WolfGear Presents: Negima? The mage and the Gunslinger

Pairings: Negi X ku-Fei Kaede X OC

Chapter 41: A comical date at the Emperor's palace

I don't own Negima!

Friday night a night that usually symbolized two days of freedom from the exhausting retinue of the school week. A day to go out on the town with your friend and party! And for the majority of the people living on campus that's what they were going to do, but for the select few, there are other more important things to be doing, like taking you girlfriend out on date with her mother tagging along. This is the night that Jack McCoy was having.

Right now the said person was busy dressing for the occasion. This would be his second meeting with Kaeda Nagase, and since she was the one of the two parents that liked him, he wanted things to stay that way, so he really dressed too impressed. Black leather cowboy boots, black jeans, red button up shirt, black leather rancher's vest, and to top it off a black cowboy hat. He also went as far to shave and clean up his hair. Ah the things you do for love.

Suddenly the door to the bathroom flew open revealing Kaede, who also was dress up for the night with a stunning red Chinese style dress, slippers, and her long hair braided into three tails that trailed down her back.

Slowly Kaede stalked across the room revealing the slit that ran down the sides of her dress, showing just enough skin that it could be considered inappropriate, but she wasn't worried about her mother's option. She was the one who recommended it after all.

Slyly she wrapped her arm around Jack's and let him to the door. Kaede smirked "So are we going or are you just going to stare at my legs all night? Because I think my mother would be severely disappointed about not seeing you again."

Jack grinned. "I guess it would be rude. Plus I already set Negi and Ku up at the restaurant. It would be a waste if we didn't go."

Kaede quirked an eyebrow as they stepped into the hallway. "Negi and Ku, you invited them too? Isn't that dangerous? If someone finds out he's dating a student he could get fired!" But Jack just laughed off her worry, which irked her a little. No doubt those two devised some crazy plan already.

"Don't worry," Jack said. "Negi using an aging pill, and remember a chance to eat at the emperor's palace for a date, let alone the first one is once in a life time! And if you're still worried Negi alright spread the rumor that he was going to Takahata's for supper. We even got Takahata to play along, so even if some of Negi's crazed fans follow they'll be at the wrong place, watching a cleverly designed illusion spell." Kaede was still a little skeptical, but decided to just trust Jack, and enjoy the evening. Besides who's so obsessed with Negi that they would violate his privacy?

Unfortunately there was someone that obsessed. Well there was actually more and right now they were all gathered to gather by one Ayaka Yukihiro. The rich blonde had finally decided to get to the bottom of the mystery that was Jack McCoy. She viewed him as a horrible influence on her beloved with his smoking, drinking, and out languish behavior, but what really pushed her to investigate was his announcement of having reservations at the Emperor's palace, the most famous and renowned restaurant in the world that not even her family's influence could get a reservation soon. What was Jack's family history? Was he in some kind of mob family? His Aunt's appearance certainly supported it.

One night all the girls were bathing when Rubi joined as well. They got a close up view of her many tattoos, several kanji characters that spelled 'monkey murder' on her arms, and a description of a monster cat surrounded by fire on her back.

This is why she gathered together all the people who were interested in Jack or Negi together, Kazumi who was always looking of a scoop, Haruna who couldn't stand not knowing the latest gossip. Others like Makie, Yuna, who were just curious and decided to tag along.

Yuna whispered. "So what's the plan pres.?" She was really just along for the ride, but she did want to ask where all those really cool gunslinger guys went after the festival battle. It was like they just disappeared into thin air!

"We follow them of course!" Ayaka hissed.

Slightly the group stalked the two lovers to the water fountain in front of the school where they met with Ku-Fei and some older guy that look a lot like Negi. They started talking to each other, but Ayaka and her group where unable to hear what they were saying, till finally they started to make their way off campus. Ayaka saw no need to follow them and risk exposer when they already knew where they were going.

Outside the Emperor's palace, Ayaka plotted away to get in, but so far she came up short. There was no way she could demand a reservation, firstly they would just kick her out, and secondly they would be spotted by their targets of interest. So what do?

