Half of a Soul

A/N: Furu is sorry for taking so long to update. Furu is sorry too…for causing such trouble and worrying everyone. Thank you for your kind words, really. It means a lot. Ah!…and by now, everyone who had sent Furu an email or PM should have received a reply. Though…I’ve recently switched emails, so some of them might be lost in the process (for those that Kazie-chan hadn’t printed and shown to me at the time…I do hope I haven’t missed any though and Furu is sorry if that is the case). Please know that I am very grateful to everyone for your encouragement, and I was and am very happy to receive such kind words from all of you. Thank You.

Important Note!!!:

I’m at a point in the story where everything is starting to come together…and I’ve written the ending, too…but….ah…I kinda

…wrote two endings (hides)…weh..

So ah…Furu is describing them here (with no spoilers though). I hope you can help me choose which one I should continue with by voting on one of them. (Thank you)

Ending One: Longer, with more chapters and even more mysteries. More battles…and each of the mahora warriors will have a separate part. Many KonoSetsu moments…but the warriors and other characters will hold better roles, with occasional non-KonoSetsu shifts in the chapters to concentrate on many storylines.

Ending Two: More concentrated on KonoSetsu, and focusing only on their relationship (that is to say…no other couplings like Ending One). Slightly shorter.

Explanations for Chapter Thirteen:

The day of the wedding had finally arrived, and the chapter begins with Asuna leading Konoka up to the roof, where the mahora warriors trick the princess into being tied up as they celebrate the Bride Handover ceremony with playing a joke on the groom.

Setsuna arrives and easily wins in the battle against the first few warriors (Kaede, Ku, Chao) sent to stop her. She then heads for the roof, where she uses the Chibis to communicate with Konoka. The princess finally frees herself and jumps off the roof into her loved one’s waiting arms below, successfully ending the ceremony.

They head to the shrine, where the wedding was to begin. After vows, the San San Kudo began amidst many onlookers. Yet just as Setsuna was about to take a sip from her ceremonial wine, Motoko appears, breaking the cup. Motoko, not knowing that Konoka already knows that Setsuna is a girl, and worried that her “son’s” secret would be revealed should Konoka find out, attempts to stop the wedding from completion.

As the Narutaki twins block Motoko from leaving, Konoka takes a sip from her own cup, and kisses Setsuna, signifying the end of the San San Kudo ceremony. Motoko leaves, saying that the wedding is still void, and that she has already chosen other possible brides for Setsuna.

Meanwhile, Asuna and Ayaka were arguing in the woods when they stumbled upon Kotarou- who was holding the chibis captive. The three argue for a while, until Asuna and Ayaka unite, deciding to end their arguments to battle Kotarou and save the chibis.

Back in the temple, Konoemon is telling his warriors to follow Motoko back to Crow Castle, and to seduce the brides if they must…

Review Replies for Chapter Thirteen:

Ryûchan: Thank you for the review and for the happy birthday. Hehe, take care to you too…and Furu hopes to see you again, soon.

Akira-kun: Thank you very much for the review, and for your kind words. I can’t even explain how much it means…ehh! And Furu is very glad that you enjoyed that last chapter (though I really hope this one doesn’t disappoint). I hope to see you again sometime.

otaro: Thank you for the review. Hehe…Konoka has plenty of more chances to be jealous yet.

Reusch17: Thank you for the review. (bows) Furu hopes I doesn’t disappoint in this chapter…

yashan-kun: Thank you for your kind words. Hehe “let the games begin” indeed. Hmmn…ah…the maiden was described that way on purpose…(hides)…butbutbut…more and more hints next chapter? (smiles) hmmn…I’m not sure…but I don’t think two girls can get married in Japan.

hazumu-kun: Thank you for the review. (ah…Furu is very sorry for worrying you.)

Agent-Ayu: Thank you for the review. (smiles) Furu is sorry for taking so long to recover and to update, too.

Motoko Aoyama: Ahhh! Thank you very very much for your review. (and please don’t say sorry for such a wonderful review. I loved reading every word of it.) hmmn…I don’t actually know very much about that Motoko from Love Hina, but I do hope that my portrayal of her character won’t be too off. (ehh! And she’s actually a very good and caring mother. She’s doing every thing for a reason…which will be revealed shortly). Thank you for the happy birthday (smiles).

