The Knight of Mahora Academy

Period 13: Chilling In Kyoto

Negi returns...so I thought I should too.

Bit of a nothing chapter but hey...you can't expect a guy that hasn't updated this story in almost two years to actually release something substantial and good after this long hiatus, right?

...

Yeah, I hate me too.

On with the show!

[[[[[[[[Knight]]]]]]]]

"Let me see it! Let me see!"

"Me first!"

"Hey, you guys didn't have to squat in the lobby all night! If anyone deserves a full view it's me!"

"Miyazaki-San, please, let me see the prize I was so wrongfully denied of once more!"

Nodoka's entire face was covered with an atomic flush as she was overwhelmed by the attention she was getting from most of her class. She started shaking in place while everyone surrounded her and whimpered, "U-um-"

"Woah! Woah! Everyone, take a step back! You're crowding her!" Haruna yelled as she pushed the crowd back and stood in front of Nodoka protectively. The mangaka glared at all of them and yelled, "You guys can't just expect to crowd Nodoka and get to see the special gift she got for smoochin' Negi-Kun like that! If you want to see it you all have to pay a nominal fee of at least-"

Yue came flying in and landed a kick directly into her perverted friend's temple before landing on her feet. She took up the position of Nodoka's bodyguard and announced, "Please don't crowd Nodoka like this. It's uncomfortable and unnerving for her. Plus it's just annoying."

Some of the girls moaned in displeasure, "Aww~, c'mon Yuecchi!"

"Please~!"

"You can't just keep an awesome gift like this to yourself like that!"

While Yue kept her position firm and unyielding, her brown-haired friend walk up to her with pleading eyes. Konoka begged, "Yue~, can I please see Nodoka's card again? Pretty please~?"

Yue gave her same dry expression with an accusing look, "Konoka you've already seen it several times back in our room. You've seen it more than anybody else here."

"I know but it's just so pretty and cool!" Konoka started crying, envious that another one of her friends got such a cute and unique card. She clapped her hands together and bowed, "Please Nodoka! Please~!"

Yue pouted but she felt Nodoka's gentle hand hold her shoulder. The shy girl reassured her friend, "It's okay Yue. I don't mind if they want to see it again."

Nodoka handed it to Konoka who eagerly snatched it up and started examining its features, other girls in the class peeking over her shoulder for another look. There was a beautiful picture of Nodoka standing in the middle of the card wearing her school uniform and with her hair parted away from her eyes. She had a small smile on her face and a set of books floating around her in the air. And over the edges of the card were strange words printed in a different language.

Nodoca Mijazaci

Virtus: Audacia

Directio: Occidens

Pudica Bibliothecaria

Konoka moaned with little tears in her eyes, "Ahhhhh~, it's so cute~! I want one~!" Konoka hung her head before shaking her head and handing the card back to her friend, "I'm so proud of you Nodoka! I can't believe you finally got to express your feelings to Negi-Kun!"

Nodoka's eyes widened into plates and her face went red, "Eh?"

"Yeah! That's right!" Yuna cheered before turning to the rest of the class, "Honya-chan is the current leader in the race for Negi-Kun's love!"

Nodoka blushed and stuttered, "N-no, you're misunder-"

"The underdog is totally winning!"

"Lucky girl."

"No, please you don't-"

"Miyazaki-San." Ayaka reached out and grabbed Nodoka's hands, looking into the librarian's partially-covered eyes with a staggering amount of determination. Ayaka vowed, "I was foolish for taking your feelings and affections so lightly. Truly you are a rival to be wary of. I promise I will not make this mistake again, and I shall catch up with you in the pursuit of Negi-sensei's feelings!"

Nodoka furiously shook her head, "P-please I-Iincho-San, you're wrong about this!"

"Okay everyone!" The students of 3-A were interrupted by the sudden appearance of Nitta, this time with a severely swollen nose that he covered with an icepack. He flinched in pain before lowering the pack and announcing, "Today is your group's free activity day. Break off into your groups and take your time to enjoy and explore Kyoto. Just remember not to separate from your groups for too long...and don't do anything that will tarnish Mahora's good name." Nitta groaned and covered his nose again before Shizuka started leading him back to his room, "I hope you all enjoy your day."

"Thank you Sensei."

The girls of 3-A all started chatting between each other and heading back upstairs to their rooms to change. They were so preoccupied with heading to the elevators and stairs they didn't spot the small smile and giggle coming from Nodoka as she held the card close to her chest.

To some it was just a little trinket. To her, it was proof of one of the best moments of her life.

Konoka watched everyone head upstairs when she spotted Setsuna in the corner of her eye. Setsuna was waving her over, "Ojou-sama, we're over here."

"Secchan?" Konoka walked over to her friend's side as they rounded the corner to join the others, "What's wrong? Is something happening?" When she and Setsuna finally came around, her eyes turned into little black dots and she questioned, "And...what's happening now?"

"I'm taking the time to punish a very naughty reporter for making the dumbest move ever after learning an important secret."

"Owowowowowowow! O-okay, I get it! I did something bad! Just stop, you're squishing my temples!" Kazumi moaned painfully as Naruto pinned the sides of her head with his fists and slowly ground his knuckles into her temples.

Naruto kept giving Kazumi a noogie before shaking his head, "You haven't apologized yet Kazumi. Two magic words."

Kazumi pouted before finally saying, "I'm sorry."

Naruto finally took his fists off the sides of her head and Kazumi stepped aside while massaging the tender area. She looked over at the whiskered blond with a hurt expression, "That was mean."

"You deserve a lot worse than that." Asuna said from the side as she stood besides Negi as he tenderly rubbed his knees. She pointed at the short redhead besides her, "After getting him and Honya-chan to kiss, and forcing them to make a Pactio, you should be hung by your toes! I mean what were you thinking Asakura!"

Kazumi scratched her cheek and smiled nervously, "Well, I had a little demon whispering in my ear and promising me riches and gossip. I can't help it. I'm weak."

"Well just be glad your punishment isn't nearly as bad as that Pervert Ermine's."

"*Pew*!"

There was a spitting noise and Chamo came sliding across the floor covered in spit and with chew marks over his body. They looked over at Kyūbi to see a disgusted look on his face as ran his tongue over his arm, "Ugh, I have eaten some nasty stuff before, but you are just vile, Albert."

Chamo twitched on the ground, "T-thanks, Boss."

Negi looked down at his partner in concern before looking up at his team, "E-everyone, there's no reason to be so angry. We're all safe, Nodoka-San doesn't know about my magic, and everyone had a nice time enjoying themselves yesterday."

Naruto stared at Negi in disbelief, "Geez Negi, you don't let anything bother you, do you?"

