Disclaimer: I do not own Negima or any of its vibrant characters…
Fang Vice Addiction
Chapter Twenty-Four: Ambivalence
By Traingham
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1800's ,"Dark Evangel" segment...
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The skies were dark, swirling with ominous clouds that pounded rain upon the country side. The land was completely barren of any sights of agriculture due to the rapidly increasing infection that had been overcoming all of the potatoes and other crops that once flourished in the land. The only other sounds that echoed through the cold night other than the down pour was the occasional crash and explosion that emanated from a lone armory overshadowed by a hill that had been long abandoned after the last call for war had passed...
"Ara, ara. " Lucinda teetered chillingly as she leaned over to inspect Evangeline's battered form. The Undying wizard was lying against a wall with her blood smothered against it in a red trail that lead down to her sitting position. "It would seem that you were unprepared for this duel. How very unlike you." The way the silver-haired mistress licked her lips after she spoke made Evangeline very uncomfortable.
The Undying wizard narrowed her left eye at her arch rival darkly, wiping her right eye of the blood that was trickling from her forehead. Just like all other times that Evangeline had crossed paths with Lucinda, they engaged each other in a duel on sight. Such a violent relationship could develop between two individuals after centuries of bitterness towards each other. To Lucinda, ending Evangeline's life was the highest pleasure she could ever have. Making her suffer was enough to keep the maniacal smile upon her face for years on end and now that she was currently enjoying her favorite past time she couldn't possibly have been any happier. Her reasons for having such intense feelings of hatred for the "Puppet Master" were complicated, however, if Evangeline were ever to make an assumption she would put her bet on the time she impaled the Dark mistress after the psychotic vixen attempted to have her way with her. In the past Lucinda had a rather disturbing fancy for Evangeline that quite frankly gave her chills, and it took a lot to give the dark wizard chills.
"How did you track me down?" Evangeline asked, carefully pressing her hands against the stone floor of the dark hall as to not alert Lucinda. "You could not have possibly found me here without any assistance." Evangeline offered Lucinda a wry smirk before she added, "How is a girl supposed to get some sleep with stalkers like you prowling around?" She grimaced when Lucinda placed her foot against Evangeline's left shoulder and gave it a hard press sending a stab of pain through her wound.
"It's funny that you should ask that." Lucinda grinned down at her fellow mistress, her foot never alleviating it's pressure upon Evangeline's shoulder wound. "As much as it kills me to admit to it, I did receive some help from someone in tracking you down."
"Who?" Evangeline asked, clenching her teeth painfully. When she was done with this little affair she would pay Lucinda's tip off a visit. She couldn't have anyone just handing out information about her where abouts to her enemies. While she may have been proclaimed, "The Goddess of Oblivion" by many within her nation, she still had needs for a peaceful life. The fact that Lucinda would have an advantage in finding her was something grave as well. She was probably the only adversary she had that could make her sweat at the very sight of her.
"Someone who holds a deep seated hatred for you." Lucinda answered, remaining unclear. She looked down upon Evangeline with a lazy grin that exposed her lethal fangs. "Come now, Dark Evangel..." Lucinda's eyes took on a spark of hatred for a moment, "The list isn't short, however, those daring enough to actually express such feeling outwardly are a handful."
Evangeline thought hard about such an individual. She knew that the council didn't sit well with her existence very well. The fact that she was even breathing meant that she was a threat to their very order. The same could be said of Lucinda; however, the dark mistress wasn't one to look into the affairs of the underworld so much. She could care less about the well being of the nocturnal race. So who would be so bold as to share such information with hopes of ending her life? Who knew her so well as to predict her where abouts so accurately. Who wanted to her to-wait...or rather, was it to get her attention?
"Dorothy..." Evangeline snarled, furrowing her brow with building fury.
"Precisely." Lucinda smiled happily. "That's what I loved about you, you're quick and on point."
"Why didn't you end her life?" Evangeline asked.
"Pardon?" Lucinda widened her eyes slightly in mild curiosity. "You asked why I didn't kill her?"
"Yes." The Undying wizard nodded. "Aren't you bothered by the fact that there is someone out there who knows more about me than you?" Evangeline smirked at Lucinda despite the pain in her shoulder. "Doesn't it just make your blood boil...love?" The other mistress narrowed her eyes at Evangeline's final word. It was the blonde mistress's way of mocking her and Lucinda was not one to be mocked. Such boldness could only bring upon a grim fate.
"I know that she poses no threat to me." Lucinda answered her. "A weakling such as herself wouldn't be able to do much of anything to hurt me. I see no reason to bother with her." Lucinda pulled her foot back from Evangeline's shoulder wound and allowed it to fall to the floor before turning away to grab a steel rod that was leaning against the wall behind her. She looked over her shoulder back at Evangeline as she gripped the rod and went on, "And she wouldn't be able to do much to you either so I have no worries about her ending your life before I have the pleasure of doing so myself." She lifted the rod and gripped it with her other hand, turning to face her. Her lips curled into a twisted grin that made her look psychotic as she lifted the rod over her head in preparation to impale Evangeline with it. "Well then...shall we pick up where we left off?"
"Go on ahead." Evangeline nodded casually. "I don't mind."
"Ha...haha...hahahaha!" Lucinda cackled, her shoulders trembling in maniacal delight. "Till the end, Evangel, till the end. I'd expect such an attitude from no one else!" With that final exchange Lucinda brought the rod down upon Evangeline quickly, however, instead of feeling the metal pierce flesh accompanied by the delicious squelching noise of her rival being impaled she felt something else. She looked down with a bored expression to see Evangeline gripping the other end of the rod, keeping it from going through her neck. "Oh dear..." Lucinda placed a hand upon her cheek still gripping the rod still with her other hand. "Even now you still fight me."
"Would you…expect me…to do otherwise?" Evangeline asked with a feral grin as she forced the other end of the rod away from her neck. Her eyes swiveled quickly to her shoulder wound when she felt a thick moisture travel down her left side. Her wound should have healed by now so why was it still seeping blood? There was something definitely wrong about this.
What has she done? Evangeline inwardly growled as she looked back at Lucinda. She saw the other dark mistress's lips curl into a knowing grin and demanded, "Tell me what you've done!"
"Is it so hard to figure out?" Lucinda asked her in a honey sweet voice that sent shivers through Evangeline. When she realized that Evangeline wasn't about to humor her with a response she went on, "Those superb regeneration abilities that you possess are quite the nuisance so I decided to put a stop to them." She leaned over towards the Undying wizard, applying more force on the rod in the process and whispered, "I'm sure if you dig deep enough…you'll find out exactly what I am referring to, love."
"Damn…you." Evangeline snarled at Lucinda. That Dorothy is a smart girl, I'll give her that. Send someone to kill me instead of doing it yourself…and a damn good pick too. Evangeline's eyes swiveled between the rod and Lucinda before finally stopping upon her still bleeding shoulder wound. First I need to live this, and then I'll pay that little girl a visit.
"GrraaAAH!" Evangeline roared as she gave Lucinda a vicious kick to the stomach. The other dark mistress went flying backwards into the opposing wall, toppling many of the other swords and spears that were hanging against it. Evangeline took that chance to lean against the wall and slump up to her feet. She looked back at Lucinda for a moment to check for some movement and picked up a sword before gripping it in both hands and plunging it into her neck.
"Raaaaksshhh!" Lucinda hacked when the blade went through. "Ervankerlinkth!" She growled wildly as her hands began slapping the ground erratically. "Thish isnk't overksh!"
"No…" Evangeline started, digging her hand into her shoulder. She felt something cold lodged inside and pulled it out to find a sharp stake made from silver. It glinted in the pouring moonlight with her blood for a moment before she looked down at the still struggling, Lucinda McVicar. "It isn't over for you anyway." She licked her lips devilishly as she held it up over her rival's back. "Farewell!"
SHINKT!
"AHHHHHHHHHHHH!"
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Mahora Festival: Afternoon Two (Temptress Segment)
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Negi placed his money back in his wallet and walked to the entrance of the restaurant in wait for Ako to return from the bathroom. At least that was where she told him she was going to be although the young woman had other things in mind. In all honesty Negi felt just a bit relieved that the shy rocker had decided to leave him for a brief moment. Being around her made him feel nervous for reasons he couldn't completely comprehend. Whenever she was near him the atmosphere took on a rather ominous mood as if something unpleasant was approaching yet at the same time he was drawn to her by some mysterious affinity that he himself could not get a complete grasp over. The intense moment they shared with each other at the dining table earlier served to prove that. Her eyes were pulling him towards her somehow much like Evangeline's whenever she stared him dead in the eyes.
"Why does she seem so eerily familiar?" Negi questioned no one in particular as he turned to face the window, allowing him to view his faint reflection. When he looked at Ako now, he felt as though he was staring at somebody that wasn't exactly another person but rather a different side of her that he had met before. The question that plagued him was where he met this other side and under what circumstances and more importantly, what was it doing taking her place? The magi wasn't completely oblivious to the changes in his student's behavior. He started to see them when they first entered the amusement area of the festival grounds. The way she looked at him held a mischievous quality that he never detected within her crimson eyes before and the way she held his hand or clung to his arm conveyed a message of possessiveness that he would expect from someone like his master. It just wasn't the shy Ako Izumi that he knew.
