Disclaimer:
Love Hina and Mahou Sensei Negima is the creative property of Ken Akamatsu, who created this wonderful anime/manga series. Shingetsugan Tsukihime and Fate/stay night is the creative property of TYPE-MOON. Anything not attributed to Akamatsu-san or TYPE-MOON belongs to their respective owners, such as references to Cowboy Bebop (the Swordfish II) that is a creation of Sunrise and Shinichiro Watanabe, BLEACH is a creation of Kubo Tite, and vice-versa. This story is written purely just for fun, guys; please for God's sake, don't sue me! I'm just a high school student with too much free time on his hands! On the other hand, any specific author created characters I created for this fic (despite how unoriginal they may be at times) are mine. So without further adieu, let's get on with the show!
The Surgeon General's Warning:
Read at your own risk. Multiple pairings inside folks, with KanaxKei and KanaxNegi, just to name a few! You never know what you're going to get so read on (I might even do some alternative stuff, if you know what I mean).
Blue Blue Glass Moon, Under the Crimson Air
I Wanna Go To A Place...
Chapter 50:
Who's Your Headmaster?
A Love Magister Hina Negima! fanfic by James "Ray" Edwards
Thus, the two companions, now friends for the better (or worse), parted ways, both bearing a new boon. One carried a little hope, a faint almost indiscernible light, but in the once infinite darkness, it was a shining beacon, a star to guide her through the blackest night she knew in her heart. The other carried a change of fortune, the winds filling his sails and carrying him away from the storm back on course, with another shipmate to call friend and another strange tomorrow on the setting horizon. Of course, this sort of thing suited a dandy fellow like him just fine.
Little did they know that elsewhere, an old man of some note was far from pleased at the day's dramatic events that had turned his school...
...into a battlefield.
"...And that's the end of my report, Kouchou-dono," Takamichi T. Takahata finished his explanation crisply as he snapped his pocket notebook shut. "Oh and yes, I still have no clue who could've done that kind of damage on the school roof of Sakuraba Hall. Couldn't have been a magi, such as ourselves,as there was no magic signature left to speak of. Untraceable. Worst case scenario, we've got a real magician somewhere around here and he-she-or-it, is up to no good."
There was a hushed silence in the Headmaster's elegant office with its priceless mahogany furnishings and various accolades attributed to excellence beyond compare. The combined experience of four generations of "Man" was vested in this hallowed place, or at least it was worth that much to Takamichi. God knows the Headmaster's office deserved it, considering its true history, a history that only a select few knew, such as himself.
It was left to the constant hum of the air conditioning to fill in the gap of ambience.
Presently, he could not help but envy the two steaming cups of tea cooling in a tray of fine china that rested upon the broad bureau before him. It was premium certified Darjeeling tea. He could pick out that exquisitely prepared strong floral aroma and the gentle thin-bodied, light-colored tan, as if it were molten gold, from a mile away. Darjeeling tea was his favorite hands down, but by God was it expensive!
Aaahhh, the salary of a civil servant. How cruel... the bespectacled man lamented silently, his glasses gleaming white in the orange rays of dusk streaming through the windows. He was just barely managing to hold back the rivers of "GENTLEmanly" tears that threatened to fall.
Yes, if there was one thing Takamichi missed about his --- former life, it was being able to drink fresh, piping hot Darjeeling tea whenever the mood suited him. God Bless and "AMEN!", it was quite possibly one of the finest creations ever made. Humanity was most certainly indebted to the Holy Ghost for blessing them with the knowledge to recognize, harvest, and turn Darjeeling into such wonderful black tea. The exquisite flavor of fruit and spice, the Champagne of Teas: Darjeeling tea was king.
"Dear Old Boy, you can help yourself, you know," spoke the turned black silhouette of the diminutive man standing by the windows, behind the Headmaster's desk, in English. His voice was old and raspy with age, and yet, there was a peculiar spark of youth and mischief that had not quite left him. The clean "American-style" accent was superb. "I had it specifically prepared for you, in fact, knowing your tastes. Besides, I was in the mood for something a little bouncy."
Takamichi obliged a reply in English as well, although his ambient baritone admittedly carried a faint touch of a high British, each syllable carrying a light enunciated lilt, "Why, Headmaster, I don't mean to impose..."
