Disclaimer: I do not own Negima or any of it's characters...
Fang Vice Addiction
Chapter Seven: Lunar Bonding
By Traingham
It was near the time of day but it was still quite dark outside. There was not a sound in Asuna's dorm room as everyone slept in their respective places. That being, Asuna on the top bunk, Konoka on the bottom bunk and Negi on the couch in the far corner of the room near the window. Chachazero stood watch on the table near the couch Negi was resting on, wandering to her disturbing thoughts every now and then when she felt bored, and Chamo rested in one of the girl's underwear drawers for warmth along with other reasons. The tranquility of this quaint scene was soon to be disturbed, however, as Negi suddenly twitched in his sleep.
"Master is stirring." Whispered the puppet softly as she watched in interest. She watched him twitch again, rolling over to his side and would have raised an eyebrow in curiosity if her face would have allowed her to. Something about the way the young magister moved in his sleep seemed so unnatural. It looked more as if he was being disturbed by some invisible force; a dream perhaps.
"Urgh..."Negi moaned as his hands began to reach out for something that Chachazero couldn't see. He grasped out for the air for a moment before stopping abruptly and allowing his hands to fall limply. Then without warning he rolled back on to his back and sat up straight. "Dry...mouth feels so dry." He muttered weakly.
"Master Negi?" Chachazero called to him but he either did not hear her or simply ignored her. Chachazero opted for the first since she wasn't one to be ignored by anyone. She took a step forward when Negi shifted to allow his feet to make contact with the floor and stood up slowly. There was an odd glow in his eyes as he did a cursory of the room, letting his eyes rest upon the two sleeping students occupying the bunk beds. He licked his lips unconsciously as he took a few steps toward the bed being willed forward by desires he couldn't grasp at the very moment. Something was stirring deep within him; an eagerness to reach his roommates.
"This won't end well!" Chachazero exclaimed, jumping down from the table. Just as Negi began to lean over Konoka the puppet rand to her master for all she was worth.
"Konoka-chan." Negi whispered longingly as he sat on the bed beside her. He shuffled near her and carefully pulled back the covers from her upper body so as not to awaken her. When he succeeded in exposing her neck, his eyes danced over the elegance of his target. He could practically hear her pulse! He opened his mouth, exposing his pulsating fangs and leaned over to her ever so slowly when suddenly he suddenly felt a tug at his pajama pants.
"Master, control yourself!" Chachazero pleaded, making Asuna stir in her sleep.
Negi didn't respond but he started to hesitate...
"You must not allow your bloodlust to control you. Show some class for the sake of your own friends!" The puppet felt his leg begin to tremble and jumped back when Negi unexpectedly pulled away from Konoka quickly as if he regained his grip on reality. The boy looked over Konoka's body in confusion and stood away from her bed quickly.
"What was I doing on Konoka-san's bed?!" Negi questioned the air in a quiet yelp. He finally noticed the feeling his fangs were giving him and opened his mouth to touch them with his fingers. "Th-they're so long now!"
"Calm down master Negi." Chachazero tried to console him.
"Chachaze-wh-what was I doing?!" He got down to his knees to hear his familiar out desperately.
"It isn't your fault master." the puppet began. "This happens to those new to the turning stages."
"The turning stages?"
"Your lust for blood is finally reaching you. I can feel a build up of your dark aura." Chachazero closed her eyes and sighed. "It's flowing through me too."
"What does this mean Chachazero? Did I just try to suck Konoka-san's blood?" The boy started to tremble in fear at his familiar's answer.
"Yes." Chachazero answered without any hesitation at all.
"...Oh no..." Negi felt his heart sink and clutched his chest at the deep feeling that began to eat at him. "I knew this was going to happen. I knew that this...this pactio...this change was going to hurt me somehow." Negi looked up quickly when he heard Asuna shifting in her covers and got to his feet. He rushed over to the closet near Asuna's dresser and opened it to reach for his mage cloak.
"Mmmmmm...Negi?" Asuna moaned in her sleep as she stirred again. At her soft moans, Negi felt his fangs begin to pulsate again and slipped on his cloak.
"Master, take me with you!" Chachazero said tugging at his cloak.
"Come on." Negi picked her up and allowed her to rest on his head before opening the door and closing it behind him quietly. The sound of the fast thumps from his escape reverberated through the halls, and Asuna's sharp ears picked it up softly from inside the dorm room. She awakened from her slumber and rubbed her eyes to clear away the morning haze before looking around the room. Her closet was left open and...
"Negi?" She felt her stomach do flips. "H-he's gone?"
"I'm feeling it, Chachamaru." Evangeline told her partner as she settled down on her couch. The android set down the usual tray of tea and cakes down on the coffee table and asked, "Another full moon is going to arise?"
"That's right." Evangeline sighed softly. "Tonight there's going to be a full moon. I can practically feel my fangs tingling in anticipation to drink blood again. This fast I've been taking with Negi has made me feel a thirst that can't be quenched all that easily." Evangeline almost felt giddy as she pictured herself savoring the taste of Negi's blood. "The taste should have improved in richness by now."
"You refer to Negi sensei, mistress?" Chachamaru asked.
"Who else? The students here all have sweet blood but I've promised not to touch them. Besides, their blood still does not compare to the boy's." Evangeline's eyes almost glazed over but Chachamaru asked another question that captured the vampiress's attention.
"What blood will he drink? We still have blood packs in stock that you have been neglecting, and we still must take in to consideration his feelings."
"His feelings? On drinking blood, you mean?" Evangeline asked.
"Yes mistress."
"Negi can try all he wants to resist it but in the end he will succumb to his natural desires." Just as Evangeline finished her sentence there was a knock at the door that clearly told them that the person on the other side was in dire need of entrance. The vampiress felt a troubled Negi on the other side and immediately said, "It's sensei."
