APH: Sorry for the long wait. Blame me all you want, and I deserve them. Procrastination, writer's block, and school keep me up for a while, but past June 6 is mostly writer's block and procrastination. And let's not forget that I have to do and redo this chapter a few times as I'm not satisfied with a lot of things. I'm STILL not satisfied, but I guess I'll make it up later. Ah, I planned for so many good stuff to be have in the Festival Arc. MX has yet to respond as well, so I'm not sure what to do. I'll probably send in chapter 22 to him. If he's not responding in about two week's time… well, I might need a new beta. Anyway with that over with I'm going to give a sort of teaser as before chapter 22 as a way of apology. Don't expect it to be up too fast, but you CAN expect it within at least a week. As for now, I'm going to-
Sarah: (Hit APH with a frying pan) Ignore the author's rambling, and simply enjoy. By the way, the title may not make sense. It just seem appropriate.
Disclaimer: Don't own…
XXXXX Midnight, the day of the attack… Mahora XXXXX
"That's not it…" Sarah mumbles as she flips through another old, thick, dusty tome inside the deeper part of the library island. Seeing that it does not contain the information she needs, the vampire closes it and stuffs it back onto the shelf before her acute eyes locate another possibility. With a slender finger, the caretaker gently slide the tome out and starts to flips through the numerous pages, only to sigh as the tome once again ends up as a failure.
This is the scene that Evangeline AK McDocland has to watch as she sits on a large pile of books, kicking her legs a bit while lightly humming to herself. The small girl wonder if she can be of any help, yet at the same time having no idea what it is that her friend is looking for. So instead of trying to help, the Dark Evangel decides to simply sits on a large pile of books and watch.
"…Nope, not this either…"
The constant mumbling and the soft humming disrupts the quiet atmosphere of the colossus library, yet at the same time, adding a little more life to the tomb of histories long forgotten or lost. The flipping of pages long turned yellow echoes off the vast space as well as the sliding sound caused by friction of two tomes' covers rubbing against one another.
"…No…"
Off to the left, bookshelves adorn the wall as it stretches on seemly forever while on the right; rolls upon rolls of bookshelves formed a maze filled with deadly devices. One wrong step and it is "goodnight" forever. However, for the two vampires, this is not an issue… At least it isn't for Sarah as she flips through another tome of yellow pages and dusts.
"…No… where is it…?"
"Pardon my interruption…" Evangeline asks, breaking her soft humming in hope to satisfy her curiosity. With a tilt of her head, the blonde chibi continues to kick her feet while asking, "Just what is it that you are looking for? And just how do you propose in finding it in this… dimension?"
"Dimension? Surely the library isn't large enough to be considered a dimension by itself." Sarah says as she slides in another book and then reaches for a scroll sticking out. "As for what I'm looking for… I do vaguely remember a man who once studied the human's mind to such extant that he can identify individual memories…"
"The section you're searching right now is the works of that person right?" Evangeline asks as she gently lifts up a book, look at it with disinterest, and tosses it aside unlike her companion.
"Indeed it is." Sarah says as she takes out another tome to scan. "Since I can't remember about three hundred years of my memories, I'm hoping that his research can help me find what it is that is missing."
"Ever wonder that perhaps it is a seal that's inhibiting your memory?"
"…Possibly… But Eva-chan, first I must know where that seal is located. From experience alone, you can tell that while changing short term memories are easy, to change long term memories or even to change the conditioning of a mind is quite… tricky." Sarah whispers the last part as she rolls up the scroll and carefully slides it back into a draw.
The Undead Mage's eyes narrowed at the implication. "If used correctly, one can program another's mind for certain action, or if one wills it, destroy another's mind completely… Leaving nothing behind but a body as the mind is indirectly connected to the soul."
"Yes, very well. I see you haven't forgotten." Sarah says as she searches through another thick tome. "Also remember that the mind is what gives the soul an identity. Without the mind, the soul does not know its purpose, thus breaking the bind it has with the body it inhabits. In short, without the mind, the soul will leave, and what was left behind will waste away…I wonder where could it be?"
Indeed, such skill and understanding of the mind can causes great damage in the wrong hand… Eva thought as she rubes her chin in thought.
"Perhaps… it's that way?" A voice whispers inside Sarah's head, and the vampire's crimson eyes widen for a fraction of a second before narrowing. Glancing to her left, she sees an ethereal figure, or more precisely, her supposed sister pointing to a particular corner of the library. Said "sister" is wearing an inversed version of her cloth, meaning a completely white blouse and skirt comparing to Sarah's black ones. Another major difference the caretaker notice is the black, raven hair that descend all the way down past her knee and with her right side covered by said hair while a single sad, yellow eye with cat-like pupil shine brightly. If it's a few weeks back, Sarah would have blinks a lot of time and wonder if she's going crazy.