"Oh, give it a rest with the formalities already, Taka. You're practically like a grandson to me, and you know I'm more than old enough and qualified to be your grandfather, so why don't you humor this old man some with a 'Gramps' or something, hmm?"
"Uhhh, well...Grandfather..."
Konoemon Konoe gave a throaty chuckle from where he stood basking in the last warming rays of the setting sun. The sun in his honest opinion was still a better timepiece than any other device conceived date, and he would back up the claim with all the remaining white hairs on his scalp on it too.
"Thank you, thank you, Takamichi. You always are a good sport, and sometimes, I really do wish you were my son...not that I'm saying Eishun is not a dutiful boy! By God, he's got his hands full just trying to manage those crazy hawks down at the Kansai Magic Association."
"Uh, Head... I mean, Grandfather, I don't think you should-"
"Oh, don't worry I already casted a spell of silencing on this place as soon as you walked through the door. Besides, don't you want to try Hiji-chan's finest?"
Takamichi, in a rare expression of astonishment, blinked. "'Hiji-chan'?"
"You'd be surprised but that stinging firebrand of a woman, Kirishima Hijiri-kun, can whip up a fantastic cup of tea. I don't know how she does it, but one sip, and I was hooked for life! Oh, and to top it off, she also does a mean cup of joe too."
"...Hijiri made this?" The bespectacled man stared in awe at the golden contents of the cooling tea.
For all intents and purpose, Hijiri Kirishima appeared to be an elegant woman, and no one would ever suspect her of being rough around the edges. However to credit his many experiences with her, the opposite was quite true. Never would he have imagined that she was capable of such high proficiency in a characteristically feminine art, that is the art of tea preparation. Such profound beauty and delicacy could have only come from years of practice, as he began to sense that there was much more at work here then just raw talent.
Yes, there was another smell in the air as well, and it smelled just like...
"Impressive, I didn't know you were on a first name basis with her, Takamichi!" Konoemon's proud exclamation interrupted his thoughts abruptly.
"Pfffttt-Wha?" Takahata spluttered incoherently at his boss, clutching his pocket-size notebook in a death grip.
"Impressive, most impressive! I didn't think anybody'd ever find a way into her heart. Hohoho! I guess I didn't have to worry about finding a husband for her in the first place, since you've apparently got that covered."
A HUSBAND? What's he talking about? "Huh?"
The wizened old man laughed. "And if there's one thing I absolutely like about you, Takamichi, is your uncanny ability to be cool. I wish my son had even just a fraction of your cool. Why if he was in your position, his brain would probably melt between the affections of Shizuna-chan and Hiji-chan."
Pause.
"I beg your pardon?" He's making it sound like I'm double dating both of them. Hiji-kun --- affectionate? Minamoto-sensei? Oh Lord, get real here...
"Of course, you could just be highly oblivious to your impending doom," Konoemon reconsidered thoughtfully, as he turned about to face the younger man with a toothy grin. "But I sincerely doubt it, because I don't think you have a death wish just yet, and besides, you've got to be foolishly brave to willingly get caught between those two particular women."
"Uh, I don't quite follow you, but I'm going to nod, laugh and say, 'Yes, I do follow you, Grandfather!'" the English professor paused, proceeding to do exactly just that, "and now help myself to the tea, okay?"
"Sure thing, Dear Old Boy."
"Okay."
Considering he had the "okay" now, Takamichi broke free from his usual charismatic composure and helped himself to the tea with the energetic gusto of a schoolboy. There were few places in the world nowadays where he could truly let go and relax, even for just a little while. He might have left his --- former life behind him, but the past certainly had not abandoned him.
"Hmmmm, hm; you know, Taka-kun..." Konoemon spoke up once more, this time in Japanese as he stepped out of the light and into the darkening interior of his office. "I have a theory that perfectly explains why silly things happen!"
Just as the age in his voice conveyed, the Headmaster of Mahora Academy was ancient individual of such diminutive note that most of his junior high students would have easily towered over him. Mostly bald, a long white ponytail hung off the back of his ever so comically exaggerated oblong head, his face clad with its bushy hanging eyebrows, droopy mustache, and long beard. He was dressed something akin to a priest with his semi-formal kimono, a somewhat plain white, but with those ornamental golden hoops hanging off his ear lobes, he actually came across more as a Buddha-like figure to be honest.
