Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Disclaimer: I do not own Negima or any of the characters from the anime or manga.
“You’re up early.” Setsuna jumped out of her kata’s current stance in surprise and immediately came back down in a ready stance, sword out in front, facing the person who’d just walked in on her exercises. “Any particular reason, or is the view of the sunrise just nice from here?”
Setsuna lowered her blade slowly when it registered in her mind who had walked in at her and looked the dark haired girl up and down. “Why did you come out here?”
“Normally it’s polite to answer someone else’s question before asking your own.” Kaede said, her traditional grin not leaving her face. “But, I guess polite isn’t your strong suit.” Indeed it wasn’t, in all the time Kaede had known Setsuna, polite was never the word she’d use to describe her, proper yes, polite no. “I heard you get up and leave and I noticed it wasn’t even close to being day out. We don’t have to leave for class in at least an hour. And you’ve been here for a while.”
“I presume you’ve been watching me since then?” Setsuna asked, already knowing the answer. Kaede Nagase was one of the only people ever to consistently sneak up on her and, considering the girl was her current roommate, she had plenty of chances to do so.
Currently Kaede was dressed in her school uniform, obviously in preparation for later that day, leaning up against one of the many trees in the area. She was by far and away the tallest girl in the class, aside from Chachamaru, who really didn’t count considering she didn’t really grow. She also was fairly fit, with well muscled legs and arms and quite skinny.
“Nin-nin,” Kaede said in what Setsuna guess was an assent. The girl used that word every now and again, always with her customary blank smile. It gave the odd feeling that there was nothing in her head, though that was far from the truth...even though she was not the best student in the class. The fact she was a baka-ranger showed this.
“I see.” Setsuna sheathed her weapon with a sigh. Kaede wasn’t the easiest person in the world to read. And for someone like Sakurazaki, who was used to sensing how others around her felt with ease, it made her more than a little uncomfortable. Yet that wasn’t something new. Her entire current situation made her uncomfortable, Kaede being the least of her recent worries.
“Now are you going to answer my question, Sakurazaki-san? Or should I say, Se-Chan?” Nagase said, getting her point across without even having to emphasize the name Se-chan.
Setsuna tensed up at the words and glared at Kaede. The girl knew full well why she was up here; that was clear by her words alone. Sakurazaki often did her Shinmeiryuu exercises when she needed time to think and this morning was definitely one of those times.
‘Se-chan’, as she was called by Konoka, was built very differently than Kaede. Not the shortest girl in her class, she wasn’t the tallest one either and though she was also muscular and skinner, it had an over all different effect than Kaede. Half of her hair was tied back in a pony tail, while the other half flowed freely; giving her a very threatening appearance indeed when combined with her other features.
“There’s no need for that.” Kaede said, referring to the look she was getting from Setsuna. She was one of the few people alive whom the look wouldn’t frighten at the sight of.
“There’s no need for you to stick your nose where it does not belong.” Setsuna growled, still glaring at Kaede, showing just what she thought of the ‘spy’ in question.
“Nosey, me?” Kaede let out a small laugh and stood up, taking her back off of the tree, “Is that what you think of any one who’s ever concerned with your well being. You are my classmate after all?” The girl moved forward now, towards the warrior, not seeming the least bit afraid of the armed, and quite dangerous, girl.
“There’s no reason for you to be concerned.” Setsuna said, trying end the conversation here and now, before it went any further, into realms she didn’t want it to explore.
“Really?” Kaede asked, stopping in front of the black haired girl. “For some reason I don’t believe that.”
To tell the truth, Setsuna didn’t believe it either. ‘I thought I’d hidden it better,’ She thought o herself, finally easing up her facial expression. “It’s still none of your concern.”
“Maybe not, but still, it sometimes helps to talk to other people about these things. Believe me, I should know.”
“I doubt you understand even to the tiniest extent what I am feeling.” Setsuna whispered. She wasn’t even sure just how she was feeling. She’d felt so many different things after coming back from Kyoto and resuming her friendship with Konoka.
A friendship that, if anything, meant more to her now than it had before, especially after ‘Ojou-sama’ had seen her true form and actually not shown the slightest bit of disgust. In fact she’d actually found the sight of her, Setsuna, with wings to be beautiful. It was something she had never expected.
The wings, to Setsuna, had always been the greatest burden she’d had to bear, and the only one she had not willingly taken upon herself. She’d been ashamed by it, and by what it meant. She was in-pure, marred, and a freak. A beast, if one was so bold to call her that.
“You’d be surprised,” Nagase said; sounding so smug and aloof that Setsuna debated whether or not cutting her down was a good idea. “I know you came up here to be alone, just as sometimes I go into the mountains to train just to be alone, rather than for the purposes I state. But I also know that, in the end, it’s always better to talk to someone when you’re bothered.”
“Is that all you came up here to say?” Setsuna tapped her foot against the grass impatiently.
“Nah, I also came up here because I wasn’t really tired. And I felt like I needed some exercise.” Kaede eyed the sword in Setsuna’s hands. “You do know that the best training comes from when you face a live, and skilled, opponent.”
“Is that a challenge?” Setsuna asked, eying the girl standing in front of her, in a relaxed pose.
“An invitation,” Kaede corrected as she slowly brought both hands in front of her, causing Setsuna to smirk, and draw her sword. She needed to release some of the tension she was feeling today, especially after what she’d promised Konoka the day before.
The morning rush to get to class on time was the same as usual. Mobs and mobs of girls, all running to make it to their respective rooms, making the entire campus one who danger zone, where one was under the constant threat of being trampled; something which Negi Springfield had learned on his first week there.
The young wizard in question was currently running beside his roommate, Asuna Kagurazaki and his other, much dark haired and innocent looking, roommate. Asuna was having to push her way through the throng, trying to make room for both her and Negi to get to class without becoming something resembling cookie-dough, while Konoka moved quite easily about on her skates.
