Disclaimer: This is a nonprofit fictional story, a FanFiction based on Ken Akamatsu's Negima. I do not own Negima, or most of the other characters included in this work, excepting where it is stated in the author's notes. It is not intended or presented for any commercial profit or personal gain; it is simply a story written for personal fulfillment and presented for public enjoyment, and as an honest homage to the fine story conceived and written by Ken Akamatsu, as well as all the other (innumerable) works that find place herein (and their authors).

Chapter Four: Amaranth

"What's with the crowd's noise?" Yue murmured. "That is…."

"Well, it's getting to the third round!" shouted Irina excitedly. "The first two were really just more of the preliminaries. There are a couple notable fights in this round. Delryn Rylack against Kuchiki Byakuya! Hanatabi Kôtarô versus Tanabi Kôjirô! There's rumors about that second one…Hanatabi Kôtarô is a famous warrior and swordsman, but he disappeared for over twenty years…the rumors say he fell in battle to Kalan Lockeheart. And now, this new Kalan Lockeheart has arisen…and his constant companion in the Granicus Cup was Tanabi Kôjirô, who seems to be a Blade demon with powers identical to Hanatabi Kôtarô's! It's like he's a long-lost son or something…." Irina sighed. "Why did we have to draw the security detail at this time? Nina-chan has no luck…."

"Be quiet," Nina growled. "Focus on your work properly. It's imperative that we do our duty and do not shame the HiME. With everyone so lax because of this tournament, dissidents and terrorists could strike at any moment."

"Not likely," Shiho muttered. "Even the dissidents and terrorists are probably watching this tournament…."

"I almost wish something would happen," Arika groaned. "I'm so bored…."

"Be quiet and do your duty!"

('Those names are familiar, too…of course…Kain Lockeheart…I must have known that 'Kôjirô', too…right…?

('Ah…I wish I could remember….')

8-8-8

"Kain-sensei!"

Kain started as he left the arena. He turned…and there they were. Akari, Kiami, Hikaru, Nanami, Minsc and Aerie. "Ah! You're back! Does that mean…?"

"Yeah…we found it," Nanami affirmed. "We weren't the only ones, either. That one member of the Obsidian Star…Dynamis, I think? We saw him out there, too…he ended up taking out a lot of the Halteese security in the area, so he indirectly helped, but still…." Nanami shivered. "That wasn't a sight to see. He nearly spotted us, too. Anyway, the Gate's found…and I guess they want it as well."

"I'm not surprised," Kain muttered. "Eminus' plan said mostly the same thing…." He shook his head. "In any case, if you guys have completed the mission, all the better…."

"That's right," Kenjirô agreed with a smile. "You're in time for the best of the fights. Tomorrow…what a day that will be." He clapped Kain on the shoulder. "I'm going on ahead. You catch up with them."

"Ah…he advanced, then?" Nanami asked curiously as Kenjirô departed. "I've been keeping up with the tournament as I could. I haven't heard anything about today's matches, though. How'd it go?"

"Most of the favored advanced, of course. Natsu was one of the upsets…he's pretty frightening, really. Kenjirô did take down his father, yes…so we'll be fighting tomorrow."

"What about Delryn-san?" Hikaru asked. "He was going against Kuchiki Byakuya, right…?"

"Yeah. He did well. But he was no match for him."

"Eh?" Akari started. "Delryn-san…he lost? W-where is he now?"

"I'm not sure…I had to stay in the barracks because of my own fight…the medic team carted him away, so he's probably still in the infirmary…."

"T-the infirmary!?"

8-8-8

Akari met Kagome and Momo at the door of Delryn's room. The three of them tentatively entered. The man was lying there, wrapped in bandages, staring away from the door.

"Del-chan?" Kagome offered.

Delryn glanced back their way. "Well…what a popular man I am. Sympathy visits are enough to bring three ladies to my door. Come on in, then."

"You seem to be recovering well," Momo remarked. "After that attack you took, I'm surprised you're even awake."

"Thanks. Yeah, I can't do anything, but I can take a hit. That's one thing I have going for me…."

Kagome stepped forward. "Here, let me…if I use Tenseiga, you'll be fixed up as good as new in no time…."

"Don't bother. I'm done fighting here. Save that kind of thing for someone who really needs it."

"But…."

"It's not like I'm crippled. I'll live. Just let it go, Kagome."

"B-but we might need your help," Akari objected. "I mean, the Obsidian Star's still there, just waiting around the corner for us…we never know when they could attack again…."