"You should be worried about this stuff you idiot!" Asuna reprimanded the younger boy as she held up the card Negi made with Nodoka yesterday during the kissing game. She held it out to him, "What if Honya-chan figures out how to use the card? You'll be one step closer to doing whatever the hell ermines do in the wild!"

Negi's eyes constricted in fear and he started shaking, "O-oh no."

"Asuna~, stop scaring him like that." Konoka said to her best friend, getting the twin-tailed girl to grumble at being told off. Konoka turned to Negi and asked nicely, "Negi-kun, can Nodoka figure out how to use her card by accident?"

Negi came back to reality before shaking his head, "N-no, I doubt Nodoka-San will be able to activate it without instructions."

"You need a codeword to activate a Pactio. A word you probably aren't just going to say by accident." Naruto continued with a nod of his head, "As long as she doesn't know how to activate her card, she's just going to think it's a prize she got for swapping spit with Negi."

"N-Nii-San!"

"There. See, nothing to worry about." Konoka smiled warmly, "Just make sure you try to keep your secret a little better from now on, okay?"

Negi was dejected for a moment before nodding his head and humming in agreement, "Of course."

Asuna looked at Negi after his answer before nodding to herself, "Well, okay. As long as we all understand that." She blinked in realization and reached back to pull out the card she had safe in her back pocket. She looked at it in thought before looking at Naruto and asking quietly, "Um...how do you make this card work again? Negi and the pervert never actually told me how."

Naruto leaned in, "Adeat to activate. Abeat to deactivate."

She blinked in confusion, "Addy-what?"

"Adeat."

"Adeat?"

The card in her hand started to shine brightly until it transformed into a large paper fan with her name printed on the side in Latin. Asuna squinted her eyes to protect them from the bright light before she stared at the fan in amazement, "Oh! That's so cool!" She flinched in surprise before trying to hide it out of sight, "W-wait, can I have this out?! I-is someone going to pass and see it?"

Naruto walked to the edge of their little area and looked around to see the hallway was empty and couldn't sense anyone around the corners, "We're fine, but let's not stick around for too long."

"Woah~!"

"That's quite amazing."

"Oh, so that's what Negi-kun's cards do."

Konoka, Setsuna, and Kazumi were surrounding Asuna and examining her artifact thoroughly. Setsuna stepped back and held her chin in thought, "I never knew Western magic could be applied like this. This Pactio system and Magister and Ministra titles are definitely something to be noted."

Kazumi stood back up and smirked, "What's even more impressive is that this ancient society of Mages made a reward system for smooching each other. 'Lay a kiss on one of our guys and you get a sweet prize in return'." She grinned and looked over at Negi, "I bet you're gonna get a lot of offers for 'partnerships' in the future, Negi-kun~."

Negi blushed with embarrassment while the others girl blushed uncomfortably. Well, Setsuna and Asuna blushed with embarrassment. Konoka just smiled and blushed a little at the thought. Negi stood up, "T-that's not true! We just resorted to kissing b-because Chamo-kun kept telling us too! People make Pactios in other ways too!"

Kazumi raised an eyebrow in intrigue, "Oh really?"

"Yep. There are spoken word contracts. Written word contracts." Naruto said as he pulled out his card and showed it to them, "I made mine with a blood contract. Kissing is usually just the fastest way though."

A few of the girls looked freaked out by that method and Konoka covered her mouth. She looked at him with concern, "Did it hurt?"

"Not really. It was just with a cut on the palm." Naruto reassured her while pointing at his open palm, "One quick cut and I was done. Plus considering I was making it with Raka-Ji..." Naruto's grimaced, "I would have preferred any other alternative to making out with that freak of nature."

Konoka just blinked and tilted her head in confusion. She felt like she had heard that name before but couldn't quite place it.

Setsuna approached her scar-faced associate, "Naruto-sensei, what special properties does your card grant you?"

Naruto smiled and held out his card before it started to glow, "Adeat."

The card's light died down and it was replaced with a black ball with a red highlight going around its circumference. The others just blinked in surprise and watched as he handed it to Setsuna who carefully took it with both hands. She looked down and felt its strange sense of weight before looking back at the taller blond, "It weighs nothing."

Naruto smirked and pointed back down at her hands.

She and the others looked back down to see the ball had turned into a stick and Setsuna noticed that it was slowly starting to gain more and more mass. Naruto took it out of her hand and started to spin it in his palm as its size, shape, and length started morphing before their eyes.

It finally transformed into a staff and he held one point on the ground with a smile, "Mille Acies Armamentarium (Thousand Army Arsenal). It's a liquid metal that I can will to change its density, weight, appearance, and use at any time. It's basically one big armory in my hand."

The others just stared at Naruto's artifact in amazement while he returned it back to its card form.

Asuna looked down at her paper fan and blushed in embarrassment before turning it back into a card. He had a veritable army of weapons and armors at his disposal, and she had a paper fan. What lottery did he play to win that?

Naruto spotted Asuna's moment of doubt and smiled, "Don't look so upset Bells, it wasn't as easy as it sounds. When I got this thing I could only turn it into a stick. I've had almost a decade to practice and train with my artifact and discover its abilities. Give yourself some time and you might find out something special about yours too."

Asuna huffed and crossed her arms, "I don't know what you're talking about Whiskers. Must be your imagination." She turned her head, "I'm perfectly fine with my fan. Bet I could smack all your stupid weapons away no problem."

"I bet."

"Okay." Kazumi clapped her hands and got them back on track, "What's the plan for today?"

Negi got up and pulled the letter he had gotten from the dean out to show the others, "We need to deliver this to the Kansai Magical Association. I don't want to risk putting this off any longer on this trip if we can get it done today."

Konoka added, "Which means we have to go see my father."

Setsuna nodded, "And if we meet with Eishun-sama, we can hopefully get Konoka-ojousama some protection from the people trying to kidnap her."

Asuna questioned, "So should we go during the activity day while everyone is seperated?"

"No." Naruto shook his head, "We'd be splitting up and giving them more targets to go after. Let's go through the day like normal, make sure everyone gets back to the hotel, then we can sneak out and head towards the Kansai headquarters together with a smaller group."

"Is that the best idea ?"

"That's just my idea. We won't follow on anything without all of us agreeing on it. We're a team now."

The girls, Negi, and Naruto all looked between each other before Negi nodded, "I agree. We should make sure everyone else is safe before we head over to deliver the letter. I think that's a good idea."

Asuna nodded and looked over at Konoka and Setsuna who nodded as well, "Okay, then we have a plan. Let's do it."

"Man, you guys are like a well-oiled machine when you get to it." Kazumi was eager and smiling, "What should I do?"

"You are gonna have the most important mission of all." Naruto said, turning Kazumi on her feet and leading her away to the elevator, "You're going to go back with your group, enjoy your activity day, and leave us alone to finish the mission ourselves. We'll tell you how it was when we get back."

