WolfGear Presents: Negima? The mage and the Gunslinger
Pairings: Negi X ku-Fei Kaede X OC
Chapter twenty: Festival part 7-bukokai tournament Negi's thunder!
I don't own Negima!
In the waiting area for the tournament fighters, Negi was busy preparing himself for his match with Takahata. It was true last time he won, if not barely, but this time he had a ton of new tricks to try. Thinking back now he realized this was the first and last time he fought his father's old companion. He realized now that after he completed his assignment he never saw Takahata again, what happened to the old teacher in his future was he doing well, was he even still alive? After all the years of fighting, he would make sure to keep in touch this time with the professor, right now though he had to defeat the man and Colonel Sanders to reach his true goal. A fight with the man he truly wishes to surpass more than any other, someone that even when beyond his search for his father.
The two fighters make their way to the arena, Negi's friends give their praise and support as they pass by. Ku-Fei who had finally woke up from her little nap gave Negi an effect ant wink and secretly blew a kiss at the little mage's direct causing him to blush red. Kaede and the twins promised to cheer from during the fight, well Kataro (who had also awakened) gave Negi a firm nod of encouragement. Finally they passed by Jack, who raised his beer in salute, well he whispered into the Mage's ear.
"Don't worry about holding back. I got things covered out here, you just go have fun, alright?" He whispered patting the mage on the back.
He had been so excited about his match he almost forgot they were trying to stop Chao's plan, he appreciated Jack taking control of the matter, so he could focus on the match, though he was a little worried on what his methods of "handing it" were, but decided to trust the cowboy. Hoping things don't turn out like that time in Hong Kong; it was moments like those that made him glad they were sent back in time.
"It's ok to get serious right?" Takahata asked.
"Yes, I wouldn't want it any other way," he said his voice fill with determination. Takahata smiles proudly at the boy as they step on to the arena taking their respected sides.
On the side lines Chachamaru questions Goutokuji on Negi's chance of winning, "You can base these things on appearances. That young man Negi seems pretty capable, but he'll need to be more than that if he going to fight Dead glass Takahata."
"Now shall we begin, Negi-kun?" Takahata asked the young man before him. He really did look exactly like his father but the two had very different personalities. He had noticed that the boy wasn't as nervous as he original thought he would be, there was something else too something different about the way he stood as if he had no doubt of losing. He brushed it off as youthfulness and prepared for the call to start the match; it was going to be an interesting on that was for sure.
"Now thank you all for waiting match six…Begin!" Kasumi announced.
As soon as the signal was given Negi dashed forward like a bullet making the wind swoosh violently as he press his attack, just like last time it was defeated by Takahata's Iaiken technique, but he wasn't finished just yet using the momentum from his instant movement he spun on his heel to deliver a lightning enhanced punch which Takahata countered with his own attack resulting in a huge shockwave when the two connected. The two landed opposite of each other, Negi not wanting to lose his momentum used instant movement to jump to the older man's side and attack. However this time the breaded man was ready for him.
Dodging to the side Takahata tripped the child mage with his foot making him stumble across the arena, "You know Negi-Kun if you use the same trick too much, eventually your opponent will figure it out. And as for instant movement…" Takahata disappeared than reappeared behind Negi, "I can use it too."
Negi felt a cold sense of dread go down his spine. Even if he was stronger than he was last time was foolish to believe he was still at the same level, twelve years from now, but thanks to years of homed instincts. He managed to dodge Takahata's famous invisible punch just in the nick of time, swinging his body sideways he charged up his one of his personal favorite's attacks.
"Dai Rai Ka Kouken!" Magic and Ki mixed together wrapping around his arm in a tornado of power, it was a beefed up version of his Rai Ka Kouken the technique he used last time and since the it had ten times the power of its predecessor it should make quite a pop, if you know what I mean.
Takahata knew he would be in trouble if he was hit; the amount of power in that attack was insane! He didn't want to use it just yet, but it seems that he has no choice.
"Ki in the right hand, Magic in the left, Kankahō," a pillar of energy crashed down from the sky absorbing Negi's attack completely. "Now I get serious Negi-kun." Takahata declared. Multiple energy pillars crashed into the area. Well Negi desperately tried to avoid them, raising shield after shield to block the incoming attack. Negi's luck finally ran out though, as three pillars smashed right on top of him with enough force make a crater underneath his body.
Barely conscious Negi could hear the crowd and Kasumi berating Takahata for abuse and what not and tried to declare him the winner, but he tuned them out listening to the only voices that matters the voices of his friends.
"Come on Negi-Kun get up!" (Ku-Fei)
"Yeah come on man you can lose too this old basterd!" (Kataro)
"We know it you can do it Negi-Sensei!" (Kaede and the twins)
"Wake your ass up! You can't win lying down!" (Jack)
He could feel some of his strength returning, reaching into his shirt he pulls out a small vile with a red liquid inside. It was a potion Jack gave him that would either allow him to temporary tap into his future strength or turn him into a Chibi.
