MX: Now to answer the questions I'm sure you all have:
-No he isn't dead, obviously
-Yes, he's an idiot
-No I don't think we should castrate him for not doing anything for six months
-Address all further questions by posting them as reviews (sinister grin) and while you're at it post some encouragement or death threats to the author XD
-break-
APH: Sorry for the lateness. I have writer's blocks due to extreme level of brain damage.
MX: What he is trying to say is that he has too much homework and tests. Ah, the life of school…and also that he is really sorry and admits to being a complete idiot for not updating in SIX months, even though I repeatedly sent him angry emails about the subject.
APH: Hey, you shut up! And the rest of you! (Point to Negima casts) UP ON THE STAGE!!! I won't keep blabbing on and on, as I'm terribly sorry and I can't be forgiven. But please at least leave a review.
MX: AND HELP US HIT 50+ REVIEWS!!!! Maybe that'll get his lazy ass in gear XD
APH: … (Glare at MX) you do know that you're partially why I haven't update for six month… right?
MX: (look angelic) Really? I didn't do anything.
Negima Casts: Precisely.
Chibi MX: OI!
Disclaimer: YOU KNOW WHAT'S SUPPOSED TO BE HERE!!!
XXXXX The Year 2XXX XXXXX
"Ne, ne, lady, can you read me a story please?" A small ten-year-old girl asks as she held a thick leather bound book. Her target is sitting on an armchair knitting… something.
"…How rude…" The 'lady' says with a teasing smile, causing the girl to cringe as she remembers why the 'lady' would consider this rude. Wrapped tightly around the 'lady's' eyes was a strip of pure white silk.
"S-sorry…" The little girl stuttered as she looked down onto the ground. "I… forgot…"
"…No problem." The 'lady' says as she puts her knitting down before patting her lap. The girl immediately scrambles on and snuggled into the 'lady.' "You should also know that I remember all the books in the house right?"
"Yup!"
"Good, now why don't you call the others?"
"EEEEHHH!?!?! But I just got conformable!" The girl whines as she pouted, which she has no doubt that the 'lady' knows.
"Well, it just wouldn't be fair now would it?" The 'lady' says as she pokes the girl's nose. "Besides, I'm sure they haven't heard this one before."
"Fine… but I bags this place!" With that, the small girl darted away into the enormous house. The 'lady' chuckles before bringing her fingers to the titles carved into the leather. After tracing the words, a smile appears on her face.
"I know this one…"
XXXXX Present…a few hours before Sakurako charged into Eva's house XXXXX
"I'M SORRY!!!" A voice screamed from inside a rather big wood cabinet in the middle of the forest right next to Mahora. A moment later, the sound of fighting appeared along string of curses. And to make matter worse, this string of curses would make a sailor blush.
"YOU GET BACK HERE!!! DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEA HOW MUCH TIME I SPENT GETTING THESE THINGS OFF OF MY HEAD THE LAST TIME?!?!" And another voice, one that's younger and full of anger and frustration, yet lacking enough hostility, screams.
"HOW SHOULD I KNOW?!" The first voice screamed again. "NAGI DID THAT TO YOU! NOT ME!!"
"WELL YOU SUPPLIED HIM!!"
"HOW WOULD I KNOW WHAT HE WAS GOING TO DO WITH THEM?!?!"
"Master, please come down before you destroy the house." A third voice, one that's borderline monotone and calm, says as the she followed her master around trying to save whatever she could.
"Ah, now this is the master I know!" A fourth voice, one that's full of glee and somewhat childlike, says. "…Too bad I can't join in."
"I DON'T WANT YOU TO JOIN IN!!" The first voice screams as the owner burst out of the cabinet and jumps onto the roof. A girl of about 15 in appears, 6 feet, with almost hip-length reddish blonde hair and strangely empty red eyes. Peeking over the roof, her pale, flawless skin got even paler as the second voice's owner burst out.
A girl that looks at the age of ten, very long… green hair that reached her knees, large green emerald… wait, my bad, purple eyes that are now burning with a fire, fluffy white eyelashes and… is that a bear… and a petite frame that barely reaches 5 feet, probably 4 feet 10. Said girl is holding what looks like… steak knife?
"…That doesn't look good…" The first girl says and immediately launch into a series of strange dances as she avoids the multiple knives flying through the air. 'WHERE DID ALL THESE KNIFE COME FROM?!?!'
"STAY STILL!!!" The second girl shouts as she continues to produce knives from seemly out of nowhere, that is the scene that which the owner of the third voice stumbles upon.
"Ah! Master, please don't throw the steak knives. They are extremely sharp and could dismember a limb your not careful." The third girl, with pale green hair and almost equally pale green eyes, says as she tries to stop the second girl from throwing any more knifes.
"THAT'S THE IDEA CHACHAMARU!!" The second girl screams as she struggles against the arm-bar the third girl, now known as Chachamaru, put her in
(APH: For those that don't know, arm-bars are sort of like a hold… it's just a way to lock a person's arm(s) in way(s) that can be used to control their movement… somewhat.
MX: don't people usually write it as "person A twisted person B's arm behind his back?
APH: shut up you)
"But master…!"
"NO BUTS!! NOW LET ME GO!!!"
"Patience Eva-chan. You wouldn't want to chop your oldest friend's head off now would you?" The first girl says nervously with a nervous grin on her lips. The second girl only seems to get madder as her face turned red and started to puff up. "…I said something wrong didn't I?"
"I believe your words only serve to anger master more… which may I suggest is not the best course of action?" Chachamaru says with a helpless expression… or as helpless one as a robot can muster. As for her master, Eva-chan only struggles harder than ever, while screaming bloody murder in the process.
The first girl winces as she imagines all the… not so pretty things Eva, or Evangeline for more formal purposes, could do to her. And having the body of a vampire, which means triple or quadruple the amount of damage, seeing that the bodies regenerates itself.
Deciding that she would rather keep whatever is in her friend's mine forever unknown, the first girl decides to try and pacify her… for a lack of better word, hell-bent friend. "Eh… E-Eva-chan, can we please… talk this over? I'm sure I can find a way to remove those… unwanted features…"
"YOU JUST GET DOWN HERE AND LET ME CUT YOU UP!!!" Evangeline shouts as she waves her arms around. Being restricted to the little amount of space Chachamaru had limited her; the affect of the display was lost on the first girl. A knife flew off her right hand, landing, quite by accident, right next to the first girl's left hand, producing a rather high-pitched 'eek' as the red head quickly backed away, nearly falling off the roof in the process. "HEY! WHERE ARE YOU GOING?!?!"
