WolfGear Presents: Negima? The mage and the Gunslinger
Pairings: Negi X ku-Fei Kaede X OC
Chapter 47: High octane
I don't own Negima!
Jack stretched as he moved from his resting place on the ground. Sleeping on the hard rocks of the plateau wasn't very comfortable, but what chose did he have when there were rocks everywhere! He just had to land in the middle of the wastelands didn't he? Well, he sighed at he wasn't alone, thinking of the green haired robotic girl resting comfortably on the hard earth. Yesterday the two had much up after only a few hours, it was surprising how close they landed together, but it was kind of occurred. Jack had unfortunately or fortunately depending how you look at it stumbled across Chachamaru well she was bathing in an oasis, giving the cowboy quite an eye full. Now whenever he tries to speak to the robot girl, she turns red and looks away.
Jack sighed, and checked his compass cross, but there was no one else for a long ways, if only there was a way to pinpoint everyone's location. Like what the military does with their satellites.
"I can do that." Chachamaru said, startling the cowboy.
"Whoa when did you wake up?"
"Technically I don't sleep. I was simply in standby mode to conserve power." Chachamaru explained. "Also you were talking to yourself I was afraid that you had bumped you head when you fell from that cliff at the oasis and had gone mad." She add, trying to undermine the fact that it was she who threw the rock that sent him tumbling down the canyon wall.
"Is that what happened?" Jack wondered, if felt like to him that he hit his head before he hit the ground, but that didn't matter anymore, he was interesting in hearing what Chachamaru had planned. "Anyways what did you say you can do now? We kind of got of the subject there." He asked, well rubbing his head, damn it hurt!
Glad that he had no memory of she bashing his head out with a rock Chachamaru continued explaining her plan. "You said you wished to see where the others are correct?" Jack nods. "As it turns out I am able to view a full scale map of the magic world, and combing that with the crosses you gave to everyone I should be able to pinpoint their exact location."
"Great let's get to it!" Jack slapped Chachamaru on the back making the robot blush from the physical contact. He raised an eyebrow. "Do robots get sick because you've been turning red quite often lately." He asked concerned, perhaps she had caught a virus? That was possible right?
"Umm… no it's just the heat is making my sensors go a little haywire that's all! Once I cool down a bit I should be fine." She said franticly hiding her face from the cowboy. Jack just shrugged, he barely understood girls most of the time or computers, so a girl with the brain of computer was way beyond his understanding.
After hacking a satellite, and finding a way to connect the cross to Chachamaru, which thankfully they were able to just pierce it to her ear otherwise they would have had to open her up and connect it directly her core, which was located in her chest.
Chachamaru projected the map of the magic world for Jack to see; also everyone's cross was colored coded. "The two pink dots are Fuuka and Fumika, and they appear to be traveling with someone of my records." She noted wondering who the black dot was.
"It must be Ray. Those girls will be safe with him even if Fate and all his flunkies attacked them they wouldn't even get a scratch with Ray with them." Jack said relieved, at least now he wouldn't have to worry about them getting in to harm's way.
"Understood, next the blue and white dot are Setsuna and Konoka, it appears they are already at the ranch. The yellow and grey dots are Ku-Fei and Kaede. They are one hundred miles to the west of us near a village called Ve'shi an Elf settlement. Finally Negi, Sayo and Kataro are near a city called Dracaena, which is renowned for its tournament fighting." Chachamaru shut down the projector, but keep an eye one very one's movement from her own inner radar. "So what shall we do? Should we rendezvous with Ku and Kaede or Negi's group?"
"That's good question." He pondered. It was a hard choice, go after his best friend or his girlfriend. Wait a minute this wasn't a hard choice, of course he was going after Kaede first! There's no telling how many jerk offs could be hitting on her right now, and he wanted to be there to beat the shit out them! "We should probably head towards Kaede and Ku-Fei first, they're closer to our current location, after we do that then we'll meet up with Negi and the others and head towards the ranch to plan out next move." Jack nodded, it was simple plan, but simple is better.
