Chapter 9: Awakenings, Movie things, and Something else that rhymes!

A/N: Hey all! How's it going? Anyway here's a still warm out of the oven chapter for ya'll. Now that's out of the way let's get on with the show!

Laughing Dragon Hot Spring 3:27PM

John's eye's fluttered open and took in the room around him automatically while his mind went over the strange conversation that he had. What was that shadow? And why did I feel compelled to answer? The Spartan did a quick check to make sure he could move. Lost limbs? No. Crippling pain? No. Broken bones? No. Good. Getting up quickly John noticed he was wearing a yukata and that he was not in the room that he had been assigned.

John glanced at the gem on his left hand and muttered in Greek, "Barrier Jacket. Set Up." John's form was consumed with blue fire for a brief second and when it died down the Spartan was wearing a different set of clothes.

Black slacks with dark blue knee guards and silver armored boots now covered his lower body. His upper body was now clad in a basic black t-shirt and a dark blue vest opened. He was also now wearing a dark blue duster with dark green flames at the hem. His hands where now covered with fingerless dark blue gloves that left the gem on his left hand and the tattoo on his right palm exposed.

John needed a course of action and after a few seconds of thought came up with one. I need to find Negi. I'll probably need to act overtly, so that 'discreet assistance' ROE is out the window for now. Time to ask around. John quickly exited the room he was in and noticed that it was Negi's room.

I wonder what they told the class? Well... it doesn't matter now I guess. John listened intently and picked up that some sort commotion was going on out side. Exiting by simply jumping out a nearby window, John circled the building and spotted Ku Fei sparing with Mana. Mana was quickly weaving around Ku Fei strikes, while Ku Fei was constantly trying different kung-fu styles. As John stepped out into the clearing both girls stopped their match to turn to see who had interrupted them.

Ku Fei, seeing who it was, blushed and looked down at the ground. Mana was having a hard time not blushing herself, as John cut a downright majestic figure in his barrier jacket, and that's not even mentioning the aura of peace he now exuded. John gave a polite but infinitely graceful bow and it took all Mana's self control not turn cherry red. Ku Fei had no such problem and promptly passed out from a nose bleed. John raised one silver cultured eyebrow at Ku Fei's actions and Mana felt a little bit of heat in her cheeks despite her ministrations.

John coughed into his fist and asked, "I'm looking for someone." Mana, quite unlike her, squeaked back, "Who?" John cocked his head at Mana quizzically and Mana's slight blush increased, "Negi-sense-" Mana pointed in a direction and John looked where she was pointing. Turning back, John asked in a questioning tone, "That way?" Mana nodded.

John gave her a small smile, displaying his perfect white teeth, and said, "Thank you for the help Tatsumiya-san." Mana joined Ku Fei in unconsciousness after John turned around gracefully and bounded away. Mana's last thought as she joined Ku Fei in darkness was, What the hell was that?

John decided to take to the air to cover more ground and the gem on his hand responded by saying, "Pegasus Wing!" in greek. Two small white wings appeared on each ankle. The Spartan shot into the air with one mighty heave of his legs. Once he gained a certain amount of altitude he stopped hovering and in greek muttered, "Search. Springfield, Negi."

The gem on his left hand spoke in greek with a heavily distorted male voice, "Subject, Springfield Negi, is out of range." John sighed and muttered, "I figured as much..." John thought for a few seconds and decided to try something. Speaking in greek, John asked, "Search. Konoe, Konoka?" The gem on his hand flashed once deep green and spoke in its distorted greek, "The Three Fate's!"

The Spartan raised his hand as a trio of dice with red and blue sides appeared. He threw them into the air and caught them as they came down. John opened his fist. Two of the dice had come up red, while one had come up blue. The gem on his left hand announced, "Present!" in greek and a holographic window opened in front of him, displaying a map of the area as he viewed it from his location. A large red dot with the tag 'Konoe, Konoka' on it moved across the map.

The window vanished a few seconds later and John flew toward the ground, deciding to walk. John's thoughts turned introspective as he made contact with terra-firma. Have I been living? Or just going through the motions. I truly don't know, but for now I think I'll just 'go with the flow' as Curt used to say.