"Master, I advise no more of this killing business as finding the knives will prove to be quite a pain later." Chachamaru says wisely, which stops Evangeline's struggle rather quickly. The shorter girl has a thoughtful expression on her face as she thinks about what was just said. Having reached the conclusion that yes, it was pointless to throw knives at the reddish-blonde head (or Sarah as we all should know by now…) as she'll dodge them all and looking for said knives later will indeed be a pain in the ass… So she did the smart thing and the lesser of two evils…
"Chachazero, she's all yours!"
…Okay, maybe not the lesser of two evils… but it sure beats looking for knives.
"Master, you forget, onee-sama can't move… and the damage to the house will be quite extensive…" Chachamaru, once again, wisely put her foot down before further damages could be inflicted. Up on the roof, Sarah mentally made a note to thank the robot later when her long time friend had cooled off.
The shortest of the trio pouted as she glared at the tallest, knowing in her mind that Chachamaru was right and in her heart that she isn't really angry at Sarah. Besides, she isn't a potion master for nothing. "…You're lucky this time…" The next second, she finds herself in a bone-crushing hug with her head between a place where many… ahem, males and maybe even some females (APH: No offense intended –bow-) will kill to be (MX: (starts drooling)), and you know where that is.
"OH THANK YOU!!! You have no idea how much trouble you'd save me!!" Sarah exclaims as she swung Evangeline around like a rag doll.
"Y-Y-YOU MEAN H-H-HOW M-MU-CH TRO-UBLE I'D SA-VE MY-SELF!!!"
"Err… RIGHT!" Sarah says as she puts Evangeline down and gives her a noisy kiss on the forehead. "Now, let's find someway to get rid of these… features."
XXXXX Three Hours before the fight… XXXXX
Locke walked with purpose down the street, trying to find either a certain blonde-haired girl or a reddish-blonde teenager. The slayer ignored all the dreamy and jealous looks shooting his way as his bi-color eyes dart left and right, searching every single blonde or red head on the way.
However, no matter how much he searched, he just couldn't seem to find them… why?
'Too short… too fat… too ugly… too… chubby… wait, that's… OH F+K NO!!! MY EYES!!! AHHH IT BURNS!!! IT BURNNNNNNNS!!!' (APH: Once again, no offense meant… only for humor purposes!)
…Hopefully you know why now, and adding in his bad sense for direction…
Anyway, seeing the slayer clawing his eyes out is a rather hilarious if not disturbing sight. And that is the sight that Konoemon, the principal and partial owner of Mahora School, finds him.
"Ah, I wonder if this is supposed to be a new exercise of some sort?" The elder man teased as Locke rolled around on the ground, now screaming because of the pain he'd inflicted upon himself. It is indeed a rather comical sight to behold.
"N-no… it's just that I saw something rather… ugly." Locke answers as he stands up while rubbing his sore eyes. 'Note to self, bring some blood next time before you decide to scratch your own eyes out…'
"Oh… I see…" Konoemon says as he also shuddered at the… horrendous sight Locke was talking about. "Still, it's a nice weather we're having."
"Indeed… and cut the bull-shit old man because I know you didn't come here to talk about the weather." Locke accused as he turned his bi-colored eyes towards the older man. To any lesser men, they would have fled faster than you can say 'Run For Your Life.' But for Konoemon, he only opened one of his eyes, full of wisdom and knowledge, and openly challenged Locke's glare with a glare of his own.
"Such language. Very well. I know what, or more specifically who, you're looking for." Konoemon starts as he starts to walk, and the slayer followed two steps behind out of respect. "And I'm here to ask why?"
"Konoemon-sama, I know you know why."
"As in your own words: cut the bull-shit."
An awkward silence followed for a few minutes as the two men walked in the peaceful morning. The spell was broken however, when Locke's eyes landed on a pair of birds on a tree branch. "…I want some answers."
"…Care to elaborate for this old bag of bones?" The elder asks as he turns sharp yet bright eyes to the younger and obviously taller man.
"…I'm… confused. My whole view of vampires for twenty plus years were shattered in less than a week…" Locke says as he clenched his fists, and a frown appears on his face. "I want to know why Sarah D. McDocland and Evangeline AK McDowell can have so much self-control when so much… food is right in front of their eyes. I want to know why instead of the cold-blooded killers I see them as; the former is a sister and a mother at the same time while the latter is a mentor of sort yet a reliable source of comfort…"
"Oh, what makes you think Evangeline is a reliable source of comfort?" The older man asks, already knowing the answer, yet wanting to hear with his own ears to test if Locke is indeed sincere.
"…She keeps secrets. I've witnessed several girls, both below and above her grade levels, telling their deepest secrets without fear of having others know of it. Evangeline is an emotional relief without even knowing it. She doesn't gossip like the others, keeping to herself, yet unconsciously helping others by letting them relieving their sometimes darkest secrets…" Locke pauses as he also stops and loosens his fists. Turning to the older man, Locke's bi-color eyes show confusion as he rubs his hands. "…And I don't need to explain Sarah, having seen her dragging the son of the Thousand Master around like her own flesh and blood is enough to cause me… great doubts."
During all this, Konoemon kept silent. Deep inside, he is glad that Locke told the answer he was looking for, and he is proud. However, he still doesn't understand one point.
"So why are you seeking a fight?" The principal asks, more demanding than asking, causing the slayer to turn around in surprise. "I'm sure observation alone will answer your questions and clear your doubts."
"Ah, I see what you mean. However, have you ever heard of a saying that you only truly know a person through two ways: by being in a life-or-death situation with them or by exchanging fists with the intention to kill?"
"Indeed I had heard of them… but what's the connection that I failed to see?"
"Konoemon-sama, I'm sure you can clearly see the reason behind this?" Locke says more as a statement than a question. "With the hatred I harbor for vampires, it'll be unlikely where me and either Sarah or Evangeline will be in a life-or-death situation. So with that in mind, the best course of action is to exchange fists with the intention to kill."