What's going on here? Ever since Chao introduced me to that weird woman everything has been going completely crazy... Negi stopped himself for a moment to consider his thoughts. That wasn't exactly all true. No...ever since master turned me, I've been having so many weird experiences with other people. Chao has been treating me differently, Mana has been nicer to me...everyone has been acting differently towards me. In fact Ayaka-san has been a bit more affectionate with me than she usually is.
Negi's eyes narrowed somewhat when a certain blonde magistress came to mind. He couldn't possibly forget about Takane's gradual change in behavior towards him over the time they had known each other. During the first few days they had known each other she had been very suspicious of him, almost as if she saw him as some kind of threat to her. She would get tense around him and her attitude towards him was not unlike that of an officer speaking to a shady character walking the streets. That gradually changed; however, as the days passed and eventually he started to see a noticeable difference in the way she treated him. She would smile at him and she had become much more physical with him even if it had been the simplest forms of contact such as holding hands or grabbing him by the arm. She also had a habit of physically bumping into him all the time, which almost always ended up with him being in an awkward position.
Then there's the fact that I bit her...even though she hasn't shown any actual signs of turning...save for her crazy power boost during the tournament that crept up from out of nowhere. The magi could still recall the way she tossed him around the ring like a rag doll. Such images weren't going to simply melt away from his mind so quickly though he was trying his best to do so in hopes that he could suppress the thought of his father's face. Wait, I can't allow my mind to stray from the situation at hand. I'm supposed to be trying to figure out Ako, not Takane! He looked back at the corner that had the "Restroom" neon sign posted against it to see if Ako had come out but it appeared that the young woman was having some trouble in there.
"Did the food have a bad effect on her stomach?" Negi wondered aloud before turning back to his thoughts. At least this would give him more time to understand just what he was dealing with. Ok...she's possessive, amorous and the look in her eyes feels a bit off. Even though this is the first time I've seen her this way it still feels familiar somehow. Why am I contradicting mysel- Negi's eyes suddenly grew wide with a sense of realization. Something had finally clicked in the back of his mind and it sure was not pleasant. Wait a second! Th-that smirk! I've seen it on Ako's face before!
Negi saw Ako donning a maid uniform, smirking at him like some mischievous little demon...
"Oh my gawd...it's just like the time I was dueling Evangeline." Negi mumbled in shock. "But why is she acting this way? It doesn't make any sense..."
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"Oh, they're still half vampires." Evangeline said with a grin. "That side of them will only awaken if I call upon them. Until then, their vampirism is sealed away like a sickness that won't show symptoms until a virus invades the body." Evangeline winked at him mischievously and quipped, "Got it?"
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"...That still doesn't explain why she's acting this way." Negi stared through his reflection upon the window distantly until his mind started to play tricks with him making Evangeline appear to be standing behind him in her older form with a smirk on her face that he usually associated with death. Unless... His mind cranked it's illusionary image further as the Evangeline standing behind his reflection placed her arms around him before merging with him. Unless...I somehow managed to awaken her vampiric side with my own latent abilities. Is it possible?
Negi's thoughts were distrupted when he suddenly felt someone wrap their arms around his waist from behind. The way they snaked against him before finally clasping their hands together to press their self against his back sent violent shivers down his spine that rattled him to no end. "Ako?" Negi said her name in a questioning tone as he tried to settle his self, which was quite a task in itself now that he knew she had a set of lethal fangs hidden behind her lips. "Is that you?" It was either her or that flirtatious waitress from earlier trying to put the moves on him again.
"Yes." Ako answered him. "Who else did you think it would be, Nagi?" The way she asked her question seemed as though she was hinting to someone else. Perhaps she had the same thoughts in mind. "That friendly waitress maybe?"
"I would hope not." Negi replied wisely. "That would be terrible."
"Wouldn't it be?" Ako asked, grinning against his back in a chilling fashion that would have possibly matched Mana. Her smirk gradually left her, however, when she felt Negi grip both her hands firmly and pull them apart to release her hold on him. "Hmm?" She hummed when Negi turned to face her.
"What would you like to do next?" He asked her, his eyes searching for an answer within her crimson orbs. The way he looked at her managed to unsettle her somewhat. It looked a little suspicious. "We have some more time before the concert."
"I'm...uh..." Ako started to feel as if Negi was looking right into her. She needed to answer quickly before he would be able to find what he was looking for. "Why don't we just walk for a bit? I don't feel like getting on any rides after eating, you know?"The way he's looking at me now is as if he suspects something...but that couldn't possibly be it, right?
HEY! Why can't I move my own body?! The voice of the true Ako cried out from deep within. Let me go now!
Calm yourself, girl. What I do is what's best for the both of us...
But that waitress! You could have killed her!
But I didn't, did I? Besides, don't act as if you didn't enjoy it.
What?! What type of person do you think I am?!
Denial will get you nowhere. I would not have been able to take control like this if our thoughts weren't one and the same. You wanted to see her punished, and even now you want Nagi for yourself...will you still deny it?
...Nagi...
Just relax. I have everything under control... Ako turned her attention back to Negi when he nodded at her suggestion and said, "Alright then. Lets go." He went to get the door for her, opening it so she could pass through and she did just that before grabbing a hold of his hand when he let go of the door and walked beside her. Negi kept himself from flinching when he felt her grip his hand, but now that he was aware he simply couldn't keep his thoughts from dreading the contact between them. If this wasn't exactly Ako whom was holding his hand then where was she?
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"They're on the move again people!" Chachazero alerted everyone who had gone into a bored daze after Ako made her disappearance to deal with the waitress earlier. Even Chachamaru lost interest in the scene when the rocker's offending presence made a disappearance. As long as Ako wasn't anywhere near Negi she was fine, but by taking a look to where her smaller counterpart was pointing she could see that Ako had already latched on to him again. Oh, how she wished that she was in her place right now but now was not the time to be dwelling in leisure fantasies.
"We must move on." Chachamaru agreed, her eyes swiveling over to Chisame and Kotaro. When Kotaro regarded her blankly the gynoid clenched her left hand into a fist and said, "Now please..." The hint of irritation in her voice spoke volumes. Kotaro didn't even want to know about her getting angry. He was having enough trouble with the sadistic puppet already and he didn't want to add on to that with a murderous cyber woman.
"Alright..." Kotaro yawned as he pushed off from his leaning post against the wall.
"Let's get moving." Chisame nodded, brushing off the back of her outfit.
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"This is beginning to suck." Mei grumbled from beside Takane as the two continued their confession scouting. At this point the red head was willing to pick repeating the entire tournament all over again as opposed to this boring segment of her life that she was currently sharing with her superior who even now disturbed her. Back at the amusement area she could have sworn that Takane was going to lunge at her, but at the last moment she seemed to stop herself as though she was momentarily possessed by another split personality. As usual said young woman didn't have any sort of response to Mei's comment nor did she show any signs of hearing it. Her attention seemed to be elsewhere.
"Onesan..."Mei's eyes fell at the sight of the blonde magistress. This was seriously beginning to scare her. Ever since Takane came to Mahora campus she had been acting unusual. The most noticeable turning point, however, was when she left the infirmary after the engagement that took place on the balcony between her and the possessed young teacher. Negi didn't seem like the type to do something wrong, but Mei kept on wondering whether he had done something to her superior when they shared that kiss that unforgettable evening. Of course...Negi wasn't even sure what was going on at that point so whatever happened couldn't have really been his fault...
"Onesan." Mei called to Takane in a loud voice so as to get her attention since the normal speaking level had become somewhat dead to her ears. When she saw Takane turn to her she let out a sigh of relief. She hadn't completely lost her yet. "Aren't you bored with this scouting duty?" The young magistress asked in an attempt to make casual conversation. She wasn't about to take this unnerving gap in communication any longer.
"Boredom shouldn't pose as anything significant to us Mei." Takane answered her in her usual business like tone. It did well to put her underling at ease to hear her speak so naturally. It allowed Mei to know that she still retained a sense of self. "When we are given a duty, business must always come before pleasure." Takane's eyes took on a stern look as she regarded her underling. "I'm quite sure that you understand that."
"Yes onesan." Mei groaned playfully.
"Besides, we already had our break from scouting duty when we participated in the tournament."
"You called that a break?" Mei's jaw almost hung open at Takane's words. She didn't see fighting against others as something that could be called a break. Their pulse pounding engagement with the horde of robots underground did nothing to change her opinion of that either. She wouldn't have even thought about entering the tournament if it wasn't for Takane anyway. Every time the words, "It's for the sake of duty, Mei!", found their way out of her superior's mouth they ended up running into trouble that could have been totally avoided. "I wouldn't call anything that transpired in that tournament a break!"
"Regardless of what had taken place it still took us off from scouting duty." Takane retorted, never skipping a beat with her words. Whenever Takane got into anything regarding what she felt was right, she ended up on top regardless of any good argument that got thrown her way. It was just her philosophy on things and there was nothing that could make her budge from it. Well, nothing with the exception of a certain young wizard who had the power to turn her world upside down if he wanted to, and even if Takane denied it that was all that had been happening to her life ever since she crossed paths with Negi. From her pursuit of him when she caught him in adult form at the shrine, to her lunch with him at Chao's restaurant, every time it involved him the situation was never within her hands. Her bizarre showdown with him in the tournament was no different and the more she thought about it, the more it served to vex and irritate her. At the same time, however, there was some unexplainable feeling within her that told her that she inwardly enjoyed every bit of it. Every experience that she had with Negi always threw a wrench in her plans and yet the outcome was always so deliciously unexpected. They were experiences that she could look back on and smile at.
