Magister Negi Magi is owned by Ken Akamatsu and Kodansha Ltd. Tokyo in Japan, and by Funimation and Ballantine - DelRey in the United States, NOT by me.
SPOILER ALERT! AU story occurring after c189.
There are actually two chapters here, but due to one being short, and to both taking part mostly at the same time, I have combined them.
Regina Karkolova appears with the permission of kafka'sdragon.
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"Big things do come in small packages."
-Regina Karkolova. As told to Kazumi Asakura. Author of: "One Million Steps: A Journey to Megalo-Mesembria and the World Beyond."
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Ala Alba in the World of Magic: Tales From the Fireside.
Chapter Twenty-one: Behind the Scenes.
(-)
Megalo-Mesembria, Mage Council Administrative Offices.
Most inhabitants of the Magic World who knew of such things considered computers to be a useful novelty born of the Normal World.
Regina Karkolova knew through bitter personal experience the folly of taking computer security too lightly. Loss of her mother and grave personal injuries resulting from failure to keep travel plans secret from personal enemies taught her that. Taking the lesson to heart, she had purchased the best physical and electronic security systems the Normal World had to offer. Modified by the addition of Spiritual Sprite defenses provided by a mage working in the Normal World she trusted, those systems had been installed in the computers in the office she used as Chairman of the Mage Council's Committee on Internal Affairs. Compared to the Pit-Vipers and Bamboo Two-Steps in the Normal World, hackers in the Magic World were mere babes, and she intended to always stay five or more steps ahead of them.
For that reason, she was surprised when what seemed to be a junk mail with a subject line of 'Hello!' appeared in the message program on her computer one evening just before she went home. Of course, she deleted it immediately.
She was even more surprised when what was apparently the same message appeared again the next day. This time she set her security systems after it. The message vanished, only to reappear as soon as the security system reported: "No Threat Found."
That made her very wary, but also curious. After physically making sure everyone except her Kit-Jin bodyguard/chauffeur had left the office for the evening, she activated her controls as system administrator and reset every computer in the office to a previous system save point.
After a few minutes, the message reappeared. As she watched, the 'Hello!' in the subject line blinked out, and was replaced by; 'Persistent, aren't we?' Sitting back in shock for several moments, she finally moved the cursor over the message, but did not click on it.
After just a few seconds, the message disappeared, and a small, cute mouse icon appeared on her computer's monitor. After closing everything else, she moved the cursor over the mouse. It immediately raised a paw, and a word balloon and a 'Reply' typing bar appeared:
("Hello! My name is Negi! May we please talk?")
After sitting and staring at the polite intruder for several moments, she tapped out a quick answer:
("What about?")
Negi replied nearly instantly:
("I have observed by reading through the public minutes and other records of the Mage Council that you were in opposition to setting bounties on those accused of perpetrating the recent 'terrorist' attack on the Megalo-Mesembrian Gate Port.")
Regina wasn't exactly sure she liked the implication that this 'Negi mouse' had access to non-public records of the Mage Council, but that didn't stop her from replying:
("Correct. Despite photos presented as evidence at the so-called 'investigation' into the incident, no one came forward with any additional evidence, nor was anything other than stupidly obvious 'guesses' presented as 'motive.'")
Pausing, Negi crossed his tiny arms, and seemed to be thinking. Finally, another word balloon appeared:
("Would you be interested in information related to the incident in question?")
Now Regina began to worry about a trap. If she accepted this 'information,' it might be used to eliminate her from the Mage Council by linking her to the gate port terrorists.
Seeming to actually be watching Regina, Negi politely raised a paw to get her attention.
("If you are worried about a trap, please don't be. Even if someone were to break into your office this instant and seize this computer, or anything else my Mistress might give you, they would be unable to find any evidence of my existence or hers for at least one-hundred years.")
Regina raised an eyebrow.
("Pretty confident, aren't you?")
Crossing it's arms again, the little mouse icon smiled and nodded.
("My Mistress wishes to have allies, not more enemies. She has plenty of those at the moment.")