However, considering her little break down a while ago and that some memories still remain, she knows that what she sees is not an illusion, but something that is a link to her missing memory.
Maybe it's what she really looks like?
"…Eva, we're going that way." Sarah suddenly says as she turns to the exact direction from the one her "sister" points to. The caretaker vaguely made out a gasps of dread from her mind before she lead a small smirk grace her lips, knowing that she had foiled the conspirator's attempt at reverse psychology. It would appear that this "sister" of hers wish for something to remain a secret.
"Eh? That's sudden." Evangeline says as she jumps down and dusts off imaginary dust from her drape that she has covering her shoulder and going all the way down to her ankle. "What makes you believe it's that way?"
"…Call it… a divine instinct if you will." Sarah says while a gleeful smile as she marches towards the particular direction. So with her eyes narrowed and her feet marching with a purpose, Sarah sets out for her destination while whispering, "What are you hiding…"
XXXXX Present XXXXX
The world is never out of balance, for it in itself is a huge equilibrium that tips back and forth continuously. It doesn't have to be instantaneous, for as they said, Rome was not build in a single day.
So it is a given that to right a wrong or to wrong a right does not mean to do it as soon as possible. It may take days, weeks, months, years, or maybe even decades. In the end, everything will balance itself out.
The abuse of power in England by the monarchy was replaced with a good Constitutional monarchy.
The Revolution in Russia brings prosperity to the Mother Land for a few years; only to be upset by a dictator, whom while continues to produce out comes, do so at the costs of his own people.
Adolf Hitler's triumph in pushing Germany out of depression, only for it to crumble as he committed the genocides of millions of Jews.
The Brain Drain from Germany after the Father Land surrendered, only to have it lead to the development of nuclear energy.
Everything will eventually find something to contradict itself. A man can has his worst day in his life, and by surviving it, maybe receive a lifetime of good fortune. A woman may marry a good husband, only to lose everything in a matter of a second. Everything will eventually cancel out. It does not have to be in the same generation, as the debt passes on from parents to children, and then to their grandchildren, and so on and on. The cycle continues forever and ever, not even Death itself can stop it.
This, as Nicholas Springfield understands, is the logic behind a single word: karma. What goes up must, as according to such logic, eventually comes down. It may not be today, it may not be tomorrow. But eventually it WILL fall.
Nothing can escape such logic, nothing can contradict such law, and nothing except God Almighty himself can break this vicious cycle. To break it is to defy life itself.
That is why, as his brown eyes stare with sadness at the girl in the picture in front of him, Nicholas knows that he'd broken the law.
Somehow, one way or another, he had broken the law.
For she, as according to the law, should not exists beyond the short 26 years of life before she was killed in a freak accident. Murdered more like, by simply being a by stander caught in the crossfire of a vicious fight between good and evil, light and darkness… men versus monsters. And in his madness to try and right that wrong, he had tainted himself in the wrong to try and do the right, by resurrecting the dead that should, by law, not be alive. Of course, it is not a complete success, as the body is dead, and he only success in reviving her soul. And in trying to right THAT wrong, he had transferred her soul into an object. But in doing so, he had created another wrong.
It is a simple logic really, the dead should stay dead, and the living has no business in the business of the dead.
"But really… the living was meant to mind the business of the dead…" Nick says to himself with a sad smile before tugging the picture back into his coat's pocket, or what remains of it. "Truly Nagi, your gene is troublesome. At such a tender age, he held such potential…"
"You done mumbling to yourself?" Kotarou, who had being licking his wound and sulking, barks as he stomps him way to the older man. "You do know that someone is not going to be happy that you lost on purpose?"
"Well… what do you expect me to do?" Nicholas says as he stands up and shoulders his kwon dao. The massive blade seemly jingles as its pole lightly tap against the man's shoulder. "You can't seriously expect me to cut down my nephew can you?"
"No… but a missing limb won't hurt?"
"…Don't make me…"
"Alright, alright! Sheesh, someone needs to chill." Kotarou sweat drops at the dangerous smile and light that emits from Nicholas. That man seriously scares him to the point that he prefer death by hugs than being in his presence… not that the Inu youkai would ever admit it. No sir-y!
XXXXX A few minutes before… XXXXX
Negi is nervous…
Ah screw it, he's down right scared witless. It's almost as scary as when he faces Evangeline on the bridge, if not at the same level. Simply put, the man is dangerous. He contains enough skill too mole all of him and his little odd bunch down in minutes. Adding on the injuries they'd received and that he is still fresh… While, the boy tries not to think of it.
"What are ya waiting for? The time's a-ticking and your chances are thinning!" Nicholas sang in such a way that it causes even more fear and nervousness.