"It's now or never I guess." he said chugging down the bottle, resisting the urge to spit it out. It tasted like salt mixed with rotten fruit and vinegar!
Takahata wondered if Negi was going to give up. He would emit the kid did pretty well but he wasn't near the level he hoped he would be, not that he didn't enjoy the fight, but he knew Negi would never reach Nagi's level if gave up now. His fears were put to rest as a massive amount of energy suddenly shot out of the crater Negi was located. He turned to see Negi completely revived with not even a scratch on him well an aura of lightning flux rated around him.
"Well I must say Negi-Kun this is a surprise and here I thought you were down for the count." Takahata said joyfully, but his smile soon faded as he looked at the emotionless expression of the young man before him.
"Takamichi, I hope you dodge this," He said monotone. A small ball of lighting formed at his finger tip. Takahata just barely understood the boy's meaning, moving desperately out of the way of the mini thunderbolt's path but was late as it just barely nick him, but the pressure of the attack was enough to send him flying across the ring with a number a burns.
The lightning ball stopped short of hitting the crowd then with a flick of his wrist, Negi commanded it to chase after the still flying Takahata smashing and slashing through his alright damaged body.
The crowd looks on in shock at the major turnaround. What seemed like a one-sided match was now flipped as Negi mercilessly attacked Takahata with his little lightning ball thing. Somewhere about to yell to stop the match, but someone else beat them too it.
"Negi get a hold of yourself!" Jack shouted from the sidelines. He knew that the younger man had used his potion, but the dramatic increase in power seems to have overwhelmed his personality like when he uses magia erebea.
The shout of Jack's voice brought Negi back to his senses. He noticed the aura of lightning around him and the downed Takamichi struggling to stand. Concerned for the older man Negi rushed over to assist, but he was waved off.
"Nice job Negi-Kun never saw it coming," Takahata smiles then coughs, "This match is yours. Let's do it again sometime." Than blacks out his last thoughts were of how proud Nagi would be of his son.
With Takahata knock out cold, Kasumi declared Negi the winner, though she got a bit of an electrical shock when she raised his arm.
Negi walks away in embarrassment, Kasumi had smoke rising from her hair from when she touched him. Standing in front of his friends he could see they were all a bit weary to give him a victory hug/handshake. Luckily Jack had the solution to this problem…a right hook in the face that left him unconscious for a few minutes but at least he wasn't a walking bug zapper anymore. Besides the hug Ku-Fei gave him was worth the pain.
Well they were celebrating Evangeline walks in with Chachazero floating at her side. She gives the group one of her nasty sneers, "Celebrating over just such a little victory. It was obvious that fool Takahata was let you win."
"I know that Takamichi didn't give it his all, if he was I probably would have died!" Negi said seriously, "but it just means that I will have to get stronger and stronger for the day that we do fight seriously." He said with conviction. Evangeline gave him one of her creepy smiles as Haruna, Yue, and Nodoka walk into the room. "Well if you already know that then I'll live you to your fan girls, but don't forget our deal boy. If you lose you spend the whole third day of the festival with me."
Negi nods nervously. Evangeline may not be his master his time around but with all the training he went through under her wing. He still found it hard to refuse her demands. He watches the vampire leave the room. Negi feel the eyes of the other occupants in the room staring into this back, luckily he told Ku-Fei beforehand, or otherwise he was sure the Chinese girl would have already pulled out his insides.
"Well Setsuna-Chan your match is up next good luck!" He said changing the subject making Setsuna the center of attention. Not only did it stop Haruna from questioning him about his techniques but also gave him the chance to slip away unnoticed to speak with Jack in private. With the match over it was time to discuss their counter attack against Chao.
"Jack, how are we on our end?" He asked but the cowboy ignored him, following his line of site to the opposite corner of the room where Thomas was standing in the shadows unnoticed to the rest of the fights. He was perplexed about what so interesting about the man that Jack go out of his way to spy on him.
After a minute of silence Jack spoke, "There's something familiar about that man, but I can't quite figure out what."
It was true something was very familiar about this Thomas, what it was through completely left Jack baffled, other than the man's supernatural strength and cowboy attire there was nothing that stuck out about him. Except when he passed the man in the hall earlier, the temperature seemed to drop when he approached him than rise when they separated. Searching his memory for every Thomas he had every met in his life, Jack narrowed it down to one fairly quickly; turns out he didn't know that many Thomas.
"Son of a bitch," he muttered. He could feel Negi staring at him in confusion, but he ignored him, his thoughts taking a turn down a darker path. What the fuck is he doing here? Does Rubi know he's here or this a surprise visit from "him". Jack clutched his fist in anger than took a calming breath. Whatever the reason the man was here would be revealed soon no reason to stir things up. After all things were going to get crazy pretty soon anyways.