Takamichi hummed his agreement, inhaling passionately the floral aroma of the Darjeeling tea Silently, he wondered if there was some subtle way he could compliment his "colleague" without having her neuter him in a split second using her trusty scalpels. They always did seem to have a bad habit of materializing out of nowhere when she had a lab coat on. Perhaps, he should try to approach her otherwise?
"...Ara sa, but actually, I'm still writing the thesis to be honest."
Sip.
"Pfffffft-BLEHG! OH GOD IN HEAVEN, IT'S HOT!"
Konoemon laughed amiably so at the misfortune of his younger colleague, who was flailing wildly in his seat, wrestling with the unbelievably hot tea. "What did you expect, Taka-kun? It's THE Kirishima Hijiri-kun, remember? Oh, and by the way, I don't think you want to..."
Splash.
"...spill it."
"RYYYAGGHHGH! IT'S ALL OVER ME! GAH, IT BURNS!" the poor bespectacled man howled, tipping over his chair and sending himself spilling out onto the carpet in a heap of thrashing humanity. Of course, his pains might have been eased slightly, if he had been attempting to do "Stop, drop, and ROLL!" instead of his former actions at present.
Konoemon sweatdropped at the wild frenetic sight of Takamichi, his normally composed right hand man, who had just been reduced to the basics of a five year old. The scene was eerily familiar as he had gone through the same thing himself, without the mercy of someone nearby to douse him out. Of course, the said person was himself presently, and since he figured he had enough potential blackmail material at this point, he might as well go ahead and use this particular cantrip.
Focusing his intent, he concentrated on Takamichi's thrashing form and called upon a vast reservoir of power hidden deep in his soul, turning the tap open ever so slightly. This was a cantrip not a spell, and he no plans leveling a metropolis or two any time soon. All he really needed was just --- a trickle of mana.
"Ask and ye shall receive: HUAH! Be Cool!"
With a crisp snap of his fingers, a sparkling bolt erupted from his channeling hand and pounced upon the English professor, enveloping him in a scintillating blue glow. He began to levitate off the ground, the glow brightening and...
"Whoa," Takamichi "whoa'd" in his best impression of Neo.
...it fizzled out, crowning Takamichi T. Takahata as the pratfall King of the Day with a heavy thud on his back.
"OUCH! ...Uuooooo..."
Considering the undignified sight before him, Konoemon wondered where he went wrong this time. The younger man was pretty much clad from head to toe in black: the trench coat, the "super cool" shades, the leather belt, the trousers, the combat boots, and the snug polo shirt. He imagined those woolen socks the man was so fond of had gone black too.
Thus in effect, Takamichi T. Takahata looked like an extra from The Matrix and a Keanu-wannabe cosplayer.
"Hmm, it seems my cantrip misfired, Taka-kun," the Headmaster apologized with a helpless shrug. When he had been "younger," these sort of simple tricks came easily to him, but it seemed old age was starting dull his skills in that particular department, regrettably. "So sorry, but at least you're not burning up anymore, right?"
Takamichi lay on the floor without a word, his expression unreadable, masked further by the black shades, as he still held onto the now empty tea cup. He really was not angry per say, just more so in a state of shock. Cantrip or no cantrip, magic or no magic; it was not every day he experienced a complete wardrobe change in mere seconds. Of course, he prayed that his favorite boxers had not gone black too.
On the receiving end of this "pure coolness" was poor old Konoemon, and he practically sweating in his slippers. He wished he had a pair of shades as cool as those ones!
"Oi, Taka-kun, could I-"
"Thank you and no thank you, Ji-san," replied the "charismatic" English professor quickly as he rose to his feet with a rustle of his leather trench coat. How he was going to explain his change of wardrobe to the secretary was still up in the air. As for Hijri, well, he did not know what to do with her either. The woman had utterly humiliated him again, and this time, without even being there.
Curses, he's so COOL! "All right, if you say so."
