My mind reeled at all the questions to ask and demands that I wanted to scream at her. I was infuriated to say the least. What did she do to Ojou-sama? How did she capture me? Why is she here? Where am I? What does she want with—?

I heard a slashing sound and my torn blindfold fell from my eyes. The bright light wounded my sight and I saw the only person that I had learned to hate from the beginning, even though I didn't want to. She was smiling at me.

"Sempai..." She pouted. It was a sickening sight. "That is not how you are supposed to greet someone when you wake up..."

"Tsukuyomi! What did you do to Ojou-sama?! Release me at once or I'll..."

"Sempai..." She pouted at me. It was far from cute. "...that's not nice... threatening a helpless girl like me..."

She ambled towards me while I tried with all my might to break out of my chains. Nothing happened. She was still getting closer to me. I tried to break the chains again; the backlash of energy had already hit me thrice but I didn't care. 'Argh! C'mon! Work with me, stupid chains...'

The bespectacled mercenary stopped a few inches in front of me. She was flashing her devilish smile at me as she examined me from head to toe. I involuntarily shuddered even though I didn't know why. She was wearing her Gothic outfit and the sword on her side held an ominous aura. She extended her hand to touch my face.

'Nooo! Unhand me at once you filthy demon!' I cringed at my helplessness.

"Sempai..." The hand moved to caress one of my cheeks. Then it traveled to trace the outline of my face, starting from my forehead to my jawline, her head rested once more on my cheek. Her thumb began to swirl patterns on my rounded flesh. "You have no idea how much I want you right now..."

Stop touching me!, I screamed in my mind.

Enraged, I tried to move my head so that I can bite her wandering hand. No one is allowed to touch me like that! I felt violated even though it looked and felt like a harmless gesture. She shook her head and laughed again. My blood boiled at the sound, I gritted my teeth.

"Get. Your. Hand. Off. Me. Tsu. Ku. Yo. Mi."

"Why. Don't. You. Make. Me? Sempai…"

The glare that I gave her didn't affect the other woman. She had removed her hand but her face was already centimeters from mine. My face felt hot at the close proximity and I lost my composure, despite the situation. Only Ojou-sama should have this kind of effect on me.

Slowly, she moved impossibly closer, our lips were almost touching. I could feel her breath tickling my lips. I need to act fast or this fiend would corrupt me in the next second.

Since my feet weren't chained, I swiftly used one of my knees to deal a swift attack to her gut. Of course, it didn't reach her but at least she backed away and I was able to breathe easier again. My heartbeat slowed once more.

"Aww... Sempai... Why do you hate me so much?" She frowned at me and the dangerous aura surrounding her had flared, it almost filled the entire room. I seriously have no time to deal with her. I must get back to my charge as soon as possible. I swear, if something happened to Ojou-sama while I'm here... I'll—

A sharp knee connected to my gut and knocked the wind out of me. Another wave of pain erupted when the attack was followed by a harsh elbow to my back after I had bent during the first hit.

"I just wanted to play with you, Setsuna-sempai..."

The world spun and I lost consciousness after receiving the third hit: her sheathe had been smashed to my head.

My Dearest III by Magister of Discord

— You know, never in my life have I been able to smile so much... —

Forgive me Kono-chan... I didn't want to get you hurt, which is why I should distance myself. You'll get hurt again if I get close to you. I'm sorry... but this is for the best.

The adults had saved both of us from drowning that time. I felt ashamed, really ashamed. They didn't punish me but I had felt lower than dirt. I was given a simple task and I had failed. What if Kono-chan had drowned and left me all alone? I won't be able to see her smile again. Could I live with myself, knowing that I was the one who had caused her pain?

How could I hurt someone who gave meaning to my worthless existence?

How could I betray that trust?!

I don't deserve her smile anymore...

I decided that I should never get that close to her. I should really focus on protecting her, not getting closer to her. This had to stop before she gets too attached to me...

A few days after...