Delryn scoffed. "Who cares? It's not like there'd be anything I could do even if I was healthy. With guys like Byakuya and my dad around, and Kain Lockeheart, son of the hero, why do you need me?"

"D-Delryn-san!"

"That's enough." He turned away. "I'm tired. Just let me be."

As Kagome and Akari began to sputter, Momo suddenly said, "C'mon. We should go…let him be."

She began to leave, and Kagome reluctantly followed her, but Akari resisted the urging. "As if," she muttered.

She stalked past her fellows and over to Delryn, who glanced back up at her in surprise. Akari slapped Delryn—not with the palm of her hand, like an insulted female, but with the backhand of contempt. "Are you really that shallow!? You suffer one little setback, you get beat once, and you just want to give up!? You're worse than Kenjirô-kun!

"Do you even have any idea how blessed you really are? Do you think it'd be better for you if you didn't have that super-important father looming over you!? Do you think you even have the right to think like that? When Kain-sensei…Kenjirô-kun…me, and Kiami and Hikaru-kun…Kagome-chan…Hinagiku-san…Tear-senpai and Rin-senpai…all of us have gone without one or both of our parents nearly our entire lives. I'm not complaining—we've all had people to support us as well…but don't you find anything wrong with the fact that you want to get away from the one thing some of us only dream about?

"And so the only thing you can do to escape that shadow is make a name for yourself…but one defeat and you go to pieces. What kind of a warrior are you? Someone who only wants to fight when he's winning isn't a warrior…he's just a bully. When I first met you, when I saw you in battle…I was amazed, honestly. I'd trained with Kain-sensei and all the rest for some time, but in you, I saw true fighting instincts, natural talent, and painstaking skill. It was different than Kenjirô-kun, the Blade Yôkai…in you, I saw the fighter who had combined all three keys of talent, painstaking labor, and desire. I thought you had the complete package…."

Akari shook her head and stepped back, turning around. "But I was wrong. I guess you were missing the most important thing of all: someone above you to show you how far you still have to grow. Your dad obviously didn't kick your butt enough when you were little. If that's the first time you've even had someone tan you, I guess it's no surprise you might react like that…and if you're really going to just drop everything now, all the rest of those wonderful gifts you were given have completely gone to waste. It's painful to watch." And she finally stalked out, past Kagome and Momo, who had stopped at the doorway to stare at this tirade. They exchanged a quick glance and swiftly slipped away after their friend, leaving Delryn alone in the room, staring dumbfounded after them. Finally he reached up to massage his jaw.

A woman had been leaning against the wall just next to the door, going rather unnoticed. She smiled slightly and finally entered the room with the softness of a cat. Delryn spotted her immediately and froze as she approached.

She was older, probably nearing forty, but was still quite beautiful, with long black hair and brown skin. She was fairly short, although taller than any of the Japanese ladies that had just left, and possessed with some of the plumpness that accompanied middle-aged mothers. "Mom…" Delryn muttered.

"She's quite an interesting one. Seems she can hit, too," remarked Iria Rylack, mother of Delryn and wife of Aiden.

"Ah, yeah…." Delryn looked away. "I guess so…."

Iria walked over and sat next to him on the bed. "I think she's right, too…really, your father could have beaten you a little more. But what's done is done." Iria smiled slightly. "I would have done it myself if I didn't think that it was his job, but…well, to be honest, it's somewhat amusing to think of what led you to this tournament in the first place. Your father never worked hard at teaching you fighting or advanced magic because he never wanted to make it seem like you had to follow in his footsteps. He didn't want you to grow up to be a copy of him, or to have great expectations on you just because he was your father. But you went and inherited those expectations anyway, you took them upon yourself and noticed them…a little too much.

"Maybe if he had taken a more stern hand in raising you, you would have had, as that dear girl put it so aptly, 'someone above you to grow to', or whatever. Regardless, you have grown into a fine young man…and goodness, are you young. Even if you fall, you have plenty of time to get back up on your feet."

"Yeah…maybe. That's easy to say. It's harder to see when there are so many talented kids around just like me who haven't fallen…."

"Do you really think so? That girl, there—you think she hasn't fallen a time or two? Sounds like she has a lot of experience with it. There isn't a soul on either of these worlds who doesn't fall again and again and again. There isn't any flower that blooms forever without sorrow. Tell me, Del…do you remember the origin of your name?"

"Of course. 'Delryn' comes from Old French, a variant of Delroy, meaning 'Son of the King'. Dad's mentioned it a time or two."

