Disclaimer: I do not own Negima or any of its vibrant characters…

Fang Vice Addiction

Chapter Twenty-Five: I'd Love You to Touch Me

By Traingham

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"Dark Evangel" Segment…

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It was a cold night in the city of Paris, and not a soul could be seen on the streets. The winds swept across the empty streets with a chilling moan, and moments later the clouds looming above rumbled almost as if to send a warning growl to the Earth below. The scent of moist soil gradually began to hang in the air, and a soft rainfall followed. A sudden crack disrupted the ghostly vibe of the quiet setting; however, the noise did not come from the gathering clouds above. Another crack came from one of the dark alleys that ran across the streets followed by a pained groan. A hunched figure staggered out, looked over their back, and finally fell to the floor. A pool of blood gradually formed around their body like a spreading red gash in the street.

"Don't play dead, boy." Evangeline's voice rang from the dark alley with a cruel chuckle. She came forth from the darkness with not so much as a spot of blood on her twilight mantle, but her left hand dripped with the life essence of her bold attacker. She regarded her hand for a moment before licking it, and smirked. "Unless you want me to paint the streets with you, I'd advise you to talk."

"…What do you want?" The male vampire gurgled after coughing up some blood. The puddle of blood under his face bubbled as he did. Evangeline's smirk dropped when he finally decided to speak, and she crouched down beside his fallen form slightly before grabbing a fist full of his hair and wrenching his head up with a jerk.

"Mistress Summers has come to this city to meet with Mistress Slade." Evangeline tightened her grip on his hair painfully before asking, "Where are they?"

"Why would you want to-"

Evangeline brought his head up higher, practically lifting his upper body off the floor with it. Her eyes bore into the clansman's coal eyes fearsomely before she softly spoke, "In your current condition I would be much more worried about making it through the night. That is, if you don't test my patience." She brought his bloody face closer to her own. "I don't mind getting my hands a little dirty."

"They're at the….Pantheon."

"Much appreciated." Evangeline grinned.

"But that information won't matter to you, Mistress McDowell." Evangeline heard a strong voice come from behind her. She let go of the vampire's hair, allowing his face to fall to the floor with a thud, and stood up straight before turning to regard the person behind her. She was faced with an entire squad of Morrigan's clansmen standing before her. They were made up of young vampiric men and women donning light armor.

Nothing strong enough to withstand a simple kick from me, I'm sure. Evangeline thought to herself, staring down the squad as her mind already began to formulate ways to dispatch of her adversaries. She was not about to start relying on her spells when there was a possible showdown with a fellow Dark Mistress ahead of her. A face off with Dorothy would not be taxing at all. A duel with a child like the young Mistress Summers was nothing to worry about; however, a showdown with Mistress Slade would prove to be a different world entirely. She had met with her in the company of Mistress Elman in the past.

"My fight is not with you all." Evangeline spoke.

"You are in search of the mistress, are you not?" The same voice replied at her words. Evangeline realized that it had come from the brunette standing at the very front. She had pale skin, clear blue eyes, and her armor was a red shade. It was clear to the Undying Wizard, whom she should direct her words to. This raven haired young woman was obviously the leader of this squad.

"That is right."

"Then your fight is with us."

"I am not here to harm her. I'm here to meet with the mistress that had come to see her." Evangeline said, placing her hands on her hips.

"Mistress Elman informed us that you would be coming here." The leader retorted, causing the dark mistress to quirk her brow. Seraphina had come to Paris as well? To make things even more bizarre, she had predicted her coming. Was she aware of what Dorothy had done to get her attention?

"And what did she tell you?" Evangeline asked.

"She told us that you were a danger to the council's rise."

"The council's rise?" Evangeline echoed her last words. So the council has already begun to spread it's influence, but it appears that all of the elder class mistresses aren't involved. The dark wizard furrowed her brow slightly. And it would seem that Seraphina has labeled me a threat to their order. Things do change quickly, don't they? Evangeline brushed a few strands of hair from her face as she rolled her eyes for a moment. There was no getting around this sort of confrontation was there?

"You all do realize what will come to pass if Mistress Slade joins the council?"

"We will come that much closer to uniting all vampiric nations." The young brunette answered without any hesitation. "With such an alliance the humans, the magi, and even our eternal enemies, the lycan will have no choice, but to bow at our feet."

"Under one supreme power." Evangeline added, catching the leader off guard. "And who do you think will be the one in power? Most certainly not your beloved Mistress Slade. This council is a front for something even larger. Before long we'll all be fighting each other for control over all nations, and gradually come to a final fall."

"…No. That isn't true."

"You're a child after all." Evangeline shook her head. "And like all children, words aren't enough to silence you so-" Evangeline stopped for a moment to assume a stance before going on, "I'll go by your conditions, and fight my way to the Pantheon."

"Very well, Dark Evangel." The brunette declared as she unsheathed her sword. It was a long broadsword that glinted in the moonlight, drips of rain falling from its tip as the clouds above continued to shower them with its light grace. "I, Adrianne Garnier, will be the one to lay your soul to rest."

"Have at you, Madame."

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Dorothy stood before Morrigan Slade under the interior dome of the Pantheon. The moonlight peeking out from the dark clouds outside poured through the windows of the dome and radiated upon both mistresses. Morrigan was a true goddess in her own right with her long crimson hair, which was tide in a long pony tail, falling over her left shoulder. Her eyes never kept to a solid color as they were constantly changing in the light that reflected from them, and her face was inhumanely beautiful. It almost sent shivers down Dorothy's spine to face this woman. Her stature was imposing as she was a few inches taller than her, and her grace was flawless. She was adorned in armor with a red cross on both of her spaulders, and her breastplate. This accompanied with her twilight cloak made her rather intimidating. She almost resembled a valkyrie.

"So the council has sent "New Blood" to meet with me?" Morrigan asked in a voice of fine dark silk as she circled Dorothy slowly, almost like a lion inspecting its prey before it went in for the fatal blow. "I'm insulted." She said drearily. The child like tone she took when she spoke her words made Dorothy feel very unsafe around her fellow mistress.

"My apologies." Dorothy told her with a slight bow. "Seraphina was originally meant to meet with you, however, I asked her to have the honor. I wished to see the great Mistress Slade with my own eyes."

"Well, you do have manners." Morrigan said with a nod, halting her observation of the young mistress. "However-" Dorothy's eye twitched in rising fear. "-I question whether such politeness is from genuine respect or out of fear." Morrigan approached Dorothy with a serene grin that spoke nothing of her true nature. "Cute little girl aren't you?" She cupped Dorothy's chin in her right hand.

"Thank…you." Dorothy's voice trembled.

"Very well then." Morrigan snatched her hand away from Dorothy's chin, leaving a thin cut from her nail. Dorothy winced at the sting, but her regeneration abilities healed the small cut quickly. "Tell me what you've come here for."

"I am here on the behalf of the council."

"I know that." Morrigan's French accent finally come on strong at her irritation. "Just get to the point."

"They wish to know your decision." Dorothy replied. "Mistress Elman asked for your allegiance to the council in the past, and she allowed you time to think your decision over. That was a year ago."

"Yes, I know." Morrigan giggled.

"Then you've purposely kept her waiting?"

"Yes."

"Why?"

"Because I am having trouble deciding."

"What is hindering you?" Dorothy asked, beginning to feel irritated.

"The idea of relinquishing my powers to the council; the thought of surrendering my clan to the mercy of another." Morrigan answered before narrowing her eyes upon Dorothy imperceptibly. "How were you accepted into the council my dear?"

"Excuse me?"

"You're just a child." Morrigan began. "How were you even considered?"

"…I was next in line after Mistress Gainsborough." Dorothy replied hesitantly. Morrigan's eyes widened slightly at her words with a hint of surprise. It was apparent to the young mistress that the elder mistress had not expected such news.

"You mean to say that Leslie died?"

"Yes…"

"How? Was she murdered?"

"The cause of her death is unknown."

"Unknown?" Morrigan's voice took on a suspicious tone. "The cause of death was unknown?" She emphasized her last word painstakingly. "I find that very preposterous." The mistress's eyes lingered upon Dorothy for a moment as she stayed silent. To Dorothy it felt almost as if she was suspecting her of something. It did well to make her feel uncomfortable.

"My apologies for persisting, but I will need an answer." Dorothy spoke boldly.

"You will receive nothing." Morrigan replied simply.

"If your hesitance has anything in relation to Mistress Augustus-" Dorothy stopped in mid-sentence when Mistress Slade whipped around quickly to face her. She clenched her left hand tightly as though the urge to strangle someone had become unbearable. The young mistress inwardly believed she would carry out her murderous intent upon her if she remained still any longer.

"What business is that of yours?" Morrigan growled fearsomely.

"I am merel-"

"It'd be best to keep your mouth shut." Morrigan cut her off. "If the council wishes to get an answer from me then they had better send someone more suited to confront me about it." She gestured to her with a shooing motion to tell her that the meeting was at it's end. "Leave my sight."

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As that went on inside….

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"I wonder how that child is fairing with that demoness." Seraphina wondered aloud, standing at the entrance of the Pantheon. She had on a dark black robe with a deep hood, and her double headed scythe in her left hand. "Perhaps sending new blood to meet with Mistress Slade wasn't such a wise choice."

"Allowing her to join the council was never a wise choice." A voice came from the stair steps before her. Seraphina took a few steps forward to inspect the source of the voice, and smiled when she saw Evangeline ascending them. The golden haired mistress mirrored the smile, and stopped before ascending any further. She stole a glance at her old friend's double headed scythe, and immediately knew that she was expecting her.

"Evangeline McDowell." Seraphina said her name in an amused tone. "We meet again after so long. I see that you haven't even broken a sweat with all of the clansmen that were on watch for you."

"That Adrianne did have some talent." Evangeline said with a grin. "But those children weren't sent to eliminate me were they?"

"Ah? Why do you say that?"

"You had me face Mistress Slade's underlings so that I would be stalled, and so I would have their blood on my hands." Evangeline scowled for a moment. "Now, Morrigan has a reason to see me as her enemy."

"There's no getting anything past you." Seraphina chuckled. "So now that you know all of this, what is your next step?"

"I'll reach Dorothy, and carry out what I came here for." Evangeline replied casually.