Giving an understanding chuckle, Regina typed:
(Well then, go ahead.")
Now Negi's look became serious.
("What I have to show you isn't pretty. People are hurt, one very badly.")
That caused Regina to pause.
("...please proceed...")
Pulling what seemed to be a magical girl's show wand from it's fur, Negi waved the wand around, and a slide-show viewer appeared.
First up was a picture of the undamaged interior of the Megalo-Mesembrian Gate Port. Front and center was the boy accused of leading the attack on that now destroyed facility. Advancing the slide-show through several more single pictures, she saw various shots of other accused 'terrorists' milling around with worried looks on their faces, as well as one shot of a separate group of girls not mentioned in the council investigation.
Then came the first time two pictures were shown at once.
First was a picture of the same boy, stunned and in obvious shock, pierced through the shoulder by a stone Sagita.
Second was another picture of the boy, lying on the floor in a pool of blood, with several other 'terrorists' apparently rushing to help him.
Despite her experiences as a bounty-hunter, Regina found the two images of a small child's suffering so personally upsetting she instantly threw back her chair and reached desperately for the trash can. By the time she'd emptied her stomach and was gasping for air between dry heaves, her bodyguard was there to provide assistance.
"Lady Karkolova! Are you all right?"
Taking the man's offered handkerchief, she pulled herself into a standing position and noticed a normal report showing on the computer monitor, instead of the slide-show viewer. "hurk... I... I'm okay. I think that fruit I ate after lunch must have been bad..." Wiping at her mouth, she nodded to acknowledge her bodyguard's concern, then pointed at the trash can. "I'm sorry to ask this, but would you please take care of that? I'll be okay alone for a few minutes. Besides, we'll be going soon anyway."
Nervous about leaving his charge alone, even for a few moments, the bodyguard hesitated, then picked up the trash can and all but ran from the office.
As soon as the door closed, the report vanished and the mouse icon named Negi was back.
("I'm sorry. I would have emphasized my warning to a greater extent if I had known you were so sensitive to such things.")
Sitting back down in her seat, Regina resumed advancing the slide-show.
Many of the 'terrorists' from the gate port incident were shown to be anything but. Several fought in defense of one-another, risking injury and suffering much in battle against four persons she didn't recognize.
Near the end of the slide-show, one picture displayed something definitely NOT presented at the bounty issuance resolution Mage Council session. A small cloaked mage, certainly not the one shown at the council session, was clearly pictured doing 'something' to the Cross-World Teleportation System pillars.
Regina began to type:
("This is very explosive, and damning. Also impossible to use without proof of it's origin...")
Negi nodded.
("Correct. My Mistress simply wished for you to have these pictures, as well as other information she'll give you shortly, so that you may prepare yourself for when they begin to appear elsewhere on the MahoNet.")
Hearing her bodyguard coming back into the office, Regina reached out to begin shutting the computer down.
("I need to go.")
Negi bowed.
("Do not worry. My icon will remain should you wish to talk. Anyone else who attempts to access me will be directed to an excellent pet Store in Tristan.") As the computer began it's final shut down sequencing, Negi raised his paw one last time. ("One more thing; Might I suggest the Whaleship port's 'Diplomacy Suites Hotel' for your dinner tonight?")
Giving another bow, Negi straightened up and froze into just another monitor icon, then vanished with all the other icons as the computer's monitor went black.
As soon as the bodyguard entered her office to return the trash can, Regina was ready to go.
"Are you okay now, Lady Karkolova?"
Regina nodded. "Yes, thank you." After taking a breath to relax, she looked her bodyguard right in the eye. "I believe the Whaleship Port Diplomacy Suites is serving a light fare in it's restaurant tonight. Since I'm still feeling a little sick at my stomach, please take me there for dinner."
Bowing to acknowledge Regina's request, the bodyguard moved to hold the office door open, then followed her through, locking it and setting the security system as he did so.
(-)
Megalo-Mesembrian Whaleship Port, Diplomacy Suites Hotel.