"What?!" Kazumi yelled indignantly before turning around and throwing her arms down, "You're pushing me into the sidelines during the biggest play in the game! What the hell?! Why?!"

Naruto's eyes narrowed with accusation, "Because in less than a day you discovered the existence of magic, nearly went past the point of no return, made a conspiracy with an animal, got Negi to make a sacred contract with an unsuspecting civilian, and forced me and him to squat in the lobby all night long."

Kazumi stared at him before nervously laughing and scratching her cheek, "O-oh, is that all?"

"Kazumi."

"Y-yeah?"

"Leave."

Kazumi slumped and hung her head, "Fine, but I want to hear all the details when you get back." She started walking away before turning around and asking, "Actually, can I have my cameras back now. They weren't cheap and I can still use them when we get back."

"You can have them back but you might have to wait a little longer before them come out." Kyūbi answered for her before looking down at his belly, "And when that happens I very much doubt you'll want them back."

A look of disgust crossed their faces before she sighed, "Nevermind. You keep them."

[[[[[[[[Knight]]]]]]]]

Naruto did up his jeans and snaked his arms through his favorite black jacket with a red long-sleeved shirt underneath. It felt good not having to bother with doing up a suit and tie when you could opt for comfortable, easy civilian clothes instead. He had his phone, his wallet, and his card. That was everything.

Kyūbi walked along the futon and sat on the bed before looking up at him, "How do you think Eishun Konoe will react when you tell him you told his daughter she was being hunted for her magic?"

Naruto shrugged his shoulders while fixing his jacket, "He'll probably seem pretty upset that Konoka is aware of the world around her now, but I bet he'll be happy knowing she isn't afraid to face it. And that she won't face it alone."

"And what about the rogues?"

Negi walked out from the bathroom while gripping his staff tightly and looking at Naruto and Kyūbi with determination. Negi shook his head, "I won't let them hurt Konoka-San! No matter what!"

Naruto smiled, "That's right." He walked over to his shorter friend before holding out his fist, "We'll take care of whatever comes our way."

Negi smiled and nodded before reaching up and bumping Naruto's fist in return, finishing the gesture of friendship the two had forged over the last few weeks. They grinned before Kyūbi ran up Naruto's back to sit on his shoulder, Chamo doing the same to Negi, and they all started heading out of the room.

[[[[[[[[Knight]]]]]]]]

"Kyoto! Man this place is so cool! Way more beautiful than Tokyo!" Haruna said while raising her arms up and enjoying the fresh air and feel of the ancient capital's beauty. Group 5 was lost in the hustle and bustle of so many residents and tourists walking along the calm town atmosphere.

Konoka, dressed in her comfy casual clothes, followed behind Haruna with a content smile, "Hehe, it's really good to see this place through other people's reactions. It seems so much fresher for you guys."

"Pfft, you take us so lightly." Haruna smirked and pointed at Setsuna and Konoka, "You home-bred girls can't take us city-dwellers lightly. We can handle the beauties of Kyoto just fine, thank you very much. Right team!"

They looked back to see the rest of their group had disappeared somewhere without them realizing. Haruna lost her enthusiasm, "Where'd they go?"

Moments later Yue, Nodoka, Asuna, Negi, and Naruto walked out with cups of fresh, steaming dumplings in their hands. Negi took another bite of his snack with a happy smile, "Mmm~, these are delicious. How did you know these would be so tasty, Nodoka-San?"

The purple-haired librarian took a moment from eating her snack and answered off the top of her head, "I actually browsed through the brochures and pamphlets in the hotel lobby that recommended places for people to visit. This shop's dumplings and sweets were highly recommended."

"Nice thinkin' Honya-chan!"

"You guys got food without me! What the hell?!" Haruna yelled in disbelief as she threw her arms down. She looked at her best friends, "Did you get me some at least?"

Yue looked up at her in confusion, "What are you talking about? Why would we get you a basket?"

"Oh come on! That's just cruel!"

Haruna hung her head sadly before she noticed a small basket of dumplings being handed to her by her shorter friend. Yue and Nodoka gave their friend a smile as Haruna smiled back and took the basket happily, "Thank you."

Naruto walked over to Konoka and Setsuna with two baskets in his hands. He held them out and Konoka gratefully accepted it, "Yay! Thank you, Naruto-kun!"

Setsuna looked at the offered basket before she sheepishly shook her head, "N-no, I can't possible accept this Sensei. You can just-"

Naruto just casually narrowed his eyes while chewing on a dumpling and held the basket closer for her to take. Setsuna was flustered for a moment before she took the kind gesture with a small blush. She quietly bit into a dumpling and her eyes widened at the taste before she looked up at the blond and nodded, "T-thank you."

Naruto smiled in return before swallowing the dumpling and looking around, "So where should we head next? Cinema Town? Kinkaku-ji? Take a boat along the river?"

"MMM! MMM!" Haruna waved her hand with her cheeks full of dumplings. She struggled to swallow them before gasping for air and smiling, "I wanna go to the Manga Museum! I will not miss out on that chance! No way!"

"I wish to see the Museum of Modern Art." Yue added quietly while Nodoka nodded in agreement, eager to see the landmark with her friends.

Asuna gave a thoughtful nod, "Well I guess we have some places to go after all." She looked aside with a mix of anxiousness and worry, "Although out of the two I'm pretty sure I know which one I'd rather go to."

Negi looked up at everyone and tried to advise them, "Well we might be able to see them both if we manage our time well enough."

"But first!" Haruna got their attention as she pointed at an arcade bustling with people from around the area. A sparkle appeared on the side of her glasses as she grinned, "I say we go in there and play for a bit!"

Asuna dryly noted, "We come all the way to Kyoto, get a free day, and you want to play games in an arcade? Seriously Paru?"

She fixed her glasses and held herself up with a smug pose, "Oohhhhh~, what's wrong, Baka-Red? Afraid you will find yourself helpless to the skills of the Great Paru-sama? Pfft, I'm not surprised."

Asuna scowled at the busty pervert and held back the urge to smack the girl in the back of the head. 1) Because it was rude. 2) Because she would totally break Paru if she did. She knew she would. So instead Asuna just gave an annoyed huff through her nose and walked into the arcade ahead of the artist, "Whatever. Let's go and fulfill your total waste of time visit."

"Y-you know," Negi stuttered while walking beside Asuna and nervously gripping his staff, "It's actually quite beneficial that we use our time to relieve stress and enjoy ourselves. So while the venue may be somewhat mundane," Negi brightened up with a smile, "I believe Saotome-San-"

"Negi." Asuna interrupted him with a roll of her eyes, "Stop trying to put logic to this decision. Paru's dumb. Leave it at that."