"I can't allow you to do that." Seraphina said grimly.

"I expected that."

"Oh, did you?" Seraphina shouldered the shaft of the scythe upon her shoulder and placed a hand upon her hip. "Then this should make killing you all the more satisfying. You know, this could have all been avoided if you simply joined the council. You were originally going to be head mistress, but you turned down the offer so I took it for myself. That damn, Lucinda was no different. She opposes the council as well."

"I don't blame her."

"Well, don't worry. She'll be next after I've dealt with you." Seraphina gripped the shaft of the scythe with both hands and twirled the lethal weapon a few times over her head before bringing it down upon the stair steps quickly. The result was a strong shockwave that surged forth in Evangeline's direction. The dark wizard held out her had causing a dark blade to appear, and canceled out the attack with a rising slash. The blade left a trail of dark crescent shots in the arc she slashed that sliced through the air towards Seraphina, but the snow haired mistress quickly twirled the scythe before her to deflect the counter attack. She followed up with a straight forward, horizontal slash that forced Evangeline to duck before rising up with another rising slash of her own. There was a loud clank as Evangeline's blade met the shaft of Seraphina's scythe, and the two vampires matched their strength against each other, attempting to force the other away so they could follow up with another slash while the other was taken off guard.

"Uraah!" Evangeline grunted as she finally managed to force Seraphina away from her. The other mistress staggered back from the force of the dark wizard's shove, but she jumped back just in time to avoid a slash to the mid-section.

"I can assure you that Lucinda will have nothing to worry about." Evangeline quipped, dropping into another stance. "You'll have a hard time dealing with me."

"Very well then." Seraphina nodded as she got into a charging stance. A look of pure maniacal glee that had never been present on her face before graced her features as she gripped the shaft of her scythe tightly. She kicked forward, and glided down the stair steps to meet Evangeline quickly. "PERISH, DARK EVANGEL!"

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Mahora Festival: Evening Two (Revelations Segment)

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I must find Negi. I must find him and have him join me before the others get their hands on him. At this point he isn't safe on campus anymore. Not while Doroth- "Ugh!" Chao staggered to the side, and fell against a railing that was beside her when a sudden pain gripped her chest. Her breathing became ragged, and her throat felt as though it was being blocked by some thick substance. It became apparent to her that there was something amiss.

"What the heck?" Chao gripped the rail with one hand as she clutched her chest with the other. "What was that?" She questioned when the feeling left her almost immediately as if her alertness scared it away. She took in a few deep breaths to confirm whether the inky feeling within her respiratory track had truly left her. "How odd…" She rasped before clearing her throat. "Did I really leave my duel with the mistress unscathed?"

Negi…The name of the young magister seemed to echo within her mind like some sort of reminder to take her thoughts off the suspicions regarding her sudden illness. "That's right. I can't waste time worrying about myself. Negi is all that matters at the present." She willed herself to move onwards, pushing off against the rail quickly. As she walked further away from the arena and deeper into the festive area, the voices of excited students rang through the evening atmosphere. The smell of grilled and fried food wafted through the air, invading the Chinese scientist's nostrils, reminding her that she had not eaten in a while.

"Oh boy, stomachs don't fail me now." Chao groaned softly. I have bigger things to worry about right now. I need to find someone that will make my plan work. Hopefully the girls aren't away alrea- Chao's thoughts came to a abrupt halt when she spied someone familiar leaning against the arc to the World Tree plaza. "Ah, the chairman." She said with a pleased grin as she watched Ku-Fei munch on a bun, a distant look gracing her usually blank features. She seemed to be concentrating on something other than the excitement of the festival.

"Chairman?" Chao called to her.

"Mmph?" Ku-Fei turned her head to the source of the voice, and pulled the bun away from her mouth to smile at her friend. "Ah, Chao-san." The chairman pushed off from the wall, and approached her. From the looks of it the martial arts master's arm was fully healed. There was no cast present at all.

"Good evening chairman." Chao offered her a nod as a mischievous smirk slowly crossed her lips. You will do just fine. I'll work on that naivety of yours to my benefit. For a moment Chao looked simply evil. The gears in her mind began working, and soon Negi would be in the palm of her hand. All that would be needed now was time.

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Setting our sights upon a tense situation...

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Negi Springfield took in a slow breath as he looked into Takane's eyes. They were filled with a feral look that the young magi was sure he had only been met with before in Evangeline's emerald orbs. They spoke of madness, desire, and an unspeakable temptation that even now threatened to swallow Negi up, but the one word his mind kept on repeating as he felt Takane's fingers trail against his neck gently was, "Danger". Yes, it might have been danger that gripped the young man within it's clutches at the present moment because of everything that had transpired thus far, this situation seemed to be out of his control most. Ako had been a problem earlier with her aggressive advances, however, Takane was proving to be an even greater one. In fact, she was a multitude of problems. For one, she was one of Gandolfini's favorites or in Evangeline's words, Gandolfini's Golden Girl. Something told Negi that Takane's vampirism was not something that would slip by the elder mage unnoticed, especially not at this stage where the blonde magistress had practically addressed him as her "Master". Then there was that little detail. She called him her master, which meant she was very well aware of who turned her, but that was also something that brought along problems of its own.

Does she want something from me? Negi inwardly questioned himself. The way she held him was borderline on two things, and that was intimacy and hunger. Although she grabbed him rather roughly to hold him against her, she did not hold him in a violent manner. It was gentle, almost as if he was the most precious thing in the world to her. This only managed to work his mind into an even deeper pit of anxiety. As usual he did not even have the faintest idea of what might have been going on in Takane's mind. Was it an appetite of vengeance that lead her on or was it something much deeper? Could it have been...a desire for him instead? He swallowed hard as he thought about the next words that were about to leave his mouth.

"I was in the company of one of my students." Negi admitted to Takane quickly. "She needed a friend to keep up her spirits."

"So you decided to keep her company." Takane finished his train of thought with a growing smirk that sent chills down Negi's spine. "How like you, master. You are so selfless, always putting yourself at risk. Do you realize that at this point Gandolfini is looking for a reason to take you in?"

"What?"

"I guess you're still oblivious to what has been going on since the tournament." Takane cocked her head to the side rather disturbingly. "My only advice to you is that you watch yourself next time you're around Lingshen." Her gaze softened as her smirk gradually became a smile. "Of course, I will be here to make sure that you don't stray towards any trouble."

"Takane-sa-"

"Just Takane, master." Takane cut him off. "I would appreciate it if you addressed me a bit more familiarly." At her words Negi began to feel the corners of his eyes sting with welling tears. This was wrong. It was all wrong. What happened to the woman before him? Why was she speaking to him this way? Where was the Takane Goodman he remembered? He didn't allow himself to shed the tears, but it seemed as though the young woman sensed his distress. "Master?"

"Takane..." Negi whispered her name softly. "What's happened to you?" He grabbed her by the waist and pulled her against him causing her to let go of him, and accept his embrace instead. She rested her head against his shoulder and inhaled deeply for the scent she loved so much. This was what she sought this entire time. If he held her like this forever she would not ask for anything more. Unfortunately such things were not meant to last long for the dark young woman as the young man let her go. He kept his eyes transfixed on her orbs in search of her true self, but all traces could not be seen within the darkness that sealed them now.

"What do you mean?" Takane questioned him. "There's nothing wrong with me. Why would you ask me that question?"

"This isn't you."

"But it is me." Takane retorted. "This is who I am, and who I want to be."

"That isn't true."

"It is." Takane assured him with a sincere smile that betrayed nothing. She wasn't lying, and it shook Negi to no end. "Master, you have given me freedom, and for that I am thankful. I am, however, displeased with the distance you have been putting between us. The way you regard me even now causes my heart great ache." She reached for his shoulders, but Negi stepped away from her reach. This caused a hurt look to flash upon her face before being replaced by something close to frustration. "This is what I mean." She stepped towards him, and he back of again. "Do you...fear me? Do you dislike me?"

"No-"

"Then why is it this way between us?" She demanded to know. "Why do I sense such discomfort in you?"

"Because this isn't you!" Negi yelled. "This isn't you at all!"

"And who's fault is that?!" Takane retorted furiously. "If you never wanted me then why did you even bother?!"

"I...I..." Negi suddenly had nothing to say. But it was the World Tree's doing wasn't it? It wasn't my fault that she became this way...was it? Am I to blame here? How am I supposed to answer to that?! "Takane...I'm...sorry."

"Master, shed no tears for me. I have no need for them." Takane told him. "I just want your love."

"This is still wrong." Negi refused her much to her building fury. "I need to release you from this curse."

"I will accept no help."

"But Ta-" He reached for her but she slapped his hand away angrily.

"This is about Evangeline, isn't it?" Takane asked, bowing her head slightly. "Despite everything I feel for you, she will always be the one who holds your heart."

"That isn't true." Negi argued. "We don't feel that way about each other." The relationship we have is...much more complex than that. At least that's how I see it. I can never tell how it is she truly feels about me. I guess that I'll never be anything more to her than an underling, but at the same time I'm comfortable with that. In all honesty I'm not sure how I would handle her if she ever held a deeper interest for me. I must still be a child after all...damn my youth...

"Then be mine." Takane's voice was full of need, and it scared him. "Leave this place with me, and we can live a new life together. We can do whatever we wish with no one to get in our way."

"..."

"I see..." Takane said with a light chuckle. She raised her head again to regard him with a disturbing expression gracing her lovely face. It was a mixture of happiness and sadness at the same time. The only word Negi could find for it was, insanity. "Then I see that I will have to turn to other methods." At her words Negi tensed. She wasn't talking about taking him by force was she? The last thing he wanted was to hurt her. His answer came when she took note of the shift in his body language. "Do you fear that I will attack you? If that's the case then I'm hurt."

"Huh?" Negi relaxed.

"I would never hurt you unless it was a last resort." She explained cryptically.

"Then...what other methods are you talking about?"

"There are ways I can turn to that will have you bend to my will, master." Takane smiled maliciously. "Dark Evangel has been able to live a normal life until now, hasn't she? There are no more bounties on her head, and Mahora is keeping her protected from any wizards that still see her as a threat to the balance of the magic ministry." Negi's eyes narrowed as his mind started going ahead of what the blonde magistress had been implying thus far. She was going so far as to use his own feelings for Evangeline against him. This was blackmail, plain and simple. "If I were to tell Gandolfini of her involvement with Chao Lingshen that may change."