"…And yet you hesitate…"
"…"
"You knew perfectly well where you could find them. Yet here you are mopping around wondering and clawing your eyes out."
"T-that is not something I need not to be reminded of…" Locke stutters as the image that will forever scar his mind appeared again and his skin paled. "A-anyway, yes indeed… I'm not sure whether to follow the plan or not…"
"Is it because of Hoshiiko?"
"Partially…"
"Shiina-san?"
"Maybe…"
"Or is it because of fear?" At that, everything seems to freeze. The birds stopped chipping and the wind stopped blowing. Also, the crowd seems to fall silent, yet it can be contributed to the fact that they're now in the middle of a wood near Konoemon's house. However, it is still nerve grinding. "I see I hit the mark."
"…"
"The fear of death, of losing, of hurting others. Those are the fears you're experiencing." Konoemon says as he stroked his beard.
The slayer remains stone still, not even a twitch can be seen on the man.
"You fear death, yet you cause it and reach for it so you may be with your family, but your pride and honor stopped you from suicide."
"…"
"You fear of losing, for it will not only hurt your pride, but also your ego."
"…"
"And the two fears also connect to your third in that you're afraid to leave Hoshiiko behind… and you're afraid that Shiina-sans will be heart-broken."
"I have no idea what you're-…!"
"I AM PERFECTLY SURE YOU KNOW JUST WHAT I AM TALKING ABOUT!" Konoemon snapped as his eyes shined with a fire that made the battle-hardened slayer quiver. "You know perfectly well how young Sakurako Shiina feels about you, thus you fear of breaking her heart, shattering it into pieces, and making her do something that may not be reversible." The principal paused as a sad sigh escapes him before he continued, "you also fear that Hoshiiko will feel lonely, despite the hundreds of thousands of members in Guardians, you share the second most important spot in her heart. You are afraid because if you die…"
"…She'll follow…" Locke says in a low whisper as his head bowed down for a bit. However, a few seconds later, a mask of indifference was pulled on and the slayer straightened his back. "I'm sorry to have waste your time like that. However, this conversation is pointless. If I may, I'll be going on with my business…"
Konoemon watches as the slayer turn on his heel and walked, nearly sprinted, out of the forest. As yet another sad sigh escapes him; Konoemon reaches into his side pocket on his pants and pulls out a stunned Yuki. Putting her on his head, Konoemon sighed once again before saying, "I hope this fight will open his heart to the world again…"
XXXXX One hour before the fight… XXXXX
Kamo stares as Yuki paced back and forth, back and forth, and back and forth on the top of Negi's desk. Right now, the place is empty of life save the two magical creatures, thus making it rather safe to do whatever it is they want to do.
Usually, during the afternoon, Yuki would either be taking a nap near the immediate area of her Sarah-nee-sama while Kamo would be doing… whatever he did best. However, having learned of some rather shocking information, the elf couldn't help but pace and think about the information that were presented to her on a silver plate… and the content are as puzzling as a 10,000-piece puzzle. (APH: 10,000-piece puzzles are huge puzzles of either paintings or pictures… they are a bit much and annoying… for those with lots of patience only…) Indeed, this is enough to cause a headache the size of Mount Fuji… err… maybe that's a bit exaggerated, but the headache is quite large.
As for Kamo, usually he'd be doing his usual business. Whether it be hiding inside the dorm's bathhouse (for obvious reasons, which usually earned him a cross Yuki if found) or sleeping on top a pile of panties he traded with 'blood-and-sweat.' The sweat part is not really a factor unless you consider the cold sweat when he was found. But the blood is acceptable as indeed, he sometimes did have a few episodes of nosebleeds (and the occasional beating from Sarah, Asuna, Evangeline, or Yuki).
However, as our perverted yet durable ermine finds the petite elf pacing with a frown on her face, he knew something is wrong. And he isn't just talking about 'Negi-forgot-his-lunch-again' wrong, but the 'oh-crap-something-is-coming' wrong, and having experience those wrong feelings –thanks to two vampires, a teenager, and a petite elf- Kamo knows when to trust it and when not to. For this instance, he knows that things are going to go horribly wrong.
…But what can a little ermine and a yet-to-mature elf do?
XXXXXXXXXX
Inside the headquarters of the Guardian located somewhere on an uncharted island a few kilometers off Japan's coast, another member is also having this feeling.
A woman of twenty in physical appearance, long silvery hair that almost reaches her knee, and a pair of silvery eyes that looks blinded sits on a cushioned seat placed inside a library reading a tome… or that's what she appears to be doing.
In truth, the woman knows something is about to change. She also knows that it has something to do with someone that's close to her most favored person… but what?
"Milady?" A voice snapped the woman out of her trance. Looking over to her left, there stood a girl dressed in a gray, weather-wore robe with a pair of katana's strapped to her back in an 'x' fashion. The girl looks eighteen, with a head of chestnut-colored hair framing her face and reaching only to the top of her shoulders, but her cold-hard green eyes say differently: full of knowledge, wisdom… and pain (think Soi Fon). "Milady, are you alright?"
"Y-yes… I just have something on my mind…" The woman answered in a voice that's soft, nearly like a whisper, yet as loud as a bell and as clear as a bird singing. Her voice seems to echo inside the library, it's very warm… but there is a bit of frostbite in it…
"Milady, you being staring at the same page for almost an hour now…" The girl says as she puts her palms onto her hips and puts a frown onto her face. "Now what's bothering you?"
"…Nothing…" The woman answers with a forced smile, which dropped into a slightly sheepish one as the girl leaned forward and points an accusing finger at her. "Okay… it's a feeling I have."
"Eh?!? You're not SICK are you?!?!"
"Who do you think I am?" The woman snorts as she touched her shoulder, making the girl instantly shut up with a sheepish face, showing that the tables are now turned.
"G-gomen…"
"It doesn't matter." The woman says as she closed the tome and set it aside. With grace that's inhuman, she rose from her seat and walked towards the exit. The girl immediately follows, gazing with awe at the six-foot figure before her with an hourglass shape figure. However, what really caught her eyes are the twin scars that adorn the woman's shoulder blades, partially covered by the woman's silver hair and partially by the strap of her dress, other wise, they stood out proudly, as if drawing attention to themselves. "Hana?"