Chachamaru didn't even take anytime to bow to her mistress before heading to the door to open it. When she did Negi fell forward and she quickly caught him before he could hit the floor. He was crying in her arms and she could feel him trembling. The sight of her teacher looking to distraught made her feel terrible.
"Sensei, what is the problem?" Chachamaru asked.
"I-I'm...I'm a monster." Negi replied in a broken voice. Evangeline heard what he referred to himself as and felt an unusual feeling in her heart. So unusual that the vampiress wanted to feel it again to clarify what it was she felt at that moment. She rose from her seat and approached Chachamaru and Negi.
"What did you call yourself?" Evangeline asked, her eyes taking upon an intense inferno. She looked in to her disciple's moist eyes that felt dull and shattered and felt her sudden anger burn even stronger. She didn't like for him to refer to himself as a monster because if that was how he viewed himself then how could she expect him to view her any differently?
"I almost..." Negi inhaled sharply and sobbed before continuing. "...I almost bit Konoka. I d-don't know what took over me!"
"Answer my question boy!" Evangeline demanded. "What did you refer to yourself as?!" When Negi simply looked back at her she shoved Negi away from Chachamaru's hold and grabbed ahold of him when she joined him on the floor.
"Mistress..."Chachamaru tried to calm the vampiress but she was already shaking Negi.
"You can't answer a simple question sensei?" Evangeline asked angrily.
"What?!" Negi cried out.
"What am I to you?!"
"Wh...what?"
"Am I a monster in your eyes?" Evangeline demanded to know. Her eyes met his own and she saw a fear in them...the same fear she was faced with when she first dueled with him so long ago. She must have lost a grip on her temper.
"No master." Negi replied, averting his eyes.
"Why did you look away as you answered?"
"Because I am..." Negi replied before receiving a smack from her that he never expected. The vampiress stood up and looked down at him, looking away to regard the hand she used to slap him as if to question her action. She turned to Chachamaru and ordered, "Give him a blood pack and let him sleep on the couch."
I intended for his first drink of actual blood to be my own...but... The vampiress paused in her thoughts when her gaze rested on Negi again. How can I face him now when he feels that I've turned him in to a monster?
"...A monster." Evangeline whispered again before walking to the stairs. "I'm going to sleep. I advise you do yourself a favor and do the same boy." With those words she ascended the steps and disappeared in the dark hallway that awaited her leaving Chachamaru and Negi alone. Chachazero crawled out from under Negi's cloak and sat on the floor looking lost.
"S...sensei?" Chachamaru called to him. Negi didn't answer at first; looking down at the floor with his hand resting upon his cheek. He eventually dropped his hand and looked up to acknowledge her with a nod. The look in his eyes made Chachamaru feel weak for a moment. "Allow me to help you up." She grabbed his hand and got him back to his feet slowly.
"What can I do now? I came for help and I only made things run out of proportion." Negi questioned quietly as he adjusted his cloak and started to turn away but Chachamaru grabbed ahold of his arm to stop him.
"You came to the right place sensei." Chachamaru said sternly. She pulled him away from the door out of the house and lead him to the couch. "I will get you a blood pack." Her words made Negi inhale sharply.
"No!"
"You must drink sensei. Without it you will become weak."
"I'm trying to keep away from blood Chachamaru-san! I almost hurt a friend back at the dorm. I almost drained her dry of her own blood!" Negi stood up quickly. "I can't go on. I'd rather become weak than become a danger to everyone around me!"
"Forgive me sensei." Chachamaru apologized before smacking him across the face. The impact sent Negi sprawling back on to the couch. Chachamaru leaned over him and spoke softly, "You can die sensei. I understand that you are afraid but I know you can overcome this with the mistress's help. You may see this as a curse but think of it as a gift."
"A gift? How can I possibly see it like that?"
"The mistress has given you a gift sensei. You are now part of the bloodline of a superior race and with that comes many powers and abilities you can only dream of. You now have the power to protect those that are precious to you."
"I almost hurt someone who is precious to me."
"As I said before sensei, you can overcome your lust for blood just as the mistress has. You are practically a new born so it's only natural for you to lose control." Chachamaru leaned away from him and headed for the kitchen. "You will drink sensei."
"But-"
"Master." Chachazero cut him off as she tugged at his pants. Negi picked her up and set her down on his lap with a relieved sigh.
"I'm just glad you snapped me out of my trance before it was too late." Negi pecked the puppet on the head, much to her confusion. "Thanks Chachazero."
"S-stop...that, will ya? I don't like mushiness!" the sadistic puppet snapped at him, balling her fist on her lap in a cute gesture of shyness. "Anything for master."
"Thanks." Negi said again before Chachamaru came out of the kitchen again with a packet in her hand. She eyed her counterpart suspiciously as she sat beside the young teacher and punctured the designated hole with a straw before handing it to him. At first Negi didn't make any effort to take it from the android but she held it a little closer to him, her eyes glowing softly.
"Drink sensei. You will feel much better when you do."
"Chachamaru..." Negi groaned but she persisted so he took it from her. After regarding the pack in his hand for a moment he hesitantly wrapped his lips around the straw and began to sip. His senses went mad as the crimson fluid entered his mouth and his eyes narrowed in slight pleasure. Chachamaru watched as his sipping got stronger and he squeezed to pack to allow the blood to come up in larger gulps. When he was done he sighed in what she interpreted as ecstasy and slumped in the couch with heavy eyes.
"How are you feeling sensei?" Chachamaru asked before he suddenly fell over on to her lap without warning. Chachazero held on to his shirt tightly so she wouldn't be thrown off.