Rainee-chan: Thank you for the review (bows)

Carol aka-neko: Thankies for the review. (bows)

IcarusFalling: Thank you for the review, and for your kind encouragements!! (smiles) I’m glad you liked the Bride Handover ceremony. Ah…hmmn…Setsuna’s dad won’t actually be in the story because ah…he’s already dead…(is why Motoko is trying to get Setsuna to get the crown). Again, thank you for your kind words. Furu hopes this chapter won’t disappoint.

DarkRai: Thank you for the review and for the happy birthday. ahh! And please don’t be sorry for the long review. Furu loves reviews, the longer the better (smiles).

Makuhari-Fan01: Thank you for the review. I am glad that you liked the cultural references (ehehe…Furu had to do lots of research for it, too)

pigtopus: Thank you very much for the review. (ahh! And Kazie-chan says “you’re welcome”). hehe, you’re right. Konoka and the maiden are linked somehow (smiles).

icha-kun: Thank you for your caring words. Ah…though…Furu is very sorry for taking so long to update…

Bishimimou: Thank you for such kind words (hugs) Ehhh! And Furu will go to continue reading your fics as soon as I can (smiles) Furu has read a few of them before, and they were awesome.

CoNanYlx: Thank you for the review. Hehe, it’s nice to know that you love KonoSetsu lotslots too.

chaos loner: Ah…thank you for the review. And Furu is sorry.

Kazie-chan: Thank you for helping me update…ah..ne, Kazie-chan? Please don’t...ah…you already know what I’m going to say, ne?

LunarMiko07: Thank you for the review. Hmmn…hehe, Setsuna will hopefully escape from her mother’s plans next chapter.

RAGN: Thank you for the review. Ehhh! Congrats to your friend (smiles)

Ana Alicia: Thank you for the review. (smiles) It was very nice of you.

Sai Ryutskuki: Thank you for your kind words. (smiles) Furu is sorry for being sick…too…

Midnight Librarian: Thank you for the review (smiles)

Notes: Setsuna’s thoughts are in italics. Konoka’s thoughts are in /italics/. Anyone else’s thoughts (it should be evident depending on the scene) are in //italics//

Disclaimer: Furu does not own Negima. Or else it would have been named KonoSetsuma instead…

Chapter Fourteen: Crow Castle

They stood shoulder to shoulder, heads turning rapidly left and right and swords raised to block the attacks Kotarou’s dog spirits were sending towards them.

“You’re lucky that I don’t like fighting girls. I’ll end this quickly.”

Asuna smirked.

“Psh. It’ll take more than you to defeat us. Right, Ayak-”

Before the warrior could finish her sentence, a sharp tearing sound echoed from above. Kotarou and the two mahora warriors widened their eyes, as the net hanging on the tree suddenly sprung open, allowing the chibis trapped inside to escape.

The Inugami turned, about to reach forth to capture his prisoners once again.

“Let them go. Your original intent was to fight me, wasn’t it?”

Kotarou snarled, as he recognized the voice coming from the edge of the forest.

“You!”

Both hands beginning to glow red with ki, the boy charged towards Setsuna, launching a powerful punch. Motioning for the princess beside her to stay a safe distance away, Setsuna effortlessly flipped into the air to avoid the attack. Meanwhile behind them, the chibis and the two mahora warriors began to head towards to where Konoka was standing.

“Geez, Setsuna. Way to ruin our rare moment of spotlight. And here I was looking forward to teaching the kid not to underestimate girls, too.”

Konoka grinned at her friend’s joking words, and bent forward to whisper into Asuna’s ears.

“Secchan said that the demon came looking fro him, ne? So when ChibiSecchan alerted us, Secchan said it’s his duty as the prince of demons to take care of it.”

With a wink at the princess, the red haired warrior flung her sword towards the half demon.

“Here. Thought you might need it.”

Still soaring midway in the air, the half demon deftly caught the sword by the hilt before she landed.

“Thanks, Asuna.”

Grasping the hilt with both hands, Setsuna allowed her ki to flow into the sword, then swung the sword in a cutting motion towards the enemy before her.

“Zanganken!”

