Broken Faith 8
Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto, Negima, Warcraft, Naruto is owned by Masashi Kishimoto and Mahou Negima Sensei is owned by Akamatsu Ken. I have no idea who is the owner of Warcraft though.
Ah…. Do note, whenever I add a soundtrack to be played, always play the FULL VERSION of the official track unless I say otherwise. Like a remix or something, if so then I'll usually add link to where I got it. I usually try to time my scenes as best as possible to the songs, but due to the variety of the same songs available as well as differing reading speed, it's not reliable at all. But I try anyway.
Soundtrack List
Warcraft Soundtrack – Call to arms
Scandal – Shoujo S
Gurren Lagann OST – Ten wo Tsuke
****Broken Faith****
Wings of Friendship
****Broken Faith****
Shwaaa
The sound of water falling from shower obscured what appeared to be sniffing as red hair obscured the person who was slumped under the shower. Her head perked up when she heard the shoji door open, sniffing one last time, she splashed some water from her face and wiped her eyes, hopefully erasing whatever remaining traces of her tears away.
"Kagurazaka-san? Is that you?"
"Sa-sakurazaki-san?" she glanced over her shoulders, careful to not let the swordswoman see her face, to see the swordswoman remove her towel and step into the bath.
"Hai, I didn't think anyone else would be here at this time. The rest have already taken their baths earlier, you were missing so I thought you went with Asakura-san and the others." Setsuna inquired of the red haired girl, she couldn't see the girl's face, only her back.
Asuna only gave a quiet sniff at the reminder and tried to change the subject, "I-I was busy. More importantly, I heard you offered your body to save Konoka. That's so romantic, your feelings for Konoka are so strong, Sakurazaki-san."
"Eh? Eeeh? Romantic? Feelings? It-its nothing so deep!"
"It somehow feels like more than a bodyguard, like..like a Kenshi rescuing her princess from the tower guarded by dragons!" Asuna said with a cheerful but rather forced grin, something Setsuna was too flustered to notice.
"Hawawa, It's nothing like that! Not you too Kagurazaka-san… Iincho too…. A-anyway, what about you? You tried so hard to help Negi-sensei its suspicious too!"
Asuna waved it off, "If I didn't help who would? Negi would get hurt if he did it by himself, I have work so hard to take care of that idiot, I can't just stand at the side and let a 10 year old get hurt, but honestly, every time he does something stupid it always makes me so worried."
Setsuna moped a corner with mushrooms, "Hauu….. I'm worried about Konoka-ojou sama too… but no one believes it's just that."
"Well…. You do act a bit weird around her," Asuna said with a teasing grin, " But it's alright, we just have to get stronger so that we can protect both of them and bring everyone home safely without getting so worried about those two!" Asuna gave Setsuna a thumbs up and another grin.
"Get strong and go home together huh? That's what Naruto-san said when I was depressed about almost letting Konoka-ojou sama get hurt too." This time Setsuna noticed the frozen expression on Asuna's face.
"Kagurazaka-san? Is something wrong? You don't look well."
"It-it's nothing, just some personal problems and just Asuna is alright, we're friends right?"
"Fri-friends? Um… yeah friends." Setsuna smiled, "By the way, later on… can you bring Konoka-ojou sama to the baths as well? There's something I need to talk to her about…. And its better if you are here as well."
"You want to tell her about magic?"
Setsuna looked up in surprise that Asuna was so perceptive, "Ye-yes. Leader-dono doesn't seem as strict about keeping the secret anymore, and I think it would be better if Konoka-ojou sama can protect herself, even if just a little. I don't think it's fair that she has to face this danger without knowing why people are attacking her."
"That's alright, Let's go call her now."
****Broken Faith****
To many people, Eishun was outwardly a pacifist that didn't like to fight, a soft pushover. To those that knew him, Eishun was an experienced fighter but only chose force when no other option was left; he fought only when finally backed in a corner or when standing back at the sidelines was worse than actively fighting against. His style of fighting always reflected his ideals, reactive to a fault, but once the attack was launched it was near implacable.
In his opinion, one his most prized skills that enabled him to utilize his unique style of fighting was his ability to read people.
To most people, the blonde opposite him was as blank as a wall, but there were certain signs one could detect, a faint reddishness around the iris and a subtle clenching of his jaw.
Aside from that, he could get nothing else, neither approval nor otherwise reflected on his face, any signs of discomfort he might have had for finery around him from his earlier excuses were completely absent.
Going by the red eyes, something had likely happened for the blonde to completely shut down. It reminded him of Filius Zect, he had never managed to read the man easily either.
The redhead on the other hand was an open bouncing book. And at the moment the book was saying he was nervous at the weird stare down between his Nii-san and the Kansai Magic Association's Leader.
The staring competition finally ended when they gave each other a nod in acknowledgement and respect, Negi was confused, it seemed like a silent conversation had taken place, and he had no idea what it was about.
"It's good to finally meet you, Naruto-san, my daughter has spoken about you at length." Eishun said wryly. Spoken was an understatement, the tiny brunette had in fact taken him to task. After revealing that she knew about magic and how she found out, she had proceeded to pound his ego in with nothing but words but had then argued against revoking his order for secrecy for now.
She was apparently waiting for something.
Eishun inwardly shivered, she was growing to be like her mother as every day passed. That wasn't entirely a good thing. He happened to remember she liked whips, and not in the good way. Quietly he mourned for the days when Konoka was as tall as his knees and looked at him with those adorable eyes and shouted Otou-sama~ while bouncing around the house. 2 years seemed so fast sometimes.
Clearing his throat slightly, this wasn't the time for fatherly reminiscing, "First let me thank both of you personally for working so hard to protect Konoka, I admit to being selfish when I wanted her sheltered away from the Magical world."
Negi blushed slightly at the praise while Naruto shrugged as if protecting his daughter was a given.
"To be honest, attempts like the one you endured were the main reason I wanted it to be a secret. Unfortunately I did not expect the attempt to come from within our own society; I have been blind to the rising discord between our two magical societies to the point where it caused both of you much trouble. But rest assured, while we cannot do anything about it at the moment because many of our most capable people are on missions at the moment, but when they return tomorrow afternoon, we will deal with it."
A questioning look decorated Negi's face as he voiced his question, but why do you want it to be a secret from Konoka? And why is the Monkey Lady targeting Konoka in particular?"
Eishun bowed his head regretfully at the question before answering, "I have already spoken about the increasing disagreements between the East and the West, Monkey Lady as you call her, or Amagasaki Chigusa is one of the more known malcontents towards the Western mages. She has been known to fight with them on occasion, but I did not think her resentment would boil over to such a point. As to why Konoka in particular, she likely wants a trump card."
"Trump card?"
"Yes… a trump card. Due to the mixing of two high class bloodlines, Konoka was born with great potential for the mystic arts and an amazing ability to control vast amounts of power. Although I do not like it, you could liken her to a reservoir of magic that was predicted to easily surpass the Thousand Master himself in the future."
Eishun sighed again, "Maybe I was being too harsh, but because I didn't want my daughter embroiled in the conflict where she would inevitably be used as a tool, I hid her in our headquarters, and when the time for her education to begin, I sent her to a place I knew she would get an education and be safe at the same time, my Father-in-law's school."
Negi looked amazed that someone had the potential to surpass his father.
"Speaking of the Thousand Master I had to admit when I finally met you, Naruto-san, face to face, I was surprised. If I didn't know any better, you look exactly like a blonde, younger version of Nagi Springfield, the Thousand Master.
(I'm not joking either, give Naruto a leaner face, and Kushina's hair; he really does look like Nagi, the idea came when one of my friends photoshopped Kushina and Naruto for fun, then I saw it and went, Hey, doesn't that look like Nagi from Negima? But then again, anime face and hair, everyone probably resembles everyone else)"
'Although… if I remember correctly, Arika's hair color was that exact shade of blonde… '
The blonde finally let some expression show, confusion, "Excuse me, but who is Nagi Springfield or this Thousand Master?" he assumed the person had some relation to his homeroom teacher but wanted details.
Negi on the other hand started, "Yo-you knew my father?" Naruto spared him a look, so it was his father…
"Sure did, I was that idiot's inseparable friend after all," Eishun gave the two boys a thumbs up and a cheesy grin.
Negi had big round and glittering eyes, "Konoe-sama! Wha-what can you tell me about my father?"
Eishun smiled at the boy's enthusiasm, "Well, we used to have adventures all the time and covered each other's back….although I daresay he wasn't very good at it. He was always an idiot that charged in without thinking. But it was one of his good points, he didn't think about things, and was brutally honest. When he wanted something, he went out and got it. Even if he had to go into hell for it." That's how he got your mother after all.