"Secchan..." She had found me one morning in the forest where I was training again. "Why are you avoiding me? Did I do something wrong?"

I shook my head and wordlessly resumed my intense training. I didn't pay attention to the frown on her face. I have a duty to keep and I wouldn't dare to fail again. I wouldn't dare to risk her life again. I swore to never repeat the same mistake.

"Secchan..." She tried to approach me but I had already jumped high, twisted and somersaulted in midair before landing a few meters away from her. "Talk to me please... Are you mad at me?"

I looked at her and spared her a sad smile. "You didn't do anything wrong, Ojou-sama. Please do not be worried by the sudden change. This is for the better, I assure you." I gestured for us to return to her home since I had already finished my morning set. I waited for her to catch up to me and allowed her to be ahead by a few inches before I started following her like a faithful dog.

We were both silent. It was unnerving but it was also a welcomed change. She abruptly stopped in the middle of the tracks and I almost bumped into her. One of my eyebrows was slightly raised and I gave her a confused look. Without a word, she slowly reached for my hand and grasped it before continuing forward. The action completely caught me off-guard.

My cheeks flushed and I swallowed my embarrassment. Control yourself Setsuna! This needs to stop. "O-ojou-sama. P-please let go of m-my h-hand. This action is highly inappropriate."

"Why, Secchan?" She tilted her head to look at me while she continued walking. Her face was serious, almost unreadable. She squeezed my hand tighter. "Is it wrong for friends to hold hands?"

I swallowed the lump that formed in my throat before giving my careful answer. "I do apologize but I mean no offense. I am only your bodyguard, not your friend. You shouldn't think highly of me..." I chose to look at the ground, my face burning with shame.

I didn't dare to look at her eyes when I said that but I can feel that she was hurt by what I just told her. She quickly dropped my hand and continued walking, her pace had quickened somehow. We resumed our journey in silence, painful silence. Um, should I apologize to her again? Stupid Setsuna! You're making things worse...

I didn't want this. She didn't want this. We didn't want this. Unfortunately, we didn't have a choice. It was better this way, I reminded myself.

Absence does not make the heart grow fonder... it certainly does not.

— Mahou Sensei Negima! —

We had drifted away and our so called 'relationship' didn't improve no matter how hard she tried to fix it. My willpower was the only thing that kept me sane since I had to endure watching her from the shadows again.

Years had passed and she moved to Mahora Academy for Girls to continue her studies. Of course, I had followed her and resumed my bodyguard duties under the direct orders of Konoemon-sama, her grandfather and principal of the prestigious school.

Our school field trip back to Kyoto was fun since I had a chance to get close to her again for a limited time. My heart swelled with joy since I had felt whole again, since I was reunited with her again. Unfortunately, all good things must come to an end.

"Ojou-sama!" Without hesitation I had shielded her from the arrow that was mistakenly sent her way. The arrow embedded in my shoulder, yet I only flinched even though it had hurt a lot. I had to be strong for my charge. I heard her gasp and she shouted my name too late.

We were on a roof to escape from the attempted assault on Ojou-sama. My balance was tipped off and I fell from the roof, the pain dulled my reflexes. It was a good three-storey drop. Looks like I would fall to my death. How tragic, the protagonist falls from a high place and her demise is witnessed by her most important person. "Secchan!" The world moved in slow motion during my descent. I was still gripping my shoulder as I looked up to see her face one last time.

With tears on her pretty face, she frantically jumped after me. I was shocked to my core by the reckless move she just did. Shame came back to my senses. Why would she risk her life for someone as low as me?

I didn't get a chance to react. I just closed my eyes and waited for the inevitable impact. By closing my eyes, I wouldn't be able to see her crying face when we will be crushed by the concrete floor below. I mentally did a countdown as I braced myself for what would happen next.

I waited. I waited again. I waited some more. That's funny. I didn't feel anything. When I opened my eyes, I saw Ojou-sama hovering— no; we were both hovering a few inches from the ground. We were surrounded by a bright aura that seemed to radiate from her. Slowly, the wound on my shoulder disappeared and I forgot the feeling of pain. No!

