DISLAIMER: I don't own Negima.
Blood, fire, everything was red. "Mama?", a young Shisca awoke from her deep slumber. "Papa? Are you there? Where is everyone? Is this also part of training?".
The door to the huge dojo that was Shisca's room opened. In came a beautiful woman with her hair done up as women traditionally did when participating in war. Her kimono was soaked in red and her smile was wide as she bled. "It's going to be alright Shizuka. Okaa-sama, oto-sama, everyone will protect you.", and so the woman fell dead on her face as blood flooded the wooden floors.
"Mama?", Shisca approached the now dead body. Her 10-year old frame was shaking from a fear that she could not understand. Maybe it had something to do with the stories her parents had told her long before. They had explained to her their fate, to fight, to live, to serve and to die for house Konoe. Was this fate that her mother was lying here right now in a pool of her own blood? Was this what they called dying?
"Shizuka!", the frantic voice of her father followed as he burst through one of the paper walls. "You must leave now. It's dangerous here.", the elder man ran forward to grab his daughter hastily.
"But mama!", the girl cried with innocent distress.
The man stopped to look where little Shisca pointed. It was the corpse of his dead wife. She had gone ahead of him to save their daughter. He gripped his daughter tightly, afraid of losing her as he did his wife. "We must go.", was all he could say before his throat constricted from grief. He picked up Kyouryou which lay beside Shisca's futon and ran for the door. He jumped back when he heard the tell-tale sound of blades swinging through the air. The instant he was out of harm's way, at least twelve blades stuck themselves upon the tatami mats that lined the floor of where he should've been. "You.", was all the man could say before a blade pierced his heart from behind. Fortunately he had moved his child away from the weapon's trajectory. Somehow, he looked behind to come face to face with familiar dark-skin that glowed in the red fire. "Yoru.", he groaned before sinking into a puddle of his own blood.
The dark-skinned man pulled his blade out and flicked away any remnant blood. He watched as the child he missed crawl for her father screaming.
"Papa! Papa! Wake up! Open your eyes!", Shisca cried out. There were tears in her eyes as she shook the still form of her father.
"This is the end, child of Fuuga.", came the dark-skinned man from behind. His short sword raised high in the air, "Goodbye.". He brought the sword down on the child, only she wasn't there anymore. He blinked, were his eyes deceiving him? He looked around and saw the child picking up her legendary sword. "Kyouryou.", he breathed.
"You hurt mama.", Shisca unsheathed the spear tip, the steel singing a sorrowful melody as the black lacquer came off. "You hurt papa.", she removed the sword scabbard that was at least a foot taller than with a sharp twist. It hissed violently with promise of torturous vengeance. "You tried to hurt me.", little Shisca pointed the blade at the man.
The man was beginning to feel fear running through his body. It shivered at the murderous intent the little child gave off. It would be no surprise if the other clan heads were to come now after sensing such blood lust. He could neither scream nor breathe when he saw the last sight of his life. It was the sight of horrifying orange eyes boring into his soul.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Shisca opened her eyes with a deep breath. She looked at her surroundings. She was still in the tree hollow. Her Kyouryou hummed in her lap, sealed tight with the ribbons. She smiled as she ran a finger over them. "I will never forget. There is no need to remind me.", she sadly whispered to her weapon. It hummed louder as if in protest. She could only smile at her sealed blade. It had truly developed quite a personality after that night. She stood up from her seiza position and exited her little sanctuary. Once out in the weak early morning light of her little clearing, she the familiar figure of her classmate. Shisca smiled softly, "I'm sorry for making you wait, Karakuri-san.".
Chachamaru stood before the guardian girl in her Mahora uniform with a look as serene as Shisca's own. "It is alright. I have already spent the better part of the night searching, what was another few minutes of wait?", the gynoid shrugged.
Shisca flushed a bit in embarrassment. "Forgive me for lying on the state of my address. I would have found it inconvenient if people were to know the truth.", the guardian girl explained.