"I still don't agree with it." Mei said, crossing her arms.
"And that is your opinion." Takane countered. "It should not affect your job."
"What if I just quit then?" Mei asked, taking Takane off guard.
"Excuse me?" Takane's eyes widened slightly. "Why would you say something so rash?"
"It's just so boring, and with all of the fun attractions that are happening around us I feel so left out." Mei argued. "Look at Negi-kun." Mei brought up the young magi causing a shift in Takane's expression. "He still manages to have some fun on the side."
"Negi is irresponsible!" Takane snapped at Mei. "That is the reason he always finds his self in trouble afterwards."
"You're usually causing him the trouble!" Mei shot back in the young magi's defense.
"W-what?!" Takane was taken aback by her underling's words. "How could you say that?!"
"All you ever do when you see him is get on his case or chase him like some mad woman!"
"That is not true!"
"Not true?!" Mei's eyes flared as she placed her hand upon her chest. "I'm always the one getting dragged along in your crazy attacks on him. How are you going to tell me that it's not true?!"
"Mei-"
"Sometimes I wonder if your getting some kind of guilty pleasure out of it!"
"Liste-"
"You think I haven't noticed those smirks on your face whenever you see him?" Mei asked, standing up to Takane face-to-face. "What is your deal, onesan? Why don't you just admit it already?"
"Admit what?!" Takane cried out. At this point many of the students that were walking by did their best not to stop and stare at the argument that had suddenly broken out between the two.
"That you're obsessed with him!" Mei yelled back. "All that you say about him out in the open isn't what you truly feel and you know it! There must be some reason that you're always following him. There has got to be some explanation for why you're always trying to find a way to capture his attention. You went to that tea ceremony to do more than comfort him. You invited him out to dinner before because there was more to it than some simple apology!" Mei narrowed her eyes at Takane fiercely. "You only invited me so that he would be at peace of mind coming with you, otherwise you would have just left me at the dorm we're staying at!"
"What has gotten into you?!"
"What do you really think of Negi, onesan?" Mei gripped Takane by both of her arms and looked deep into her eyes. "What is it that you feel? Please tell me because I can't stay silent about it any longer. It's really starting to kill me!"
"You want to know?" Takane asked Mei with a straight face. "Very well, I'll tell you how I feel about that crazy boy! I admire him, Mei, not simply because of his relation to the great Thousand Master as others only see in him, but because of what makes him who he is!" Takane matched Mei's intense gaze as she went on, "He's just unlike anyone I've ever met before, Mei! He stood up before Gandolfini and demanded that Lingshen be released despite all of the cases that were against her. He possesses strength and wisdom beyond his years that quite frankly scares me to the point that I truly forget how young he is, and most of all the care that he shows for others simply baffles me! Others may not see the changes within Dark Evangel, but I do Mei, and I know that it's all because she has that wondrous boy by her side. I've tried so many times to make him realize how terrible of a person she is and yet he looks past it all and sees something beautiful that no one else has the courage to look for!" Takane grabbed Mei by the sides of her face with trembling hands and looked so deeply within her eyes that it practically paralyzed that poor girl. Her voice was cracked and soft as she spoke her next words. "That is what I see Mei, and the one thing that strikes me down is that he...doesn't...see...me." Takane emphasized her last three words hauntingly.
"N-Negi..." Mei said breathlessly as her eyes stared out towards something beyond Takane. At first the blond magistress wasn't sure what Mei meant by her utterance of the young magi's name, but slowly she followed the look in Mei's eyes and turned to see a sight that made her blood run completely cold. It was as though the temperature around her had suddenly dropped at an astounding level. Negi? Takane's upper lip trembled as the thought of him passed through her mind. There in the midst of the crowd of students she saw Negi walking in his older form with a young woman clutching his arm rather possessively. She was sure that she'd seen her somewhere before but even she could sense that there was something different about her. The last time she met the young woman she looked as though she was on the verge of passing out within Negi's presence and yet now there was an aura of confidence surrounding her as she walked with him that made Takane feel a bit helpless, she just wasn't sure why.
Ugh...what is this feeling that weighs me now? Takane questioned as her entire body went stiff at the sight of Ako. An odd sensation gradually began to build up within her canines and the muscles in her body pulsated oddly. What is is about this girl that-
Takane's eyes went wide with surprise when Ako unexpectedly turned her head to meet her eyes with a piercing gaze. The students that made up the crowd around Negi and Ako disappeared and time slowed down for both young women as they stared into each other's eyes. It was a staring match that sent violent shivers down her spine, and then Ako finally spoke-
"I see you looking on with envious eyes dear sister." Ako offered Takane a chilling smile.
"Sister? What do you mean?"
"Well then, look on sister, and look well because you will only see and never feel." Ako sneered before going on, "You will never feel what he can offer us." With that message the spell that had taken control over Takane shattered and time was restored along with her sight of the crowd. Ako was looking forward as though she had never paid the blond magistress any mind and Negi walked off with her until they could no longer be seen. The odd feeling within Takane suddenly burned like a living flame and her senses started running wild. Mei saw the disturbance within her superior and grabbed her by the shoulder.
"Onesan, are you alright?!" Mei asked only to have her hand jerked away by Takane.
"D-don't touch me." Takane told her in a near growl. She began to stagger away from Mei, yelling, "Just leave me alone!"
"But Takane-"
"Don't follow me!" With that Takane took off into a run without warning, leaving Mei behind. She pushed through the crowd of students causing a commotion and continued her run with seemingly no definite objective in mind except to put some distance between her and the people around her. Her legs pumped on relentlessly at a speed she didn't even know she was capable of until she made into the shade of the back of some building. It was then that she leaned against the wall and slumped down into a sitting position, looking up at the tree branches hanging above her with unfocused eyes. Her jaw locked and her head fell to the side as her hands dug into the ground viciously. She was helpless to the violent sensation that had taken her body without warning, and she could feel her mind slowly slipping away into the dark void as well. At first she tried with all her might not to allow herself to be consumed, but she gradually found herself accepting it and before she knew it consciousness had escaped her like a sweet dream.
Takane awoke to find herself in complete darkness. She was completely naked yet there was a warmth radiating from all around her and it comforted her. It made her feel safe and secure, however, the appearance of a certain individual caused all of that to escape her just as quickly as it had enveloped her. A beautiful woman stood before her donning a cloak that seemed to melt into the darkness that surrounded her but her golden mane of hair glowed like an aura of light around her pale face. Her emerald green eyes stayed upon Takane, unmoving with a coldness that made her feel unwelcome.
"Dark Evangel..." Takane spoke the name of the woman before her with thick venom. She tried her best to match Evangeline's gaze with one as equally cold but the dark mistress proved to be intimidating. Takane simply couldn't work up the nerve to look her in the eye long enough. "Why are you here?!"
Evangeline remained silent...
"Aren't you going to at least insult me?!" Takane yelled. "Why do you stay silent?!"
Takane flinched when Evangeline finally reacted throwing her cloak to the side and pointing to her with one hand. The darkness beneath Takane rippled like water and a hand rose out before her, pressing it's palm against the dark surface as though whatever was beneath her was trying to pull itself up.
"What is this?!" Takane crawled back from it as another hand rose up from the darkness and pressed itself against the dark surface as well. Before long a crown of blonde hair rose from the darkness followed by a familiar face that made Takane's eyes go wide with horror. "I-It's me..." Her voice left her as the mirror image of herself finally managed to pull itself free of the depths which held her. She remained hunched over with her head hanging for a moment before lifting it up to look at Takane with two twinkling red eyes. Their eye remained locked until the Takane that emerged from the darkness started crawling towards her with a look of genuine curiosity plastered over her face.
"Ah..." Takane whimpered in fear when her double was within arm's reach. She didn't stop there, however, violating Takane's personal space as she crawled between her legs and pinned her hands at both her sides, her face lowering towards Takane's until they were a mere two inches apart from each other. It was a bizarre experience to be looked down upon by yourself as you lay helplessly upon the ground, and the fact that she felt herself breathing over her made the experience all the more chilling.
"What do you want?" Takane's words came out quivering. She didn't like this closeness that she was sharing with her double and the way she breathed in and out in such a predatory fashion made Takane feel that she would feast on her at any moment. Her adrenaline started to pump when the look of curiosity on the other Takane's face shifted to something simply sinister. She grinned down at the blonde magistress with lethal fangs bearing fearsomely and finally spoke.
"Why do you tremble so?" Her words came out in a soft and sultry voice as she rested her forehead against Takane's as well as other parts of her body. "Do you fear yourself so much that you tremble in fear at the very sight of me?"
"You're an illusion." Takane replied, her chest rising and falling quickly against her double's out of growing fear. Her eyes began darting in every direction for some route of escape but all she saw was darkness. "Y-you're just an illusion created by her!"
"Who?" The sinister woman asked, taking a moment to look over her shoulder. Takane did the same to find no one there. That only meant that she was alone with this doppelganger, whatever it was. There was no one to control this demon. "I see no one there." She turned her attention back to Takane with a smirk and asked, "Do you?"