What would happen if he lose? Would they be forever trap in this dimension to rot alone with the bend-beyond-justice Jun Shi a few yards away? Would they be cut down like grass? Would they be hog-tied and presented to the enemy? Would they treat Yuki with kindness or simply use her as a tool? From Nicholas's glint in his eyes when he sees Yuki Negi knows that the elf is something special. But why? What if they want to use her for experiments? What if…
"Tick-tock-tick-tock. Time is running- Woah! Little missy, hold yer horses!" Nick shouts playfully as he dodges a kick from Hoshiiko, who winces as the pain that shoot through her side as the action. "If I'm desperate, I'll give ya a call?"
"…S-such SHAME!" Hoshiiko shouts with indignation as she renews her attack, but Nicholas weaves through them like a fish in water. It's really easy, since 1) she's injured and 2) she's mad.
"Okay, bad jock. Now SIT!" Before the attacker has anytime to register the words, Nicholas plants the butt end of kwon dao into the girl's stomach, knocking the breath out of her and surely adding a new bruise to it. Hoshiiko gasps at the force behind it as she flew into Asuna, who tries to save the girl from crashing into a wooden pole that makes out the long open-sky hallway. "Hmm… that will do too." The older Springfield says with a grin as he observe the young Guardian hack her lungs out trying to get some air back in.
"…" Negi starts a new wave of sweat as he witness the simple display of strength. He wonder if Hoshiiko couldn't even hold her own against his supposed uncle, then how can he, a fresh out of academy student do the same?
"Now, now. Don't tell me you're scared because of that little display?" Nick says before putting on a disappointed face. "I'm hurt to think that the son of MY brother would be such a coward."
"…"
"…hmmm… maybe…" Suddenly, the eyes that remind Negi of a fox's open up to reveal sadistic pleasure in them. "…I should have some fun with those girls? What do you say?"
Negi's answer is to suddenly summon a fire that burns in his eyes as, with a battle cry, his staff clash with Nicholas's kwon dao. Ducking low, the boy swipe the staff to try and take out the man's legs. Nick jumps, but grin as he blocks a well-placed swipe to the side. Negi continues to spin, using his momentum from the first swipe; he steps behind his uncle to deliver a sharp elbow thrust.
The man's only response is to grin in anticipation as he flips forward, bringing up his legs to ward off pursue before landing on his left hand, and spine, bring his weapon into a large arc that cleave a poor stone in half on the sideline. Negi roll under the strike only to scramble out of the way as Nick flips off his hand and landed feet first at where Negi's head was a few seconds ago. Swinging his pole arm to his back, he blocks a thrust that would have hit his spine had he not moved the blade into its place. As a counter, the mercenary lean to the side, causing the staff to slips off course and with it, Negi lost his balance. As the boy stumbles Nicholas bring his leg up for a roundhouse kick that connected with such force Negi's head snapped to one side. The girls' yelps of alarm can be heard, as well as sighs of relief as Negi roll with the impact and recovers himself a few feet away. Negi winces as he almost felt the kick dislocate his jaw. Good thing the academy at least teaches them how to do basic martial art to lessen the damage taken.
"Good, good. Now, last ten seconds." Nick says before he sudden blurs and appears behind Negi, with his weapon raised as if to chop the boy in half. Sensing the danger almost too late, the child teacher brings his staff up to stop the blade's path and try to kick Nick in the stomach. He failed partially due to Nick's height and strength advantage as well as the fact that using the fact Negi only has one leg up, Nicholas forcefully pushes the boy down with a roar.
"GAH!"
"NEGI!!"
"Ouch, that's got to hurt…!"
With some effort, Negi tipped his staff so that Nicholas's force is redirected in such way that his pole arm slides to the side, giving Negi enough time to role under Nicholas's spread legs and scrambles away to safety.
5 seconds…
Nick swings his blade and points the tip at Negi before hitting the butt of the pole with his palm, sending the entire weapon flying like a spear. Negi, seeing this, dodges to the side and swing his staff, cutting off Nick's advance to get into hand-to-hand and with another spine, try to take out Nicholas with a blow to the head.
3 seconds…
The kwon dao suddenly flew into Nicholas's outstretched hands again, and Negi was suddenly reminded of the dimension's purpose and his eyes widen. 'To send it flying for this distance without loosing speed…' In his daze, he almost missed the butt end of Nick's weapon heading for his face. Negi shifts his head just enough that he did not receive the full force, but the force behind it still manage to cut his face, leaving behind a shallow but painful cut.
2 seconds…
Adrenaline is pumping through his blood at full force. Negi simply refuses to let his uncle hurt the girls, even if it means the teacher will lose an arm or a leg. No one will hurt his students. That is what drives Negi on as he twirl away from Nicholas's palm thrust and try for a back hand hit to Nick's head while he had bend his body to accommodate for Negi's height.