"O-oh…" Negi looked down, his hair covered his eyes, slightly depressed, the way Konoe-sama spoke about his father with such respect and camaraderie, it felt like he had a ways to go. His father's back was so far ahead of him, it felt impossible to catch up to that back that was getting farther and farther away.
A hand that ruffled his hair caused him to look back up, his Nii-san sat beside him, radiating a quiet confidence and a small smirk, "It doesn't matter how far, how great, or how long your father's title was, what matters is you make your own path, don't fill in his shoes, make your own shoes then walk past your father instead of following him."
He would know, he had surpassed his own father when he had taken Hiraishin to the next level after all.
Resolve filled the younger boy's eyes again and he clenched his fist, "Hai Nii-san. I'll make my own path and when I find him again, I can stand by his side like an equal. Not a follower."
Eishun watched the byplay with interest. Setsuna had been right, in the presence of people he didn't know or respect, the blonde was distant and cold, but when it came to people he was comfortable around, he radiated a quiet confidence and supported them from behind the scenes unless it became necessary for him to take part.
He was also unusually mature and perceptive, having deduced a Negi's contrasting goal and inferiority complex when it came to his father by hearing just a few sentences about Nagi.
Perhaps his Father-in-law's request had merit after all.
He decided to speak, "Naruto-san, if it is no trouble, I would like to speak to you personally about something my Father-in-law sai-"
He got no further, when both of the more experienced fighters in the room facial expressions twitched and simultaneously moved. Eishun moved like quicksilver and managed to avoid most of it but failed to completely avoid the gas and was quickly affected by the sudden explosion of smoke from behind him. Naruto, being further then Eishun from ground zero, grabbed Negi and jumped back from the smoke that felt dangerous.
Negi heard Naruto growl one word, "Fate."
Play Warcraft Soundtrack – Call to Arms
Confused, Negi could only watch, as a haired boy stepped out of the smoke, Konoe - sama was lying on the floor of to the side with a pained grimace. His eyes widened, this was the boy that attacked Naruto-nii san earlier today.
They moved into a ready position to prepare for an incoming attack that didn't come as the boy just observed the two of them.
"What are you up to Fate?"
"My apologies, but it is required of me by my contract with Chigusa-san as you are probably already aware of. She needs to have Konoka-san's power and it's my duty to help her at the moment."
Negi shouted, "We won't let you! Konoka-san is our friend and classmate, we'll protect her from people like you that want to abuse her power!"
"Heh, well said Negi, let's show him why he shouldn't mess with 3-A!" they both leapt forward, but before they reached him, Negi was shocked when Naruto-nii san crashed to the ground, screaming in pain.
Hurrying to his side, he glared at the white haired boy in anger, "What did you do to Nii-san!"
Fate watched with a detached interest as Naruto surprisingly dropped like a rock, he had been expecting to hold these two of as his demon summon made off with Konoka-san. "I didn't do anything at all. Most likely his body has had enough of the fights and rebelled on him."
Negi panicked and tried to cast any healing spell he knew at Naruto's writhing body but nothing seemed to work and the blonde kept screaming.
"It seems like the greatest threat to our operations has been incapacitated without any effort. The both of you are no longer any threat, I will have to take our leave, Konoka-san is waiting for me." Fate said, his voice monotone as he left through a puddle in the floor.
"Grraark! Negi! You have to go, his heading for Konoka and Asuna!" Naruto said through gritted teeth.
"Bu-but I can't leave you here Naruto-nii san!" Negi was panicking, memories of his village being petrified and burning flashed through his mind as another one close to him seemed set to go the same way and because of his involvement with magic, it was going to drag the rest of his innocent students down as well.
Naruto took a deep breath, "NEGI SPRINGFIELD! Remember your promise! You wanted to be the best teacher, to protect Konoka, Asuna, Setsuna and the rest of 3-A! Didn't you hear that albino prick? He didn't think of you as a THREAT, now get your ass out there and show him that you're not just the son of the Thousand Master exactly why he shouldn't dismiss you as a non-threat, so get your ass out there and started making your own name!"
That snapped Negi out of his panic, "I'll come back nii-san, don't die."
"Tch, as if I need a brat like you telling me that, now get your ass moving, his heading for Konoka and Asuna, their both at the east lawns."
"Hai nii-san!" and dashed off with one last look back at the petrifying Eishun and writhing Naruto.
Naruto let him get out of sight before letting loose another clenched growl and tore his shirt off. One glance told him all he needed.
The seal where the Totsuka no Tsurugi was kept was burning red.
'Grrrr what the fuck is happening,' he propped himself on a wall close by with a grunt, nails dragged along his skin as he tried to lessen the pain.
"You would make a good commander." A nonsensical comment was voiced.
Naruto looked up in surprise; in the commotion he had completely forgotten about the Kansai Magic Association Leader, looking at where Eishun was laying on the floor, the man seemed to be half way petrified. He gave a strangled laugh as it felt like another fresh firebrand was pressed to the seal, "No I don't, I learn from my mistakes and just do what is necessary." He dryly replied.
"My father-in-law wrote to me about you, you know. Something about sealed in the tree?"
"It's a long story; I'll tell you over a cup of sake when your nuts aren't being turned to stone."
Eishun gave a small laugh, "Looks like his judgment hasn't failed him in his dotage; he chose a good person to be a bodyguard for Konoka." Eishun struggled to sit up enough to look at the blonde in the eye, "Save Konoka and the rest for me will you?" and was completely petrified, a cheesy grin and a thumbs up.
"Sure…if I can find out what the fuck is wrong with me," with a swipe of some blood across the seal, the great claymore popped out, the blade was burning red and the hilt was smoking.
The pain only slightly lessened, enough to let Naruto move with some difficulty, pulling out his Pactio card he put it to his forehead, 'Old man! What the heck is happening? Out of nowhere it felt like I was being burned and my sword is burning red. The only reason I could think of was something is going on with the tree and the seal.'
'Naruto? Naruto is that you? Oh thank god, what's going on? Your earlier update said everything was fine but then suddenly I received a call for help from Yue Ayase about people turning to stone, she assumed you and Negi got turned to stone as well when she couldn't find you. Then Negi called and comfirmed you and Eishun were being petrified as well.'
'No, I avoided the spell, he probably thought I got hit in his panic, but we're currently under attack by someone named Fate Averruncus who works for Amagasaki Chigusa. He managed to penetrate the temple's defences somehow and petrified Konoe-san. Can you see the World tree from where you are? Is something going on with it?"
'No no, nothing's wrong with it, when I received the distress call from Yue, I assumed you were out of action and with most of my people busy and Takamichi abroad, I decided to send Evangeline and Chachamaru down as support. She originally can't leave Mahora because of a seal but I was trying a loophole to allow her to leave and help Negi. We hit a hitch because you leaving the World Tree seems to have warped the seal matrix, it gets more technical but I doubt you want a lecture right now. Anyway I presume that's the reason for the pain. Should I stop?'
'No, keep it going, as much as I hate to admit it, with the consecutive battles, I'm currently down to 15%, I'll bear with the pain if it means you can send some heavy artillery, no clue who this Evangeline is but I know Chachamaru is strong.'
'Very well. Be safe Naruto.'
Naruto slipped the card back into pocket and grimaced as a fresh wave of pain hit him. Rooting for a seal around in his body he finally found what he was looking for.
Unsealing the contents he offered a muttered prayer to Kurenai-sensei, "Wherever you are right now, I hope you're happy with Asuma-sensei and surrounded by lots of carpets for both of you to lick because I owe you big time for teaching me this this."
****Broken Faith****
Negi ran down the corridor, his heart racing, when he heard footsteps approaching from around the corner, on instinct he automatically summoned his staff with a call of "Mea Virga!" and thrust it where his opponents throat should have been, only to find the sharp blade of a nodachi also at his throat.
"Setsuna-san?"
Negi-sensei! Your ok! What happened? I found Saotome-san, Miyazaki-san and Asakura-san petrified in their rooms and was about to go look for Konoka-ojou sama and Asuna-san!"
Negi, furiously wiped some angry tears that escaped his eyes, "Dammit, they got the girls too. Naruto-nii san, Konoe-sama are petrified as well."
Setsuna's eyes went wide, someone as skilled as Naruto was petrified as well? This wasn't good.
Resolve burned bright again as Naruto's words echoed in his mind, "I failed them enough already, I can't just depend on Nii-san to keep fighting all my battles, let's go, we need to find Kagurazaki-san and Konoka-san."
'I'm sorry everyone, I'll bring Konoka back before I cure all of you!'