"Just tell me what you want!"
"I want what you want." She replied.
"I would like you to get off of me!"Takane leaned her head back with a blush when her dark twin closed in on her again. "S-stop that…please…"
"I'm afraid you don't understand. I am the self that you are afraid to embrace. I am the self which understands you most. I know what makes you smile, what makes you cry…" She offered Takane a libidinous smirk. "And of course, I know that which makes you do both at the same time."
"You still haven't answered my question."Takane spoke boldly, doing her best to keep calm under the other's intense gaze. "What do you want?"
"That is my question to you." The sinister magistress finally got off of Takane and put some distance between them. "Although the answer to that question has been clear to you ever since your first week at Mahora campus…"
"What do you mean?" Takane blushed furiously.
"Even now you blush at my words because you know whom I speak of." The dark young woman narrowed her eyes, grinning. "Now tell me…will you pass up the chance to claim what you want?"
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Turning away from that identity crisis…
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
"Two vanilla ice creams please." Negi told the young woman behind the counter while Ako stood beside him clutching his arm. He glanced at her face for a moment to see a look that could kill on sight. It was no wonder that the young woman couldn't keep eye contact with him as he made their order. The deceptively quiet rocker wouldn't stop glaring at her. I'm going to have to face this somehow…but the question is, how do I go about this?
"A-Alright." The young woman replied, turning away to get their treats ready for them. While she had her back to them Negi looked to Ako and whispered, "Would you stop looking at her like that?"
"What do you mean?" Ako asked innocently despite the grin on her face that said otherwise. She attempted to nuzzle his arm, but Negi pulled away from her. "Hey…" She furrowed her brows in confusion. "What's wrong, Nagi?"
"You're acting weird today."
"I am not." Ako said with a pout before she reclaimed his arm. "You're the one who's acting weird."
This definitely isn't getting me anywhere. Negi thought as he looked into his dark date's crimson eyes. She isn't just going to come out with it and then I have to take into consideration- Negi's eyes briefly fell upon her pouting lips. –what she might do if she knows that I'm aware of her change. Will she attack me or will she attempt to seduce me? The thought of Ako attempting something so scandalous was something he just couldn't envision and yet she almost managed to capture his lips earlier.
"Here you are." The girl at the counter called their attention. "That will be five bucks total sir."
"Alright." Negi nodded before he pulled out the money to hand it over to her. He saw Ako take the ice cream cone and take a long slow lick that "accidentally" got some of the frosty treat all over her lips. The girl behind the counter rolled her eyes while Negi did his best to keep from looking at his student. This just started to get-
----------------------------------------------------------------------
"-Creepier and creepier, I tell ya'." Kotaro finished his sentence, shaking his head at the scene that was unfolding at the ice cream stand. He didn't stay long with Negi and the others but he was sure that there was something wrong with this picture. "I wouldn't be surprised if she just tackled him to the ground right there."
"If that squirt could bring this sort of reaction out of "her" then he must be doing something incredible." Chisame said in awe before mouthing some words to herself as she squinted her eyes. Kotaro couldn't exactly make them out but he was sure it had to do something with his friend.
"Envious?" The dog demon asked.
"No!" Chisame blurted out quickly. "What would make you think that?!"
"Oh, nothing." Kotaro grinned before turning to Chachamaru and Chachazero. "Um…are you girls alright?"
"I assure you that I am quite alright." Chachamaru answered him, eyeing a small blade in her hand. "However, if Ms. Izumi decides to go any further with this…"
"She is so mine." Chachazero finished her counterpart's thoughts in her own words. "Of course we'll have to make it look like an accident." If Chachazero was capable of facial expressions she would have looked to Kotaro with a lopsided grin. "We wouldn't want, Master Negi to witness the death of one of his students."
"You all need help."
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"Mmm." Ako moaned after taking another lick of her ice cream. "This tastes so much better than the ones you get at the store. I wonder how she made it."
"I'm sure she wouldn't be willing to share such information if that's the case." Negi replied, trying to humor her.
"So what's next?" Ako asked.
"I'm not sure yet." Negi replied, looking around at the attractions. They already went to all of the exciting ones that piqued their interest so everything else didn't really catch their eyes. Negi, however, spotted two muscle bound men standing in front of an entry way to a back stage. They were harassing every couple that passed them trying to get them to participate in whatever attraction they were holding. "We should move to the side, Ako." Negi told her before having them gradually move to the right.
"Why? What's the matter?"
"Well-"
"HEY!" A shout from one of the men cut Negi off before he could give his date an explanation. They both whipped their heads in the direction of the voice's source to find both men approaching them quickly. "HEY YOU TWO! WE'RE HOLDING A MODELING CONTEST!" The older of the two said in a booming voice that made Negi and Ako back away, but both men were persistent.
"WHY DON'T YOU JOIN, HUH?" The younger brother asked.
"We're fine." Negi turned down their offer.
"OH, COME ON!"
"YEAH! DON'T BE SUCH A SPOILED SPORT!"
"I'm serious!" Negi protested before feeling Ako get snatched away from his arm. "Hey, let her go-oh!" He yelped when the older brother hefted him over his shoulder.
"What are you doing?!" Ako cried out as she kicked and flailed her arms. "Are you guys retarded or something?!"
"LET'S GO BROTHER!"
"I HEAR YOU BIG BRO!"
"HO, HO!"
"HO, HO INDEED!"
"I don't get it…" Negi grumbled in frustration.
"Welcome to the Mahora Best Couple Contest!" The host of the contest greeted the audience with a smile that could only speak the word 'professional'. She was a young woman adorned in a black mini dress and she had on puppy ears and a tail to add to the effect. "The top three couples will win…" She paused for her assistant, whom was a little girl dressed similarly with the difference being the length in their dresses to come out with the prizes on a black pillow. "…A wonderful pair of matching bracelets!"
"KAWAII!" All the girls in the audience screamed before promptly punching all of their spineless boyfriends for not participating with them.
"Gomenasai!" The young men apologized, rubbing their sore arms.
-------------------------------------------------------------
Ka-chik….
"And my job never ends." Mana mumbled to herself as she adjusted the scope on her sniper rifle. She backed away from it for a moment to stretch her muscles and placed her left hand on her right shoulder before tilting her head to the side with a faint crack. "I'm beginning to hate all of these couple contests. There's always some bold contestant that wants to choose this opportunity to confess their feelings."
The lovely marksmen held the announcer within her sights and licked her lips before imitating the sound of a gunshot. If it wasn't against her contract she would have shot that young woman down before she could utter another word. She was the reason her job was so damn rigorous.
"I wonder what sensei is doing…"
---------------------------------------------------------------
"Howdy everyone!" A girl with cat ears and a black mini dress greeted Negi and the other participants. Her assistant who happened to be the same girl who assisted the announcer ran to the side of the dresser to pull back the curtain and reveal all of the outfits, which varied from such themes as marriage to simply scandalous subjects that wouldn't normally be worn in public.
Why don't I feel comfortable right now? Negi thought with a sweat drop as he felt Ako squeeze his hand in excitement. He could almost hear the gears in the dark young woman's head cranking.
Oh the possibilities! Ako thought to herself with a smirk.
HEY! Don't do anything crazy!
You again? What's the issue now?
You're going to do something naughty! I know you are!
And what is your qualm?
You're making Nagi-chan very uncomfortable, and- and-
You don't want him to see your scar…is that right?
Don't wear anything revealing! The true Ako watched her view swivel over to a red lace outfit that accentuated the curves of the body as well as offered a generous view of cleavage. N-Not that either! L-let me take over! NOW, NOW, NOW,NOW, NOW!
I'm not listening…
AARRRRGH!
"All participants can choose from a variety of outfits on the rack!" The instructor informed them, doing a wave over the clothes. "Your popularity with the audience on-stage will determine your points!"
"Maybe this wasn't such a good idea." Negi tried to reason with Ako.
"Don't be silly!" Ako told him. "We'll be the best couple on that stage guaranteed!" She gave him the puppy eyes tactic. "We are a couple…right?"
"…Oh dear…" Negi sighed woefully. "Alright then, but I'm picking the theme."
"Aww, c'mon!"
"You'll pick next round okay?" Negi tried to persuade her.
"…Alright." Ako huffed.
"Hey, don't worry. You'll get your chance." Negi told her with a smile that made the vampiress blush in response. "Look, as long as we're here we might as well shoot for the top okay?"
"Okay." Ako grinned at him. So charming…
HEY!
Not listening…
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
"Here they come." Mana said to no one in particular as she watched the contestants line up on stage, however, the appearance of a certain wizard made her do a double take with the scope. "Wait a sec. What is sensei doing participating? He knows that this is a danger zone, doesn't he?" She swiveled the scope over to Ako and her eyes narrowed imperceptibly. The two were dressed in the marriage theme so that meant that the rocker was dressed as a bride and Negi was dressed as the groom in a white tuxedo. While she had to admit that her teacher was rather strapping in his attire, the sight of Ako dressed as a bride at his side irked her.
"Ms. Izumi is his date? How did this happen?" The marksman questioned with a light sneer. She noticed the odd look gracing her face and something clicked. "Something isn't right here."
