Although her voice shook with her sleepiness, it still had a musical quality when it reached my ears. It was a wonderful tune. If I can hear her voice like this every time, then I should do this more often. 'Ah! Bad idea! How I could think such thoughts at a time like this?'

I was panicking and that was an understatement.

'What have I gotten myself into? Now that she's awake, what should I tell her? What should I do? Think Setsuna, think! Gah!'

Unfortunately, the pounding in my ears did not help the situation. Instead, it overpowered every sensation and coherent thought in my brain. My charge fell silent but her eyes didn't leave mine. She stared intently and a shiver ran along my spine. She must be seeing straight into my soul. 'I'm doomed... Stupid Setsuna...'

Breathe. Don't forget to breathe. 'Uh, were we playing a game now?'

Seconds burned into minutes but it would never compare to the intensity of the pseudo-staring contest that was transpiring between us. I should start retreating really fast and pretend that everything didn't happen—

I heard someone squeal then I felt something really soft hit my back. Wait, was that me? And why is Ojou-sama on top of me? What is happening?

'Why is the world spinning? Huh? She smells nice...'

—Apparently, while I was thinking too hard, Ojou-sama had deviously pulled me with her on the bed properly and managed to roll on top. Either her private training with Evangeline-san was paying off or I was losing my edge over her. My Shinmei-ryuu master would be disappointed if she finds out.

She bent down and whispered in my ear. "Secchan... why are you in my bed?" Her voice sounded so innocent. My heart skipped a beat. I couldn't answer. I swore I must have died due to all the blood rushing to my head. She always had this effect on me.

Breathe. Don't forget to breathe. 'What is she doing now? She's so close... Nooo...'

I felt something warm and wet tracing the outline of my right ear before it went downwards towards my neck. She began to lightly suck on that sensitive flesh and my eyes slowly rolled to the back of my head at the sensation.

"O-ojou-sama. I— ah. Please stop..." Without warning, the world went black.

My Dearest II by Magister of Discord

— I've been walking on a path, full of mistakes until now. —

Our relationship was supposed to stay the way it was. I was to remain a knight who swore to protect her princess. My task was very simple. I had to put her above everything and keep her from harm, including from myself.

A few weeks had passed and we were still playing games and having fun. We were both carefree, hers was on a higher level than mine, and just enjoyed our brief time together. I was only her bodyguard, not her friend.

One day, a miscalculated throw resulted in my charge failing to catch the ball and had the ball straying away from our usual play area. I quickly apologized and volunteered to retrieve the toy but she stopped me. She did like to do things on her own, giving her a bit of independence and freedom.

I had admired that headstrong quality of hers from the start.

The smile on her face had disarmed me and I had no choice but to let her do as she pleases. She quickly ran to the direction where the ball had bounced and rolled away from us.

Unfortunately, when she was almost there to retrieve the ball, a large stray dog had spotted her. The menacing creature had startled the princess. She forgot the ball and ran towards me.

When I saw the dog pursue her, my blood boiled. I snatched my sheathed weapon and ran to intercept the princess. That was the first time that I saw fear in her young eyes. I didn't want to see that look on her face again.

The princess conveniently hid behind me just as the rogue dog lunged at us. I raised my encased sword to block the attack, the animal's teeth sinking into the wooden case. I threw the dog off with a quick move and hit it once to pacify it.

The dog whimpered as it ran away and I turned around to check on my charge. My heart went to her at the sight.

"Ojou-sama..." She was shaking and crying softly. I awkwardly wrapped my arms around her and murmured gentle words in her ears to calm her. "I'm sorry..."

"N-no... don't apologize. It was my fault. I—" She sobbed harder against my chest.

"Shh... I'm here... I'll always be here for you..." I randomly traced some patterns on her back and it seemed to help her to calm down.

We both remained silent. She had already stopped crying and I had stopped rubbing her back. She raised her head from my chest and looked straight at my eyes. That was the first time that I forgot to breathe.

"Do you mean it? Will you really stay by side?" The look on her face was irresistible. I reaffirmed my vow to protect her and this time, I really meant it.

"Yes. Anything for you...Konoka Ojou-sama..." She smiled at me again and my face felt hot at the embarrassing pledge. The promise sounded like a love confession but she didn't mind it. I slowly removed my arms around her to save myself from making a total fool out of myself.

She stopped me midway. "Promise me another thing..." I stared at her eyes again.

"What is it?" She had a very serious expression on her face. That was another first. I readied myself for whatever request she wanted from me.

"Stop calling me Ojou-sama." I honestly didn't expect that request. We aren't equals so I mustn't call her anything other than the honorific that would be appropriate for someone like her. I started to protest. "No buts Secchan!"