Greetings were yelled frantically as the three of them went on their way, and girls of all ages, not to mention the teachers, moved in all directions. This was the chaos that marked every morning, and was no stranger to both she staff and students of the school. In fact, if a morning were calm and quiet, many of regulars would begin to worry what was the matter.
Even though they had arrived early, it took a good length of time for Negi, Konoka, and Asuna to finally make it to the classroom, where most of the other students were already waiting.
“Good morning!” Negi called, getting an instant reply of ‘good morning’ from almost every other girl in the room, save the net idol of course. Needless to say he was by far one of the most popular teachers in the school, even outside of 3A.
“Good morning, Negi-sensei!” Ayaka called out a second time, running up and bowing in front of Negi, though making sure to push Asuna out of the way as she did so.
“Hey, watch who you’re pushing there!” Asuna growled as she continued walking, not bothering to start a fight this early in the morning, especially since she was still tired after her paper route.
“Hello class rep-san,” Negi replied, putting his hand behind his head and giving his customary grin.
As some of the other girls came up to join the conversation, Konoka took off her skates, put on her shoes, and walked over to a desk towards the back of the room. “Good morning, Se-chan!”
“Ah,” The black haired girl sitting at the desk said with a start, sitting up straight. “Good morning Ojou-sama!” Setsuna was already blushing at having been directly spoken to by her charge.
“How are you doing?” Konoka asked, still smiling in a blank way that almost resembled Kaede’s. “Well, I hope.”
“There’s no need for you to concern yourself with me, Ojou-sama. How are you?” Setsuna stuttered almost immediately.
“Of course there is, silly. I’m doing alright. Do you remember the promise you made to me yesterday?” Konoka shook her head as she spoke, making her hair move along with her. She was indeed a beautiful girl, though she was a different type of beauty than Setsuna. While Sakurazaki was exotic, fit, and dangerously beautiful, Konoka had an air of innocence about her. Her skin was soft, without nearly as much muscle behind it as her protector and long time friend had. Although considering the powers she held within her, she really didn’t need the extra physical strength.
“Yes, and I will happily accompany you on your daily rounds after school. It would be my honor. I’ve already gotten permission from the headmaster, and Mana has taken up my patrol for today.” Setsuna was on her feet in an instant and bowing.
“You make spending the day together sound like something important and formal, and it’s not. It’s what all friends do, after all.” Konoka smiled.
“Um, er...” Setsuna blushed even harder at those words, not quite sure what to say to them.
Fortunately for the practitioner of the Shinmei school, the bell rang at that exact moment and all of the students began to move towards their respective seats. “Well, I’ll see you after class Se-chan.” And with that Konoka left for her desk.
The moment she was gone Setsuna set down with a sigh that showed just how tense she’d been by her friend’s presence. To her that had been a harrowing experience, having protocol and proper behavior thrown out of the window like that.
The word ‘proper’ had guided a lot of Setsuna’s life, as it did any successful member of the Shinmei School. Discipline and respect for tradition were the first things taught to any student. And for Sakurazaki, it was an especially well learned lesson.
She’d been training since she was very young, even before she’d met Konoka, yet she hadn’t completely devoted herself to it at that time. To tell the truth she hadn’t really been devoted to anything. At that point in time Setsuna had never had a real friend. In fact the closest thing she had was maybe a kind sensei here and there and that was it. Her so-called ‘deformity’ was the prime reason for this.
She didn’t allow herself to get close to anyone who didn’t know her secret, and all those who did know treated her almost as though she were sub-human. Yet she accepted the treatment, knowing full well it was only her just due for being born with such tainted blood...for being born with such a horrific visage.
The young girl she’d met at the Kanoe mansion, Konoka, was the first person who didn’t know her secret she got to know. The girl was kind, innocent, and childish in a way Setsuna had not seen while training in the Shinmeiryuu, and she also seemed every bit as lonely as Sakurazaki herself was.
It didn’t take very long for Setsuna to take a shine to the young girl, and continually come to play when not training, which was often enough that they got to see each other on an almost daily basis. It also didn’t take very long for Sakurazaki to become fearful of Konoka every finding out about what she was. She liked the way the girl treated her, like a friend and equal and she knew that all of that would go away the instant the young child saw the stigmata that she bore as her birthright.
Setsuna also became very possessive of her new found friend, adopting the title of Ojou-sama, when referring to Konoka. Over protectiveness was soon to follow and was the staple of her relationship with the Kanoe daughter, until some time later...the river incident happened.
Konoka had nearly drowned, quite beyond Setsuna’s reach. Only the quick action of others nearby saved the girl. The helplessness and failure of her situation shamed Sakurazaki and she made a promise that day to become stronger, and protect Ojou-sama...and never to fail again.
True to her word, she left the Kanoe mansion and devoted herself whole-heartedly to her training, becoming one of the best, if not the best, of her age group. The single-minded focus with which she fought and studied the art, as well as her shame at both her failure and birth, pushed her further than any of the other students.
Still, despite all this, she still was of tainted blood. Meaning, so far as the elders of the Shinmeiryuu were concerned, she was always second best to even the lowest of their students. To them, a non-human was still just that, no matter how far she progressed.
Yet Konoka hadn’t thought so. To Setsuna’s surprise and joy the girl hadn’t at all been offended by her visage or bloodline, instead commenting that Se-chan looked like ‘an angel’. For the very first time, someone saw her as what she was and didn’t so much a flinch. Instead she’d merely flashed that smile that she so often wore, and continued to try and stay in Sakurazaki’s company
Setsuna blushed at that memory and quickly shook her head so that she could pay attention to the class. She’d have all the time in the world to sort out her thoughts when they came to Konoka later, after class let out. Unfortunately, all the time in the world didn’t seem quite enough to her.
The first half of class past by very quickly, considering how slowly it sometimes went; and other than that, completely unworthy of special note. In fact the most exciting thing to happen that morning was Asuna’s taking a short nap and then, revitalized, pick a fight with Ayaka, during Negi’s lecture no less, to make up for the morning; something that was such a regularity for 3A that it wasn’t even worth some of the students lifting up their heads.