Suddenly a voice echoed out over the wastes. "Sorry, but you'll be a little too busy to go prancing after your girl boy." It was Haze Highland the swordsman that attacked the gate with Fate!
Jack swiftly summoned his swords, he was eager for another round with the Scottish swordsman. "You come here to finish what you started at the gate Haze? I'll be happy to oblige you by kicking you ass straight into the ground!" Jack taunted, but the Scotty wouldn't be gulled into a fight he was here on his masters orders after all.
"As much as I would love to cross blade with you again, I am here on my masters orders. You apparently intrigue my mistress, feel honored boy this is a very rare honor." Haze said c
"Sorry but I already have a girlfriend, so go tell you master to dig her nails into someone else." Jack mocked it was really funny watching the blood vessels pop out of Haze's head. Jack guessed he was the type that was stone cold to most insults, except the ones directed at his precious master.
Haze however was not amused. "You insolent fool! How dare you suggest the princess would have any romantic attraction to scum like yourself?" He yelled angrily.
Jack smiled mischievously; Haze was practically hand feeding him material to taunt him with. "I never said romantic attraction, so does that mean she does or are you just jealous that she likes me more?"
That was the straw! Haze grabbed for his sword, but a voice stopped him dead in his tracks. "My, my, my, he has certainly got under your skin Haze. Really how many times do I have to tell you to just take a joke?" Sitting on a floating pile of skulls shaped like a chair was an exotically tanned woman with red hair that spread from her bangs and gradually turned black and then mixed into an odd mixture of the two colors, her eyes were blue as the ocean and her lips red as blood, she was wearing a skin tight suit that showed every one of her curves and breasts that rivaled Kaede's. All in all she was a true figure of beauty.
"Hello there boy, I am Shihime Princess of the dead, may you be so kind as to give your name, you too girl." The now named Shihime regally asked the two, and as if in a trance they answered.
"Jack Kid McCoy," Jack answered monotone. His eyes were blank and emotion less it was like some one was home, but the lights weren't on.
"Good, girl I believe I asked for you name too." Shihime sharply ordered.
Not knowing what this strange woman had done do Jack. Chachamaru decided to play along… for now. "Chachamaru Karakuri," She said in the same monotone voice as Jack, which really wasn't that hard to fake since she's been talking like that most of her life.
"Good girl, now Jack would you please be so kind to answer a little question for me?" Shihime asked, but in reality it was an order, and one that Jack would obey in his current state.
"Yes ma'am, please ask me anything." He said in the same monotone voice, but looking closer Chachamaru could see his hand trembling, meaning he was fighting whatever spell this woman had cast on him. When he was closer to breaking free that's when she'd act.
Shihime smiled. "Good, now tell me do you know anything about the whereabouts of Jake McCoy?"
Jack stood frozen, one side of him wanted to answer even though he had no idea who she was talking about, well the other side didn't want to answer at all because he felt he would lose one of the most important things in his life, his freedom.
"C-cha-chamaru g-et h-er," Jack struggled to say, but she understood and in instant multiple laser beams shot from the robots arm engulfing their enemies, well she dragged Jack a safe distance away.
"Jack are you ok? What happened? What did she do to you?" Chachamaru franticly asked, she have never seen anyone entrap someone else's mind like that, and one with as much will as Jack. This Shihime had to be truly powerful indeed.
"I'm fine," Jack said waving the robot girl off of him. "That woman, no that monster, imposed her will on me. I could barely resist it. That's… that's never happened before, no one, no one could make me do that! No one can take away my freewill!" Fear and anger spread throughout his body. Fear for the fact that someone could actually take control of him, and anger at the fact that he almost gave in.
"I'll kill that bitch." Jack swore. He would get the chance sooner than he thought for Haze and Shihime were right behind them, unharmed by Chachamaru's attack.