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"Next up-" The announcer gestured to Negi and Ako as they stood forward before the audience in their marriage outfits. Almost immediately the crowd began cheering their hearts out before the announcer could even say their names. "- Negi Springfield and Ako Izumi! Now aren't they the best looking couple yet?!"
The audience cheered in response…
Negi stood proudly before the audience in his white tux with Ako standing by his side as the audience went wild. This was a good choice for looks and moral anyway. He knew that Ako would have something questionable in mind for them being that she was still possessed by the darkness within her so he had to go with something that she couldn't jeopardize. Now if I can keep dodging her advances I may get through this without any trouble. The only thing I need to find out now is how to free her from this…
Oh Nagi. Ako thought to herself as she eyes Negi from her peripheral,You must believe that you've found a way to restrict my actions but you haven't at all. In fact you may have given me an opening for something I've been wanting for a while.
What are you planning now?!
Watch and learn. Dark Ako mentally told her true self. Why don't we get in some extra points with the audience? She turned to face Negi and wrapped her arms around the back of his neck, catching him off guard.
"Huh?" Negi blinked in panic. What's this?
------------------------------------------------------------------
"Oh man, is she really going to kiss Negi?!" Kotaro freaked out when he saw the young woman make her move on his friend.
"It looks like it." Chisame said grimly. Since the time they entered the contest she had been getting an ominous feeling about it. How would her kid teacher be able to handle something as intimate as this? He got by safely with the amusement area, and he almost went into the red zone at the restaurant. If that waitress had not gotten in the way, Ako might have been able to succeed with her plan, but now that they were entered in a contest for the best couple she might have cornered Negi this time. "Oh gawd, that idiot is just going to stand there and take it isn't he?"
"Master Negi! Resist, resist I say!" Chahazero cried out, flailing her tiny arms wildly.
"W-we must intervene somehow." Chachamaru reasoned. "We still have time!"
"But how?!" Kotaro cried out.
"Think, think!" Chisame yelled.
"Oh, is that the game you'll play, Ms. Izumi?" Mana asked with a purr of delight as she kept the back of Ako's head within her sights. Negi was still looking back at the dark young woman dumbly so she may have had a chance to stop the kiss before it could happen. "Go ahead, lean in for the kiss. Give me an excuse to put you out cold, I'm begging you."
Sensei already has too many burdens on his shoulders for someone like you to just pile another one. Mana thought with a frown. Lingshen made sure of that…
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"How romantic!" The announcer squealed at the scene unfolding upon the stage as Ako and Negi stared into each other's eyes. The other contestants could only gape in horror as their opponents got in the process to do something they never worked up the guts to do. "Will they really share a kiss before the entire audience?! It's been attempted many times before only to be stopped short when the tension build was too much to take for one of the partners, but they just may pick up where others left off!"
No you don't. Negi's mind raced quickly as he stopped the kiss by catching Ako off guard with an idea of his own. He swept the girl off her feet and held her in his arms, bridal style for all to see. While it may not have been the kiss that everyone was holding their breaths for it still did a good job of bringing out a good reaction from the audience. Whew, good thinking. We almost fell into the danger zone again.
H-he cheated! Ako inwardly fumed at his unexpected intervention within her plans. He actually resisted me! Why would he do that for?!
Because Nagi-chan is a good guy!
Oh shut it will you? Dark Ako snapped.
------------------------------------------------------------------
"Whew! The kid knows what he's doing." Chisame said with a sigh of relief. While he may have taken the form of Ako's dream boy it still wasn't alright to let her kiss him the way she had in mind. The last thing they all needed was for the girl to fall madly in love with him and try to make their "relationship" official. That would be tragic. "Although I have to admit that he knows how to do it with style. It looks as though it was planned the entire time."
"That's gonna score some points with the audience." Kotaro commented. "That girl is getting a bit too aggressive for comfort though. If this trend keeps up she might just confess to him."
"That would spell trouble for Master Negi!" Chachazero almost went ballistic.
"With the World Tree active it would be unadvised and dangerous." said Chachamaru. "If she shows signs of confession it would be in our best interest to formulate some form of intervention."
"Looks guys!" Chisame turned on the rest of the group with a look of murder. "Let's not jinx it, alright?!"
--------------------------------------------------------------------
"Whoa! He's carrying her like a modern day princess in a fairy tale!" The lovely announcer exclaimed dreamily at the sight of Negi holding the young rocker. Her words caused Ako to blush outwardly, and inwardly in a manner of speaking. Although she didn't get the kiss she had been pursuing since the restaurant, this unexpected compromise had her feeling pleasant shiver along her skin. It was almost as though Negi had more power over her than she was struggling to gain over him. While she laid dormant within her timid counterpart she was under the impression that this "Nagi"was a mere common man in all likeness of the word: hungry, optimistic, and full of lust. Well, at least that is what she felt was the common mentality of a male, however, Nagi was something else entirely. He reminded her of someone she once met in the past. It was a time when she was in complete dominance over Ako's soul. (Ahem...vol. 3..hint, hint...)
Now I recall who it was. Negi Springfield, if I recall clearly. The vampiress was able to find fond memories of the young magi within the depths of Ako's mind. The waitress made a comparison between them earlier in the restaurant if she was not mistaken. In fact, didn't he claim to be the boy's cousin? Dark Ako looked to the young man holding her. She looked into his eyes, still blushing from his firm hold on her and turned away quickly. She couldn't believe that she was the one falling for him instead of the other way around. He was supposed to be the one blushing at the very sight of her so what exactly was going on here?! She felt him set her back down on her feet and looked into the distance as she fell into deep thought. Regardless of the normalcy that he was displaying as his front there was something emanating from him that spoke the complete opposite. Perhaps it could be due to his relation to the young Springfield?
"Ako?" Negi placed a hand upon her shoulder when she made no signs of movement after the announcer declared that the first round was over. She seemed to be be in another place within her mind. "Ako, we need to go backstage again."
"Um, I mean, what?" Ako snapped out of her daze.
"I said, we need to leave the stage." Negi repeated himself.
"Oh." Was all Ako could come up with before following her date backstage. No, no. His dark aura couldn't possibly be from the young wizard. It feels similar to my own aura...if not even more corrupted. His aura is like that of-
Ako got an image of Evangeline looking down at her like some elegant queen of darkness...
His aura is like her's... There was a hint of malice within her thoughts but nothing more. She didn't even bother to speak Evangeline's names almost as though the very words were like pins upon her tongue. But why? She stole a glance at Negi as she walked beside him towards the changing room. There was nothing about him that reminded her of the dark mistress besides his aura. So now came the question: "What was his connection to her?"
Hmm...perhaps he could be the reason for my awakening as well. Ako thought with a growing smirk. I suddenly have a strong desire to explore more than just Nagi's physical capabilities. I must have him for myself! He is the calling I've been feeling since I made contact with my weak self, but perhaps...I should take a different approach.
"Nagi." Ako called to Negi in a soft voice.
"Yes?" Negi raised an eyebrow at the change within her. Her voice lacked the mischievous quality it once held before and was replaced with something a little more along the lines of "Ako Izumi" than it did before. While it was a welcoming change, it also made him rather apprehensious. While the young magi had his times at being naive, now was not one of them.
"Do you like me?" She asked.
"Of course I like you." Negi told her. "What seems to be bothering you?"
"…Nothing." Ako lied.
"Come on you two!" The dresser called to the both of them from the doorway to the dressing room as she beckoned them quickly. "If you two keep moving this slow then you'll be left behind by the other contestants!"
"Alright, we're coming!" Negi replied, grabbing Ako's hand much to her growing embarrassment. They both walked quickly into the dressing room and the dresser closed the door behind them. There they were greeted by another set of clothes that set off alarms within the rocker.
S-swim suits?! Oh my gawd, oh my gawd! We can't do this! The inner Ako cried out from within in rising panic, which was an incredible feat in itself since her dark alter ego did her best to seal her away so she wouldn't interfere.
How did you-my, you're very persistent aren't you?!
This is my body! You can't just lock me in and not expect me to resist!
Calm do-
No! You can't be trusted anymore! As soon as you get Nagi to fall in love with you you'll try to take him for yourself!
What do you mean?! We are the same perso-
You know exactly what I mean! Now- Negi suddenly felt Ako grip his hand very tightly. -Let me- Ako's eyes narrowed as though she was in pain. -Go! She fell against Negi for a moment and sighed.
"Ako?" Negi looked to his date in worry. "What's going on?"
"Nagi?" Ako opened her eyes and looked at him innocently. The look within her red eyes looked to him as though it was the first time she had ever laid eyes on him. "I actually broke through." She whispered to herself.
"What was that?"
"Nagi, th-these swim suits", Ako's eyes trembled at the sight of all the selections that were on display for her to wear. The skimpy two piece that the young dresser had in her hand didn't do much to put her mind at peace either, "I can't go through with this!" This isn't good. If I put on something like that then everyone will see my scar. Her eyes swiveled back to Negi fearfully as she imagined the look of horror that would appear on his face at the sight of her ugly scar. He'll see it too! What will he think of me then?
"Come here, come here!" The dresser grabbed Ako by the arm much to her building horror and pulled her away from Negi. "You two have a shot at winning, I just know it! This skimpy little number should earn you points all around!"
"Um, wait!"
