DISCLAIMER: I do not own Negima. I don't. I doooooon't.

A/N: Chapter 3, the end? I dunno, see if you think this ties it up neatly enough or if I should add another chapter :)

"So what did you think of the movie, Secchan?"

The swordswoman, blinking a few times as her eyes adjusted to the bright sunlight outside of the cinema, felt her panic metre kick up a few notches while she nervously scratched the bridge of her nose.

"It was... Uh.."

She inwardly cursed her poor luck. What am I supposed to say?! "Well you see Kono-chan, because you were so adamant to use me as your human pillow during the film I was much too busy fighting the impulse to squeeze you to death and, hey, I never even ended up paying one tiny bit of attention to the movie!"

"... Um, what did you think of the movie, Kono-chan?"

"Oh, well it started off okay but to be honest -"

And here, Setsuna felt joyous relief as she successfully averted Konoka's attention away from her opinion and instead set the girl off into a lengthy monologue.

Nice save, she congratulated herself. Not she minded Konoka's now one-sided conversation because to be honest... Konoka's voice was the most beautiful sound she'd ever heard, with it's lilting Kyoto accent and smooth, feminine tone.

Her Kono-chan's laugh was another sound that Setsuna loved, a harmonious melody that made Setsuna melt on the inside and feel light, happy and warm as though she were drunk.

Secretly though, the hanyo desperately wished for a chance to hear her Kono-chan's sweet moans, strangled gasps, breathless whimpering...

"But all in all, I suppose the movie was - Oh my god! Secchan! You're bleeding!"

Startled out of her steamy thoughts by her charge's panicked cry, Setsuna clamped her hand over her nose and slowly drew it back, sure enough seeing the sticky red substance lingering on her fingers.

Oh crap! She's gonna know, she's gonna know...! Damn my uncontrollable thoughts!

Reaching into her back pocket, Setsuna's fingers slipped on the material of her handkerchief as she caught sight of Konoka simultaneously reaching for her pactio card.

"Ack! O-ojousama, what're you -?!"

Abandoning the cloth, Setsuna whipped her arm out and seized Konoka's wrist, gently pulling it out of the girl's handbag and deftly plucking the magical card out of her love's fingertips.

"Aww, Secchan, I was going to use my artifact to heal you!"

"I don't need healing, Ojousama! Really, I'm fine! Besides, it's way too dangerous to just go waving your pactio card around in public!"

"But what if you have a... a brain aneurism or something?! Oh Secchan, I'd never forgive myself if I didn't...!"

"K-Kono-chan! It's nothing like that!"

Pouting, Konoka took the card back from Setsuna's wildly waving hands and deposited it back into the depths of her shoulder bag, zipping it shut and reaching up to softly cup her Secchan's cheek, effectively stilling the distressed girl as she leaned closer to assess the apparent nasal injury. Setsuna, for her part, perfectly mimicked a touch lamp as her face lit up in a warm glow as soon as Konoka's hand cradled her cheek.

Her brain suddenly shutting down all functions other than "Relish this rare moment!" and "Stare pathetically at Ojousama like a love-sick puppy!", Setsuna stood dead still, throat going dry while Konoka tenderly caressed the side of her face with her thumb as she clicked her tongue sympathetically. The guardian's body erupted into pleasant tingles as that hand moved to her chin and lifted it gently and to the side, Konoka's concerned gaze trying to pinpoint the cause of the blood.

"... Hm, maybe it's the heat, Secchan? I know Fumika-san gets nosebleeds in summer because of the heat, so maybe it's just from the drastic change in temperature between the theartre and out here..."

Secchan could do nothing but nod absently, her eyes drifting shut as she allowed the warm, drowsy feelings of contentment wash over her as a result of her Ojousama's concern for her wellbeing. She didn't know if it was a result of Konoka being a healing mage, or maybe just her romantic feelings for the girl, but Setsuna always felt so... so radiant when she was in Konoka's presence, the other girl's bright smiles and cheerful demeanour were unbearingly infectious to everyone around her.