When the lunch bell rang, those students who’d packed bentos pulled them out, and those that had not got up to head down to the cafeteria to get food for themselves. Normally Setsuna got her lunch down in the cafeteria, and then gone off to find out where Konoka was so she could keep watch over her.
Today however, she’d had more than enough time in the morning to make her own after her katas and spar with Kaede. So, instead of getting up and leaving the class, she simply pulled out the bento and sat it down on her desk.
Unfortunately for Setsuna, her leaving meant someone that usually stayed in the room to eat with her best friend and roommate knew right where she was. With a cry of, “Se-chan!” Konoka was next to the girl. “Do you want to eat together?”
“Wha...wha..” Setsuna started to stutter in surprise, blushing. She didn’t know quite what to say. Though she was well disciplined and usually distant from everything, Konoka was ever the exception to that rule and easily embarrassed the Shinmeiryuu trainee.
“Come on, Se-chan, we haven’t done that in ages.” With that Konoka pulled up one of the empty desks next to her friend and sat down on the edge of it, readying her lunch.
“Um,” Setsuna managed to get out before something inside of her snapped. “Sorry Ojou-sama, I need to be going somewhere!” Instantly Sakurazaki was out of her chair, with her lunch in hand, and rushing for the door with all speed.
“Se-chan!” Konoka yelled aloud at the girl’s back, but she didn’t get up. She knew already she wouldn’t be able to catch her. “Se-chan,” She whispered, this time more softly.
“That was interesting,” A voice said behind Konoka. When the girl turned around she wasn’t surprised to see her friend, Asuna Kagurazaki, sitting down on the seat of the desk that she was sitting on. “What did you do?”
“I just asked if we could have lunch together.” Konoka whispered, and then lowered her head in something resembling defeat.
“What’s the matter now?” Asuna asked, trying not to sound impatient. She was still sour after her fight with Ayaka.
“I just don’t understand,” Konoka started to say then shook her head. “I don’t understand what I’m supposed to do.”
“What do you mean?” Asuna was now starting to get curious. Konoka wasn’t smiling right now, a rare thing, though she wasn’t crying either.
“About Se-chan,” Konoka whispered, looking back up at Asuna. “After Kyoto I thought things were going to be different between us. Until then I thought she’d been mad at me for some reason and didn’t want to be friends anymore. She didn’t even speak to me. After the field trip I thought things were going to be different, that we’d pick back up where we left off...but she still doesn’t seem to like being around me. I’m not sure what to do...”
“Oh boy, this again,” Asuna said, shaking her head and giving Konoka a light flick on the nose which caused her to blink, sneeze, then give a small smile. “You’re so ridiculous sometimes, you know that Konoka-san.”
“Really?” Konoka asked. By now her friend was smiling back at her, the expression quite different from what it looked like on Konoka’s face. Asuna’s didn’t fit into the smile as easily, though it still looked oddly comforting.
“Yep,” Asuna continued. “You and I were both in Kyoto and we both saw how protective of you Setsuna is and you saw how broken hearted she was when she almost had to leave because she showed you her w...er her other extremities... you should know better. She’s just shy around you, that’s all. Besides, didn’t you say she agreed to spend the rest of the day after school with you yesterday?”
“Yeah, she did say that.” Konoka’s face broke out in a fully fledged smile and she let out a giggle. “I guess I’m just being silly.”
Her meal was very small, consisting only of what she’d been able to find around the apartment, although it was still more appealing than the meals the school gave out. Besides, she was used to eating very little. She’d had to fast on several occasion’s during her training, trying to work up the discipline to ignore her hunger. Even when she did eat, she usually ate very little. It wasn’t that she didn’t like food; rather she needed to make sure she never grew complacent and used to its presence.
“I suppose that’s what was bothering you this morning?” Immediately Setsuna’s hand went to her sword, but she didn’t draw it out. She’d recognized the voice before she’d been able to.
“Is today your day for spying on people, Kaede?” Setsuna asked, not even bothering to look behind her.
“Nin-nin,” Sakurazaki wasn’t sure what to make of that kind of reply. She wasn’t even quite sure if it was a denial or an assent of some kind.
There was a whoosh of air and Kaede landed not far from her, perching quite easily on the top of the thin railing that surrounded the room. “Why’d you come up here?”
“Simply to see if you were doing alright. That was quite a display down there, I must admit.”
“I’m no different, nor worse, now than I usually am.” Setsuna said calmly and coldly, showing just how much import this conversation had to her.
“Ah, I see; so ‘Se-chan’s’ now gone back to being a cold fish. I’m surprised the blush has faded considering how red you were back there.” Kaede smiled her usual smile at that, looking just as blank as Konoka did while wearing the same expression. The resemblance they bore to each other face wise when they smiled was uncanny.
“Are you finished yet?” Setsuna asked, hoping to get rid of the Ninja girl. “I’m trying to eat lunch and I’m in no mood for conversation.”
“Okay, then I guess I should just tell you Konoka seemed rather upset after you left.”
“What?” Setsuna sat bolt upright and turned to look at Kaede. ‘Ojou-sama was upset?’
“Looks like I’ve got your attention now, still want me to leave?” Setsuna glared at Kaede, causing her to laugh aloud. “I thought not. Well, back to my little tale, she looked rather downcast after you left, and spoke a few moments to Asuna. Asking her what she was doing wrong to make Se-chan not want to be around her, and what she could do to make her like her.”
“I already like her, she’s my friend!” Setsuna said very loudly, standing up in an instant, causing her food to spill all over the place; not that she really cared about that. “And she’s done nothing wrong.”
“That’s what Asuna told her to cheer her up, and reminded her that you’d agreed to spend time with her today. You did say that, didn’t you? That’s why you were awake in the morning, right?”
“Yes,” Setsuna whispered after a few moments silence between the two of them. “I did say that...”
“Well that brings me to the second part of my little tale. Mana wanted me to give you a message from her, since she didn’t know where’d you’d gone off to after leaving the room and I’d said I was going looking for you. She’s got duties at the temple today and won’t be able to cover your patrols of the school estate, and sends her deepest apologies for the inconvenience.”