1 second…
'More… I can't fail…'
Nicholas blocks the backhand and counter with one his own and grin in sadistic pleasure as it connects soundly with the boy's cheek, sending him flying back to the girls.
…Times up.
"NEGI/NEGI-SENSEI!!" The girls yelp as they rushes to stop the boy's one-way ticket to the hard, rock-paved road. They succeeded, but that didn't mean there wouldn't be new bruises with the force that he crashed into them.
"You bastard!!" Asuna screams in rage as she summons her paper fan and charges at Nicholas with a fury only manageable by that of the female sex. Of course, Nicholas Springfield did not survive by being cowed by such fury. So with a simple tap to the forehead, Nicholas easily stopped Asuna's advance before swiping low, taking out her legs at one go.
And around, kicking out her paper fan at the second revolution.
And around, his palms found their mark on her waist.
And around, bringing the dazed girl into his arm safe and sound, without so much as harming a hair on her body.
"Wh-wha?!"
"Ma, ma, the test is over. And I have to say, my nephew passed with flying color." Nicholas says as he suddenly dumps Asuna onto her behind so suddenly the girl clumps onto his neck to stop the fall with a cute and flustered yelp. "Oro? Good reflex… Now please let me go? It's kind of awkward to be hugging someone who just tried to kill you guys no?"
The awkward silence that follows simply put Nicholas out of his nature as he scratches his head. The action is so much similar to Negi's that Asuna was left with no doubt in her mind that they're related.
"Alright, alright. I got it. I'm cute and cuddly like a teddy bear. Now if you'll excuse me." Without warning again, Nick suddenly grab Asuna and tosses her into the air (not without her yelping again of course), twirl his kwon dao, and grins. "I have a bargain to complete." With that said, Nick make three quick and precise cutting motion, and suddenly, a wooden pull not too far away collapse as three clean cuts appear on it. This display of skill cemented the fact that he has only being toying with Negi a while ago into Hoshiiko's mind while Nodoka, who's attention is too focused on a barely conscious Negi, can only gap at the phenomenon. "Well, that's taken care of… why did I feel like I'd forgotten-
"KYAAHH!! THUD!"
"-…something… or rather… someone… Oops."
"I-I-I-itai…" Asuna moans as she rubes her sore behind. It's one thing to be dropped by a six feet tall, hunk of a man. It's another to be dropped onto her behind from almost ten feet into the air. "Owowowowowowowow… I don't think I'd break anything…"
"Good, that's good to hear." Nicholas says as he claps his hands and laugh heartily. Everyone sweat drops at the antic (save for the semi-conscious Negi) and watches the man continues his laugh. Just then, the older Springfield blurred out of site, and the only warning Kotarou has before he was manhandled is that the kwon dao appears a mere inch in front of his noise.
"Now, now children. I believe it's best if you leave as soon as you can. I think Kotarou and I had done a bit too much damage." Nicholas's voice vibrates off the very air itself as the girls search left and right for his current position. "And don't bother looking. I did not survive this long by being good to be found. So ta-ta for now and say hello to Neko-chan for me will ya?" Just like that, the voice disappeared.
"…So… what now?" Kamo, who had somehow hid himself, asks as he climbs onto his aniki's chest with a frown.
All the girls just look at each other, one too small and scared to really help, one lost as to what to do, one completely rooted to the place by her discovery, and one knowing what she can do with her injuries.
XXXXX Meanwhile…XXXXX
"I swear sometimes people just don't learn…" Mana says to herself with a happy smile as she continues to punch holes in demons with her guns. It's so much simpler to do things this way. "Why didn't we start doing it like this a few minutes ago?"
Kaede and Ku Fei, who are both fighting a little way from Mana, froze in their action from slashing a demon in half and punching another in the stomach and stare at each other. Both shrug at the same time and answer in unison. "Hey, we're the Baka Rangers. We don't think."
"…While, that certainly explains a lot…" Mana mumbles sarcastically before deciding that, since she's here with hordes of demon…
Well, someone has to take her frustration, and wooden poles and training dummies simply don't cut it at the moment…
Just then, Kaede thought of something. "I thought Miko aren't allow to swear and cuss?"
"…Well, Mikos are fine actually. We're just not allowed to participate in the… joy of the flesh like drinking, smoking, and… Well, you get the idea?" Mana asks with a hopeful expression on her face. It's one thing to take about certain stuff in front of just girls, and it's another to talk about it in front of many demons.
"…Oh. Well, that's too bad aru…" Ku Fei says with a tilt of her head, a shrug, and then she punches a demon in the face.
And the fighting resume.