And that fact made Setsuna jealous. She wanted so badly to stretch her wings out, gather her Kono-chan up into her arms and fly her far away from any one looking to snatch her away from Setsuna's presence. However, with a pang of dismay, Setsuna knew that it was inevitable for her Ojousama to be married off for political gain eventually, her status as the future leader of both the Kansai and Kanto Magic Associations was something Setsuna couldn't interfere with no matter what her feelings on the subject were.

Eventually, Konoka was going to grow into a powerful mage, marry an equally powerful mage, have plenty of adorable children and live happily as a magical peacekeeper for her country. And where was Setsuna in this life outcome? She would continue to be Konoka's guardian and protector until the end of her days, as she was sworn, and would discreetly retreat, over the years following Konoka's wedding, back into the shadows where she could ably fulfill her duty without her letting her own emotions get in the way.

And once she's married, she'll be so caught up with her new husband and her duties of being a wife that I'll be forgotten in the background, forced to watch Kono-chan's happiness unfold before me whilst knowing that my own would never be granted unto me...

Setsuna's mournful, poetic musings ended abruptly with a loud shriek as the swordswoman snapped her eyes open and jumped, so lost in her own mind that she didn't notice Konoka's other creeping hand until it had clutched at her rear.

"O-O-OJOUSAMA! WHAT ARE YOU DOING?!"

With an innocent smile - though the simmering emotion just behind her eyes looked far from angelic - Konoka allowed her free hand to leisurely slide down the back of Setsuna's jeans and two fingers slip into her back pocket. Head still being held fast by Konoka's grip, Setsuna trembled all over like a lamb before a lion beneath Konoka's impish and somewhat predatory gaze, the intense look in those deep brown eyes pinning Setsuna on the spot although her mind struggled valiantly against her unanswering limbs to push the other girl away, step backwards, do something rather than just stand there and allow her Ojousama to grope her so!

(Un)fortunately, Setsuna's wild libido had paired up with her neglected heart and declared mutiny on that ever-proper brain, taking control of her limbs and drowning out her attempts of control. Like something primal was driving her, Setsuna felt her eyes glaze over as that ever-familiar feeling washed over her entire body and a strangled sound like a groan rumbled in her throat. Lifting one strong hand to cover Konoka's that was resting on her cheek, Setsuna's left hand flexed as she prepared to reach up and behind her Ojousama's head, tangle fingers into long tresses, pull those sweet lips closer to her own and -

"Really, Secchan, we should get out of this heat. It was supposed to be cool today, but I guess the weather forecasts aren't always right." Konoka swiftly withdrew the handkerchief from Setsuna's back pocket that she had been reaching for and stuffed it in the hanyo's bewildered face, removing her hand from Setsuna's cheek and sighing as she stepped back and folded her arms.

".. and your face is all red, too. Should we go look in another shop, you think? Perhaps an air-conditioned one?"

Setsuna, amorous feelings draining from her like water down a pipe, dabbed at her nose with the handkerchief her Ojousama had thrust in her face and embarrassedly turned her head to avoid eye contact with the lively healer as she nodded resolutely.

"Ungh, sure th'ng K'no-chan."

Beaming at Setsuna's agreement, albeit muffled through the cloth that was being pressed into her face, Konoka sighed happily and spun around, sweeping her adamant gaze across the storefronts that lines the streets. Stepping forward slightly to avoid being bumped into by yet another crowd member, Setsuna withdrew the handkerchief from her now blood-free nose and delicately folded it up before returning it to her back pocket.

What a sickening display of weakness... and in public to boot! Kono-chan, forgive me. I am unfit to be your bodyguard if I can be so easily swayed by such carnal desires...

Here, her thoughts trailed off as she swallowed deeply and stared at Konoka's profile, the way the heiress casually flicked her hair back over her shoulder was enough to throw her focus out the window and swamp her with visions of nuzzling into and biting the smooth, white column of her Kono-chan's throat....

... Whoah, what the hell? What am I, a vampire now?

Sighing dejectedly, she stuck her hands into her side pockets and followed Konoka down the street.

There was a lot of shopping, talking and laughing that filled the time gap between the end of the movie and finally the suggestion of a treat. Loaded with the shopping bags like some kind of beast of burden - Although, to be honest, Setsuna had insisted that she carry her Ojousama's things for her - Setsuna feebly tried to keep up with the energetic mage who seemed to run on permanent batteries as she scoured for a good place to sit down.