“She can’t do the patrols today...” Setsuna whispered looking down now. “But that means...I won’t be able to go with Ojou-sama...what if that upsets her.”
“I thought of that,” Kaede interrupted, causing the Shinmeiryuu student to look up. “So I took the duty myself. I asked Mana the route and who I was supposed to report to should I find anything strange. After all I don’t have any plans for today after school.”
“You?” Setsuna asked in surprise, and Nagase nodded; smiling all the while. “But why, and how? You’re not one of the students the headmaster hires as guards.”
“Well, if I’m right, the school rules prohibit the headmaster for ‘hiring’ students as anything related to school. So, really I don’t need to be hired. I’m just completing a school related activity, right?”
With that Kaede winked at Setsuna, causing her to give a relieved smile. “Right, and thank you.”
“Don’t mention it, you can always rely on Sessha.” With those words her grin broadened. “Just one thing, next time you’ve got something on your mind, don’t keep it bottled up. It’ll eat you up from the inside out. You don’t necessarily have to tell me, but tell someone. Cause if you don’t I’ll know and I’ll pry it out of you anyhow, you understand?”
“Yes, I understand.” Setsuna replied, feeling relieved she wouldn’t be disappointing Ojou-sama, though she was still quite nervous about the afternoon. “And again, thank you Kaede.”
“Don’t mention it,” And with that Kaede Nagase did a double back flip over the edge and was gone. Setsuna didn’t bother to even check on how the girl had landed, knowing she wouldn’t have tried such a maneuver without a guaranteed success. Instead her thoughts had moved on to the day’s earlier, and more pressing, subject.
The instant the bell that signaled the end of school sounded the room erupted into Chaos. The noise even nearly drowned out Negi’s call of, “Good day everyone!” Which he’d grown accustomed to having to yell aloud just to be heard.
Also at the sound of the bell all of the students stood at once and, despite still talking, bowed to Negi then turned back to each other. Today the number one noise maker’s award had to go to the twins, who’d jumped two desks over after bowing to talk to Makie-san, meanwhile knocking over everything on the desks between them.
Ayaka, of course, tried to push her way over to where Negi was packing up his bag, but only managed to arrive there at about the same time as Asuna did, and no more needs to be said on what happened next between them.
Else where, Setsuna Sakurazaki stood from her particularly low bow and picked up her sword in preparation to leave the room, when a cry of “Se-chan!” Pierced through the throng and Konoka bounced up to her. “Are you ready?”
“Yes, Ojou-sama,” Setsuna replied automatically; then blushed, when Konoka gave a squeal and grabbed her hand.
“Come on then, let’s go!” With that Konoka proceeded to drag the Shinmeiryuu student through the very crowded classroom and then out the door. All the while talking about the things they were going to do that day.
As the pair of them left Setsuna swore she could see Kaede wink at her just before they turned the corner. “Oh, I must sound selfish telling you all I want to do.” Konoka said, loosening her grip on her protector’s hand momentarily and turning to smile at her. “Why don’t we start with what you want to do?”
“Whatever pleases you Ojou-sama.” Setsuna replied instantly, bowing as deeply as she could with her hand still in her charge’s.
“Oh come on Se-chan, there’s got to be something you want to do.” Konoka whined, giving Setsuna a look that went through her all too easily. It was the wide eyed, almost puppyish face that made it appear as if she were on the edge of a giggling fit or tears.
“I want um...” Setsuna whispered, blushing and looking away. “To let you choose what to do today.” It was the most diplomatic thing she could come up with on such short notice. Sakurazaki was no socialite and when it came to situations like this, she had no idea what she was supposed to say or do.
“Okay then, if that’s when you want let’s go.” The smile instantly reappeared and Konoka resumed dragging her friend through the hall, not that Setsuna was all that adverse to going anywhere with the Kanoe girl, she wasn’t used to being this close by her, much less being touched by her, which was evident by her blush.
“Who is it,” The vampire said, growling and grumbling to herself. If Setsuna was anti-social because of her quiet, and loner nature; then Evangeline was just as anti-social due to her people skills and just plain aggressive behavior.
“It’s Nagase-sempai.” Chachamaru said, pushing the door open and standing aside to let her fellow student walk in. Standing side by side, it was very difficult to distinguish which was the taller of the two, though it was easy to tell who was more athletic, considering one of the pair wasn’t even alive. Both were still in their school uniforms and both had a look that could be considering ‘blank’, though Kaede’s was more of a blank smile than a complete lack of emotion.
“Well,” Evangeline said, sitting up in the seiza position without showing any discomfort. “What do you want? Or is this just a social call?” As usual, her words had a veneer of hostility to them.
“Mana-san said I was to come report to you.” Kaede smiled, and then bowed slightly. “I’m taking over Setsuna Sakurazaki’s patrol today. When I asked where I was supposed to go, she told me to come to you.”
Evangeline sneered at the words. “You’re not one of the ones the headmaster hires to do the job. So why are you here?”
“Mana has temple duties and Setsuna is...busy with a ‘social call’.” Nagase’s smile didn’t leave her face, despite Evangeline’s rude words. In fact, she almost seemed amused by them. “So I volunteered today. Of course...I kind of haven’t informed the headmaster. Silly me, I guess it slipped my mind to do so before coming here.”
Evangeline blinked and let out a short bark of laughter. “That old geezer probably won’t notice who’s doing the patrol anyway, and really I don’t care to tell him. So I guess you can get away with it this time.” Then her face contorted into a glare again “So you’ve reported to me now, why don’t you get going?”
“Well, there’s the simple matter of where I’m supposed to patrol.” Kaede fiddled with her face as she spoke, still grinning and not appearing at all sheepish, despite the gesture. “I was never told and the school is pretty big. I want to do the job right, you know.”