"How do we find them? This place is huge!" Setsuna said with a worried voice.
In response Chamo spoke up from Negi's shoulder, the entire time ermine had been with Negi but stayed quiet in front of the East's leader, and then when Fate had attacked, he had stayed quiet so that he didn't draw any attention, "Aniki! The Pactio cards! Contact Asuna-nee san."
"That's it!," Holding up his Pactio with Asuna to the forehead he sent a message, 'Asuna! Asuna you alright?'
****Broken Faith****
Asuna who was warily walking with Konoka after they found the servants of the temple petrified started at the sudden ethereal voice calling her name, 'Is that Negi?' "Negi? Is that you?" she said out loud regardless of Konoka.
When the voice rang out again she remembered her Pactio card, quickly pulling it out, she put it to her forehead as well, giving a hurried glance she decided it couldn't be helped, "Negi? Negi is that you? I'm with Konoka now, what's happening? We're finding statues everywhere!"
'It's the guys from earlier. We're being attacked again! Saotome-san, Asakura-san, Miyazaki-san, Naruto-nii san and Konoe-sama are all petrified as well.'
Asuna's heart froze for a quick beat. The blonde that had always seemed like a juggernaut even when he was injured had been turned to stone like those priestesses she and Konoka found.
She only allowed a few leaked tears before furiously swiping them away, there would be time for mourning later, right now Negi and Konoka needed her, "Can they be cured Negi?"
The reply she received was hesitant, 'I...I can't do it myself, but Konoemon-sama can do it. I already called him, his sending Evangeline and Chachamaru to help.'
"Alright, we need to meet up, it will be safer, they will be targeting Konoka," she glanced out of the corner of her eyes again, the brunette definitely heard those words.
'OK, we'll meet up at the baths,' and the connection was cut.
Squaring her shoulders and clenching her jaw Asuna spun around and gripped Konoka's shoulder's with a fierce look, "I know you're confused about everything that happened, I promise that me and Setsuna were going to explain it to you when I called you out, but something happened. There are some bad guys that are after you. We need to get to the baths now and meet up with Setsuna-san and Negi. When everything is done, and we're safe we'll tell you everything but for now I need you to follow me, is that ok?"
Seeing the brunette nod, she quickly called forth her Harisen, missing the calculative glint that passed Konoka's eyes, and pulled Konoka along to the general direction of the baths.
Once they arrived, Asuna slid the Shoji open slightly and peeked inside, there was no one there, slightly disappointed that Negi hadn't arrived yet, she led Konoka in. once inside, Asuna let out a breath of relief, no one had attacked them yet, and for that she was grateful. Standing in front of Konoka to shield her readied her Harisen and they faced the shoji door, hoping that no one would be able to sneak up on them that way.
All was silent, only Asuna's half ragged breathing and Konoka's steady ones. Asuna's eyes swiped left and right, seeking any signs of danger. For some reason her back was tingling, the way when you know someone is staring at you, but she held back the urge to scratch it.
Suddenly from the corner of her eye, she caught a shadow moving.
Behind.
Swiftly pivoting she slashed in a wide arc above Konoka's head. Fate's eyes widened in a split second and jerked his head back to avoid the blow.
However it still scratched his forehead and blood dripped down his brow as he widened his eyes in disbelief. That blow had completely bypassed whatever shields he had.
Asuna watched as the boy's eyes narrowed at her, "You are dangerous, even more so than your blonde classmate."
This time Asuna's eyes narrowed, "You were the one that hurt him?"
"No, I do not know what happened to him but do not worry; I will have you sleep, then you will worry no more." Quickly chanting before the girl could stop him he blew a cloud of grey smoke at the red haired girl. He only heard a "Kyaa~" from inside the cloud as he ordered the summon to quickly abduct the Konoe heiress, thus he didn't expect another blow coming from behind as a naked Asuna swung at him again with one hand covering her chest.
She was pissed.
Quickly moving in front of the demon, he signalled it to leave with the struggling and shouting Konoka as he confronted the girl, "I'm surprised….it seems an attack of that level was completely ineffective against you. It looks like we need something more," Pulling out an ofuda he incanted, "Vari Vandana," and threw it at the pool behind him.
Asuna gaped as the water exploded into a multi armed thing, dodging a few she striked at the arms but was quickly subdued as the arms started to tickle her, "Kyahahaha! St-ahaha, what the hell? Ahahah, stop it! Why are you mag- ahahaha, mages all such perverts? "
Fate stared at the girl being tickled.
A twitch appeared on his brow as he pulled out a note book. "Huh…. So it was that kind of spell…though I didn't mean to strip her…." He turned back to the girl, "Whatever, I just wanted to ask, just now, your blow completely bypassed my shields… and the petrifaction magic had no effect on you. It wasn't your artefact, how did you do it?"
"Huh? How the he- ahahaha, hell should I know? Stop tickling me! I can't breathe!"
"Then I have no use for you. Die by tickling please." Fate said before he snapped his fingers, causing the arms to tickle even more.
"Bwahaha! Stop it!"
****Broken Faith****
Negi and Setsuna burst into the baths, panting hard, the baths had been further then they thought. Looking around they caught sight of a twitching Asuna on the floor.
"Asuna-san! Kagurazaka-san!" both of them shouted in worry.
Dashing to her side Setsuna immediately propped the breathless girl up while Negi averted his eyes, blushing slightly.
"Asuna! Asuna-san! You alright?" Setsuna shouted at the prone red head.
"Guu..uu. Se-setsuna… I-I already.." Asuna weakly tried to reply,
"Hawawa, di-did they d-do to her?" Negi stammered as Setsuna paled in response, "E-e-echi things?"
"Eeeeh? N-no way…. Asuna's virginity…"
Asuna would have face faulted if she wasn't already lying down, "Didn't happen like that! Get both your heads out of the gutter dammit!"
"Aahahah…." The two of them laughed sheepishly until Asuna managed to catch her breath again, "I'm so-sorry Setsuna… Konoka go-got kidnapped again, I was too weak to stop that guy…be careful he is still around."
"It's ok, you're my friend too right? At least you're ok, and we can still get Konoka-ojou sama ba-" Setsuna's eyes widened and immediately spun around, having sensed his presence a split second before she finished her sentence, just in time to deflect a punch heading for the back of Negi's head but leaving herself wide open for the second wave of a double layer attack, a simple but powerful palm thrust to the chest.
As Setsuna screamed in pain and bounced away from the force of the attack, Negi reacted, chanting "Activate the contract for Negi Springfield for 1 second," while his hands already in motion, a punch which was ducked while his hand swiped the staff where he predicted the white haired boy to go, successfully bashing Fate in mid air, but not doing any damage other than to push him back."
Fate shook the hand which he used to block the staff swipe, it's was slightly numb.
He was impressed.
"That was a very good attack, you have good instincts even if it is untrained, I can see what Naruto-san sees in you now, but instinct only takes you so far. You are still no threat."
Negi twirled his staff in a defensive position, his face set in a resolved expression,
"I'm angry. I'm so angry I don't know what to do."
But I know I can't forgive you for hurting Naruto-nii san, for hurting Konoe-sama, for petrifying everyone in the mansion, attacking Setsuna, doing Echi things to Asuna, but the most unforgiveable of all, I can't forgive you for kidnapping Konoka and attacking my innocent students. Naruto-nii san asked me to give you an ass kicking."
"Get ready for one." Chamo gave the white haired boy the finger.
Fate almost smiled, the response was almost typical of the blonde, "An ass kicking? Unfortunately you are nowhere near powerful enough to do that. You may have numbed my hand with that attack, but that's as far as you can go if you don't want to get hurt, farewell." The white haired boy said as he slid into a puddle of water.
"Tch…he got away." Negi clenched his fist.
Chamo jumped off Negi's shoulder and inspected the puddle, there was no sign the puddle was of magical origin, mere bath water, it confirmed what he suspected, and for that he respected Negi's nii san even more.
He had no idea what the hell blonde did but for a normal, non magical person to garner such respect from a high class mage was unheard of. "Aniki, 'Water Gate Transportation magic' is very high level, be careful, that boy isn't any ordinary mage."
Negi kept silent as he stared at the water intensely while Setsuna staggered up to them, "Are you both ok?" she asked.
Asuna perked up, "Yeah, I'm ok, but we need to hurry and save Konoka."
Her homeroom teacher seemed to snap out of his intense stare and snagged a flapping towel before draping it over Asuna while averting his eyes from his naked student, "Um.. Asuna please stay here, we'll get Konoka back for sure."