"That's quite a notion there boy. Let's see if you strength to back it up, and just to be fair I'll even fight at Haze's level just to give you a chance." Shihime said cheerfully. It's been a long time since she's had to fight or maybe it was better say some one worth fighting. Not since she fought with Jake had she been filled with this much excitement. "Very well then you may have the opening move, and since we're in the wastelands you don't have to worry about holding back you true power!"
Jack smirked if that was the case he was going to take her up on that offer. Suddenly flames erupted from his body as the air become hot and hard to breathe, fire started to appear all over the land raising the temperature to over two hundred degrees!
In his new transformation Jack burned with heat, his hair like flame and his eyes blood red this was it this was the results of his training. No more multi personalities, all where one combined into one ultimate form!
"I've been itching to use this for a while now. This is my new technique High Octane: Explosive first!" A beam of blue/red flames shot from the cowboy's hand burning away all that stood in its path!
Shihime saw the attack coming, she was impressed that this young man was about to tap into the lost art of explosion magic, truly he could be called a fire master, but it would take much more then this to beat her! Gathering power into her hand she backhanded the flames way, like one would a fly.
"Now it's our turn to attack boy!" Haze and Shihime rushed forward engaging in close quarters combat. Haze attacked with his claymore, well Shihime attacked with a scythe that she materialized out of thin air, together they pushed Jack back well he did his best to defend himself with his swords.
But Jack wasn't alone he had a friend and that friend was Chachamaru. Realizing how out matched the cowboy was on his own Chachamaru charged in with her wrist blades, slashing, hacking, and parrying Shihime's scythe. She even managed to cut a sliver of hair off of the red heads head, something that she took surprising well.
"My, my, Haze, how do you stand being so weak? This little puppet girl managed to take one of my precious hairs of my head." Shihime said bitterly. It really has been a long time since she had to fight, and with so much restraint on her power too, she wished she could just cut loose, but a bet was a bet.
"I'm sorry my lady I will make sure to better myself." Haze said feeling ashamed for not being stronger for his master.
Shihime uncaringly brushed of her minions words. "Just make sure to keep up, I don't want you getting in my way. Understand?"
Haze bowed his head. "Yes princess I understand."
"Good now let's continue."
Slowly the four circled each other, waiting for the other to make the first move, when suddenly Jack and Shihime lashed out with their blades making sparks fly as steel met steel.
Taking advantage of Shihime's slower swings, Jack rushed pass the princess's guard, blocking the swing of her scythe with one of his blades, and strikes out with the other one aiming for the red heads neck!
"Take this!" Jack yelled swinging his sword, but somehow he missed! Shihime ducked and weaved between his strikes as if she was in a dance of sorts.
"This is fun," She said dropping her scythe and summoned a ball of red energy in her hand. "But this is funnier! Skull Basher!" The ball of energy connected with Jack's head sending him flying in to a nearby rock with a sickening crack!
Jack struggled to stand. It felt like someone had taken slug hammer to his skull! Never before had he experienced so much pain from just one attack! It was insane, and this was only at Haze's level, it was scary to think what her true strength was. He would have to be careful unless he wanted to be put six feet under.
Using instant movement Jack appeared beside the red head's side and launched a powerful round house kick aimed at her head, but Shihime blocked using her forearm, and then grabbed hold of the cowboy's leg and threw him into the ground creating a crater the size of a minivan.
"Are you taking this seriously? Because I'm starting to feel a little disappointed," Shihime said frankly. Honestly if this was all the body had then she might as well kill him now, she thought when suddenly the leg she was hanging on to disappeared into a puff of smoke!
"Ninjutsu?" She wondered when eight hands shot out from under the ground each with a green ball of flame in each hand!
"Rabidus abyssus incendia Barrage!" Eight streams of green flame blasted towards the death princess engulfing her in a column of green flame! But then a shockwave of energy blew the column and the shadow clones way in a single sweep! Emerging from the smoke was a very irritated woman, over all she was fine, but the flames had scorched her clothing, which was unforgivable in her book.
