WolfGear Presents: Negima? The mage and the Gunslinger
Pairings: Negi X ku-Fei Kaede X OC
Chapter twenty: Festival part 8-bukokai tournament: Subzero inferno
I don't own Negima!
When the smoke cleared a small black bundle of fur lay curled where the vampire once stood. Everyone one looked on with wonder as one large bunny ear popped up from the bundle then a second; finally the mysterious creature unrolled its self to reveal a head of blonde hair and big blue eyes. It was none other than Evangeline A K McDowell, the dark queen herself in the form of a Chibi black rabbit.
The crowd gave a low "Ah" as Chibi Eva played with her ears looking absolutely adorable. She then yawned sleepily making the crowd love her even more as she curled up for a nap.
"It seems that contestant Evangeline is talking a nap," Kasumi said softly making sure not to walk the sleeping Chibi, the horrors from the times with Chibi Jack still fresh in her mind, "I declare Colonel Sanders the winner by…um…sleep?" The crowd gave a soft cheer, so they wouldn't wake the sleeping Chibi, "Chachamaru could you please take care of this please?"
"Of course Kasumi-san," the robot said flying over to the Chibified vampire via rocket boosters. She cradled the Chibi carefully in her metallic arms erecting another round of "ah's" from the crowd, all the attention made Chachamaru's cheeks heat up abnormally.
"The second round of matches will begin after a twenty minute break!" Kasumi announced as large images appeared around the arena showing high lights from the previous matches or more specifically the one that involved magic and special techniques.
"Seems like Chao's making her move," Jack stated as he watched the screens, nearby someone had a laptop with images from the fights posted on the internet displayed on their screen. Jack "borrowed" the stranger's laptop to show the others what was going on.
Ku-Fei and Kaede knowing what would happen if magic was revealed to the world; where worried for their respected love interest. Feeling the girls unease the two tried to calm their fears.
"Don't worry Kaede-Chan, to the rest of the world these just look like CG imagery, no one will thing you know what." Jack said reassuringly but it didn't seem to completely work as concern was etched deep in to the ninja's eyes but she seemed to be more at ease. Off to the side Negi was having a similar conversation with Ku-Fei, though he didn't seem to be having any easier of a time either.
In another part of the arena stadium, Rubi waited patiently for her target to arrive, cracking open a bottle of gin; she took swig, letting the alcohol burn down her throat.
"You know it not a good Idea to drink hard liquor before a match," a deep voice said.
Rubi spun around quickly, a small fire bullet burning at the tip of her finger, pointing at the masked being in front of her, "It also not a good idea to seek up on a lady. Didn't you mother teach you better Thomas?" She asked blowing out the flame on her finger, and passing the bottle over to the cowboy.
"Well yes but most women done shot fire out their fingertips," He laughed pulling down his make to take a drink, "Damn that's some stuff sister! Brewed at the ranch I assume." He inquired passing the bottle back.
"Yep, Bonnie made it herself, so you know it's the good stuff." She said taking another swig, "So Thomas what are you doing here? And don't give me any bullshit or I might rethink about not shooting of you balls."
"Scary. Can't a man just come and see his nephew with no strings attached?" dramatically he put his hand on his heart faking injury, "You wound me sister do you think so little of your brother in law?"
"Yes, Yes I do," She said with a smirk. It's been years since she's seen any of the McCoy brothers. The last time she seen them all together was when they dropped Jack off on her door step. Over the years Thomas or Ray would show up and teach Jack something like how to hunt, skin, and ride. You now try to give the boy some man to man moments as they called them, but not once did John ever come to visit his son, she always wondered what it was that kept him away.
"So what are John and Ray up to? Still running around the world?" she asked genuine curious, just what the hell have been these guys been doing for the last decade?
"Well believe it or not Ray is in the magic world. I would say he went there about five years ago. I myself have been traveling around visiting any and every place that looks interesting."
"You mean any place with a pair of tits and cheap liquor." Rubi interrupted.
"You know it! Europe's nude beaches are the best!" He shouted cheerfully.
"Fine watch ever where's John?" She growled between the three of them, the perverted one has to be the one visit!
The smile disappeared from the outlaw's face as he once again became serious, "I don't know. He just called me one day and told me to go to Japan give a message to Jack and you for him."
"What he couldn't come himself?" She inquired curious why her long lost brother in law was finally taking an interest in his family but still refused to show up in person.
"Yeah he says sorry for that but he's a little tied up. For you he says thanks for taking care of Jack. He's become quiet the man."
"What else?"
"Sorry but that's for Jack's ears only," an annoyed look appeared on Rubi's face, but luckily for Thomas Kasumi announced that his match was starting. Whew saved by the bell. He thought as he hurried away from his "loving" sister in law. He was pretty sure she about to threaten his manhood again, that woman does not like to be denied.