"I understand. Still, I did not expect such severe austerity from the Konoe clan's guardian.", Chachamaru looked around.
"No.", Shisca shook her head. "To leave without preparation for my stay was my decision. I may as well have disobeyed my hospitable master.", Shisca's smile turned to one of mirth.
Chachamaru's own lips twitched upward from the slight humor. "My mistress wishes to see you.", the gynoid informed Shisca. She bowed deeply, "Please meet with her."
With mirth gone, only bitterness was left on Shisca's ever smiling lips. She looked up at the sunlight creeping through the canopies. "As I am or as a Fuuga?"
"Both.", was Chachamaru's response without moving an artificial muscle.
Shisca gently took Chachamaru by the shoulder to pull her up. "Then let us go.", Shisca spoke.
The walk was one of silence. It did not help Shisca's nerves which had already been stressed from her dream. The great Evangeline which her grandfather had almost succeeded in slaying wished to see her. It was not a comforting thought at all. The fact that the vampires called her meant that the doll-faced undead had either realized her true identity or her true purpose. Neither were ones she would have liked to discuss with anyone.
"We are here.", Chachamaru broke Shisca out of her trance like thinking. They were in a luxurious room. It was probably the same villa where the guardian had fought Asuna judging from the familiar energy that basically charged the air. "Mistress should be waiting inside.", the gynoid announced as she opened the door, "Mistress, I'm coming in. Fuuga-san is with me."
Evangeline watched the door from her throne like chair beside a mini-bar. She had on a casual gosururi dress which horribly clashed with her actions of drinking wine. "Good. Make sure Fuuga is comfortable.", Eva said irritably. No matter how much she wanted to be drunk, she never could get anything more than a minor buzz. There were times she'd lose balance but there was never a point where she blacked out. This was one of those times she wanted to black out. "Tell me Fuuga.", she began with a swirl of her wine glass as her guest sat down before her. "I heard four years ago that your clan had been wiped out. Why is it you sit here before me now?".
Shisca kept silent as the dream began to play back in her mind. "I guess…", she began, "that I was fortunate to survive."
"A coup de etat, the rebellion of 107 heads of the 107 vassal clans, that happened four years ago.", Evangeline stated. "In the struggle, out of the 108 vassal clans that served Konoe only the Fuuga fought under a banner of loyalty for their masters. In the night the battle started, it ended just as quick with not one Fuuga surviving. That is the news I heard. Care to explain?", the vampires said with a dead serious look.
The 108 vassal clans of Konoe were not to be looked down upon. They comprised of over 20% of Japan's magical families. Not all of them were very powerful but not one of them was unfaithful. Each clan had a deep respect and oath of loyalty to the Konoe house. It would take something of extreme proportions to drive them into a bloody rebellion that would cost Konoe's most powerful vassal clan. Both of them knew this and the Konoe clan had been nothing but kind to their vassals. Both of them knew this fact.
"I…", Shisca began. Her lips felt particularly dry as memories of blood and fire invaded her mind. She still remembered the screams, the stench of death in the air. Anguish, despair, anger, hate, jealousy, there were too many emotions for her young mind to have comprehended then. The image of her dead mother and father came to mind. "was saved.", she continued after a moment. "by Eishun-sama.", she finished lamely.
"Oh really?", Evangeline questioned boredly.
"Really.", Shisca answered.
Eva watched the guardian. She was a master of deception so very few could lie to her. Even a Fuuga like the girl before her could not hide the signs. But from similar signs, the vampires could tell that it was a deeply rooted memory. She would have to rip it out with force if she wanted it, and want it she did. "You were involved in the fight between Sakurazaki and the unknown assailant yes?", the vampires seemingly changed the topic.
Shisca remained silent.
"Were you her attacker or savior?", Eva continued to question.
Again it was met with silence.
"Why was she attacked?"
The guardian did not answer.