"Sleepy, I'd assume." Chachazero replied in his place, much to her waste since Chachamaru wasn't listening. The android simply stared at the boy, his head resting on her lap and slowly placed her hand over his head in hesitation. She didn't know exactly what to do at the moment but she gradually found herself lowering her hand until her fingers were tangled in Negi's mop of hair.
Sensei is using my lap to sleep...Chachamaru thought in wonder, still unable to hear her counterpart's words. I feel a sensation building deep within my chest. My gears are generating more heat than expected.
"Hey Chachamaru!" Chachazero called futilely.
Chachamaru on the other hand was having the time of her activation date...
Later that Morning...
So far Mei was having a great day free of her teacher's wacky suspicions and stalking missions. She sat comfortably at the bar eating her well-deserved breakfast after an afternoon and night of starvation. She stole a glance at Takane who poked at the eggs and sausage on her plate with an unsatisfied look gracing her lovely features. It wasn't that she was unsatisfied with her food; rather her disappointment stemmed from the fact that she had not been able to get much information on Negi Springfield or Evangeline Mcdowell. She stalked the young magister in hopes that he would at least let some information slip, but that was most unlikely due to the constant appearances of his students.
"The mission was a failure." Takane muttered. "Gandolfini would laugh at me right now if he only knew the trouble I'm going through. Takamichi won't allow me to spy on "Dark Evangel" and that Negi is much more clever than I expected."
"Excuse me onesan but I don't remember being on a mission." Mei said, refraining from her breakfast for a moment. "We're not supposed to do anything until the others get here, remember?"
"That's not the point, Mei!" Takane cried out in frustration. "We shouldn't be ordered to do such things. It's our natural duty to bring evil wizards to justice."
""Dark Evangel's" bounty is no longer in effect." Mei retorted. "Give it a rest, huh?"
"A rest? I, Takane Goodman will give such a vandal no such luxury." The golden haired magistress declared, making Mei roll her eyes. The others eating around them simply ignored the girl's words. They've gone through the ramblings of crazy people like her before. Speaking of crazy people-
"He wasn't there this morning!" Asuna cried out to her friends as she slammed her palms on the table. Ku-Fei, Setsuna, Makie, and Konoka edged back in their seats to keep clear of the red-heads flailing hands. "Negi just disappeared!"
Takane and Mei whipped around when they heard the boy's name...
"What crazy Asuna-san mean?" Ku-Fei asked, scratching the back of her head. "How does disciple vanish without her consent?"
"That's what I wanna know Ku!" Asuna groaned. "I swear, he's going to put me through a stroke!"
"You sure are worried about him." Chamo commented from Asuna's shoulder before flinching when her head turned to him quickly. "No squeezing!" the ermine cried out in fear.
"Of course I'm worried about the squirt!" Asuna snapped. "How else to you expect me to feel when he just disappears. He took his mage robe with him too, and that creepy Chachazero was nowhere in sight."
"Suspicious activity already, Mei." Takane said in delight.
"Oh no." Mei groaned. "It's to early for this."
"Maybe he went out to train." Chamo suggested. "Kotaro is usually here at this time."
"I actually saw Chizuru with him earlier though so I doubt it." said Makie.
"Darn." Asuna grumbled. "Where could he be? I'm going to show him a thing or two when I see him."
"I know!" Ku-fei suddenly cried out, much to everyone's surprise. "Kaede-san try to get disciple to train with her before! Ninja girl try to get him behind my back!" The Chinese girl stood up from her seat and raised up arms furiously. "We must go!"
"C-calm down Ku-chan!" Makie tried to calm her before gasping when an idea came to mind. "Wait a second! I overheard Nodoka and Haruna talking about luring Negi in to some sort of trap yesterday."
"A trap? Nodoka, set a trap for Negi-sensei?!" Setsuna scoffed, "I wouldn't buy that for the world. We need to think this through guys. You're just making wild assumptions now."
"Unless Ayaka is behind it." Konoka suggested with her usual smile. "I heard her talking about speaking with Negi privately about something regarding the festival." She gained Asuna's attention with that suggestion.
"That perv might just be behind it!" Asuna growled. "That girl is impossible sometimes!"
"Now, now girls." Chamo spoke with a chuckle. "I don't think any of you hit the nail on the head. Haven't you girls noticed that-"
"Enough talking!" Ku-fei cut off the ermine. "Must get Negi-sensei from Kaedea-san now!"
"...Chachamaru isn't-"
"To Library Island we go!" Maki declared.
"...working today." Chamo finished with a sigh. Before the ermine could get a good grip on Asuna's shoulder the red-head stood up from her seat.
"Then let's split up!" Asuna ordered. The other girls seated at the table stood up as well and dispersed to find the young teacher. She blinked at their sudden quickness and almost headed off as well but she felt shivers run down her neck and turned when she heard a soft chuckle.
"Evangeline." Asuna said darkly as she came face to face with the vampiress.
"Aren't we energetic this morning?" Evangeline teased, crossing her arms with a smirk. "What just happens to be the cause for this rare behavior?"
"None of your..." Something clicked in Asuna's mind as she stopped in mid-sentence. Why didn't she think of it before?! "Negi disappeared earlier this morning. DO you have anything to do with it?!" she demanded.
"Boya? Haven't seen him." Evangeline lied with a straight face. "Why do you always think I have to do something with you losing that kid? Do I really look like I want to keep that whining boy in my company?"
"Well-" Evangeline shot Chamo a glare before he could finish, making the ermine go pale on the spot. Asuna narrowed her eyes suspiciously and asked, "Well where is Chachamaru, huh? Isn't she usually with you?"