"Should we get like a burger or something, Secchan?"

Shifting from one foot to the other, Setsuna reached up and flicked her hair back from where it had begun to stick to her neck. Man, she really hated sunny days.

"Um, well to be honest I'm not all that hungry, Ojousama, but if you wish for a burger then I shall oblige -"

"Oh ok then, you don't want burgers. Hmm..."

Setsuna let her mouth clamp shut as she was cut off by the young heiress and she sighed exasperatedly whilst Konoka continued to ponder on their choices.

Look, I love you to death, Kono-chan, but if I let you try and decide this then we're going to be standing out here in the sun all day...

"Um, I know there's this nice ice-cream place a little down the road from here, Kono-chan. Mana and I have been there before, perhaps we could get a drink there or something?"

Not turning to face Setsuna, Konoka pursed her lips.

With Mana-san, huh? That sounds mightily like a date to me, Secchan...

Blinking in surprise at her own jealous streak, Konoka shook her head and laughed to herself as she began to feel stupid for jumping to such an outlandish conclusion.

Oh, what am I thinking? Secchan and Mana-san? Hahahaha! Nev-er!

... But I'll keep an eye on them, just in case.

Setsuna, a bit nervous as she watched the back of her ojousama's head tremble with seemingly unprovoked laughter, decided to spare her worry for her charge's mental wellbeing by stepping forward and bumping her shoulder into Konoka's.

"Are we going, Kono-chan?"

"Huh? Oh, right! Lead the way, Secchan!"

And with that, the pair headed off down the street once again.

"I dunno, I kinda like strawberry."

"Then I shall get strawberry as well."

"Oh, wait - I like chocolate too, maybe I should get that instead?"

"Yes, chocolate is a good choice. I shall get it also, Ojousama."

Konoka pouted as she realised that Setsuna was only agreeing with whatever she said. And to think, this is only about milkshakes... what ELSE has Secchan pretended to like for my sake?

Smiling, though slightly more of a grimace, Konoka stood on tip-toe and peered at the man behind the glass ice-cream counter.

"Can we please get two strawberry milkshakes?"

Setsuna, off to the side with her arms folded, narrowed her eyes at the young man behind the counter who scrambled to get their order ready, his ears burning red from the bright smile Konoka had given him.

Tch, that was nothing. You should the smiles she saves only for ME....

Amused at her own thoughts, Setsuna shook her head irritably as she banished the idea. It would do no good to try and isolate any of Konoka's actions as her own private show - Her ojousama was simply the type of person to show affection to everyone.

Not that she didn't feel hostile and territorial as a result of this, however.

During her usual checkups with Shizuna-sensei, as the Headmaster had made it clear that Setsuna have them regularly - the buxom nurse had asked her whether or not she'd started crushing on boys yet. It made her depressed. Knowing that she was weird, messed-up, not normal in the fact that she had forgone the attraction to muscles and testosterone and instead found herself lusting after the curvy body of her best friend.

In the back of her mind, Setsuna wondered if it was to do with her heritage. She knew she was the first ever Human/Crow Demon ever recorded to be conceived, and as such the Headmaster thought it was in best interests to have Setsuna get weekly checkups during her adolescence - As nobody quite knows just how her mixed-species hormones will act during puberty. So far she seemed to be developing at a normal physical for human girls, Shizuna-sensei had told her, and there were no outward signs of her demonic lineage showing through.

Setsuna remembered the day when her medical expert asked her that question in a friendly manner.

***** FLASHBACK ******

"You haven't had any pains in any of your limbs? Any spasms in your wings?"

"No, Shizuna-sensei."

"And your menstrual cycle hasn't been irregular or non-consistent?"

Setsuna squirmed uncomfortably at the question and just shook her head, muttering another "no" as the school nurse traced her shoulder blades, obviously trying to feel for any protrusions that would symbolise Setsuna's wings breaking through the illusion enchantment and beginning to show.

"Well Setsuna-san, you seem to be growing at the normal human rate in terms of bust and hips. Although you have a more athletic body than most girls, I'm sure you'll knock those boys for dead once you reach College and Mahora becomes co-ed again."