"You wouldn't..." Negi's voice fell to a near growl.

"But I would, and I will if you don't submit to me."

"Takane..."

"It's your choice, master. All I wish is that you fulfill your engagement with me for tonight." Takane walked to him slowly as she held her hand outstretched to caress his cheek. "I want the love of my master. Is that too much to ask for? Deny me, and your mistress will suffer the consequences in the long run. Embrace me, and all will be well." She felt him flinch when her hand came in contact with his cheek. The young man turned his head to the side, suppressing the urge to shiver under her touch. This darkness he felt from her was not comforting. It held a violent property that spoke of bitterness.

"Alright." Negi submitted without hesitation. "It was wrong of me to neglect your natural needs. I would feel lost without my master by my side as well, and for that you have my deepest apologies, Takane-chan." He took her hand from his cheek and held it tightly. "I will fulfill my duty as your master."

"Thank you, master."

Chao walked to the rail of the balcony she stood on to look out to the World Tree in the distance. It looked simply spectacular with the light that radiated from it due to the magic that was still accumulating within it. It's growing beauty, however, also meant that her time was running out. When it reached it's peak that would be her only window out of the present time, and back to her world. She could only hope that her actions here would set everything into a proper motion. Sure, unveiling the truth abut the magic world was something lead on by Dorothy's influence, but at least it would ensure that her mother lived peacefully without the ministry to bother her. The only thing she had to be sure of now was that Dorothy was truly dead, though even now she had her doubts about that being possible. If what the mistress said was true then her very existence would eventually lead to the death of her mother, and her father's gruesome fate. She just couldn't allow that to happen again. The only card she could play now was to persuade Negi to become her ally, and lure Dorothy out by using him as bait. With the young magi by her side, victory would be within her grasps.

There's no doubt in my mind that it will be difficult. Chao thought to herself as she reflected upon Dorothy's words to her. "With the friendship he shares with Ms. Goodman, she probably already informed him that I'm up to more mischief. By now he should already be convinced what role I play in this "story". " Chao gripped the ends of the stone rails tightly until the tips of her fingers bent. She could not believe that she was manipulated so easily. She just could not believe that her mother's true murderer had been standing beside her all along, and to make matters worse she almost allowed the dark witch to have her father within her grasp as well. "How could I be so stupid?! She was so close to getting what she wanted, and the entire time I was so far from completing the mission I had set out for in the first place. Even if the world of magic is revealed, there's no telling what differences will matter as long as Mistress Summers is ali-ugh!" Chao felt her legs suddenly give out, and she fell to the floor, her head hitting the stone rails on her way down. She hissed at the pain in her forehead, and closed her right eye when she felt a warm substance slip over it.

"Dammit." Chao cursed in a whisper, wiping her hand over the cut to see if it already began to heal. She regarded her bloody hand for a moment before hesitantly licking it clean, and standing up on her two feet. It finally became apparent to her that her body was not alright after all. She just hoped that it would not cause her too many problems before she finally confirmed that Dorothy was dead. "Well, I better get to finishing my good-byes to everyone while I'm still unnoticed by Gandolfini and his mages. Tomorrow will be far too hectic by then."

"Chao?" The Chinese scientist heard her name called by a familiar voice. She turned to see Chachamaru, and Hakase standing at the top of the staircase leading up to the balcony. They were both wearing long jackets similar to the one she wore. It was their way of knowing who were their allies. At the sight of them Chao quickly recomposed her cheerful facade before they could observe her face. She did not want them to try and console her. That would only slow her down.

"So have you said your good-byes to the class?" Hakase asked, her eyes already betraying the feelings that her welling up within her. Chao saw it, but she chose to ignore it.

"More or less." Chao answered casually. Such a response was expected from the most detached girl of the class. "To be honest, I'm basically tidying up personal matters more than saying good-bye."

"Don't be that way." Hakase shook her head disappointedly. Chao was taking this as though it was just another step in one of her experiments, and quite frankly, it hurt. "Chao-san, can't you hold off leaving for just a little bit?"

"I'm sure the class would like you to graduate with them." Chachamaru tried to persuade the young vampiress, but Chao shook her head without the slightest hesitation. Her mind was made up and there would be nothing to shake her from it.

"If I miss my chance tomorrow, I won't be able to return home for another twenty-two years." Chao took a moment to look towards the World Tree in the distance. "If it weren't for the unusual phenomenon, I would have stayed for another year."

"Yeah...I guess so." Hakase said dejectedly as her eyes gradually began to water. "I'll miss seeing you around, Chao-san."

"Save the tears. Such things aren't meant for scientists such as ourselves."

"Um, wha-t-tears?" Hakase did her best to blink them away quickly. "There were no tears."

"I saw tears." Chachamaru said with a slight smirk.

"Lies!" Hakase argued.

"Shall I play it back?"

"Hey!"

It looks like her A.I is really evolving. Chao thought to herself as she began to walk away, but her fellow scientist's voice halted her before she could go on any further.

"Are you sure you want to continue with this plan?" Hakase asked. "If you do, Negi-sensei will always remember you as the problem child."

A necessary sacrifice. "That doesn't matter." Chao retorted almost too quickly. Her response made Hakase and Chachamaru quirk their brows. "It was a shame that we couldn't bring him over to our side. Observed him during the tournament and he's very stubborn for his age. He won't join our cause..." He won't ever look at me again with acceptance. "He came here with a purpose just as I did."

"Heh, heh, heh." The sinister chuckle that echoed along with the evening wind sent alarms ringing erratically within Chao's mind. This person, whoever it was, was a threat to her, and her safety would only be guranteed if she placed as much distance as possible between them. These thoughts were true in her mind, however, something about them didn't seem as though they were her's. It was too complicated for her to really understand at the moment.

"Hm?" Chao turned to the source of the voice slowly to find Evangeline looking down on them from her perch upon a floating broom. She was dressed in her school uniform with a witches hat upon her head. Her long golden hair moved along the breeze fluidly, the mischievous smirk never leaving her lips. "I like your determination, Chao Lingshen. " Unlike most of her greetings to the scientist, this one held a certain quality that disturbed Chao.

"Evangeline-san!" Hakase stepped back in surprise.

"Mistress?!" Chachamaru felt as though she was caught in the act of doing something. This did not go unnoticed by Evangeline, whose eyes lingered upon her maid for a fleeting moment before returning to Chao.

"You seem to have recovered a bit of your magic." Chao remarked at the sight of her.

"Is that worry I detect in you?" Evangeline questioned, resting her chin in one hand as she crossed her legs.

"Not at all."

"Don't fret, I'm staying out of this. Tomorrow is just another day at the festival for me. I'll watch your activities as entertainment while I drink."

"Are you sure?" Chao asked with a grin. "I'll be causing trouble for and fighting your disciple, Negi-chan."

"Fabulous!" Evangeline seemed genuinely excited by her words. "Go buck wild for all I care. Make that boy suffer to your heart's content." If there was any chance for him to get serious with his abilities, it would be with what you've got planned. This is truly going to be wonderful. "I'll even loan you Chachamaru. Don't break her." At the mistress's words, the gynoid looked completely lost. Evangeline was actually going to let her go up against Negi? Perhaps if this were months ago she would have gone about hearing those words naturally, but there was something seriously going on and she wanted to know what.

"Thank you very much mistress." On the other hand, Evangeline just saved her the choice of deciding between her beloved Negi and her creator. Admittedly, it would have been a painful choice to make on her own. Forgive me, Negi-kun. Fate seems to have made us enemies once more despite my wishes to bring us closer. My only hope now is that you understand my reasons for doing so.

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Switching over to the opposing mages...

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Takamichi looked out at the shining lights of the campus grounds below from the balcony he stood upon. A sad look graced his face as he placed the end of his cigarette back into his mouth for a drag. He closed his eyes for a brief moment in an effort to clear his thoughts, and exhaled. Asuna Kagurazaka, the adorable yet seemingly stoic little princess from his past with the Crimson Wings had finally worked up the nerve to express her feelings for him. It was inevitable and he knew it. Since that night she called him on the phone to ask him out on a day together at the festival, he knew that her days with the young magi had finally made her bold. Negi had that effect on most people...just like his father. The sad truth, however, was that he could never accept her feelings. Not only was it because of their age difference or the fact that he never saw her as anything other than a daughter or a little sister, but his reasons for rejecting her stemmed from his efforts to keep her from plunging too deep into the world of magic. Not only was it dangerous, but he never wanted her to experience what she had as a child ever again. He just wouldn't allow it.

"Hm?" The elder mage felt a powerful presence suddenly appear behind him. He didn't have to turn to know who it was. It had been a while since they had met, but Takamichi could never forget this feeling. "You surprised me Al." His voice still hung with a slight detection of sadness, but it gradually regained its natural firmness. "I never thought you were dead or anything, but what have you been up to?"

"Well, for starters, I've been attending the school festival for many years now." Alberio answered melodically.

"R-really?" Takamichi was taken back by this information.

"Actually I couldn't move except when the World Tree was brimming with magic during the festival. I've been recuperating her for the last decade."

"In any case, I'm glad to see you again Al. I'd like to hear what happened to you all..."

"Lots of things." Al answered. "It seems like you've been through a lot yourself, Takamichi."

"So..." Takamichi swallowed hard. "...Is he alive or...I mean, do you know where he is?"

"I'm certain he's alive, but I don't know his whereabouts." Alberio's serious expression dropped as quickly as it had appeared, and he began to laugh again. "I'm sorry, I can't exactly get around myself."

"...I see." Takamichi nodded before hearing his cellphone ring.

"Takahata-sensei." Gandolfini's voice came from the other side.

"Yes?"

"Meet me at the headmaster's office."

"Alright. I'll see you there." Takamichi replied before hanging up the phone.

"Heh, good luck with your work."