Kotarou jumped to the side to dodge the ki-infused blade, and was about to send an attack of his own, when a second wave of ki rippled in the air around him. The trees around them began to vibrate, before an explosion enveloped the Inugami, knocking him towards the ground.

Setsuna looked at her hands, then at the unconscious demon before her.

What was that? Did I…No, it’s wrong. It’s too powerful, I…

A short distance away, the two warriors opened their mouths in awe and looked at each other.

“All these years being a warrior… I’ve never seen that before.”

Beside them, ChibiSetsuna hurled herself at the princess, clinging tightly to the Konoe heiress’s shoulder, began to shake.

“No. That’s not Setsuna. That’s not Setsuna…”

Alarmed, Konoka wove her arms around the chibi in protective embrace.

ChibiKonoka hovered, close to her larger counterpart, and looking into ChibiSecchan’s fearful eyes.

“What do you mean it’s not-”

“W-weh. M-mean Setsu…not Mean Setsu either.”

Feeling another burst of ki about to erupt from her, Setsuna dropped the sword and clenched her hands towards her chest.

Konoka took a step forward, ChibiSetsuna still held tightly in her arms.

“Secchan!”

“Kono-chan. Stand back! Something’s wrong. I don’t know-”

As she struggled to stop the flow of ki overwhelming her, Setsuna’s wings began to unfold on her back. With an involuntary wave, the half demon soared into the air, mighty movement of her wings causing the trees around her to tremble.

Another blast of ki exploded from the half demon, painting the sky with blinding white light. Setsuna continued flying uncontrollably- until, seemingly out of no where, four ropes whipped upwards from among the tree branches, binding the half demon’s wings and her hands to her waist.

The radiance from the explosion began to fade, and the figures of Motoko and her students could be seen, each of the young four girls holding onto one end of the ropes while Motoko drew out her sword. In unison the shinmeiryuu students pulled, sending the demon heir plunging towards the ground.

Konoka and the two mahora warriors remained frozen, stunned by the outcome of the events. Before them, the girls held onto the ropes ever tighter, struggling to keep Setsuna bound.

Motoko’s eyes narrowed as she faced her supposed “son”.

“Concentrate, Setsuna. Control yourself. Control your powers.”

Yet the aura of ki around the half demon did not seem to falter. The air around them became heavy once again. The Shinmeiryuu master sighed, pointing the sword towards Setsuna.

“Occasionally, your father used to lose his control like this as well. I’d hoped…as only half demon, it wouldn’t happen to you. But if this is what it takes…Shin Raikoken!”

A flash of lightning clashed into Motoko’s sword as she thrust it forth, creating a chain of fiery reactions, and detonating the area. Setsuna was engulfed within the flames.

“Secchan!!”

Konoka rushed forth, fiery glow of light encircling her as she approached the half demon.

“Secchan!!”

Within the whirling blaze, Setsuna stood immobile. The ropes that bound her had been incinerated, yet she herself remain untouched. A tiny glimmer of ki, Konoka noted, still cloaked around the half demon.

“Kono…chan? Don’t touch me. I might…I might hurt yo-”

Paying no heed to Setsuna’s words, Konoka leaned forward, arms wrapped around the demon heir’s waist. Their faces were less than an inch apart.

“Shh.”

For a moment the chocolate haired girl paused, looking at Setsuna’s unfocused eyes. Then, slightly tilting her head, she closed the distance between them.

Setsuna’s eyes flashed red, then slowly closed.

Meanwhile, outside of the inferno Asuna and Ayaka were trying to find a way to stop the fire and save their friends. The flames grew higher and higher, however, rendering the warriors incapable of getting closer.

Motoko raised one hand to stop them.

“Leave it. They’ll be fine.”

After what seemed like hours, the wall of fire began to recede, revealing the couple from within. Konoka was kneeling on the ground, supporting an unconscious Setsuna, whose head was on her shoulders. Before anyone could react, Motoko had dashed towards her “son”, carrying the half demon away. With a respectful bow towards the princess, Motoko’s students bowed, then proceeded to follow their master.

“You have seen, Konoe heiress. There are many things about Setsuna you have yet to learn. The bride to a soon to be Demon King is no easy task. Though I must admit, you have done well today. I will be choosing brides for Setsuna at the Castle of the Crows. If you are not afraid…then you are welcome to join us.”