Back with Negi gang, Ku-Fei prepared for her match with the mysterious Thomas. Thanks to Chao's videos she was able to see his moves from the first match, the problem, there were no moves to learn from other then the fact he had overwhelming strength.
"Ku just watch out for his left hook and mind your footing." Jack advised the martial artist. The others gave him a curious look, how did he know these things? Was Thomas one of Jack's old friends? Negi hoped this wouldn't lead to another incident like the one with the twins.
As if he could read their thoughts Jack gave them award winning smile, "Don't worry, I don't know what he's here for, but he's not an enemy. I can promise you that."
Over the speakers Kasumi asked for Thomas and Ku-Fei to come to the arena. With a round of good lucks and quick peck on the cheek from Negi, she was off to fight one of the strongest men on the planet.
"Hello and thank you for waiting as we start the second round fights. We'll be starting things off with Last year's Champion Ku-Fei!" Crowd cheers loudly, "And her opponent from parts unknown, the mysterious Thomas!"
As Kasumi announced them both fighters walked out onto the arena. Most were surprised however to see Thomas with his face uncovered. Touching his breaded face, Thomas realized that he did in deed forget to replace his mask after his little chit chat with Rubi. Oh well it's not like he was really trying to keep his identity a secret. He just thought it would be funny to mess with his family a bit.
Taking the microphone from the red head, he decided to reintroduce himself to the crowd, "Hello, everybody! Seeing how I have missed placed my mask I'll be introducing myself properly to you. My name Thomas McCoy! And yes I'm related to the other McCoy's here, though I'm not sure about the Kid with the weird ears." He joked looking at Kataro, "Though he looks ugly enough to be my brother Ray's, you never know."
The crowd laughed at the cowboy's antics as he and Kasumi fought over the microphone, and Jack who held an angry Kataro by the scuff of his Jacket, preventing the boy from attacking the older cowboy for the ugly comment. Finally after about ten minutes of pulling back and forth Kasumi was able to pull the microphone from the cowboy's gasp. Unfortunately this caused her to stumble into the pond around the arena, soaking the reporter head to toe.
"Just start the fucken' match already! And Ku-Fei make sure you kick his ass!" The reporter cursed well trying to dry out her clothes.
Ku-Fei stared mind blogged for a moment at the silliness that took place before her. Was this guy really as strong as Jack made him out to be? Then again Jack acts the same way sometimes, than again she acted pretty silly at times too. Ku-Fei took her stance preparing for anything the cowboy might throw at her, Jack's warning playing repeatedly through her head.
After getting his laugh for the day for the soaking wet red head, Thomas turned his attention the blonde girl behind him. He looks at her with curiosity, his mind fill with numerous questions like, how does a Chinese girl have blonde hair? Did she have on older sister or cousin? Did he have something to do with her birth because honestly he been with so many women, there's no telling how many kids he as all over the world. Which is why he didn't throw out the possibility that the little hanyou over the was his or Ray's as he faintly recalled this one Inu chick he banged years ago…but that was for another time now though he had to focus on the fight it would be disrespectful not to take this one seriously.
He let out a calming breath and fell into a basic defensive stance, his knees slightly bent, and his arms up in front of him in a boxing stance. "Ready when you are girl!" He called waiting for her to make the first move.
Ku-Fei came at him with a flying kick aimed at his head, but Thomas easily ducked under it then spun on his heel as Ku spun in midair to deliver a second kick which he blocked easily. Grapping on to the martial artist ankle he pulled her down hard on the arena floor. But Ku recovered quickly flipping backwards into the air from the ground.
With some distance between them again she charged at the cowboy; a ball of Ki charged in her hand. When she was within striking distance she thrust the Ki attack first as a distraction and attacked with a Ki enhanced punch aim at the man's chin. However a flicker of movement on the cowboy's left shoulder warned her of the left hook Jack warned about, and moved her head to the side to avoid the blow.
That's what she would have done if all sudden her feet didn't slip on something slick. Making her lose her footing and take the full blunt of the blow; sending her skidding painfully across the floor. When she finally come to a stop, she put her hand where she been hit, when she pulled her hand away, blood coated it, that single blow was hard enough to break the skin, and now that she touched it the pain finally settled in making her wince as she struggles to stand.
"Un What happened?" She moaned. It felt as if she was hit by a truck and what happened earlier with her footing, it was like trying to walk on ice! Taking a step forward she slip and fell on her bum! Looking down she saw that she was actually walking on ice. In fact the whole arena floor was covered with it and even the pond was frozen solid!
"What the hell is going on?" She yelled. Wrapping her arms around her body trying to stay warm, her combat clothes weren't ready made for cold temperatures at least she was wearing leggings otherwise she didn't think she would last very long in this cold.
"You like it? It's just a little ability of mine. You see I'm what you would call an ice-eater." Thomas explained as he observed his handy work, it was always a funny thing to watch people slip and fall.