As John set off through the underbrush at high speed a man in a brown trench coat and black fedora stepped out of some nearby shadows. "Look's like the boy's Called has summoned his item and from what I can tell, its quite powerful." His shadow quickly rose from the ground and a small black cat took form on his shoulder. "Agreed. I can feel the magic of that gem from here. I think a little test is in order to find out it's abilities Jessie."

The fedora clad man shook his head bemusedly. "Don't call me that. The Master does not like us to use are... former names." The cat on his shoulder yawned and looked in the direction John went. "Then let's get going, Hatter..."

Cinema Town, Kyoto, 3:29PM

The sound of running echoed down the streets as four figures ran on. Konoka, Setsuna, Yui and Haruna had been walking along like any other group when Setsuna started to run, taking Konoka with her. Yui and Haruna took a few seconds to process what had happened and then sprinted to catch up.

This is bad! Thought Setsuna as a few more projectiles came flying through the air at Konoka. Setsuna casually snatched them out of the air causing Yui and Haruna to look at her questioningly. Why are they attacking now? Before it was just harassment and trick's, now it's full-blown attacks, in broad daylight no less! Her thoughts where interrupted when Yui spoke up, "Huh! Isn't this Cinema Town? Did you want to go to Cinema Town Sakurazaki-san? You could have told us!"

Setsuna thought, perfect, and proceeded to scoop up Konoka in her arms. "I'm sorry Yui-san, Haruna-san. I want to alone with Oojo-sama for a bit!" Setsuna then jumped the wall separating the street from Cinema Town, leaving the now confused Haruna and Yui standing at the gates.

After a few seconds Haruna's face split in what could only be described as a perverted grin, while Yui was muttering to herself, "It should be impossible to jump that far by yourself, let alone with a person in your arms..." Haruna grabbed Yui's arm a few seconds later and said, "Come on Yui! All of a sudden I want to go to Cinema Town too."

In one of the back alleys of Cinema Town Setsuna breathed a sigh of relief. Good, maybe they won't attack as overtly with all these people around. "Nee, nee, Set-chan look!" Turning around, Setsuna was struck speechless. "Hehe. How do I look Set-chan?" Konoka was now clad in a elegant kimono that perfectly suited her. "Umm... ahh... you.. you look beautiful Oojou-sama."

Konoka smiled, "Set-chan come with me to those changing booths over there and I'll pick something out!" Setsuna weakly protested as Konoka dragged her to the booth's. A few minutes later Setsuna was wearing a Shinsengumi uniform and mildly blushing. "Yuunagi (A/N: Her big ass sword) doesn't suit this costume at all."

About two minutes later, Setsuna was wishing that she was a member of the real Shisengumi as she wouldn't have to deal with over enthusiastic fan girls asking for more pictures of her and Konoka. Her thoughts where interrupted by the arrival of a carriage. Tsukuyomi was dressed like some rich western noble women and started to talk. Some heated words where exchanged and Setsuna's fellow swordswomen challenged her to a duel.

Setsuna accepted and Tsukuyomi left.

Cinema Town bridge, Kyoto, 3:54PM

The fight was not going in Setsuna's favor. Tsukuyomi turned out to be a skilled swordswomen as she was and she had the advantage of a shorter weapon. As she and Tsukuyomi exchanged quick blow's her thoughts turned to the only positive thing to have happened in this situation. At least Negi-sensei was able to get Oojou-sama away. Setsuna spared a quick glance at Incou's group being... umm, attacked and/or molested by some low level spirits and monsters.

How did they get involved in this again? Her subconscious responded instantly, by dumb luck and a large helping of Murphy's law. Setsuna mentally struck her open palm with her fist, Oh, right...

Looking back at Tsukuyomi, Setsuna muttered, "Has the Shinmeiryuu taken to keeping monsters?" Tsukuyomi smiled and replied, "Don't worry. I won't hurt those children Setsuna-sempi." Setsuna was about to respond when a voice in her ear she knew spoke, "Move please..." Setsuna jumped back and several dark blue sphere's of energy flew at Tsukuyomi, who was forced to doge.

Setsuna heard a flat computer like voice announce something in a language she did not know nearby. As the barrage fell off, Tsukuyomi was reviled to be standing in the wreckage, unharmed but breathing heavily. Setsuna was about to attack when John, clad in some new clothes, placed a hand on her shoulder and said, "Go, bodyguard. I'll handle this one." Setsuna was confused for a second but after breathing in deeply she was able to gather her wit's. Tsukuyomi's face flashed briefly to rage as Setsuna left but it quickly passed.