"She has to attend the tea club later. Not that it's any of your business." Evangeline replied as she tossed her hair to the side. "I'm kind of hungry now so why don't we end this, hmm?"
"I've got my eye on you vampire."
"Whatever brat." Evangeline walked past her and headed to the bar where Takane and Mei sat, eating their food. Asuna growled in annoyance before turning away and heading out to do what she needed. Takane and Mei on the other hand were experiencing something so terrifying that their hands couldn't stop trembling as they ate beside the vampiress. Satsuki saw Evangeline approach the counter and took her order.
"Good morning, Eva-san." Satsuki greeted her.
"Good morning to you Sat-chan." Evangeline greeted back with one of her rare reserved greetings. She felt Satsuki was one of the few who deserved such kindness from her. "I'll just have my usual order." The vampiress tapped the counter as the girl started to walk away before calling out ot her so she wouldn't leave.
"Yes Eva-san?"
"Make that two orders to go." Evangeline said, getting a nod from the cook. Boya might be getting hungry by now...I can almost feel the vibes from the coming full moon even now. Tonight I'll give him the day off from training. The vampiress looked to Mei when the little girl squeaked in fear and raised an eyebrow curiously. She felt magic auras emitting from the red-head and the older blonde beside her.
"Whaddya know? Takamichi told me about magisters coming for the festival." Evangeline said with a smirk as she continued, "I expected them to be powerful though. I'm disappointed."
Back to Negi...
Negi stirred in his sleep and yawned, opening his eyes. He tried to lift his head but he felt something extremely heavy keeping him from doing anything at all. He realized that he had been sleeping on Chachamaru's lap and that her hand was resting on his head which explained why he couldn't raise it. Chachazero made her own spot nestled under his shirt which was why he something prickling his stomach.
"Chachamaru-san?" He called softly, with no answer in response. She appeared to be in some sort of stand-by or hibernation mode so she couldn't hear him at all. He opted for his familiar's help instead and called to her, making the lump under his shirt move. The puppet popped her head out from under his shirt in a fashion that reminded him of some horror movie and asked, "Yes master Negi?"
"Could you wake up Chachamaru-san?"
"Yes." Chachazero replied. She crawled out from under his shirt and tapped her counterpart on the shoulder roughly causing the android's eyes to blink a few times. Chachamaru awoke from her stand-by mode and looked down at Negi .
"Good morning sensei." She greeted as she removed her hand from on top of his head and allowed him to get off of her.
"Good morning Chachamaru-san."
"I've overslept." Chachamaru said, standing up quickly. "How very unlike me to do such a thing. I need to get going before I'm late." The android smoothed out her skirt and adjusted her maid cap.
"What are you late for?" Negi asked as Chachazero tapped his arm to get his attention.
"I must attend the tea club. I have to prepare the tea and serve everyone." Chachamaru headed for the door but Negi stopped her.
"I don't want to be alone here!" Negi quickly called to her with a light blush. He was feeling pretty hopeless at the moment. "Um, you don't mind if I come with you, do you?" The young magister asked shyly, placing Chachazero on his head where she usually perched herself. Chachamaru felt a lift at his words and nodded.
"I don't mind sensei."
"Master won't take a shower first?" Chachazero asked.
"I'll do that later." Negi replied quickly as he joined Chachamaru at the door before leaving with her.
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We turn to the Tea Club...
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Chachamaru looked through the drawers of the changing room to see if she could find an extra kimono for Negi to wear. He said he wanted to help her perform the tea ceremony so he was going to have to wear the traditional wear. She finally found one that matched her own and handed it to him.
"You must wear this sensei." Chachamaru said.
"Thanks." said Negi, accepting it.
"Fancy stuff." Chachazero commented.
"Will you need my assistance in putting it on sensei?"
"N-no, I'm fine."
"Very well." she replied before stripping off her maid uniform before his very eyes. He knew it wasn't much of a big deal since her body wasn't that of a natural woman but he still felt the need to turn away regardless. He looked at the kimono in his hand and found nowhere else to change without being seen. In short this was going to be a tad bit difficult.
"What are you waiting for master?" Chachazero asked. "Aren't you going to get changed? Those cups out there aren't going to be filled by themselves."
"I know but...er...I need some privacy."
"Privacy, shmivacy. Don't be afraid to take off your clothes." Chachazero winked. "I won't mind, and I don't think she will mind either." the puppet said, jabbing a thumb at Chachamaru before finding herself hanging in mid-air.
"Allow sensei to have his privacy." Chachamaru told her counterpart as she took Chachazero with her out of the changing room. "I will meet you outside sensei."
"Thanks." Negi said with a sigh of relief. He started to strip off his clothes and shivered involuntarily. "D-did Chachazero wink at me?"
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Meanwhile we turn to Evangeline...
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"I'm home boya." Evangeline announced as she entered the living room with two bags of food. Her eyes roamed around the room and she cocked her head to the side when she found no one waiting for her. She left the food sitting on the countertop in the kitchen and went upstairs to her room to see if he was taking a shower again, but she didn't hear the water running at all.
"Hey boya?" The vampiress called to the lonesome air as she stuck her head in to the bathroom to find no one at all. "...The heck is going on here?" She left her room and descended the stairs, reaching the living room again expecting to find him roaming around but to her confusion he was still nowhere to be found.
"He seems to be pretty infamous for disappearing like this." Evangeline grumbled as she entered the kitchen again. She went to the fridge to pull out a blood pack and stopped when she saw an empty pack in the garbage can with a straw that looked as though it had been chewed through. That could only mean that her underling actually drank blood. The vampiress wasn't sure whether to be pleased by this or to still be angry with Negi for the word he used to describe himself.
"A monster."