Here, the blonde winked at her cheekily at Setsuna, sitting on a small stool in nothing but her skirt and breast bindings, blushing as she just shook her head in embarassment. Shizuna-sensei chuckled at her discomfort as she placed her stethoscope and tape measure back into the medical cabinet. She tried to make some small-talk with the uneasy girl. For the entire time Shizuna had known the withdrawn hanyo, she was incredibly twitchy and reserved when it came to anyone but the young Konoe girl.

"So, do you have a boyfriend yet? Anyone you like?"

Setsuna lowered her head in shame, staring at the tiled floor as she neglected to answer aloud and instead just shook her head silently. Shizuna regarded her curiously, but decided it was best not to ask questions and just continued on with her duties.

***** FLASHBACK END ******

Maybe these strange desires and urges that I have for Kono-chan are a result of what I am?

"Secchan, here."

The cheerful smile from her best friend dispelled all negative thoughts as Setsuna smiled back gratefully and reached out for the cool drink. Scanning the room, the swordswoman found a vacant table for two and ushered Konoka towards it, nearly tripping over herself in her haste to pull the chair out for her ojousama.

"Aw, thanks Secchan. Like a true gentleman."

Stammering a reply, Setsuna fell into her own seat and placed her milkshake onto the tabletop. Glancing up, she was immediately hypnotised once again by Konoka's actions, this latest taunt being the innocent act of drinking through a straw. To the transfixed Setsuna, however, it was as though Konoka was going out of her way to tease the hanyo with the way her throat moved as she swallowed, and the way she drew back from the drink and smiled shyly at Setsuna with a stray drop of milk lingering on her lower lip.

Setsuna released a shaky breath as her fingers clawed onto the edge of the table above her lap, her grip so tight it felt as though she were going to snap off an entire chunk of the furniture. Konoka tilted her head quizzically at this behaviour.

"Secchan? What's the matter? You've been so... stressed, today."

Setsuna smiled weakly in the face of the question. Right, I'm 'Stressed'... More like flustered and desperately horny, but whatever.

"I think you were right Kono-chan, the heat must be getting to me. But I feel a lot better now, especially now that I've got this."

Grinning half-heartedly, she grasped the paper cup and lifted it in front of Konoka before returning it to her lips and taking a sip.

Wow, this is really good....

"You like it, Secchan?"

Setsuna nodded, not releasing the straw from her lips while Konoka just leant forward, elbows on the table and chin resting on her entwined fingers as she watched her friend warmly.

"It's nice, isn't it?"

Another nod.

"... Secchan, did you know that strawberry is an aphrodisiac?"

Coughing and spluttering burst forth as Setsuna inhaled part of her drink. Konoka worriedly leaned forward, trying to hide the grin on her lips as she sympathetically rubbed her friend's back soothingly and gently pulled the offending flavoured treat from her grasp, placing it further away on the table.

"Aww Secchan, be more careful. I'd be devastated if you drowned in a milkshake."

With a giggle, she pulled her chair around to sit beside the now-frowning Setsuna and bundled her up into a tight hug. Setsuna forgot all sense of embarrassment at the drink blunder as she panicked from their proximity, flinching as she felt Konoka squeeze her tighter and rest her head on the hanyo's own shoulder.

With a deep swallow and strickened exhale, Setsuna raised both hands to Konoka's shoulders and ever-so-gently pushed the girl back, breaking their embrace. With an expression portraying what appeared to be betrayal, Konoka let out a short, sad laugh as she bit her lip and shook her head, turning away from the awkward Setsuna to gaze at the table.

"And here it goes again... Secchan, why are you doing this to me? All these mixed signals?"

"W-what do you mean, Ojousama? I don't understand..."

Konoka laughed hollowly again as she reached one hand up to hastily wipe at her fast-brimming eyes. Setsuna felt a painful stab in her chest at this sound - it was nothing at all like the adorable laugh she usually heard from her princess.

"And there we go with the Ojousama thing again, too... I don't understand, just what AM I to you, Secchan?"

Setsuna struggled for words as Konoka looked at her expectantly, breath occasionally hitching as she waited for her guardian's answer.