Strangely fate was on Ayaka's side today as Satsuki the class chief walked out of the service entrance of the Emperor's palace with a bag of garbage in hand. With a mischievous grin Ayaka scurried across the street with the other following behind.

"Hello Satsuki, what are you doing here?" Ayaka asked coyly, and being the kind person she was Satsuki answered.

"My mom works here and allows me to help out every once in a while. Usually she would let me cook too, but she said someone important was coming tonight so I got trash duty."

"Oh too bad, hey how about we help you out tonight," Ayaka offered, though her companions didn't seem as enthusiastic as her.

Satsuki didn't seem so sure about letting them help, but they were her friends, so she could at least try. "Ok, let's talk to my mom and see if it ok." She said leading them through the service door.

Meanwhile at the entrance of the Emperor's palace Jack's group arrived with Kaeda. To say the least she was impressed.

"Is this really what I think it is?" She asked star eyed. The emperor's palace was a nine floors building that covered almost half of a city block, each floor represented one continent expect for the bottom which was the lobby and the top floor that was a special part of the restaurant that only certain people could enter. That was where Jack and the others would be dinning tonight.

Jack grinned. "Yes this is the emperor's palace. The only restaurant in the world with cooks from every nation on staff. You can order whatever you want or even make up something on the spot, and they make it." He explained as they walked into the lobby which was crowded full of people waiting eagerly for their chance.

As soon as they entered one of waitress practically ran towards them nearly pushing some of the other customers over! "Ah Senior Jack it is a pleasure to see you again." The waitress said in a thick Spanish ascent, that made it hard to understand what she was saying, but Jack seemed to be able to comprehend what she was say.

"It's good to see you too Sonja," Jack greeted. "Not to be rude, but could you please bring us to our tables, my guests and I have much to talk about."

"Oh I'm so sorry senior! Please forgive my babble!" Sonja pleaded. Jack said it was ok, and contently followed the Spaniard to the glass elevator. Press the nine button, they ascended upwards, while observing the other parts of the restaurant.

One floor was European styled with decorations from every country and staff members varying from the Spanish coast to the Romania border to the tip of Italy to the oceans of Norway. The next floor was Asia, then Africa, Australia, Oceania, South American, and finally North America. All of them designed with propose of helping the patients of feeling the culture.

Now though they reached the ninth floor which was cut off from the rest of the restaurant. The elevator had gone dark as they switched between the floors, and when the darkness was shunned away by the light, it revealed the most beautifully crafted room you have ever seen.

The walls were stained old American, as was all the tables and chairs. On the northern section of the room was a bar outfitted with every kind of alcohol available through legal and illegal means, but that wasn't it the walls were covered with literally hundreds of pictures, all them though were too far away to see at the moment.

Proudly Sonja announced. "The McCoy retreat, I trust everything is in order your waiter will come when you ready just press this button on the wall and some will come. For any drinks that you desire Dirk the bartender will provide for you. Also here the alcohol drinking age is sixteen, but you only get one glass for the night. Thank you and good bye." With that Sonja disappeared down the elevator leaving them to their own devices.

It didn't take long before the questions started to be asked. The first one to ask was none other than Kaeda. "The McCoy retreat? Does that mean you own this place Jack?" She asked bewildered. Jack just pulled out a chair for her to sit on, and then did the same for Kaede, while Negi and Ku-Fei took their date in the connecting room for privacy.

"I will explain, but perhaps it would be better if someone who knows the full story does." Jack gave a loud whistle that nearly made your ears bleed, but it had the desired effect. No later than five seconds a blonde woman looking around fifty years of age wearing a French maid outfit entered the room. She gave a giant smile to Jack and greeted him with two kisses on his cheeks, and then he did likewise.

"Monsieur Jack it is so good to see you again. It has been ages since your last visit. I remember you were still just a wee boy sitting on your ma 'ma's lap." The blonde said nostalgically.

"Everyone this is Madame' Joan. She is the manager of this section of the restaurant, and one of its original founders." Jack introduced. After everyone exchanged greetings the same as he had he got on to business. "Joan if you could tell us the story of how this place came to be I would be grateful."