----------------------------F-------------------------------------------------------V----------------------------------------------------------A----------------------------------

Takamichi walked through the halls that lead to the headmaster's office, finding it lined with mages, make and female, dressed in black suits and ties. Their shades were tucked within the inside pockets of their jackets since it was dark outside. They all stood completely still with their hands held behind their backs. The atmosphere of the place felt like there was no room for anything but business and professionalism. Seruhiko and Akashi waited for him at the door while Gandolfini could be seen inside with Kataragi, talking to the others that had gathered for the meeting. At this sight Takamichi was sure that the peace on campus had finally reached its end. Gandolfini had finally decided to take action against Chao, and with the mages he had summoned to the office he could tell that apprehending her wasn't going to be easy.

"Hurry up, Takamichi." Akashi called to him in a near whisper.

"Toko-san is getting irritable." Seruhiko said nervously.

"Right." Takamichi nodded, increasing his pace. When he entered the office, Seruhiko and Akashi closed the double doors. He looked to Toko sheepishly as the blonde swordsman glared at him, and took a seat near the door beside the portly mage, Mitsuru.

"What have you been doing?" Mitsuru asked him.

"I was busy." Takamichi answered without offering any more information. Gandolfini looked to him after he was done explaining the situation to all who was present and nodded to him saying, "Good to have you here, Takahata-sensei. You don't really need much of an explanation since you took on Lingshen's machines underground."

"Yes. What happened?"

"Toko has informed me that the magi leak has spread far too much. We've tried our hand at stopping the spread on the web, but it has already gone beyond our control. The only thing we can do now is try to limit the attention by clearing it off as a simple source of media entertainment."

"Meaning?"

"There's a movie in the works now." Seruhiko jumped in with a chuckle. "It's the best we can do at the moment."

"It should go nicely on the shelves beside those "HP" movies." Akashi added, eliciting a sigh from Takamichi and Gandolfini. "We have a few members in the ministry at Hollywood to get the project on the road quickly. A pretty mean budget is being used to make those CGI effects look believable enough to blend in with the actual footage that's been released by, Lingshen."

"Meaning you'll be a movie star Takamichi." Seruhiko offered him a thumbs up. "Negi too."

"That is beside the point." Gandolfini waved the two teachers off quickly. "Right now, Sister Shakti is trying to locate the reserve of the mechs that Lingshen has at her disposal with the help of Cocone and Misora. Ms. Kasuga informed us that they were originally stored under the World Tree, but a search down there found us nothing at all. We're not sure how she was able to relocate them so quickly, but if we don't find them soon we'll be in trouble."

"An engagement on the campus must be avoided." Takamichi said grimly.

"My thoughts exactly." Gandolfini nodded. The door got his attention when Mei walked in. From the looks of it she seemed to be unable to find Negi and Takane. "Couldn't find them?" The dark skinned teacher asked, approaching the young red-head.

"No." Mei answered with a shake of her head.

"What are those two up to?" Gandolfini scratched his chin. "I can understand Springfield being hard to find, but this just isn't like Takane. I hope nothing went wrong."

"Don't worry." Takamichi told his fellow mage. "I'll try to get a hold of Negi."

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Returning ourselves to the matter of the two in question...

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"Since I came here, I've always wanted to get on one of these." Takane told her seat mate, looking out the small window of the car they were riding in that was hanging from the cartwheel. They reached the highpoint of the rotation again so they were given another breathtaking view of Mahora campus. Everyone below looked like a mixture of colors moving along the little flames that were lights on the stands and streets. "Master?" She looked to her side to see Negi looking straightforward with a distant expression gracing his features. This was not the first time she found him doing this, and it was seriously serving to piss her off. Why was he never focused on her?!

"Master!" Takane called his name louder to get his attention.

"Y-yes, Takane-chan?" Negi asked, startled from being pulled out of his stupor.

"Listen to me!" Takane demanded. "You're never paying attention."

"I'm very sorry." Negi apologized.

"Whatever." Takane grumbled. "You must have been thinking of that witch again."

"Don't call Eva that!" Negi defended his master.

"Why not?!" Takane growled. "I don't see any reason not to! Have you forgotten the reason she is so infamous?!"

"No, I haven't, but I won't continue to judge her solely upon her past." Negi retorted, looking back at her with as much intensity as she had burning within her eyes. At the same time he felt like he was treading on thin ice. The dark young woman before him was not afraid to turn to any dirty tricks in order to force him to bend to her will.

"She's brainwashed you, master!"

"She has not!"

"Look!" Takane grabbed him by his shoulders, gripping them tightly. "I don't know what she has done to make you think so well of her, but you must see past these fabrications that she has conjured before you. Please master, I don't want you to become like her! Join me and I can show you a way out."

"You don't want me to turn out like her?" Negi asked furiously. "Like her?! You don't want me to turn out like her- are you even listening to yourself?!" His sudden outbreak caught Takane off guard as he placed his hands upon both her cheeks. "Look at what you've become, Takane. You bound me to your will, and you dare to talk ill of Evangeline?" Negi scoffed. "At least she would have found a way to persuade me to see her way instead of threatening the well being of my friends to force me." Negi leaned towards her until his nose was practically touching her own. His eyes bore into hers until he finally broke the silence, asking, "If you truly want my attention then you have to meet me face to face. I won't acknowledge a mask."

"What...do you mean?"

"I want to hear the true Takane's desires. Right now you're so filled with darkness that you don't understand how to express your feelings properly." Negi dropped his right hand from her cheek and moved his left hand against her smooth skin until he was able to cup her chin. He could slowly sense the darkness within his underling diminishing. He could tell that he was finally breaking through to her. "Tell me, do you even understand what you feel for me? What you have now is not love, but an obsession."

"No..." Takane shook her head slowly. "That isn't true."

"But it is Takane-chan. When you love a person..." I don't know what I'm about to say, but I hope it makes sense. Negi inwardly grimaced at himself. Here he was, technically still eleven years old and he was about to give an older girl a lesson in love. Sometimes he just could not believe the things he had to do in order to survive. "...you don't attempt to hurt them in any way, even if they don't agree with what you want. Right now you're willing to take everything away from me if it means claiming me."

"But...you don't get it..." Takane stumbled over her words.

"I don't get what?" Negi asked, feeling her pull away from him. The dark young woman turned away from him, concealing the nature of her expression, but he was sure that she was gradually beginning to break down. The cracking within her voice was all the indication he needed. "Tell me Takane..."

"I don't remember quite when it was that I began to fall for you. From the beginning I just saw you as some brat that could lead me to greatness...a tool to assist me in gaining Gandolfini's favor and praise. When I heard that you had some connection to Dark Evangel, I was simply overwhelmed with excitement. I figured that extracting information from a little boy would be no problem at all, however...what I found was not nearly what I expected." Takane's voice gradually gained an edge. "You were a gentleman, you were intelligent, and the feeling I felt whenever I was around you was simply indescribable. You made me feel as though anything was possible. Whenever I confronted you I felt the strong need to overcome you, and prove myself to you as if your impression of me mattered more than Gandolfini's, and now that I think about it...it was. I violated my code of ethics just to be by your side. I twisted my objectives to meet you at any given moment that I could steal for myself. I came up with lame excuses so that maybe you would consider my company. I understand now why I invited you to dinner. Try as I might to deny it, jealousy plagued me whenever I saw you in the company of one of your students. That night I chased you and your student through the plaza, I felt betrayed that you would go on a date with her after being with me the night before. I j-just couldn't accept the thought of you being with another girl."

"...Wow..." Negi simply could say nothing more.

"Then I realized that McDowell would always have a hold on you, and I became even more paranoid. I felt that I had to turn you against her in order to gain your trust. When you left me behind with her I was furious. I felt that you didn't even care for me anymore so I needed to find another way for you to notice me. The tournament posed many opportunities, but whenever I faced a challenger you were never there to watch me. Once again, I felt worthless. When you saw me naked, I felt that I could no longer show my face, and yet at the same time I was filled with a need to know if you appreciated the sight of me." Her words made Negi's face heat up. "When we were in the ring together I was determined to have you acknowledge me to the point that I almost blew my cover. When that failed, I felt the clutches of defeat slowly reaching me, and yet I could not give up. I was determined to find you after the tournament, and comfort you after hearing about your last match. I believed that if I managed to console you that perhaps you would understand my feelings for you, but I failed again. I almost lost hope, and I grew angry again. Seeing you happy again after not seeing you for a period of time only added to my belief that I had failed you, and yet you promised to see me in the evening and my world was suddenly right again. I was filled with excitement. I just couldn't stay focused on anything other than what we might do when we met later, but something happened that simply tore me down again."

This is beginning to disturb me...Negi thought when he saw Takane begin to tremble.

"I saw you walking around with that young woman that stopped us on the evening we went out to dinner together-"

She saw me and Ako! That's why she asked me about where I was earlier.

"-and I just could not take it...anymore."

"Takane..." Negi reached for her shoulders and pulled her against him so her back was against his chest. He wrapped his arms around her waist and held her gently so she would stop trembling. "I had no idea that...I-I'm sorry."

"Master..." Takane whispered. "I tried to deny my feelings. I tried to convince myself that everything I felt was due to stress, but no matter how much a tried to turn away from you, I always found myself leading back to you regardless. I know that what I'm doing is wrong, but...I'm tired of hiding myself. I don't want to lie to myself!" Takane turned her upper body in Negi's arms so she could face him with tears trailing down her cheeks. "These are my true feelings-"

Negi's eyes widened in fear. Oh gawd, she's going to say it-

"I love you, master Negi!" Takane shook her head before going on, "No, I love you Negi Springfield, and I don't care if you don't feel that same way now, but soon I'll have you understand."

"Takane-umph?!" Takane took his moment of surprise as her chance to capture his lips. When she felt him pulling away she slipped her arm out of his hold and grabbed him by the back of his head to keep close.

Forgive me master, but I need this. At least give me this... Takane thought, increasing the fervor in her kiss. Negi began to feel a strange sensation coursing through his body and before long he understood what Takane had been planning. A sudden gust rushed through the car, making it rock back and forth much to the growing panic of the students in the other cars on the cartwheel, and a red aura surrounded them before finally exploding in a blinding flash of white light. When it was over Negi opened his eyes to find Takane passed out in his arms. She had no more worries. She attained what she wanted all along.

"A pactio." Negi said to no one in particular. "So now she has my pactio card." His thoughts were interrupted when he felt his phone vibrating. He looked at it and found a message from Yue.