After Turing to John said in a overly sweet voice, "You took my sempi from me. You'll pay for that you silver haired bishsounen!"

Tsukuyomi launched herself from the wreckage at extreme speed's. John watched Tsukuyomi come with clinical detachment. After Tsukuyomi reached the halfway point, John crouched slightly and muttered in greek, "Move." The gem on his hand announced in greek, "Hermes Flash!" and John vanished, only to reappear with his open palm on Tsukuyomi's solar plexus. John looked her in the eye as Tsukuyomi mouthed 'bastard' and John shrugged as she fell unconscious. The Spartan spared a quick glance at his classmates to make sure they where all right.

The Monsters that Tsukuyomi had summoned where acting a bit off, like they where drunk. John thought about the tactical implications of leavening the monsters alone for half a second before mentally shook his head and acted. Two seconds later the various monsters and low level sprits that filled the area started to pop like balloon's. Ayaka had just taken care of a kappa and was about to go look for Negi when a giant cat statue... thing fell from the sky toward her. Ayaka crouched and closed her eyes, waiting for it to squash her.

Just as it was about to impact a glove clad hand shot out and held it at chest level while a voice Ayaka knew asked softly, "Are you alright Inchou?" Opening her eye's she beheld John in his blue glory with the giant cat... thing held with one hand. The Spartan slashed the... cat thing with his other hand and causing it to burst and release some smoke. Ayaka, unsure what to say, nodded.

John searched the area for more threats, while his classmates collected themselves. After a few brief seconds of awkward silence on the girls part Yui managed to ask, "Ano... John-san what are you doing here? I thought you fell down the stairs and where recuperating at the hot spring..." John, meanwhile, had his face in his palm.

Fell down the stairs? That's my cover story? I'm grace incarnate compared to some of these people. Of all the stupid things to tell them... falling down the stairs. That's it! Next time I see Negi where going to have a little talk... Falling down stairs. Ughhh, I feel a headache coming on.

The Spartan looked up from his palm and said in a slightly strained voice, "I got better." Yui, looking away and blushing, nodded. Damnit! He's even got bishie sparkles now! (A/N: Through a combination of light bouncing off the lake behind him and his sliver hair... or something.)

The other's where all blushing rather hard until John turned around and started to walk away. "I have to go. Excuse me." Kasumi was taking as many pictures as possible with a little disposable camera she had bought at a nearby street vendor. I'm going to start selling these on campus! I'll make thousands! She stopped taking pictures and looked down at her camera.

I'm going to get to the bottom of you one day, John Springfield! (A/N: That's the fake name the Headmaster set John up with.) John moved quickly into a alleyway and muttered in greek, "Move."

"Hermes Flash!"

Cinema Town castle roof, 3:54:32PM

The arrow flew through the air with a evil hiss heading right toward Negi, Chamo and Konoka. As the arrow got closer to Negi something shocking happened, Negi smirked and stepped aside. Monkey women, A.K.A. Chigusa stared opened mouth as Negi's action's allowed the arrow to fly right past him and straight at Konoka.

A blur shot up the side of the castle and jumped in front of Konoka. The blur resolved itself into Setsuna with her arms wide, planning to take the arrow to protect her Oojou-sama. A inch away from her shoulder a hand with a gem on the back snatched it out of the air. John flexed a finger and the arrow was reduced to splinters. John eyed Negi and said in a soft voice, "I happen to know that Negi's unconscious. Meaning you're not him."

False Negi smiled, showing a bit too many teeth and asked in a equally soft voice, "How did you know?" John narrowed his eye's a bit, "Why should I give up any information... who am I talking to anyway?" Negi's body blackened and expanded. A few seconds later a man with hawkish features, a brown trench coat, a black body suit and a rather nice fedora stood in his place. The man smiled and gave a extravagant bow, "You may call me the Hatter, Called of Caller Negi Springfield."