"Of course I would love too, but before that would anyone like a drink or some freshly made French bread to start of their evening?" A round of nods and Joan waved over Dirk who was secretly a mage, handed out several drinks to everyone. Kaeda a cup of sake, Kaede sake mixed with brandy, and Jack a bottle of rum.

Kaeda looked astonished. "How did he know what we wanted?"

"He just knows." Jack answered, and she left it at that, though really Dirk used a mind reader's spell and got the drinks ready. "Now I believe you were about to begin Joan."

"Oh yes, it was roughly twenty years ago. I and some others had bought the land where the building stands after the former owner when bankrupted do to some gambling debt. We wanted to open a restaurant, but we had made an error. We had gone way over our budget and the building was in need of much restoration, and to make matters worse the local Yakuza demand we pay tribute to them, things had gotten so bad that we thought would have to sale just to cover some of the debt. But then a light shined down on us, a light with name of John McCoy, Jack's father if you don't know. He did us a kindness unlike any other. Brought over his own ranch hands to help restore the building, called in chiefs of every nation, and supplied all the food ingredients directly from his ranch. And all he asked in return was that we only buy from him, and make the ninth room for his family's and friends' use only. Didn't even take a dime, so if there was ever a time that a McCoy wanted to eat here all they would have to do is ask, and since you gals came with him that means you can do the same since your friends of the family." The girls were jaw jacked. Making quiet an awkward silence, till suddenly out of nowhere Kaeda grabbed her daughters by the shoulders and with a huge grin yelled.

"I must say I would have never expected such a man to exist! I bet you very proud of your father Jack." Kaeda commented.

Jack shrugged and moved on. "I guess. Joan I think we're ready to order." Jack said on everyone's behave, surprisingly instead of a menu a globe of the world was placed in the center of the table. Rubbing his hands together like a child on Christmas Jack spun the globe, spinning it so fast that all the images printed where nothing but a blur! Then he stopped it with his index finger, which landed on Germany.

"Looks like you're having the German sausage with mashed potatoes and gravy Jack." Joan said writing the order down on her notepad. The Kaede and her mother were confused, but Joan quickly explained. "Here at the emperor's palace we had a tradition of spinning the globe for your order, and whatever the special for that region is that day that's what you get. We feel it adds variety in our customer's life."

Now most people would be upset that they couldn't pick their own meal, but really the emperor's palace had just about every recipe imaginable. There was no way that you could get through the first page let alone ever see everything on the menu, so started the globe tradition.

"My turn," Kaede announced spinning the globe, and stopping it with her finger, she landed on Russia.

"I see dumplings with mash potato filling, and Shashlyk (Skewed Meat). Now your turn Madame Kaeda," Joan encouraged. Repeating the process everyone watched Kaeda pick her mark which was… Texas! "Texas Tabasco chili," Joan said writing a little note to bring lots of extra water up. Discreetly she exited the room leaving her patients to their talk.

Meanwhile in the eighth floor kitchen Satsuki had just introduced Ayaka and the others to her mother Tatsuki Yotsuba head chief of the far eastern kitchen, and manager of the eighth floor. She was about the average height for Japanese women, and had a little more meat on her bones thanks to her time taste testing so many meals, but still remained fit. She is also known for being a generally well-mannered person, except when she was on the job.

"Move your asses! Come on we have a very important guest tonight, and we can't afford any delays! You get those Dumpling made! Korana get that skewer cooking! You peel those potatoes or I'll peel you skin off!" Tatsuki ordered banishing her ladle ready to bop any head that need reminding how to do their job. She was truly a furious lady to reckon with, but her personality took a 180 when she caught sight of her precious daughter.

"Ah Satsuki-Chan you finished taking out the garbage yes? Good, now please tell me you those girls behind you are before I have kick them out for trespassing." Tatsuki said darkly making the girls sweat.

Luckily Satsuki was there to save them for being thrown to the curve. "There some classmates from school that wanted to volunteer their help tonight. So if you could find them some work I would appreciate it."