"AH!! G-G-GOMEN! I'M NOT STARING AT YOUR SCARS! I MEAN I'M STARING… I MEAN… AH! ERR…!" The girl, named Hana, exclaims as she starts shaking her head and waving her arms around with a vengeance. A chuckle from the woman stopped her though.
"Don't worry… just don't give yourself a headache now." The woman chided as the girl blushes and looked down. "Still, Hana, we must hurry if we want to make sure someone doesn't die."
"Eh?!?!"
XXXXXXXXXX
"Mou, she doesn't have to be so harsh." Sarah moaned as she rubbed her sore left cheek, which had suffered the blunt of one of Evangeline's more powerful attacks… the Pinch of Death.
Yes people, Sarah was pinched in the cheek (MX: I'll let you decide which one, I'm rooting for the one down south if you know what I mean) while being dragged around by a barely five foot girl. There can only be one word to describe this: ouch.
And she would experience more, if she didn't leap away the second a giant metallic cross slammed into the stairs that she was sitting on.
"Took you long enough." Sarah says with a small smile as she landed in a crouch a few yards away from her attacker.
"Well, you aren't easy to find…" Locke says, also with a smile of his, as he lifted his cross and charged at the vampire.
XXXXX Back to Evangeline's cabin XXXXX
It's funny how fate thinks the word humorous means. As it is, this situation is anything but humorous.(MX: Don't worry, your not the only one who didn't get that)
Evangeline sits on her sofa, a furious glare on her face as Chachamaru sits next to her, looking nervously back and forth from her master to their guest.
Opposite of them sits Hoshiiko, with a hard yet nervous look as she clenched and unclenched her fists hard enough that her knuckles turned white. Next to her is Sakurako Shiina as she fidgets with her fingers trying to find a way to dissolve the tension, which could be cut by a knife.
"Shiina-san…" Hoshiiko says in a calm voice, or as much calm as she can muster when one of the strongest vampires sits in front of her. "Tell me again, in DETAIL, what are we doing in… in HER house?"
"Yes girl. I want to know why Sarah is having a fight with Locke while this little snot is sitting in my house." Evangeline answers in a hard tone that causes Sakurako to flinch, making her fidget more.
"Um… a-ano…"
"Well?!" Hoshiiko and Evangeline both exclaims, nearly having the girl kill herself as the cheerleader jumps nearly five feet and falls hard onto the ground rare end first.
"I-itai…" The cheerleader moans as she looks up beneath her bangs to the two pairs of terrifying eyes peering at her while expecting an answer. Sakurako gulps as she starts to fidget again. "W-well… I just sort of w-went into a panic… and…"
"And thought that I/she could help?" The slayer and vampire chorused. If the situation weren't so serious, others would have laugh.
"Um… w-well, Evangeline is a v-vampire… and she's supposed to b-be powerful…"
"Thus you got the idea that I am/she is willing to help?"
"A-ah… um…"
"WELL?!?!"
"Master, Hoshiiko-san, please stop terrifying Sakurako-san." Chachamaru decides to say something at that moment, or any more of the two's glare, and Sakurako would die of terror.
"WHAT?!" The two exclaimed in unison once more as they point similar accusing finger to the other. "SHE'S THE TERRIFYING ONE!! WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT?! YOU'RE THE SCARY ONE!! GAAAH! STOP THAT!!"
"Err… if I didn't know better, I'd say they're made for each other." Sakurako whispered with a sweat drop, only to squeal and hide behind Chachamaru as two pairs of freezing eyes returned onto her once more. "I'M JOKING!!"
"Master, Miss, perhaps I can suggest something?" Chachamaru says as she moves the terrified Sakurako next to her before folding her hands onto her lap.
"And what would that be?" Evangeline and Hoshiiko both ask while glaring at each other.
"Let's just sit back, relax, and see how things turn out."
Blinked…
"Ah, you're right." Evangeline says before she did just that: relax. "What's the point anyway? I rather not get involved."
"What… you… she… OOOO! I CAN'T STAND IT HERE! I'M GOING OVER THERE!" Hoshiiko exclaims as she stormed out of the house before she yank her hair out.
Poor Shiina can only sit there stunned as she looks between the chibi vampire and the door that leads out of the cabin. "…What just happened?"
XXXXXXXXXX
Dodge, duck, jump, side step, dodge, jump, dodge, dodge again, side step… and repeat accordingly.
That's the only thing Sarah could do as she clutched her broken left arm, the result of a attempted block of Locke's gigantic metal cross. As evidence by the awkward angle that it's in, the block is far from successful.
'Damn, this will never end if I don't counter.' Sarah thought as she ducked under another horizontal sweep that attempts to take out her head. However, what she didn't expect is the foot that lands itself into her stomach as Locke, using the momentum of the previous swing, lands a blow that would kill an elephant.
…Happily, Sarah is a lot tougher than the large mammal, as the kick only caused her to slide back a few meters.
"You know that you have to do to counter." Locke says as he shoulders his cross, a challenging glare appears in his bi-colored eyes while his free hand rests on his hip. Everything about him now screams boredom and cockiness.
"Hmm…" Sarah winced as she bent her arm back into its original place.
"…So why aren't you?"
"…Well…"
"…"
"…Just… why are we trying to kill each other again?" The vampire asks with a truly lost expression on her face. Locke sweat drops as he remembers that he clearly explained the reason a while ago.
"Because I need to get some answer."
"And why can't you just simply ask?" Sarah asks before taking out a purple hair band and ties her waist-length hair into a ponytail. "Seriously, I'm sure there are better things we can do… and that DOES NOT INVOLVE TRYING TO SMASH ME INTO MINCE MEAT!!"
"Aw, but I like mince…" Locke mock-whines with a pout on his face, causing Sarah's right eyebrow to twitch a few times.
"You know, if it isn't because I don't want to have one of the world's largest slayer guilds breathing down my neck, I'm pretty sure you'd be dead."
"Well, I'm not… yet." Locke says in a mocking manner with a roll of his bi-color eyes.
"Glad to know that at least you're not arrogant…" Sarah remarks, with sarcasm so thick that it's hard to ignore it.