While her bodyguard watched from a discrete distance, Regina Karkolova sat alone at a table in the Diplomacy Suites restaurant, enjoying simple baked-fish and rice-pilaf dinner. Expecting something to happen, she wasn't surprised by a sudden disturbance just on the other side of the low railing separating the restaurant from the hotel's main lobby.
There was the sound of a brief scuffle, followed by the shriek of a small girl, then the pained bellow of a man. A loud thud and the sound of a girl crying and a man groaning prompted Regina to get up to go investigate. Standing outside the low planter and cloth-divider railing surrounding the restaurant, she found a small, pineapple-haired, red-headed girl rubbing her eyes and crying. The girl's shirt was visibly torn open to the waist under her travel-cloak. Lying on the floor nearby was her apparent attacker. Seeing who that person was gave Regina a small shock when she recognized him as one of the men she suspected had been assigned to watch her by enemies on the Mage Council.
Several waiters and her bodyguard stood nearby, ready to thrash the 'pervert' if he tried anything else funny. Meanwhile the Diplomacy Suites Concierge hovered nearby, trying calm the hysterical but seemingly unhurt girl down.
Looking up, the little red-head saw Regina and immediately ran over to grab her around the waist.
"Oh Lady! I was so scared! That man tried to touch me!"
Regina felt a slight twitching in one temple at the little girl's implied 'old' lady, but she managed to refrain from doing anything more than putting a pair of comforting arms around the still sobbing girl's trembling shoulders.
Sweating and patting his forehead with a napkin, the Su-Jin Concierge bowed to Regina. "Please forgive this disturbance Chairman Karkolova. It seems this man did try to grab this little girl. She's traveling from Granicus City with a friend of hers, and they came from the Whaleship port to eat while waiting for the next leg of their flight."
Regina glanced towards another girl the Concierge was pointing out, a squinty-eyed child with a single long pony-tail who seemed oddly familiar. Noticing the gaze, the brown-haired girl who sported the same serious look as her Kit-Jin bodyguard bowed respectfully.
Clasping his hands together, the Concierge indicated the pony-tailed girl with a glance of his eyes. "It seems she was quite 'enthusiastic' in defense of her friend. I've sent for security, and a healer..."
Regina nodded as the girl stopped crying. When security arrived to lead the still moaning man away, the girl in her arms turned and stuck her tongue out at him.
Patting his head with the napkin again. the Concierge bowed to Regina and then again to the other patrons who had gathered. "Please forgive me again Chairman Karkolova, as well as our guests and all others who graciously choose to dine with Diplomacy Suites tonight. I apologize most profusely for this disturbance, and hope most fervently that everyone will accept this meal, as well as their next, free of charge, as adequate compensation for the disturbance of your dinner."
Regina nodded along with the rest of the guests, then looked down at the strangely familiar little girl she held as the Concierge sent a waiter scrambling to retrieve the necessary gift cards. No real innocent to what had just happened, she wasn't surprised to find the red-headed girl smiling up at her. Nor later, after delivering the girl and her companion to a Whaleship flight to Tempe-Terra, to find a Data-Stick with a short message scratched into it's casing that hadn't been there before in a pocket of her pants.
"A gift from Kasayo McDowell."
Now Regina knew she had a 'hard' copy of what the Negi mouse had shown her. With it, she could verify the authenticity of the pictures without having to risk leaving some record by copying what might, or might not actually be on her computer.
As if dealing with Separatists, Council politics, and the upcoming celebration at Ostia wasn't enough to fill her plate, Regina now found herself part of someone's apparent plan to prove the gate port 'terrorists' innocent. Fingering the Data-Stick after placing it back in her pocket, she decided life as a Mage Councilor was definitely becoming most interesting.
(-)
Megalo-Mesembrian underworld.
'Hashishin,' or it's Westernized version, 'Assassin,' was the name of a group of warriors who in various forms engaged in political assassination in the Middle East during the period of the Eleventh to Thirteenth centuries. Fierce and remorseless in their duty, they were feared far and wide for the ruthless way they went about achieving their aims.