"What is this?" Negi narrowed his eyes before gasping. "Chao...she's leaving?"

The cartwheel stopped...

"Huh?" Negi looked to the door when it opened.

"Are you alright?" One of the technicians asked as she entered the car. "We saw the car rocking and we..." She stopped when she saw Takane lying against Negi, breathing heavily. "...Er, oh, I get it."

"Huh?" Negi caught on quickly. "Um, n-no, you've got the wrong idea!"

"Sure buddy. Just get a room, huh?"

"Look, I need to get her to the infirmary, alright?!"

"Whatever you want." The girl shrugged her shoulders.

"Why do I feel like you still don't believe me?" Negi grumbled before feeling his phone vibrate in his hand. "Again?" He looked at it to find another message. This time, however, it was from Takamichi.

A meeting...about Chao-san? What's going on now?

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Bringing both motions of time together...

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Chao stood upon the tower of the World Tree plaza with her hood drawn over her head so none of the opposing mages would be able to make out her face from afar. Negi sent her a message stating that he would be meeting her here. In her heart she already knew the reason why he wanted to call a meeting with her, however, she also knew that it wasn't just because of the news of her departure from Mahora that Ku-Fei probably already informed everyone about. This would make getting through to him very difficult.

"Takahata-sensei and Gandoflini must have already gotten to him." Chao mumbled to herself. Why did things have to come to this? It was never meant to go this way...but telling him the truth could only cause problems for the both of us. Chao placed her hand upon her heart, and clenched her chest tightly. Especially for me.\

"Chao-san!" Negi's voice came from behind her. She could detect the worry and confusion in his voice and it struck a chord within her.

"Negi-chan?" Chao turned to regard him in his normal form. "What did you want to talk to me about one-on-one? I don't suppose it's guidance counseling."

"Chao-san...I protected you the day before the festival from those magical teachers that were after you. I did that because you're one of my students, Chao."

"Hm." Chao grinned though there was no amusement within it. It seemed to be more fit for an annoyed child.

Negi pulled the Cassiopeia out of the pocket of his cloak and held it up before his face before going on, "When you saw that I was in need of help you lent me this, and for that I'm very grateful." His eyes swiveled back to her. "That being said, why did you send in your withdrawal note so suddenly? Why do you want to do such bad things?"

"Bad things?" Chao echoed his words in a questioning fashion. "Is that what the teachers told you?"

"What?" Negi was caught off guard by her response. Was she oblivious to her own actions or was there more to them than the others understood? "You captured and kept Takamichi underground against his will, and you don't call that wrong? Not only that, but you intend to reveal the existence of magic to the general public!" Negi approached her, "That is what I heard from the other teachers, Chao, but I won't believe it unless I hear it from your mouth!"

Chao's eyes took on an unusual gleam, "And what would you do if it was true?

"Then I wou-wait! Are you telling me that it's true?!"

"It's the truth, Negi."

"Would you tell me why?! Why would you do such a thing?!"

"I can't tell you."

"Chao..." Negi clenched his right hand into a fist. This wasn't something that he wanted to resort to, but she was giving him no choice. "Then as your teacher, I must stop you and keep you from going down the wrong road!"

"Interesting. Have a go at it then." Chao offered with a smirk.

"What?" Negi began to sweat.

"See if you can stop me sensei." Chao challenged him before a blue curtain of light showered them. Both vampires looked to the side to find the World Tree shining upon them with it's radiant glory. It had to be the brightest Negi had ever seen it shine since the night he was possessed. While he showed worry at this unexpected turn up, Chao smiled almost gleefully. "This is fabulous! The last day is approaching. It's going to be the brightest flare in twenty-two years." She looked back at him and a simply sinister expression graced her lovely features. "Now it will be very difficult for you to stop me."

You, and Mistress McDowell in fact...

"Chao-san, you can't use magic..." Negi scratched the back of his head curiously. "...and from what I heard from Ku-roshi...you can't control ki either. I don't think you really should-"

"Tell me Negi." Chao cut him off before he could speak any further. "Hypothetically speaking, if our lives were to be made into a story, would you consider yourself to be the hero?"

"I don't see where you're going with this, Chao."

"How shocking would it be if you turned out to be the bad guy?" Chao questioned him. "There is no such thing as good or evil, sensei. There are simply two opposing sides with different views and perspectives. What tips the scales, however, is subjective judgment."

"I wouldn't go that far-" Negi's eyes widened when Chao disappeared before his very eyes.

"Those who succeed in the end are the powerful."

Negi went completely stiff when he heard her voice come from behind her.

"They may be good, or evil."

Holy- Negi was far too startled for his mind to process any further. He preformed a shundo to put some distance between them. How was she able to get behind me so quickly. I didn't sense her movement at all! Negi got back to his feet uneasily. "Chao, I have no intention of fighting you! Can you at least tell me your reasons for-"

"You know what? I have a wonderful idea." Chao chimed, assuming a fighting stance. She clenched both her hands into fist and her gloves crackled with electricity. "I'll tell you my reasons, and I'll even refrain from my activities."

"You w-will?" Negi couldn't believe his ears.

"If you best me in combat!" Chao went on.

"No!" Negi growled.

"And if you lose, Negi-chan, you'll have to join me." She smiled again as she wagged her index finger at him. "Don't worry, I'll tell you my reasons if you join me as well. Either way, you'll still find out. How good for you!"

"Wait just a-"

"I'm not giving you a choice, Negi!" Chao cut him off before kicking forward on one foot to send herself gliding in his direction. "Let's go!"

What was that just now?! Negi felt his senses spike. This feeling I'm getting from her...t-this dark aura...where did it come from?! Negi had no time to for any deductions as Chao finally closed the distance between them, and stopped short on the tip of her toes to deliver a spinning backhand. Negi managed to block her attack before using his quick reflexes to direct a an open hand thrust from her. The speed she was fighting him at was simply mind numbing.

Even with my enhanced speed as a vampire, she's really making me push myself! Negi inwardly groaned as he narrowed his eyes in desperate concentration. She attempted to kick him in the face and he grabbed her rushing foot before sending her twirling with a quick turn. Chao landed back on both feet perfectly and lunged forward with another punch. When Negi blocked it she dropped down to the floor without warning and attempted to take him down with a quick leg sweep. Negi stopped his fall by slamming both of his hands upon the floor and pushing off quickly to do a back flip, landing back on his feet before assuming a defensive stance. He clenched his hands into fist and felt them tremble.

"God, that's fast." Negi breathed out. "So you're serious!" He yelled to her as she got ready to attack him again.

"You'd best take me seriously!" Chao quipped. She ran to him again, but this time she jumped to preform a roundhouse kick to the side of his head. Negi was quick to block her attack, but she teleported again and connected her kick with his face instead. He was sent staggering back from the impact, but he managed to stand his ground again only to be forced to take action again as Chao followed up with another barrage of punches.

She's still not as strong as master! Negi thought, jumping away from her to prepare a volley of light arrows. He sent them flying in her direction only to have all of them miss when she dodged between them easily. She was moving so fast that she left after images in the path that she charged. She dipped into a slide to cover more ground and rose up just as she was in front of Negi to deliver a powerful uppercut that exploded with electricity as it made impact. Negi's vision went completely white as he was sent flying up a few feet before he felt a kick to his stomach that sent him crashing into one of the pillars that supported the roof of the tower.

"Ugh..." Negi groaned at the pain that exploded in his body. He could still feel the painful tingle of the electricity that Chao sent surging through his body. This is unreal. She's going to beat me if I don't stop pulling punches. I have to-wha-

"Not banged up too much, are you?" Chao asked, standing over him. He forgot how fast she was able to move.

"No..." Negi replied, pushing his palms against the rubble around him. "Not at all!" He kicked forward quickly and sent himself crashing into her like a bullet. Chao was momentarily caught off guard by his rash attack, but she quickly regained control and teleported out of his arms. When Negi felt her slip away he stopped himself in mid-air and came at her, flying.

"So now you're fighting seriously!" Chao cried out gleefully. "That is what I want to see!"

"Huh?!" Negi suddenly felt a dark rising force within her.

"Let me feel your strength! Attack me without hesitation!" Chao yelled before the floor at her feet exploded, bringing forth dark tentacles. Negi dodged a few of them, but he felt the others bound his arms and his waist before being slammed to the floor brutally. Negi felt all of the fluids within his mouth splurge out from the impact and he remained motionless. Chao approached his fallen form and stopped when his head was at her feet. "I refuse to believe that you are exhausted. Show me more of your wondrous abilities. This performance isn't what is expected from the blood coursing within your veins."

"Grrrrr..." Negi's hands twitched to Chao's growing pleasure.

"Yes, fight me!"

"Raaaaaagh!" Negi yelled at the top of his lungs as he fought to get back to his feet, but the tentacles that restrained him to the floor were strong. He dug in even deeper and managed to get to his knees but that was his limit. "...I...have to try...harder..."

"Well, I guess even this is acceptable for now." Chao chuckled darkly.

"Who are...you?" Negi asked weakly. "You can't...be Chao!"

"Ah, so you sensed a change? How remarkable. I made sure to cloak my presence as best I could." Chao asked with a smirk. "As I once told you before, I am your biggest fan."

"Release Chao-san!"

"Not just yet." Chao refused. "I still have a need for this body. I can't allow myself to be seen out in the open." She crossed her arms and her shadow spread along the floor like a growing blotch of ink until it surrounded Negi.

"What the-" Negi started to panic when he began sinking into the darkness. "Huh?! STOP THIS!" He screamed. His eyes swiveled back down to see the darkness already reaching his knees. Before long he would be completely absorbed into it. Oh god, what is this?! Am I going to die? Where will I go?!

"Just calm yourself, Negi." Chao spoke to him soothingly. "You will simply fall into a deep sleep, nothing more. I will awaken you soon."

"NO! LET ME GO!" Negi screamed. Master...Eva. I don't know what I've gotten myself into, but I just want to see your face again. Please don't let this be the end.

"STOP!" A voice demanded. Negi watched as Chao whipped her head to the side before disappearing to avoid being attacked by a blur that stood where she had been seconds ago.

"Negi-sensei?!" Setsuna immediately rushed to him, and released the dark tentacles hold on him with a quick slash from her sword. She sheathed it and grabbed a hold of his shoulder to pull him out of the dark void. "Are you alright?!" She asked him, holding him against her.