KA-CHING!
"Repeat that please…" Locke says as he replies more force onto his cross, which is sandwiched between Sarah's fore arms and Locke's hands.
"My, did I strike a nerve?" Sarah sing-songed with an overly sweet tone that practically spells danger, and to complete it, there is an oh-did-the-baby-got-hurt face. "Oh sorry, here, let me kiss the boo-boo and I'll make it go away… NOT, NAH!"
Locke blinks as he just witnessed something that's simply unimaginable…
'Did she just stick her tongue out at me?'
XXXXX Meanwhile, in Asuna's dorm room… XXXXX
"Hey Negi."
"Huh?" The boy says as he looks over to Asuna, who happens to be staring at him with a rather piercing and accusing stare. "H-hai?"
"Where's that caretaker of yours?" Asuna asks as she leans forward. "Why are Kamo and Yuki missing?" …A little more… "And WHY are you doodling on the TEST PAPERS of the FIRST YEAR?"
"Eh?" Negi exclaims before looking down, and once again, Asuna proves herself to be right as the test papers of some poor first year now sports several rather, and believe me when I said this, badly drawn… thingamajigs. You'd think he was good at drawing with him having to draw symbols or circles for magical purposes. "AH! OH NO!!! TAKTAMICHI WILL KILL ME!!!"
"…Not if Sarah does it first." Asuna says and cackle as Negi sudden has a cloud of doom floating above his head. "And speaking of which, back to my first question. Where is Sarah?"
"Hmm… now that you mentioned it… I haven't seen her since today morning…" Negi says as a thoughtful expression appears on his face. "But come to think of it… she seems to be avoiding me for some reason…"
"Maybe it's because you didn't take a shower?"
THUD!
"A-A-ASUNA-SAN! THAT'S MEAN!!" Negi exclaims as he picks his head up from the newly formed dent on his desk.
"Hehe, I knew you'd do that. Still, I'm beginning to think that she's up to no good…"
XXXXXXXXXX
"Owie…" Locke groans as he felt the aftermath of Sarah's elbow slamming into his chest. Speaking of the vampire, she isn't any better as she winced once again to have another bone broken.
"Right… this isn't getting any where." Sarah grimaced as she felt her bone shift itself back into place. 'One of the downside of self-regeneration is that you literally feel something move inside of you…' The girl thought as she remembered what it was like to feel her spinal cord moved… let's just say it's not pretty.
"Agreed… so let's take this to the next level." Locke says as he plants his cross firmly on the ground, give it a tap at the intersection, and smirks as the entire object was encircled into a magical aura.
"So it isn't just for a show of strength." Sarah observes as the cross literally 'opens up' and takes on the shape of a shield… a very big shield. Sarah sweat-drops as she calculates the effort she now needs to expend to even touch Locke.
But that's not the worst of it, as reaching in; Locke pulls out a long sword measuring about five feet in total, with a blade measuring about four feet long, half a foot wide, and nearly half a inch thick. The hilt is made with leather with the guard shaped in a cross with runes carved into it. What really intrigued the vampire is the golden ring that's fixed into the blade, one that looks just like the one dangling from Locke's necklace…
"You like it? I forged the blade myself. Although I had some help with the shield, everything, from the material to the smallest detail, is designed by yours truly." Locke says as he grabs the shield with his left hand and hoists the sword with his right. The shield immediately to glow as a crimson cross appears on the front of the shield. Sarah grimaced even more as she remembers distinctly what that means.
'Damn… why must he be a Crusader?'
(APH: For a short explanation, Crusader isn't the actual knight-with-red-cross-going-to-Jerusalem Crusader, but rather a distinct combat branch in the Guardian that specialize in melee combat.)
(MX: Why am I not surprised?)
(APH: Eh?)
A smirk stretch across Locke's face as he recognizes the understanding light in Sarah's eyes. "Well, let's start."
With a battle cry, Locke, with surprising speed seeing that he is carrying two abnormally large items, crosses the distance between him and the vampire in all but a few seconds. Sarah's eyes turned to saucers as she squeaks while dodging an incoming horizontal strike.
'He is A LOT faster! Not good!' Sarah thoughts as she continues to weave through the deadly rain of blows, courtesy of Locke, which seems to be a second nature to the slayer. 'WAY FASTER!' Sarah nearly panicked as a strike takes off a few strains of her hair.
That's when Locke did the impossible.
Throwing the sword into the air, Locke did a strike with his shield. As Sarah back flips away, he grabs its edge, and with a grunt, throws it like a Frisbee… a very big Frisbee that'll cut limbs off if not careful. Sarah squeaks once more before dropping to a crouch, successfully dodging the shield/deadly Frisbee, only to see Locke charging with the sword held high above his right shoulder in a position for a diagonal strike. Seeing that the crouch positioned her in a less mobile state, she did the only thing she could. Sarah rolls to the right, barely dodging the strike that now creates a nice size cut in the pavement, and jumps away to safety.
"Ah, there it is. Behind you." Locke says in an amused tone. Sarah was confused for but a second before the sound of something moving fast cutting through the air reaches her ears. Jumping into a flip, Sarah caught a glimpse of something that's silver and gold before she was kicked on her back with what felt like a speeding bullet train.
"GAH!" Sarah cries as she flew at break-neck speed, and it's only due to years (and I mean years) of experience that saved her from a painful crash landing. "W-what was that?"
"A sort of boomerang, like it?" Locke says sarcastically, the shield now resting on his left hand once again with the flat side of the blade resting on his right shoulder. "It is hard to make, but the time spent was worth it." With that said, Locke grabs the shield again, and with a flick of his arm, sent it flying, once again becoming anything but a defensive object.
"Oh f+k!" Sarah exclaims as she starts to dodge all the incoming attacks once again. 'Damn, this is SO MUCH better.' The vampire thought sarcastically as the blade nicked her left cheek.
XXXXXXXXXX
"Um… K-Konoemon-sama… y-you sure it's wi-ise to do this?" Yuki stutters from her position a top of a complicated magical diagram, which glows a purplish light. Currently, the two are located on top of the building near the battlefield, shrouded in a field that prevents detection. "I m-mean they are p-practically killing ea-ach other!"
