside for more of this," said Kazumi, scooping up her purse and Tama-chan.

Once outside of the building and well away from anything remotely combustible, Kazumi gave Tama-chan a look and said, "You have NO idea how to use this thing, do you?"

"Myuh," said Tama-chan, shaking her head.

"Great. Some magical mascot you are," said Kazumi but she tickled Tama-chan on the head. "Still, this thing is interesting. I think I'm going to keep it since leaving it in the hands of the Magical Study Society could be detrimental for our health."

"Myuh," agreed Tama-chan.

"Mistress?"

"There it is again," said Evangeline as she sipped her tea. "Someone has tapped into the vast power of the World Tree."

"A new magi on campus perhaps?" asked Chachamaru.

"Unlikely," said Evangeline, shaking her head. "I didn't feel the breach of something coming across the boarder. I think someone has actually discovered a method of tapping into the power of the World Tree without using their machines. Hmm." Getting out of her chair, Evangeline ran a tongue over her still sharpened canines. "I'm going out, Chachamaru."

"Yes Mistress."

'How much power could be in this little stick?' wondered Kazumi as she lay on her bed, looking at the branch. Even after several hours since Tama-chan had picked it, the branch was still green and smelled of rich wood. The small twigs that hung from it still sported surprisingly fresh looking leaves. 'Hmm... there's got to be someone with answers. Someone I could go to since I can't understand Turtlese.'

Getting out of bed, Kazumi threw her hooded shirt back on and headed out the door. Once outside, she wandered out into the night. The lamps had begun to light in the growing darkness, throwing shadows all over the place. As she turned onto the cobblestone road, Kazumi looked around and raised an eyebrow. "Cherry Blossom Street. Well, isn't this a chick in the pants."

The rumor was all over the place of course, that a vampire lurked on this road, stealing the blood of young girls. Kazumi herself had not seen any of these victims but the count of people experiencing it either through friends of the victims or base talk was enough for her to jot it down a few days ago. Lately, there had been a rumour of an attack but Izumi Ako wouldn't let anyone into the room since the girl was apparently contagious.

A chill wind blew that evening and Kazumi pulled her jacket closer. 'Maybe...'

As Kazumi walked along, there was a rustle of something overhead and Kazumi looked up at a shadowed figure, dressed in ragged cloth. The figure seemed to grin and moonlight flashed against sharp fangs. "Asakura Kazumi, Photo Journalist, the Mahora Paparazzi. Hmm... you were unexpected but will do nicely." Without warning, the figure leapt into the air and dove down at Kazumi.

Years of avoiding the angry attacks of people who had their photo taken from her kicked in and Kazumi threw herself to the side as the being landed and hissed. Swinging up the branch in the first pattern that Tama-chan had suggested, she shouted, "MYUH!"

The creature screeched as its cloth caught flame and all of a sudden, the cloth exploded outwards into a shower of bats, leaving a chuckling Evangeline. "Well, so you're the one who tapped into the power of the World Tree. And using an ancient spell of Nampousounda no less. Tell me, Asakura Kazumi, did you enjoy the rush of power when you used the power of Wood Mana?"

"Hmm, Evangeline, from my class. I thought there was something odd with you," said Kazumi.

"Who taught you that spell?" asked Evangeline as she walked forward in a threatening manner. "Hmm, was it that little turtle of Sensei's? I knew it was intelligent but did not know it knew how to craft a Mana Link."

"Tama-chan was winging it," said Kazumi, coming to the turtle's defence.

"Bah, all Hot Spring Turtles know how to make a Mana Link. It made you go all over the campus, did it not? North, south, east and west? Well there you have it. It's a shame really, that I can't take that newly crafted wand and use it myself. Feel lucky Kazumi-chan, you just learned a branch of magic that hasn't been used by anyone of human standing for centuries." Evangeline chuckled as bats encircled her and she leapt up to the nearest lamppost. "I'll see you again, the next full moon." And with that, she took off into the distance.

Kazumi watched her go and then sighed. "Bugger."

"Archaeology?" asked Shizuna asked the next day.

"Yeah, I need to know if there's anyone who's skilled in Archaeology, specifically the Turtle Civilizations of the south pacific."

Shizuna sat down and paged through a small rolodex that was on her desk. Pulling out a number, she handed it over. "Here. He has no fixed address right now but I'm sure his cell phone number still works."

Taking the paper, Kazumi entered the number into her own cell phone before handing it back to Shizuna. "Thank you," said Kazumi as she headed out of the room, pausing to bow politely before she left. Once outside, Kazumi flipped her phone open once more and hit the speed dial. Bringing it to her ear, it rang twice before a voice picked up on the other end.

"Noriyasu Seta speaking."

"Noriyasu-san, my name is Asakura Kazumi. I heard you are skilled in the ancient dialects of the Turtlese culture and I'd like to request your assistance on an artefact that I recovered. Have you heard anything about the World Tree of Mahora Academy and something called a Mana Link?"

"Hmm.. yes I have. Hold on a moment, I'll be right there."