Oh Kono-chan... please don't make me answer this. Please. I'm not ready to be separated from you yet, for you to push me away and our friendship to be shattered all because... because....

"... I love you, Kono-chan."

The words were barely heard, a choked whisper that Setsuna immediately regretted when she saw the odd expression overcome Konoka's sad features. Still staring at her, the now panic-stricken swordswoman was inwardly booting herself in the guts with steel-capped boots as she damned her own weakness when it came to Konoka's crying.

Damn! Crap! Bloody-freaking-hell! There's still time to save this!

"L-like a sister, and my best friend."

Those words, that blatant lie, caused Konoka's world to come crumbling down around her. She almost had it, was on the verge of lunging at Setsuna and kissing her with all of the pent-up passion and frustration that had been building in her for the past months since she began to notice the beauty of her Secchan's body, but that one sentence managed to ignite her hope and burn it to cinders before her. Strangely enough, she didn't feel like bursting into tears. Or yelling, screaming, kicking the table over in a most unlady-like fashion or even valiantly declaring her own love for Secchan. Rather, she simply felt the urge to be alone.

She wanted to go home, lock the door, crawl into bed and bawl her eyes out until she fell asleep. Hopefully, when she woke, she would find that the entire day was all just a nightmare and Setsuna still awkwardly crushed on her, still followed her around like a love-sick puppy, still gave her reason to believe that her feelings weren't unrequited.

Unfortunately she was far away from the dorms and sitting in the middle of a bustling ice-cream shop, heart broken in two as she stared dumbly at the table and a worried Setsuna fidgeted a few feet away from her.

".... Ojousama?"

Blinking once, Konoka slid her gaze over to meet Setsuna's distressed one and she conjured a small smile that not even a fool would believe.

"I love you too, Secchan."

Setsuna looked away sadly. Hearing those words coming from her Kono-chan, and knowing that they were only meant in a platonic way... Well, it hurt her. For many, many nights she had dreamed of lying next to Konoka, basking in afterglow and her princess whispering such words to her as they cuddled together under the sheets. Or even in class, she would imagine holding hands walking to and fro classes with Konoka, giving Konoka a parting kiss as she left for her morning training, nervously accompanying Konoka home during the summer holidays as Eishun welcomed her into the Konoe estate like a family member and joked about the pair hurrying up and getting married.

She scoffed inwardly at her own daydreams. It would never happen, she knew. And even if, by some slight miracle, Konoka was interested in her, the Konoe family would be quick to put an end to their gallivanting. Konoe Eishun would never bestow his blessing on a sin masquerading as a relationship. And she also knew that, even if they were together, the pressures of being treated with prejudice by the majority of the outside world would be too much for the kind-hearted heiress to bear, and she would probably break it off of her own will anyway.

No matter how Setsuna thought about it, She and Konoka were never going to be together. Even though she craved Konoka in a sexual manner, her actual love for the girl was pure and had been present since they were children. Setsuna didn't make the rules, she didn't know why it was so wrong for two females to express love, but she knew for a fact that it was, and therefore tried with all her willpower and resolve to subdue these feelings that were screaming to be sated.

Nervously watching Konoka stare dazedly at nothing, Setsuna reached out and slid her milkshake over to the girl.

"... You want some more, Kono-chan?"

Shaking her head, Konoka cleared her throat a little and tapped her fingers on the tabletop, looking up at Setsuna and granting her another tiny smile.

"I've actually lost my appetite, Secchan. Perhaps we should start heading back now?"

Confused, Setsuna just nodded along to her Ojousama's wishes and gathered her stuff, standing and helping Konoka to her feet. As they exited the store and headed back towards the train platform, Setsuna glanced upwards into the now-dying sky.

Wow, how long were we in that store? It's late afternoon already... Although I guess we did manage to fulfill our original goal and buy a lot of clothes today. Man, it'll be a lot of demon-slaying before I replenish what I've spent today...

Swinging the plastic bags over her shoulder, Setsuna stood patiently at the street's edge as they both waited until it was safe to cross, her hawk-like eyes studying her charge closely and noting the way her entire demeanour just seemed... down. Duller than usual.

