-1Side B: Love Negima!

Written by Shaun Garin

Ken Akamatsu owns Love Hina and Mahou Sensei Negima. All characters used for entertainment purposes only. References to Fullmetal Alchemist and Naruto are owned by Arakawa Hiromu and Kishimoto Masashi.

Chapter 11 : The Cause Of Existence

For the most part, Negi Springfield got several days in advance of training from his new master Evangeline. Wake up, spend a day in her special resort from ten to eleven, return for lunch, work around Hinata House and then spend another day in the resort from three to four. This in turn had a habit of wearing out Negi but for the most part, everyone just ran with it.

In the resort, Evangeline taught Negi the art of hand-to-hand magical combat while at the same time taught him a little more about his father and his favourite moves. Currently Negi stood in the arena in the center of Evangeline's resort, practicing a move that his father apparently favoured.

"Is that it?" asked Evangeline scornfully as Negi's saggita magica blast didn't connect but the follow up of the Axe of Lightning spell reduced the can to a pile of melted slag. "Your father could use this move a thousand times and he still wouldn't get tired. True though that he had an obscene amount of mana but that's another story."

Negi slumped to the ground, panting. "Master, I'm very tired. We've been at this for nearly three days straight."

"Hmph," said Evangeline and she folded her arms over her ample chest. "Maybe you don't WANT to be my apprentice then."

"No no no, I didn't say that!" protested Negi wildly and Kamo-kun could only sigh and shake his head.

"Big brother, you're quitting now?" he said scornfully, injecting the right amount of disappointment into his voice. "And I thought it was all for the best."

Mean as it was, the Ermine and the Vampire had a point, Negi reflected as he got back to his feet and prepared another saggita magica on a freshly charmed can. The Axe of Lightning spell came from the Greek schools of magic, and was a mid-level high Ancient class spell. Out of the nine classes of spells, Negi had quickly learned that his father truly was the master of maybe five, six spells tops. One was the standard saggita magica spell that was favoured by much of the magical community. The other was the Axe of Lightning, although Negi was certain he saw his father use another wide-spread destructive spell back when he was little.

"That's enough then," said Evangeline. "We're due out of this place in about ten minutes anyhow."

"Thank you for the training master," said Negi, bowing and breathless.

"Hmph, I wouldn't be doing this unless you really pleaded me to. Makes me wonder if I should take up that job Eishun wanted me to do."

"Eh? What kind of job?" The pair had gathered their things and were currently headed for the access port; a giant magic circle in a separate tower that was connected by a high bridge with no handrails. It unnerved Negi all the time when he had to cross the bridge.

"Eishun wanted me to teach his daughter magic but since I can't be in two places at once, it makes things difficult," said Evangeline flippantly. "I'm certain she'll handle things."

"But that's not very good," said Negi, worry creeping into his voice. "Konoka-san has those people from Kansai still after her."

"If you're so worried, why don't you go teach her?" replied Evangeline snippily as the trio stepped into the circle. In a flash of light, they appeared outside in Hinata House in Evangeline's room. One of the rooms on the third floor had been cleaned out and made up into a combo room for Evangeline, Chachamaru and Chachazero. Curiously Kamo and Chachazero had become fast friends despite the little doll's unnerving bloodlust. "After all, you can make the trip in an hour or so."

"Well, er," said Negi, stammering. "I just don't have a reason to keep going there all the time Master."

"Heh," said Evangeline as the trio headed downstairs. "I think you have a visitor."

Negi turned towards the door where Kotarou stood, a wide grin on his face. "Hey, Negi," he greeted.

"Kotarou-kun," said Negi. "What are you here for?"

"What, can't a guy come and visit?" said Kotarou. "Speaking of which, I was wondering what you were doing today."

"Ah, well, mostly chores," said Negi. "The second floor needs a polishing and then the baths need cleaning."

Kotarou scowled. "Eh, Negi you're being a slave for these neechans. What's the problem with taking off once in a while and being a man in some good old fashioned fighting?"

"But…" said Negi and a cough alerted his attention to Evangeline who folded her arms.

"Take the day off," said the girl. "Come back with something useful you hear me?"

"Er, yes Master," said Negi and the pair headed out the door.

Kotarou looked at the closed door and the older blonde woman and said, "Master? Master in what?"

"Just martial arts," said Negi in a half-truth. "I saw someone who could fight really well and wanted to learn how they fought."