Setsuna joined them, "If we hurry, we should be able to trace them by their residual magi-Guh," she clutched her stomach where the palm thrust had landed, causing Negi to give a worried frown, "You're injured Setsuna-san, if it's just a light wound I can heal it. Here, show me."
"Guh..alright," Lifting up her shirt, she showed a spreading bruise on her abdomen, Negi placed his hands near the bruise before starting a low level healing spell.
"Th-thanks, but if we don't hurry Konoka-ojou sama will…."
"Its unavoidable, if we don't heal this now, there may problems later, I expect they will have a lot of demons trying to stop us from saving Konoka, we can't have you fighting at less than 100%" Chamo said. "Right now, we're sorely lacking fire power…if only…" It was almost like a lightbulb lit on the ermine's head, "I got it! Setsuna-nee san should 'chuu' aniki!" he finished with a perverted giggle.
"W-wha?" Asuna face faulted before slamming the ermine on the floor, "Ho-how can you think of perverted things in such a situation?" she demanded from the ermine.
"N-no, its not what you think Asuna-nee san…" the ermine squeaked from under her palm, "I mean Pactio! Pactio! Setsuna-nee san can use Ki right? Means she's already powerful, if we add magic from the Pactio, Setsuna-nee san will be powerful enough to stop them!" the ermine tried to persuade them to form a Pactio, "Although I don't blame you if you feel jealous of losing Aniki to Setsuna."
The last part was said under his breath.
Asuna blushed and spluttered at the innuendo before slamming the rodent again, "I am NOT jealous!"
"De-demo, to suddenly kiss right now!" Asuna stammered,
"Th-that's right Chamo! There's no mood!" Negi said, agreeing with Asuna, causing her to stare at him as if he was crazy and mouth 'mood?'
Setsuna just blushed and muttered under her breath, "I-I already have Konoka-ojou sama…"
"Tch, I'm not asking you to marry him, whatever, you need firepower right now, just go ahead and 'chuuu' her, Aniki!" the ermine responded, causing Setsuna to blush deeply at the M-word and Asuna to slam him again.
"Anyway, we're wasting time talking about Pactios, Negi-sensei already finished healing, we need to get there now, if the situation really is that bad, then….." she glanced at Negi before she set her jaw, "Then we'll make a Pactio."
"Alright, alright, whatever you say, but I still say doing it now is better." The ermine muttered disappointedly.
Asuna stepped on him, "You're just a hentai rodent!" turning back at the others she gestured, "C'mon, stop sitting around, let's go!"
"Eeeh? You're going as well Asuna-san?" Negi stared at her, "Of course I'm going; who else is going to save you when you get beat up."
"Bu-but…." Negi averted his eyes again and muttered, "You-you're naked."
"Eh?" Asuna glanced down.
"Kyaaaaa!"
****Broken Faith****
3 figures sat in a train as it travelled towards the Shinto Shrine atop the mountain. Kaede Nagase, Kouga Chuunin of 3-A, appeared outwardly tranquil but was deeply worried for her homeroom teacher as she stared out at the moving scenery, 'Negi-bouzu, I hope you can hold out a bit longer, these people are pros, so be safe…'
Then she glanced at Mana, unlike most people, she was rather close to the quiet girl. And she could see the dark skinned girl was rather unsettled, especially since Yue had called and quoted one of the casualties as Naruto.
Kaede had no idea why the girl was attracted to tall blonde and handsome people.
Muttering under her breath so that the energetic Ku Fei didn't hear her, "You sure you alright?"
Mana glanced back at her companion before tersely nodding, "Yes. But I thought better of Naruto-san, to be so easily trapped…." She trailed off as Kaede nodded understandingly.
What Kaede didn't know was that the dark skinned girl wasn't worried about Naruto, he was just petrified and that could be reversed, but knowing that Naruto was a half demon and that he was still trapped said a lot about the quality of enemies she was expecting to face which caused memories of her mentor's sacrifice to surface.
****Broken Faith****
Three figures dashed through a forest, heading towards a gathering of energy signatures which according to Setsuna was Chigusa, the Monkey Lady, some minions, and Fate himself.
Quickly jumping clear through the trees with their enhanced muscles they landed in the river in front of the eastern Mage and her flunkies, "Let Konoka-san/ojou sama go!" all of them demanded of the mage.
"Oya? So you made it here, Newcomer, why didn't you take care of them when you were kidnapping the girl?" Fate glanced at her from the corner of his eye, "My apologies, I didn't think they were an active threat, I already took care of the strongest mages in the temple and saw no harm in letting some middle school students and their teacher go unmolested."
"Hmph, I'll be taking this failure out of your pay." Turning back to the three fighters assembled in front of her she spoke, pride filling her voice, "I welcome you, in just a few minutes, when I reach the altar with the Konoe heiress and the final part of my plan will be set. However, I'm deeply sorry you can't join the festivities," a malicious smile spread across her face, "Of course, I have some entertainment lined up for you. A taste of what the Konoe heiress is capable of, if you will,"
Spreading her arms, she started chanting, the seal tag stuck on Konoka's chest started glowing as her body bucked and twisted in Chigusa's Goki's arms with either pain or pleasure, the 3 of them couldn't tell since her mouth was gagged, she could only make some muffled sounds.
Negi, Asuna and Setsuna all tensed and their hearts dropped into their stomaches with dread as magic circles spread all around them in great numbers.
A great multitude of monstrous looking things started to fade from the circles as the Monkey Lady continued her chant, Asuna nudged Setsuna, "Oy oy, shouldn't we hit her before she finishes her spell or whatever? This doesn't look good."
Setsuna shook her head, the anger at her own helplessness was obvious, "We can't, if she was chanting an attack spell, I'd be the first to start cutting her up, but this is a summoning spell. If we stop her, whatever she summons will at best go berserk on everybody here, endangering Konoka-ojou sama. If we let her keep control, at least we know she won't harm Konoka-ojou sama," Setsuna gulped, "Yet."
Asuna sighed in frustration, "Perfect, so we sit around and let the big boss summon her mooks. That's so cliché, but there's no choice is there?" she asked herself.
Negi in front of both of them hushed them, "Shh, get ready, she's nearly done."
All of them stood tense as a frightening army of monsters appeared and stood all around them.
Chigusa looked at the army of demons she had contracted before hand in satisfaction, she admitted to herself she had gone overboard a little but it made no difference since Konoka was the one providing the fuel. Though summoning that many probably made it more painful than it should have. Gesturing for her troupe to follow her she jumped of the boulder and started heading north but not before leaving a parting shot over her shoulders, "Don't worry, little boy and girls, you can see the final part of my plan from here just fine. Enjoy."
Negi sighed as he watched the Monkey Lady leave, "This probably isn't a good time….but we should start kissing…right about now."
Chamo grinned. "I'll need some time to set up a magic circle and make our plans, Aniki, you need create a barrier to buy us some time." Meanwhile Setsuna was trying to calm Asuna down.
The red haired girl was losing the grip on her Harisen as the presence of so many monstrous beings made her quiver, the situation looked very bad. She heard Setsuna try to calm her down.
And as much as she hated to admit it, she heard Naruto's words echo in her head again;
'I won't let it get that far Asuna, I promised you remember? I... failed once before…. And I won't fail again. I won't say that no one will get hurt but no matter what, we won't give up right? If there's something in our way, we beat it down. And if it keeps coming, we'll keep beating it down. If we can't, we'll get stronger and we'll get keep getting stronger together so we can tear it down until it quits trying to make US quit. We'll get strong enough so that nobody else has to fight, so that everyone can go home together in the end no matter who or what we have to fight. So don't cry alright? We'll get through this.'
'Dammit Naruto, you were supposed to be here with us.'
Her grip tightened again. 'Enough, stop moping around like some stupid lovesick middle school girl, I can't just depend on that rock head all the time.'
She was distracted from her ruminations when with a cry of "Flans Paries Ventis Vertitis" a huge tornado like barrier of wind snapped to life and blew the nearest demons into the air.
"We have three minutes, Chamo get working, I wanted to get Konoka back as soon as possible!" Negi shouted so that they could hear him over the violent winds blowing, "On it Aniki!"
Negi turned to face the two girls, "We need a plan, there's too many monsters here to deal with before going to save Konoka, by the time we're done, whatever that Lady is planning, she'll have succeeded unopposed."
Setsuna grimaced, "As much as I hate to say it, we need to separate into two groups, Negi-sensei can reach there the fastest with his staff, Asuna, you go with him, I'll stay here and stop the monsters from following." She gave a wry smile, "Dealing with summoned monsters like this is what the Shinmei Ryuu was developed for after all so I'll be ok." she said drily. She didn't mention it would probably easier since she could release her limiters and make use of her half demon powers. It probably wouldn't make much of a difference with this many monsters though.