XXXXXXXXXX
"Certainly they wouldn't do anything too drastic?" Kazumi whispers as she and Neko hide under a rather large desk. Their current problem is two large ogres with large, blunt weapons and nasty, yellow, pointy teeth looking for them. While, more like looking for Neko if you want to be technical, but since Kazumi just happens to be there and girls' flesh, especially young ones, are consider a delicacies. And when you lived most of your life if not the entirety of it in Makai, you would want to consume any human flesh possible, and young girls' happen to just be the best there are… after the babies of course.
"I never say anything about them not doing anything too… drastic." Neko says with an annoyed frown as she tries to think up a plan. It's too bad that there is currently a certain girl almost strangling her while on the verge of hyperventilation. 'And let's hope I don't do anything too drastic…'
A moment of silence fell between the two. The only sound is the thumping of heavy footsteps on cement floor as the ogres continue to search for their target and meal.
"…So what do we do?"
"I am going to go in and try to distract them. You are going to use that distraction to escape." Neko says as her ears twitch a bit. "There will be no negotiation. You will do as you're told because I am not in the mood for any nonsense."
"But-!" Kazumi tries to argue, but the next instance, Neko has flip onto the desk with endless grace and deliver a strong flying kick that would snap a grown man's neck.
Too bad the ogres aren't human.
The kicked ogre, who is an angry red and sports a simple loincloth, growls before swing his club at the target. The ogre is using a morning star, and he easily tower over Neko at a height of over 7 feet and definitely over 300 pounds. The kick hurts, and he'll make her pain for that.
Using her cat-like flexibility and reflexes, Neko weave in and out of the ogre's attack, gliding left and right while taking tiny shots at vital area, hoping to weaken the ogre or at least put him down for a while. The other ogre, a dirty brown with a large iron club and similarly built like his partner, roars as he swings his weapon at Neko. The cat girl jumps in to the air and regrets it as the pain in her side suddenly flares to unbearable proportion. During that small second, Neko did the one thing that no warrior, no matter how young or old, should do.
Her mind blanked out.
With a speed that seemed impossible for a body that size, the red ogre introduced Neko's face to Mr. Right Fist and grins at the pained yelp from the girl. The punch to Neko felt as if someone took the force of a bullet train speeding at full speed and scrunch it all into the size of a basketball. And according to the laws of physic, it is bound to hurt.
That single punch easily sends Neko into the wall, and through it. The brown ogre instantly gave chase, his heavy footsteps bounce off the wall with every step. In the next room, the ogre finds Neko dazed and shaking her head to try and get rid of the dizziness. The side of her face seems to swell from the beating and the brown ogre grin in satisfaction as he raises up his club to deliver the killing blow. Neko choose that moment to regain her sense, and with a powerful pump of her legs, she escapes her death, but not without repercussion as her side once again hurt like a mother giving birth.
For the nth time in her life, Neko wonder why she bother when she can probably just easily jump out the window and land without so much as a hair out of place (if you don't count the bruise on her side and the new one that's sure to come on her face).
"KYAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHH!"
'Of course, that's what onee-sama would have done…' Neko thought in exasperation as she race through the wall she created with the help of Mr. Big Fat Red, just in time to see Kazumi ducking under a swing from the ogre.
Thinking fast, Neko bounce off the wall with a jump that sends her into an arc above the ogre's head. With a battle cry, she sends her left heel dropping in a fierce battle-axe kick. The ogre shouts in pain as Neko's heel landed with a resounding crack. Whether it's Neko's heel fracturing or the ogre's head splitting open, no one has time to guess as the next instance, the cat girl finds her throat in the large hand of the brown ogre. The ogre slams her into the ground once, twice, and then throw her into Kazumi, who's too shocked to escape, causing both to tumble for a before stopping by the wall.
With strength that she shouldn't have, Neko sprang up onto her feet and tries for an escape with Kazumi tossed over her shoulder. Her head hurts and her ears are ringing, but for the sake of a lot of people, she needs to get away. That of course didn't stop her from using the red ogre, who had somehow survived, as a springboard and zoomed out now gaping hole that used to hold the door. Just then, Neko noticed once thing…
The hotel is too quiet.
"Oh you got to be shitting me!!" The cat girl yells in frustration before using her right leg to stop the crushing force of the brown ogre's downward smash. To Neko, it felt as if her legs are going to snap from the strength behind the smash. No wanting to give up, Neko easily slips away with her superior speed and agility, narrowly dodging the red ogre's thrust. Kazumi meanwhile is just hoping to whoever is listening that Neko did not accidentally send her head into the wall or any inanimate objects.
"P-PUT ME DOWN!! I C-C-CAN RUN BY MYSELF!!" Kazumi shouts as Neko dips low to avoid becoming a pretty stain on the wall.
"Oh quit complaining!! (dodge) Just appreciate that I didn't (jump) feed you to them!! (slide)" Neko snaps at Kazumi as she unleash her wrath, combined with frustration and spiced up with fear.