"Hmmm..." I do look pretty good in this come to think of it, even with the five o'clock shadow. Though I wonder, what exactly is Hiji-kun's quarrel with me. Admittedly, we've gone out together quite a bit, but things always do tend to turn south for a more comedic spin. Why, I remember the time when we were dining out at C'est la vie en Rose and the establishment got held up by a band of thugs, forcing us to take action...
"You know, Takamichi, good men are awfully hard to find these days, don't you think so?" the Headmaster remarked suddenly with a sigh, snapping him out of his reverie.
"Excuse me?"
"It must be a sign of the times."
"Kouchou-dono, I don't believe I quite follow you, although I would have to agree that good men are indeed hard to find these." Yes, the times certainly have changed from the days of my Sensei.
"And what about good women?" The old man slyly grinned at him.
Takamichi coughed, his right brow twitching incessantly in slight mortification. "Well, I'm still looking into that to be perfectly honest. Everybody says I'm a natural Casanova, but in my opinion, it hasn't brought much gain in the endeavor at all."
"True, and I can scarcely believe the appearance of one young woman could rock my small world so easily."
Ah, so he finally wants to talk about the report. "Konoemon-dono, we can't be for certain just yet that Urashima Kanako is the cause of these incidents."
"True, but I'm not exactly fond of gambling with the lives of the young people entrusted to this institution, and thus indirectly, to me."
"Well..."
"You do realize I'm going to catch Hell from the Board of Trustees when I have to lie --- or should I say --- explain to them what happened today, don't you?"
"Of course, Kouchou-dono, I'm perfectly aware of that."
Konoemon sighed wistfully, messaging his brow. "I knew that girl was going to be trouble; she's an Urashima for Kami-sama's sake; trouble is their middle name, but I had no idea what sort of a chain reaction she would set off. Oh, if only I could find a good man for Kono-chan...!"
"Konoka-chan? Your granddaughter, sir?"
"Ah, yes, my dear, beloved granddaughter. Eishun and I, although that brat never does a thing to help me at all (no he doesn't!), have been trying to find a suitable fiancé for her ever since she came of suitable age! They're all from good families, well-to-do and well-bred and such, and things always seem to go right at first..."
I think that depends upon your definition of "good families," Konoemon-ojisan, thought Takamichi grimly to himself, his expression never wavering. He would certainly follow this man to the depths of Hell, but it did not mean that Konoemon Konoe was not without his own faults.
I wonder, if he has considered Konoka-chan's feelings in all of this? Surely, he's not that thickheaded now, is he? We all know about her great potential...
"But then she goes end up turning them down and in a very spectacular fashion, if I might add. I've never seen so many young men and grown men alike cry. She's such a sweet girl, but when she doesn't want to do something, oh dear me, things can get ugly!"
"Aa, I understand." I suppose not...
"How would you like to try-"
"NO!" Takamichi shouted in a horrified voice, his eyes nearly bulging out of their sockets. "Are you CRAZY, Konoemon? I was her homeroom teacher and English professor for God's sake! The Holy Ghost would strike me down in an instant and condemn my soul for an eternity in brimstone and hellfire! Oh God, ughghh! Now, I must go see the chaplain right away to confess my sins. I've got these sinful, perverse images in my head now thanks to you!"
The old man pouted in reply, "Awww, it was worth a shot, Taka-kun."
Though Konoemon had to wonder, what were his favorite comrade's feelings in regards to the important women in his life? Minamoto Shizuna-sensei? Kirishima Hijiri-kun? And of course, his dear Kagurazaka Asuna-chan?
She certainly has been through a lot today...
"Look, are we done here? I'll do the usual and have our men look into it. I'm not keen on a Hollow rampage on campus either, as this could mean serious political ramifications from within the Kanto Magic Association. With all due respect, you do still have enemies, sir."
"Awww, but I'm the Head of the Kanto Magic Association too, aren't I?"
"God forbid, maybe even those crazy hawks from the Kansai Magic Association might even try to make a move on our jurisdiction and stir up trouble using the influence of the radicals from the Kensai Association."
"Ah, yes, those rowdy youngsters from Eishun's Kansai Magic Association have been steadily gaining power over the years. I dare say, the Kensai just want to use their bedfellows among the Kansai Association, separate from all of us period, and become an independent Magic Association themselves."