"Oh, like you're one to talk!" Haruna followed behind them, her ahoge standing up in outrage, "I bet if we add your last three test scores, you'd still be falling behind my last score!"

"S-shut up! You're not that much smarter than me!"

"It's not me being smart! It's you being colossally, outrageous, unbelievably dumb!"

Naruto's sighed, his shoulders sagging and rubbing the bridge of his nose while the girls argued and Negi shrunk between them. He would have gone over there and helped...but there was a chance that his academic history would get pulled into the light as well.

He was trying to pose as a teacher here, even if it was just an assistant one...he couldn't afford letting them know just how dumb he was as well.

Nodoka and Yue followed after the rest of their group as Naruto looked back to see Setsuna look at the building cautiously. Konoka bent into her line of sight and tilted her head cutely, "Secchan? What's the matter?"

"Eh?" Setsuna realized she had just been staring silently at while the others had moved on. She felt her cheeks heat up from embarrassment as she tried explaining herself, "S-sorry about that, Ojou-sama." She didn't look up from her dumpling cup and muttered out, "I-I'm just...unfamiliar with places like this."

"Places like this?" Konoka looked back at the arcade before turning to Setsuna in surprise, "You've never been to an arcade before, Secchan? How come?"

"W-well the opportunity never really showed itself for me to bother to go into one." She muttered meekly under Konoka's unflinching, scrutinizing gaze, "I was more focused on training and...p-protecting you, Ojou-sama."

"Awwwww~, Secchan~," Konoka's grabbed her wrist and smiled, "That's no excuse anymore! Come on young lady, let's go have fun!"

"H-huh?" Setsuna mumbled in shock as Konoka started pulling her towards the game venue. The bodyguard was so flustered by the prospect of going into the unfamiliar territory and being led by her charge. After a moment of stumbling around on her feet being dragged by Konoka, she firmly locked her feet and protested, "I-it's fine, Ojou-sama," She tried not to melt under Konoka's disappointed pout and steeled her resolve, "I should focus on keeping the perimeter and making everything-"

"Go on." Setsuna was pushed off her feet by a solid hand between her katana bag and back. She looked back to see Naruto's casual smile as he grinned, "I'll handle the perimeter. You go in there and have fun."

"W-what?!" Setsuna looked up at him with complete betrayal, "B-but Sensei-"

"You should be in there, keeping a close eye on the situation and protecting Konoka." Naruto noticed the grateful smile the bubbly brunette sent him. He lifted Kyūbi off his shoulder and tossed him into Konoka's arms as he threw a thumb over his shoulder, "Keep him with you and I'll keep an eye out here. You go enjoy yourselves."

"Thank you, Naruto-kun!" Konoka cheered as she gleefully squeezed the little demon in her arms, "C'mon Secchan! Kyūbi-chan! We're gonna have so much fun!"

"Sorry Princess, but any place that's not a warm bed, filled with snacks and alcohol, is merely just a poor substitution." The demon fox spoke drearily in her arms before looking up at her, "Unless you scratch my ears in that certain spot," Konoka complied with a smile and started rubbing behind his fluffy ears as his tails wagged, "Okay, maybe this won't be so bad after all."

Konoka cheered happily and grabbed Setsuna's hand as she finally pulled her into the arcade. When they entered, they saw the rest of their group standing around a punching machine game with a bag hanging from the arm. They approached and watched Haruna reel her fist back before landing her best haymaker, "Take that!"

52

"WOO!" The busty girl patted her bicep proudly and smirked to her friends smugly, "See, how'd you like that! Impressive right!"

"Wonderful, Saotome-San!" Negi and Nodoka applauded the mangaka for her valiant effort.

Yue rolled her eyes, "Congratulations Haruna, you prove you're not only an empty-headed moron, but you're a muscle head too."

"Oh, don't be so harsh Yue. No reason to be so angry just because you can't even reach the bag."

The shortest person of their group fumed at her taller friend as Asuna walked in rotating her shoulder. She smirked, "Okay, everyone stand back. I'm gonna show you how to beat this baby right! That means you Paru!"

"Woohoo!" The Library Trio cheered the girl on with Haruna being the most vocal, "Show this Kansai game who's boss, Baka-Red!"

"Good luck Asuna-San!"

"Yay Asuna!"

The twin-tailed girl pulled her fist back and with a loud yell she slammed her knuckles in the direct center of the bag. It shook back with a mighty spring and the machine let out all the bells and whistles in congratulation.

99!

New Top Score!

"Yay!" Asuna jumped in the air with joy, "I win!"

"Woah!" Haruna clapped and laughed, "Man, that stupid strength you traded in for brain power really comes in handy, huh Asuna?"

"You bet - PARU!"

"Oh! Secchan! Secchan! You try next!"

"E-eh?" The Shinmei-Ryū practitioner was suddenly the center of attention for their little group and shook her head, "Oh no, I'm quite alright-"

"Oh yeah, that sounds awesome!" Haruna slipped over behind Setsuna and patted her shoulders, "Sakurazaki-San, you practice kendo, right? I bet you know all the best ways to shift your mass and put all your weight behind your attacks and stuff! You may be our only hope to defeat the menace known as Baka-Red!"

"Don't make it sound like I'm a Kamen Rider villain."

"S-Satome-San," Setsuna blushed at being confronted like this and shook her head, "I-I've never actually played at a machine like this-"

"Go on Sakurazaki-San, show us those kendo skills at work!"

"We'll take this." Yue slipped behind her as well and snatched the sword off her back as Setsuna was pushed in front of the machine, "Good luck."

"Go Setsuna-San!"

"C'mon Sakurazaki-San!"

"Go Secchan! Do your best!"

Setsuna felt her senses overload at all this attention and cheering being put on her, she could feel her ears heat up from timidity.

No! What was wrong with her?!

She could handle intense training and demon exorcism but a little unexpected attention left her flabbergasted?! Shame on her!

She was a Shinmei-Ryū swordsman! And a proud vassal of the Konoe House! She would not fall here!

Setsuna composed herself and chambered one fist at her side. Her eyes focused on the bag as she shifted her feet a little. She remembered what Konoka told her about doing her best. She wasn't going to imbue Ki into her fist, but she was going to strike with intent. She turned, throwing her fist and hitting directly in the center.

The bag shot back with such intensity that it bent into the metal arm it hung from and stayed there. The machine let out a very loud tone before it completely died out from its broken focus point.

...

They all stared at the machine, eyes white and wide like plates.

"Damn, Sakurazaki-San," Haruna poked her lean arms curiously, "Do you lift boulders or what?"