"Huh?" The dresser blinked before looking between her and Negi. She grinned and said, "Oh come on, he's your boyfriend. There's nothing to be worried about!" The woman slipped off the dress straps on Ako's shoulders and the rocker slammed her eyes shut tightly for Negi's inevitable gasp of horror, however, she felt a heavy jacket fall upon her shoulders instead.
"That's alright." She heard Negi tell the dresser. She opened her eyes hesitantly and found the young man by her side with the dresser standing beside him, a startled look upon her face. Negi offered Ako a warm smile before turning back to the dresser, the smile never leaving his face. "Do you have anything cute for her to wear? We don't want to show too much skin to the audience, but we'd still like to earn some points regardless."
"Um…sure." The dresser replied with a look of disappointment. "But…it probably won't get as much of a response as this swim suit would." She held out the skimpy swimsuit dangling from her hands.
"As I said before…" Negi's eyes looked into hers deeply. He wasn't sure if it would work, but he'd seen a few vampire movies in the past that had shown them getting their way by looking into the eyes of a person. "…it's alright."
"O-okay." She blushed deeply. "As you wish, sir."
I knew it! Dark Ako cried out triumphantly.
Shut up! Ako mentally snapped at her alter ego.
"Hmm." The dresser stroked her chin for a moment before her eyes lit up with excitement. "I have just the outfits for you guys, and it'll be sure to win points with the guys and girls out there!" She grinned mischievously as her eyes stopped upon Ako making the girl uncomfortable. "The suit I have planned for you won't be too revealing, but it should do well to get those dirty minds out there cranking, and-" She looked to Negi devilishly, "-you…oh, I've got something for you to wear and I'm sure it'll get those guilty thoughts just boiling within those girls out there."
"…Okay…" Negi blinked at the dresser's sudden change in attitude.
"Let's get to it then, shall we?!"
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"When are they going to come out again?" Chisame growled with impatience as she rested her chin in both hands. She was sitting upon Kotaro's shoulders with her elbows propped up on his head causing him a great deal of irritation. The only reason he didn't say anything was due to the fact that Chachamaru had Chachazero sitting on her head, and forcing Chisame to sit on the gynoid's shoulders would mean that the sadistic puppet would have nowhere to go but to him. To put things simply, Chachazero sitting on his head wasn't safe. She would probably use that chance to deal some pent up fury on him.
"Who knows." Kotaro muttered, a bored expression gracing his face. "Why are you so anxious for them to come out again anyway?" He grinned for a moment. "Is the ice princess really having fun with this?"
"H-huh?!" Chisame blushed in embarrassment. She had to admit that she was finally having fun in the festival due to the bizarre series of events that she had been dragged into, but she sure wasn't going to admit to it. Not to these weirdoes! "What sort of nonsense are you talking about?! I wouldn't even be here if I wasn't worried for Izumi's sake. Do you know what consequences there would be if she got to attached to sensei? She would be falling I love with an illusion!"
"Yeah, we get that." Chachazero said from up top Chachamaru's head. "Although it's pretty clear to me that "Ms. Issues" isn't the only reason you're here. You're having fun spying on master and you know it."
"W-what?!" Chisame turned on Kotaro's shoulders to look back at Chachazero. Oh gawd, I'm about to argue with a puppet. "That isn't true!"
"I don't blame you." Chachazero went on with complete disregard for the net idol's inner distress. "Master is irresistible, and he's never a dull person to be around either."
"She expressed some fond feelings for Negi-kun earlier." Chachamaru added much to Chisame's growing blush. Kotaro could only roll his eyes. This is exactly why he hated hanging around females. They never spoke of anything important. And here I thought Chizu-nechan was too much. How'd I get stuck with these chicks?
"I t-told you that I was kidding!" Chisame flailed her arms.
"Sure you were." Chachazero rolled her eyes.
"Hey-"
"Check it out guys." Kotaro interrupted them. "They're starting up again."
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"Let's take a look at Eiko and Naoya-san!" The lovely announcer exclaimed as the skimpy Ursula student and her partner took the stage. Her date promptly nose bled to death when Eiko struck a sexy pose for all to see. "Very sexy! Nice!" When the pair returned to their place, she called up the next promising pair. "What about our next leading pair, Ako and Negi-san!"
The crowd started to go wild when Negi took the stage with Ako by his side. He sported some blue swimming trunks accompanied by a sporty, blue jacket. The dresser had him leave it open so all of the girls in the audience could woo at his toned abs. Ako on the other had wore a two piece outfit that most would expect younger girls to wear. Her innocent look accompanied by the swimsuit was more than enough to make the guys in the audience go wild with envy that she had already been 'taken' by the young magi.
"They're sporting "The-Kids-Next-Door" look! The crowd seems to be accepting the unexpected choice rather well!" The announcer turned to the side when her young assistant rushed to her with an envelope in her hand. She smiled at the little girl and took the envelope before announcing, "The results are in! The winner of the Mahora Best Couple Contest is---"
Oh…please let it be us. Ako thought to herself desperately as her eyes kept on swiveling between Negi and the floor.
Your fear to show your scar probably cost us the contest anyway, coward. Dark Ako berated her. You're so weak.
Leave me alone…just go away. Ako shut her eyes tightly to keep the tears from coming out.
It's because of your weakness that you will never have your precious Nagi. Admit it…you need me.
I don't need you for anything!
It doesn't matter little girl. No matter how much you deny me you will never be rid of me. We are one, and to lose me is to lose yourself.
I'm not listening.
Ignore me if you wish---
"---Yuki-chan and Haruki-kun!" The announcer cried out the winners names. "The adorable kids won the hearts of the audience of all ages!"
--But I am truth. Dark Ako finished with a cruel chuckle.
"Oh well. Looks like we lost." Negi said with a light hearted chuckle, but the look of shame on Ako's face wiped away his warm smile.
She's right….it's my entire fault. Ako bowed her head before looking up to Negi sadly. "I-I'm sorry. It was my fault we-"
"What do you mean?" Negi cut her off. "I think second place is awesome. "We really did well. Please don't think of yourself as a supporting character." Negi dazzled her with another smile. "We're all leading characters."
"…………………………." Dark Ako said nothing.
"Y-Yes!" Ako couldn't help but smile back at him. Her feeling of happiness didn't last too long, however, since she finally remembered something important. Being possessed by her dark side scrambled her thoughts so much that she almost forgot about the concert again."Oh no, I almost forgot about rehearsal!"
"Really?" Negi asked nervously. I don't think that would be a good idea. My past self is probably still there… "Oh yeah, Kugimya-san said it would be alright. How about you let me hear you play until it's time to go?"
----------------F----------------------------------V----------------------------------------A---------------------
Negi and Ako stopped in front of an abandoned building that the shy rocker lead them to. From the looks of it the place had not been used for a while…so-
"Where are we?" Negi asked Ako, trying his best to hide his suspicion. It was not that he did not trust her, but with her odd behavior earlier he was not about to step into a trap set up by a bi-polar vampiress. "I've never seen this place before."
"Oh, um, right." Ako snapped out of her trance and scratched the back of her head as she looked to Negi. "This is an old building that I and the others have been using as a rehearsal center every time the other groups started to crowd the campus in the early morning to prepare for the festival. Nobody ever came around here so we never got any interruptions."
Perhaps I was wrong about you. Dark Ako said with a giggle.
What…are you talking about?
To bring Nagi to an abandoned building…you must have somethi-
N-No way! Leave me alone!
…So spineless…
"Ako." Negi waved a hand in front of her face when she went completely blank again. "Are you paying atentio-"
"HUH?!"
"Whoa!" Negi jumped back.
"O-oh, I'm so sorry Nagi-san!" Ako jumped to him when she saw that she startled him. I've finally lost my mind. I know I have! I'm talking to myself every few minutes and I'm creeping my date out! Ako took a moment to think those last words through before a small trickle of blood trailed down from her nose. No! I've gotta stay focused! "Let's go in."
"…Alright."
----------------------------------------------------
Within the building…
----------------------------------------------------
The two entered the first classroom they came across, which were filled with suspiciously dusted desks. It turned out that the place wasn't so untouched after all. While Negi inspected everything, Ako couldn't help but blush at her current situation. She was sharing a room with the guy of her dreams and there was no one to stop them from doing anything. Not that they would do anything together…well, nothing indecent mind you. The silence that filled the room started to make the rocker uncomfortable so she spoke to kill the tension.
"Um, w-well this place will do pretty well for a place to practice." She turned to face Negi who had his back to her. He was pushing some of the desks against the wall to make some more space.
"I think this place is going to be used for a haunted house later." Negi said almost as an afterthought. Alright, she sounds a bit more relaxed. So far so good. I f I can keep her like this until the concert then I'm in the clear.
Okay, okay…keep calm. Deserted classroom….Nagi….alone….just me and him.
Yes, give in.
I've been trying so hard to convince myself that this is a dream but…no matter how hard I try…it's not. She pinched herself, but she still stood in the classroom with Nagi having his back to her. This is real. I'll never get a chance like this again since Nagi-san's from England. He might go back after the festival is over and I won't ever see him again.
So what will you do now that you've come to such a realization? Will you stay idle and allow him to slip away?
I need to make the first move and be a leading character…
Yes, that's right. Confess your feelings to him. At least do that much.
"Um, Nagi-san…" Ako called his name hesitantly.
"Yes?" Negi turned his head to look to her. "What is it?"