"That's cool. Martial arts is a man's art. Never forget that Negi," grinned Kotarou. "In fact, you wanna find a place where we could test yours out? Whaddya say, just a man to man fight?"

Negi rubbed his head and at the urgings of Kotarou and the little ermine who sat on his shoulder, he sighed and gave in. "Great!" proclaimed Kotarou. "Lets go, I know a place down near the river we can spar."

The fight to say the least was almost short and brutal after a fashion. Negi was down for the count much faster than Kotarou anticipated and the other boy stood over his downed victim with an expression that didn't say he was very pleased with Negi's performance. "What the heck was that all about?" Kotarou asked. "The way you fought left so many holes in your defence it was almost comical."

"Sorry," said Negi, rubbing his head and sitting up. In truth his fighting style was half-broken because of the lack of actual magical power in the battle.

"Geez, and you call yourself a man," grumbled Kotarou. Then, suddenly he looked up into the air and shouted, "DOWN!"

"Eh?" said Negi a moment before explosives catapulted him into the air. "What's going on? Are we under attack?"

"Che," grunted Kotarou as he rolled to his feet. "No, it's that crazy girl from your dorm saying hello."

Sure enough, Kaolla Su was flying down on a flying turtle, waving madly as it landed with a loud whine of jet engines. "Heyas Negi, short kid!" she exclaimed, dropkicking the pair and somehow landing the kick on Kotarou.

The other boy rolled to his feet and exclaimed, "What did you do that for, idiot woman?"

"Hee, you don't like my greeting?" grinned Su from where she sat on top of Negi.

"Er, Su can you get off? You're kind of heavy," grunted Negi and Su got off his back though not without a kick to the ribs for the weight comment. "Ow."

"So why're you here crazy girl?" asked Kotarou.

"I'm testing out my latest weapon, the Mecha Tama Mark Three!"

Sure enough the weapon itself was a giant turtle with bristled with armaments and was shaped like a four-legged turtle instead of the flying winged type. Although Kotarou himself hadn't seen this mythical flying turtle, he suspected it belonged to the current owner of Hinata House. There was a lot of legends around flying turtles although for the most part Kotarou dismissed it as he himself had no experience with anything regarding turtles.

"Eeeeh, looks like a piece of junk to me," scoffed Kotarou with a distrusting look towards the semi-cute yet weapon laden turtle. "Whose going to take you seriously being that it's a giant turtle mecha?"

"Eeew, you dismiss the awesome power of my Mecha Tama?" said Su. "Then you're just going to have to fight your way out of my testing!"

"No, wait Su!" shouted Negi but the turtle mecha fired several missiles that sent the boys flying.

"Eeeh, looks like someone's having fun over there," remarked Shinobu as she and Motoko carried the days groceries. Summer break had hit and the pair were off school as well as Sarah who was currently with her papa. "I feel bad that Mahora Academy isn't on break yet."

"Mahora runs on a mix of an English school system as well as Japanese," said Motoko. "They won't be breaking till September."

"But that puts them in the fall," remarked Shinobu. "Wouldn't that put them out of joint with the rest of the nations schooling system?"

Motoko shrugged as another explosion resounded and there was a distinct pair of screams, both young boys. "I think the Headmaster has gotten that all worked out. Also, the school is on a ladder system so you get pushed up to the next grade no matter what happens."

"No way, that's a lot easier than testing for high school. I won't be doing that till next year."

Motoko nodded. "It will be good if you start applying yourself. I am in my second high school year now and plan to take the tests for Tokyo University."

"Eeeh? Motoko you're planning on going as well?" asked Shinobu. "How come?"

"Er, well, I was thinking Naru needed company," said Motoko, looking embarrassed. "And well, I never really thought about going to post-secondary education till now."

"Oh, I see," said Shinobu. "Maybe I could shoot for Tokyo University as well, you know to keep you and Naru-sempai company."

"Naru-sempai? Where did that come from?" asked Motoko and Shinobu flushed.

"Well, when she talks about going to Tokyo University, her expression lights up." Shinobu twitched her fingers together. "Much like Keitaro-san does."

"You shouldn't get too close to him, he has too many perverted accidents," warned Motoko.

"Keitaro-sensei you pervert!" exclaimed Asuna, striking Keitaro hard enough to fling him out of the baths. "Use our own shower!"