"Hahaha!" Konoka's giddy laugh disarmed their surprise as she skipped over and bonked Asuna on the head, "Silly Asuna, you hit the bag so hard on your turn that you loosened the support that holds it tight. Secchan had no resistance hitting it at all because of that."

"O-oh!" Asuna realized what her best friend was playing at and laughed innocuously why scratching the back of her head, "Y-yeah, I guess I just sorta - um - hit it too hard. Silly me!" She hopped herself on the head, "H-Hehehehehe."

"I - oh yes, that must be it!" Negi struggled to keep up the lie with a nervous laugh.

Setsuna was much the same, "A-absolutely! That must explain it!"

"But even if the support for the bag was loosened," Yue pointed out, "The bag must still have been hit with considerable force if it was able to bend metal-"

"Hey Yue-chan, stop pointing stuff out!" Asuna spun Baka-Black around on her feet and led her elsewhere, "Come on! More stuff to see!"

"O-oh yes, there are so many more fun things to do here." Negi moved ahead of them and looked around the arcade, trying to recognize any of the machines but...for the life of him drawing a blank. Oh geez. Now he wished he hadn't spent all those times Anya invited him to an arcade just staying in and studying, "L-look, this one looks like fun! It's a - um - well it appears to be an - well - what in the world it this?"

"You never seen one before, Negi-kun?" Konoka came around at his side and looked between the Welsh boy and the booth, "It's a luxury photo booth that lets you change into different outfits for the pictures. It's so much fun!"

"Yeah! Watch!" Haruna grabbed the timid purple-haired girl by the wrist and pulled her in, "C'mon Nodoka!"

"E-eh - IYAA!" The shy girl with the bangs let out a shriek as she slipped behind the curtain with her more energetic companion, Yue following behind at a reserved pace and slid the curtain closed behind them. Nodoka's anxious yelling still permeated through, "N-no - Haruna d-don't take that - that's too much - ehehehehe - YUE!"

Negi blushed furiously hearing Nodoka's panicked yelling and squealing with the random exclamation about what goes where. His ermine partner ran up to his shoulder and he whispered, "I-I don't think I should be listening to this."

"Are you kiddin' Aniki?!" The rowdy critter said before giving his thumbs of approval, "This is great! Just what we needed to relieve the tension we've been feeling lately!"

"Sure feels really tense hearing Book Girl getting played around with like that."

Asuna nodded solemnly, "I'm with Furball. Paru should not have this much power."

"TA DA! HERE SHE IS!"

Haruna and Yue popped out of the booth to reveal the young bibliophile dressed in a pretty dress suit and glasses, looking very much like a more mature librarian. Haruna waved the photos they had taken while Nodoka blushed and stuttered in her new suit. She looked up, meeting Negi's wide eyes with her own terrified ones, "I-It's not what it looks like!"

"Y-you look really nice, Nodoka-San."

Nodoka blushed furiously and pushed Haruna and Yue out, pulling the drapes back to cover her before she came back in her normal clothes. The shy girl hid her face as she walked behind them and attempted to blend in with her surroundings. Haruna shrugged and grabbed Negi's wrist, "Okay, Negi-kun~, let's see how you look-"

"Nope!" Asuna chopped Haruna's hand away from Negi's wrist and stood between them with a glare, "No way am I letting you take him in a dressing room as your personal little doll!" The twin-tailed girl narrowed her eyes at the brunette as Haruna seemed to accept the challenge and raise her arms like claws.

"Well, if it's free, then it's our turn!" Konoka chirped happily, plopping Kyūbi down on Yue's head and getting the stoic girl to glare accusingly at her as she snatched Setsuna's wrist, "C'mon Secchan! This'll be fun!"

Setsuna flubbed as she was pulled into the booth. Konoka's giggles and Setsuna's protesting devolved into mindless blubbering. Chamo smiled proudly and Negi looked up at Asuna with a pink hue and watery eyes, "A-A-Asuna-San, I-I-I don't think I should be here."

"I agree." She covered Negi's ears to block Setsuna's panicked gasp as flashes went off behind the curtain.

"Hey, what's going on?"

The girls looked back to see Naruto walking over to them with a curious look on his face. Asuna beamed, "Perfect!" She swung the boy in her grasp around and pushed him into Naruto, "Whiskers, you gotta take Negi out of here! Too much stimulation for a teacher and a brat!"

The whiskered blond looked down at the confused, flustered boy and then back to the worried Asuna, smirking Haruna, bashful Nodoka, and stoic Yue with his fox on her head. He blinked in confusion, "Um - what's going on-"

"Look! Look!" Konoka burst out from the booth's curtain, wearing a classic Mage's robes and pointy hat as she waved a line of pictures around for her friends to see, "These are perfect! Secchan, should we make copies to give to everyone?"

"N-no, Ojou-sama! Please don't-"

Setsuna revealed herself going for the photos and gave everyone a clear view of what she was wearing. It looked like an outfit for a video game final boss, and a bustier, curvier one at that. But with the help of a few tightened straps, the costume fit Setsuna's thinner frame. Giving a good look of her legs through the slit and an open chest area that showed off her bindings.

...

Setsuna slowly, hesitantly looked around at the people staring at her before landing at Naruto with Negi's face in his shirt. The bodyguard seemed to shake a little from humiliation and her face turned completely red. Her brown eyes trembled under his shocked gaze and she noticed his face start to turn red as well.

"Okay, so, we'll just..." Naruto struggled to find the right words as his gaze shifted to everywhere except the girls. He coughed into his hand before spinning on his feet and leading Negi away from the stimulating photo booth, "Yeah."

"N-Nii-San," Negi muttered at his side and gripped his staff for protection, "I think I need to sit down."

"I think you should too." Naruto looked around before leading the shorter boy over to a seat by a bunch of game outlets. The game sounds and beeping persisted as Naruto patted Negi's shoulder, "Just take a sec and catch your breath."

"That was great!" Chamo cheered on the redhead's shoulder, "Aniki, you better get used to hearing stuff like that! If my plans go on as hoped, you'll be surrounded by stuff like that all the time in the future! Right, Aniue?"

"Chamo, shut up."

"Nii-San," Negi fixed the glasses up his nose and looked up at Naruto with a fidgety expression, "I-I think it would be better if I just head off to the Kansai Association by myself to deliver the letter now."

"Don't panic." Naruto bopped the younger boy lightly on the head, "We're gonna go later today. So don't think about running off on your own."

"That's right Aniki!" The ermine agreed, "There will be less chance of anyone attacking us when we're all together. That'll be our best chance to deliver the letter!"

"I-I'm not sure."

"Just take a breath Negi." Naruto stood up and looked around, "I'm gonna go get us some drinks. You just stay here and catch your breath." Negi hesitated to lift his head before he felt Naruto pat his head, "Be back in a sec."