"Yes, that is true. That's why he named you Delryn. But words can have different meanings in different languages. In Old Elven, it means 'Amaranth'. It is their name for the flower, and has the same original meaning that the Greek derivation we use does—the 'unwilting'. Although not as well-known amongst novices, the amaranth was adored and praised by the ancients of Earth because of its resilience and how it did not fade swiftly as other flowers did, and it even came to symbolize immortality. In his Paradise Lost, Milton proclaimed:

'Immortal maranth, a flower which once

In paradise, fast by the tree of life,

Began to bloom, but soon for man's offence

To heaven removed, where first it grew, there grows,

And flowers aloft, shading the fount of life,

And where the river of bliss through midst of heaven

Rolls o'er elysian flowers her amber stream:

With these that never fade the spirits elect

Bind their resplendent locks.'"

Iria was silent a moment, then continued, "Your father was already a broken man by the time I met him. He never showed it openly, but as I came to know him I learned of his past and understood it: the tragedies he had to endure to earn the moniker 'The Mage-Killer' by the tender age of seventeen, and then, of course, all he suffered and did in the war alongside Kalan Lockeheart to earn the title of 'hero'. He had his own path to walk and deliberately separated himself from the rest of the Red Wings after the war, but even so he regretted not being able to help them more, with Aeli Kanna, with that child he always talked about. And so I was quite fond of giving you the name of Delryn—so that the 'son of the king' would be unwilting, no matter what happened to him. But really, even giving you a perfect name only goes so far. It's up to you to decide how you'll be. That girl saw a beautiful flower blooming, but now the flower has been cast into the storm…is it but a rose, a transcendent but ephemeral beauty…or is that flower an amaranth, unwilting and refusing to fade away, but determined to bloom beside the rivers of eternity?" She finally rose. "I love you, Del, and I am proud of you, no matter what. I am not ashamed of what you've done, and I think that what you see as a failure was still a success, even if it wasn't as great as you thought. I hope you'll see it that way, too…you seem to have picked up a lot of friends recently, and I think they see it the same way. Rest well."

Delryn stared after her as she departed. "So many busybodies," he muttered. "Each and every one of them…well…."

8-8-8

"If the Obsidian Star is also looking for it, it could be a problem," Kain murmured. "Still, now we know what we need to do. We can start planning the escape."

While Akari was off checking on Delryn, Kiami, Hikaru, Minsc and Aerie were reporting on their findings. Kain, Mai, Tear, Rin, Shunsui, Jûshirô, Hinagiku, Nodoka, Erza, Grey, Jade, Lina, and Chisame were now making plans with them.

"The best time to try and activate it would be the culmination of the Festival," Kamo pointed out. "Just as ancient Earth peoples based their holy days on seasonal changes and the like, this Memorial Festival is centered on the magical flow and ebb of Orimus. Just like Sakura was using the Mahora Tree's energy for her plan—and, really, we did, too, to escape that future—using the energy of the land will make it a lot easier to open."

"However, if they want it for some reason, the Obsidian Star will likely be aiming for the same time," Jade remarked. "You won't get to it without a fight."

"Only to be expected," Lina said. "It's just too perfect a situation, isn't it? It seems like fate: the ultimate battle, our enemies standing in the way of our quest at the final moment." She sighed deeply.

"Regardless, that's what we have to do," Kain declared. "We can't stay in this world, as interesting as this all is. We have to get everyone home. Well…we have a little more to do before that. We can't get ahead of ourselves."

"That's right," Chisame said. "The tournament isn't over yet. You have your fight with Kenjirô tomorrow…then Kuchiki after that. And then, it would be Aiden. But even that is 'getting ahead of ourselves'."

"That was a good fight the kid had earlier," Shunsui noted. "You can't think you'll get past him that easily. It's good that he's on your side…but tomorrow, he'll be an obstacle."

Kain chuckled. "Not really. We're after the same thing. If Kenjirô defeats me, he'll defeat Byakuya and Aiden. Because that's the kind of person he is. Regardless of anything else…neither of us will stop until we've succeeded."

8-8-8

As the evening waned, the usually energetic companions of Kain Lockeheart separated into smaller groups, reflecting on their situation. Three rounds of the tournament had passed…three more, the far more intense and dangerous three rounds, remained.

Ami and Nodoka sat near Fairy Tail as Natsu celebrated his surprising progress with a tremendous feast. They watched him with small smiles, but Nodoka's mind was on other things. "Tomorrow…Kain-sensei…and Kenjirô-kun…."

"They'll finally have their battle. It's…well, I've watched them spar a great many times now," Ami mused. "But to think that they'll actually fight…I can hardly imagine it."

