Author's Notes:
This is set at an indeterminate time within the Negima universe, but if I had to pin it down, I'd say it was post-Mahora Festival, and pre-Wales Trip. You've read the summary, you know the focus. Hope you enjoy the content!
Needless to say, I do not own Negima. I hope the real owners will forgive me for playing in their sandbox for a little while.
Courage
Chapter 1: Sword-dance
"Hiken: Hyakkaryouran!" Sakurazaki Setsuna's sword flashed through the air almost faster than the eye could follow. Her target, a demon monster twice the height of the tallest of the trees that lay beneath her feet, screamed as the blow found its way home. It plummeted to the ground, its shriek a descending wail that only ended with the crash of impact. That made one less demon to plague the earth, something to be celebrated, but the fight was only just beginning. The swordswoman turned swiftly to face her next opponent, her blade up in the guard position once more. Her great wings, glowing almost golden in the last rays of the setting sun, beat the air, lifting her even higher until the tree tops looked like a green carpet beneath her. Then she folded them and swooped down on her clustered foes, black hair streaming in the wind.
Konoka watched from the ground, her hands clasped in front of her. The demons had fallen upon the two friends as they took a walk through the countryside surrounding the Mahora Academy, and within moments they were fighting for their lives. Or at least, Setsuna was. Konoka bit her lip. If only she was brave, like Secchan. But she was no warrior. As a healer, she could do nothing but stay out of the way and clean up when the fighting was done. Secchan had made that clear, time after time. The swordswoman's words echoed in her ears, orders to stay back, to stay safe and hidden. All the same, it didn't make it any easier, being forced to watch her closest friend fight alone and outnumbered. There was no denying that she made a magnificent sight though, as she zigzagged through the twilight sky, alternately hidden and framed by the beating of her wings.
"My angel…" Konoka whispered under her breath, hardly aware that she was speaking at all. It was only five demons. Secchan could handle five demons in her sleep, couldn't she?
It certainly seemed that way. Setsuna glided and rolled through the air, deft as a swallow, her sword leading the way. No sooner would a demon swing its fist towards her, a fist dark and gnarled and twice the size of a normal human being, then Yuunagi would be there in its way, sliding the blow away and creating an opening for a counter strike. The demons were good, elite even, but their opponent was infinitely better. It was a matter of seconds before Setsuna's current target failed to be lucky with its frantic blocks. Her sword cut into the creature's exposed side and the creature had time for just one last groan before its two halves dissipated into a fog of particles. Two down, three to go.
Konoka's hands clenched into fists as she watched, her breathing harsh in her throat. Nothing mattered but the battle that twisted and spun above her. Nothing… until she heard a hissing breath behind her. She spun around, her heart crashing in her chest. Another demon stood there, half-hidden in the shadows of the trees that surrounded them, its eyes glinting.
"Come here jou-chan…" The thing managed to leer as it spoke, revealing yellowing fangs. "You're the one we want. Not your little friend." Its hand reached out towards her, curved claws tipping its outstretched fingers. "We won't hurt you…"
"No…" Konoka took an involuntary step backwards. Secchan… Secchan would save her. But no… Secchan was caught up in her own battle. To call for her now would distract her, put her at risk. No. She would have to manage on her own, at least until Secchan finished off her own opponents.
She took a deep shuddering breath. "Just you stay back, demon-han."
"Oh? Or what? What are you going to do, little jou-chan?"
"I'm going to… going to…" What? What was she going to do? She couldn't fight, couldn't perform magic, not unless the leering monster in front of her was going to be impressed by the ability to light a cigarette off the end of her practice wand. There was only one thing left. Without bothering to finish her sentence, Konoka turned and fled into the forest, jinking between the trees.
"…run," the demon finished the sentence for her in a disgusted voice. With supernatural reflexes, the creature moved from a standing start to a full out sprint, hot on Konoka's heels. "You needn't make it so hard for yourself, jou-chan…"
The words sounded ominously close and Konoka struggled to put on a burst of speed. The trees were too close, branches slapping her face as she pushed forward, hands raised to ward off the worst of the damage. At this rate the chase wouldn't last long, she knew. With every second that passed, the pounding footsteps of the demon sounded closer. What now? She half-sobbed for breath as she racked her brains. There must be something… Yes! Without slowing down, Konoka reached into her pocket and dragged out her pactio card. Secchan might be busy, but Negi wasn't. One telepathic call and he would be racing out to join the battle. She touched the card to her forehead, gathering her thoughts.
"Too late."
The hissing voice was low and close, so close! Konoka tried to turn, to dodge, to do anything to avoid the inevitable. Whatever happens, I musn't… musn't…
Then the giant hand closed around her leg, and a strangled scream ripped from her throat as she crashed full length to the ground. The pactio card flew out of her grasp to land far out of reach.
"Got you."
The scream sounded distant, but it cut through Setsuna's consciousness as if had been right next to her. Suddenly the immediate fight took second place, and her fierce battle concentration faded. There was no mistaking the owner of that voice.
"Ojou-sama?" It was almost a whisper.
Just in time she spotted an attack in her peripheral vision and rolled to avoid it, the demon's knuckles close enough to graze her cheek. She didn't care.
"Kono-chan!"
Once more Setsuna folded her wings and sped earthwards, looking for all the world like a hawk stooping on its prey. If anything had happened to Kono-chan, anything at all, she would never forgive herself. She crashed through the topmost layer of the forest's cover, heedless of the branches that cut at her and obscured her vision.
"Kono-chan! Where are you?" She had left her somewhere around here, she knew. If Kono-chan was missing, it meant something had forced her away from this spot. She closed her eyes, trying to feel her friend's presence. Despite the blood pounding in her ears, and the panic that gripped her stomach, Setsuna forced her mind to calm, allowing her heart to feel for what her eyes could not see. There! Her eyes snapped open and her wings beat in the restricted space, propelling her into a vertical climb that lifted her above the tree layer. Immediately she accelerated, racing toward her friend. She prayed she would make it in time.
"Sweet." The voice came from directly above her.
Setsuna rolled, trying to face her opponent, but only managed to receive the full force of the downward punch to her solar plexus rather than her back. She choked as the air was forced out of her lungs and smashed through the forest cover, broken branches ripping through her wings. She had no air, no strength in her limbs, and she was powerless to prevent herself slamming to earth, creating a sliding trail in the leaf litter as she careened to a stop, flat on her back. She gaped like a fish out of water, desperately trying to breathe again. Her right arm shook as she struggled to get Yuunagi in front of her. At least then there would be blade between her and her enemies.
"Now that's what I call love." The three remaining demons from the initial attack came to earth, surrounding the young warrior even as she lay in her prone position. Their leader spoke again. "I thought nothing could disrupt a Shinmeiryuu swordswoman's battle focus. I guess everyone's got a weak spot, eh? Just as well. I've two comrades to avenge. I'm going to enjoy taking it out of your hide."
Without another word, the creature leapt forward, claws extended, its own black wings streaming behind it as it slashed at the girl's exposed throat.
End Notes:
Yeah, so I like my cliff-hangers. Consider yourselves warned.
If you like, and even if you don't like, do let me know what you think and why you think it. It's the only way I'll get better, trust me. More chapters to come on a reasonably regular basis if you fancy them. Again, let me know. If I think people are reading, I'll probably write faster. I'm considerate like that. Usually.