Since their arrival in Megalo-Mesembria, Takamichi T. Takahata and his companion Mana Tatsumiya had not used the bloody tactics of the Hashishin, but instead their alternate methods of intimidation and fear. Leaving notes in places that should be inaccessible, visiting people who thought themselves well guarded, always seeming to be where it was impossible for them to be. Never once though, was any actual word or hint given that could directly be called a threat. He and Mana simply went around reminding people of the oaths they'd sworn, and asking them to remember who controlled the Magic World, and who would still be there even if someone else gained control through illegitimate means.
For the most part, those they had direct or indirect contact with were the bureaucrats and public servants who really ran what passed for the Magic World's government in Megalo-Mesembria.
Twice, they had needed to deal directly with more important government officials, actual secretaries of Mage Council members. The risk of going so close to possible leaders of the Separatist movement was great, but the reward to be had if both simply remembered what was their sworn duty was equally high.
One had stared in shock when Takamichi revealed himself. A former student of Konoemon Konoe at Mahora Academy, the woman gave the look of someone caught cheating on a test, then lowered her head in honest shame. Speaking quietly, she apologized for not realizing the Dean of Mahora was so concerned about the matter at hand, and promised sincerely that she would do her duty.
The second had been more troublesome.
Even after Mana revealed herself, he remained defiant, promising her higher and higher sums if she would only permit him to hire her.
Mana had finally walked around to stand behind the man. Takamichi simply pulled out and lit one of his few remaining Normal World cigarettes. Taking a puff, he watched as the man's smug look turned to one of horror when Mana's knife sang from it's sheath and came to rest against his throat.
With no words involving a direct threat, Mana had held a single five-hundred Yen coin out for the man to see. Explaining first that she had already been paid, she went on to say that no matter what the secretary thought he knew about mercenary ethics, once bought, she stayed bought.
As Mana spoke, her knife had slowly traveled up the man's face, shaving a perfectly smooth. one-inch path through his well-manicured beard, never once cutting him, and ending it's movement just below his eye.
They left the secretary in his office, gibbering about soulless monsters, but knowing he would do his duty when the time came.
Warned by an ally of an 'accident' planned for Donnet McGuinness, under watch but still serving her Magister's interests on the Mage Council, they deviated slightly from their rounds to arrange a preemptive 'accident.' Assured that the treat was ended, and Donnet aware she needed to increase her personal security, they continued on with their 'friendly' visits.
Eventually, all that could be done, for the moment, had been done.
(-)
Megalo-Mesembrian Whaleship Port.
Takamichi T. Takahata, hair dyed, clean-shaven and wearing a simple hooded cloak over his normal clothes, sat slowly eating boneless hot-wings and yam-fries in a Megalo-Mesembrian Whaleship Port sports bar. Mana Tatsumiya was off investigating travel pricing while he waited, eating and watching a replay of 'Nagi' Springfield and 'Koujiro Oogami's' final qualification match for participation in the upcoming Prize-Fighter's Tournament in Ostia.
Mana returned and tossed a small shuriken on the table. "Kaede Nagase's doing okay. I'm not sure where she was or why she's here, but I found that in my pocket on the way back from the ticket-counter."
Takamichi looked down from Mana's visibly upset face to the shuriken. Scratched into it's surface was a cartoon image of Kaede Nagase, sticking her tongue out and pulling down an eye-lid in the Japanese version of a raspberry. Amused by Mana's frustrated look, he started chuckling as she reached out and started nibbling on his Yam fries.
Mana took a few moments to down several fries, then used a toothpick to stab and eat one of Professor Takahata's boneless hot-wings. A waiter brought her a glass of water, so she paused to wash the food down. "Anyway, it looks like all the flights to Ostia are over-booked. Getting guaranteed passage is going to cost. If you still intend to link-up with Professor Springfield, I should probably start looking for an independent transport."