Negi looked up and watched Naruto disappear around the corner in search of a vending machine. He reached up to hold his head, "Chamo-kun," The ermine scampered down his arm and into his lap, "How do you think Nii-San can be so calm in a situation like this?"

"Well I bet Aniue's been through a ton of situations just like this before. Built up nerves. Got experience. Thick skin and all that junk." The ermine tried to quell his friend's nervousness, "Relax Aniki, it's understandable that you might be a little on edge. You got a big job but don't forget you got Ane-San and Aniue and Konoka-neechan and Setsuna-neesan and the Boss covering you! Plus you got the one and only me watching your back! You'll be fine!"

"Right." Negi said unenthusiastically, "It feels like everyone is more prepared for this mission than I am." He looked back up at where Naruto walked off, "They just should have given the delivery job to Nii-San. He probably would have handled it without any problems."

"Now stop talkin' like that, Aniki! No more pessimism while I'm around!" The little fairy reprimanded the Welsh boy sternly, "Look, you gotta realize something Aniki! Aniue is strong and everything, but he ain't perfect! Nobody is! I bet even that super dad of yours had some kinds of faults as well!" Negi held back the urge to tell Chamo about how he saw his father act in Evangeline's memories as the ermine kept on with his speech, "Here's the truth of it buddy so listen up! You got recognition! You have potential! And you can keep analyzing it as much as you want, but the old man gave you this letter and this job! So he trusts you! Don't worry about how someone else might do it! Just focus on how the great and awesome Negi Springfield will complete this mission!"

Negi stared down at the ermine in surprise before his eyes started watering with joy, "Chamo-kun-"

("New Challenger!")

He flinched in his seat from surprise and turned around to see the game behind him had changed into a character select screen with one side already chosen, "Hey kid!" The child on the other machine connected to this one called out, "You gonna jus' sit there all day twiddlin' yer thumbs, or are ya gonna play?!"

"O-oh, okay!" He panicked and swiveled around in the chair to handle the controls. He blanked on what to do, picking a random character as the stage appeared and the fight started. In a matter of moments his character was knocked down to half health. He gave a nervous gulp before he started getting the hang of the controls. He fought back, knocking some of his opponents health down before he finally lost.

"Hey hey, ya did a little better there at the end! 2nd round! Ya up for it, kid?"

"Yes!" Negi nodded, feeling his competitive side burn as he took the controls again to fight his virtual opponent. This time, the fight was far less one-sided as Negi actually put up a decent showing against his enemy. He leaned in closer to the screen-

"Yeah! Go Negi!" He heard Naruto cheer him on as he returned from the vending machine.

"Yeah, Negi!"

"C'mon Negi-kun, whoop this local kid's butt!"

"Y-you can do it Sensei."

The girls encouraged him as well as he landed a special attack on his powerful enemy, who was playing as a bear. For a moment it looked like he would win, but then the bear came in and destroyed his chin with a Demon Uppercut, sending his character flying and the battle over.

("Player 1 WINS! YOU LOSE")

"Oh."

"Hey, it's okay Negi." Asuna patted his shoulder and pointed at the screen, "For someone playing the game for the first time, you did pretty well."

"Yeah!" Konoka came over Asuna's shoulder with a comforting smile, "In fact you were much better than most people, Negi-kun! Asuna struggled to preform a combo the first time she played-"

"Konoka!" She grabbed her best friend's shoulders and looked at her in betrayal, "He doesn't need to know that!"

"The Nee-chan is right."

The boys and girls from Mahora looked over at the boy that had challenged Negi in the first place. He was a young kid, only about Negi's age, wearing a dark blue school uniform with a beanie over his black hair. The young man gave a big grin and encouraged the redhead, "Ya did pretty well for yer first time. I mean ya almost made me think about sweatin' in those last few seconds."

"Oh ho ho~." Haruna rubbed her chin, "Kansai boy's got a sharp tongue~."

"Maybe if ya keep practicing, we can have a match where I'm using both hands." The boy's lighthearted ridicule made Negi slump in his chair a little further before the boy just laughed, "Ah c'mon, lighten up Negi Springfield."

"Y-yeah." Negi's eyes widened in surprise and several of the others looked at the boy suspiciously before Negi asked, "H-how do you know my name?"

"Ya yelled it out in a super squeaky voice when ya hyped yourself up, remember?" The Kansai boy raised his arms in a jokey manner, "'Just focus on how the great and awesome Negi Springfield will complete this mission!'" He said in as high and nasally a voice he could muster, "Remember?"

"Geez, Negi-kun, you can be kind of a narcissist before you play games, huh?"

Negi lowered his head, mortified, "Y-yes, I-I suppose so, Saotome-San."

Asuna's hand blurred and she snatched the ermine off his shoulder, silently strangling it while the magical fairy gurgled under the pressure.

"Anyway, see ya later kid!" The Kansai local waved the young teacher goodbye as he headed for the exit. Naruto watched the boy walk away as Haruna cat-called after him, daring him to challenge a more experienced gamer. He narrowed his eyes...

That boy...

...

"Wait, you couldn't make the combos? You know it's just pressing buttons, right?"

"Shut up! I couldn't get a hang of the controls!"

[[[[[[[[Knight]]]]]]]]

"Wow~." They looked out the window of the bus and admired the vast greenery and mountains passing by while they were on the highway, "You don't get to enjoy forests like that very often in Mahora."

"Yeah, it's kinda like a concrete jungle."

"What are you guys talking about? You get to see the World Tree everyday, which is probably the best tree in the whole world."

"Yes but we're admiring the normal beauty of the forest, Konoka. And we're not comparing it to the World Tree because that is an impossible phenomenon that I can not explain no matter how much researching or time I take trying to figure it out."

"Yue-chan, was that spite I heard in your voice?"

"I'm allowed to be annoyed with things Asuna-San, I just don't usually show it."

Haruna looked back and called to the members of their group not admiring the Kyoto beauty, "What's with you three? You're not gonna enjoy the view?"

"Well I've already enjoyed the view a lot." Konoka said with a giggle as she gently ran her hand over Kyūbi's head, "I grew up in Kyoto, remember? I was running through these trees and mountains when I was still just a kid."

"I did as well." Setsuna politely added at the end of Konoka's reminder, "In fact I stayed here in Kyoto until I transferred over to study in Mahora."

"Okay, okay, I get it. You too are so local you're hanging around with the foxes and sleeping along Rashōmon." Haruna muttered with envy, "You don't gotta rub it in."

"W-we didn't."

"What about you Whiskers?" Asuna looked back to the older boy, "Not feeling like seeing the mountains."

"Seen them enough, actually." Naruto leaned back in the seat he claimed for himself in front of Setsuna and Konoka. The scar-faced teen lounged back to get comfortable, "I've come to Kyoto before. Did some camping. Saw the mountains and the trees. They're beautiful." He shrugged, "But I don't need to see it again."