Asuna gaped before making a face, Setsuna was being brave enough to stay and deal with an army alone while she was acting like a pansy a few seconds ago, she had to do something "Are you an idiot Setsuna? There's at least 300 monsters here! If you're going to stay, I'll stay here with you, my Harisen can dispel these monsters like that stupid teddy bear easily so it'll help, Negi is powerful enough to go on alone, right Negi?"
"Um…. Uh yeah, but before that… um…uh…." Negi blushed shyly causing Asuna to frown, "What is it Negi? Spit it out."
She was answered by the very happy, very exuberant and very much drooling at the prospect of a kiss, Chamo, "The magic circle is done," he happily declared, "It's time to 'chuuuuuu' and a puchu" the ermine said while making kissy faces in the air. All three of them blushed before Asuna regained her famous temper and squished the rodent underfoot, "You didn't have to make the 'chuu' sound so long dammit, you're just a hentai rodent trying to embarrass all of us here!"
Behind her the two people about to kiss stood in front of each other, blushing deeply.
"An-ano… Sorry for the trouble, Negi-sensei."
"It-it's alright, the two of you are my students after all, If I can do something to protect all of you, I'll do it willingly. I just have to hold out until you two can finish all the monsters and back me up."
"Eh, that isn't right Aniki," the ermine from under a blushing Asuna's feet spoke, "You don't have to fight, right now our priority is saving Konoka-nee san, your staff can go pretty fast, so we just have to snatch her from that monkey before meeting back up with Asuna and Setsuna-nee san, then all of us retreat back to the temple where hopefully Konoemon-sama's support will arrive."
All of them stared at the ermine.
"Wh-what? Why are you all staring at me like that?"
Asuna was the first to speak, "Th-that act-actually sounded smart. I thought you only had echi thoughts in that furry head of yours." She sounded pretty amazed, Setsuna and Negi both vigorously nodded their heads in agreement.
The ermine cried anime tears and tried to mope, but he could only impotently huff since he was still stuck under Asuna's foot, "Whatever, three minutes is almost up, Hurry and 'chuuu' Aniki, Setsuna-nee san!"
The two of them blushed and shyly glanced at each other like elementary kids that had crushes on each other, "Go-gomen Negi-sensei."
"Uh...um yeah…."
Asuna couldn't avert her eyes even though her blush was reaching atomic levels.
Stepping closer Setsuna put on hand on Negi's shoulder and the other cupped his cheek, bending down, Negi only heard her mutter "I-itadakimasu," before their lips smashed together and Negi forgot everything else. His brain crashed from the high levels of embarrassment.
When his brain finally rebooted, he heard Setsuna speak softly, "Sensei, I'll take care of Asuna-san…so please, rescue Konoka-ojou sama for me…."
At the mention of Konoka his resolve burned brightly, "H-Hai! Don't get hurt too badly, I can't bear it if any of you were hurt because of me," he replied just as softly but a degree of firmness.
Setsuna blushed.
Asuna also blushed before yelling at the two of them, "Oi oi, the wind barrier is failing, will you two please stop flirting and get ready?"
The two of them leapt back from each other like they had been scalded; the amount of red certainly made them look like they had been scalded.
Squaring his shoulders, he looked over his back, "The moment the barrier falls, I'll fire a powerful spell as a distraction so that I save Asuna, you two will have a few seconds at most before the monsters realize what happened so take as many of them down before they get ready for a fight."
The demons outside the barrier had been grunting and muttering to themselves when one of them noticed the wind slowing. "Finally," one of them muttered, when the thing was barely gone, they were treated to a sight of the open glowing palm of Negi Springfield.
"Gwahh! Get out of the way! The kid is chanting something!"
"Jovis Tempestas Fulgurientes!" Negi roared, and released a bright beam of thunder that lanced straight out, cutting a clear path through the crowd of monsters; before they even knew what was happening, something else sped past them, following the path that the thunder spell had destroyed.
"Oi! The little kid is getting away!"
"Who cares! There's still two girls for us to play with!"
Play Shoujo S by SCANDAL
Asuna and Setsuna stood back to back, glaring at all the monsters.
"You ready Setsuna-san?"
"Yeah, you too Setsuna-san, and be careful."
"Heh of course, we're all going back to Mahora together remember?" Asuna turned back at the hoard of monsters, "Now….let's go demon slaying!"
( Cue demonic Ass kicking Girl Power style )
****Broken Faith****
"Aniki, you feel that? That Monkey Lady seems to have started something big!"
"En, we need to hurry, Accelerate!"
****Broken Faith****
"Hyaah!" Ducking under a punch, Asuna cleaved a whole row giant one horned Oni with all her strength, causing all of them to go poof, turning back to admire her handiwork, Asuna muttered with a grim smile, "Heh, that's about 15, maybe I'm really strong after all. Looks like, I don't need to depend on you Naruto."
Deciding that was enough daydreaming she jumped back into the fray with a yell, both her Harisen and Setsuna's nodachi flashed around the clearing, cleaving and slicing any demons that got near.
At one point, Asuna extended herself, running forwards and attacking a group of Onis had allowed another to flank her, just as they were about to attack, Setsuna appeared by her side, with a quiet "Shinmei Ryuu Ougi : Hyakuretsu Oukazan!" her nodachi flashed again several times, chopping the whole group of demons into pieces, the wind from her move, blowing up Asuna's skirt.
Asuna sheepishly laughed as her Harisen dispelled another group of demons, "Thanks for that Setsuna-san, you're pretty good at this, maybe when we get back, you can teach me kendo?"
"Eh? B-But I'm still learning too!" she replied while avoiding a great club and slashing her attacker.
"That's alright, we can get stronger together."
"Heh, I don't mind if you can keep up."
"Is that a challenge?"
They both smiled as a strong friendship was forged on the battlefield.
The demons on other hand weren't so carefree, "Guwaa… Shinmei Ryuu style is our enemy…. But that girl's fan is cheating boss, one hit and it's an instant kill, and she doesn't miss either,
"Hah! That just makes it a better challenge; don't tell me you're afraid of a small girl? By the way…. Do you think it's become fashionable not to wear underwear nowadays? "
"Maybe she likes the breeze? If anything…it's the 21st era…it's a good era, heheheh."
Asuna burned like a light bulb as she clutched her skirt to keep her decency, she hadn't had the time to get a new pair of panties after her earlier ones were turned to stone, "Kyaaaaaa!"
One of the demons commented, "Oooh, she's moving slower now, go get her~"
"Why? Why do all the magical things I meet such perverts!" Asuna cried anime tears as she was chased by a bunch of giggling onis.
"Asuna-san! Gambare!"
"YOU try fighting harder without YOUR panties!"
"Um..uhhh…. ahahah..." Setsuna laughed sheepishly.
"Don't just laugh! Help me!"
****Broken Faith****
Negi landed roughly on the ground barely avoiding a crack to his head by summoning his staff at the last moment. Chamo on the other hand was nowhere to be seen.
Shortly after the place where the ceremony was being held came into view, he had been attacked by multiple Inugami spirits, and had been too slow to deflect the animal spirits. Which resulted in his current condition.
Body tense, Negi spun around looking for his attacker, although he had a pretty good idea about who it was anyway, he didn't have to keep waiting when the boy in question melded out from the shadows.
"Kotarou-kun. I was wondering where you were since you were helping Chigusa-san."
At the question Kotarou looked sheepish, "I was actually stuck in that barrier until barely an hour ago."
Negi couldn't help it, he laughed, causing Kotarou to color again, caught between anger and embarassment, "Don't laugh damn it, I'm a fighter, I don't know how to use all those complicated charms and it was hard breaking that barrier from the outside!" the wolf half demon composed himself again, "Anyway, there's no way I'm letting you pass here, I want to fight you Negi, full strength and nothing held back. Nothing less will get you by me."
Negi gritted his teeth in despair, he was being stopped by Kotarou and the Huge explosion of light from where he could see the ceremony was being held only made it feel as if a fist had punched his gut. He had failed.
****Broken Faith****
Asuna and Setsuna were having a hard time, having disposed of all the minor mooks, it left them fighting more experienced opponents, a extra large Oni that seemed like the boss, a small, swift and masked Oni and a birdman, that they were already exhausted didn't help matters.
Setsuna grimaced, they were in a very bad situation, Asuna was captured by the birdman, the weirdo pervert Tsukuyomi had just shown up and a huge pillar of light had exploded from the north, signifying that whatever Chigusa was doing, it was working.
