Disclaimer: Don't own Negima.
Mahou Sensei Negima: Complex Affections
Chapter 9: Reality beckons…
The next day, as Asakura awoke, she had an odd feeling within the deep recesses of her stomach, a feeling unlike her usual sly, assured self held on any other day.
No…today, she felt…vulnerable…
She couldn't explain why, as her stomach churned as she slowly crawled out of bed, but something felt amiss, out of place in her world. Of course, talks with Himiko often left her feeling nauseous, sometimes for days, but this was different somehow.
The sun was shining brightly through the window, her roommates having already left for some unknown reason, but even this proved useless in her effort to dispel the odd feelings from within. She lazily rubbed her eyes, glancing over to the calendar to see if, maybe, she'd forgotten what day it was and that this was all because of her period.
But, even that turned up no useful answers, as it wasn't even close to her "time of the month" by her count.
Asakura decided to contemplate these weird feelings in the shower, because the shower was the one place in the entire district that offered her some privacy with her thoughts, along with the warming sensation of the water trickling down her body, covering every single nook and…
Okay, note to self; release sexual frustration somewhere else at another time…
She shook herself out of her rather narcissistic thoughts, grabbing up a clean uniform before going into the bathroom, turning the shower on before removing her pajamas and stepping in.
After slowly washing up and performing all her usual rituals, she opened the bathroom door and went for her coat, hoping to walk alone to school this day, as she felt unable to face anyone for some strange reason. She walked by Asuna's and Konoka's dorm room, listening in to see whether or not anyone was still there.
After listening for a few minutes, she determined that they were still asleep, judging by the fact that it was still rather early for Konoka and Negi, and Asuna, with her paper route, wouldn't even be on the way that Asakura was planning on taking, even if she was awake.
As the redheaded, self proclaimed "paparazzi queen of Mahora" made her way out of the dorms, she still couldn't shake the feeling that something was amiss, her odd feeling still there in her stomach. After deciding that she'd bring it up with Shizuna when she could, to make sure it wasn't a virus or worse, she began her walk along a different street towards Mahora academy, hoping that no one would see her, and if they did, that they would just ignore her as she didn't feel up to carrying on a conversation.
"Dang it!" she muttered, running her hands through her hair in a desperate attempt to try and conjure up any answer, reasonable or no, to explain the now sickening feeling within her tummy.
"And besides, I've got a few stories of my own that'll get me the number one spot for sure! Just you wait, Asakura, because your spot as number one in the news club is mine!"
"Wait…" Asakura stopped, her memory bringing the conversation with Himiko the day earlier up to her mind's forefront. "What did she mean by "I've got a few stories of my own"? What has she acquired that even I've missed?" Asakura now thought hard over the entire talk she'd had with that…girl.
"What were her stories? Is that why I'm feeling sick? Is it because I'm actually afraid that she might take my place?"
"…"
"Wait a second…a cardboard cutout would be better suited to take my place then that stuck up little-" Asakura stopped herself when she heard herself snarl, reminding herself that she was a lady, unlike Himiko, who was a "witch", in Kazumi's words…
Asakura reprimanded herself for even thinking that she was worried about what that girl had said the day before, noticing that the feeling that had been within her stomach moments earlier, had left…
For a second, anyway, before they arrived again with reinforcements…
What the hell-? What is wrong with me? I already figured-
But, then again, you already KNOW why you're worried…
Why would I be worried about-
Not about your place within the reporting club, but about yours and Asuna's little…"secret."
What secret? We're not living a double life!
Okay, she knew that was a partial lie, but that was kept secret so well that even a mage couldn't detect it…at least, that's what Kazumi hoped, anyways…
It was as she arrived at the academy that she began to feel weirder then before, her stomach growing increasingly heavier as she left the entrance behind and walked into one of the intersections, taking a look at the bulletin board before something caught her left eye, and then her right.