"Y-yes." Negi nodded quickly. "Thanks Setsuna."

"Don't talk sensei." The swordsman quited him before turning away from him to look at Chao who had been perched upon one of the broken columns that lined the walkway. "I told you that if you betrayed Negi-sensei's trust that my sword would not remain silent, Chao Lingshen." Setsuna slipped her arms away from the young magi, and unsheathed her sword again, pointing it at the Chinese scientist with narrowed eyes. "You should have listened."

"No Setsuna!" Negi grabbed her arm. "That isn't, Chao-san!"

"What do you mean?" Setsuna asked, quirking her eyebrow.

"So this is all the help that comes?" Chao questioned.

"No!" Came a multitude of voices from behind her.

"What?!" Chao whipped around to find sixteen identical young women running towards her.

"Prepare yourself, Chao!" All sixteen Kaede's warned her before jumping towards her, poised to attack. The young scientist whipped her hands over her head and the shadows gathered around the column she was standing on before rising up to deflect the ninjas split attack. When that was done she screamed and the darkness rushed towards all the Kaede's, sending them crashing to the floor. All of them disappeared to reveal the true Kaede standing beside Negi with Setsuna.

"This is going to be tough." Kaede said grimly. "Not only can she defend herself, but her offensive isn't too bad either. She wiped out my shadow clones pretty quickly."

"We'll have to get through that somehow." Setsuna mused.

"Well, let's get to it then." Kaede nodded, getting into a stance.

"Alright." Setsuna nodded back. Both girls commenced their attack; Kaede utilizing her shadow clone split again, and Setsuna rushing forward towards Chao as the vampiress focused her attention on the ninja squad. When Chao unleashed a wave of darkness to dispatch Kaede and her clones, Setsuna ran up the column, and grabbed her arm before twisting it with a strong jerk to bring her down to the floor with her. The swordsman pinned the scientist down when they touched down and kept her restrained as best she could.

"Futile!" Chao laughed. She vanished and reappeared behind Setsuna and deliver a crippling blow to her back. The swordsman went flying until Negi jumped, and caught her in mid-air, sending them both flying into the doorway leading down from the roof.

"You okay?!" Negi asked with a groan from crashing against the door.

"Yeah I'm fi-"

"I'm not done with you!" Negi and Setsuna whipped their heads to the source of the voice to find Chao gliding towards them at top speed. "Away from him, NOW!"

"Brace yourself!" Setsuna cried out, standing in front of Negi to protect them. Luckily for them Kaede veered Chao off course with a well placed kick to her side. The vampiress rolled when she hit the floor, and recovered quickly.

"She's not easy to stop is she?" Kaede asked with a grin.

"Seems so." Setsuna agreed.

"Stop." Negi halted them.

"What?" Both girls looked back at him at the same time.

"I'll face her."

"No way." Setsuna refused.

"She'll try to take you again." Kaede reasoned.

"Step aside!" Negi pushed past them regardless of their opposition, and charged forward before they could pull him back. "Chao!"

"Ah, Negi! Finally back again, are we?" Chao questioned excitedly. "Very well then, fight me!"

"I wi-"

"SURPRISE!" Both vampires were caught completely off guard when they heard all of the girls cry out. Negi stopped short, and Chao cocked her head to the side in puzzlement. Ayaka and the others revealed themselves from their hiding spots behind the other side tower and rushed forward in hopes of surprising the scientist.

"No, not here!" Negi growled. "It isn't safe."

Such bad timing. It's those brats. Chao thought, inwardly annoyed that they decided to make their appearance. She looked at Negi's worried face and chuckled. "Worried about them, are you?" She asked him, crossing her arms.

"Not here..." Negi shook his head pleadingly. "Don't get them involved."

"Very well." Chao nodded with a smile. "We'll continue this some other time."

"...Thank you." He was surprised when his words caused her to blush.

"F-Farewell!" With that Chao jumped from the tower and disappeared.

"...Dorothy..."

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Cooling off at Evangeline's resort...

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"Master?"

Ungh...leave me alone. I don't have the energy for this anymore...

"Master Negi?"

Quit it...

"WAKE UP MASTER!"

"W-what?!" Negi woke up, startled by the voice's loud call for him. He was shaken even further when something landed on his chest. "H-huh? Chachazero?" The young magi sighed when he found himself looking dead int his familiars green, emerald orbs. While most normal people would be scared petrified, looking in to the murderous puppet's eyes, Negi could not have been any more relieved. In fact he was happy to see her again. He felt much more secure when she was keeping him company. "Man, am I glad to see you." He mumbled.

"Same here, master Negi!" Chachazero chirped happily. "When the mutt told me about you and that blonde airhead, I got so pissed off! That girl is always trying to keep you to herself. It just annoys the hell out of me."

"Oh you mean, Takane..." Negi said, averting his eyes.

"What's wrong, master?"

"Um, nothing, nothing." Negi waved her off. "So where am I?"

"You're in Eva-san's resort. Setsuna, and Kaede brought you here unconscious." Chachazero explained. "Said that you passed out."

I did, huh? Negi thought as he placed his hand on his forehead. I'm surprised that I survived everything that happened yesterday. He tilted his head to the side, and heaved another sigh. Everything was out of his control now. He was going to have to inform Evangeline himself before she found out about it on her own, otherwise she would hurt him for keeping it all a secret. I wonder how she'll react to the news about, Takane. She probably won't take it too well.

"YO!" A loud voice got Negi's attention. He sat up in bed to see Kotaro standing at the doorway of the room with his swimming trunks on. "How long are you planning on dozing off, huh?"

"How long has it been?" Negi asked curiously.

"A two days, man." Kotaro answered much to his surprise.

"ARE YOU SERIOUS?!" Negi practically sent his familiar flying off of him as he scrambled out of the bed. The covers got tangled with his legs, and caused him to fall to the floor in a tangled mess. "I-I need to get back out there!"

"Um, technically two hour in this dimension...remember?" Kotaro chuckled at his friend's mistake.

"Oh...right." Negi sighed.

"Master..." Negi looked beside him to find Chachazero on the floor. "That actually hurt."

"I'm sooooo sorry!" Negi apologized, clutching the puppet to his chest.

Ha, I should use the guilt trip more often. The puppet thought to herself, enjoying the warmth that her master provided her.

"Are you gonna come with me or are you going to cuddle that voodoo doll all day?"

"Oh, I'm coming." Negi replied, kicking the covers off from his legs. He got to his feet clumsily, and followed his friend out into the resort much to Chachazero's displeasure. If she ever had the chance to rid herself of Negi's dog companion she hoped it wouldn't be long.

When the two boys got out into the open, Negi found almost all of the girls messing around with each other in the pool while others tanned on the beach chairs that lined the sides. Setsuna and Kaede spotted him with Kotaro and walked to him to greet him. Setsuna was wearing the school swimsuit while Kaede wore something Negi felt was a little too revealing though he did not express his distress at her appearance outwardly. This didn't go unnoticed by Kotaro as well, but he had a lingering fear for the female ninja so nothing came out of his mouth.

"How are you feeling, sensei?" Setsuna asked.

"You had us worried, sleeping for an entire two days." Kaede noted her worry as well. "The only thing that kept Konoka from rushing in was Evangeline's assurance that this was normal for someone like yourself." Kaede stroked her chin, cocking her head to the side. "I'm still trying to figure out what she meant by that though."

"Um, where is she by the way?" Negi asked.

"I haven't seen her since yesterday when she kicked Asu-"

"Hey!" Asuna's voice cut Setsuna off. The red-head ran to them, all the while pointing at the net idol who had been relaxing at the side of the pool. "What is she doing here?!"

"Chisame-chan kind of found out." Negi explained sheepishly, feeling a bit nervous at the frightening expression that Asuna was directing at him.

"Kind of?!" Asuna went hysterical. "Do you want to be turned into an ermine or what?! Those other mages are running around the campus like they're the law now! If they ever find out about this-"

"I'M SORRY!" Negi apologized, flailing his arms.

"THIS ISN'T MY PROBLEM!" Asuna scolded him.

"One look at the boya, and you're back to your old self, Kagurazaka." At the sound of Evangeline's voice, Negi's spirits had been lifted. It had been so long since he had the pleasure of listening to her! He was seriously beginning to miss all of her lectures.

"Eva!" Negi ran to her joyously with open arms.

"Huh?" Eva raised an eyebrow in confusion. Is he seriously trying to give me a hu- "Ah!" She almost fell when her underling made contact with her, throwing his arms around her small frame. His actions served to confuse all the girls watching since the scene seemed quite foreign to them. Perhaps if Evangeline sent the young magi flying in the other directing with a kick this would seem so much more acceptable, but five seconds passed and that had yet to happen...so...what the hell did they miss?

"I have so much to tell you!" Negi said quickly as he looked at her blushing face. It wasn't until he saw her eye twitch that he realized he may have done something wrong. "Um, did I do something wro-agh!" He received his answer in the form of Evangeline thrusting him into the pool.

All of the girls finally let go of the breaths they were holding...

"If you wanna discuss something with me then do it privately." Evangeline snapped before setting her sights on all of the staring girls. "What are all of you staring at?"

"Nothing!" They all answered quickly.

"Then get back to what you were doing!"

"O-Okay!"

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

...We'll just call this a scene divider...

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"Here, dry yourself off." Evangeline tossed Negi a towel before taking a seat at the tea table she had set up beside the beach area. She snapped her fingers to summon one of the other maids to serve them since Chachamaru was busy with other things. "Gawd, you almost gave me a heart attack when you hugged me earlier." She groaned as she placed a hand upon her forehead. The last time she ever felt that way was when Nagi allowed her to spend the night with him for the second time. Of course that was a story for another time.

"I'm sorry, Eva" Negi apologized in embarrassment. "I guess I sort of got carried awa-"

"Your tea." A raven haired maid announced as she set the platter upon the table that held the tea set. She had long hair similar to the style Chachamaru was usually seen with, making them seem almost identical, however, there was a noticeable lack of emotion in her face as opposed to her green haired counterpart.

"Wait a second...you're not Chachamaru." Negi stated the obvious.

"True." She replied before walking away.