Chigusa, in a annoyed tone, asked loudly, "Who are you two?" John ignored the women. "Setsuna-san." The swordswomen, who was rather shocked at this point, asked dazedly, "Yes?" John looked over his shoulder at her, "Take Konoka-san and run. This is not you're fight." Setsuna shook herself out of her stupor and nodded. Grabbing her Oojou-sama's hand, Setsuna took off leavening John, the strange man, Chigusa and the silver haired boy alone on the roof top.

Chigusa, tired of being ignored, stomped her foot and gestured at the demon she had summoned. "Fine, take care of them please. Hurry up, we have to capture Oojou-sama and the longer we take here, the bigger the lead that her and her bodyguard get." The silver haired boy said nothing and continued to watch. The demon raised it's bow again and prepared to fire. John, keeping the stranger in his line of sight, raised his left hand and snapped his fingers at the demon.

The gem on his hand announced in greek, "Siren Song!" A small chime sounded from the gem and the demon's eye's took on a glazed look and asked the Spartan, "Yes?" John gestured at Chigusa, "Keep her busy." The demon smiled and fired off a arrow at it's summoner. Chigusa ducked underneath the arrow and took off screaming at the demon as it continued to attack her. The silver haired boy moved to assist Chigusa but John made a slashing gesture at the boy's feet.

The gem, speaking in greek, announced, "Chain's of the Kraken!" A small blue magic circle appeared underneath the silver haired boy. Out of the circle shot black chain's that resembled octopus tentacles that quickly bound the boy. The stranger started to clap, "Bravo! I know about the 'no killing' rule that the Headmaster of you're school gave you and I must say I'm impressed with how you've stuck to you're guns, so to speak of course."

The stranger smiled. "I must say, you're rather strange for a Called. Most are just brutes or assassins, yet you appear to be rather clever. Tactic's wise at least. I must ask, however did you know I was not you're Caller?" John, feeling compelled to answer, said, "I felt him doing something then fall unconscious about a dozen minutes ago..." The smile vanished and cruel smirk replaced it. "Interesting that you're Bond has grown that strong in such a short amount of time. To bad I'm going to have to ki-" The stranger never got to finish his statement as John's right knee impacted full force into his face.

The stranger's head had snapped back while the Spartan was frowning internally as something about the hit felt... off. A shadowy hand shot out of the stranger's body suit and grabbed his exposed ankle. The hand then threw John a good dozen yards straight back. The Spartan skidded to a stop and quickly got to his feet. The hand retracted into the Hatter's body suit and the stranger chuckled, "That was rather rude." John was frowning and thinking hard, I know I hit him. So, why is he still standing? I've snapped steel beams with the force I put in that blow.

The Hatter leaned foreword and smirked, "I can see you're confused. I'll give you a hint: I AM Chaos Theory." The silver haired boy took in a quick breath and breathed out, "Chaos Magic..." The Hatter looked at the boy from the corner of his eye and his smirked deepened, "Someone knows their history, I see." John took the opportunity to attack, his gem announcing, "Hermes Flash!" John vanished and reappeared with a fist hovering over the Hatter's stomach.

The Hatter continued to smirk, unmoved and said quietly, "Seventeen hits? Not bad." The silver haired boy widened his eye's a bit and whispered, "I didn't see a the first hit, let alone the other sixteen..." The stranger's smirk curled into a sinister smile. "My turn!" The black body suit launched itself at John forming thousands of black blades and grinning fanged skull's. John vanished and reappeared by the silver haired boy with the black wave of death tearing up the roof toward them. The Spartan raised his left hand and muttered in greek, "Block." The gem announced, "Titan Shield!" and a huge magic circle appeared in front of John and the bound boy.

The two forces collided with a titanic 'Crack!' and the people below where starting to get excited at how 'realistic the CG was'. A few seconds later the unstoppable force of the black wave broke against the immovable object that was John's shield. The wave receded back to the Hatter and became the body suit again. A small cat formed on the ground next to the Hatter a few seconds later. It hissed at John and said in a low voice to the Hatter, "That hurt! Never make me do that again!" The Hatter picked up the cat and started petting it, "Sorry Cheshire! The Master said to test him and you know what happens if I disobey..."

John was going to attack again while the Hatter was distracted when the boy beside him spoke up, "It won't work. That man is a Chaos Mage. His magic allows him to control probabilities. Any time you attack him his magic allows him to ignore the damage it would of caused, because it technically did no damage."John looked over at the boy from the corner of his eye and said, "Thanks'." The boy continued to stare at the Hatter with dead eye's and said, "You have no need to thank me. You saved me from his attack, so i'm just returning the favor." John nodded and thought about several courses of action.