Takamichi picked up a yam-fry and turned towards the main food court as he considered his options. Seeing something unexpected, he suddenly found the view inside the bar much more interesting.
Mana risked a quick glance, then turned into the bar as well, raising the hood of her cloak as she did so.
Takane D. Goodman had stood up from a table outside the bar in response to the boarding call for a flight to Ostia. Now she was trying to cajole her Ministra, Mei Sakura, as well as Professor Springfield's Class A Homeroom student Misora Kasuga and her Mahora Elementary School companion Cocone into some semblance of a hurry. When the irreverently-named 'Stripper-Queen' of Mahora Saint Ursula Girl's High School finally got her charges moving, Takamichi relaxed and glanced back up at the HD Viewer.
"...so come to Johnny's in Tempe-Terra! Home of the best service this side of Megalo-Mesembria!"
Mana noticed the look of exasperation on Takamichi's face as she reached for another Yam-fry, and turned to follow his gaze. On the viewer, smiling brilliantly and waving enthusiastically from behind an equally energetic 'Johnny,' were her 3A classmates Yuuna Akashi and Makie Sasaki. Groaning, she reached up and started to rub her temples.
Takamichi sighed, then took a sip of his sweetened tea. "Get us a pair of tickets to Tempe-Terra. most everyone else seems to be heading for Ostia, so we'll go pick those two up and head to Ostia from there."
Mana stood and grabbed one last fry. "Okay. We might have an easier time getting to Ostia from Tempe anyway."
Takamichi nodded and Mana walked away. He was reaching for his tea again when a marquee scrolled across the bottom of the HD viewer announcing a final, bonus grudge match in the Granicus City Arenas. Frowning as the participating prize-fighters were announced, he could only hope that the outcome would not be an unfortunate one.
(-)
Tempe-Terra, the Trucker's Paradise.
Yuuna Akashi ran down the street from DeLeon's meat Market towards Kero'ns Dry Goods. For the most part a good-natured Kage-Jin, Kero'ns proprietor tolerated Yuuna and Makie's habit of leaving Johnny's Tokage Tama tethered in front of his store, but only if they didn't take too long on their errands. Well, she had tarried in front of a shop with several Magical Guns in it's display window, and now had to hurry back before Kero'ns got angry.
Arriving next to Tama, she looked up, saw the short Kage-Jin standing in the door of his store and gave him a weak smile of apology. Kero'ns continued to glower at her until she bowed low at the waist to apologize even further. Finally satisfied, the Kero'ns turned and went back into his store.
Panting in relief, Yuuna paused to catch her breath, then started transferring all her purchases into Tama's saddlebags. Quite ready to go after standing for so long, the big Tokage shuffled in place, forcing Yuuna to pat his side and coo soothingly until he calmed down. Finishing her task, she pulled out and donned a hooded cloak in preparation for the short trip out to the lakeside Oasis where Johnny's was located. After untethering Tama from the hitching post, she quickly jumped into the saddle and backed the Tokage into the street.
"Hey Little Miss! You work at Johnny's out at the Oasis, right?"
Yuuna looked down at a quartet of well-traveled rogues. Two Hu-Jin males, one with short fair hair and one with long, and a pair of pretty Su-Jin girls, one with long blonde hair, and the other with short, dark hair. "Yeah. It's about ten minutes East if you ride, and thirty if you walk."
Grinning merrily in a way that made Yuuna feel wary, but only in the manner the contrary customers who tried to feel her up at Johnny's did, the rogue gave her a wave of thanks and turned to walk away with his friends.
Yuuna relaxed the grip she'd taken on the magical grenade-gun under her cloak, then raised the hood and turned Tama to head out into the desert.
As Tama made good time back towards Johnny's, Yuuna donned a pair of sunglasses. For some reason, she'd been overly sensitive to bright light lately.
(-)
"Hey Johnny! I'm back!"
Johnny Dnj'rsly waved as Yuuna walked into his tavern carrying the things he'd sent her to Tempe-Terra for. "Great! I was worried we wouldn't have enough for that grudge match in Granicus City your boy-friend's gonna' be in tonight!"