Evangeline grumbled and spent the next few moments searching for a pen and paper to write down the route. The only reason she didn’t flat out say ‘go figure it out on your own’ was the fact she had nothing better to do with her time, at least not when bound to this school by the curse.
Really there were a whole host of disadvantages to being bound to the school, both with very little magic and being unable to leave. But the main problem, aside from having to deal with middle-schoolers, was the boredom. The horrible, damned boredom! It never ended! No one had any idea just how boring it was to be trapped in the same school, going through the same classes; listening to the same useless middle-school girl prattle, and being unable to get away from it for even a moment for YEARS!
Once Evangeline found the paper she began to scribble down instructions for Kaede, and then stopped after getting through it about half way. She slowly looked up and eyed the ninja somewhat scornfully. “Wait, your one of the ‘baka-rangers’ aren’t you.”
Kaede nodded and punched herself on the forehead playfully as if saying ‘guilty as charge’ and Evangeline groaned. The reputation of the baka rangers was so infamous that most of the other classes had heard of them, turning 3A into a bit of a joke. They, above all else, were the reason why, before Negi-sensei, the class had always been ranked last when it came to test scores for the end of year exams.
“Never mind then,” Evangeline said simply, crumpling up the paper and tossing it the side. “Knowing you, you’d get it all wrong anyway.” Then she stood up. “Come on then, I’ll walk you through it for today.”
“That’s very kind of you, I appreciate it.” Kaede said, giving a bow and moving to let Evangeline pass her.
“I’m not doing it to be kind, I’m doing it because I don’t have anything better to do...and besides, if you start working for the headmaster it may mean I don’t have to as much. Now come on, and stop wasting my time.” Kaede nodded and followed leaving Chachamaru to shut the door before following them in turn.
“How does this look on me, Se-chan?” Konoka asked as she walked out of the dressing room. She’d spent the last few minutes going through outfits and trying to pick one out to try first, and now that she had she seemed quite excited.
‘G-great, Ojou-sama!” Setsuna said, blushing slightly at having been asked a direct question by Konoka, especially one concerning the Kanoe girl’s appearance.
“Thank you, but you know you don’t really have to call me that.” Konoka giggled, seeming amused by Setsuna’s expression. The ‘outfit’ in question was a red shirt emblazoned with a pink cat’s face that Sakurazaki didn’t recognize, a small jacket, and very short shorts.
“That would be improper, Konoka Ojou-sama.” Setsuna replied, automatically bowing.
“You’re really funny sometimes, you know that?” Konoka said with a giggle then pranced back into the dressing room.
“For a number of reasons, though mainly protection.” Evangeline said, looking as though she was skeptical of its necessity. “Occasionally a magical beast strays in here, though rarely anything big, and it’s kept very quiet. They’re job is to eliminate any threats to the school.”
“Ah, I see,” Nagase nodded as she spoke. “If they only patrol after school, how does he catch them if they come in at another time before students see them?”
“For a baka ranger you actually ask some decent questions.” As usual, Evangeline’s words dripped with sarcasm, but she quickly resumed her normal disrespectful tone soon after; not that it was much better than the alternative. “I’m why, I can sense when anything enters the school estate. That’s one of the few powers I have left to me after the curse...”
As Evangeline trailed off Kaede looked as if she had a sudden thought struck her. “Is that the curse that Negi’s father put on you? I mean, I’ve heard a little bit about it, though I haven’t...”
“Forget it!” Evangeline hissed ferociously the moment the question was asked. “It’s none of your business anyway!”
“Nin-nin,” Kaede said with a shrug then put her hands behind her head and continued to follow the tiny blond, with Chachamaru bringing up the rear.
“Not quite, one more thing Se-chan!” Konoka said with a smile then held up something with both hands. It looked like one of the old fashioned yukata, with gold and white patterns all the way across. “I’d like you to try this on.”
“What!” Setsuna cried aloud as Konoka ushered her into the dressing rooms and into the same stall she’d been using while changing.
“I’m not sulking!” The vampire was quick to erupt in anger again. ‘She’s got very little control of herself,’ Kaede noted mentally without dropping her blank smile. “I just don’t feel the need to talk every moment of the given day!”
“Funny, it looked to me as if you were pouting. At least, that’s what little brats usually look like when they pout,” Kaede said, giving Evangeline a small wink.
“What!” The blond started to screech, all the while still moving forward at the same pace. “I’m not a brat and I wasn’t pouting!”
“I’m just telling you what it looked like to me.” Nagase laughed, showing just how little she believed the vampire’s words.”
“Hmph!” Evangeline made a small noise and turned her head away so she wouldn’t have to look at the ninja girl.
“Um...thank you...” Despite the fact she was blushing profusely at the compliment, Setsuna did indeed cut an imposing figure. The clothes accessories Konoka had picked out made her look similar to the time when she’d dressed up as a Samurai at Cinema Village.
“I think it suits you!” Konoka said, as if that settled it, and then picked up her other clothes. “Let’s go onto the register now. I’ll pay for that too,” Konoka indicated Setsuna’s clothes as she spoke.
“There’s no need for that, Ojou-sama!” Sakurazaki said, waving her arms wildly and looking panicked.
“Sure there is now come on.” With that Konoka proceeded to the register at the front of the store and laid the clothes down on the counter. “How much is all of this, plus what she’s wearing?” Konoka asked the man running the register at the time.
Immediately the man began to type up several things on the register and Konoka began to rife through her pockets for money. She knew she probably had more than enough with her, considering her family and how much she usually carried on her, yet she didn’t get a chance to do anything more than put her hands in her pockets for Setsuna quickly stepped to the forefront.
“I’ll handle this,” She said quietly, yet firmly to Konoka and turned to the man, holding out a pouch she’d pulled from her old clothes, which were now slung over her arm. “This should more than cover the clothing.” It looked almost like a cow-hide bundle, which would have seemed rather silly to any onlookers considering the day and age they lived in.
Then man skeptically accepted the pouch and opened it to take a look inside. Immediately his eyes bulged and he nodded his head. “Very much so,”
“Thank you, now can you please bag them for us and we’ll be on our way.” Setsuna ordered, sounded as she usually did when talking to anyone other than Konoka, who by this point was on the verge of distress.