The Hatter spoke up, "I see the boy filled you in. Good, now you see how out matched you are! Give up! With Cheshire, my Called here, I have prefect offence and with my magic I have the prefect defense-" John cut him off and raised his right hand and made like he was holding a gun, "You talk to much." The gem announced, "SHRIKE! Aries Aspect, Engaged!" John's right hand was engulfed with blue fire for a moment and when it died down a massive blue pistol filled his hand. John took aim and pulled the trigger while his gem announced, "Devastator Shot!"

A blue beam of destruction flew across the intervening space instantly. The tiles underneath the beam started to smolder and smoke and those on the periphery of the beam cracked. The lance of deadly energy struck the Hatter right in the chest, sending him flying from the roof top and beyond. The boy beside John was wide eyed and breathless. In a horse voice he asked, "How? It should have been impossible to hurt him, let alone send him flying!" John said in a quiet voice, "I noticed that every time before I hit him he made a little, almost impossible to catch gesture. That led me to believe that his magic was bound to his reflexes. So, I hit him with something that was too fast to block."

The boy stared wide eyed at John, "You figured all that out after one little explanation!" John turned to the boy and dismissed the pistol, his gem announcing, "Aries Aspect, Retrieved!" "You can stay here for a while. That bind should hold you for a good part of the day. Now if you excuse me." John ran to the edge of the roof and jumped down.

Fate, the silver haired boy, stared at the spot John had jumped down from and muttered, "I wonder what his name is." Fate started to think, I thought that Chaos Mages where all dead, that's what the Purge(1) was supposed to do. How is one still alive? And in some kind of partner ship with a Shadow Cat(2)? Those things are extra planer! The amount of energy to summon one that powerful would take 90 percent of the local mage population! Fate was broken out of his thoughts when something came into his field of vision.

What the hell? Eight men had appeared in a white magic circle. One man seemed to be posing while the other's stood normally. The posing man, clad in his blindly orange jacket, raised his head and started to bellow, "BEHOLD! The mighty and majestic TODD!" The man waited for a few seconds, then, with a annoyed snap of his fingers caused two of six white and blue uniformed men to pull out baskets and start throwing sakura petals in the air.

A much older man with a deep green jacket and gray hair blinked rapidly at Fate and exclaimed, "Jimmy! It's so good to see you! How are the kid's? And when did you become a midget! They must have spell's for everything these day's!" Fate looked on flabbergasted and one of the white and blue uniformed people stepped forward and coughed into his fist. "Excuse them. They don't get out much... yeah. Anyway, I'm Ken and where from the TSAB (A/N: Not gonna write that out every time, sorry). We would like to know if you've seen anyone... out of place."

Fate raised one silver eyebrow and asked, "You mean beside you?" The man was about to respond when Todd grandly gestured at Ken, "Hold peon! I will do the questioning here. I'm a Enforcer after all!" Ken narrowed his eye's at Todd and spoke through gritted teeth, "Sir. I can handle this- wait! You're hair Sir. the wind must of put it out of place!" Todd whipped out a mirror and fell to his knees before starting to cry. "NOOO! This can not be! The mighty Todd, out in public looking like a beggar! I'll never live this down!"

Ken then looked at the old man and gestured at Todd's boots. "Commander T'even look! Live Mana grenades!" The older man pounced on Todd's footwear and with a quickness that belied his age had snatched them off. With a yell of 'FIRE IN THE HOLE' the old man chucked them over the edge of the roof. Todd was right behind his boots over the edge. "You senile old lunatic! Do you have any idea what those cost!" A splash was heard, then silence.

Ken placed his hand on his chin and thought for a bit. "Oh yeah. I forgot he can't swim... Oh well..." The white and blue uniformed man turned back to Fate, "So, kid, about my question..." Commander T'even started to ramble about 'VC' while the men who had been throwing sakura petals the entire time looked at one another, "Does this mean we can stop now? Cause my arm's are getting tired." The other shrugged and said, "Don't know."

Both sighed and the first man muttered, "Great.."