Yuuna felt a twitch on the side of her head and heaved a Pineapple-like pod at Johnny. "He's not my boyfriend!" Johnny caught the fruit and quickly passed it on to his Nek-Jin partner Y'fi. Yuuna stuck her tongue out at him, then carried the rest of her purchases into the tavern's kitchen.
For the rest of the day and into the evening, Yuuna waited tables with Makie Sasaki and the rest of Johnny's crew, fending off good-natured jibes and groping by the customers, and waiting for the grudge fight between Negi's cousin Nagi and someone named Kagetaro of Bosporos to start.
When it finally began, everyone watching the match on the HD Viewer in Johnny's expected a normal fight. Drinking, cheering, and last minute bets were all taking place. What was happening in Granicus City started out strangely, quickly turned ugly, and had everyone watching quietly in shocked silence.
Nagi was tearing Kagetaro apart. Almost literally.
Kagetaro of Bosporos was a powerful Shadow User, and fought hard, but Nagi seemed to be possessed. Exuding a kind of aura one watcher called 'creepy' in a whispered voice, Nagi deflected or ignored everything thrown at him, got in close, and proceeded to pummel his opponent unmercifully. What everyone was watching wasn't a fight, it was a beating. To the point Yuuna actually saw blood splatter after one punch. Some dark-skinned, spiky-haired guy started to go out into the arena after Nagi, but a female rogue, wearing of all things, a plushy rabbit backpack, got there first and kept him from landing another punch.
Even though the Granicus City Arena announcer was speechless. Someone somewhere had it together, because the channel suddenly switched to a commercial for used Koi-type flyers.
Yuuna began to feel someone tightly holding her arm as Johnny's slowly came back to life.
"Yuuna... why did Nagi do that? He was never that mean before..."
Yuuna looked down at the trembling Makie and could only shake her head. "I... I'm not sure... maybe he heard some bad news, and it made him so mad he took it out on that Kagetaro guy..."
Makie sniffed and wiped at her eyes, then let go and quietly went to take care of a subdued Tora-Gorou, a regular customer of Johnny's and fan who always teased the pink-haired girl about her figure.
Later, Yuuna worked quietly with Makie to settle Johnny's Tokage Tama into his stall for the night. Unable to take the unnatural quiet any longer, she stopped loading food into Tama's feeding trough, then leaned on the stall's railing to look over to where Makie was wiping the dust from the Tokage's saddle. "Hey Makie! How are you doing with that magic you learned?"
Makie perked up for the first time since Nagi's fight. "I can do that flame trick now without trying to burn something down, and I've learned to do some neat things with a ribbon! Better even than grabbing Mikan from the Kotatsu!"
Yuuna smiled for a moment, then, unable to think of anything else to say, went back to work.
"Yuuna..."
Yuuna turned towards the voice and saw that Makie had stopped working on Tama's saddle and seemed to be crying. "Are you okay?"
Makie looked up at Yuuna with tears streaming down her face. "When can we go home? This isn't fun any more..."
Yuuna walked out of Tama's stall and went over to comfort her friend. Makie turned into her, embracing and clutching at the back of Yuuna's waitress outfit as her chest heaved with quiet sobs. "Soon. I hope real soon."
When the two of them left Tama's shelter, she noticed the four rogues from town going into Johnny's, then turned and saw two other mysterious figures, dressed in all encompassing cloaks, standing less than ten yards away. The 'threat' feeling she got from those two was so high she instantly reached for the grenade-gun she'd stuck into the back of her waitress uniform for the trip to the barn. "Makie! Run!"
Makie noticed the two scary cloaked figures just as Yuuna shoved her aside. She saw one of the figures rush up and catch her friend in an arm lock, and instantly ran off shouting. "JOHNNY! Heeellpp! Someone's after Yuunaaa!"
