trans_9 | Showdown (Open)

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Showdown (Open)

How long had it been since Negi could truly cut loose? It had been quite a long time and Chamo and Barry were looking out for one another.

Stepping into the sensoriums, Negi looked over at the recreation of the Gravekeeper's Palace floating overhead. He could remember most of it, from regaining his memories of the attack that ruined the magical world and earth in a simultaneous blow, but stepping forward was Fate, the pale haired boy giving him a silent look.

The pair stared at each other for a long moment, and then seconds later, exploded into energy. Fists crashed against each others cheeks in a cross-counter as they skidded backwards.

"Come, Negi. Show me your plan." intoned Fate.

Negi grinned as his form changed, invoking his most powerful ability. His hair fanned out and became a long pink swathe of hair as his body glowed in a brilliant pink light as he shot forward, Fate coming to meet him in a devastating blow. The sound of violence could DEFINITELY be heard from behind the door in the sensorium, as the pair rained blow after blow down in a dizzying volley.

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Kaya took a good look at him. Yes, she remembered Zokez alright, where the Ohm had come and attacked them: she had been very worried for Negi back then, and that was a bit more intensified now. Yes, he had mastered it, but was that the whole story?

"Are you absolutely sure that nothing bad will happen to you, being in this form, Negi-otouto?"

"I'm pretty sure," replied Negi. "Thanks to master and a few other things, I'm fine. Really. The pinkness is just a side effect of me being infused with lightning."

He didn't want her to worry of course, and tell her of the trials he undertook when Kain's corruption seeped into him.

Kaya narrowed her eyes, and quietly took his hands. "You would tell me all that would happen, even if it was something harmful, wouldn't you? I know I can nag but you know that your safety is very important to me. I trust you, I just don;t want you getting hurt if I can help it."

She WAS remembering Kain all to well, and had wondered how he faired after that encounter.

Negi sighed. "I can never hide anything from you, can I?"

"The... damage, so to speak has already been done. I've sort of, well, transcended into monster-hood. It happened during the Kain thing, and I'm not entirely human anymore."

"When it concerns you?" Kaya looked nothing but serious, "you better believe it."

And this, of course, was exactly what she had been afraid of: she wanted to know, and here it was. Worst, it was just like what had been happening with Matt from before: something eating away at the person she loved most, becoming something she could not understand.

But she would make herself.

"Ok," she said, taking a breath. "You are becoming something not completely human. What exactly does that mean?"

"Magica Erebea, a technique that boasts considerable power and is classified as a S-Rank ability. Developed by my master, Evangeline during her weaker years, it boasts the ability to absorb magic and chi from the outside, and take it into the body, reinforcing it and creating a higher state of power. However that's only the surface of it."

Negi bit his lip. "Basically the real ability of this technique, is to take in someone's power, be it any source, and turn it into my OWN power. It's not just absorption and redirection, no. It's making any power your own."

"I knew this day was coming, when I'd have to tell someone. The corruption of my heart and power has been far too gone lately, and when I accepted it back during Kain's incident, I took in HIS power that was corrupting me as well. Basically, I'm closer to what people call the monster level of power than anything else, both physically and mentally."

Kaya looked more than troubled now. Now it was close to exactly what had been happening to Matt, and the whole thing was more than a little troubling. Why were all the people that mattered most to her having some kind of trouble, about to be corrupted about something.

And why poor Negi? He never hurt anyone, never wanted to be anything but helpful, just like Matt, and this happened.

"Wait. What if you were able to absorb the abilities of someone who had healing abilities? Would it make a difference, or is Kain's power too strong?"

"It would just turn into power," replied Negi, shaking his head. "The corruptible abilities of Magica Erebea has been such that anything I absorb now would just be another variant of it. I mean, I know the corruption's already set in and I've gone hostile a couple of times, but I get the feeling that sooner or later I'll find out some way to cope with everything I've done that lead up to it."

"Are you sure?" She said, looking genuinely concerned after hearing all of what Negi was saying. "Because if there's anything that I can do, anyway that I can help, please, don;t hesitate to ask! Negi, I can't...wait..."

She thought of Sasami, that sweet girl, and how she'd reacted to Kain and what he had done to her friends. "You can't tell Sasami. You know that right? No matter what you said to her about getting over it, she would blame herself for Kain being here. Please, don't tell her this is happening. If you need to be looked after, just tell me what I need to do."

"I won't," replied Negi. "I know how terrified she is of losing me. I trust you to do the same."