"Meh, suit yourself."

"I think I will." He crossed his arms behind his head to act as his pillow as he awaited their arrival at the manga museum.

"Hey hey, Naruto-kun?" He opened one eye up to see Konoka looking over the top of his seat with a curious expression, "Do you mind if I ask you something?" He smiled and nodded as she asked, "What was my dad like when you met him?"

"Well, he was calm and always really kind to me, but strict whenever I did something wrong or I misbehaved. He was probably my only actual source of discipline among a team of reckless idiots and degenerates."

"Even Negi-kun's dad?"

"Oh he was the absolute worst." He sat up a little to better talk with the sweet girl, "I remember this one time when me and Nagi decided to pull a prank on everyone else by spiking Eishun-San's stew with a quick-acting laxative. And in just a few hours, some of the mightiest and feared warriors in history were stuck with diarrhea." The whiskered boy suddenly had a sheepish expression and laughed, "But immediately after that happened, Eishun-San told us off and make us sit away in a corner in silence for an hour without dinner. He said if we couldn't respect our food, then we won't get any."

"Hehe, that sounds like Dad." Konoka giggled, "You should've known better than to mess with food around my dad, Naruto-kun." The whiskered boy lowered his head in embarrassment before Konoka looked down at her companion, "Hey, Secchan, do you remember when we were kids and Dad told us to eat all our vegetables if we wanted to have dessert."

"I remember." Setsuna nodded, "Eishun-sama was adamant on making sure you had as much nutrients and protein as needed at that age. And he prepared a similar helping for me to eat as well, which was greatly appreciated. Eishun-sama was very caring."

"Yeah, but there was that time you were given carrots to eat, and you didn't want any no matter what anyone said. And Dad was gonna tell you off, but Mom came over and convinced you that you would never grow up to be a strong sword fighter without eating them all up. And you did, despite how gross they tasted, hehe." Konoka smiled down at her blushing friend, "You remember?"

"Y-yes, Ojou-sama, I remember." Why did she have to bring that up? She looked down at her lap in shame before she noticed Kyūbi looking up at her with a skeptical expression and raised eyebrow. She did not need to be judged by the demon posing as a tiny pet fox! She coughed into her hand and sat up to look over the seat as well, "Naruto-sensei," His eyes turned to her, "Did you ever see what Eishun-sama was like in battle?" She asked with genuine curiosity, "Because I have witnessed him fight in spars but that was usually with more reserved movements and strikes. I was just curious if you had, but if you haven't-"

"I have. Sometimes." He told her, sitting up completely to face the girls, "I'd spot him holding off a few enemies as a kid but he was too fast, my eyes couldn't keep up with him. I'd just see a blur before he'd appear behind his enemy with his blade in hand." The blond chuckled, "There were a few times when he sparred with the other members of Ala Rubra. But those were few and far between. They couldn't afford to destroy everything around them just to warm-up."

"Wow." Konoka looked between him and Setsuna in surprise, "Is my dad really like that?"

"Oh yes. Eishun-sama is a man with skill that has no par." Setsuna informed her friend, "He may be one of the greatest swordsmen to ever live."

"Absolutely." Naruto agreed, "For anyone inspiring to become a great swordsman, Eishun-sama is the best feasible goal to reach."

"Why do you say it like that?"

"Because if you spend your entire life fighting, training, and honing your techniques to perfection, you might become like Eishun-San. And on the other spectrum you could use a sword to commit crazy and impossible feats of insanity for no other reason than for fun like..." His faced twisted into a grimace at the thought of a massive, laughing idiot with a headband as he waved goodbye, riding a giant sword with all the money he stole from Naruto's hiding spot in hand for gambling and booze. The blond boy grumbled, "Well like some stupid people."

The girls looked between each other in confusion before Konoka giggled, "Hehe, you're weird Naruto-kun."

"So, what are you three talking about?" Haruna interrupted their conversation as she leaned back in with a leer. She went in to tickle the fox's nose, but the little demon opened its eyes and growled at her extended digits. She snapped back before he could do anything to her precious fingers, "Having a few secret conversations while we're away. Konoka~, you know you can't hide your devious deals from me. Especially when they involve another girl and a teacher~."

"Haruna," She flicked the girl on the nose with a kind smile, "You're reading too far into things again." She looked at her other friends, "You guys done enjoying the sights?"

Haruna sighed and leaned into her seat, "It got so~ boring!"

"Haruna needs something to constantly stimulate her otherwise she'll shut down forever."

"I'm not a computer."

"Sorry," Yue corrected, "I mean if you don't play with something, you'll tucker out until we fill your bowl."

"I'm not a puppy either!"

"T-the ride is taking a little longer than we expected." Nodoka told them as the busty girl and the shorter girl started exchanging strikes with Yue's Soba and Asparagus mix drink flying through the air, "I don't think Haruna could take looking at the forest for much longer, even if it was beautiful."

"Actually," Setsuna looked out her window and noticed the cars beside their bus were the same ones following them for awhile. She spoke curiously, "We are taking longer to reach the museum than normal."

"Hey Sakurazaki-San, Whiskers, come over here for a sec." Asuna spoke back to them as she and Negi kept peering out the window, "You should look at this."

The blond and brunette shared a look before slipping over to get by Asuna and Negi's booth. While the Library Exploration Club continued talking, the teacher's assistant and student came over to look out the window, "What are we looking at?"

"Wait." Negi said nervously before pointing at something passing by, "There." He pointed at a little bus stop they quickly passed before going back into a larger lane, "That was it."

Setsuna and Naruto shared a confused look, "The bus stop?"

"Yes."

"What was wrong with it?"

"Well beside the fact we've gone by it five times now, nothing much."

"What?"

Asuna nodded to affirm their surprise, "The same advertisement. The cracks along the concrete and the trash as well. The confused people walking around it like something is wrong. It's the exact same one." She pointed down, "And those cars are the same ones that have been driving by us for the last 10 minutes."

Chamo ran up on Negi's shoulder and spoke in a hush but desperate voice, "Someone has stuck this road in a perpetual loop! And we're all inside it!"

Negi gulped nervously and looked up at the older students, "We've been driving along the same road without stopping, and all the other cars are stuck in here as well." The redhead lowered his shoulders fearfully, "From what Asuna-San has observed of our surroundings, we're stuck in a loop about 1000 meters long, and when we reach one end of the loop we drive right into the other end and repeat. So-"

"So that means," Naruto grit his teeth, "We've been captured."

"Was this the Kansai Rebels?" Setsuna asked in a panic, looking back at Konoka before turning to speak quietly to the rest of their team, "Those fiends." The Shinmei-Ryū fighter clenched her fists tightly in anger, "They would stoop so low as to involve ordinary citizens in their attempts to capture Ojou-sama?"