Nodoka giggled. "Well…I was there the first time they fought. I remember it well…Kenjirô-kun was so much stronger than Kain-sensei…. Kain -sensei only was able to defeat him by tricks and with a lot of help. Of course…Akari-san defeated Kenjirô-kun then, too…."

"But now, they're like this," Ami remarked. "It's difficult to imagine Kain-sensei losing now…ever since the Festival…."

"Yeah. But no matter who wins…we're close to going home…."

Ami considered for a moment. "Will we really…go home?"

"W-what? A-Ami…."

"No, I mean…it's not that I doubt Kain-sensei, or Kenjirô-kun. But…can we really run away? Can he run away? With this world in danger, with both of our worlds in danger? True…we are just children, students, we should be uninvolved, but…how can we leave everything behind? I…don't think Kain-sensei can do that. Not just for his father, but for the people of this world…for Fairy Tail, Avalon, even the Seireitei. After seeing what Aiden-san and his father did in that movie…do you really think Kain-sensei could do that?"

"N-no…" Nodoka agreed. "He wouldn't…he'd try, but…it's the same reason why he gained that new power…he didn't need it to win this tournament. He got that power…not to save Izumi-san and the others…but to defeat them…especially…that boy, Eminus…." She paused again. "And…regardless…there's still someone we haven't found yet…."

"Yue," Ami agreed. "We still…don't really know anything about what's happened to her…."

"Kain-sensei tried to say something to me a couple days ago," Nodoka said. "The night of his preliminary battle, the day before the tournament, he mentioned Yue's name…and then he decided not to say anything. But I think he knows something now, too…."

"Hmm. Well, he'll never leave without her," Ami said. "You know that. That's the kind of person Kain-sensei is."

8-8-8

"Your friend is every bit as amazing as the rumors say…and perhaps even more."

Lina glanced up from her own eating to look at Zelgadis in surprise. She swallowed and said, "What do you mean?"

"Just what I said. Regardless of being the son of the Grand Archmage, he's shown an ability that comes only once every few generations. Really, he's somewhat terrifying."

Lina considered this. "I don't know. I guess so. I still can't see him as anything more than the clueless little airheaded bookworm, not really able to do anything but dream about things." She stared out a window. "I guess…he's gotten stronger. He's weathering this storm well, considering."

Zelgadis grunted consent. "Hanatabi Kôtarô…he said, in that 'movie' we watched, that Kalan Lockeheart had a 'wyrd', a fate placed upon his shoulders. And now the sons of those two are fated to a confrontation…probably with much less at stake, of course, but an interesting twist of fate nonetheless. And after this tournament is the struggle with the Obsidian Star. That's what I'm waiting for, of course. But if nothing else, if Kain Lockeheart continues to be an Archmage approaching those like Claire, Zeref, and Merlin…well, never mind."

"Are you bored, Zelgadis?" Gourry asked suddenly. As Zelgadis turned to him warily, Gourry added, "Well, you just seem so thoughtful and talkative about it. I'm feeling a little bored, knowing that there's nothing to do but wait for this to get over. You seem like you're itching for action yourself."

"Heh. Probably I am. I feel such a promise at my fingertips…and I can't reach it quite yet. But it will come soon enough…."

"Far too soon," agreed Lina, staring out the window again. "We should enjoy the rest while we can."

8-8-8

Kain sat on the edge of the terrace, gazing out at the sleeping city. The lights danced and played and the hubbub wafted up to him. It was yet another real 'first' for him, in a year of them—ever since he had finally left his secluded home in the Mountain West of America, he had started encountering more and more of them. In this case, here at Orimus was his first time being in such a huge, bustling city that never turned off, even at night—it remained very much alive and thriving.

Of course, he had just spent the last six months or so before coming to Arcanus Myrror in Tokyo, one of the largest metropolitan centers in the world…but there, he had been within the confines of Mahora Academy, a city unto itself, a city within a city, and a city with its own rules distinct from the city around it. Foremost amongst those, of course, for the night-owl crowd, was the curfew. No, nights at Mahora were little different from his nights in Sleiyn. Here, there was still life….

"Shouldn't you be getting your sleep? You have a big day ahead of you tomorrow."

Kain turned to Mai as she approached. Without another word, she sat down next to him and gazed out at the night herself. "Or is it because of that day that you can't sleep?" she offered finally, turning a coy smile on him.

"Maybe." Kain turned his own gaze back on the night. "I haven't fought Kenjirô…really fought him…since that day back in Kyoto, so long ago…."

"I remember it well," Mai chuckled. "Oh, he was beating us so badly. We barely got away. And to think of it now…he doesn't have a chance."