“But Se-chan, I was going to pay for those, and your clothes as well!” Konoka whined.
“Please Ojou-sama,” Setsuna said, bowing before the Kanoe girl. “It’s my privilege to do so.”
Konoka folded up her arms and poked out her bottom lip, looking as if someone had told her Christmas had been canceled. Then, not five seconds afterward, her face broke out in a smile. “Okay then, thank you Se-chan!” Her mood swing even surprised Setsuna, who was now trying to stutter out a ‘your welcome’ without sounding much higher pitched than she normally did.
Evangeline looked as if she were seriously considering saying no, but eventually nodded her head. “I suppose, get on with it!”
“Well, this curse thing,” Nagase said slowly, trying to make sure she phrased the question the right way. “You mentioned something about the head master having to stamp lots of signed permission forms for you to visit Kyoto on the field trip because you wouldn’t be allowed to leave otherwise. Is the curse the reason you can’t leave the school?”
“Yes,” Evangeline growled, speaking a little bit too quickly for her liking. “I’m bound to be the school’s guard whether I like it or not. I can’t leave the grounds for any reason. Now, are you quite done asking me annoying questions?”
“Yeah I suppose so,” Nagase said, scratching the side of her face with one finger and letting her smile drop. The expression on the vampire beside her’s face was one Kaede recognized very well.
It was both pained and slightly dreary, telling quite a bit about how Evangeline felt about her curse. Kaede couldn’t imagine being bound to the school for years at a time with no way out. She went to the mountains every weekend and still had the breaks...but Evangeline didn’t have any of that. ‘It must be pretty bad, being stuck her all the time.’ Kaede mused, ‘Not to mention tiresome and boring.’
Then Kaede snapped her fingers and smiled again. “Wipe that frown off your face. It’s a beautiful day; smile a little bit why don’t you?”
“What’s there to smile about, there’s a glaring sun, which hurts my eyes. I’m walking beside a nosey classmate of mine who doesn’t even know how to do a job she volunteered for and I’ve got another night of studies and boredom to look forward to...”
Before Evangeline could say any more Kaede reached down, seized the girl by the waist and lifted her up and onto her shoulders where the little vampire clung to her head with an iron grip. During days and nights without a full moon, Evangeline was barely more than a normal girl. “Put me down!” She shouted.
“No,” Nagase said playfully as she continued walking. “But if you give me directions the rest of the patrol I will. And who knows you might enjoy the ride. I know I used to love getting these kinds of piggy back rides when I was little.” As could be expected, Evangeline looked skeptically down at the ninja, showing just what she thought of the idea.
“Are you bored, Se-chan?” Konoka asked as the pair of them walked down the street, weighed down by the clothes they’d bought earlier. Despite Konoka’s arguments to the contrary, Setsuna carried most of them. By now the girl had given up trying to reason with the Shinmeiryuu student and had changed the subject.
“Why would you ask that?” Setsuna was rather perplexed. So far Konoka seemed to have been having a good time.
“Well, it was rather selfish of me to take you to a clothing store first and get all this stuff, especially when you paid for it. And you didn’t really seem to enjoy it nearly as much as I did. I was wondered if you’d gotten bored was all...”
“Of course not, Ojou-sama!” Setsuna replied almost too quickly for her liking. “I’m not bored at all!”
“Still, it was selfish of me,” Konoka continued, not letting up on the subject. “Se-chan, was there anything you wanted to do?”
“I already answered that earlier, whatever you want to do is alright by me.” Setsuna said firmly.
“Oh, well...okay then.” Konoka mumbled, hesitantly. Sometimes Sakurazaki’s mannerisms offset her, leaving her with no idea what she was supposed to do.
Setsuna sighed, seeing that her friend was at a loss as to what to do. “You enjoyed the arcade down in Kyoto, didn’t you?”
“Oh, yes it was a lot of fun!” Konoka cried, immediately coming out of her thoughts. “Although it would have been more fun if you’d joined in.”
“I’m afraid games aren’t my thing.” Setsuna started to say then stopped herself. “But I wouldn’t mind going to the one here...since there’s no one else for you to play with...erm...I could...um...”
“Okay Se-chan, that works!” Konoka reached out and quickly grabbed Sakurazaki’s hand, “Come on!”
“I’m not pouting; I just want you to put me down!” Evangeline growled. She’d spent the past fifteen minutes on Kaede’s shoulders, holding on for dear life for fear of being dropped, and Nagase was no short girl!
“You’re really that scared of heights?” Kaede said, and then giggled to herself as the vampire’s fingers tightened around her head.
“I’m not scared of heights, I just don’t like being up here! This is something kids do, and I’m over a hundred years old!”
“Well you do know that sometimes young adults have to carry their old hag’s of grandparents around on their backs sometimes.”
“Who are you calling an old hag?” Evangeline screeched slapping the top of Kaede’s head, causing the girl only to giggle.
“You were the one who said you were hundreds of years old.” Kaede reasoned, “Not me,”
“Oh stuff it!” Evangeline grumbled, glaring from side to side to make sure no one saw her in this humiliating position. “You wouldn’t be doing this if I had my powers.” Kaede just hummed in response and continued walking, though she didn’t put the girl down.
“Well if you’re afraid you’re going to fall, don’t be.” Kaede said sounding oddly soothing, much in the way she had when calming Negi after his first confrontation with the very same vampire on her shoulders now. “I wouldn’t let you fall.”
“I said I’m not afraid, now shut up and keep going...and turn right down this path here!” Evangeline ordered. To her surprise Kaede let the subject drop and she did as she was bid.
As much as Evangeline hated to admit it, she really was uneasy being carried by someone else, just as she was uneasy about being around another person period, especially during the times when her curse made her little more than a helpless girl with only her ‘harmless’ powers, as the headmaster had called them, intact.