Underneath a pile of rubble about two hundred yards away, the shadows started to move.

Hull Number 117 Star Fury Class Dreadnought Lady Luck, A Few Minutes Later...

Admiral Jack frowned at the com panel, "What do you mean 'You just missed it' ? The teleported tech tells me he place you right on top of the fight!" Sgt. 1st Class Ken Rendo (TSAB Marine Corps) shook his head, "I have a local here who saw the whole thing Sir he's also been bound with a similar style of magic to Mid's. He say's we just missed it by a minute or two." Ken looked off screen and seemed to be in deep thought.

A few seconds later he spoke. "Umm Sir. I think I know why we arrived late. The local I've got here knows about magic Sir, just not our type of magic. I think local mages are causing interference somehow." Jack looked over at the Captain. "It fit's with what's been going on with our equipment. Run a scan for magic, back ground and controlled, please."

Julie summoned a holographic keyboard and started to type away rapidly. Two minutes later, Julie's normally controlled face showed clear surprise. "Sir... This world and Mars are putting out more magic than ten Midchilda's..." Jack quickly pulled up the data Julie was looking at and frowned. "That should be impossible. That much magic would warp reality for a couple AU's. Unless..."

Jack speedily typed away and a moment later smiled. "No wonder they have that much magic. Julie, these people live in a Mana Well(3)." Julie cracked a small smile and issued some quick orders via com windows. "Transporter, recalibrate the Porter for a Mana well. Engineering make sure where shielded from any back lash. Sgt. Rendo get you're men back here."

Jack stood from the Captain's chair and turned to Julie smirking, "We've got some planning to do. Let's make it hap'en Cap'en!" Julie sighed and asked deadpan, "You've been dieing to use that, haven't you Sir?" Jack grinned and put a little extra bounce in his step as he entered the elevator.

"Yup!"

End Chapter 9...

Glossary:

(1): The Purge was a movement on Mundis Magicas to get rid of Chaos Mages about twenty years ago. Chaos magic threatened to destabilize the dimensional imprint of Mundis it's self so they had to go. Considered a dark day in the history of the magical world.

(2): A Shadow Cat is a extra plainer creature that feed's on other shadows, seen extremely rarely as the amount of magic needed to summon a normal sized one is huge, so only small Cat's have been seen. The cat the Hatter Called would be considered the largest and most powerful Cat to date.

(3): A Mana Well is a dimension that has huge amounts of background magic gathered in life bearing worlds. They are rare, thus Jack and Julie's surprise.

Musical Inspiration:

John's awakening: Bestie Boy's, Girls

Cinema Town: System of a Down, Old School Hollywood

Cinema Town Bridge: Detroit Metal City, Slash Killer

Cinema Town Castle Roof: 36 Crazy Fists, We Cannot Deny

"Sorry Cheshire!": Papa Roach, Blood (Empty Promises)

"Behold! The mighty and majestic TODD!": Reel Big Fish, I'm Cool

Lady Luck: Bestie Boy's, Intergalactic

PREVIEW CHAPTER 10

Zeio: *In swim trunks* Where's that Shark? I'm supposed to be jumping it for the fourth time!

Chamo: Ano... Zeio-san should you be wanting to be jumping it at all?

Zeio: Quiet Token Mascot Character! I know what I'm doing!

Chamo: *Utterly crushed... again*

John: I blew it up...

Zeio: You blew what up?

John: The Shark. It was getting in the way of my new Job *Gestures at his Life Guard gear*

Zeio: I suppose that makes sense... I think?

Negi: Ano, Zeio-san, when am I going to wake up? I'm getting a cramp laying here.

Zeio: Oh that? Hmmm... I'll get back to you on that!

Negi: *Start's to cry*

Zeio: Asuna! You're not unconscious at the moment, come help me do the preview!

Asuna: I'll help as long as you don't knock me out next chapter...

Zeio: I make no promises...

Zeio & Asuna: Next time on Negima! Void Callers Chronicl-

Zeio: Where out of time again!

Till next time, ya'll!

Chapter 10: One long night! Part One

End A/N: I've got one vote for Mana so far as for pairings and nothing for Negi. I hope you like battle with the Hatter and John, even if both where holding back massively. A rematch is coming up soon with Negi in the action. Caller vs. Caller, Called vs Called! Woo!