Asuna and Ayaka hurried to Konoka’s side, supporting the girl to stand up. Konoka nodded to indicate that she was fine, and three stood silent, watching the Shinmeiryuu swordswomen disappear from sight.

“I’ll be there, I promise. Wait for me, Secchan.”

A short distance away, another unconscious demon lay… forgotten from everyone’s mind. And when Konoka and her protectors began to head back home to gather the other warriors for the trip to Crow Castle, no one seemed to notice that all of the chibis had disappeared.

All…but one.

ChibiKonoka hovered in the air alone. With a quiet sniffle, she clutched the talisman with Setsuna’s name on it tighter in her hands.

“ChibiSecchan…”

------------

“You failed to do what I sent you here to accomplish, Kotarou.”

The Inugami winced, clutching the wounds in his chest tighter.

“I don’t know what happened. But I can promise you it won’t happen again. I’ll beat him for sure next-”

The hooded figure raised his hand, immediately silencing the boy.

“What did I tell you? Setsuna is not important. What we need is his sword. With the royal demon sword in hand, his throne is ours for the taking.”

“-but I want to defeat him! He took away what should have been mine. He ruined the chance for the Kuzoku tribe to take over. The Crow Clan’s time had almost ended. I was next in line-”

With a powerful push, the figure slammed the raven haired boy against a tree.

“Stop this nonsense! I told you to concentrate on getting the sword only. Did I not make myself clear enough?”

Gasping at the impact, Kotarou nodded.

“Y-yes….father.”

-----------(Crow Palace, a few days later)

Jolting awake to sounds of knocking, Setsuna found herself laying on a familiar bed.

This place…I…haven’t been home in years.

A few minutes later, the wooden door on the other side of the room opened and a young blond haired girl sauntered into the room.

“Ah. Setsuna-sempai! You’re awake.”

Setsuna nodded, standing up when the other girl bounced onto the chair beside the bed.

“When did I get here?”

Tsukuyomi smiled, swinging her legs back and forth like a child would.

“You’ve been unconscious for three days. We’ve been here for two.”

Setsuna frowned, walking towards the door as the information registered into her mind. Deep in thought, she failed to notice as Tsukuyomi’s smile grew more mischievous. With a quick jump, the cheery girl sprung to where the half demon was standing, blocking the older girl’s path.

“Konoka-ojousama and her twenty warriors have arrived here as well.”

Setsuna’s eyes widened.

“Kono-chan? Where-”

Giggling, Tsukuyomi continued in a sing-song voice. “Sensei told me that it’s supposed to be se-cret.”

“But you-!”

“-but Tsukuyomi will tell you if you promise to play with me. We haven’t battled each other for a long, long time.”

Setsuna shook her head.

“Fine.”

Waving her hands, the younger girl spun into a victory dance.

“They’re staying near the waterfalls, in-”

Before she could finish, Setsuna had opened the door, darting across the wooden steps of the halls and headed towards the direction of the falls.

Tsukuyomi pouted.

“Sempai!! You promised!!”

As she watched Setsuna dart away, the bond haired girl raised her hands to touch her cheeks, pout slowly transforming into yet another smile.

“Though watching Sempai and Ojou-sama is quite fun. Hehe. I really do like strong and beautiful women.”

With a loving sigh, Tsukuyomi began to follow the older girl.

-------------

It seems that I’ve lost Chibi. Without her by Kono-chan’s side…I won’t be able to find Kono-chan that easily.

Setsuna flew above the various waterfalls that surrounded the castle, looking for a glimpse of what could be the chocolate haired princess. From one fall to the next Setsuna searched, but with no luck. Finally, after a few hours, her eyes caught sight of a girl standing amidst some trees by the tallest waterfall, and Setsuna leapt downwards.

-only to find that the girl was not the princess at all.

Yet a sweet melody reached her ears from where the strange girl stood… An enchanting voice that rose and fell as clear as the water raining down, drawing the shinmei student forward. Setsuna’s mind was dazed as she continued on, stumbling closer to the mysterious girl as if in a trance.

The voice came to a slow whisper, and Setsuna stopped, still mesmerized.

Vaguely, the half demon noted that something was tugging around her hands, and that there was a hint of magic within the voice.

…wait. Magic?