But slowly her worry at the threat of toppling from her position and landing on her head began to fade away, and the more she relaxed, the more she began to enjoy the ride. She wasn’t getting tired, yet she was actually doing something, and from her position she could feel the breeze over her legs and arms, instead of just in her hair...and the view was somewhat nicer from her position too. Not that she was going to tell Kaede, any of this, of course.
Just as slowly as her worries ebbed away, Evangeline loosened her grip on the Ninja girl’s head and relaxed her muscles, trusting to the protective, strong looking hands that held her in position by the legs, which were slung over Kaede’s shoulders. ‘Well,’ She thought, looking at the tree’s over head, which were now much closer to her than they normally were. ‘I guess I can admit this is better than staying in my room would have been.’
“Did you have fun today, Se-chan?” Konoka asked, looking over her bowl of noodles to where Setsuna sat, eating quite daintily out of hers.
“I did,” Setsuna said, and then took another bite, and that was it. No further comments, conversation or anything. Konoka waited...and waited some more, expecting something else, but receiving only silence. Setsuna didn’t even make any noise as she ate.
Then Konoka sighed. “Thank you for buying me dinner, although I wish I paid for something today. I kind of felt like I was taking advantage of you.”
“No, it was my privilege Ojou-sama.” Setsuna replied immediately, going red in the face for the umpteenth time that day. “You honored me by allowing me to buy you dinner and the clothes.”
“Why do you always have to get so formal; we’re friends, we should do things for each other and I haven’t done anything for you.”
“You don’t have to do anything for me Ojou-sama.” By this point in time Setsuna resembled a radish in coloration.
“But I want to,” Konoka said with a smile. “Are you alright Se-chan? You’re blushing even more than normal.”
“I’m fine!” Setsuna replied quickly, waving both hands. Her sword, which was leaned against her chair shifted with the movement, but didn’t fall over.
“I’m glad to hear that. I’d hate for you get sick. Especially after I had such a good time with you tonight...are you sure you’re alright, the color’s deepening?”
“I’m fine, I’m fine!” Setsuna cried, sounding even more frantic than before, though she restrained the hand movements this time.
“Alright, I’ll take you word for it.” Through that entire part of the conversation Konoka had been wearing the same simple, albeit concerned, smile. “You know, I kind of wish we could do this more often. Even after Kyoto, we still don’t spend any time together, even though we’re friends, and I’d like to.”
“I...I would like that as well, Ojou-sama.” Setsuna admitted. To tell the truth it was still hard to say, and before Kyoto she never would have come close to saying it believing ‘it was her place to guard Konoka from the shadows’, as she would have put it then.
“Then why didn’t you say something. You’re my best friend; I’d do whatever you wanted to do when you wanted to. I spent so much time thinking you were mad at me and didn’t like me.”
“It’s not my place!” Setsuna said, quite firmly. “You’re a noble of the Kanoe family, and you know full well what I am. Of the two of us, only one matters. That’s why it’s my duty, and my privilege, to protect you with my life. I was never angry at you, nor could I be for any length of time. You just...deserve better than a monster for a friend.”
“Don’t say things like that Se-chan,” It was surprising how quickly Konoka’s smile could vanish and now she wore an almost angry expression. “You’re not a monster, you’re my best friend! Also, don’t say you don’t matter, that’s not true!”
“Ojou-sama, you and I both know it is, still, thank you for being so kind as to say that on my behalf.”
“I wasn’t saying it for that reason. I’m saying it because it’s the truth. You’re important, especially to me.”
“Um...” The blush that had faded since their argument had started reappeared in full force. “Thank you, but I...” Then Setsuna stopped again, seeing the look on Konoka face then sighed. “Never mind,”
“Se-chan, you’re too hard on yourself all the time.” Konoka whispered still looking hurt. “And I don’t like it, I don’t like it all.”
“I’m sorry if my words upset you. Please forgive me Ojou-sama.” Setsuna said, bowing her head slightly.
Konoka sighed. “Well, its getting late and I guess we should call it a night, but before you go can I ask you something?” Setsuna nodded her head. “Could you come over to my room I share with Asuna and have dinner with us? I like to cook and I’d also like to repay you for today.”
“Of course Ojou-sama,” With that they both stood up and left, having already paid for the food before the conversation had started. “I’ll walk you home then I’ll head back.”
“Thank you, Se-chan,” Konoka said, her smile slowly coming back to her as her protector and best friend moved up silently beside her.
“Oh, already, and you were such good conversation too?” Kaede pouted, sounding completely sincere.
“Oh shut up!” Evangeline growled, and then realized she had a small problem. How the hell was she supposed to get down! “And let me go while you’re at it!”
“Okay,” Kaede said, and flipped the blond girl several feet up into the air. Immediately a scream pierced through the air as Evangeline sailed up, stopped, then careened towards the ground much faster than she’d been going up and...landed safely in Kaede’s arms. “There,” Kaede’s tone was soothing as she slowly set the rigid vampire on her feet.
“D...d...don’t ever do that again!” Evangeline managed to finally say after a few failed attempts at talking.
“You really thought I’d let anything happen to you?” Kaede said with a smile, ignoring the glare sent her direction from a certain blond and the robot merely feet behind her. “Come on now, I promised you I wouldn’t let you fall, didn’t I?”
“Yeah, like I’m going to trust a promise someone like you makes!” Evangeline growled then looked towards Chachamaru, “Let’s go back home! I’ve had enough of the great out doors.”
“Yes, master.” Chachamaru said, turning to go at the same time as the blond vampire did.
“It was fun getting to talk to someone new today. We’ve got to do it again sometime!” Kaede called after the two as they walked away.
“Fat chance of that!” Evangeline yelled back. “Next time you agree to work for the old man, get someone else to be your tour guide. And for your information your shoulders aren’t among the softest places to rest my ass!”
Kaede laughed and waved at the two until they were out of sight, then scratched her cheek lightly. “I kind of feel sorry for her.” Kaede whispered to herself. “She’s so lonely.” And indeed the dreaded vampire Evangeline was, so much so that she’d forgotten what it was like to be on friendly terms with anyone for so long.