Yuuna winced and gave a pained cry as the emotionless cloaked female twisted her arm further up behind her back. ("Stupid gun! Catching on my uniform ribbons!") Confusion over why she was being attacked warred with thoughts about what would happen if this person killed her... ("If I die Papa will never clean up the house he'll never marry that nice Donnet McGuinness I won't get to tease Negi anymore Makie's so hopeless she'll never make it to Ostia alone...") ...instead, the person pulled the grenade-gun free, then let her go and stepped back.
"You really need to think more if you want use a gun for self-defense, Yuuna. This grenade-gun is much too big. You should be using that needler type pistol you kept from Mahora Fest instead."
Yuuna rubbed at her sore wrist as the person made sure the grenade-gun's safety was on, then handed it back to her. "Who... who are you?"
Mana Tatsumiya looked over and saw the rowdy crowd pouring out of Johnny's, armed with all manner of improvised weapons and mage devices in preparation for defending Yuuna. Stepping back several paces, she quickly reached to lower her cloaks hood.
Yuuna stared in shock as the dark-skinned Mana Tatsumiya revealed herself. "Mana... how in the world...?" Over by the restless crowd, there was a shriek of joy, and Makie shot across the intervening space to throw herself at the other figure.
"PROFESSOR TAKAHATA!"
Yuuna let the grenade-gun fall limply aside. Her sense of relief became so overwhelming after worrying about being killed, she fell to her knees, unable to stand any further. "We... we're saved..."
Takamichi patted the sobbing Makie Sasaki on the shoulders as the crowd outside the tavern slowly began to relax. Spotting a familiar face, he raised a hand and waved. "Hey Johnny! I guess you finally started that tavern you always wanted!"
Johnny Dnj'rsly looked out at the dark-haired figure Makie was clinging to and suddenly recognized who it was. "Takahata! You old dog! I haven't seen you since that time in Phoenicus! What have you been doing for the last ten years?"
Takahata whispered down to Makie, then started herding her towards Johnny's tavern. "Well, you know, odd jobs here and there, working at a school, things like that..."
Johnny nodded, knowing even after ten years his friend still couldn't really talk about his work. Turning, he started back into his tavern and waved for Takamichi to follow. "Great! I'm glad to see you after so long! Come on inside, and we'll have a drink!"
Takamichi looked back towards where Mana was prodding Yuuna to her feet, then followed in Johnny's footsteps.
Yuuna and Makie bowed repeatedly, apologising profusely as they did so for making Johnny and his customers drop what they were doing and run outside when it wasn't really necessary. Both whined when Takamichi suggested they pay for a round of drinks for causing so much trouble, then nodded in resignation and went off to help Johnny's other waitresses distribute their gifts.
While Professor Takahata and his old friend reminisced, Mana slipped over towards the bar to talk to Johnny's Nek-Jin partner Y'fi. "Do those two owe you anything?"
Y'fi gave the dangerous looking, dark-haired girl standing before her the once-over, trying to determine if she were still a threat to Yuuna and Makie, despite what had been said. "Not at all. They've been so much help they'll still have plenty left for two tickets to Ostia, even after a round of drinks." Receiving a surprised look, she crossed her arms and nodded. "Best help Johnny ever hired. I'll be sorry to see them go! Everyone else to! Now we'll all have to work that much harder to keep this place's reputation for service high!" Suddenly serious, she gave a hard look to the person across from her. "I guess then you're a friend of Yuuna and Makie?"
Mana noticed several customers, especially a fair-haired tigerman, eyeing her tentatively, also wondering if she were still a threat to Yuuna or Makie. "A fellow student from their class. My companion is a former professor of ours."
Y'fi leaned back and gave a relieved laugh. "GOOD! Good then. Now I don't have to worry about those two flighty girls when they leave!" Turning slightly, she indicated the various liquors on the shelves behind her. "Have a drink with me?"
Mana sighed. She wouldn't have minded a Nada Daiquiri, but Kaede leaving the shuriken in her pocket was a reminder she couldn't relax while on duty. ("You'd think I'd have noticed someone as big as her...") Suddenly, she recalled the child with the long pony-tail she'd seen run around a corner after feeling someone bump into her...