"Eh?" wondered Kazumi. All of a sudden, a van erupted from the fountain next to her and with a shriek, Kazumi threw herself to the side as it rolled over and hit a fire hydrant. With the hiss of cooling steam, the door opened.

"Ugh, sorry about that. I was doing some searching below the school today and I got your phone call!" Exclaimed Seta as he got out of the van. A stream of blood trickled down his left eye as he laughed cheerfully. "So are you Asakura-kun?"

Kazumi's eyebrow twitched violently for a moment before she got to her feet. "Yeah, I am. I didn't expect you to come so.. quickly actually."

"So, you were saying something about an artefact and a Mana Link?"

"Aaaaah, it's been a while since I've seen one of these," said Seta, rolling the thin branch around in his hands. "It was maybe fifteen years since I saw one. In any case, some history needs to be told. Long ago, the Great Four Gods of the North, South, East and West existed on the points of great mana in this land. What we call Mahora Academy now used to be the Royal Palace of the Great Turtle God Nampousounda. After which establishing the roots of the powerful artefacts that lay on the four major lines of magical power, the Gods vanished, leaving behind remnants of great civilization."

"And here, Mahora Academy is a place where a Turtle God decided to live?" asked Kazumi.

"More or less," admitted Seta. "While the domain of the Turtle God was the south pacific, many have attributed them to the four directions of the globe which is something of a mislabelling. The Four Gods were highly mobile, leaving their calling cards everywhere. The South Pacific is naturally warm so the Turtle God liked it. There's two major hubs of Wood Magic in the Kanto Region; Mahora Academy where it flourishes through the existence of the World Tree and Hinata House. The land is enchanted with natural magic and it can make dreams come true."

"Myuh!" Greeted Tama-chan as she alighted on the table.

"Well hey, Tama-chan!" Greeted Seta. "I haven't seen you since last week! How's Keitaro doing?"

"Myuh!"

"BANZAI!" With a bone-jarring thud, Keitaro landed next to the table and tumbled to a halt on the curb.

"Aaaaah, right on schedule," said Seta.

"Ooooww, oh, hi Seta!" said Keitaro as he patched up the gushing fountain of blood from his head with a pair of bandages. "I thought you were still around Hinata City."

"I was underground when I got a call from Asakura-kun."

"Right. Well I'm going to keep running. Later Seta, Asakura-san."

"Come back here and die!" Screamed a horde of girls and Keitaro took off at a run.

"In any case," said Seta, picking up the slack from the previous conversation, "The Mana Link can be forged for one person a go. I think you really impressed Tama-chan by playing with her for an entire afternoon so she decided to make one for you. It's an instinctive process from what I recall, although a Mana Link can only be used by one person - the one who received it."

"So this is magic."

"Yes, but fairly limited magic," said Seta as he pulled out a couple of thick books and put it on the table. "Mana Links can only be used in specific areas that have a high concentration of blessed mana of a specific deity. For instance, if you were to say to travel to Hawaii and then try to use your Mana Link there, you couldn't because the volcanoes of Hawaii are blessed by Shippounada, the Phoenix Deity. In here are the locations of the best places to use Wood and Fire based magic. Metal is also a subtype but there are few Metal areas in Japan that is blessed by Nampousounda."

"You certainly know a lot about magic," said Kazumi with a grin. "How about an interview for the Mahora Paper?"

"Hahaha, I'd like to but then I'd have to blow the cover on a whole magical society," laughed Seta. "After all, I'm still the seventh most wanted man in Kansai after all."

Kazumi fought the urge to fall over and failed. "Well then, is there any way I can learn the language of turtles?"

"Well, I'm no expert," said Seta. "The basic vocabulary is in here but you'll have to find an actual person who is well versed in Turtlese. Just don't give up on it too soon; Turtlese has a huge amount of variations on Myuh and Myah. Although you may want to avoid the Myah a bit since it is a more tricky language."

Kazumi looked at the thick books and said with a wry smile, "At least I have a half a week before school begins."

"Myuuuh Myuh Myu MMMYuh, MyUh?" said Kazumi slowly as she faced Tama-chan.

"Myuh!" Agreed Tama-chan. "Myuuuuh Mya Myuh MyuH."

"Um, MyUh, MYUh Myuu MYuuh Myu?"

"Myuh," said Tama-chan, shaching her head and Kazumi sighed as she rubbed her head. "Myuh Myuh!"

"MMMMYUH MYYYYUH Myuh Myu Myaaaah Myu?"

"What... are you doing Kazumi?" asked Asuna as she looked at Kazumi like she had just lost her mind.

"Learning Turtlese," said Kazumi absently. "Myuh Myuh?"

"MyUh."

"Uh HUH. Well, I think I'll stick with Japanese thank you very much." Asuna walked off, muttering to herself that life had gotten infinitely weirder.

Authors Note : Please Continue to Side B : Love Negima! Chapter 6.

Translations : How does the pronunciation sound?

It's good. Now try the next phrase.

For God's sake, keep it down in there there's a Turtle sleeping?

There's no sake. It's literally Shut Up!

Shut up and keep it down in there, there's a Turtle sleeping?

That right?

Definitely.