"PHRRGH!" replied Keitaro, sailing through the doors.

Naru Narusegawa twiddled a mechanical pencil between her fingers as she tapped the book. "Ano, Eva-chan got an idea of how this question works out?"

Evangeline paused and looked over Naru's shoulder. "Mmm… the answer is number two."

"Are you certain?" asked Naru and Evangeline scoffed.

"I haven't lived for six hundred years not knowing anything ya know," said the blonde as she sat down on the couch next to Kitsune. The television was blaring with the sound of race horses as the other girl sat with her knees to her chest and spread, Kitsune sprawling on the couch with one beer in her hand. "Gimme one of those."

Kitsune handed her a Sapparo and Evangeline popped the top. "Mistress," interjected Chachamaru. "You know you do not handle alcohol very well."

"The old fart didn't want a drunk to guard the school so I never did," said Evangeline. "Speaking of which, did you give Chachazero one?"

Chachamaru looked over at the Ermine and the little green haired doll and shook her head. Sometime around the middle of the day, Kamo had limped back looking rather half-charcoaled from one of Su's weapons. Presumably the other girl was out testing Mecha Tama against Kotarou and Negi as attributed to the sound of fighting and explosions from across the small city. Currently the pair were sharing a bottle of Ishikawa Killer Brew, snagged from Haruka's stash and there were several cans around them. It was a novelty the way the Ermine soaked up alcohol like that. Kitsune considered selling tickets.

"Aw c'mon, a little booze isn't going to hurt them any," grinned Kitsune. "In any case though, I gotta ask something."

"Huh, what?" asked Evangeline and Kitsune held up a few ticket stubs.

"I was hoping you knew how to pick winning horses!" chirped Kitsune and Evangeline performed a classic faceplant.

"How would I know to choose horses Kitsune!" shouted Evangeline, rubbing her sore face.

"You're a mage and I'm certain you can pull unexpected luck out of nowhere, right?" grinned Kitsune. Evangeline fought the urge to drive her fist into Kitsune's head and instead, settled for tickling the other girl mercilessly.

As Kitsune howled, writhing under Evangeline's tickle torture, Naru sighed and propped her book up on her knees as she slumped into a more comfortable position. "So tan equals…"

"6Y," said Chachamaru, looking over Naru's shoulder.

"Aaaah, you're right. You're pretty smart Chachamaru," praised Naru and the android blushed.

"Er, well, mistress and I have been in the school for quite some time now, and my mother is at the top of the class," said Chachamaru.

"Oooh? You have a mother?" asked Naru, interested.

"Yes, my mother is Lingshen Chao of class 3-A," said Chachamaru. "She and Hakase Satomi created me in the labs and mistress gave me life using a magical power source. In a sense, I have three mothers, although Lingshen is my registered mother."

"So in essence, you have three mothers, or at least two parental figures and a mistress," said Naru and she twirled her pencil in her fingers. "That must be interesting during Parents Day before the end of term."

Chachamaru colored. "Er, yes, it is. When we moved from 2-A to 3-A, we had a parents day. Although Lingshen's family did not appear for the day, the Hakase family did." Chachamaru twiddled her thumbs and said, "Would you like to hear about it?"

"Of course!" exclaimed Naru enthusiastically as she glanced over to Kitsune and Evangeline. The other girl hadn't stopped tickling Kitsune and Kitsune was looking distinctly red in the face.

"Maa, Chachamaru, I'm going out," said Evangeline as she dressed for the school day. "It's parents day and I have no intention of sticking around when everyone is all fussy with their moms and dads."

"Yes mistress. Would you like me to accompany you?" asked Chachamaru.

Evangeline shook her head. "Naw, go and have some time with your mom. I'm going to the old man's place anyhow and getting a good game of shogi in. Meet me there when you get sick of visiting with the Hakases and Lingshins." With that, the little vampire headed out the door, leaving Chachamaru standing there, broom in her hands.

After changing out of her maid outfit that she commonly wore around the house into a sleeveless top, skirt and high buckled boots, Chachamaru headed out into the campus. Mahora was filled with visitors this time of day for three days before the family members of the students headed off or brought their kids home after the graduation ceremony to the next level of school.

Moving past Professor Arashi who was with his daughter Yuna and the mother and father of the Narutaki twins, Chachamaru stopped at the sight of Kagurazaka Asuna standing with Konoka. The pair were off to the side, sipping on the juice that was brought in. Raising the volume of her internal microphone, she caught snippets of their conversation over the din.