Sighing quietly, Setsuna used her free hand to reach out and gently rest on Konoka's shoulder. It made her turn around quizzically.

"Kono-chan, about back in the ice-cream store... what I actually - OOMPH!"

Setsuna jerked forward, the wind knocked out of her as a particular beefy man elbowed her in the square of the back as he tried to brush past her and cross the road. Glancing back, Konoka saw that the crossing lights had turned green and the entire crowd was hastily sweeping across the busy street before their chance was taken again.

"Come on, Secchan, let's cross now."

And with that, Setsuna sadly watched as her love spun on her heel and walked off towards the other side of the road. Setsuna followed, watching the heiress with a forlorn expression that quickly heated up into a blush as she realised her eyes were following the sultry sway of Konoka's hips.

Gah!

Turning her head away from the orange-bathed fields that the train whizzed past, Setsuna looked at the girl sitting in the seat next to her on the near-empty bus. No attempts to lean up against her this time, Setsuna noted, as instead Konoka sat with her head down and hands fiddling in her lap.

Her foot sliding against the plastic bags caused them to rustle as Setsuna sat up straighter, determined to clear up what was wrong with Konoka once and for all.

"Ojousama."

".... That's not my name."

Setsuna sweatdropped. Okay, bad start... maybe she's a little moodier than I thought...

"Um, Kono-chan?"

This effectively caused brown eyes to glance up at her, Setsuna's heart reverberating as she saw the traces of sadness still present. She smiled reassuringly at her ojousama.

"Kono-chan... Whatever is bothering you, you can tell me. Right? You know we don't keep secrets from each other."

The bitter taste of hypocrisy stung Setsuna as the words left her tongue. Tch, we don't keep secrets. Except for the fact that you make my head spin and I'm crazy in love with you Kono-chan, but that's hardly counted.

Grimacing at her sarcastic thoughts, The swordswoman bit her lip as she watched Konoka rub at her left eye tiredly. She sighed.

"Look, Secchan, it's been a long day and I don't really wanna talk about it, if that's ok. I know you see me like a sister to you, and sisters should tell each other everything, but this is just something personal."

Setsuna wasn't sure if she'd actually heard the sour undertone as Konoka distastefully ground out the word 'sisters' or she had just read it wrong. Either way, while the fact that Konoka was putting up a wall between them hurt her greatly, Setsuna wasn't about to chastise her for it. Not when she had spent two years being an absolute bitch to Kono-chan and upsetting her back in school when she had done the exact same thing to her, believing that keeping her at arm's length was the right thing to do...

Hang on...

Setsuna gasped; all the realisation in the world flooding her in that one moment as she drew parallels. Wait... What I foolishly did back then, that's exactly what I'm doing now! Oh crap! No wonder she's been so weird today! She thinks I'm pushing her away again!

Without warning, Setsuna turned and pulled Konoka flat against her in a fierce hug, the bewildered and stunned girl only managing to let out a small "eep" of surprise as she was cradled against a strong yet oh so cuddly chest. Head resting on Setsuna's plushy assets, Konoka herself for once fought down a bit of a blush as she tried to gauge what had caused the sudden display of affection.

Hey, Secchan isn't supposed to make me blush! I'm supposed to be the instigator!

Now that she had followed her spontaneous urge to comfort her ojousama with a caring hug, Setsuna wasn't quite sure what to do as her panic mode kicked back in and she found that she didn't quite want to let go of Kono-chan just yet. Instead, she settled for shakily lifting her hand up and smoothing down Konoka's long tresses, moving to rest her flaming cheek against the top of her ojousama's head.

"Ojousama - K-kono-chan, I'm so sorry. Now I know why you've been so upset today, and I-I just...! I'm so sorry!"

Regretfully disentangling herself from Setsuna's grasp, Konoka sat up and peered hopefully into her guardian's face as she felt her heart flutter with renewed faith.

"R-really?"

"Yes, It's so obvious now. I'm sorry Kono-chan, it's all my fault."

Konoka let out a choking sob as she covered her mouth with her hand, still a bit too hesitant to fully believe that Her Secchan had finally gotten it through her thick skull and realised exactly what Konoka felt for her. Or so she thought. She was unaware that Setsuna was merely panicking because she believed that Konoka thought that she was trying to break away from their friendship. Whew, complicated.