"Ohohoho! Not to worry. Besides, they should be here by now." Konoemon says as he took a sip from the sake cup in his hand. "Ouch, that's got to hurt." The principal cheered as Sarah successfully land a palm strike to Locke's chest, only to nearly get her right leg cut off from the boomerang that's Locke's shield.
"K-K-K-NOEMON-SAMA!" Yuki protested with a horrified expression on her face, much to the principal's amusement.
"Hohoho! I'm joking!" The elderly man says before doing another cheer, much to Yuki's chagrin. Well, that is, until two figures suddenly appear out of now where. One that's as tall as Sarah with long, silvery lock and another that's shorter, with short chestnut-colored hair reaching to her shoulders. What really caught her attention though are the earrings dangling from the taller lady's ear and the uniform the short one is wearing.
"So… what've we missed?" The taller says in a voice that cause a shiver down the elf's spine, and later she'll wonder whether or not it's due to the edge in it, or the warmth that seems to flow like a flood.
XXXXXXXXXX
'Ah! Side step, dodge, jump, flip! And damn, that's shield is KILLING ME! …Literally…' Sarah thought as the shield once again gives her a little wound on the leg as she dodges another sword thrust. What she didn't escape is the foot that slammed into her stomach. "AH!"
"COMM ON! YOU CAN DO BETTER!" Locke cries in glee and rage. Glee because she'd survived far longer than he expected and anger because while she did last this long, she's not offering much of a resistance. "STAND AND FIGHT!"
"…" Sarah moans in pain as she caught out some blood. Numerous wounds decorated her body, and they are NOT healing. 'Damn… I'll die at this rate…'
"Are you wondering why your wounds aren't healing?" Locke asks as he held out the sword and shield. "The reason is because these here are made with blessed silver, melted down and mixed with vampire blood, before mixing with other metals to makes it harder, stronger, and most importantly… it prevents vampire from healing."
'That explains everything. Blessed silver is one of the top dangers for creatures of darkness.' Sarah thought as she stands up while holding her once-again broken arm. 'Only vampires can kill another vampire without much effort, so anything with vampire blood can cause a vampire's wound to delay in its healing…' Forcefully seating her arm back into place, Sarah bit her lips to keep from screaming. Feeling your bones move is one thing, setting the fragments back together without any pain relieves is another. "…Why haven't you killed me?"
"Oh ho? What's this?" Locke asks with a mocking smile on his face. "Is the vampire mistress begging for death?"
"Don't play around. You know perfectly what I meant." Sarah says as the sky starts to darken.
"…I wanted answer…"
"Answer to what? It's the same cryptic answer you gave me before." Sarah snapped as the frustration of not being allowed to use her magic starts to get to her. Having the vampire's natural physical enhancement is nice and all, but as it is proven, going against a Crusader with only that is not enough.
"I just want to know something… and I won't tell you…" Locke says before dropping back into a fighting stance, with the shield covering nearly half of his body and the sword held back, its tip nearly touching the ground. "…I might in the future, but not now…"
XXXXXXXXXX
Konoemon, Yuki, and the new arrivals watched the exchange from the roof top near by, with the former drinking sake, the middle continue to maintain some form of magic, and the latter simply watching with arms crossed. At least the taller one is, for the shorter is simply standing next to the taller woman with her hands folded resting on her lap.
"So what now?" The tall woman asks as her eyes held a bored light while the rest of her face is in that of a marble sculpture, stiff yet enchanting.
"Now?" Konoemon asks, knowing the answer already yet still wanting to hear it.
"…I'm sure it's going to be a waste to lose such a powerful guard… and I'm sure Nagi's son will be devastated, and let's not forget little Eva-chan."
"…I guess I have no choice." Konoemon says, only to get smacked on the head by no other than the lady herself.
"Oh please, you should have ended this a while ago. Simply say the words and we'll have two unconscious people on the ground soon." The lady says with a smile that sent a shiver down Yuki's spine.
'…I don't think I like this lady…' Yuki thought with a frown, only to squeak as the woman turn to her with a smile.
"Oh I'm sure you don't. But you'll find me rather lovable if you'll spend time with me." The woman says with a wink before turning to Konoemon. "You know what to do."
"Sheesh, so many years and that you still haven't changed… Arda…"
"Whatever you say." The woman, now known as Arda, says with a sweet smile that can only be described as scary.
XXXXXXXXXX
On the battlefield, Sarah calculates all the possible moves she can execute that will only evolve her extraordinary speed (which isn't working so far) and her supernatural strength (which only serves to cause minor distraction as Crusaders are known to brush off damages). The fighting stance Locke position himself in is one that is best for counter attack.
If she attacks from the left, he blocks with his shield and strike with his sword with multiple possible routes. If strike from his back by flash stepping behind him (as teleporting takes too long), he'll block with his sword and give her a bash with his shield. If attack If strike from above, he'll simply side step and charge her with his shield.
The possibility seemed endless, and the situation seemed hopeless…
That is of course, until someone decides to make his presence known.
"Permission granted." Konoemon says, as he suddenly appears a few feet away from the combatants. Sarah blinks in surprise as Locke secretly gives him an appreciated smile.
"W-what?" Sarah blurred before she went into a ranting feast. "WHAT ARE YOU? NUTS?!?! YOU KNOW WHAT I'M CAPABLE OF AND YOU WANT ME TO GO AHEAD?!"
"Ohohoho! Don't worry. I had Yuki set up a barrier. And I also know what your artifact does to you." The principal says as he stroke his bread. Sarah suddenly has the urge to either strangle the man or kiss him… She settles for neither, instead she let out a smile that speaks a thousand words, both good, and bad.
"Very well…" The vampire says before several kage bunshin sudden appears around Locke and sent him sliding back with the multiple kicks. As Locke skips to a stop, another appears behind him, ready to deliver a nasty punch when a sword impaled her. The clone only smiled as another appears in the space between Locke and his shield, giving him an upper cut that sent him flying.
Locke landed a few meters away just as Sarah fixed her broken arm. Flexing said arm for a few times, the vampire smile before clones literally starts to pop out of her, like after shadow, except this time they're ahead of their master. Seeing this, Locke wouldn't help but grin as he slammed his shield into the ground just as the first clone's fist meets the cold metal.
KA-BOOM!