"They must be desperate." The bus slowly came to a halt as it and all the other vehicles along the expanse of road started to gridlock. The other passengers aboard the bus groaned with agitation as Mini-Rubra sat up, "What's going on?"

("I'm terrible sorry everyone. This trip will be taking longer than expected. There seems to be some kinda of obtrusion along the road that's holding up the cars. Hopefully we'll be back on our route in no time.")

They all shared a look before Naruto raised his hand, "Stay here." He started down the aisle, Kyūbi leaping off Konoka's lap and trailing after him before climbing up to his shoulder. He approached the bus driver, "Hey, can you let me out for a second?"

The middle-aged man looked at him oddly before shaking his head, "No, I'm sorry sir but you'll need to remain seated while on the bus."

"I understand but I just need to go out there real quick."

"Sir, while the bus is in drive, I can not allow a passenger to exit. It's a hazard."

"Drive?" Naruto repeated sarcastically, "We're gridlocked! You couldn't be more still unless you parked!"

"Look kid, just sit down and wait to leave!"

"Listen, I asked you to open the door nicely. That was a courtesy." Naruto quickly turned around and grabbed the edge of the sliding door before starting to force it open.

"Okay okay, don't break the damn door!" The driver relented, pulling the latch and letting the door slide open with a frown, "Geez, kids nowadays."

Naruto quickly stepped out into the cluttered road and walked through the lanes of backed up cars and disgruntled drivers. They honked their horns and edged their vehicles forward as Naruto and Kyūbi looked around suspiciously. He whispered to the fox, "I'm not going crazy, right? You feel that?"

"Yeah, I feel it too. There's magic in the air. And it feels like every move we make is being watched."

"Yeah, that too. I mean we're sorta stuck in a time-space loop so it's expected that we're being watched. But I'm not talking about that." Naruto stepped up to the front row of cars that had stopped and narrowed his eyes, "I feel something rumbling the ground. And shaking the air."

They looked out ahead of the road and saw a mass of amorphous darkness on the horizon of the road. Naruto's eyes narrowed and he got a better look of the encroaching darkness coming towards them. The shape became clearer and he saw...

Dogs?

Dogs sprinting at them with charms in their mouths.

Oh shit.

The avalanche of black dogs came charging over the gridlocked cars, jumping on their hoods and passing over to the next line. Naruto watched the creatures run around him and swarm every car, the people inside them panicking and leaning away as far as they could. The whiskered teen looked back and saw a dog lunge at him as fast as it could.

Luckily he noticed within the swarm of charging animals that none of them had any living presence.

"HA!" He yelled and threw a kick up into the dog's head, knocking it back into the air before it glowed white and burst into a blinding light. Naruto had to quickly cover his eyes, but he felt a force push against his magical barrier after the shadow dog exploded. These charms had spells on them! Oh crap!

Naruto looked back in time to see the dogs approach and slip in through the car's door before they burst as well, turning into blinding light before they faded to reveal the people in the cars had fainted from the spell.

The students and teacher in the bus looked through the front window to see the mayhem happening outside. Negi's eyes widened in shock as he looked back to see Nodoka coming up to his back, "S-Sensei, w-what's happening?"

"I-it's okay Nodoka-San, we'll be okay."

"Secchan," Konoka held Setsuna's hand for comfort, "I'm scared."

"Don't worry Ojou-sama, I won't leave your side." She squeezed Konoka's hand in return.

Asuna gulped, "S-should we see what's going on?"

"Yeah, hold on." Haruna slipped out of her seat and stepped up closer to the doors and windows, passing the other more frightened passengers as she looked outside. She tilted her head, "They look like...dogs?"

Suddenly a shadow dog compressed itself through the slit of the sliding door and slipped into the bus. The passengers all screamed in fear as the shadow construct looked between all of them excitedly with a charm in its mouth. It leapt forward and started to glow-

Negi stood in front of Nodoka and raised his staff, "Deflexio!"

Setsuna stepped in front of Konoka protectively and raised a set of charms in her hand, "Stop!"

"Get down!" Asuna tackled Yue to the ground on reflex before the dog burst into a brilliant light.

Once the light died down, the students and teacher looked over themselves to see if they were okay. Asuna lifted herself off a moaning Yue as she patted herself over. She didn't have a protective barrier like Negi or Setsuna. So why didn't it work on her?

"Haruna!"

Nodoka's panicked cry got their attention and they looked over to see Haruna on the floor of the bus unconscious. The purple-haired girl dropped to her friend's side and shook her shoulder to get some kind of response. When she didn't, her eyes started to water.

"Let me look!" Negi said, his voice just as fretful as Nodoka's as he looked Haruna over closely. After a moment he let out a relived breath and nodded, "S-she's just unconscious." He looked around the bus, "I-I think everyone was knocked unconscious."

"W-what could have done this?" Nodoka asked her teacher as he looked between his friends for answers.

Naruto looked out over the gridlocked cars as the last of the dogs exploded and rendered the civilians unconscious.

"Okay, I was seriously expectin' them to get everybody so we could make this easier. But I guess this will be cool too."

Kyūbi jumped off his shoulder and Naruto turned back to look at the three giant spiders that crawled up to the front row of cars. On top of the first spider were two figures, a familiar young boy with ears popping out of his black hair. And a young girl dressed in a sundress with a blade in her hand.

The boy stepped forward on the head of the giant spider and announced down to him, "Sorry Nii-chan, but we gotta make this quick. Give us the girl we're lookin' for, and the letter, or we'll resort to knocking ya down on yer butt."

Hand Konoka over? Or fight?

...

"Heh."

Naruto squared his shoulders, rotating them a few times and cracking his neck as he smirked up at the two Kansai Mages. He jerked his head towards the young Hanyou and grinned, "Come try me, puppy."

[[[[[[[[Knight]]]]]]]]

Done

How long has it been? One year and ten months. 22 months. 650+ days.

I really don't know how to excuse or justify myself. This chapter has been sitting in my writing space this whole time. Every few months I'd come in, write a few words, say I'd finish this next, and then just fuck off to do something else.

Also, other stories. I finally put in enough effort to pass 2000 with Titania and The Hunter, which is a huge accomplishment for me. As well as passing 3000 favorites and followers on that story too.

Also, for anyone checking my regular updates, you might have noticed I went a little crazy with the schedule for Hunting and Bust. What can I say...that story has my passion.

But I still love this story. I swear. I'll do better.

Now I just need to get back to this story...and Devil...

And Prin - oh who am I trying to fool? That's a lazy day, 'do if I feel like it project' more than any of my other stories.

Whatever.

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