"… Takahata-sensei said he was taking me out to dinner tonight," said Asuna, a starry expression on her face. "He's not my dad and all but he took care of me for the early part of my life."

"Aaah, I'm jealous. Papa can't get away from work at the compound so it's just me and grandpa tonight. I'm trying to find Sechan so she can spend the three day weekend with us but I hear she's being visited by someone from the Shinmei Ryu."

"Does Sakurazaki-san have parents?" asked Asuna and Konoka shook her head. "That's no good. You really have to get her with you."

"Mm… oh, Chachamaru-san!"

Chachamaru jerked to attention as Konoka walked over and grasped her hand. "You don't have family, right? Are you planning on spending it alone?"

"Actually I was looking for mother," said Chachamaru, feeling her face heat up. "Though I do not see Chao-kaasan anywhere here."

Asuna blushed, embarrassed. "I keep forgetting you're an android, Chachamaru-san. But Hakase is your mother too, isn't she?"

"Yes, but she seems busy," said Chachamaru, pointing out Satomi Hakase who was being mothered by a large woman and a bone-thin man, both dressed in lab coats. It was easy to see where Hakase got her brains from as their lab coats bore markings of work in the Mahora Robotics field. "I would not wish to intrude."

"That's no good. And with Chao off somewhere presumably with her parents… mou…" Konoka slapped a fist into her open hand. "I know! Chachamaru, want to spend the afternoon with Asuna and me? And I'm sure grandpa wouldn't mind spending the night with you and Eva-chan at our family dinner."

Chachamaru blinked. "You would bring me to your family?"

"Sure, I mean your mom is somewhere else, right?" said Konoka. "We can round up Chao as well and have a big gathering the next day too on the front lawn. Right, Asuna?"

"Sure," said Asuna. "We can have a big thing for our friends and family."

The door slid open once more and the girls looked up to see Setsuna with a tall elegant woman, dressed in a hakama and a top. The bells on her sword tinkled and the animal on her shoulder, a large purple bird made a squak sound. Konoka's eyes lit up. "Aaah, it's Aoyama Tsuruko!" At the confused expressions of the pair, Konoka elaborated. "She was the one who brought Sechan to my home when I was little. She's a really nice lady."

"Konoka-ojousama," said Setsuna, coming up to them. "Aoyama-sempai has asked that we join you for tonight's meal."

"Aaaah, Sechan you're coming to dinner?" enthused Konoka and Setsuna blushed. "All right, it's tonight at seven at grandpa's office."

"Chachamaru!" called out Hakase as she and her parents walked over. "Are you making plans tonight?"

"Yes," said Chachamaru. "I was planning on going with Konoka-san and Asuna-san to a family dinner."

"I see, I see," grinned Hakase. "I was wondering if you wanted to join us but instead, this sounds like a big gathering. Konoka, would your grandfather be adverse to having more visitors tonight?"

"Of course not!" exclaimed Konoka happily and Asuna chuckled.

"We're going to be inviting half the class if this keeps up," said Asuna, amused.

Somehow, Setsuna knew that the gods were being meanies again. With the majority of the class split up for individual celebrations with their families, it hadn't been hard for Konoka to corral her old friend and somehow sweep her into the family get-together that she was having with a few other classmates. Out of the classmates however, she was not exactly expecting to see Karakuri Chachamaru there without her mistress Evangeline A. K. McDowell without doing the leading. In fact, Asuna was chatting easily with the android girl even though the pair hadn't spoken much during the year or so of being in junior high. The addition of the Hakase family was something to say the least interesting and sooner or later, Evangeline had finished her game of Shogi with the Headmaster and was currently contemplating a move against Hakase's father, Shikamaru. The latest addition to the family gathering was Chao Lingshin who had appeared out of nowhere at the door apparently on the invitation of the Headmaster himself accompanied by Takahata Takamichi who was apparently running late.

Like when she was little, Konoka had a habit of collecting little things here and there much like a magpie and making people friends. Back then it was interesting sticks, rocks and even bugs before and after Tsuruko Aoyama had brought her to the Kansai Magical Association Headquarters, otherwise known as the Konoe ancestral home.