Y'fi and everyone in the bar turned to stare as Mana started laughing so hard she nearly doubled over.
Mana saw Takamichi look over at her and waved to indicate she was all right. " I just remembered how Kaede got me Professor! Oh... my side... Oh she's gonna' pay for that when I see her again!" ("Even if it was a legitimate wake-up call against letting my guard down!")Looking around carefully at everyone in the tavern and discerning no threats, she continued quietly laughing for a few moments, then turned back to face Y'fi. "I think I will have that drink! Do you know how to make a Nada Daiquiri?"
Y'fi put one hand under the opposite elbow, then tapped her lip with the supported hand. "Isn't that a mixed fruit-drink without the kick?" At Mana's nod, she smiled. "I think I can do that!"
(-)
"Thanks again for saving our lives Johnny!"
Johnny shook Yuuna and Makie's hands. His 'girls' and their friends had hired an Iru-Jin cargo-hauler friend of his to take them to Ostia. "Hey! No big deal! Even if I never did get to feel your breasts Yuuna, the two of you paid me back plenty with all the work you did!"
Yuuna self-consciously covered her chest and stuck her tongue out at Johnny.
Makie glared at Yuuna with a bit of bust-size jealousy, then turned as Y'fi called out to her.
"Hey girls. I made a lunch for you and your friends! There might even be enough to share with those nice rogues going with you!"
Makie gave a grunt as Y'fi handed her a huge box. She nearly dropped it before Yuuna easily took it herself. "Tha... thanks Y'fi!"
"Makie!"
Turning, Makie saw the Nek-Jin tigerman who like to tease her waving for attention.
"You be sure to eat right Makie! Your boobs won't get bigger if you don't!"
Yuuna chuckled as Makie snatched up a rock and heaved it at the tigerman and knocked him down.
"Tora Gorou! You big pervert!"
Holding a sore shoulder, the tigerman got back up laughing. Dropping his hands, he gave Makie a serious look. "Makie, you and Yuuna be sure to take care. A place like Ostia can be dangerous, especially this year."
Makie nodded, thinking about what she'd seen Negi's cousin Nagi do in Granicus City. Tora Gorou waved one last time, then turned to lead the customers from Johnny's who were essentially she and Yuuna's fan-club at Johnny's back towards the tavern. Y'fi gave her one last motherly hug, then as Professor Takahata and Yuuna shouted for her to hurry up, turned and ran to board their flying-fish transport.
Johnny watched until the transport rose into the air and headed Northwest towards the old capitol at Ostia. When it finally faded from sight, he turned to Y'fi. "Did you get those blank disks I asked for?"
Y'fi nodded as she an Johnny turned to head back to the tavern. "Sure did!"
Johnny grinned. "Great! I'm sure if those girls are involved with Takamichi T. Takahata, then it means there's going to be plenty of exciting news to record from Ostia!"
tsuzuku
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Author's Notes:
Just a few this time.
Regina Karkolova appears originally in kafka'sdragon's stories 'Markham Chronicles Negima,' and 'MCN: The Other Side of the Mirror.'
'Data-Stick.' A Flash-Drive, or some other form of micro data-storage.
Just a little jab into MW politics, with kafka'sdragon's Regina Karkolova as a guest star.
Koi-type flyers. Like Haruna has in c217.
Hashishin. For more information on the history of that organization, paste that word into Wiki's search bar.
Chisame Hasegawa purchased a MahoNet account in Granicus City. After starting her 'Nagi and Koujiro' fan-page, she let Chao-as-a-program loose to see what she could see. Various possibilities were discovered, thus the plan for Chachamaru to deliver Mistress Chiu's Sprite Regiment Leaders to various places around the Magic World. Negi was downloaded and sent from Al-Jamira. Fortunately he was able to complete his mission before Asakura and crew had to leave following their world cruise stop in Megalo-Mesembria.
Chapter 22: Granicus City Finals and 'On to Ostia!'