".... And it doesn't bother you, Secchan?"

Setsuna faltered a bit at answering this question. What? What's she talking about? Why would I be bothered if she got upset from thinking that I didn't want to be her friend? Heh, she's practically acting like she's just asked me to be her girlfriend or something...

"Of course not, Kono-chan."

Laughing happily, and still crying a little, Konoka glanced around the empty train to confirm that they were the only ones still riding it. When she was sure that they were alone, the young mage grabbed both sides of Setsuna's face and drew her forward, mashing their lips together in their first, sweet kiss.

#C%E&*JD$?!?!?

Setsuna's brain lost all ability to even articulate thought as her body shut itself down completely and surrendered to the unexpected kiss. The torrent of feelings, which hadn't really disappeared throughout the day so much as lie dormant, exploded to life again in full force as her eyes rolled back closed and her body shuddered, feeling the stirrings of love and excitement even though the kiss itself was relatively chaste.

Gently pulling back with an audible smack as their lips parted, Konoka breathed in deeply as the whirlwind of emotions assaulted her too - Euphoria and exhilaration probably being the more dominant two as the knowledge of her first ever romantic kiss with Secchan registered in her hazy mind.

I kissed Secchan I kissed Secchan I kissed Secchan I kissed Secchan I kissed Secchan I kissed Secchan I kissed Secchan !!!

Slowly opening her eyes, Konoka smiled breathlessly as she regarded the girl in front of her. Then she frowned.

Setsuna... was purple?

"Secchan! Oh my god, Secchan! You're not breathing!"

The hanyo dimly registered the sound of Konoka's worried voice through her fog of happiness and it was enough to snap her back into reality. It seemed that, during all the excitement, Setsuna's body had indeed forgotten to breathe. Now that she was jolted into shallow breaths, the purple tinge to her features had inverted into a warm red colour that bathed her face as she licked her dry lips and smiled weakly at her mage.

"Ah, sorry 'bout that Kono-chan... I guess you... took my breath away?"

A few moments of silence and a raised eyebrow from Konoka before the young heiress giggled behind her raised hand.

"That was just unforgivably corny, Secchan."

"S-sorry...."

Konoka just laughed and threw her arms around Setsuna's neck, pulling in for kiss number two. The rest of the train ride included kiss numbers 3 through to 13, from then on becoming a blur of multiple kisses all rolled into one as the pair got more acquainted with each other and accustomed to their new game.

As the train came to a halt at the Mahora Campus, the two girls begrudgingly detached themselves from one another and picked up their bags, dreamily gliding out of the train and onto the platform in a daze as they walked side-by-side towards the dorms, Konoka eventually reaching out and entwining their fingers as they went.

After a few minutes of companionable silence, Setsuna allowed herself to voice a question that had been eating at her since they began their trek.

"Uhh, Kono-chan..."

Setsuna felt the warmth flare in her belly as she recognised the sheer happiness glowing in Konoka's eyes as she looked at her.

"I was just wondering... what on earth compelled you to kiss me back there, anyway?"

Konoka shot her an amused and somewhat questioning smile.

"Well, you said yourself that you finally figured out why I was unhappy all day. It was because I thought you didn't have the hots for me like I do for you, Secchan."

At no reply, she sweatdropped.

"That is what you meant, right Secchan? Because that's the exact reason I was upset."

Setsuna just stared blankly, half-prepared to face-palm at her own stupidity for not being able to see how obvious it all was. And to think I was trying so hard to banish these feelings because I thought she'd hate me for them!

Eventually shaking her head, Setsuna just grasped her Kono-chan's hand tighter, shyly avoiding the loving gaze Konoka cast her way and clearing her throat to try and dispel her embarrassment.

"Ehh, I was close enough, Kono-chan."

A/N: So I guess it could be ended here, but if you guys want another chapter of them getting back to their dorms (And some more smart-ass Mana) then let me know otherwise thank you very much to everyone who read and reviewed my first Negima short story. If you'd like to see more KonoSetsu, let me know that as well because I really enjoyed writing it and I don't really want to go back to ShizNat just yet :P

Cheers!