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Back to Negi and Chachamaru...
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The girls squealed in delight as they watched Negi help Chachamaru pour the tea in to the pots of tea she was going to serve them with. They adored the way he looked in his kimono and the doll resembling Chachamaru on his head made it even cuter. That "doll" of course was none other than Chachazero herself but Negi told her not to do anything suspicious. Negi opened a case near the wall filled with incense sticks.
"Thank you sensei." Chachamaru thanked him as she accepted the blessing incense sticks from him and lit them with a lighter. After the rite was done she handed him a pot of tea and sent him off to serve some of the young women while she grabbed another pot and did the same. This proved to be quite a task since the girls kept on teasing him and grabbing on to him every time he got near a table to serve them. Chachazero all the while had to keep herself from drawing her blades to protect her master, however, it was beginning to perplex her as to if this was simply out of natural duty or jealousy.
"I must ask that you allow sensei to serve all of you without being touched." Chachamaru finally asked of them when she found the girls getting rather aggressive. There were groans and moans when they heard her but they eased up on the young magister. Negi still had to go through the trouble of hearing their comments about him though as he continued his task and some of them made him blush up to his ears.
"Thanks Chachamaru-san." Negi said to her when he was done.
"You are welcome sensei." replied the android with a wave of her hand. "However I should be thanking you for accompanying me."
"So what do we do now?"
"We take a seat and await them when they're done. Then we must clean up after them." Chachamaru replied.
"That's all?"
"Yes."
"Oh, I see...ow." Negi rubbed his cheek when he felt a sharp pain in his mouth. It felt like his teeth were beginning to vibrate.
"What seems to be the matter sensei?"
"My jaw kind of hurts." Negi replied before feeling another stab of pain in his jaw. "It isn't really that serious though. I've kind of experienced this feeling before when ever Chachazero says something regarding blood...which is most of the time."
"It is what the master exposed her to since her creation. It would be natural for her to develop an obsession for violence."
"Oh...anyway, I wanted to talk to you about something in particular."
"Ask what is on your mind sensei." Chachamaru told him with a nod of her head.
"How is it that Evangeline became a vampire?" Negi asked. Chachamaru shifted uncomfortably at his question and answered, "That is something I cannot answer sensei. If you truly wish to know then you must ask her."
"Oh..." Negi rubbed his cheek a little more and the pain finally dulled a little. There was an akward silence after their last exchange and Negi turned his attention to the outside where he could see the female students passing by the tea club. Something outside was making him feel like they were being watched. "So...I'm sorry for giving you a hard time in the morning."
"No need for an apology sensei. You had every right to be uncooperative." Chachamaru replied.
"And about, you know...sleeping on you."
"I did not mind sensei." The android replied as she averted her eyes in embarrassment.
"Alright." Negi mumbled, feeling that he had nothing else left to say since his mind was searching for a subject to build upon. The cold stare that usually filled Chachamaru's eyes was noticeably gone, however, and for some reason it made him feel a little more comfortable talking with her. The problem now was, what could he possibly talk to her about that would capture her interest? Tune ups maybe? No, that would probably be the wrong choice.
"Here you are." A voice suddenly said from the entrance to the club deck. Negi and Chachamaru whipped their heads to the source of the voice and found Evangeline standing at the door with an annoyed look gracing her features. "If you were going to accompany Chachamaru you could have at least told me boya." She proceeded to approach them and took a seat beside Chachamaru.
"I have some food back at the house that's getting cold."
"I-I'm sorry master!" Negi apologized, not even stopping to wonder why the vampiress gave any thought about his appetite.
"Whatever." Evangeline replied, rolling her eyes. "Anyway, seeing as how you rested well the rest of the morning I'd assume you drank the blood." Evangeline narrowed her eyes when Negi slightly bowed his head.
"Yes...I did." Negi replied.
"Would you stop acting so tragic here?! Your cravings got the best of you that's all. I'm going to help you ignore your bloodlust enough to function like a normal human being." Evangeline crossed her arms and directed a feral grin. "Of course there is another reason why you're lust got the best of you."
"W-why is that?"
"Tonight is a full moon boya."
"Really?" Negi asked with widened eyes. "What's going to happen to me then? How is the moon going to affect me?"
"Oh, you'll see." Evangeline looked to Chachamaru. "Right now I'm not sure what effect it will have on you either, but that just makes it all the more exciting now doesn't it boya?" The vampiress eyed the teapot between Negi and Chachamaru before ordering the android to serve her some tea.
"Yes mistress." Chachamaru replied before doing as she was asked.
Evangeline accepted the cup Chachamaru offered to her and took a long sip before setting her sights on Negi again. "By the way, your girlfriend is looking for you."
"My w-what?!" Negi blurted out.
"Kagurazaka."
"O-oh."
"I suggest you get going before she tears the whole campus to shreds in search of you." Evangeline ordered. She raised an eyebrow when Negi stole a glance toward Chachamaru. He was starting to get attached to her wasn't he? This was starting to make the vampiress feel slightly peeved but she just couldn't quite understand why.
"But Chacha-"
"I can clean this up myself sensei." Chachamaru cut him off much to his dismay. He wasn't sure what was going on but she seemed a bit cold whenever Evangeline was around. Despite what was on his mind at the moment he had to get moving before his master started to get mad. When he went to the changing room Evangeline turned her attention back to Chachamaru and she asked, "So what was his reaction when you presented him with the blood?"
"He was rather hesitant but he eventually gave in to his thirst when he got a taste of it."
"He was going to give in sooner or later. I'm just relieved that he got to the house when he did or it would've been to late. I don't want him to follow the same path I did when I was turned in to a vampire." Evangeline sighed. "Besides, the last thing I need is for any of those other brats to become a vampire."