Before she knew it, her entire body had been called to attention, standing there rooted to the spot as the picture sat there unmoving, unfazed by the girl's sudden realization, anger and frustration.
"H-I-M-I-K-O!" Asakura shook with an unmatchable rage, even by Asuna's standards, as her gaze drifted over the picture with small print under it.
"Shocking discovery made within the hollowed halls of Mahora academy!"
Asakura read on after the cheesy intro.
"What this reporter has found out has shaken the very core of what it means to feel safe at night!
Reporter X, unidentified as they are fearful of their reputation being soiled due to their once unwavering faith in the Paparazzi queen of Mahora, has dug up info that leads all to believe that they may have been violated during their time spent here in the academy.
It was to reporter X's dismay, shock and utter horror that they had stumbled upon a sight unbelievable by some, for if it wasn't for the reporter's own eyes, they would not have believed what they had seen.
One Asakura Kazumi, beloved reporter of Mahora academy for girls, ahs been involved with another WOMAN!
Even more surprising is her taste in woman, in that her "other half" is none other then that violent tomboy, Asuna Kagurazaka!
One could only imagine why she and this other girl have gotten together, although it is this reporter's belief that perhaps she has inflicted enough pain upon others with her scoops, that she is now a masochist!"
Asakura's inner loathing boiled to a nice froth finally, noticeable as her mouth began to foam. "I'LL KILL HER!" Asakura ripped the picture off the board before turning around sharply, ready to begin the, ahem, "Witch-hunt." Mind you, that would be considered the extr-e-e-e-mely censored version as to what she was calling it.
As she began marching as though she'd just joined Hitler's youth, her target decided to come face her instead of cowering in fear like the pond scum she was.
"Himiko! I'll kill-"
Himiko, dressed in her usual uniform and her raven hair up in its usual bun, just stared at the angered redhead, her cool gaze unwavering even in the face of this powerful adversary. "Oh, you'll what? Haha! I don't think so, ASS-OH-COULD-YA!" Himiko began to laugh, feeling happy with her odd insult since it deflated poor Kazumi in a heartbeat.
"So, how'da like the story? I think it'll get me number one place for a year!" Himiko laughed at the sight of Kazumi's visibly angered body quivering with self control, or a lack of a proper alibi. "Just think; ace reporter Himiko uncovers secret scandalous relationship between top reporter and top tomboy." she made kissing faces as she spoke, rubbing cyanide in Kazumi's open gashes.
"Okay, how much to keep this between you and me? All I've got is-"
"Nope! Nothing doing!" Himiko chirped. "This is something that the people-"
"Please! Please, Himiko, don't do this!" Asakura cupped her hands, begging the other girl to stop what she was doing before it got out of hand and into the land of the un-repairable forever. "I'll give you anything you want, just please stop this! It won't just effect me and you know it!" Kazumi cried out, dropping to her knees uncharacteristically as she continued to beg the girl before her.
"Hmm…anything?" Himiko hummed, giving Asakura a very, very bad feeling.
"Y-yeah, anything!" Kazumi now knew what the bad feeling within her stomach had been all along, and it now felt like two thousand years of crap bubbling up within her, trying to force its way out through every orifice on her body.
"Okay, I'll keep the negatives from falling into the public's eyes, but in return I want you to…"
Kazumi awaited Himiko's demands with baited breath.
"Give up your place in the journalism club to ME, and become my slave until you turn eighteen. Do that, and I'll destroy the other photos ON your eighteenth birthday, but not before!" she wagged her finger at Kazumi. "Oh, and I've got two hundred and fifty five extra pictures of your little romps with your plaything, Asakura, so don't be getting any funny ideas now! Bye love!"
Kazumi's entire world crashed down upon her as she watched Himiko walk away, the picture containing the aftermath of her and Asuna's first romp, and the rearrangement of clothing while they stood outside, crumpled up in her hands with tear stains slowly appearing on the incriminating piece of material.