This is exactly what I had wanted to protect her from! I had failed my mission again. Now that her dormant power has awakened, more usurpers would come and might take her away from us. No! Damn it Setsuna! Can't you get your job done right?

But... she looked relieved when she looked at me once more. I feigned surprise and checked my shoulder for traces of any scars from the arrow wound. There were none. Wow. She really is a very capable healer. No! Snap out of it Setsuna. Now is the time to get her to a safer place, before it's too late.

— Mahou Sensei Negima! —

"...mpai? Sempaiiiii?" I felt someone poking my cheek. My eyes slowly opened and the poking became harder to the point that it hurt. Did I pass out again? My senses were now fully heightened and my eyes snapped open to see that the room that I was in was now dark, partially lighted by a single bulb directly above me. What time is it? How long was I out? I need to get out of here. "I'm getting bored. Are you awake now?"

I glared at the mercenary in front of me. She looked like she was still wearing her Gothic dress but upon closer inspection, the motif was darker and deeper in color. She smiled at me, her eyes glinted darkly and the ominous aura that always surrounded her had flared again. I bared my teeth in response.

"Let. Me. Go. Now."

"I can't do that Sempai. You're my slave now."

"When will you ever listen to reason?!"

"When will you stop resisting?" She giggled before continuing. "Can't you see this? You're all mine, sempai!" Her giggle transformed into a mad cackle that reminded me of those horror movies that Asuna-san and Ojou-sama used to watch during the weekends.

I tried to lunge at her but I was reminded that I was still chained. This time, the backlash of energy was more intense and I wasn't even doing anything to provoke it. Sparks surrounded me and sent a painful wave to every corner in my body. I clenched my teeth to stop myself from letting her know that I was in excruciating pain. Her laughter pounded in my ears. Why does she enjoy seeing others in pain?

When had she become such a monster?

"W-why are y-you d-doing this? Ah. I-I didn't do anything t-to y-you!" Dark spots were dancing around my vision and my stomach felt like it was hit by a train. I wanted to throw up from the pain that I was feeling.

"Exactly. You didn't do anything."

Has this girl finally lost her self? I shook my head at her through the pain. I pity this girl, to be honest. I even wanted to help her before. But now—

"I've always wanted to savor your soul! And I'm going to do it... forever!" She pulled out her sword from its scabbard. I winced at the tingling sensation coursing through my body and gaped at the object in her hand.

She was holding the cursed sword, the Hina Blade. How did she come into possession of the legendary demonic blade that was rumored to wipe out the remaining Shinmei-Ryuu practitioners?

"Why are you surprised, Sempai? Don't you remember fighting me when I was using this sword?" What is she talking about? This is the first time that I had seen her wielding the demonic sword. What battle was she referring to? My head started to ache; I was beginning to hear a loud pounding in my ears once more.

"I don't know what you are talking about. Now, release me so that I can get back to Ojou-sama!"

"How cruel of you sempai..." I flinched at the irony. "She's not even here but you won't pay attention to me?!"

She stepped forward; the tip of the demonic sword was pointed in my face. I could feel its dangerous aura swirling out of control and was threatening to consume me. "I'm wounded that you don't even remember the greatest battle that we had fought, Sempai..." I involuntarily flinched at the backlash of energy that still lingered in my system. She moved closer, the sword tip was now positioned on one of my shoulders. She smiled at me when our eyes met. I was shocked to see her empty eyes; it was like she had lost her soul.

I weakly protested that she should stop this madness. She was laughing now.

"Let me remind you again then..."

She drove the sword home; its dark body went through my shoulder. I finally screamed.

— Mahou Sensei Negima! —

A/N: Damn! Cut it out Tsukuyomi! That wasn't part of the script! Bring in the medics! Someone get Konoka in here! Sorry about that. Questions will be answered in the latter chapters.

Magister of Discord out!