"It's nothing Negi. Let's go watch the match." Jack pulled the younger man by the shoulder it was little difficult because of the server difference in height but it worked out in the end as they got to the arena just in time for the match to start.
Once again Kasumi introduced the fighters via microphone. "Seventh match Setsuna Sakurazaki of Mahora Academy vs. Mei Sakura the lovely transfer student from America. Please begin!"
Setsuna readied her broomstick as real blades were banned from the tournament she had to find other means of using her Shinmei Style, though she would have preferred to use a wooden sword, so she wouldn't dishonor the Shinmei Style but on such short notice it was all she could think of. With trained eyes she watched her opponent carefully as Mei reaches into her uniform to reveal. An artifact! Setsuna thought warily wondering what powers the other girl processed.
To her upmost surprise a broomstick appeared in the other girl's hands. Well this is interesting the swordswomen thought as she slide into her normal sword stance. Off on the side lines Takane boasted on about Mei's superior fighting skills.
"She may look weak and feeble but Mei is a very talented magician and will not be easily defeated." The blonde mage boasted.
Is that so, I'll just have to finish her quickly then. Setsuna thought preparing her attack. With years of practice skill she lunged forward her broomstick set in an upward strike. The crowd watched the move as if in slow motion. Setsuna's broomstick wept up connecting with Mei chin, there was enough power in the attack to lift the girl into the air and splashing into the pond surrounding the arena, now everyone watched in shock as the orange haired girl waved her armed wildly trying to stay afloat.
"Help…I…can't …swim!" She cried out between breaths. Members of the crowd call out for someone do something to help the girl but the one who could do something were in bit of bind.
"Setsuna you have to save her!" Konoka cried from her position on the side lines she would help the girl herself by she couldn't swim very well and plus it was hard to swim in a multilayered Kimono.
"I would love to Ojou-Sama but I can't swim!" The swordswoman cried it was just like the time in the river she was helpless to do anything!
"Jack, Negi?" the healer peeled.
"Sorry love Fire-eater, me and water don't really mix well," the cowboy replied, sure he could walk in water but if it went above his head he sinks like a rock. Negi wasn't in any better shape to help either. After the fight with Takahata he probably couldn't even lift the girl let alone carry her out of the water. Rubi was the same her Fire-cat nature made water her natural enemy. Inspiration came in the form of certain black haired Hanyou.
"Hey what the hell are you doing?" Jack held Kataro by the scuff of the neck, his arm cocked back in a throwing position.
"Fishing," Jack smirked, with a mighty toss he threw the dog-boy into the pond. A small column of water shot into the air at impact. Kataro swam easily towards the drowning girl wrapping his arm firmly around her waist, he prepared to swim her back to safety went something tugged on his waist, looking behind him, he saw that a rope had been tried around him with Jack pulling him back to shore.
"Why didn't you throw the rope in the first place?" Kataro yelled.
Jack grinned mischievously, "Where's the fun in that?" Everyone else sighed at the cowboy's antics. Negi was the most disappointed even after mouths of spending time with the morally right Kaede it seemed that Jack's trickster personality was still alive and well.
With Mei alive and well on solid ground with a new set of dry clothes, the tournament resumed Kasumi at the helm announcing the next match.
"Eighth match Evangeline Athena Kitty McDowell vs. Colonel Sanders!" The reporter announced, however she found herself in the clutches of a very pissed off vampire.
"Where did you hear those names? Tell me now!" The vampire yelled, still clutching the reporter's neck. Weakly Kasumi pointed toward the cloaked from of Colonel Sanders, if you looked close enough you could see amused smile on his hidden face. Eva dropped Kasumi roughly on the ground and stocked towards the cloaked man, cracking her knuckles as she went.
"Master, please mind your temper," Chachamaru warned, but her pleas fell on deaf ears as Eva pulled out a strange bottle from her person.
She glared in Jack's direction, "This has better work you damned Cowboy," he shrugged her off saying it worked for Negi.
"Jack is that what I think it is?" Negi questioned, from his point of view it was defiantly the same potion that Jack had given him before his fight, the same one that could either make you over whelming powerful or turn in you in to a suka.
"Yep it's the same potion I gave you, but there's not telling if she'll get dud, some or all." The others gave him a confused look, so he explains further, "Ok dud was what mine was if you remember from a few months back, some is what Negi had during his match with Takahata, meaning some of his future potential was unlocked for a short amount of time, and all of coarse you're full potential, but it will probably last for only five minutes." Evangeline put the bottle to her lips drinking down the liquid down to the last drop, "The problem is that you don't know which one you'll get so it's a risky move to drink it."
The group waited in anticipation wondering with transformation the vampire would receive, would it be all, some or Dud? It was mind blowing to think about, what would they do if Eva was able to regain all of her powers? Sure it would only be five minutes, but they were certain she would make them the worst five minutes of their lives!
A poof of smoke surrounds the vampire concealing her from site. Everyone waits in anticipation for the smoke to clear, when it starts to dissipate it reveals…