Since she was little, Setsuna had been taken care of by the Aoyama family. While others teased her about being half-bird tribe and having white wings to boot -- a symbol of misfortune in the bird tribe, Motoko Aoyama had been her playmate before she had gone to the Konoe household and legally she was part of the Aoyama family as a ward.

While the appearance of Tsuruko was nothing short of expected, she did not expect that the older woman would so readily accept the dinner invitation, taking things out of her hands. "Tsuruko-sama," she said in a low voice, "I'm not too ready to face Konoka-ojousama yet."

"Fuuu," said Tsuruko, that charming smile that made her husband fall in love with her present. "Setsuna-chan you're too much like my little sister."

"Er," said Setsuna flushing red as Tsuruko continued.

"We will accept Konoka's invitation. After all this is a family gathering."

And there they were, sitting on the couch in the Headmaster's office which served as a room connecting him to his own small house that sat in the middle of Mahora Academy. Some thought it strange that the Headmaster lived in the school itself but it was said that the tradition came from the old English Headmasters that ran boarding schools for both magical and non-magical communities.

"Sechan, this tea is really good," said Konoka, practically placing a cup into Setsuna's hands. "Try it!"

Unwilling to disappoint Konoka's enthusiastic presentation of the tea, Setsuna took a sip despite the heat being a little too warm. "It's wonderful Konoka-ojousama," she said.

"Pooh, you're calling me Ojousama again," said Konoka, her cheeks puffing out in a disgruntled expression.

"I, er," said Setsuna, flushing as Tsuruko giggled under her sleeve.

"So what kind of business does your family run, Aoyama-san?" asked Hakase's mother, a similarly dark haired woman of about thirty or thirty five. Her name was Hakase Washu and her name came from eccentric parents who were not completely there at all times. Privately Satomi was of the distinction that her grandparents had somehow thrown random kanji into a machine or a hat and pulled out a name that was ironically similar to the name of the genius used in Tenchi Muyo except written with different kanji.

"Our family runs the Shinmei Ryu, a dojo in Kyoto," said Tsuruko. "Currently the position of heir of the school is being held for my little sister, Motoko. She lives in Hinata House and is attending class there."

"Supper is on!" called out Asuna from the kitchen as Konoka and Chachamaru came out with steaming crock ware. Dishes of western and Japanese origin were set out, including an unidentified substance that Evangeline eyed with distrust.

"The heck is it?" she asked, poking the substance with a fork.

"Uh… it was supposed to be fried salmon," said Asuna and Evangeline stared at it some more.

An awkward silence over the condition of Asuna's food washed over the group before the Headmaster broke the ice with a call of "All right everyone, go ahead!"

The people around the table quickly regained their composure and after the standard call of "I will receive", dishes were passed around and the chatter quickly returned to the table.

"No leeks," said Evangeline as she passed the dish around. "I can't stand garlic and leeks."

"You need to eat to grow," said Asuna brightly and Evangeline death-glared the other girl. "At least have some of these."

Hakase sampled the dish that Asuna made and raised an eyebrow. "Interesting flavour. Is there curry powder in here?"

"Aaah, well," said Asuna, flushing as Chachamaru reported off the tastes in the fish.

"Carrots, garlic powder, curry powder, vegetable oil, salt, pepper…"

"Congratulations Asuna, you've gone from bad cooking to cooling that's good but looks terrible!" chirped Konoka and the people around the table laughed.

"Ever considered science as a field dear?" asked Mrs. Hakase. "Creativity like this would lend itself into experiments."

"Um, I'm not too good at anything that requires brains," said Asuna, flushing.

"That's okay," put in Chao from her side of the table. "I can teach you a few things."

"Chachamaru-san," said Mr. Hakase. "So my daughter and Lingshin-san made you?"

"Yes they did," said Chachamaru, nodding. "I was built and born in the Mahora Science Department. Officially Lingshin Chao is my mother as with Hakase Satomi."

"So that means we have a grandchild!" squealed Mrs. Hakase. Asuna and Setsuna simultaneously coughed on their food and Konoka burst into wild giggling. "Oh she's such a cute girl too! Dear, we need to take her shopping and show her what she's missed from growing up too soon!"

"I, er, that is to say…" For once, Chachamaru was speechless as her newfound mother-in-law gushed about how cute and beautiful her grandchild was. It made her face burn in embarrassment.

"Oh ho ho ho," laughed Tsuruko. "Do not be ashamed little one, all us mothers are like that."