Kain glanced askew at her. "I appreciate the confidence you have in me, but that kind of talk is dangerous…."

"I have nothing against Kenjirô-kun, of course. He's become one of our best friends. He's an important member of our team. But he's not you, Kain. You're the one who needs to win this tournament. You're the one who's going to beat Byakuya and Aiden. You're the one we have to depend on."

"I still think you're optimistic."

"I'm realistic, Kain. I've seen your progress first hand…the scared little kid battling Alyssa, the boy in Kyoto just learning to fight, your obsessive quest for training, your battle against the Graf, what you did in the last tournament you entered, Sakura, and everything during the summer…and now you've gone and sacrificed your mortality for strength. I have nothing against Kenjirô-kun, but, I can't imagine…no, I know he's really no match for you. None of us can be, anymore. You are your father's son."

Kain chuckled. "I never get tired of hearing that, honestly. I'm always so desperately thinking of him…every time I hear his name, it's like he's a little bit closer to me. I can't imagine people like Delryn, who despise having their father's name attached to them…I understand the burden of expectations from such a massive figure, but I'd take all of it and more if I could have him back in my life. That, I think, is the difference between us…."

"While you keep dreaming, Kalan went out and made things happen," Mai agreed. "Yeah, you're right. But you shouldn't doubt yourself too much. After all, you've come this far. We all believe in you. We're going to trust and follow you all the way. Not Kenjirô-kun, not Byakuya, not Aiden, not Urahara-san or Saber or Kyôraku-san, but you. We're going to rescue Miki-chan and the rest, we're going to get everyone home…and we're going to defeat the Obsidian Star and put an end to this. That's all."

"Well…thank you, Mai. That's…a heavy burden on me, you know. I…have enough expectations on myself…."

"You just don't think about it, do you? But everyone's depending on you, now. Sorry if that makes you feel uncomfortable. But it's the fact. Don't be afraid of it. Use that as strength. We all love you, Kain, and we support you, and we believe in you. That's who you have to be…the unwilting, unstoppable Kain Lockeheart."

"Unwilting and immortal." Kain smiled wryly. "What a legacy to live up to. Well…as you said, it's late, and I should get some sleep. Then…we'll see tomorrow. Take care."

"Yeah. You too. Sleep well, Kain." They rose and parted.

F I N

Author's Note: Flower of Immortality

So, a quick little transitional chapter returning our searchers and checking on the mental states of some of our fighters…particularly Delryn.

As I like to do, I'm naming the chapters of this Act after songs, some with far more thought than others. Chapter One I've played with and changed several times, and finally have settled on something that describes 'a new challenger has arrived!' as it were. Chapter Two was a bit more thought out—'Remember the Name' is a song by Fort Minor, not a band I follow, but Ryan, erstwhile creator of Delryn, suggested that as his 'theme song', and it fits very well with the theme of Byakuya's lecture to him. Kenjirô's battle song (Chapter 3) is simpler, but nonetheless no less beautiful a description of his simple desire to not give in.

And Chapter Four arose from the song, rather than the other way around. Enya's 'Amaranthine' and Nightwish's 'Amaranth' are two completely different songs, but I love them both and they both, of course, revolve around the Amaranth, so I wanted to use it for a symbol of the chapter. And so, contrary to its size, I spent a great deal of time researching this chapter—first for the meaning and significance of this 'amaranth', the 'unwilting', the immortal flower. Then for the original (normal human word) meaning of Delryn, if it had any, finally finding its origin as noted by Delryn in this chapter. After this, I invented my own meaning for the name to tie them together—to have Delryn symbolize this flower, which plays off of ideas like 'I Will Not Bow' as well. Delryn's reaction is similar to Kenjirô's after losing in his first tournament, only even more so—as expressed by Akari and his mother. There are several reasons for all of this, from introducing the mysterious woman who reined in Aiden to beginning to set up the romance between Delryn and Akari. It's kind of interesting that this is one way that Kain is the mentally stronger of the pair—but unlike his two friends here, Kain isn't obsessed with strength. He has other goals, and so failing to compete with his friends isn't discouraging to him…it's getting beaten by the bad guys and not protecting his friends that gets him.

Well, we're about done with this for now. It's time to stop beating around the bush and get there—Kain vs. Kenjirô. We'd have few bettors on Kenjirô, but that's okay—I think it's hardly spoiler to say Kain's obviously going to win, but Kenjirô is going to put up a pretty good show for himself. After all, he just exorcised a fairly significant demon, so he has nothing left to lose.

Okay, go!