Ku-Fei ignoring the cold as best she could, used instant movement to leap across the ice ring, ready to deliver a mountain of pain to the ice user. However she didn't think about how the slippery surface would affect her fighting ability, so when she exited the jump she slipped and sailed right past her intended target and in the wall.
Shaking the stars she heard clapping behind her, turning her head she saw Thomas mocking her, "Never seen someone take a spill so badly love, truly a five star performance," He joked trying to hold in his laughter but failed.
"Well if you're having this much fun with a tick like this then you'll love this." He said forming eight ice knives in-between his fingers, metal weapons maybe banned but no one said anything against ice ones. With practiced precision he threw the icy blades at the girl, who just barely managed to slide out of the way as the blades imbedded themselves in the wall.
Damn, she wore to herself. He's just playing with me! That much was obvious to her, if Thomas was truly being serious he could have frozen her solid in the first ten seconds, after all she didn't even see when he froze the arena over. Well then I'll just have to bust out some of my new techniques. I will not go down that easy! Gathering the energy of the world around her, Ku-Fei was about to attempt something that no one would expect from her…magic.
Igneus saevio (Burning Rage) she muttered all of Ku-Fei's muscles expanded and grew to their peak, giving her strength beyond anything she felt before as stream rose from her body from the intensive heat her body produced. Summoning her staff, she enhanced it with the incendia spell causing the weapon to become wrapped in flames.
"Now my turn," with a fierce battle cry, she spun her staff making a spiral of fire as she charged the ice eater, but when the spiral of flame connected Thomas simply melted away. "What?" Ku shouted when she finally skidded to a stop; melting some of the ice as she went.
"You like it I call it Glacies alio. It's an ice puppet moves and can act on its own. It's probably my favorite technique." Said Thomas as appeared unharmed out of nowhere, "Oh I almost forgot, I can make at least twenty of them at a time, so enjoy!" Once again Thomas disappears a heavy fog settles over the arena, that is so thick Ku could hardly see, but she was able to pick out about a dozen shadowy figures. Knowing they were Glacies alio she poured more power into her Igneus Saevio mixing Ki and magic together to give it a real kick. Glowing like a nightlight Ku's fire enhanced body cleared away some of the fog revealing dozens of Thomas look a likes.
Gripping her staff Ku-Fei prepared herself for the on slot that was about to come, "I'm ready, so bring it!" She shouted at the ice clones. Everything stood still for a moment then all hell broke loose! All of the ice puppets attacked at once, Ku-Fei swings her staff smashing, crushing, and breaking every single one that come in reach, she even extends her staff and attempts to wipe them all out at once but more still take their place.
Eventually Igneus Saevio wears off causing the martial artist to slink to her knees in exhaustion as her body reverts back to its original form and the flames on her staff extinguish themselves as it fell from the martial arts grip. Though the fog the steadily clunk of boots is heard as the real Thomas approaches the downed Ku-Fei.
"You did good girl. Fighting off over two hundred of my ice puppets is no small feat, but now it's time to draw the curtain on this show, sayonara." Thomas said placing his finger to Ku's forehead, and then flicked his middle finger, that small flick had enough force behind it to send Ku into unconscious.
When the fog cleared the fight club members were shocked to see Ku on the ground. Kasumi Started the counted down but Negi and the others knew that the martial artists wouldn't stand up this time, the troll of using Igneus Saevio and fighting of so many ice puppets combined with the blows to the head was beyond Ku's limits.
All of them knew that Ku wouldn't be mad about losing, no the fact that she did her best would be enough for her. When the countdown was finished, Negi jumped over the railing to get to Ku's side, checking her for any crippling or life threating injuries. Fortunately other than some bruises and the cut on the right side of her head there were no other injuries that couldn't be fixed with a small healing spell.
Gathering Ku into his arms, Negi carried her bridle style to the med bay, but not before giving a respectful bow to Thomas on Ku's behave knowing the Martial artist would have wanted to thank him for the excellent fight.
Thomas tipped his hat in acknowledgement. He knew what the younger man's jester meant and knew the younger man held no ill will towards him for beating up his girl; it was refreshing to know that these youngsters had some respect for one on one matches. Most now days would declare revenge or some nonsense even if the fight was fair.
"Um…excuse me Thomas? Could you please remove yourself for the arena? We sort of need to move on with the matches." Kasumi told the Cowboy. For the past five minutes he seemed to be off in lala land.
"Oh sorry," He said embarrassed to be caught day dreaming in public…again. He excused himself and left the arena so the tournament could continue.
With Thomas out of the way Kasumi move to the next match, "That match was exciting wasn't ladies and gentlemen, though it would have been better if you could have seen though. Next we have another blood feud match coming up as two family members' battle it out for supremacy. Next match Rubi Malone vs. Jack McCoy!"