A mini sonic boom was created as Locke felt the shock wave traveling through the metal. But he did not have time to marvel at the strength before a clone flipped over the shield and drops her heel into an axe kick powerful enough to cut a man in half. Using all of his training as well as instinct, Locke side steps just as the heel crashes into the ground, creating a crater. The clone's head was cut off a second later, but another replace it as it slides under trying to take his legs off.
Reacting quickly by jumping up and stabbing the clone with his sword, Locke was once again taken off guard as another clone dropkicked him only to be stopped as another clone hammer-fisted him into the ground, creating a cloud of dust and debris.
Just then, several more clones dropped from the sky with their legs out stretched, delivering kicks with the force of a M4 rifle, only with the size of a missile. The cement cracks with every strike, as the slayer is sent deeper under ground, inch by inch; until finally he is about three feet deep did the attack stop.
The Sarah clone peered in, and as the cloud of debris cleared, there he stands, as if nothing happen, but also looking worst for wear. A small smirk appears on his lips as he tilts his head to look at the sky.
"…That's more like it… But I don't think I have enough strength to go on any more." Looking back down, he stares at the original Sarah, who pants and pants as the blood lost starts to get to her. "…From the way you look, I think you're just about run out of energy…"
"…Just some minor blood lost." Sarah says with a weak smile. Locke blinks a few times before tossing his head back and laugh.
"As expected of one of the strongest vampire alive… stubborn." Picking up his weapon and shield and getting into an offensive position, Locke smirks as his eyelids start to droop. "…The last strike…"
Sarah also smirks as raw energy starts to gather into an orb in her hand. "Yeah… last one…"
They charged…
Sword meet raw magic…
And…
BOOM!
XXXXXXXXXX
"Ne, is he going to be alright?" Hoshiiko asks while gently yanking at Arda's dress. Hana continues to stand in the sideline, but to anyone that knows her, the slight widening of her eyes tells them that she's rather surprised.
Standing in front of them is Konoemon, who smiles as Sarah carries an unconscious Locke towards them. As she reaches them, she gently put him on the ground, looks up, and offers the by standers with a smile, before sweet unconsciousness claims her.
Sighing, Konoemon crouch down, and despite being the grandfather of a 14-year-old girl, picks Sarah up with ease. Arda walks forward and repeat the action with Locke, except she carried him like potato sag, much to the displeasure of Hoshiiko.
"Well, that's interesting… and that's saying something." Arda says with a smirk as she follows Konoemon towards the general direction of his house. Hana follows quietly, but Hoshiiko walks to where the last hit met and picks up Locke's sword and shield with some difficulty, and starts to drag them after the party.
Once the party all left the battlefield, the damage done to it simply disappears. A moment later, Yuki flew over to the center, lands, and looks around. Satisfied that no damage extended outside the field she'd set up, the small elf takes off with speed towards Konoemon.
Just as Yuki disappears, Negi and Asuna appears panting, showing that they'd being running for sometime. They two stare around for a moment before looking at each other.
Only one thought ran through their mind: 'What the heck happened here?'
XXXXX Night… XXXXX
Sitting on a rather large bed, Locke stare at the small coat of arm that now lies in his lap. The symbol is consisted of the usual Guardian crest of Red Cross and white skull. The only difference is the golden shield that now acts as a background to the original symbol. The coat of arms lay in a simple wooden box with soft cushion in it. A letter rest next to the box, yet to be opened as Locke continues to contemplate what Arda told him awhile ago…
Flashback…The first thing Locke hears when he wakes up is the voice of the second in command of the Guardian. "So now you see beyond the black and white."
"W-what?" Locke asks as he turns his neck to the side while wincing at the soreness of his body. "What are you doing here?"
Arda smirks as she cross her legs and rests her hands on top of her lap. "That's simple. I'm here to promote somebody."
"…But I thought…"
"Mm… Crusader is the highest combat level one can reach, that is not a mistake." Arda says before she held out her hand. Just then, Locke notices one of her handmaidens, who happens to be Hana today, puts a wooden box on Arda's outstretched hand. "But then you forget, there are also three other branches in the Guardians: Research and Development, Intelligence, and another that's not of common knowledge…"
"…And that would be…?"
"The other branch is the Paladins. Redeemers as well as protector of the peace." Arda says as she opens the box and shows the bed-ridden slayer the coat of arm… and a rather old letter. "Now that you know that there is light in darkness as well as darkness in light, I deem you ready for the next level… But whether you want to join or not, there is also a letter from your fiancé. Read it before you make your decision." Arda says before putting the box on Locke's lap and starts to head for the door, Hana following two steps behind her.
Just as she is about to close the door, Arda looks over her shoulder at the shocked slayer. "One more thing, I won't punish you for anything. The fight today will stay as a secret with me. And you don't have to answer me right away… take a few days as well as read your wife's letter. I'll be waiting for your answer with Konoka-ojou-sama…"
End flashback…And so the slayer continues to stare at the box, or more specifically, the letter of his long passed-away fiancé. With shaking hands, Locke carefully reaches out and pick up the yellow envelope. Opening the seal that holds it together, he produces a yellow page.
Unfolding it, Locke was surprised when he found the date the letter was written to be the date he proposed to his fiancé. Looking down, he sees faded ink and words… and so he read… he reads about an apology that doesn't make sense, then he reads about what it felt like for his fiancé to be with him… then he reads about the secret of his fiancé being a member of the organization that he had worked for the past two decades… a member of the Paladin branch.
'…I see…' Locke thought before he continues to read. Each word, each syllable reveals secrets that were unknown to him until that very moment… secrets that changed his outlook of the world forever…
XXXXX Two days later… XXXXX
"So you won't tell…" Asuna says as her left eyebrow twitches every two seconds, showing just how much frustration she's having.
"Err… nope." Sarah says and curses herself mentally for letting it sound like it's a whimper… But then again, when you're face off with Kagurazaka Asuna… Let's just say you won't like the outcome.
"Grrrr… How about YOU!" Asuna snapped as she points as a whimpering Hoshiiko, who had taken position behind Sarah, completely forgetting that her meat shield is a vampire.
"I-iie…"
"THEN YOU!" Asuna shouts as she points as Sakurako, who's using Negi as a meat shield –much to Negi's horror-. "WHAT WERE THEY DOING?!?!"