I sighed and hung my head in defeat. "Then, what should I call you then?"

She whispered her answer in my ear. My face went redder than before. Do I really need to say it out loud? I didn't want to embarrass myself further. Once is already enough. I quickly changed the subject.

Time to go home now, I guess. We both dusted ourselves and I made sure that she wasn't physically hurt in any way. I checked for scratches on her person. There was none. That's good.

When I finished my assessment, I realized that her dress was slightly torn. Now, how do I explain this to her family? Konoemon-sama might ignore my blunder but Eishun-sama might punish me. No, he wouldn't do that. He's too kind for that.

They might go easy on me but Master might not. I swallowed at the realization.

— Mahou Sensei Negima! —

Whenever Konoka Ojou-sama was around, trying to concentrate on other things seemed to be harder than I thought. I remembered another memory from my early teens when I was practicing my Shinmei-ryuu Arts.

I had already finished the first set of my routine and was about to move to the more advance sets. I wiped at the sweat that formed on my forehead and paused to regulate my breathing before starting again.

I saw her from the corner of my right eye and turned my head in her direction. She was watching me while leaning against a tree; she was looking bored. When our eyes met, she grinned at me and got off the tree.

I shifted my focus from her to work on perfecting my form once more. I took my normal starting stance, feet a few inches apart; even distribution of body weight on both legs. I inhaled deeply, letting oxygen fan outwards from my lungs to the tips of my fingers and toes. My weapon that was out of its container, a nodachi with the name of Yuunagi, was already raised above my head. Here I go—

"Secchaaannn!" "...Zangetsu-eeep! K-kono-chan!"

—The princess crept behind me and jumped on my back before I was able to start the next set. She was holding onto my shoulders for support. "Ne, Secchan... Let's go to the flower garden!" I shook my head.

"My apologies, Ojou-sama but... Master will be angry if I slack from my training." I allowed her to get off my back so that I could face her. She pouted at me. Great... Here comes—

"Secchaaaaaan... pleeeaaaase?"

—Her puppy eyes, when combined with her pout, made her utterly irresistible. Why does she look so... adorable? I had lost this round again. I sighed before I acquiesced to her request.

A few hours later...

We were idly sitting side by side near the coastline, trying to enjoy yet another peaceful day together. Well, I was trying to enjoy my time in leisure but the princess was a restless bundle of energy. Before I noticed it, she was again running on the grassy fields along the coastline while I laid back and looked at the sky.

"Ne, Secchan... look at the clouds... They're beautiful, aren't they?"

I hummed in agreement. Master would be angry with me for postponing my training. She'll tell me how irresponsible I am.

"...there's one shaped like a bunny! Oh, look! There's a butterfly! I want to catch it!"

What if my skills got dull? Will I be able to keep protecting Ojou-sama? Will my sword be enough to keep her from harm?

"...Secchan? Secchan?"

Do I deserve her? What if she doesn't need me anymore? What if she leaves me? What if she—

"Help me... Secchan!"

—My ears were alerted to the sound of her panicked voice. To my horror, my charge was already starting to drown. Why didn't I foresee the apparent danger earlier? My heart stopped beating for a second before I jumped in after her without hesitation.

This was the first time that I had failed her.

— Mahou Sensei Negima! —

"OJOU-SAMA!" Am I dreaming? What's going on? Where's Konoka Ojou-sama?

When I opened my eyes, it was dark. Why am I wearing a blindfold? Where am I? What happened last night? Why am I wet? I felt something cold and hard around my wrists. I tried moving my arms but I couldn't.

Chains. I tried using my half-demon strength to break free but I couldn't. Argh. Where's my sword when I need it? I tried struggling again against my binds but soon found that I was losing my strength with each passing second. I was bound by magically enhanced chains.

Frustration swelled inside my body and I was forced to try to gather my inner energies to destroy the chains that bound me to the wall. The chains heated almost to a melting point. At first, I thought that the chains would melt under my magic but at the last minute, the chains glowed and sent a backlash of energy straight through my body.

It was horrible.

It felt like I was struck by a thousand lightning bolts inside. White-hot pain seared my entire being. Every fiber and every nerve tingled painfully at the sensation. I bit my tongue, hard enough to draw blood, to stop myself from screaming in agony.

'What kind of nightmare is this?! Wake up Setsuna!'

I nearly passed out from the pain but I heard laughter that had the hairs on the back of my neck stand. I can never forget that horrifying sound.

It was her.

"Sempai? Nice of you to finally wake up..."

— Mahou Sensei Negima! —

A/N: That's a wrap! I just hope that Setsuna's dream sequence(s) was/ere not that confusing. More will be explained in the succeeding chapters!

Magister of Discord out!