Turning back to the search team...
Asuna tapped her foot on the ground impatiently as she waited for the twins to come out of the Starbooks cafe. Somehow she felt it was a bad choice on her part to send the two mischievous girls out to do something. The two never kept their attention on one thing long enough to do something right for a change. Her eyes wandered about the crowd of students and faculty members passing on the sidewalk and her eyes locked on Mei and Takane when they passed by. The broom in the red-head's hand caught her attention.
"I've been seeing those two a lot lately. Are they following me or something?" Asuna asked no one in particular.
"Big brother bumped in to that nice blonde one the other day." Chamo said lecherously. "She really is something you don't see everyday."
"Now that you mention it I've never seen those two on campus before." Asuna said suspiciously.
"You don't suppose they have anything to do with Big brother's disappearance do you?" Chamo asked, goading her on.
"Lets not stray too far from the suspects, huh?" Asuna asked skeptically before narrowing her eyes at the ermine. "You sure are getting comfortable on my shoulder aren't ya'?"
"I totally thought we were getting closer you know?"
"Whatever you perverted rodent." She snarled at him before she heard the gleeful voices of the twins. Both of them had bought drinks for themselves which only meant they weren't trying that hard to find Negi inside.
I can't depend on these two...I need some sort of sign! Asuna inwardly cried out to the heavens above. Then almost as if the heavens granted her wish she heard the voice of a certain young teacher call out to her. She whipped around quickly to find the source and saw Negi running to her with Chachazero gripping his hair to keep from falling off.
"Asuna-san!" Negi called to her cheerfully.
"Negi-bozu!" Asuna cried out in a similar fashion, running to him with open arms.
"He-e-e-e-ey-," Something about this scene started to feel like a trap, "W-wait a minute!" Negi saw the fire burning in the girl's eyes and he started to twist around to get away from her. The sweet moment suddenly became a run for survival when Asuna's caring smile turned in to a murderous look of terror.
"Get back here squirt!" She screamed at him as she started to pick up speed. The twins watched the scene unfold before them and suddenly lost interest in their drinks. They left the beverages on a table and joined the chase with Asuna.
"Wait for us!" Fumika called excitedly.
"Yeah! We don't wanna get left out!" Fuka added mischievously.
"The love is just everywhere isn't it?" Chachazero asked Negi evily with a cackle.
"Unfortunately!" Negi quipped, pumping his legs faster. Takane and Mei were sitting on one of the benches near the lake relaxing when out of nowhere, four blurs whizzed past them. Of the four Takane sensed Negi's magic aura amongst them.
"Should we-"
"We're not getting involved with this one." Takane cut Mei off. "We'll catch him when he's alone."
"Alright." Mei replied sounding slightly disappointed. Seconds later Kotaro, Kaede and Ku-Fei ran past the both of them as well.
"Popular isn't he?" Takane said, the sarcasm dripping off her words like venom.
"Looks like i-"
"We need to reach Negi before that ape rips him to shreds!" Ayaka cried out desperately as she passed the two followed by Makie and Konoka. Takane and Mei watched the class president's fleeting form in the distance accompanied by the other two and shrugged.
"It suddenly got really lively here." Mei commented.
"As close as that boy is with "Dark Evangel" I wouldn't doubt his abilities to stir up a ruckus." Takane spat with a snort of disgust. "The nerve that witch has to call us weak little children."
"She didn't seem too cautious about appearing before us."
"Because she's a fool."
"Or because our lives are mere specks of dust to her?" Mei interjected. Takane glared at her underling before turning away from her. Both girl turned their attention to the chase yet again when Haruna, Yue and Nodoka ran by.
"Come on Nodoka! We have to catch up!" Haruna roared.
"I-I'm trying t-to keep up!" Nodoka snapped back at her friend. Yue didn't say a word throughout the entire exchange. Takane on the other hand just about had it with the zaniness.
"What's wrong with these students?!"
Chachamaru and Evangeline stood on the bridge near the tea club looking down at the chase below. Chachamru watched a grin work it's way across her master's face and felt a slight twinge of puzzlement in her system.
"Excuse me mistress but I believe you ignited the flame you were trying to put out when you sent sensei to meet with Asuna-san." Evangeline turned to the android with a scoff when she heard her say that.
"Extinguish the flame you say, on the contrary, Chachamaru. I just got tired of watching boya mope around so I figured I'd just send him in troubles way to perk him up." Evangeline said. "Well, lets head to the "Go" club. I'm starting to get bored."
"Yes mistress."
---------------------------------------
Later at the dorm room...
--------------------------------------
"Asuna a harsh guardian isn't she?" Ku-Fei whispered to Makie as she watched Asuna scold Negi from the couch. Setsuna and Konoka watched from a distance as well, and from the looks of it Negi wasn't having the best day. When Asuna was done berating him she walked away from the boy and took a seat on the couch across from Ku-Fei and Makie. Setsuna pretended to be reading a book, which she failed miserably since she accidentally held it upside down, and Konoka rushed to the kitchen to play it off as though she was serving the girls drinks.
"Kind of harsh weren't you Asuna-chan?" Chamo asked the red-head from his perch on her shoulder.
"No. I actually think I went easy on him!" Asuna snapped at him. "And the thing that gets me is that he wouldn't tell me where he went. I know he lied to me about being with Kotaro." Asuna stole a glance at Negi who climbed up to his room and laid down on the floor to look at the ceiling. She inwardly groaned at how sad he looked.
"So did you punish him?" Makie asked hesitantly. "You didn't did you?" She quickly added on hopefully.