"If they gain enough support and can --- prove themselves, you know the Mage's Association would give their blessings in a heartbeat. They're always looking for new blood, after all."
"Indeed, indeed; oh, how the times have changed..."
"Amen," Takamichi agreed solemnly.
"You know, you do look REALLY cool in that getup, Taka-kun."
An instantaneous doubletake overcame the English professor before he even realized it. "Wha-Wha-Huh?"
"Heh-hehe, well, you should go do what needs to be done, Takamichi. We'll hold back and observe the situation for now, and if you'll excuse me, there's phone call I need to make."
"Ah, of course," Takamichi murmured agreeably. Speaking of phone calls, I need to talk with Asuna-chan about today.
Just then, the intercom flared to life with a croak, catching the attentions of both of men as a young Miss Megumi Reinard, the present intern filling in for the secretary position, spoke to them in a rather shaken voice:
"E-Etou, ummm, Konoe-kouchousan, I --- I really hate to interrupt, but, uh..."
"Is something the matter, Reinard-kun?" the Headmaster replied brightly, even as Takamichi interposed himself silently between the great double doors and his long time friend. It was just a pre-caution, of course, in case something did happen.
"Uh, yes, it's about your appointment this evening, the one you originally scheduled with --- Ah! Please stop it, Baddogai-san! This is a no smoking area, and --- DA-MEEEE! Stop playing with that lighter this instant, it's dangerous! Baddogai-saaaa-n!"
In the background, the two men could hear a gruff masculine voice muttering something in English, which promptly set off Megumi with an offended shriek. There was a shout and an apparent scuffle, before another presence interrupted with a smooth, soothing baritone to break up the fight. Takamichi very much wanted to burst through the doors and find out what exactly was going on the other side of the Headmaster's office but found himself restrained by the older man's disarming smile.
If there was anyone who had a cooler head than him, it was Konoemon Konoe.
"A-Anou, sorry about that, Konoe-san," the intern apologized sheepishly when she finally got back to her desk no doubt.
"Oh, it's quite all right, Reinard-kun. No harm done."
"Anyways, I shouldn't keep you waiting any longer. I'm terribly sorry! There's a Fujita Goro-san here to see you --- along with his business partner, Baddogai Sorru-san. Men in black, sir."
"Ah, I almost forgot about them! Please, send them in right away!" Konoemon beamed, clapping his hands together.
Takamichi knew that was his cue to leave. Desperately, he wanted to question the Headmaster about these "Goro Fujita" and "Sol Badguy" fellows, but there was an old rule between the two of them. What Konoemon did was his business, and in turn, he left Takahata's own business alone because truth be told they were equally strong-willed men with very different ideas to achieve the same goals.
For shame, I didn't even get to really try Hiji-kun's Darjeeling tea either...
To Be Continued...
Author's Notes:
Yahooie! I'm back, like heaven sent, just as promised with goods once again for this week's show. Chapter 50 for the win! Indeed, Konoemon-jiji's eyes and hands reach far and wide. There seem to be some rather nasty quakes in the troubled political world of Glass Moon, though: the sort of things that are just waiting to explode. Just what exactly is he up to by playing this game with the Urashimas? Is he really that deaf and blind to Konoka's feelings? Who are these men in black? And will Takamichi ever get his love life together finally? Just what does tomorrow hold?
Well, maybe we'll find out on the next episode of Glass Moon-desu!
Reviewers and readers alike, I'd like to thank you all very much for your continued patronage. Remember, I encourage each and everyone of you to feel free to comment, review, and/or discuss the story. Your comments can really make a difference, I assure you, and if you're up to it, feel free to ring me up on AIM, or even send me an e-mail (although you really don't need to boost my ego too often). You know how to get in touch with the maestro here.
So without further adieu, that wraps it up, folks (see you around the same time as usual): Just one more! One more episode until this volume is finally done! TOTSUGEKI LOVE HEART!
Omake!
Naze Nani Glass Moon Desu
Episode Preview!
Chapter 51:
Who's Your Headmaster?
"Hello, this is Urashima Keitaro speaking."
Tsudzuku!