"You wouldn't! EEK!" The paparazzi girl squeaks as Neko tosses her into the air to save them both from a pincer attack.
"Oh yes I would!"
"By the w-way!" Kazumi suddenly shouts as Neko tosses her over the shoulder of the red ogre while she herself slips under. "STOP THAT!!"
"Seriously, quit complaining!!"
"EITHER WAY! Where are all the p-people-EEK!! I SAID STOP THAT!!"
"They trapped us in another dimension of sort." Neko answers while once again busy herself with escaping. "Whatever happen here won't affect the 'real world'. Only an accomplished seal or talisman master can do such thing."
"SO WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR? LET'S GET OUT OF THIS BUILDING ALRE-EEEKK!" Kazumi gives another squeak as Neko tosses her onto the sofa in the lobby.
"You want out? Then take that chair and smash the door open!!" The neko haiyou shouts as she wince at the club that lightly tapped her bruised side. Not wanting to die, Kazumi quickly did as she was told and grab a chair and hurl it with all her strength into the class door of the hotel. The door shatters with the sound of glass raining down onto the ground. With all her athletic abilities, or whatever she does have, Kazumi make a made dash at the door, hoping that by exiting the door she would thus exit the dimension.
3 meters…
"DAMN IT YOU BLOODY OGRES!! WHY WON'T YOU DIE!!"
2 meters…
The ogres roar and start to take wild swings at Neko.
1 meter…
'I'M GONNA MAKE IT I'M GONNA MAKE IT I'M GONNA MAKE IT I'M GONNA MAKE IT I'M GONNA-!' Kazumi repeats the phrase over and over as she race through the door… and run into something tall, red, and solid. '…I'M GONNA DIEEEEEEE-Eh… wait a minute…'
Thud!
Darkness…
XXXXX Mahora XXXXX
It's one thing to live life as an almost-normal girl in the campus of Mahora, but it's another to live life as an almost-normal girl in the campus of Mahora and feel like she's missing something… or someone.
"…Sarah, I'm bored…" Evangeline whines as she makes a small effort to lift her chin off the table that currently play host to her head. "How long until boya is back?"
"Hmm… not at least for two more days if I remember correctly…" Sarah mumbles as she flips through page after page of a thick tome. Currently it is looking rather hopeless on the matter in which she is searching for. The matter seems hopeless. No matter how she searches, she can't seems to find the man, whose name continue to elude her, and his research regarding the bending and mending of mind and soul. To destroy the minds and souls are easy. It's mending them and hopefully unlocking certain aspects of it that is hard. "…It looks like this is another failure…"
"Eh? We have to go down again?" Eva further whines as she imagine the endless hours of searching inside an underground library packed full with books.
"No. I'm done for the day." The elder of the two says as she slams the thick tome shut. Robbing her eyes while stretching to work out a few kinks, Sarah stands up and marches to the couch that occupies Eva's living room. Once she reaches her destination, the caretaker carelessly dump her body onto it and drags an arm over her eyes while the other rest on her flat stomach. It looks as if she'd just escape from pulling an all-nighter. "I swear this man is pissing me off…"
"You can't be pissed at a dead man."
"Yes I can, and I will."
"Nope, now you're just being childish."
"Look at who is talking."
"Well, you can't blame a girl for trying now can you? Beside, I still say you can't be pissed at a dead man. An old man, yes, not a dead man."
"Well bite me." Sarah hisses before adding a 'gladly' with Eva.
"Seriously, can't we do some damage? Even if it's just messing up the old man's office?" Evangeline asks as her eyes light up at the last suggestion. You never know what that old perverted principal is hiding in his office.
"No."
"Hmm… how about scaring a few girls in the bath house?"
"No."
"Then-."
"Nope."
"How about-."
"Nah."
"What about-."
"Non."
"Then-."
"Nein."
"Wh-."
"Het."
"W-."
"Dream on."
"THEN YOU SUGGEST SOMETHING!!"
"Sure… let me sleep. THUD Oh come on, it's not that bad of a suggestion…" Sarah says to Eva, who just had a reintroduction with Mr. Floor as she picks herself off from her face fault.
"Grr… In nomen of is quisnam exuro terra per atrum flamma , cruciatus thy hostilis , Ornus Cannon (1)." Evangeline, in a fit of anger, chants before unleashing a small firebomb, yes bomb, at Sarah, who easily catches it in her hand and absorbs the magic. Just to spite her, Sarah let out a small sigh of satisfaction as she blew fire out of her mouth and grin. "…Damn, forgot you're a mana leech…"
"That doesn't mean I'm unharmed." The caretaker says before showing the burns that are healing slowly on her palm. "Although I would refrain from doing that in the future. It hurts like hell and I certainly am not fixing your couch. Now let me sleep and do not bother me." With that said, Sarah D McDocland easily enters the land of dream, leaving behind a sulking blonde and a confused mecha-maid who happens to just enter the room.