"Why won't you answer!?", Eva exploded.
Shisca looked up at her current host with what was supposed to be a determined glare. "I will not answer.", she voiced out with steel in her tone.
"Why not Fuuga? I who am friends with your master, I who am teacher to your mistress, why won't you answer me?", the vampires demanded.
"I am a Fuuga. Servant and loyal retainer of house Konoe. I do not answer to those who bear any other name.", Shisca replied.
Eva felt her patience grow thin. "Your reluctance to impart information may only kill your mistress.", she declared as if it had nothing to do with her.
"On the contrary.", Shisca began. "If any of the Konoe house knew what I did, they would be marked for death. Even Eishun-sama has respected my silence upon this matter.", Shisca finished solemnly. She suddenly asked a question, "Why are you so interested in this matter day walker?".
Eva gave him a look that asked if she was retarded. "Are you mad? You are a Fuuga and you don't know? In the past, whenever the Fuuga moved, it would result in a mountain or two wiped from the face of this earth. If you have been sent here, I can only assume that the whole school would be leveled by whatever actions you will be taking. I may not care much for this school but It's tiring to rebuild my home after spending a decade or two of setting it up."
Shisca sighed to herself. This child faced ancient made a decent point on both accounts. Knowing the others, she didn't doubt that the school and civilians meant anything, not after what they did to her clan. "I will let you know the situation.", conceded, "but only under two conditions."
"Conditions?", Evangeline asked.
"Don't worry.", Shisca smiled ruefully. "They are simple conditions."
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Asuna quietly followed Chachamaru through the twist and turns of the inner halls of Eva's villa. The little vampires had come out looking livid enough to start spitting fire. It was a sight to behold as she degraded each and every one of the Ala Alba in no particular order before ordering them to move out for training. Asuna was told to stay by the angry undead when she made to join them. Eva had said something about hiring an assistant to train the gosururi warrior with her skills as a warrior while Setsuna was recovering. The olive-haired gynoid stopped before a door. She slowly opened it to allow Asuna entrance. Asuna entered the room, amazed when she found herself in a place completely devoid of any life. It looked like a dessert but somehow at the same time not. The sky was a pattern of violet that warped between blue and red.
"Where is this?", Asuna asked with her mouth gaping open. She spun about as she tried to take in the whole expanse that seemed to stretch on forever.
Chachamaru closed the door that they entered and began to explain, "It is a separate dimension room that mistress made. It is a time and space that is completely different from the villa outside. An hour outside would be seven days here as your current instructor has requested."
"What!?", Asuna looked to Chachamaru in dismay. "Are you serious? I have to stay here for a week?", the gosururi warrior cried in incredulously.
"A few weeks actually but we'll squeeze in as much as we can in the allotted time for us.", came a familiar whispery voice.
Asuna followed her ears and met with the speaker. It was Shisca, still smiling as serenly as ever. She was wearing a kimono while Kyouryou still lay in her grasp. "Shisca-san!", Asuna exclaimed. "Why are you here?".
Chachamaru stepped up beside a gaping Asuna as she explained. "Fuuga-san will be your swordplay teacher for now.", Chachamaru walked towards a nearby boulder and sat. "I will be over seeing your training under Fuuga-san. In case her methods are not up to scratch, I have been instructed to take over.", she explained.
Asuna gave the pair a look of disbelief before she could spit out, "You serious? Shouldn't I be out training with Negi and everything?".
"Negative.", Chachamaru replied from her modest little seat. "Mistress has noted your incredible progress since the last venture to the magic world. She believes that with that, your teamwork is already at a point where you can bring out the best of each other's abilities already. That's why the most important thing right now is to improve your individual skills.".
"I'm already good on my own.", the gosururi cried in confusion. "I can already take Negi on.".
"There in lies the problem.", Shisca interrupted Asuna. "Indeed you are strong against the young mage, but that is exactly the point. He is a mage, whilst you are a warrior. You have already begun expanding upon your ability of magic cancel. As I learned from the data presented to me about you, you had been captured by the enemy quite easily though you are a front line warrior.", Shisca brought her hands up in thought.