"What's wrong, Negi?" Evangeline asked, crossing her arms. "You didn't think that I just had one maid did you?"

"Well..." Negi felt dumb for even thinking that was the case. It would have been impossible for Chachamaru to keep the entire resort and the cabin in top condition so naturally there would be a need for more maids. Chachazero didn't seem capable of cutting the work either. "...I kind of did." Negi admitted sheepishly. "Where is Chachamaru anyway?"

"Who cares?" Chachazero quipped from the top of his head only to be ignored.

"Away." Was all Evangeline was willing to share.

"Where?" Negi pushed on.

"Don't worry about it." Evangeline replied. She reached for the teapot to serve herself and took a sip from her cup before asking, "So what was it that you wanted to tell me about?

"You wouldn't believe what I'm about to tell you." Negi shook his head.

"Just tell me." Evangeline rolled her eyes. "I'm sure it's nothing too shocking when compared to what I've seen already."

"You have to promise not to get too mad though..." Negi's words caused Evangeline to raise an eyebrow.

"...Now why would I need to do that?"

"Promise and you'll find out." Negi said innocently.

"I promise..." Evangeline flexed her fingers as she went on, "Not to kill you."

"Fair enough." Negi complied.

"So tell me what's up."

"Alright." Alright...the trick to telling the truth is to keep on going against my best judgment. Negi took a moment to breathe in and out a few times as he kept his eyes on Evangeline. He looked more like he was about to face her in the ring. Okay, first let's talk about-

If you would rather do this telepathically then you should have told me. Evangeline voice echoed within his mind chillingly. Apparently nothing was safe from her. Just tell me what's on your mind, boya, so we can get over with it.

"Therearemorevampiresoncampusbesidesus!" Negi spoke so quickly that his words were barely made out.

"Whoa! What?!" Evangeline slammed her hands on the table in frustration. "Say it a little slower, stupid."

"There...are... more...vampires, "Negi noticed a change in his master's demeanor when he got that far, "...on...campus...besides...us." He finished.

Dorothy...Dorothy already made her move on Negi, and I wasn't there to protect him. I'm gonna kill her, I'm gonna kill her, I'm gonna kill her! Evangeline's shoulders started rising up and down as she tried to contain her building fury. "How the hell did you survive against her?!" Evangeline questioned him out of the blue.

"W-what?!" Negi shifted in his seat nervously when Evangeline got up and met him on his side of the table. W-which one is she talking about?! There were so many!

"This female vampire that you're talking about! She attacked you, didn't she?"

"Y-you mean, Dorothy?" Negi asked.

"YES, DOROTHY!" Evangeline nodded her head as she grabbed him by his shirt. My gawd, they spoke to each other! What the hell did she tell him?! Did she tell him anything about me? I am going to strangle her to death next time I see her! "She attacked you, right?!"

"Yeah...sort of." Negi replied, feeling a bit more scared of Evangeline than anyone else at this point.

"Sort of?! What does that even mean?!"

"Well, she seemed more interested in kidnapping me." Negi answered, calming Evangeline down somewhat.

"And yet...you are here speaking with me?" Evangeline questioned curiously. Was he actually able to fight her off? I didn't even realize that he was at that level yet. He's been holding out on me! "You bested her in a duel?" Her eagerness to hear his answer was almost bordering on child-like excitement.

"No." Negi answered timidly. "She could have killed me easily if she wanted to."

"...Then what happened?"

"Setsuna and Kaede saved me."

"...They saw her?" Evangeline hoped to god that his answer would be no even though that would be impossible considering tha-

"Not really." Negi answered.

"...What? How is that possible."

"I think she was possessing Chao-san's body." Negi said with a hint of sadness in his voice.

"So she's capable of possession now..." Evangeline mumbled grimly. That isn't too comforting, but then again that would really explain the boya's odd behavior during the tournament. I wonder how else she could manipulate such a forbidden skill.

"What did you say?"

"Don't worry about. What I want to know is how the three of you escaped."

"I asked her to stop." Negi replied.

"And she stopped?"

"Well yeah...sort of." Negi replied, sounding a bit unsure of himself.

"Ugh, never mind." Evangeline groaned at her disciples inability to answer clearly. Shewalked back to her side of the table to grab her seat and pulled it so she could sit directly in front of Negi. "Look, I want you to listen very closely to what I'm going to tell you because it will save your life. I am an "Elder" class Dark Mistress."

"What is that?" Negi asked nervously.

"It means that I am at a rank that overrules any mistress, count, lord, Dark mistress or Dark count in existence." Evangeline explained. "That is of course, except for the legendary Dark count that even the mundanes know of, but his very existence at this point is in speculation. I'm not the only Dark mistress that holds such a high title, however, I am the one mistress that all others want the honor of killing."

"...I'm confused."

"Let's start from the basics then. There are lords, counts, and mistresses. Each of these three titles are only given to those who hold a great amount of power, whether it be in ability or influence. Those who receive those titles solely due to influence are wise enough to keep in line, however, those who are given such a title due to ability are know to wage duels for territory or vassals and other matters of business that isn't usually advised. This sort of behavior either leads to clan wars or judgment by the Elder Mistress that rules that region." Evangeline rolled her eyes briefly, "The latter is usually rare since we're so much more busy with our own matters or more interested in watching them kill themselves off."

"So you're really well known." Negi deducted.

"Yeah." Evangeline nodded. "Now, there is a title beyond mistress, which is respectively called, "Dark Mistress". These infamous vampires are known to rule over powerful clans that that outclass normal vampires. It's kind of like a "God" class in a manner of speaking. This title is given to those in power of ability and influence meaning that they can control vampiric nations. Now, such a title isn't just assigned to anyone, which is why it is so hard to gain, however, there are other methods of gaining such a title besides receiving it from the "Council". You can take it by claiming the life of another Dark Mistress. That leads to the inherent her title and her influence, and of course," Evangeline smirked, "If you were powerful enough to best her in a duel then you must be capable of standing toe-to-toe with other Dark Mistresses. The stronger the better."

"Ok..."

"Now the first "Council" was disbanded because of the obvious corruption that had begun to form among their ranks. The Elders carried out their execution, however, a few centuries later a certain Dark mistress decided to take it upon herself to revive the council. All that opposed her her were killed or eventually submitted to her will in order to live." Evangeline explained. "I took it upon myself to weaken the extent of her control significantly, forcing the council to lay low for another opportunity to make their rise again. My actions had gained me admiration and loathing, which leads to my next point. You are my underling so you are essentially a marked man."

"Meaning?" Negi was not beginning to like where this was going.

"Dark Mistresses around the world would give anything to have you within their grasps. You hold my blood as a powerful day walker, and keeping you to themselves can lead to a few things."

"What would that be?"

"A powerful husband to rule by their side, giving birth to a powerful nation, luring me out so they can finally kill me or even worse..." Evangeline trailed off.

"Worse?" Negi began to sweat.

"They can force my whereabouts out of you and come to Mahora." Evangeline smirked almost amusedly. "That means that all of your precious students would be in danger. Now, this vampiress you fought with was, Dorothy Summers."

"A-A Dark mistress?" Negi went ahead of her.

"You're quick!" Evangeline grinned. "And if she happens to get her hands on you, gawd knows what might happen."

"How did she find out about me?! How did she find out about you?!"

"It's...complicated." Evangeline answered. "Now, was that all you wanted to tell me?"

"I,um, forgot what I wanted to talk about."

"Alright then. Since that's out the way," Evangeline held out her hand and a small ticket materialized with their names on it, "Do you know what this is, Negi?"

"It..." Negi squinted his eyes to look at it. "...It looks like a ticket with our names on it."

"Yes, it's a Demonic ticket. It forces the named person to go through with a promise." Evangeline smirked evilly. "If I use this then you'll have no choice but to spend the entire last day of the festival with me on a date doing whatever I want. Meaning, screw the rest of the plans you have because you'll be mine."

"Uh-"

Rrrrrip...

Evangeline confused Negi when she ripped the ticket. Why would she do that unless she wanted him to fulfill his promise to her? It wasn't that he would not go on a date with her, but he could not spend the entire day with her when there were other things he had to do. "But it looks like you're going to be busy on the last day of the festival so I'll let you slide this one time."

"Thank you, master." He bowed to her.

"What was that?" Evangeline closed one eyes.

"I-I mean, thank you, Eva."

"That's better, Negi. I'll see you later then." With that, Evangeline stood up and took her leave.

"...Eva..." Negi whispered her name before feeling a tap on his shoulder. "Um, yes?"

"Would you like some treats with your tea?" The maid from before asked politely.

"No, thank you."

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Later that night...

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I was almost taken by a Dark Mistress...Negi rolled to the left side of the small bed he lied on. If she managed to do that then I would have never seen Mahora again... Negi rolled to the right with a light groan. I could have put everyone here in danger just because I wasn't strong enough to defend myself. I could have ruined Eva's peaceful life. Negi rolled onto his beck and looked about at the ceiling with Chachazero still tucked in his arms. The fact that she managed to stay asleep while he did all of his moving was a feat in itself. Now that he really thought about it, she was a puppet. Why would she need sleep anyway?

Man, this is really bugging me. Dorothy is still out there waiting for me just looking for another opportunity to kidnap me, and I don't stand a chance of defending myself against her! Not only that, but she is in possession of Chao's body. ONE OF MY STUDENTS! Negi pounded his fist on his pillow with his free arm before calming himself. Takane...my underling. Wow, I never thought that I would ever have one so quickly, and to make matters worse, I still haven't informed master about her.

"I can't sleep." Negi grumbled, sitting up in his bed. "I wonder if Eva is still awake." He thought aloud as he threw his legs along the side of the bed to stand up.

"Mas..ter?" Chachazero awakened from her slumber. "Why are you up?"

"I can't sleep." Negi answered her. "I'm going to go for a walk. Wanna come with?"

"You have to ask?" Chachazero replied.

"Then let's go." Negi grinned, heading out. When he left the room he took note of how quiet the halls were at this time. The only source of light were the candles that hung against the walls, burning softly. His steps echoed through the halls along with the soft running of water that played like a smooth serenade in the distance. He did his best to follow it to the source, but with every turn he took the sound didn't seem to get louder or die out, which could only mean that-

"I'm going in circles." Negi groaned. "This resort seems so much more fit to be a castle or a fortress."