This got Tatsuki thinking. They were a little shorthanded tonight, but with Madame Joan attending to the VIP guest tonight she didn't think it was a good idea to hire teens off the streets, but it then again they did need the help. Suddenly she had an idea. Just assign them to the McCoy retreat, they would be away from the regular customers and if Joan didn't like them she would throw them out. It was a win either way.

"Ok girls you go to the locker room and get some uniforms, and Satsuki will show you to your assignments on the ninth floor. There Madame Joan will be in charge listen to her or be ready to fall nine stories." Tatsuki said seriously. "Trust me I'm not joking so keep you shit together because that French woman is crazy!"

Thirty minutes later on the ninth floor it was finally time for Jack and his party to receive their meals. Joan had everything in order, now the only thing to do was deliver it to the table. Keenly she stared down the "volunteer" helpers that Tatsuki sent her. Mostly she thought the Japanese Chief was trying to mess her up in front of Jack tonight.

You see there was a tradition among the staff of the Emperor's palace. The head chief of each floor would try to undermine the other when a VIP (a McCoy) came to eat in an effort to get their picture taken and put on the wall on the ninth floor with the visiting McCoy.

Joan glared at the girls making them gulp in fear. "Now listen to me ladies. If this some attempt by Tatsuki to blow my chances of getting on the wall I will cut you up and turn you into next week's special do you understand me!"

"Yes Ma'am!" They responded. This made a pleased smile appear on the blonde's lips.

"Good, let's get moving then."

Jack and the girls were glad when the food had finally rolled out, and sometime between their wait Negi and Ku had joined them. With a simple request it was arranged that Negi's and Ku's food would be brought up with theirs.

The guising silver cover was removed, revealing five huge plates of food that Joan quickly placed to the correct person; Jack's sausage and potatoes, Kaede's dumplings and skewed meat, Kaeda's Tabasco chili, and finally Negi's and Ku's BQQ Chicken pizza. They landed on Italy.

"As you enjoy your meal I would like to demonstrate something to you all. Oh girls could you come here please?" Joan called, and not a second later Ayaka, Haruna, Kazumi, Makie, and Yuna dressed in French maids outfits stepped into the room. Which surprised them, none of them would have thought Ayaka would actually get a job! Times must be stuff for the Yukihiro family.

The matter of the girls had already passed through everyone's mind as they wondered what Joan wanted to show them. Though Jack had the sneaking suspicion that it had something to do with that tradition that Rubi told him about, but all she said about it was that it was funny to watch.

Joan reached under the cart that she used to bring the food in with and revealed a medium sized pot and some bowls. "This is my new French black chili. I would like you girls to taste test it for me." She said laying out the bowls and pouring them to the rim of the black substance. "Oh and because of our no food wasted policy you have to eat all of it."

The girls stared, and then reluctantly reached for the spoons that lay beside the bowls and slowly took a spoon full of the chili. Everyone took one last breath and prayed for their souls, and ate it.

Silence…

Then screams of agony! All five girls were on the floor gasping for water anything to cool their hot tongues. Joan's French black Chili was truly something else something to behold already drool started to seem from their mouths from the spiciness. It would be sad if it weren't so funny to watch.

Jack laughed hard. "Oh man that's one for the wall!" Off to the side Joan gave a silent "yes" in celebration. She had waited years for this opportunity.

"You girls just stay there for a second I'll be right back," She said running behind the bar to grab the camera. Quickly she gathered everyone around the downed girls and had Dirk take their picture. Since the camera was an instant once the photo was ready and waiting to be framed with the other best food pranks photos. "Thank you and enjoy your meal." Joan said dragging the girls away.

The rest of the night was quiet. Jack, Negi, Ku, Kaede, and Kaede's mother talked till about midnight. You could tell that they all had a good time. On the street corner outside the restaurant the group bid farewell to Kaeda, and made their way back to Mahora. There they said their good nights and hit the sack.

Authors Note

Hey guys WolfGear here as you can tell this chapter wasn't that great, but anyways the next chapter will be better. I hope.