Asuna stomped on the ground, "I was ambushed I tell you!"
"That is besides the point.", Chachamaru sighed.
"The fact of the matter is, your base abilities as a warrior are not up to what they should be. As it is, I can say that you've been relying too much on your magic cancel. Your only purpose is to charge in against mages. When fighting guardians though is a completely different story.", Shisca spoke out. She frowned when she continued her lecture, "It seems that when you are fighting other warrior-types you exhibit difficulty. In short, you're nothing more than a bully against mages, but against fellow warriors, you serve no better than a distraction.".
The gosururi warrior could not accept the accusations as she answered in indignation, "How could you say that. I've fought plenty of strong guys during my time in fights and when I was a bounty hunter with Setsuna-san!". Asuna could not accept this, Setsuna had clearly told her that her skills were rising at an incredible pace. She was already acknowledged by Evangeline herself as competent. Why was she suddenly being told that she was weak now?
"It seems.", Shisca sighed, "that I have to show you the gap you must fill Asuna-san.". Shisca brought up her weapon. She held it out before her as she pressed her lips into a flat line. She pulled at the pink-ribbons that sealed the spear scabbard sealed. It came off in one smooth tug and disappeared into thin air.
Asuna was just about to ask what that was all about when she suddenly felt an immense pressure choking her. It reminded her of before in the magic world. Feeling a power that was as immense and deep as the ocean, like the first time she had seen Negi use Magia Erabia. She hid it back then, that feeling of drowning in the power. Why did this person give her the same feeling? "How?", she breathed before collapsing to her knees.
Even on the sidelines Chachamaru had begun to shy away from the aura that filled the void. Before the mortal Asuna could choke, the energy stopped and contracted. It compressed into one point, the point being Shisca.
"Can you see the difference now?", Shisca looked down at a kneeling and gasping Asuna. "Truth be told, I think you could only win against that little boy because he was going easy on you.". Asuna glared at Shisca as she continued without care, "Even though his magic can be cancelled by your abilities, I could tell that his capacity as a warrior naturally outstripped yours.".
Asuna breathed deeply, feeling her breath and senses slowly return to normal. The aura was easing, she was also getting used to the imposing presence. Asuna noticed that the girl before her had completely changed from her whispery tone turning hard with a solid edge. Her hair fore locks were tied in two separate twin tails with a piece of pink ribbon. The connecting piece in between and the loose ends fluttered in the wind with her cascading raven locks. Pink eyes met Asuna's own unmtaching ones. "That's-"
"A lie?", Shisca interrupted sharply. She looked down at the middle schooler coldly. She moved closer, her walk was nothing like her half clumsy walk now. There was only the grace and deadly precision of a warrior in her gait. She bent down to meet Asuna's eyes when she spoke in her most frigid tone, "Until the day you can defeat me, I cannot acknowledge you as strong. Because within the world I dwell, the world your master dwells. You are nothing more than a child.".
A child. It rang in her mind. Memories of the past came to her. Once more she watched as one of her companions had died. She had been told back then too. She was told that she could do nothing, because she was weak, because she was a child. With a roar of rage, Asuna brought out her hama no tsurugi and swung it down to strike Kizuna. Asuna came to her senses after feeling the impact against her blade. "Kami!", she breathed, "What have I done?". The gosururi warrior panicked as she took stock of her surroundings. Before her was a kneeling Shisca, and her state was still as immaculate as if she had not just taken a blow that cracked the earth beneath her.
"Roughly 4 or 5 tons.", she noted as she slid away Asuna's weapon from Kyouryou.
"Huh?", was Asuna's two-cents in the sudden conversation.
The guardian stood up, dusting herself off. "There may be hope for you yet.". She gave Asuna an appraising look. "By the time I'm done with you, I'll make the force of your strike reach at least 30 tons.".