XXXXX Dream… XXXXX
"…Again…" Sarah mumbles as she stares at the endless black and the mirror that now rests in front of her. "…Hope this isn't going to become something usual."
With little to worry about, the caretaker steps into the mirror, only to arrived at a different world than what she entered last time. This time, instead of the long corridor, she steps into a field of grass as tall as her knees with a single, tall apple tree as the center of its attraction. Off in the distance, she can just make out the outline of a castle built on a distant hill. A gentle wind does a little dance around her, playing with her one-piece, white sundress that she suddenly finds herself wearing. Accompanying that sundress is two scarabs containing two katanas, one white and one black.
"Hmm…? Why would there be…" Pausing for a second, Sarah quickly draws one of the two katana, the white one, and quickly block a blow that was meant to cut off her head. "Ara, first you try to trick me, now you try to kill me? I thought we're sisters?" Sarah asks her look-alike, who is now sporting the black katana that suddenly went missing by her side. Taking this chance, Sarah quickly studies her katana, which is a pure white, from tip to tip. The only problem is that both of its edges are dull with no hint of a blade present. As for the black one that now presses against the white one, it's also black from tip to tip and seems to suck the light around it. Both of its edge is sharp that Sarah wonder if it's fashioned after some swords found in Europe. "How cliché, polar opposite?"
"Haha, t-this is what some b-believes twins t-to be no?" The look-alike says with a shy smile, her one single golden eye not covered by her long black bangs shines mischievously. "B-besides, this reminds me o-of the t-times of old…" With that said, Sarah suddenly finds herself flying back from a strong shove by her look-alike. Not the type that she finds herself moving by a few feet, but truly, gravity-less flying.
"Shit!" Reacting as fast as her muscles allow, Sarah brings herself into a twist and blocks the strike that would have separate her hips from her waist. The sudden force and the sonic boom created by the impact of the two swords nearly pops Sarah's shoulders out of their sockets. That's when Sarah notices something truly frightening.
Her twin is only using her left hand.
"…This is my world… I do as I please, when I please, how I please. There is no restriction to what I can do in this little world of mine." The twin says, suddenly loosing her shy tone and replaces it with one that sent a shiver up Sarah's spine. "Logic does not apply for me here. Physics and the law of nature has no affect on me and if you wish to have some fun… you will do well to remember." The twin's eye narrows before a smirk appears on her face. "Of course… you're still too naïve to understand…"
"And what makes you think I'm too naïve to understand?" Sarah grunt out before shoving her twin off her and dealt her a horizontal slash. Too bad it's blocked with almost no effort.
"Well, the fact that you're struggling here basically says it all." The look-alike giggles before sending Sarah flying with a wave of her hand. Then as if pinching at an invisible line, the look-alike held her hand up, lifts the caretaker up into the air, dangling her from her ankle upside down with pure magic. "Ah? White? Oh my, I never know that you're still so innocent!"
"H-HEY! PUT ME DOWN!!" Sarah shrieks in embarrassment as she tries her best to keep the skirt of her sundress up. It proves mostly impossible due to her hanging upside down. "ARGH!! LET ME GO!!"
"Teehee, fine. Big sis will spare you… for now." The twin says as she 'let go', and Sarah drops down to the ground with an 'oof' while the twin lightly glide over to her.
"Ouch… this can't be a dream… it hurts too much to be a dream…" Sarah moans in pain as she sits up to nurse her behind.
"Of course it is, but it is not false. Remember, this is my world and logic does not apply." The look-alike says before tapping her chin in a thinking position. "Although you could think of this as a sort of vision if you must. Just remember that if you ever return to the world, visit the heart and seek your soul there."
"What-!?"
XXXXX Eva's cabin XXXXX
"What?!" Sarah shot awake as she franticly search around for her twin, only to find a cozy living room with a blonde vampire looking at her with uncertainty.
"…nightmare?" The chibi vampire asks as she tilts her head and narrows her emerald eyes.
"…N-no… just a weird dream…" Sarah mumbles as she wipes sweat off her brow. "…If I ever return to the world, remember to visit the heart and seek my soul there…"
"Eh? You'd say something?" Evangeline asks, still entirely unsure if the person in front of her is entirely sane. "The stress if probably getting to you. Use my bed and get some sleep. While the couch is comfy, I doubt it offers much comfort in sleep."
"Yeah, that's a really good idea right now…"
XXXXX With Negi and Co XXXXX
The attack was fended off, and most of the damages were fixed with magic with the civilians none the wiser. That didn't mean that the fighters themselves are without scratches.