"Of course not. What could I possibly do to him? It's not like he's my brother or something." Asuna replied. "I'm not letting him go to train with Mcdowell tonight though." She looked at Setsuna when the girl looked at her oddly and asked, "What's the problem with that?"
"Evangeline wouldn't be pleased with that." Setsuna replied with a chill.
"Vampire girl would punish disciple." Ku-fei added.
"What would she possibly do to Negi?!" Asuna asked, thinking that all of this fuss was rather ridiculous.
Makie rolled her eyes and started off, "Well..."
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Makie's thoughts on the matter...
Negi held a large stone ball on his shoulders as he stood upon burning rocks of hot coal wearing nothing but his boxers. He took a step forwards and grimaced as the hot coals licked his feet. The weight of the stone made his feet sink further in to the crumbling rocks while Evangeline watched from her throne. Where this throne came from was only to be known by Makie herself.
"So you decided to weasel out on our training did you boya?" Evangeline asked sinisterly.
"I am so sorry master!" Negi cried out.
"Too late now. Get moving!" The vampiress ordered cruelly. She nodded to Chachamaru who stood beside her with a whip and the android proceeded to lash at the boys back.
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"W-what is wrong with you Makie?!" Asuna asked in horror. The gymnast blushed deeply as she fidgeted with her hands and said meekly, "It could happen."
"That's just cruel and unusual punishment." Konoka cried out from the kitchen.
"I wouldn't put it past Eva-san to think up something like that though." Setsuna said with a nod of her head.
"Oh no. You too Set-chan?!" Konoka gasped in surprise.
"Evangeline just might...
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Setsuna's thoughts on the matter...
Negi hung upside down from a tree while Evangeline stood beside him with a boken in preparation to strike him. She slashed at the air a few times before placing a hand on Negi's back and pushing him forward lightly causing him to swing back and forth. Negi had on nothing but his boxers and a blindfold wrapped around his eyes to keep him from seeing anything.
"So you thought you could just leave me waiting for you to come?" Evangeline asked wrathfully.
"I am so sorry master!" Negi cried out in fear. "Please don't hurt me!"
"Too late for apologies boya!" Evangeline struck him on the back making the boy cry out and wriggle in pain.
"I-I'm s-sorry!"
Evangeline struck him again...
"Why Asuna, whyyyyyyyyyyyyy?!"
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"Stop that already!" Asuna screamed. "Are you guys trying to make me feel bad?!" The red-head looked back at Negi one last time and sighed. "Alright. I'll let him go train with her tonight...gawd you girls are terrible.
"I no say anything yet!" Ku-Fei protested.
"No more scenarios!" Asuna snapped.
Evangeline's residence...
Negi stood in front of the door nervously as his body refused to let him knock on the door. His eyes looked towards the full moon in the evening sky and he felt shills running down his spine. He felt some odd sensation pulsing throughout his entire body from basking in the moonlight and it started to creep him out to say the least. Evangeline said she wasn't sure how the full moon would affect him so he didn't feel that he could trust himself.
"W-what if I turn in to a man eating bat?!" Negi thought aloud, making Chachazero giggle insanely.
"That would be fun!" Chachazero said gleefully. "It's pretty unlikely, but I'm starting to like the way you think master Negi!"
"Oh great." Negi mumbled miserably.
"Are you going to knock on the door or what master?"
"Alright, alright." Negi retorted, lifting his knuckles up near the surface of the door. After swallowing his fears he knocked on the door a few times and the door opened to reveal Chachamaru in her usual maid outfit. The android bowed before greeting him in her usual fashion.
"Good evening Negi-sensei. The mistress has been expecting you." said Chachamaru as she gestured for him to come in. Negi walked in and took his respective place on the couch near the coffee table while the android closed the door.
"May I serve you a drink sensei?"
"N-no I'm not thirsty." Negi replied, sweat-dropping.
"Now, we all know that was a lie." a sultry voice said from above. Negi could have sworn he heard the voice from somewhere before so when he turned to see who spoke it was no surprise that it was Evangeline, however, she took the form of her older persona. She wore a black dress held by a black neck lace that stopped just above her knees accompanied by her usual vampiric cloak. Negi couldn't help but blush at how sexy she looked.
"I see that you're not dressed for this occasion at all." The vampiress quipped as she descended the stairs to reach the living room. Chachamaru observed the way Negi looked at Evangeline and felt a twinge of jealousy.
"I-I'm sorry master. I had no idea you wanted me to dress up." Negi apologized. "Erm, what is the occasion anyway?"
"Your first full moon of course." Evangeline replied with a smirk. "Why don't we go for a little flying around the campus tonight. To the world tree perhaps?" Evangeline suggested.
"The World Tree?" Negi questioned. "Why there?"
"It's the perfect place to commemorate our first actual drink together."
"We aren't going to prey on any students are we?!" Negi asked in horror. Evangeline laughed as she approached him and said, "I-I didn't get that the first time. What did you say?"
"We aren't going to prey on any-"
SMACK!
"And completely blow our cover?! Are you stupid?!" Evangeline yelled in annoyance. "I only did that before to lure you out. I can't just pick off students from the campus every full moon you know. That's the reason I order blood packs..."Evangeline grinned. "...Not to mention the reason I keep you around."
"O-oh."
"So lets get going boya." Evangeline ordered as she exited the room through the courtyard entrance.
"Yes master!" Negi complied, following her outside. She stopped in front of the fountain near the middle of the courtyard and looked up towards the moon. Negi could see the soft beams shining down upon her at that moment embracing her body. Her hair seemed to glow in the darkness and the cloaks combined with her adult form made her look like some temptress.
"Like out of some mystery novel." Negi mumbled, getting Evangeline's attention.
"What was that boya?" She asked.
"N-nothing at all master." Negi replied.