"God…goddamnit…" she whispered, her entire body shaking as Himiko left her to wallow in her misery. "GODDAMNIT!" she yelled, slamming her fists on the floor before getting to her feet slowly and making her way to a bathroom to regain her composure.
Unbeknownst to Asakura, an unseen figure wandered through the intersection, having witnessed the entire scene between the two girls.
A/N: Okay, I know that this isn't very long, considering how long I've been out, but September isn't the best of months for my writing, as it holds the anniversary of a cherished family member's death.
I then began to have doubts about my writing, and although I have most of my readers to thank for the encouragement to get back in the saddle, I have Freedom Kira to thank for the idea that I will, after I finish this series, go back and rewrite certain areas and compile the entire series into a remastered "Platinum" edition, with deleted scenes and more! Sorry, I had to say that…
I also have to say that the humor of Complex Affections will slowly be tuned down, as I believe that I should give a more serious account the rest of the way. Mind you, I loved the humor, but I think that I should give a more "realistic" feeling to this, bar the fact that Eva impregnated Ayaka. (twiddles thumbs and whistles nervously…)
If you feel otherwise, I'm sorry, and if you feel that this isn't the best of ways to go, then by all means, tell me! I take all that you, the reviewers, say to heart and will consider changes if I feel that they are reasonable.
As for Himiko; I don't describe her as much because I want the readers to pin the worst image of her possible, whatever you can think of, be it enemy or whatever, upon her body so that you can hate her as much as I do.
No, she isn't a person I do/have know/n, but a conglomeration of people that I've known and/or have met during my life.
Now, to thank the reviewers that have meant a lot to me!(in no particular order, meaning random!)
Syaoran li clow: thank you for your encouragement! Trust me when I say that your comments have meant a lot to me and will continue to mean a lot to me, regardless.
Little wolf 713: Thank you as well, and I'm sorry that I haven't updated in all this time.
Darkrai: I hope that this is to your standards. Truly, I do.
Freedom kira: even though some of your reviews leave me banging my head in frustration, it isn't because I don't thank you for pointing out the errors, but that a lot of the errors slip by my eyes even when they are tuned in so sharp. I have been rather down about a lot of things, family included, but I will use fan fiction now as a means of becoming better, and more assured, with my writing skills. I actually feel happier when you can find things to criticize as it would feel…weird for you to give me an all clear review…I'd think the world was ending and would start reading passages from the bible haphazardly if that happened!
But thank you, and I feel as though all my reviewers are special friends to me, and I hate to let my friends down.
Shatin: I hope you'll like the story from here on out, and I will have a few jabs at Eva in the next chapter.
CrimsonWhisperer: Well, I'm glad you feel that Eva was IC, seeing as I would so-o-o-o hate to get that one wrong and suffer the wrath of the Eva-fans…
Sakuraharunosrival: Don't worry about KonoSetsu, I won't traipse into their territory…
Fan-rei: Well, I hope that this'll feel alright to you, seeing as this won't be as humorous as C.L and the earlier chapters of C.A.
To the reviewers I might've missed, I'm sorry! I hoped to get everyone in here, but I'm sure I missed a few…
One thing that I wish to leave on for this chapter is, and I hope none will take offense at this, but; if you wish to see a pairing you like, do not DEMAND it, or say that you would rather a story went a different route because that relationship has been done before, or to death.
Fan fiction is just that, fan fiction.
If you do not like the amount of stories focused on one coupling, then write your own story, that's what I did at first.
Mind you, my first attempt was lame, even half-baked! But, the author is making a story based around something he, or she, likes and should write what they wish, not what another wants. That is what I've learned in my time as a fan fiction writer.
Of course, I'm not insulting you, and if you don't like the coupling that the author is leaning towards, then don't read. Simple as that!
Those are the feelings that I wish to get out of my system! Oh, and STOP THE COUPLE WARS! HONESTLY, PEOPLE!
There, I feel wa-a-a-a-y better now!
Until the next chapter comes out, my dear readers.
See ya!