The swordswoman 's fist clenched around her nodachi's grip, she didn't see any way out and her body was screaming for her to give up and just mope in despair but she had one last trump card to play, gathering her power she started the rites to release her limiter.
Meanwhile the birdman raised a solid fist and prepared to punch Asuna, the red haired girl just gritted her teeth but didn't shut her eyes, she wasn't going to be a coward if she could help it, her feet kicked uselessly against the birdman's chest.
As the fist rocketed towards her defiant face she only had one thought.
'Naruto!'
As the fist nearly reached her, a gun shot rang out as the birdman's head exploded, and just in time. Asuna could feel the air displaced from the punch as it stopped short of her face.
****Broken Faith****
Play Gurren Lagann OST – Ten wo Tsuke
A figure enshrouded in the shadows moved like quicksilver, leaving a trail of wind and dust, no directions were needed. He could see the huge pillar of light just fine.
But using this method of travelling was risky, very risky, and he would most likely be exhausted when he arrived, but it was a gamble he would have to take.
'Stay safe until I get there Negi, Asuna, Setsuna!'
****Broken Faith****
The homeroom teacher of 3-A was getting desperate, the ceremony seemed to have succeeded, but he needed to do something, even if it was too late, he needed to get down there. Launching another magically charged fist at the grinning Kotarou's face again, he was slowly letting his temper get the better of him.
"Aniki! You have to calm down, you're using more power then you should because you're angry and you're already sharing with the two nee-sans, if you run out, they'll be in danger too." Chamo yelled, trying to get negi's attention.
Negi started, shocked out of his anger before shamefully muttering, "Sorry Chamo, I'll try." Facing the wolf half demon, Negi tried to use words to move Kotarou, "Get out of my way Kotarou! You know what the Monkey Lady's doing is wrong so why are you stopping me from helping my student!"
"Hmph, I don't care what she wants, I signed up to fight some damned western mages, instead I find you, the strongest person my age that I've ever met. I'm having too much fun, I can't stop here!"
Negi desperately tried again, "I swear I'll fight you whenever you want, just let me help Konoka! Please!"
"No can do Negi, I know you won't truly fight me if I let you pass. So I'm taking this chance."
His anger burned again and Negi's hair shadowed his eyes, "Very well, if that's what I need to do to save my students, I'll use everything I have and tear you to pieces," Negi stated in deadly calm voice.
"Hah! That's what I wanted Negi! Let's go!" Kotarou and Negi charged each other at the same time, fists blazing with magical energy only for a human sized four pointed shuriken to crash into the ground between them, stopping the attack and distracting both of them long enough for a shadow to appear crouched in front of Kotarou and hit the wolf half demon with a powerful palm thrust away from Negi.
Another shadow dropped down from a tree beside the clearing, when the smoke finally cleared Negi could see that it was Nagase-san from his class, and she appeared to be carrying Ayase-san as well. "Ayase-san! I'm glad you're safe, I thought the worst when we couldn't find you at the temple," Negi breathed a sigh of relief that at least one of his students wasn't injured or petrified.
All thoughts of relief was shoved to the back of his mind when he heard what Nagase-san had to say though, "Yare yare, getting so hot headed and losing yourself to your anger and pride, you are lacking in concentration training Negi-bouzu."
Negi shamefully looked at his feet, fully agreeing with the Kouga ninja.
****Broken Faith****
The gunshot stunned everybody and the clearing was suddenly quiet save for the hurt birdman, the Onis and Tsukuyomi looked around warily for the source of the gunshot. When another two shots were fired, the large Oni was prepared and blocked it with his large club while his smaller companion did the same with her bladed tonfas. only for two blurs to appear from the trees.
"Looks like you're having some trouble."
Setsuna stopped the rites and breathed a sigh of relief.
Back up had arrived.
"Eeeeh?" Asuna cried in surprise as she saw who it was while Setsuna just gave a grim grin at the figure up in the trees, "Nice to see you too, Mana, you got here in time for some fun." Mana gave a smirk in return, "Oh, it'll be fun, but you still owe me for saving you and Kagurazaka-san."
Beside her Ku Fei was excitedly swivelling around, "Ugyah! Those are real monsters! So cool!"
****Broken Faith****
Negi watched stunned as Kaede let Ayase down from her hands. The height difference was very obvious, "H-how did you get here Nagase-san?" Yue turned to her teacher with a small bow, "I'm sorry for being presumptuous but I called her here on my cell phone after I called the Dean, we were being attacked in the room by someone strange, the only people I could think of to help in that situation was Kaede-san."
"Mana and Ku Fei are already reinforcing Asuna-san and Setsuna-san, so you don't have to worry about them too much," Kaede added in her usual but slightly amused calm tone.
Negi breathed another sigh of relief.
Backup had arrived.
"Geeh? That's no fair! Who are these onee-sans?" Kotarou shouted but was ignored by the trio.
"Negi-bouzu, this is no time to dawdle, you are in a hurry right? Hurry and go on, I'll occupy our little friend here." Kaede added again, "Eeh..b-but."
"Just go Negi-sensei."
"Hai…. Thank you so much, this means a lot to me." Negi turned and ran as fast as he could towards the still emanating pillar of light.
Kotarou tried to attack Negi and stop him but was stopped by a kick from the taller onee-san, "What are you doing Nee-san! I don't want to fight women!"
"So you're name is Kotarou huh bouya? You have good taste to choose Negi-bouzu as you're rival," Kaede's usually calm face suddenly turned cold and deadly, "But you should recognize the proper time for a fight, trying to stop my sensei from rescuing my classmate just because your pride wanted a fight… in return, let me, an experienced Kouga chuunin show you how useless that pride is…" A mass of clones appeared as they all stalked towards the wolf half demon,
"Kaede Nagase, tadaima kenzan."
****Broken Faith****
"What do you mean it's no good you old geezer!" a kneeling Evangeline demanded from the Dean, "I mean that Nagi used so much power that the sealing matrix is locked shut, there are nearly no loopholes for a modification, the fact that the seal's matrix was also changed again recently renders this schematic pointless. We have to work our way through manually!"
"Wait? Changed? What changed it? Why wasn't I notified about something like that?"
"Eeh? You weren't? I thought I sent you a note."
"Gaaah I hate dealing with old men, whatever, just hurry and do the required modifications, I'm not very good at seals but I'll help!"
Chachamaru watched with a stoic face, "Ah…. It seems that Master wants to see Negi very much…"
"Gwah! Who wants to see that bouya! Keep quiet and don't say so embarrassing things!" she started screwing the spring on Chachamaru's head extra hard with an embarrassed blush so that Chachamaru would be too busy to talk about Negi.
Chachamaru silently noted that the emotions invoked when her Master turned the key so hard was similar to the ones she got around the blonde as a red hue spread across her synthetic skin. Was his presence charging her from a distance? How strange. The thought of the blonde being her personal battery was very…interesting and should be explored in the future.
****Broken Faith****
Mana rapidly fired and reloaded her M40A1 softgun replica as the demons started to charge towards her. However, even with her high rate of fire, very soon, she was surrounded by monsters on the boulder she was using as a sniping platform.
"Huhuh, you may be a great sniper, but that gun is useless in close range," A monster grunted with a grin, but his grin faltered when he saw the dark skinned girl merely smirk before flicking two Desert Eagles from inside the guitar case that she was apparently using to store her weapons with a simple kick.
Grasping the guns midair Mana almost seemed to dance in a fluid gun-kata, shooting all the demons around her at almost point blank, dispelling many of their comrades with unnatural ease, and flexibility. At one point, it even seemed like she had 360 degrees of vision since her arms somehow twisted around her body and even managed to shoot his comrades in her blind spot.
The monster who had spoken panicked, a birdman like the first monster to be gunned down, he charged with an overhead slash, only for the slim girl to block his sword with nothing but the butt of her gun, causing the blade to break, the blade shards flipped through the air and sliced another demon while the, very scary, girl continued to dispose of his comrades with an ease that bespoke of practice.
"Wha-what are you?"
Mana placed the gun at his head, "A mercenary." And fired.
Asuna gaped at her classmate, she couldn't seem to get the words out to properly describe what she had just seen, "Buwaa? Ma-ma-mana? Strong!"
"Setsuna laughed at Asuna's bewildered expression, "She is, isn't she? I go out and slay demons with her occasionally."
Mana calmly ignored her stuttering classmate and turned to a bouncing Ku Fei, "Kuu, you can go handle the weaker ones," Ku Fei huffed indignantly, "Ah! you're looking down me again, Mana!"