"It is." Chachazero clarified for him.

"Really?" Negi quirked a brow.

"Make a left here." The puppet directed him, getting a, "Thanks."

The two left the quiet halls and ended up at a much larger setting with a red carpet leading up a short staircase to a entryway. Vases lined the way up to the entryway where another one of Evangeline's maids stood still. Actually by taking a closer look at her he realized that it was the same raven haired maid that served him and his master at the tea table earlier in the afternoon.

"Ah, Master Negi." The maid greeted him. "Good evening."

Master? Why would she address me like that? Negi puzzled at her greeting. "Um, what is this place?"

"Allow me to escort you inside." The maid told him, placing a hand on his shoulder. "This way." She lead him through the entry way into a damp room filled with steam. It was hard to make out anything at all except for the pool that the steam rolled out from. "You're here to see the mistress, correct."

"Well, I would like to talk with her." Negi admitted. "By they way...where is Chachamaru?"

"You mean my younger sister?"

Her younger sister? Chachamaru has sisters?

"Um, sure..."

"I have no idea. My systems cannot get a trace on her tracker." The maid replied, letting go of his shoulder. "Mistress." She suddenly called out to the young magi's growing confusion. "Your underling is her to see you."

"She's in here?!" Negi blinked.

"Yes, right there." The maid directed his eyes to a nude girl running her hands through her long blonde hair.

"Oh geez!" Negi went completely red. "M-master, I am so sorry!"

"Hm?" Evangeline turned her head at the sound of her disciple's voice. "Negi?" Evangeline turned around completely to regard her underling. "Well, well, have you come her to take a bath with me? You are surprising me a little more every time we meet." She smiled at him, baring her fangs brilliantly. Needless to say this made Negi feel very uncomfortable.

"I-I actually just c-came to talk! Y-you know, discuss some things!" Negi told her, covering his eyes with his hands.

"A discussion, huh?" Evangeline questioned amusedly as she turned away from him. "Then why don't you come in and talk to me?" The way she offered made Negi feel shivers run down his spine. He didn't like how inviting she sounded.

"Wouldn't it be best to t-t-talk after you were done?" Negi offered in a stammer.

"Strip him."

The color drained from Negi's face, and he whipped around to find some more maids blocking the way out of the chamber. Before his mind could even register anything else he felt Chachaero get lifted off his shoulder before a pair of hands gripped his shirt and yank it off over his head while another pair raised his arms against his will. He tried to struggle, but two other maids ran to his side and lifted him off the floor while another blonde, short haired maid undid the button on his jean shorts and relieved him of them. The only thing left was his boxers.

"Don't you dare!" Chachazero yelled furiously as she flailed her arms to get free. "That's mine!"

What's yours?! Negi thought quickly, but his mind went completely scrambled when he felt the maid grab the waist line of his boxers.

"No, please don't!" Negi kicked his legs, laughing uncontrollably as the maids holding him tickled him so he wouldn't put up any more resistance. When he felt his boxers come off, his eyes went as wide as saucers before he was launched into the large bubbling spa that Evangeline awaited him in. He coughed up the water he swallowed after he made impact and shook his head get the water out of his face. He would have found it to be a mistake, however, since when he opened his eyes he came face to face with his master transformed in all of her wondrous glory. Naturally since she took on her older form it made the situation all the more intense.

"We're together now, Negi." She told him in a libidinous voice as she moved towards him quickly. "Tell me what's on your mind."

"E-Evangel..." Negi cleared his throat, doing his best to recompose himself, but having her so close made it rather difficult. "Evangeline, w-why are you doing this?"

"You came."

"You know what I mean!" Negi yelped when he felt her press herself against his back. She placed her hands upon his shoulders and massaged them lightly.

"Relax, huh?" She cooed to him. She noticed a bandage on his left arm and held it up to inspect it. This must be a cut his suffered from the tournament, but why hasn't it healed? "For you to force yourself not to heal this cut must have taken plenty of will power. I'm amazed." She told him, lowering her head so that she was talking into his ear. He winced when she peeled the bandage off slowly.

"What are you doing?" Negi asked nervously before feeling a ticklish sensation where his cut had been. He looked to the side to find her lapping up the blood that began to rise from the cut. The look of pleasure on her blushing face as she did made his cheeks burn.

"You're delicious, Negi." Evangeline commented between one of her licks. "I don't think I'll ever share you with anybody." She winked at him for a moment and teased, "Unless you want me to." She continued to clean the cut with her tongue, breathing out, "Exquisite.", when she was done. She leaned against him lazily and thew her arms over his chest. "You know, it's been so long since we've been together like this. Ever since the festival started, we've been pretty much apart."

"Have we?" Negi mused.

"I'll admit that I was just a little worried." Evangeline said softly.

"About what?" Negi went tense when she began running her hands along his chest.

"I thought something bad would happen to you." Evangeline answered him. "The campus isn't safe anymore. I'm sure you know that."

"Yeah." Negi took in a deep breath and exhaled slowly. "Eva-chan." He spoke her name.

"Yes."

"I turned someone." Negi confessed.

"Oh?" Evangeline chuckled.

"That's all you're going to say?" Negi blinked.

"Well it was bound to happen." Evangeline said off handedly.

"B-but do you know who it is?" Negi asked anxiously.

"Of course I do." Evangeline answered. "Who do you think you're dealing with, Negi? I found out it was Ms. Goodman during the tournament. She was drawing energy from you as she took on her transformation. Only underlings have access to another vampires power reserve. We think of it as a crutch." Evangeline smirked, "Training wheels, you can even call it. The only reason I haven't done anything about it is because Gandolfini hasn't attempted to mess with you."

"Eva?"

"You're mine, Negi." Evangeline told him as she held him tighter. "I've never had much to call my own that really mattered, but now I do and it will take more than some child mistress, and a stubborn mage to take that away from me."

Just her way of saying, I love you, I guess... Negi thought with a blush.

Take it how you will. He heard Evangeline's voice in his mind as she turned his head so he could look into her eyes. Just know who you belong to. With that she released him and started heading out of the spa, giving Negi a good look at her backside. " All of you!" She called the attention of her maids. "Bathe him thoroughly and dress him." She took a towel from a maid that held it to her and dried her body before accepting a black robe from another. "If he's left alone he's more likely to just splash about."

"Yes mistress." They all complied in unison.

Negi could only watch as they surrounded him in the water. "...Oh boy..."

------------------------------------F---------------------------------------------------------------------------------V---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------A--------------------------------

"You're looking rather handsome." Evangeline compliment her underling as he approached the table dressed in a white tuxedo.

"You're looking gorgeous yourself, Eva-chan." Negi complimented her, unable to keep his eyes from lingering upon her in her black, bare-back dress. The front of the dress was open as well to give him an elegant view of her cleavage and the beautiful necklace she had hanging from her neck . Such was the sort of dress expected of a temptress of darkness. When he took a seat one of the maids came by to open the wine bottle that had been left chilling in the ice, and served them both.

"Look how far we've come since the time we first met." Evangeline remarked before taking a sip of her wine. She noticed the look of hesitance on his face and giggled. "Go ahead, Negi. Try the wine, it's good."

"Fine." Negi nodded, taking a sip of it. He felt his insides begin to grow warm. "Um...", He cleared his throat, "That's great." He said in a raspy voice.

"Come on, master Negi." Chachazero poked his cheek. "Ain't nothin' to this drink."

"Whatever you say." Negi chuckled.

"So is there anything else you wish to discuss?" Evangeline asked, raising her drink to him.

"Well...I'm really worried about Chao." Negi said somberly.

"Over dinner?" Evangeline pouted. "How boring."

"It's just that even now...Dorothy has control over her body and I don't know what she scheming. Then there's the plan that Chao already has to reveal the world of magic."

"Alright then. If that's what you want." Evangeline smirked.

And now that the final day is within reach, my plan will finally be realized...

...This quaint campus will be consumed in a great trial for survival, and the darkling will be within my clutches as all is lost in the confusion...

You may have the upper hand when it comes to power, however, I will succeed in claiming what I have come for, Dark Evangel...

I will take that which you love so much and have it grant my own pleasures...

I will bring forth chaos upon your peaceful world...

...And all will know that I won...

To Be Continued...

And so another chapter to the story finally closes and opens the path for another to follow. I thank all of you for reading this story and for putting up with this author's long updates as of the last...five chapters. (Don't really remember anymore...) Now I will reward you all by finally closing the book in this series with the last chapter. I think that twenty-six chapters should be enough. I'd hate for the series to drag on.

In the next chapter all hell will finally break loose on Mahora, and Negi will finally be able to face Dorothy in all of her vengeful glory, however, she will have many surprises in store that may very well catch even herself off guard. (You see what I mean when you read it) Chao will watch everything she has fought for come crashing down around her, and Evangeline will experience a challenge that may bring her back to the days of her past. Remember, this isn't really the end. This is merely the beginning of something even more complex, and I hope to leave you all on a mind blowing note...or something satisfying at the anyway...

Final Chapter:

Fang Vice Addiction

Chapter Twenty-six: Standing the Test of Time

Take care and Happy Holidays,

Traingham...

Wait a second...um...

It's time for QUESTION TIME! (I knew I was forgetting something...)

Q: "Is Makie going to get a "Dark Makie"?"

A: That might be an idea to explore in the sequel although it probably won't be a serious as Ako's dark chapter.

Q:"Just out of curiosity, is the "White Wings" even going to form with the current path?"

A: Something similar to that will exist in the second segment of the sequel. (After his "return")

Q: "Why are you dithering on the EvaxNegi shagging scene!! Your fans want it."

A: Then I won't disappoint you.

Q:"Are you going to dive further into Evas and Negis future more. I enjoyed the snippets of the future you added but seem to have stopped for some reason."

A: I can't give away too much so early.

Q: "Lastly the idea of Takane as a slave. Is she going to be like slave type a where she now obeys all his commands, seeks his opinion on everything etc or the slave that comes when she is needed."

A: She'll play a role similar to how Negi did at the beginning of the story, however, she will have a twist since she'll be searching the world for her master. (Due to Negi's leave from Mahora.) In the sequel we'll get more into that.

And that is the end of that...