“Konoka, is that you?” Asuna called out the moment she heard the dorm room door close.
“Yes, I’m back. Sorry I’m so late; I had dinner before I came back.” Konoka replied, making sure to remove her shoes even before entering her own domicile.
“That’s okay, although there’s still some dinner left in the fridge for you in case you’re still hungry.” Asuna said, smiling at Konoka when the girl walked into the bedroom.
“Thank you,” Konoka bowed then sat down in front of her friend. She was somewhat tired right now, but she still wanted to talk to Asuna before going to bed.
“So how’d it go, you’re back late so I guess it went alright.” Asuna knew full well by the wide smile on Konoka’s face that things had indeed gone well between her and Setsuna. The Shinmeiryuu student was one of the few things that could make her smile go beyond its normal, blank, look.
“I had a wonderful time. I don’t normally get to spend very much time with Se-chan after all.”
“Glad to hear it, now give me the details!” Asuna demanded, smiling back at her friend.
“Oh well, let’s see...” Konoka screwed up her face as though she was concentrating very hard on one of Negi-sensei’s lessons. “Well, we went shopping,” She indicated a bag of clothes she’d left beside the door on the inside, “And Se-chan was nice enough to buy me all of that.”
“Wow, that must have cost a pretty penny.” Asuna said, eying the fair sized bag. “I wish I had someone willing to spend that much on me.”
Konoka’s face took on a sheepish expression, “Yeah well, I tried to pay for them myself, but she insisted.” Then she returned to her normal countenance. “Then we went to the arcade, and after that we had dinner...yep, that’s about it.”
“You’re so easy to please, you know that Kono-chan.” Asuna muttered, shaking her head from side to side in mock exasperation.
“Oh yeah, I almost forgot to tell you Asuna-chan, I invited Se-chan over for dinner tomorrow night!” That made Asuna sit up. “I guess that means I’m cooking dinner tomorrow evening then.”
“Fine with me,” Asuna tried to keep her excitement down at the idea. Not that her own cooking was bad, but Konoka was no amateur when it came to food.
“Now I just have to think what I’ll make, after all I’ll be feeding more than just you and Negi tomorrow won’t I.”
“I have some suggestions,” Asuna said hopefully; praying that she’d get to add some of her favorites to tomorrow night’s menu.
Today, it seemed, was not one of those days for the moment Setsuna closed the door a familiar voice called out, “So how’d little Se-chan’s day go?”
Setsuna frowned slightly and briefly considered attempting to use her sword even in the close confines of her apartment, then decided against it. Kaede had done her a huge favor today. The last she could do was take the girl’s friendly jibes when they came her way.
“Come on, answer me; how did it go?” Nagase asked again as she walked out of the small kitchen with a box of what looked like takeout food.
“It was pleasant.” Setsuna murmured, resisting the urge to blush considering how much of the day she’d just spend doing that. It happened way too often when she was around Konoka and there were times it completely unnerved her.
“Pleasant, huh?” Kaede said, sounding like she was talking to bother herself and Sakurazaki at the same time. “Well I guess that pretty much sums up my day too.”
“Oh,” Setsuna’s eyebrows went up slightly. “You’re the first person I’ve ever heard of enjoying a patrol duty.”
“Aw, it wasn’t that bad.” Kaede said, waving her hand in the air and easily balancing the food in the other. “Besides I had someone show me the ropes.”
“Who?” Sakurazaki asked, without very much interest. She wasn’t the type of person to chit-chat, in fact she hated talking if there was no point to it. The only person who’d ever managed to make small talk with her successfully was Konoka. “Mana-san had to work at the temple today.”
“Yeah, I know; remember who brought you that message now. I’m not that dumb.” Kaede’s smile seemed to give the opposite idea however. “I got Evangeline to show me what to do.”
Setsuna nodded, only half listening, and then performed a double-take. “You asked Evangeline for help!”
“Yeah, you were the one who told me to report what I found to her anyway, so I thought ‘why not, if I don’t know what to do I’ll ask her’.” Kaede made it sound like it was the most natural thing in the world.
“I’m surprised you’re still alive or at least not halfway to Osaka by now.” Setsuna said, shaking her head and walking over to the bed. “I’m going to turn in tonight. I need the extra sleep anyway.”
“Okay then, good night.” Nagase said, and began to work on finishing her dinner. ‘First time I’ve ever heard Sakurazaki say anything positive sense I’ve known her.’ Kaede mused to herself.
“Thank you mistress,” Chachamaru said, bowing at the compliment, despite the fact she was sitting in the seiza position. “Indeed I did use tea leaves for this particular batch, in fact Mrs. Nagase was kind enough to give them to me!”
Immediately Evangeline spewed the contents of her mouth across the room and rubbed furiously at her lips. “What, that girl gave this to you! Are you completely stupid, it could be poison for all we know, especially if it’s something a baka ranger puts in her drink! And when did she give you this stuff anyway, I never saw or heard you two say or do anything?”
“She gave it to me towards the beginning of our walk, mistress; while you were in front she handed them to me and in a whisper told me what they were. If I remember, that was not long before she moved up beside you, started a conversation, and lifted you onto her...”
“Quiet, don’t mention that part!” Evangeline all but screamed. “That was the most humiliating thing I’ve experienced since losing to that childish, bratty, little boy of a wizard!”
“Forgive me, mistress.” Chachamaru said, giving another of her small bows. She didn’t seem in the least bit bothered by the fact she was coated by the tea Evangeline had projected onto her. “If you wish I can throw this batch out and make a new one from scratch?”
Evangeline bit her lip as though she were thinking and finally shook her head. “Just leave it, it’d be wasteful anyhow. But next time that gigantic, bird-brained, blank faced, mannish woman gives you something tell me, before you have me eat or drink it!”
“Yes Mistress,” Chachamaru gave her usual reply and proceeded to refill her master’s cup, duly noting that, despite Evangeline’s recent fit, she certainly drank more than she usually did.