As the smaller girl was speaking, a group of monsters sneaked up on her, hoping to at least get a scratch on the new comer, if not for revenge for their fallen comrades, then at least so they didn't look completely useless by getting their asses handed to them by middle school girls, too bad it failed as Ku Fei sensed them and blocked a club swing with her bare hands before stomping her back foot and transferring the force into a straight blow that was powerful enough to throw the entire group backwards. Ku Fei frowned in disappointment, " So weak, your bodies are big but weak, c'mon! Isn't there anyone stronger?"
Mana stoically replied, "Don't get cocky Kuu, you'll get hurt."
Asuna gaped again, "What's with the amount of strange and powerful girls in our class? I didn't even know Ku Fei could fight like that!"
"Ahahah…. Don't sweat the small details?" Setsuna replied sheepishly, "Anyway, it seems like we're saved, both of them are pretty powerful, and since Kaede who is usually around Mana isn't here, it's safe to say she went ahead to help Negi-sensei."
Just then all of their attention was diverted by a dazzling explosion of light. The pillar of light that had been getting bigger and bigger as time passed exploded, and a humongous glowing titan with four arms and two faces slowly stood up with aloud creaking sound to tower above the horizon.
Everyone stared in shock, they had failed, the ceremony had succeeded and Chigusa was going to win.
Setsuna fell to her knees in despair.
'Konoka ojou-sama!'
She was suddenly hauled up by a red haired furious girl, "What are you doing giving up so soon? We can still save Konoka and Negi is still waiting for us to back him up, so don't start moping on me, Let's go!"
Gritting her teeth at her momentary weakness, Setsuna replied, :"Hai!" Both of them started to move before being stopped by a figure slashing two blades.
"Ah~…. Setsuna-senpai… so good to meet you again."
****Broken Faith****
A few minutes before
"Grrr… I hope Nagase-san will be alright…." Negi growled under his breath, he made a mental note to punch Kotarou the next time he saw him. They may be friends, but that didn't warrant that stupid episode. "It's alright Aniki, that ninja-nee san looked strong, just focus on getting Konoka-nee san back now."
"Wakata, Mea Virga!" Jumping to straddle his staff mid stride, the teacher rocketed forwards at high speeds with a call of "Accelerate!"
****Broken Faith****
At the ceremony altar
"Are we ready yet?" Fate spoke calmly. The mage in front of him glanced back irritatedly, "Not yet, it just needs a few more minutes, why?"
"Because he is here."
They both looked to see a trail of water exploding into the air in the wake of something that was flying towards them at high speeds, "Grrr, we need more time, Newcomer! Go stall that irritating boy!"
"Very well," Pulling out an ofuda and chanting lowly, he threw it into the air with a flash of light. When the light receded a tall demonic summons stood before him, "Rubicante, go stop that boy."
The summons nodded silently before spreading its bat like wings and rocketing towards the oncoming western mage, only to be blown apart when Negi charged his body with magical energy and punched right through the summons.
Fate perked up, the boy was improving. And at such a fast rate too. He would have to nip this in the bud, he thought to himself as he observed the red haired boy who was still speeding towards them above the water. Wait the boy seemed to be chanting something, Fate tensed and prepared himself, only to be distracted by a huge explosion of what appeared to be mist.
Negi chanted under his breath, "Invoke the contract for Negi Springfield for 5 seconds, Max Accelerate!"
Fate was unimpressed, a simple distraction method, that didn't work since he could feel the magical blaze heading towards them. He had to give it to the Springfield family, even exhausted they still radiated energy like no other. He moved his hand to intercept the speeding silhouette only to wide his eyes and jerk his body back at the last second to avoid a staff that would have pierced any normal person.
There was no one on the staff!
Unseen to him, Negi had charged the staff with energy for the 'Max Accelerate' before using the inertia he gained from the speed to jump of the staff, horizontally landing on a stone lanter while Fate was misled by the staff and pushed off, a magically charged fist heading towards to back of Fate's head.
"Clang!" Negi narrowed his eyes, the fist was blocked by a barrier, but he wasn't done, "Mea Virga!" Grabbing the still magically charged staff he flipped in mid air from the momentum of the staff and smashed Fate in the face with the knob end with a hammer strike while upside down.
Fate stumbled back, a comically surprised expression on his face. That was the kind of move he would expect from Naruto, not Negi.
Negi, not allowing his momentary victory to stop him, landed and dashed towards the white haired boy, intent on trying to punch the boy's lights out again, by then Fate had already recovered his balance and grabbed the fist, stopping it cold.
Rubbing his chin where the force of the hammer strike had impacted, he spoke, "Impressive, you are learning at a very fast rate, but it is still not enough, you are still not used to fighting melee combat, truly you are nothing more than a child after all, even if you are the Thousand Master's son." What he expected was for Negi to crumple in despair or rail at him for being compared to the Thousand Master, what he got was a quiet "Fufufu, got you." before he felt a palm land on his chest, "Release! Sattica Magica : Binding Arrows of Air!" his arms snapped to his side and his eyes widened in surprise, 'A delayed spell!' the bound boy realized too late as he felt magical strands immobilize him completely,
"Heh, got you, magic barriers don't work very well at stopping point blank spells"
Fate didn't even flinch, "No matter, at most this spell will only stop me for 5 seconds, then your downfall begins."
"Tch, 5 seconds is plenty, Mea Virga!" he dashed to the altar only to stop in surprise, Konoka wasn't on the altar anymore. She had been moved while he was busy.
He was distracted from his ruminations by a huge explosion of light and a heavy magical presence saturating the area.
****Broken Faith****
"Fufufufu, summoning success." Negi heard a voice floating down from above, looking up in shock, he saw the floating Monkey Lady, hovering before her unconscious was Konoka-san, "The legends say he was 180 feet…. But he seems even bigger; did he grow while being sealed?"
Negi ignored the commentary, "Tch, we need to do something, "HE started chanting under his breath causing Chamo to look at him in surprise, "Aniki? That spell is powerful, but it won't have an effect against something that big and you are already exhausted, using that now will just drain you dry!"
"I don't care, I need to do something, Jovis Temperantes Fulguriens!" Negi roared and released his second Jupiter's Thunderstorm of the day.
The yellow beam, circled by violently spiralling winds that lanced out again was awe inspiring, but clashed impotently against the titan's chest.
Chigusa laughed, "Fufufu, something like that won't work against a Ryumen-Sukuna no Kami! A God!"
Negi, seeing his strongest spell fail could only fall on fours in despair.
He had failed.
****Broken Faith****
"Dammit Setsuna, why does your kouhai have to be so irritating! Doesn't she know she isn't supposed to be flirting with the person she's trying to cut into pieces!"
Setsuna who was fighting Tsukuyomi beside Asuna felt a red blush stain her face in embarrassment but didn't reply other than to continue to try subdue her kouhai so that both of them could go help Negi.
"Gah, this is so annoying, we need to go help Negi! Get out of the way horny bitch," Asuna grinned when the Goth girl frowned and she succeeded in landing a direct blow with her Harisen while her opponent was distracted, throwing the Goth girl away from them, "Let's go!"
"Asuna!" the twin tailed girl heard before she was pushed to the ground by Setsuna, barely avoiding a thrown wakizashi from the side, "Grrr, she just won't quit," Asuna said as she prepared to fight again, only for a few loud shots to ring out, causing Tsukuyomi to get divert her attention from the duo in order to block the bullets, "Setsuna, Asuna! Get out of here, we'll distract her, Negi needs your help." They heard Mana shout as she continued her barrage at the swordswoman that was wearing a frilly white dress.
"You sure?" Asuna asked worriedly, "No worries, I'll just charge you double for making me work on a holiday than triple that for being bait."
Setsuna cried anime tears; her bank account was going to be dry by the end of the day.
"Understood, C'mon Setsuna, what are you dawdling around for?" Asuna shouted as she dragged a Setsuna that was still moping over her bank account.
As they ran towards the towering titan, a voice rang out in both their heads, a voice that sounded suspiciously like a certain perverted ermine, 'Asuna-nee san! Setsuna-nee san! Are you ok? We need help now, Aniki is in some serious trouble!'
"We're heading there now, hold out till we get there!"
'You won't make it there in time like that! I'm going to use the third function of the Pactio cards to summon both of you from far,'
"Eeh? Summon? You can do that?"
'Yes, but this isn't the time for explanations, just get ready for a big fight when you get here.'
"Understood!" the duo replied to the bodiless voice.
****Broken Faith***
Fate flexed his arms for the last time and the bonds finally broke, his composure never changing he strode towards where Negi was on all fours, a broken look on his face that disappeared to show fear as he noticed that his binding spell had been broken and Fate was walking towards him. The expressions slowly changed to defiance as the ermine seemed to whisper something in his ear. It seemed like he would have to break his spirit completely.