"Are you a coward now? Had to send in your pathetic clones because too afraid of a woman?" Shihime taunted. Really if he was going to go through the trouble of destroying her clothes he could at least finish the job! It's not like she wanted to go out and get more just because the one's she was wearing just happen to get destroyed in a fight, and it just happens that she didn't walk into a store with destroyed clothes just to see the reactions of the onlookers. No that's not what she wanted because she was the princess of death, not some lose moral woman, who took pleasure in tormenting people with her sexy body.
Before Shihime could finish her inner rant a voice broke out over the wastes, it was Jack's voice. "Sorry for dumping you with those clones, but this new technique still take a little time to get ready." Jack apologized from his position that was about fifty yards away from Shihime; this next one really packed a punch! "Say hello to my second explosive technique: Fire snapper!" With a snap of his fingers huge bursts of flame shot out from his fingertips (think Roy Mustang from FMA) once again engulfing the death princess, but this time there was more than just one explosion, no Jack was snapping his fingers like mad, and with each snap another burst of explosive flames shot out.
"Did that do it?" Chachamaru asked from the sidelines, she'd been charging her lasers to fire at the right moment in cause Haze tried to double team Jack again, but the swordsman had made no move to help his master. That being said where was he?
The smoke from Jack's attack cleared revealing a large silver triangular shield wielded by Haze. "Say hello to my artifact Gaia's shield, capable of blocking any attack magical or physical." Haze said conceitedly. This was the power given to him from his pact with Princess Shihime; the power to stop even the most powerful attacks for this shield was crafted using the hide of the Beast.
Jack pondered the situation. That shield was going to be trouble, with it Haze could stop their attacks and Shihime could charge up powerful artillery spells, assuming she knew any, but he didn't want to take the chance. Silently he motioned Chachamaru orders to attack from the left well he attacked from the right. That way Haze would be only able to stop one attack and the other could get them from behind.
Jack yelled "Go!" Both of fighters dashed to the side and charged around the shield, Chachamaru with a fully charged laser beam, and Jack with a Rabidus abyssus incendia. From the left and the right the dark duo was pinned or at least that's what it seemed.
Suddenly Haze's shield split into two pieces, both Chachamaru's Laser, and Jack's Incendia where eaten by the shield, then spit out the opposite side. The laser went out the right shield well the flames traveled out the left like a reverse mirror.
"Fuck," Jack screamed as the laser burned a hole through his chest. It went right through his left lung making it extremely difficult to breath, and well his demonic healing was struggling to close and repair the wound, a spear of dark energy stabbed itself into his abdomen pinning him to the ground! "Shit he cursed." Struggling to pull out the spear but every time he tried a server electro shock would rock his body.
"Just stay there boy," Shihime commanded. "I'm going to have some fun friend with your green haired friend for a little while. I wonder want would happen if I dismantled her, and implanted her with my own magic? Do you think she would mutate into something interesting or perhaps become one of my loyal servants like dear Haze here? Oh the possibilities," She smiled wickedly. She always wanted a female partner just to see how it would work out.
Because of the heat from Jack's spell, most of Chachamaru's systems were fried, such as movement, weapons, and communications. She could still see, feel, and hear though.
"I think I'll start with your hands," Shihime licked her lips. "I wonder if you experience pain the same way that humans do, but don't worry after we finish that we'll move on to more pleasurable things." She laugh stabbing a spear of darkness into the robot's hand, it really hurt, but since Chachamaru couldn't talk right now all that come from her mouth was a silent scream of pain.
Dammit, dammit, dammit, Jack screamed at himself as he lied helpless well his friend was being tortured. Already Shihime had impaled all of the robots hands and feet and had now moved on to clawing out her stomach. Most wouldn't have focus on themselves, thinking that since Chachamaru was just a robot she could be repaired, but Jack knew better, he that you could rebuild Chachamaru's body, but her soul the precious thing that made her unique from the other machines Chao made. If that was destroyed then so was Chachamaru.
There was only one way he was going to save them both, it was risky but he didn't have much of a choice, better to go down fighting then dying like a dog on the road, Jack believed.