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Shisca was finally done with the day's training. It seemed Evangeline had wanted to keep Asuna's teamwork in shape as well. In effect, all she was able to give Asuna was about four weeks of training. The girl's increase in raw power was amazing. She was amazed at how fast her growth was. Under normal circumstances, her power would only double at most with the given training. But when she was done, Asuna's strength had tripled at the very least.
The night was lovely, the guardian mused. The stars were out as she walked towards her little sanctuary. Her surroundings were not so much suited to stargazing though with the amount of lamplights scattered around. From Eva's cabin, it appeared that the quickest way to Mahora academy was through the park. Shisca had taken a mere glance at the moon's state and where it was located before resolving that it was around the end of the month at about seven in the evening. She quickened her pacc, thinking it best to rest up after all the work she'd done. Homework was all done at school so she didn't worry about it. Regular studies were no match for her trained memory as well. She was a trained guardian not only in combat but issues of intellect which included sciences, diplomacy, arts and even domestic tasks. She was supposed to be the perfect servant, protector and provider. Speaking of domestic tasks, the guardian found herself thinking back to her mistress' bento meal. It was honestly a wonderful bento meal. The praise was not an empty one. The ingredients were seasoned properly with corresponding spices that brought out the best flavors, the ratios could use some work but all in all it was wonderful.
"Your spacing out a bit more than usual.", came a female voice. From the brashness of tone however, one could have mistaken it as a young man's. Shisca paused, she'd never mistake that voice, never. It was her best friend's after all.
"Retsuko!", the guardian girl cried as she turned to the source of the voice. She was a bit too late as she sensed the familiar burning aura behind her. She felt tears well up in her eyes. "Long time no see.", she whispered out.
"Yeah.", was the short reply.
Shisca closed her eyes as she tried to picture her friend in her mind. "Have you changed much?", she asked in between silent sobs.
"Not really.", the girl said a bit wistfully.
"Flaming red and blonde hair cut just above the collar, eyes that glow like hot blue flame, lips set in a frown and eyes still glaring.", Shisca recited.
"It's pretty nostalgic.", Retsuko sighed.
"Do you still wear that flame patterned kimono I gave you?"
"Yeah, though I wear it loose with a pair of shorts now."
"You've come to kill me as well?", Shisca could not help but cry openly now.
"Yeah", was the steely reply.
Shisca hugged herself as she cried, "I've really missed you.".
The warmth was unexpected but very much welcome as Shisca felt arms envelop her. "This will be the last time I hug you.", Retsuko whispered bitterly into the guardians ears.
Shisca smiled as she leaned in, "Can I at least hug you back?".
"Sure.", was all she heard before the arms loosened enough for her to move a bit.
Shisca spun around and wrapped her arms around the other girl. Retsuko had grown considerably, the guardian noted. Though two years younger, the red-head was about an inch taller than her, last they met four years ago, Shisca was the one leading in height by an inch and a half. The currently shorter girl nuzzled into the crook of the younger girl's neck. "Can we stay like this a bit longer?", Shisca asked shakily. There was no reply at all. "As my reward.", she added but there was still no reply. "For old times sake.", she further continued her request.
The girl sighed as she rested her chin on Shisca's raven head. "You did guess everything correctly after all.", she held the girl closer.
Both were silent as they held each other close. They both knew though, in the end they were enemies that would have to kill each other. No matter the past sisterly bonds they shared.
Konoka was at her dorm room's kitchen, fresh from her visit of the still paralyzed Setsuna. The Konoe heiress pulled open the door. She quickly shed her coat and got to work on making dinner. She popped open the pantry and fridge for the things she'd need. As she mentally went over the ingredients that were required, her thoughts suddenly detoured towardsher bento recipes and eventually kiss cheating girl. Konoka smiled to herself as she pulled out a bento box from the pantry. "I guess I could make her dinner as well.".