"Anyway, first things first." Evangeline snapped her finger before pointing at him and a flock of bats appeared out of nowhere and surrounded him.
"W-What's going o-on?!"
"Calm down boya." Evangeline told him as the bats swirled around him and materialized in to a cloak similar to her own. The cloak draped over Negi's shoulders and the neck collar popped up making it look fit for a vampire. "There we go. Now you look proper enough. This will be your own personal cloak. Later I'll teach you to summon it when we get to the basics of dark arts."
"Yes master." Negi replied as he felt the cloak. "It's so smooth."
"Yeah, yeah. Let's get going!" Evangeline jumped toward the fountain and kicked off it's surface with one foot before taking flight. Negi did the same and joined her up in the evening sky. They flew up high enough until they could see the entire campus.
"Does seeing everything from up here bring back memories?" Evangeline joked.
"Y-yeah. Really bad memories."
"Don't get yourself hung over on those memories boya. I'll provide you with more when the time comes." She heard her disciple groan and laughed. "Enough talk for now. We can talk more when we get to the world tree." With those words she flew toward the enormous tree in the distance.
"Slow down!" Negi called to her as he followed.
"Try to keep up boya!" The vampiress cried out playfully as she increased her speed.
"C'mon master!" Negi yelled before blinking a few times. Was she actually having fun with him or was it just his imagination playing tricks on him. Regardless of that he decided to play along and chase after her. "I accept then!" He yelled as he increased his flight speed.
"That's the attitude I want!" purred Evangeline before making a nosedive. "Don't be afraid Negi!" She looked back at her disciple to see him hesitating about doing a nosedive as well but to her surprise he actually pulled it off and followed after her. When Evangeline turned back to watch where she was going she saw the World Tree nearby and prepared to land near it. There weren't that many students out at this time since it was almost time for curfew so nobody saw the two vampires descending. When they both landed near the Tree they went up the stair steps to stand on the walkway that surrounded the tree and watched the view of the campus.
"Nice." Negi said in wonder. "It's no wonder why everyone likes to come to this spot."
"Fools in love only come to this spot boya." Evangeline said with a grin. "I believe I already told you about the power of this tree haven't I?"
"Yes."
"So then you know just how dangerous this place is right?"
"Yes master." Negi answered.
Evangeline smirked and got closer to him, saying, "Danger will always lie within things of beauty boya. Always keep that in mind because the life of a wizard is filled with traps and surprises." She place a hand on his head and played with his hair. Negi felt himself blushing the entire time. Was it him or was she acting really weird tonight?
"I wanted to talk to you about something sensei."
"R-really?"
"Yeah...really." Evangeline replied sarcastically. "Do you remember the word you used to describe yourself earlier this morning?"
"...Yeah." Negi replied, bowing his head slightly but she made him raise it again.
"Don't bow your head."
"Y-yes master."
"Don't ever refer to yourself as a monster again or I will punish you. If you see yourself as a monster then I don't see how else you could view me." The vampiress said sternly. Her voice was filled with emotions Negi couldn't completely make out.
"But I don't see you as a monster master!"
"We're both vampires boya. If you see yourself as a monster because you're a vampire then you have to feel that same way about me. Don't cheapen yourself boy!" Evangeline scolded. "Monsters have no feelings; no sense or passion. For you to even think such things about yourself fills me with the outmost disgust. You will come across hardships as a vampire but you will overcome them just as I did."
"Master?"
"Yes?"
"How did you become a vampire?" Negi asked Evangeline. There was a deathly silence after he asked her that and he started to feel as though he made a mistake in asking such a personal question. She turned away from him for a moment and sighed deeply as if all the weight on her mind was slipping away all at once.
"That's...none of your business."
"But-"
"You will hear nothing on the matter boy. That information is something I don't like to share with anyone and even if I considered revealing such information I would never think of telling you of all people."
"Why?"
"I'd feel ashamed." Evangeline replied.
"I'm sorry master."
"No need for an apology. You're curious, that's all." Evangeline turned to face him and spread out her cloak so her arms were exposed. "You have a long way to go boya, but I'll stand beside you to guide you as my underling." She held out her arm to him and he took a step back.
"What?"
"Drink my blood Negi. Only after you drink my blood will you be able to suppress your blood lust. You will gain the potential to shape shift, to bring others under your control and to manipulate the forces of darkness at your will." Evangeline's voice got softer. "You will truly become one of the dark ranks."
Negi looked at her in awe...
"M-master..." Negi stammered nervously.
"Make the choice sensei. Drink my blood." Evangeline held her arm closer to his face and he found himself opening his mouth to bare his fangs but the closer he came to biting her the more it felt like something was wrong about it. Before his fangs could come in contact with her skin he pulled back and turned away from her.
"I can't do it master." Negi shuddered at the thought of biting in to the flesh of another. "I just can't drink your blood." Evangeline nodded slowly and lowered her arm to her side in slight disappointment yet there was also a feeling of relief. As long as he didn't drink her blood he could not completely surpass her and that would always make him hers in some right.
"So the boya is afraid to take the next step." Evangeline taunted with a small grin. "You choose to stay no different from a newborn because you're afraid to grasp what potential you have locked within. Tell me Negi...what is it that you fear?"
"...I don't know." Negi replied in a whisper.
"Or is it that you don't fear this potential? Is it that you feel you may be cheating yourself?" Evangeline placed her hands on both his shoulders and made him face her. "I respect that boya. You actually have the makings of your own father, and because of that..."Evangeline bared her fangs. "...I find you even more delectable." Her fangs plunged in to his neck and he felt the same pleasurable sensation running through his body.
...and for a moment the darkness was so sweet...
To be continued...
And now the series actually begins...