"I-I-I-I-I DON'T KNOW ANYTHING!!" The cheerleader shrieks and abandons Negi to settle for larger meat shield… namely Locke.
'Why me…?' Locke thought as cold sweat starts to appear under the glare Asuna subjects him to. If Sarah couldn't stand up to the girl… what makes you thinks he could? "D-don't bother asking me… I'm not saying anything…"
"Hohoho! Such enthusiasm. " Konoemon laugh as he watches Asuna terrifying just about anyone but him and Arda, who's sitting next to his desk sipping tea and trying to control her laughter. "And Hana-chan, don't be afraid. She won't bite… much." The principal says to the terrified girl that's standing as stiff as a statue next to Arda. If one were to replace her with a statue, no one would notice the difference.
"B-but… won't that open Locke's wound?" Hana asks as she points to Asuna shaking the slayer like a rag doll, much to everyone's horror.
"A-Asuna-san… P-please come down…" A chibi Negi says to his supposed guardian and partner. However, he cowed behind Sarah when said guardian turn a shining eye towards him. "WAAAAAH! DON'T KILL ME!!"
"…So what now?" Arda asks as Asuna finally snapped and the room literally turned into a living hell.
The principal leveled a questioning look to Arda, who huff before setting her tea down. "You know what I'm talking about. Hoshiiko is going, that's not going to change. The only thing that changed is that Konoka loses a powerful bodyguard. Locke can't go because since he accepted the offer a day ago, I'm sending him to training." Arda says with wariness weaved into her voice, telling exactly how tired she is. "…Right now, it isn't very safe in Kyoto. That annoying organization is getting bolder in their moves."
"…I was planning to meet with the head in the Eastern Headquarter… but since Negi wants to find his father's house, I'm sending a letter to them instead." Konoemon says as he watch Asuna puts Sarah into a choke that looks… rather painful. "But of course, there is the fact that the organization hires mercenaries that are more than happy to see the son of the Thousand Master dead… and then I'm not even going to start on the demon…"
"…Maybe if I can find him…" Arda says only to blink as Konoemon let out a tired sigh. "Nani?"
"He is the one that insisted that Negi doesn't go." Konoemon explains before holding up a hand to stop whatever Arda is about to say. "Also, there is also the rumor that your guild recently caught the older of the Kagemaru sisters? Being the heir to the clan head, I'm certain that the tribe is not very happy, so I'm not ruling out rogue members making attempts on Konoka just to get revenge."
"…She made a deal with us…" Arda says with a suspicious look.
"…If I'm correct, I was informed that she was a mute."
"Yes, you are correct. I'm not going to bother where you get that, but she made a rather well written negotiation that simply can't be refused."
"And that being…?"
"There are two part of agreement. First, she'll be our prisoner to get us to stop bothering the Kagemaru tribe, or more specifically, her younger sister."
"And then?"
"In exchange for that, she'll make sure that no clan member under her will attack, and also she'll offer whatever information she has for us regarding to an underground slave market." Arda says, causing Konoemon's eyes to pop wide open. "Yes, a slave market that sell live human to creatures of the night for whatever purpose."
"So what's the other part?"
"…Her sister is to be under the custody of one Nagi Springfield. But seeing that the Thousand Master is missing –as I'm sure he is alive-, the custody is thus transferred to his son."
"But he isn't old enough!" The principal protested, but seeing the Guardian's second-in-command smirking, he knows something is coming.
"Yes, he is only ten. But if my information is correct, he is now officially a teacher in this school, thus meaning he passed the test and forever graduate from the magic school." Arda says as a small smile appears on her face. "As according to the rule of the inner world, once you graduate from a magic school and successfully establish yourself in a job, you are considered an adult."
"…You're not saying…"
"Yes, Negi Springfield is technically an adult in the inner world's law, and the Kagemaru clan ONLY follows the inner world's law."
"…I see… So where is she now?"
"She's right outside your window, perching on a tree." Arda says as she points to a particular tree. Ignoring the cry for help coming for Locke and Sarah, Konoemon looks outside to find one of the most hate-filled eyes there is. The pair of green eyes that shine with a fire that makes even Konoemon shiver. "And as you can see… she didn't know about it."
"…I shall inform Negi-kun about this the day he departs. She will follow him as an extra bodyguard for Konoka… assuming that she knows the Shadow Dance…"
"Oh she knows it quite well… except she knows only about sixty percent and mastered only about forty percent." Arda mumbled to herself as she ponders over Konoemon's suggestion. "Of course if they ever ran into trouble, the experience will do her some good. So I guess she's going then."
"…Excellent. So what's her name?"
"You don't know?" Arda asks with a surprised glow in her eyes.
"No, I don't. The older is rather well known, but the younger is usually shadowed over. She is no exception." Konoemon says with a hard look at the woman.
Sighing, Arda turn around to see Locke lying on the ground looking as if he'd gone through a meat grinding. Ignoring the pathetic groan he's letting out, Arda instead set her eyes on the ten-year old that is now trying to play peace keeper. "…I guess. Her name is Neko. Neko Kagemaru."
XXXXXXXXXX
APH: Sorry for the lateness in updating. School is getting very aggressive, homework wise. And I need to study for SAT.
Sarah: What are you talking about? He never studies for SAT.
APH: (Puts a hand over Sarah's mouth) err… ignore that.
MX: So who is it that we're adding to this crew?
APH: She's right behind you. (Point to a girl behind MX)
MX: Huh? (Turns around and paled) …I don't like that look in her eyes.
APH: Oh that? Don't worry; it's not for you.
Arda: It's for me?
APH: Nope, it's for Locky!
Locke: …Why me?
BETA-Reader's NOTE:
Once again I would like to apologize for the EXTREME lateness of this new chapter and would like to point out that the blame for this lies solely with one APH, and hopefully you're so happy that a new chapter is out that you'll even review!!!!!!!!!!!!! Might be a bit late, but:
"THANKS FOR YOUR SUPPORT IN 2006 AND WE HOPE TO HAVE ANOTHER FUN FILLED YEAR IN 2007, FROM THE CAST AND CREW OF 'MY UNIQUE CARETAKER'!!!!"