Of course, finding both Neko and Kazumi unconscious and looking worst for wear in the hotel didn't help with the tension at all. But finding the nasty bruise that Neko once adorn gone is a relief. Negi along with Asuna and Kamo all heave a sigh of relief while Nodoka and Yuki look from one party to the next confused. Hoshiiko however has this strange glint in her visible eye and a gleeful grin, not to mention the bounce she suddenly have in her steps a the revelation of Neko's injury being healed. Negi and Asuna fear what that mean, so they leave the girl to her own device.
Ku Fei, Kaede, and Mana appear as if nothing ever happens, and to Negi and Company, that is what they want them to believe. Setsuna though is a different story as a hyper giddy Konoka dragged her back inside. Once again, Negi and Asuna fear the answer, thus they leave the two to their own device once more.
The only good thing about this whole ordeal is that somehow, all the civilians – including the non-combat students – don't remember a single detail of the massive battle that suddenly occurred in the middle of broad daylight.
As for the reason why all these happened in the first place…
"Err… we completely forget about the letter…" Negi suddenly mumbles before he crawls into a corner and start to mop. "The… Letter… Forgotten…"
"…Let's just leave aniki alone for now…" Kamo advices as Asuna and Yuki just nod dumbly, having ushered most of the party out as to allow them some privacy, leaving behind the two unconscious girls, a confused Nodoka, a hyper Konoka, and finally an exhausted Setsuna.
"Ne, ne, Asun-ya." Konoka chirps as she skips in front of her long time friend and clasps her hands. "Will you come with me tomorrow? I want to go somewhere."
"Um… I suppose." Asuna blinks at the sudden request before remember certain things. "But I have to help Negi deliver a letter."
"Oh? I might be of some help. After all, I did grow up here right?" Konoka says in her usual happy voice as she tilts her head. "Now where do we need to take it?"
"Hmm… it's suppose to go to a Kansai Headquarter or somethingamajig…" Asuna says hesitantly as she is pretty sure that her long time friend doesn't know jack about magic. Since that is the case, you bet that she'll keep it that way as long as possible.
"Hmm… I know just the place!"
XXXXX The next day… XXXXX
When Asuna accepted Konoka's help, she was expecting some grand building. So it wasn't surprising when her air-headed friend brings her and Negi and Setsuna to a huge temple.
What did surprised her however is the roll of maids - all are beautiful and dressed sharply - that waits at the entrance. What freaks her out is when the maids bow at the waist and chorus one single phrase: "Welcome to the temple, Negi-san, Asuna-san, Setsuna-san."
"Eh?!"
"Aycha? I wasn't expecting such a welcome!" Konoka speaks as she giggles at the exasperated look on Setsuna's face and the dumbfounded expression on Negi and Asuna's. "Now where can I find him… hmm…"
"Hohohohoho! It's being quite a while!" A deep voice chuckles as the owner, a tall, ling man dressed in a miko uniform appears at the front gate. "Konoka, how are you?"
"TOU-CHAN!!"
"T-T-T-TOU-CHAN?!"
"Welcome home, Konoka-ojou-sama!"
"O-O-O-O-O-O-O-OJOU-SAMA?!"
"Oh, I forget to mansion that this was my home huh?" Konoka suddenly mumbles as she blush in embarrassment.
Setsuna can only sigh as her shoulder slumps in defeat. "Why do they always have to over do it?"
XXXXX Undisclosed location… XXXXX
"Hmm… HE had interfered with my plan…"
"Milord, please calm yourself. It is but a small set back."
"I suppose… Does our spies in Mahora indicate any mobilization?"
"As far as we know, the headmaster has yet to order a mobilization. McDocland will continue to stay at the school while McDowell cannot mobilize due to a restriction put on her by Nagi Springfield."
"Excellent. What about the heir?"
"Konoka-ojou-sama has as of now reached the Kansai Magic Association Headquarters."
"Wonderful news… Have Chigusa prepare for a kidnapping. Sent in Fate to aid with the assault on the ground but his primary objective is to test out Negi Springfield. Also, give this instruction to Nicholas: 'If by any chance that he is to come across McDocland, I want him to destroy her by any mean necessary.' Is that clear?"
"Of course milord. It shall be done, for your wish is out command."
"Good… do not fail me."
XXXXXXXXXX
APH: Again with the bad guy. I'm pleased to say that the manga's development fits well with what I have in mind. This might play well and come along nicely.
Well, I must say, please leave a review even if it's just to scream at me for updating so late. At least then I know people actually read.
Sarah: (Hit APH with a frying pan again) ah, just leave a review. That is all that's need to be said (Glare at APH).
1) In the name of he who burns the land with dark flames, torture thy enemy, Ash Cannon.