Disclaimer- I don't own Negima.

These chapters are sort of my way of getting to the heart of it, I guess. XD That was real descriptive, I know. Well, enjoy it, regardless. :)

"Hey, Colonel?" asked Asuna curiously.

"Yes?"

"You claim that used used to be a not-very-nice person, but I don't see that. I mean, duh, you're a pervert, but other than that you're decent. And that story with chibi-master Zecht showed us how you changed and all, but what were you like before that?"

Al wondered if Filius would object to being called "chibi-master". He thought about it and came to the conclusion that he really wouldn't give a shit.

"Hmm...you really want to know what I used to be like?" he chuckled.

Chisame shrugged. "I'm sorta curious myself."

"Me too." admitted Konoka.

Al smirked. "I'll go as far back as I can, then. How about Egypt? That's about as far as I can go with telling you some of the private things in my past."

Chisame, Konoka, and Asuna simultaneously quenched the curiosity to know about Al's "private past".

"It was back in the last parts of the previous millennia...no, that's wrong...the one before that...the turning of the time, when Christ was born..."

"B.C." reminded Chisame dryly.

"Ah, yes, that's right. Before Christ. Yes, well, it was around that time, and Cleopatra VIII was in power, and I was only beginning to discover who I really was..."

Al drunkenly clinked glasses with a woman- he'd forgotten who. Maybe it was Cleopatra...but the nose wasn't big enough for that. It had to be one of her servants, or maybe one of those woman they'd sent to please him. He toppled over onto her, grappling awkwardly with her as he sloppily kissed her. Someone took the wine from his hand, and he grunted his approval at the woman's ministrations.

He didn't even bother with taking his clothes off, just made her sufficiently nude for him to enjoy himself. When he was finished with her he moved on to the other woman moaning in his ear, using his increased stamina to his advantage. He partied in this fashion for several hours before retiring to his bedroom, where he ignored the stench of sweat and sex and slept soundly.

"Sir?"

He ignored the voice. Not worth his time.

"Sir?"

Not worth it, although she sounded pretty. Pretty or not, he'd do her.

"Sir?"

"What?" he said crossly, immediately grabbing the woman and planting a kiss on her. He would've gone farther, too, but she slapped him. He fell back into the bed, confused.

"I don't care if you are a god," she growled. "But I was raised better than that."

"Oh."

"Your breakfast is ready."

He yawned. "Go then."

"Aren't you going to thank me?"

"No."

"As I expected," she huffed, then stomped out. He stuck his tongue out in response. He casually ate his breakfast, not bothering to dress or get out of bed. When he was done he lounged around in comfort, waiting for someone to send up a concubine or a maid.

The woman from earlier reappeared, and Al examined her more closely. Her skin was darker than most Egyptians' and her eyes were unusually blue, just as blue as his. She was gorgeous, and he decided to make her his own.

"What do I owe the pleasure of your visit?" he asked. She did not avoid his gaze or flinch at the sight of his naked body lying spread out on the sheets.

"I have been assigned to be your personal maid." she said distastefully.

"You don't sound thrilled."

She did not react, gathering his disgustingly dirty dishes together.

"Don't worry, I won't get mad."

"I am not pleased," she admitted. "I know of your reputation. So you will not die, what of it? It seems more of a curse than a blessing."

"It seems, it seems..." he answered evasively. "So what if it seems to you? I am unique, I am special. I am immortal, and I can do with this gift what I please."

"You are a thoughtless man," she spat.

"Now I might get angry," warned Al. "So be quiet if you know what's good for you."

"I don't know many things," she replied. "But I know not to tangle with men like you."

"We can tangle all you want," smirked Al.

"This is why I hate men like you, you're all pigs," growled the woman.

"At least I'm an attractive pig," said Al absent-mindedly. "It could be worse. At least my women enjoy themselves when they're with me."

"Do they really?" she replied scathingly. "Lucky for them." She left briskly, an Al was left to stare at the ceiling of his extravagant room.

He had everything a man could want, so why did he feel so empty?

"It's time for dinner. It might be cold, I had trouble finding you."

Al looked up from his thick book. "I should've informed you where I'd be, I apologize."

"That was unexpectantly nice," spat his maid, whose name, he'd learned, was Lalah. "I didn't think you cared for others."

"Who said I did?" replied Al pointedly.

"Dinner, sir."

"You can have it. I'm not hungry."

Lalah was surprised, he could tell. "Why? Is this another ploy to get laid?"

"Dear Lalah," snickered Al. "I don't need ploys to get laid. It happens naturally around here."

"That's right, you have your own harem because they think you're a god."

"Who am I to deny them?"