He moved and hugged Kaya. "I wish I could get rid of it, but there's nothing I can do anymore. I have to walk this path, because it's the one I chose. I'm using it to protect."

"It's not just about losing you, though I'm sure that'll be a concern. She'll blame herself for Kain coming here to begin with, and then for what that did to you. Something like that, this kind of guilt: it'll crush her. It would take her a long time to recover from that, if she could. I...I know I don't know her well enough, but I care about her, and you. I would never let her know that."

She suggested it, after all.

Kaya hugged him back, fiercely, then gave him a stern look. "Oh no you don't! If Asuna heard you saying something like that, she would hit you, call you 'baka' and tell you you're being stupid again! It isn't just you going through this: all of us care about you, always. Whatever you go through, we'll be helping to protect you!"

Damnit. A foil-proof plan derailed by logic. He sighed and nodded. "All right, I'll let you guys know what's going on. I guess I do owe everyone a lot for keeping me on the straight and narrow. After all, its because of everyone I took up this power in the first place."

He sighed as he rubbed his forehead. "I guess that's why Matt and I were so close. We knew we were corrupting and there would be a choice in the end."

"Good, because you know if I know about this and Asuna isn't told, there's nothing I'll be able to do for you: she IS your partner, and from your world. But if there is anything we can do to help, anything I can do for you...just let me know. You're my little brother Negi: I take that seriously."

And at the mention of Matt, there was a loss of composure in her eyes: a pain she kept to herself, for the good of the people around her.

"Yes. That's right. And you're both a little brave and a little stupid. That's what makes you guys so wonderful."

Ouch, maybe he shouldn't have mentioned him. But not talking about him would probably make Kaya feel worse. "And uh... if there's anything I can say or do, please let me know. I don't want to let you guys find out I did something even more stupid or whatever."

It did hurt, but Negi was thinking exactly the right thing: she had no intention of forgetting Matt, not after all they had been through. It was why she had been so adamant about making sure that the bus was still in use, that people got to appreciate how amazing it was.

"Just let me know what you're doing, how you're progressing. I'll never get in your way if you want to fight, but if I can help and you just go on without me, then I'll know you don't value us at much as you should. And if that happens, I'll have no choice but to turn Asuna loose on you."

"Right, I'll make sure of that." said Negi, blushing as he rubbed his head. "I guess there should be some kind of balance with it too huh."

Edited 2011-07-15 03:54 (UTC)

"Exactly," Kaya said. "Now...can I ask a favor?"

"Sure what is it?" inquired Negi.

It sounded a little funny saying it, but Kaya was not going to falter. "Would you mind...sleeping in my bed, like you used to, just6 for today, I sort of miss that."

Negi nodded, smiling as he dropped his transformation, going from pink to brown in an instant. "Sure, Oneesama." He hugged her to reassure her of this fact.

Kaya couldn't help but brighten a little, and hugged Negi back, She knew he couldn't stay this way, not if he was going to fight: that was something she understood about Negi, more than most. Negi was smart, and smart enough to know there would always be a time he was demanded to fight to his ability.

It was the thing, she knew, that even Leon couldn't say to the people on the ship that somehow they had to: BE READY.

So she wanted to hold the Negi she knew and loved, the one she knew was him, always him. When it was time to fight, he would be different, just like her, but that was a reality.

She wanted, at least for a small tiny time, to be an endearing, doting older sister. When else would she ever have that?

It was nice, being hugged by her again. Negi had worried he had grown distant with Kaya for a while there, but all of it came crashing right back in place. He let her hold him for as long as she wanted, knowing that she needed to be assured of her place in his life.

"I promise I'll be there for you," he said in a muffled tone.

She smiled. "I know. And I promise I'll be doing everything I can to make sure you don't have to shoulder so much, Negi-kun. I know I have less to worry about while Asuna is here, but don't forget all you need to do is ask. I will give my all."

She smiled. "Now...I think you have a fight to get back to. I shouldn't say it, but I was actually enjoying it."

"Right. I'll get to that then." There was a crackle of energy and Negi's hair fanned out, that pink hue appearing once more. It was like he didn't even need to incant anymore, and Fate appeared, looking refreshed.

"Ready to go?" asked Fate and Negi nodded, the pair moving out a ways before clashing again.

Kaya watched, a new feeling replacing her worry: anticipation. She wanted to see exactly how strong Kain's interaction had made him, what he would be able to do with all of that power. she knew it should have scared her and yes, she would be scared.

Later. Now she wanted to see how he would react to his opponent.

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