"I know we've met just recently so…it might be strange for me…to say this." Ako started to feel herself sweat. At the same time she felt her other side start to grow stronger. "I, uh, want you to know that…"
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"She's having a hard time forming words isn't she?" Kotaro chuckled at the young woman's nervousness. He was completely oblivious to why she was acting in such a fashion. "It's like she doesn't have a grasp on the language at al-huck!" Kotaro felt Chisame's tiny foot kick him the back of his head before he could finish his sentence.
"You idiot!" The little girl hissed at him angrily. She peeked through the window cautiously so she wouldn't get caught. The sight of Ako with her head bowed as she tried to get the words out of her mouth gripped the net idol's heart with panic. "She's going to confess."Oh, sensei is so oblivious to the inner workings of a female heart! He's overdone it! Dammit! I knew Iumi was acting a bit weird around the brat, but for her to move so fast…how will sensei handle this?!
"Great." Chachazero muttered, taking in the scene before her from up top Chachamaru's head. "More drama. As if we didn't have enough already."
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Will I get rejected again? Ako closed her eyes as her mind formed terrible thoughts. "I….I…." She held her hand against her chest and clenched it into a tight fist. She wasn't sure if she had the courage to confess.
Is it the fear of rejection that holds your tongue? Do you fear that Nagi will not take you for who you are?
What is so great about me? Why would Nagi accept someone like me into his life? I'm just not worth it. "I….L….L…"
'Negi cocked his head to the side in confusion'
Why must you always be this way? You disgust me sometimes…
There's nothing appealing about me, but…I don't want to get dumped again…I don't know if I'd be able to bounce back this time if I got dumped…
Why would he do that to you? Have you looked past all of his kindness towards you? He must like you in some way for him to treat you so kindly.
Maybe Kumigiya had him spend the day with me to cheer me up. That's the only explanation that makes sense.
Don't be stupid.
He'll dump me…he won't accept my feelings…
Listen to me you silly little girl. This isn't about getting dumped or not do you understand that?! Dark Ako snapped at her furiously. Is this all you're going to do after all that's happened. You forced me away because you wanted to win Nagi's heart your own way. You denied my help and even declared that you could do it yourself. I've been patient and I haven't interfered, but right now you're just ticking me off.
It's just that-
I don't want some excuse! The only thing holding you back is yourself and until you get past that then you'll never enjoy the pleasures life has to offer you properly. Remember what Nagi told you: Be the star of your own life, not some supporting character. Now prove me wrong dammit!
But-
Show me that you don't need me!
I-
Claim what is yours. Go for it!
"Nagi!"
"Yes?" Negi blinked.
"I love-"
------------------------------------
"NO IZUMI! DON'T DO IT!"
------------------------------------
That' right! Don't fail me now!
"-Dried squid."
'Dark Ako and Chisame promptly face faulted in body and soul.'
"Do you?" Ako finished with a furious blush burning across her cheeks.
…I believe I've just died a little inside…
"Dried squid?" Negi raised an eyebrow at her question. Where did this suddenly come from anyway? "I'm not sure." He sweat-dropped under her blank gaze and cleared his throat before asking, "So, um, you really like dried squid, huh?"
"Uh, yes…I do." Ako answered. I've come this far and I still can't say it! Uhhhhhh, I suck so bad!
Face it, you're hopeless.
I know…
But I guess that can change.
Huh?
I guess I was pushing you too much. Don't worry. There will be other chances.
But…Nagi….
I have a feeling that he won't be too far for a while. Don't worry about him disappearing.
What makes you say that?
Just a suspicion I've been having for a while.
"Hey Ako." Negi's voice pulled Ako out of her trance. When she turned to face him, he had a four string bass guitar in both hands. "I've found a bass for you."
"O-oh." Ako flinched. "F-fine."
"Will you let me hear you play?"
"Sure." Ako answered with a creeping blush. She accepted the guitar from him and threw the strap over her shoulders before looking back at him with a timid smile. He is so cool. It's a shame that this day has to end.
There will be others like this if you trust me.
I'll think about it.Ako pulled out a guitar pick that she had tucked under her wrist band and ran it across the strings once to get a feel of the tune. But for now I just want to savor this moment. Now I just want to play my heart out for him because it's the only way I can express my feelings without having to speak. It's the only way…at least for now…
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"So what were you so worked up about?" Kotaro asked Chisame with a puzzled expression. "With the way you were panicking, I thought a bomb was about to set off."
"Shaddup." Chisame growled.
"Well, this chapter is finally over." Chachazero said with a bit of relief. "Now I can return to master."
"Not just yet." Chachamaru shot down her hopes.
"Whaddya mean, not yet?!" The puppet protested.
"Negi-kun still must attend the concert."
"….Well that sucks…"
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After the concert...
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With the ending of Dekopin Rocket's rock concert the massive gathering of students had begun dispersing noisily to go enjoy the other attractions that the festival still had left to offer them all. Many whispering students passed Negi and Kotaro with lingering looks though many of the lingering gazes fell upon Negi since Ako called him out from the crowd earlier to express her thanks for their day together. The other gazes that were directed at the dog demon were mainly due to his dog ears, which appeared to look more realistic than most pairs that were sold at the festival stands due to obvious reasons. Negi and the others felt that it would not have been necessary for him to have worn a hat. Not only would it have been unnecessary due to the natural lack of attention he would have attracted in such a large crowd, but it also would not have gone well with the outfit he was wearing.
"Thank gawd, that's over." Kotaro said with a relieved sigh. He looked to his friend who was looking at his planner and grinned before inquiring, "So what's next for the busy teacher, eh?"
"The Library island expedition." Negi replied almost wearily. All of his efforts to keep Ako's dark side in check were finally beginning to catch up with him. He just hoped that he wouldn't have to deal with a similar case anytime soon because another problem like that was bound to wear him out. He may have been a nocturnal, but he could only deal with so much before he would finally be stressed out. The only thing I could possibly worry about at Library island is getting lost. Nodoka and Yue had no history with Evangeline like Ako did. The thought of a nice, relaxing walk with the two librarians made the sides of his mouth twitch upwards.
"I could use a little calmness for a change." Negi said to himself.
"What was that?" Kotaro asked, placing his hands behind his head before stretching out his back. There was an audible crack and the young man heaved a sigh of satisfaction. Standing in one place for so long made his back stiff. All of the jumping he and Negi did with the others in the crowd during the performance didn't help much either.
"I said that I could use a nice walk." Negi replied before gesturing for his friend to start walking with him.
"Maybe you could, but I wouldn't mind some sleep right now." Kotaro said with a groan. "Following you and that Ako girl around with that Chisame chick and the others wasn't exactly something I'd agree to do again on my own time."
"Sorry about that." Negi said with a sheepish grin. "Did they give you any problems?" The young wizard's mind was inwardly leaning towards any problems with Chachazero more than anyone else. He never knew Chisame to cause any problems and Chachamaru was a calm person by nature so she wasn't someone to worry about, but Chachazero was another story. He knew that from past experiences with the sadistic puppet.
"Oh man," Kotaro's eyes went wide as he recalled the many things that transpired during Negi's date with Ako. Negi could practically see the horror welling up within his friend's eyes as he continued, "All I'm gonna tell you is that you have some really creepy girls after you. Every time that Ako chick so much and grabbed your arm I could hear death threats."
"Are you serious?" Negi quirked an eyebrow questioningly.
"Yeah, and it wasn't just from that demonic puppet you keep around."
"You mean...no way, not Chisame-san." Negi said in disbelief.
"No, I mean Chachamaru!" Kotaro clarified for him.
"Ch-Chachamaru?!" Negi almost face faulted. "That's crazy! Chachamaru would never act that way!"
"Well, I'll tell you ma-"
"Ahem..." A feminine voice put a stop to Negi and Kotaro's conversation. The two young men looked away from each other and turned their attention to the source of the voice to find the one and only, Takane Goodman standing before them with her hands on her hips. She had on her usual uniform with the nursing cap to top it off, though Negi noticed that the cap was a little slanted to the side in a relaxed manner. The look in her eyes held a flirtatious vibe that he had never taken note of before, and they were looking directly at him with not so much as a blink. "Negi Springfield..."
"Crazy stalker chi-mmph!" Negi clapped a hand over Kotaro's mouth before he could finish his last word, but Takane didn't seem to be affected by it the least bit. It was almost as though she didn't even care to acknowledge Kotaro's presence and quite frankly it didn't sit well with his stomach.
"Good evening, Takane-san." Negi greeted her politely, his hand never leaving his friend's mouth in fear that he would come out with another snide remark if he removed it. If there was anything that Negi did not want right now, it was to set the blonde magistress off. She was not a pleasant person to be around when she was in a bad mood, and he definitely didn't want her getting on his case while any of his students were nearby. Gandolfini increased the security level of the campus after the tournament for some reason so it wasn't going to be easy to let things slip by like before. He noticed the empty spot beside her and blinked in confusion. "I see that Mei isn't currently with you. Where is she?"
"She must still be scouting around for confessions." Takane replied casually. "Being that it is the second day, the World Tree's influence is stronger than before so the chances of a confession getting out are greater now."
Kotaro finally managed to pry Negi's hand from his mouth before asking, "So what are you doing here? Shouldn't you be out there with her or something?!"