"Overheat," he whispered. His body burned with heat, so much that steam rose form his skin! This technique was designed to raise the user's abilities by ten, which was just what Jack need right now because this next spell was real hell raiser. "I will make my arrows drunk on blood, and my sword shall pierce my enemies with fire and brimstone." He chanted as he roughly pulled the spear out of his gut, ignoring the pain as he flew across ground, brushing past Haze, and right in the path of Shihime spear that was about to be driven into Chachamaru's shoulder, but when into his instead.
"What in the hell?" Shihime exclaimed shocked that Jack had managed to remover her spear of darkness, and still have the strength to come to his friend's aid. Just like she knew he would.
"Take this Ravaging Flame!" A spiral of flame shot out of Jack's palm, cutting and searing right through the death princess's body like a hot knife through butter! The marks left by the attack marred her beautiful tanned skin, gorge marks burned deep into her body, no doubt that they would scar.
Blood dripped from the cowboy's mouth that was it that was all he could do, he thought as the blackness swept over his vision.
Chachamaru fearful for her friend forced herself to move, her systems have finally managed to repair themselves for the most part she could talk and move, but any weapon she still be off line.
"Jack… Jack are you ok? Speak to me please!" She yelled franticly, his body was limp, and his eyes were blank. She feared the worse; till she heard a shallow intake of breath, looking closer she saw that his chest, which was now bare, was moving just barely, but that meant he was breathing! This meant he was alive! She cheered happy, but this quickly faded when a shadow fell over her, the shadow of a fully healed Princess of death!
"My, my, my I actually had to break my seal for a second there or else I would have been a goner." She said seriously. The wounds left by Jack had already fully healed, and replaced with a fresh patch of skin. Really this was truly the first time in a long time that she's been hurt like that, and she enjoyed it, it meant that there were still some strong fighters out there. Looking down She saw that Chachamaru had a barrel of one of her laser pointed at her, the robot had taped into the her own magic power source for one last attack to defend her friend just as he defended her. The scene was so touching that Shihime decided she was going to be merciful to the two for their efforts.
"Put those toys away, I'm not going to kill you." Shihime said annoyed. Really the ruddiness of some people, but then again the girl didn't know she was going to spare them so she'll let it slide. "That boy is one of the most interesting fighters I've seen in ages, course all McCoy's are that's what I love about the men in that family insanely powerful and they never give up. He reminds be a lot of Jake in fact, daring, confident, and bullheaded. I love the type, I'm guessing by the way that you guarding him that you love him."
Chachamaru blushed red. "I… um… respect Jack… he treats me like another human girl, never minding the fact that I'm a robot." She denied trying to hide her true feeling, wait what? Was that what she was trying to do? Did she really love Jack? No, no, no she can't he loves Kaede! Besides it would never work.
"You can hide it all you want, but I see right through you." Shihime whispered seductively in the robot's ear, making the green haired girl shiver. When did she get behind her? "You love this boy, no this man, you want him for yourself, and more importantly you want to bare his children."
Now Chachamaru felt like her circuits were going to melt. Press her hands against her cheek in embarrassment, she tried to tell herself that she didn't love the cowboy, but every time she did Shihime's word just kept echoing in her head.
"That fine, take your time just don't wait too long dearie, because you'll never know how things will turn out if you never be daring every once and while." Shihime wisely said. "Now if you'll excuse me I will be taking my leave, and as another gift to you I will restore you to full heal, and make sure this one doesn't die, but that is all."
Purple smoke suddenly spiraled around the two and as promised healed Chachamaru to hundred percent, and Jack to a state to where he would survive. "See you later," Shihime waved goodbye, and turned to leave but Chachamaru cried out for her stop.
"Wait why are you helping us?" She asked, as far as her reasoning went there was no reason for the red head to help them, so why?
"I don't know," Shihime said honesty. "You two just interest me, and things will go smoother for me if you both are alive. Now if there are no more question I will be leaving, come along Haze."
"Yes princess." He bowed and followed after his master, and both disappeared into a veil of black smoke as mysteriously as they arrived.