"Eh? You're a mother Aoyama-sempai?" exclaimed Setsuna in shock.

"Fuu, I will be," said Aoyama, patting her stomach gently. "I found out a little while before I came here. My husband, Aoyama Naruto is of the Falling Leaf Kouga Ninja."

"Eh? Ninja?" asked Mr. Hakase as he adjusted his glasses. "Surely there are none left these days."

"Some families keep the tradition alive," said Tsuruko, a small smile on her face. "Naruto is a gallant man, and very handsome. But he has his flaws like any other person."

"I remember one time he fell into the pond and dragged in you in sempai," said Setsuna and Tsuruko giggled. "And then you chased him around for getting your father's wedding kimono dirty."

"Aoyama, is that your family name or his?" asked Mrs. Hakase.

"Mine actually, the Aoyama family this time around has no sons to keep the name alive and thus, we need to keep the dojo under our family register." Tsuruko smiled and said, "I was hoping that Motoko-han and Setsuna-han could help with that."

Setsuna performed a classic Jerry Lewis spit take that liberally drenched Asuna who shrieked and thrashed for a moment as the juice hit her. Coughing and hacking, Tsuruko slapped Setsuna on the back as Asuna mopped her face.

Chachamaru couldn't help it. The normally placid girl began to giggle and then it developed into full blown laughter. Fortunately everyone else saw the humor and began to laugh as well while Asuna went to clean up. But she was smiling too as the clock ticked on, continuing the family meal.

"Aaaaah, sounds like you had a lot of fun," said Kitsune. "Didn't you say much Eva-chan?"

"I was taking it all in," said Evangeline. The girl was lying with her head in Kitsune's lap but she seemed a bit misty eyed at the memories Chachamaru had described perfectly.

Just then, the door opened up as Negi called out, "I'm hooome."

"Geez, Negi-bozu, what the heck happened to you?" asked Kitsune as Negi and Kotarou dragged themselves into the house with Su following behind jauntily, carrying the remains of a Mecha Tama in a fishnet bag.

"We got ambushed by psycho-neesan by the water," said Kotarou before he faceplanted into the hardwood floor. "Ow…" came the muffled and somewhat delayed response.

"Aw, poor kiddo," said Evangeline with a smirk. "Maybe I'll let you off this time but tomorrow we go triple rounds, you understand?"

"Yes master," said Negi before he too fell down beside Kotarou, eyes spinning.

"We're hoo… ah, Negi-kun! What happened to them?" asked Shinobu, putting her groceries down and checking the boys over.

"They passed out after helping me test Mecha Tama Mark Three!" proclaimed Su and the other girls sweated nervously.

"Poor kid, we keep running him through the wringer," said Naru, tucking Negi into his futon. Beside him slept Kotarou who had been tucked in by Chachamaru. "Say Chachamaru, what is Eva-chan to you anyhow?"

"Mistress? She is… my mistress," said Chachamaru.

"I know that," said Naru. "But don't you get the feeling she may like you more than just a servant?"

"I'm not a servant," said Chachamaru. "I'm her partner."

Chachamaru got up and Naru watched her as she walked to the hall and stared out over Hinata City. "When I was brought to life, I had no identity of who I was. Mistress took me in, showed me how to act like a human, being a human. She showed me feminine modesty, how to dress and eat. Mistress is my partner and I hers. I'm devoted to mistress even long after my technology has become outdated."

"I see," said Naru. The older girl smiled up at Chachamaru and said, "You owe her everything and in return, she cares for you like a sister."

"A… sister?" asked Chachamaru, confused.

"Yeah! If she was just your mistress, she wouldn't teach you how to be human, right? She wants you to be as independent as possible and that includes finding out what path your life is going to take with Eva-chan at your side!" Naru smiled and winked, holding up a finger. "Try to find your dreams as well as fulfilling her own, okay?"

Her smile… Suddenly Chachamaru knew why her mistress befriended this human girl. It was because of her smile. It made people feel like they were home. Chachamaru smiled, a truly genuine one in a long time. "Yes, I will continue. For the sake of my own dreams and mistress. Till the end of time itself."

The pair settled into a well-deserved gaze towards the sun which was beginning to dip below the horizon. Stars twinkled in the depths of the blue-black sky and Naru said, "It's pretty…" No more words were exchanged between the par for there were none needed to be said.