"It's alright." Takane answered calmly much to both young men's surprise. They expected her to snap back after being spoken to so rudely. "Mei is a big girl so she can handle herself just fine alone. As for why I'm here-" Takane's eyes narrowed upon Negi's form playfully. Kotaro caught the look and grew slightly suspicious and unsettled by it. "-Negi promised that he would spend the evening with me."
"Huh?" Kotaro turned to Negi with his jaw hanging. "I-is that true?" The look in the dog demon's eyes screamed, "You-must-have-lost-your-frickin-mind!"
"Er, yeah...sort of." Negi nodded in rising panic. It seemed that once again he managed to screw himself. He didn't expect her to actually go out and search for him. Was she really that thrilled about spending the evening with him?
"Sort of?" Takane repeated his last words with a frown of displeasure. "What is that supposed to mean, Negi? Are you telling me that you weren't planning on fulfilling our engagement?" The manner in which she asked her question was enough to tell Negi that he had better think through with his answer before it got out of his mouth or he may very well seal his fate.
"I would never think of doing such a thing to you!" Negi replied with a sweat drop. Just keep calm and everything will go by smoothly. This is Takane we're talking about. You've dealt with her before.
"A gentleman as always, Mr. Springfield." Takane offered him a pleased smirk.
Um, I know that there's something wrong with this scene, I just know it! Kotaro thought as his eyes shifted between Takane and Negi back and forth. First of all, Mr. Springfield?! I've never heard her call him that before and that creepy smirk on her face is just setting off all sorts of alarms. Negi must see it too because he's really beginning to sweat bullets here.
"T-there's one little problem though." Negi called to Takane's attention, turning her smirk into a frown once more. The playful narrow in her eyes gradually shifted over to something that spoke the opposite. Negi tensed up at the noticeable change within his fellow mage, but he boldly went on regardless. "You see, I was invited to a Library expedition by some of my students and it wouldn't be very responsible of me if I didn't stop by to visit them." The look on Takane's face spoke nothing of understanding on her part, and the fearsome grin that found it's place upon her lips before she responded sent a wave of sickness through Negi's stomach again.
"It wouldn't be wise for you to make such contact with your students while Gandolfini is keeping tighter tabs on the activities of the festival." Takane reasoned cryptically before adding, "We wouldn't want him getting the wrong idea now would we?" At her words Negi and Kotaro exchanged a quick look before turning their attention back to the blonde magistress. They could swear that there was an implied threat within her words.
I don't think this is safe ground that I'm treading on right now. Negi thought nervously as he watched Takane fold her arms over her chest. She was obviously expecting a response from him and he had a feeling that going against her advice wouldn't be the smartest move. I don't know what exactly has gotten into Takane, but unless I want trouble I had better go along with what she wants.
"We wouldn't..." Negi replied.
"Exactly." Takane sounded satisfied with his answer.
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????….
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It was quiet with the exception of the light crackle of flames that were eating at the demolished arena grounds. She opened her eyes seeing nothing but dark blurs, and lights. Feeling was out of the question. There was nothing but numbness at the moment. Chao Lingshen lay sprawled along the floor with not so much as burn on her body. The flames that danced upon the ruble and debris formed a circle around her as though the fire intended to avoid causing any harm to her. The one thing that caught her attention most, however, was the absence of Dorothy Summers. The Dark Mistress was nowhere to be seen.
"I lived?" Chao spoke weakly. She turned her head to the side, resting her soiled cheek on the warm ground. Her vision finally started to clear up and she got a view of her gloved hand. She couldn't exactly feel what she was doing, but she willed it to flex open and closed. Motor skills are still working. Let's see if my legs are still functional. Chao propped herself up on her elbows and looked at her legs before bringing them towards her chest. "No problems here. This doesn't make sense." Chao's eyes widened slightly as she gasped. "But if I survived, is it possible that Dorothy might have as well?!"
There's no time to make logic of this! Chao thought as she jumped from what was left of the ring to the stands. She climbed the stairs to the top until she got of view of Mahora campus and grimaced. Regardless of whether she is alive or not, I must take Negi to safety. His connections to Evangeline will automatically make him a target in Gandolfini's book when the magic leak gets out.
"I need to lure him to me somehow." Chao thought aloud. "The question is, how?" The Chinese scientist took a seat on the ledge of the roof of the arena and rested her chin upon her hand. "If I cause another ruckus like before I'll get more than just Negi's attention. I need to give him a reason that would only get his undivided attention." A moment later a smirk crossed her lips and she purred, "I've got it."
There were many things that came unexpected for Negi, however, spending another evening with Takane Goodman after all they had been through was something he would have never predicted. Being forced to spend the night with her against his will was something he never imagined either. There walked the blonde vixen beside him with her hands held behind her back. He had to admit that she had grown in beauty since he last time he had seen her. The way her eyes twinkled in the darkness was bewitching as well.
"Takane-san." Negi called to her.
"Yes?" Takane looked to him.
"Why aren't you with Mei?"
"I already told you." Takane replied with a serene smirk. "Mei can take care of herself."
"Regardless of that, what would Gandolfini say if he knew that you were doing this instead of attending to your job?" Negi asked, his mind racing for an excuse to have the blonde magistress leave him alone. To say that he was uncomfortable right now was a simple play at words that did no justice for his present situation. Takane was potentially dangerous; there was no doubt about that. She was carrying the vampire gene all thanks to the incident with the World Tree, and with this odd behavior she was exhibiting he would not have been surprised if he had just walked into another "Dark Ako" case.
"Why Negi," Takane said in a sweet voice hat sent shivers down his spine, "If I didn't know any better I would have been under the impression that you were trying to get rid of me." She leaned over to him, resting her shoulder upon his heavily. "Am I right?"
"Of course not." Negi assured her.
"That brings a smile to my face." Takane giggled in a disturbing fashion. She grabbed him by the hand and held it tight. "So tell me, what have you been up to since the tournament ended?" Her eyes wandered over him. "It must have been something special for you to walk around in such a disguise."
"It was nothing really." Negi lied.
"Really? Why do I feel like you're lying?" Takane persisted.
"I'm not." Before Negi could react Takane pulled him towards her, and grabbed the back of his neck with her other hand. The madness swirling within her eyes made the young man swallow hard.
"Choose your words wisely." Takane bared her fangs. "…Master."
To Be Continued…
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Sorry, I know most of you were expecting more to be in this chapter, but I never expected for it to be this long already. I'm going to have to carry this segment on to yet another installment, but anyway. It's time for… Question time! (Q and A for those who ask questions only to receive a "…" from the author because he's still trying to figure out the answers for himself…)
Q: "So is Negi going to go evil or something at some point?"
A: See…the answer to the question would be sort of like a spoiler to things. I wouldn't say that he goes evil though. I'll reveal that Dorothy had a hand in it, however, even as the story goes on now, that is slowly changing…for the both of them…
Q: "So Negi has a kid with Chao?! That is just weird Traingham."
R(Response)Chao is his child! Negi has her with Xue Lingshen. I posted that I knew they were relatives in an earlier chapter.
Q: "So can you tell me when the sequel will come out?"
A: I'll try to get it out after I'm done with the current series, which isn't going to be long from now. (I think I've got about three or four chapters left. It really depends on how much of the story I'm willing to fit into the next installment.)
Q: "Is Eva and Negi going to get married and have a family? I just want to know."
A: Gee…I'm not sure if I'm going to even go THAT far in the story with their relationship. I mean…even if Negi is ageless at this point…
Q: "When is Evangeline just going to take Negi to bed with her?" (The question in my words anyway for reasons you can all understand…yeah, I'm talking to you, dude.)
A: I'll probably give this one a vote. I don't want to get flames or something for a future scene like that later in the series. (Although that one interlude in the past would make one wonder…)
Q: "Is Takane going to play a major role in the sequel? You seem to like to place more focus on her than anyone else I've ever read before."
A: Well, I've got something planned for her in the sequel so I'd say sort of. I mean, the girl needs some love too, and she is kind of like Negi's underling…
Q: "How many dark mistresses are there going to be? I think they are cool!
A: I'd say about enough to make the story interesting…
Q: "Are Eva and Negi going to have another duel?"
A: You want them to? I'd need to formulate a reasonable explanation for it though. I mean, the whole, "I wanna see how strong you are from before." bit can only go so far.
Q: "How far is Negi and Chachazero going to go with each other? Are you going to put more detail into her rape scene with him?"
A: Rape…ooh…..shivers….
Q: "Chachazero is so awesome! Is she going to share Negi with Evangeline or take him for herself?"
A: It's a Negi x Eva fic…she has to get a piece of him either way.
Q: "Is Negi going to die?"
A: Interesting question…although I think the whole dying of the main character is kind of cliché. That is unless it's done the right way.
Q: "Is Negi going to make a pactio with any of the other dark mistresses? Is he going to make a pactio with Chachamaru?"
A: …You know what? That's a very interesting idea to play with. As for the pactio with Chachamaru…I've got to think hard about that one.
Q: "Can you give me more sneak peeks?
A: That would kind of kill the experience of reading the sequel won't it?
Q: Are you going to make this a Negi harem with Negi x Eva as the main pairing?
A: "Well, Negima the series is a harem so I'm not taking that formula away just yet.
And that is the end of that…
Traingham…
P.S: The date with Evangeline will be in the next chapter, promise!