"With all due respect, please go to hell."

"Glad to see you're comfortable around me. I hope the food tastes good."

"Thank you...I guess."

Al hummed and returned to his book.

"Do you want me to call your women in?" asked Lalah disdainfully.

"No..." replied Al absent-mindedly. "That's all right. I'm reading."

"Really? Are you sure?"

"Yes..."

"Are you feeling okay? Do you have a fever?" She reached for his forehead.

Al shied away, never fond of physical contact other than sex. It made him think of painful beatings and harsh words and the feeling of not mattering. Lalah noticed this and retreated quickly.

"Did I upset you?" she asked quietly.

"No...I'm just messed up."

"Yeah," agreed Lalah. "You are."

Al saw her true beauty for the first time and wished that she liked him even a little.

"Three days."

"Hmm?" Al looked up from his reading.

"Three days since you've visited your harem. Why?" Lalah's beautiful eyes were finally reflecting emotion other than disdain.

"I'm busy...I haven't been interested."

"But...why?"

Al gave her a quick flash of a smile. "You inspired me."

"I can't take credit for changing a god."

"I'm no god and you know it."

Lalah was silent for a long moment. "You're not entirely human."

His blue eyes revealed pain and confusion. "I don't know why. I'm scared that I will never know why. How can I live with that?"

Lalah reached out for him again, and this time he didn't flinch. "Maybe I can help you with that."

It wasn't Albireo Imma's first kiss, but it felt like it was. He wanted to pretend like it was, because it more meaningful than anything else ever had.

Albireo had never known the joy of falling asleep with one woman and waking up with her in his arms. He felt like he was now privy to some special secret of the universe. Falling in love could do that to a man.

Lalah opened her eyes groggily. "Good morning, Al."

"Good morning," he murmured. "I hope you're not mad."

"Why would I be?"

"I thought you might...regret this." He was not a normal human, after all. Even so, the very idea of her rejection pained him greatly.

"I try to live my life with no regrets."

He smiled. "That seems like a good policy." He let his smooth, manicured fingers trace her collarbone, and she allowed him. It was a good feeling, one he cherished.

"Albireo, what do you think of me? Am I just another one of your toys?"

Al shook his head. "If anything, I am one of your toys. I would do anything for you."

"Do you...?" Lalah hesitated, aware that Albireo was a coward in love.

Albireo grinned sheepishly. "I love you, Lalah."

"I love you too, Albireo."

"Move out of the way!"

It was a scream too late. It was Albireo's fault, Albireo's fault that she was in the room to begin with, his fault that she was close to him, his fault that he was targeted in the first place, his damn fault for watching her die in his arms.

He held her close, wishing that she would stop bleeding, that he could just pour his life into hers. It wasn't fair, he wasn't a good man why should he be immortal? Or was it was because he was a bad man that he was cursed this way?

"A-Albireo..." she spluttered, her throat coarse. He felt his tears drip down his face.

"Lalah..."

"It's not fair."

"I know," he sobbed. "I'm sorry! I know!"

"It...should've been you..." rasped Lalah, her eyes lit with the dying flame a resentment. "It's not...fair, you..."

Albireo stopped crying. To hear it from her was worse than thinking it. It hurt. It hurt a lot, to know she hated him as much as he hated himself.

Whatever Albireo was, he never found out. Lalah died, and he was alone again.

He looked at the assassins coldly and picked up his sword.

Chisame's face was red with rage. "No offense, Al, but...that Lalah...she was a bit of a..."

"Bitch?" supplied Konoka.

"Exactly," agreed Asuna. "You deserve better!"

"I understand how you'd see it that way," nodded Al. "I've thought the same way many a time...and that event did set my on a path of self-destruction for many years...but I can't blame her for what she did. Dying is an unimaginable pain."

"Is it?" questioned Konoka.

"Yeah, is it?" asserted Chisame.

"It's a great mystery to me," reminded Al. "One I may never get to solve."

"The circle of life..." sang Chisame and Asuna under their breaths. Konoka clung to Al's arm. "You've had such a sad life!" she exclaimed.

"What can I do? I've had good times too. Every life is a sad life."

"Amen, sister," agreed Chisame.

Al looked at his tea. Had he unintentionally slipped alcohol in there? He made shooing motions. "You should go, let an old man be alone with his thoughts."

Chisame gave him a lingering glance. "Are you sure?"

"Positive. A little time alone won't hurt."

"If you say so...but creepy old guys like you need all the company they can get."

Al couldn't help but laugh at that.

Lalah is named after Lalah Sune of Mobile Suit Gundam, because I am a nerd. Reviews are love! :)