At once the half demon’s mind cleared. A sharp tug pulled her forward, and Setsuna’s eyes widened as strand upon strands of silk wrapped themselves around her. The purplish-haired girl before her was holding the other end to the strings.

“Who are you?”

The girl turned, and the voice began to fade.

“I must admit, Setsuna-kun…I am impressed. Not many could shake themselves out of the hypnotized state induced by my song. My name is Kakizaki Misa.”

The girl chuckled, giving the silk threads another tug.

“I heard that the heir to both Shinmeiryuu and Demon crown is choosing a bride, and I’ve been invited here to participate in a choosing ceremony to become one. But I was curious to see just who this so-called prince might be.”

-----------

Konoka gave her smaller form a tight squeeze as she cuddled ChibiKonoka in her arms like a teddy bear.

“It’ll be okay, ne ChibiKono? Secchan will wake up soon, and you’ll see ChibiSecchan again.”

The chibi snuggled closer to the princess, whimpering slightly and giving her a forlorn look. The warriors walking behind them melted at the sight. Asuna quickened her pace to walk beside her friend.

“Come on, cheer up you two. We’ve only been here for a day. We began traveling that very day Motoko took Setsuna back. It’s only been a few days since then. I’m sure Setsuna is already awake and waiting to see you.”

The princess turned to her friend.

“Asuna, do you think-”

Suddenly the princess froze, as if seeing something before her. The warriors around her watched as the expression on her face changed from worried to slightly surprised. Konoka’s eyes widened and she ran ahead, letting ChibiKonoka go in the process.

“Secchan!!”

“Hey, wait, Konoka!”

Asuna sprinted forward, about to chase after her friend when a pair of hands grasped onto her shoulder.

“Guys, what-mphh?”

The mahora warriors gathered around their red-haired leader, nodding in the direction of the running girl ahead. Ayaka’s hands were around Asuna’s mouth, shushing her. ChibiKonoka crossed her arms as she hovered in the air.

“Something’s wrong,” the chibi whispered, as her larger form dashed forward and glomped the half demon. Setsuna didn’t move.

The warriors whispered amongst each other, then knelt in unison behind a few bushes nearby, secretly watching the scene ahead unbeknownst to Misa and the hugging couple before them. Their hands were on their weapons, prepared to come to the princess’s aid if necessary. In silence, they listened…

The purple-haired girl was speaking.

“Setsuna-kun, do you know this girl?”

The half demon ignored the girl’s question, focusing instead on the princess clinging to her arm. Meanwhile, Konoka was looking curiously at the silk threads that bound her lover.

“Secchan. What-”

The tender look Setsuna gave her silenced the chocolate haired girl, and she tilted her head in confusion. Smiling as Konoka tried to help her break free from the bind, Setsuna began to speak.

“I’m glad you’re okay, Kono-chan.”

…because I don’t know what I would do…if I had hurt you when my powers went out of control

“Eh? But what-”

“That girl…her name’s Misa, I think. It seems like she’s one of the brides my mother had chosen. I was looking for you, when I encountered her. And…somehow it became like this.”

Misa raised her voice, frustrated to be ignored by her captive.

“Hey! I asked a question first.”

Setsuna continued to ignore the other girl, sending the princess another loving gaze.

Do you mind helping me out of this, Kono-chan?

As her eyes darted back and forth between Setsuna and Misa, a flash of understanding lit in the princess’s eyes. Sending the demon heir a small teasing grin, she stepped forward, releasing the bound girl from her hug.

/hehe. Sure/

“Ehh! My name is Konoe Konoka. I’m Setsuna’s wife.”

Misa looked shocked for a moment, then shook her head, smiling disbelievingly.

“Nice try. But they wouldn’t be looking for brides, if he was already married.”

As they watched the demon before them turn red, then pale, the mahora warriors snickered from where they hid.

“Well, they did hold a wedding.”

Yue blinked at her comrades, and took another sip from her box of juice.

“She doesn’t believe them though. I think our little mistress might need help to get out of this.”

“Leave it to us.”

Fuka and Fumika laughed, prancing ahead before anyone else could stop them.

“Setsu-”

“-na!”

They chimed sweetly, running forward and each latching on to one hand of the half demon.

“We’ve been looking for you-”

“-for so long!”