"I have to commend on you on what was a very good effort, too bad it was wasted and for all your efforts, you are completely physically and magically exhausted. Now, I won't kill you, but I still have to punish you, so prepared to get hurt." Fate said as he raised one hand, preparing to cast a spell.
Chamo was busy whispering instructions in Negi's ear as the albino boy walked towards them, when he felt the girls finally get within range, he whispered loudly, 'Do it now Aniki!'
Fate only quirked an eyebrow as Negi flicked two cards into the air with a defiant expression, he watched as the two cards glowed and two magical arrays that he recognized as summoning circles appeared and two of the Guardian's finally appeared.
All three of the Guardians presented glared at him in defiance, Asuna moved to stand over Negi to protect the exhausted boy, while Setsuna glanced up to the sky behind her to see if Konoka-ojou sama was alright.
His face never changing except for a slight tic, Fate spoke before chanting, "Three mice is no different from one, what do you expect to be able to do now? Vishu Talri Shutal Vangait Bashirike Galiote Meta Octo Podon Kai Cocoon Onmetin-"
"Tha-that, that's his spell key! His a western mage?" Chamo shouted in confusion, "It doesn't matter, we need to stop him! Setsuna!" Asuna looked at the swordswoman, "I'm sorry I won't make it in time, we need to get out of here now, grab hold!"
They all grabbed onto the swordswoman just as the spell chant was completed, with a call of "Petrification Breath!" a large cloud of gunmetal grey smoke exploded where Negi was standing. "Hmm.. I missed…." He turned around to look at where his senses told him the trio had landed, on the pier that led up to the altar. He started to walk towards them, enshrouded by the smoke from his attack.
Negi grimaces as he felt his hand start to petrify, this was the one spell he hated above all. Asuna and Setsuna both saw the grimace before they noticed his hand, 'Negi-sensei!"
"I-I'm alright, it barely touched me."
Setsuna gritted her teeth. There was only one thing she had left, glancing at her two friends she could easily tell both of them were near empty, neither of them were what anybody would call experienced fighters, in fact Asuna was just a normal middle school girl, and Negi for all his magical prowess was still 10 years old. This was completely up to her now; she only wished she wouldn't regret this in the future.
Moving to stand in front of her two friends while pleading with them, "Both of you are already exhausted, and Asuna-san can't keep fighting because Negi-sensei is already drained, please save yourselves, I will save Konoka-ojou sama."
"What the heck are you talking about, Setsuna! We cant just leave you here even if we are tired. We all go home together remember?" Asuna argued back.
Setsuna sighed, trust Asuna to be stubborn, "Very well… I-I have something to confess, it's a secret that I've kept from everyone, even the both of you and Ojou-sama. But according to rules of my clan, once I have exposed it to normal people, I have to leave. Pl-please don't hate me….."
Asuna and Negi watched wide eyed as Setsuna glowed brightly and two white wings with incredible wingspan unfolded from her back.
It was beautiful.
With a flurry of white feathers the glowed ended but Setsuna kept her back to them, not wanting to see the hatred she expected from them in their eyes before brokenly speaking, "Th-this is my secret…. I'm a monster, a half demon like Naruto." She drew a choked breath, "Don-don't misunderstand, I didn't keep it a secret out of malice or anything….. I-I kept this a secret because I was af-afraid. That once Konoka-ojou sama saw this ugly form she would hate me as well."
She gave a grim smile that no one could see in the darkening light, "Even Miyazaki-san has more courage than me, I'm pathet- Kya!"
Setsuna let out a soft moan when someone touched her sensitive feathers.
Swivelling her head, she noticed that Asuna-san was patting her wings and inspecting them, "An-ano….Asuna…san?"
Asuna finished her inspection before slapping Setsuna's back, hard," Kyaaah!, I-itai.." with a wide grin, "So what? You have two beautiful wings. I've seen Naruto grow claws and chains, do you really think I'd be scared of something like this? Compared to his, yours are pretty cool!"
"Eh?"
"Besides, how can you call yourself Konoka's childhood friend if you don't understand at all?"
"E-eh? Eeh? Bu-but.."
"No buts! You have been with her since childhood, you've watched her from the shadows for two years, do you REALLY think she would hate you for something like that. Heck, she's so ditzy, she would probably think Naruto's claws are cute and cuddly."
Konoka, high above them floating on the Summoned God's shoulder sneezed on Chigusa's face, causing the Monkey Lady to blink at the absurdity of what just happened.
Back to the trio on the ground, "Anyway, we still support you whether you have wings or not, now go save Konoka! We'll support you from behind!"
"Setsuna teared up, touched by the friendship Asuna showed, even if they had only been talking for about 3 days. "Ha-hai! I'll do my best!" turning around with a strong resolve, Setsuna spread her white wings and jumped off, her wings flapping to climb the air as she sped towards the floating Monkey Lady and Konoka."
Fate watched surprised, although he didn't show it, and immediately tried to intercept, about to fire a spell at the flying girl, his aim was knocked away with a cry of "Sattica Magica : One arrow of Light!" from an exhausted Negi.
"Heh, any ideas Asuna? Chamo?"
"Nope,",
"All dry."
"Then lets wing it." Right before they charged a voice suddenly blared around Negi, 'Oi, bouya,!"
Chamo recognized the voice immediately, "Gwah, it's that scary Loli Grandma Vampire."
The voice was quiet for a while, when it finally returned Chamo trembled, 'When I finally get there, I'm making grilled ermine for lunch,' Chamo scampered into Negi's sweater, 'Anyway, bouya, hold out for 3 minutes. Just three minutes. Me and Dean finally found a loophole but putting it in place will take awhile. Hold out till then and show me what you can truly do, after that, I'll finish the rest.'
"Alright, we'll try our best, Asuna!"
"Ready!" Both of them charged at Fate, they had to hold him off for 3 minutes, no problem… Right?
****Broken Faith****
Author's Note :
Flans Paries Ventis Vertitis – Blusterous Tornado Barrier
Jovis tempestas fulgurientes – Jupiter's thunderstorm
Shinmei Ryuu Ougi : Hyakuretsu Oukazan – Shinmei Style Secret Move : One hundred Great Cherry Blossom Cuts
Tadaima Kenzan – Dramatic way of saying 'I have arrived' and usually signals the start of a battle.
Wakata – Understood/Roger that.
My god, I thought I could finish the Kyoto arc, but it was two chapters longer than I expected. In return for having to slog this mess of a chapter, I think you might like the next one.
Its very…flashy.
Anyway, I don't like this chapter very much other, a lot of the chapter Is filler which I was forced to enter since I didn't want Naruto stealing the spotlight, lots of people don't like it that way for some reason. So I tried to write the characters as if they knew Naruto, how they would act if they were influenced by him but without his help. Can't say I did very well since most of it kinda turned out like canon anyway.
There was also supposed to be Tsukuyomi fight scene which was cut out because let's face it, if he shows up, what the hell is everyone else supposed to do? So I made it short.
To one particular reviewer, Logically, which saw fit to critique me without giving his real profile so I could reply. Exactly what do you define as Broken? As Dark?
I truly am curious, not insulted. You're not the first to say that he isn't 'Broken' enough. Exactly what do I need to do to make him 'Broken? Write him like Light from Death Note?
Cliché? Of course its cliché, I didn't invent common convention and I'm not a professional author or inventor. Should I make him start riding Moles and carry around a saucepan instead of a big ass sword and fart fireballs before it's not cliché?
Explore the world after being reawakened? You just woke up from a long sleep, the world has changed, your fucking mother is pregnant with octuplets, you can't take two steps without your bladder losing it and pigs can fly. And you still want to walk out there and explore like an idiot without any knowledge of what common convention is nowadays? Feel free, but when you get hit by a bird that shits bricks because of scientific progression don't come crawling to me. Of course he is going to stay, I fully admit it may not feel natural, it may be forced plot progression, but it gives me a place to start otherwise there WOULDN'T be a fic to write at all. Why don't YOU give me a better try at kicking off a fic.
Btw I still don't see whats wrong with a nose bleed in an all girl's school. It was only at the start when he's still fuzzy, after that he pretty much firmed up didn't he? Besides he wasn't really thinking in terms of normal students, he was thinking more along the lines of 300 plus hot kunoichi around him. I'd bleed, wouldn't you? Unless….you bat for the other team, if so, no comment.
Of course, it's all semantics, so I'm more inclined to ignore you and listen to the other 95 reviews that say GAR, let's kick ass!
Kur0Kishi