Misa dropped the threads in her hands, face perplexed.

“And who-”

The twins giggled.

“She’s his wife. We’re his girl friends.”

Behind them Asuna covered her eyes with her hands exasperatingly.

“Somehow I get the feeling that they’re making everything more complicated.”

The girls around her remained silent, until the sound of rustling could be heard from behind them.

The warriors turned towards the direction of the rustling, to find Natsumi tugging on her clothes.

“Natsumi-chan…what are you doing?”

Natsumi grinned, then whispered a single word to her friends, all the while getting out a wig and some baskets.

“Watch.”

The group gaped, mouths slightly open as the actress-warrior quickly transformed from a warrior into a beautiful woman.

Scratch that. A beautiful pregnant woman.

With a thumbs up, Natsumi walked out from behind the bushes, summoning her acting skills as she stepped towards Setsuna and the Narutaki twins.

“Setsuna-kuuun!! Leave those other mistresses. You promised me you’d go baby clothes shopping with me didn’t you? You’re going to be a father soon.”

Misa’s jaw dropped, while Setsuna turned whiter.

“What!?”

Inside their secret hideout, the mahora warriors sweat dropped.

“…”

“…well…the headmaster did say that we should do all it takes to help Konoka, didn’t he?”

“….”

At the back of the group, Chizuru clasped her hands together.

“Yes! Natsumi-chan’s idea might work.”

Grabbing ChibiKonoka into a tight embrace, Chizuru followed the path of her earlier companions, approaching the slowly accumulating group of girls outside.

“Oh but Setsuna-kun! You’ve promised to take our daughter to the park, first!”

The four warriors before the purpled-haired singer winked at each other, each clutching the half demon from one side and pulling her towards them in a -seemingly violent- tug of war.

Ayaka shook her head as one by one, the other warriors came out of their hiding place, congregating into a noisy group around the half demon.

Misa’s eyes widened.

“W-where did all of you come fr-”

At the edge of the group, Mana raised one of her rifles towards the enchantress, with a deadly gleam in her eyes.

“So…I heard that someone else is trying to join the prince’s… ‘harem’?”

The other warriors turned to her.

Misa’s jaw dropped, as she began to retreat at the sight of the menacing stares.

“I-I didn’t know you were a philanderer, Sakurazaki. I-I’ll take my leave now. Please drop me from the bride choosing list!!”

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End.

A/N: Furu hopes she didn’t disappoint…and Furu is sorry for being bad and making the chibis disappear. Furu is sorry for being bad to Misa, too. And I promise that next chapter the chibis will return, and later in the story…Misa will return. Weh…I hope that wasn’t too bad…

...on another note...Furu is sorry...but...I won’t be able to update quickly anymore. I’ve finished the many many chapters that will complete the story (besides the waiting for votes on whether everyone wants the first ending or the second ending), but there has been some... ah...problems...so I probably won’t be the person updating (I’ve given lappy-chan back to my other friend, too...because I won’t be needing it as much as she would...so I really won’t be able to go online and update even without the problem) However, I’ve already asked a friend (Kazie-chan/Kazue) if he could help me update, so there will be updates at least once every few months or so, depending on if he has time. The same will go with my other fictions as well, including the memoir I’ve posted on the mahora forums. Furu is still the one writing everything though, (and I will hopefully be able to still see what everyone is asking or saying to Furu) so it shouldn’t be too different than the usual updates (besides maybe...the day I write it is not the same date he uploads it, so it might seem strange that I'm talking about something that happened months ago as if it happened today...)

Story Hints!!: (Furu is very sad to say that…no one mentioned any of these oddities)

Hint number one: Setsuna was kissed by Konoka at the ending of last chapter (for the san san kudo)…why didn’t she turn into Mean Setsu? (this might connect to the Setsuna-out of control in this chapter)

Hint number two: Pay attention to the chibis, and the way Setsuna addresses Konoka.

Next Chapter: Multiple Dates

ChibiSetsuna returns!! Will ChibiKonoka realize at last what she is feeling towards the other chibi? What happened to the mysterious white-veiled maiden? Who is she? Kotarou’s past is revealed. Will he be able to find Setsuna’s demon sword? Will Setsuna escape from the brides that are showing up everywhere? Plus…more KonoSetsu moments