Fic: [Crossover] The Substitute
Title: The Substitute
Series: a Dresden Files meets Negima fanfiction
Type: Crossover
Links: http://www.fanfiction.net/s/5959964/4/The_Substitute
Chapter Four
Harry Dresden blinked as he sat in the cafe Chao Bao Z after classes, grabbing a snack since he skipped lunch again. “You're telling me,” he said as he looked at Satomi Hakase curiously, “that Chachamaru is a android powered by magic?”
“Yes sir,” the black haired teen nodded cheerfully, Hakase helping run the restaurant along with Ku Fei and Satsuki Yotsuba.
“Wow,” Harry murmured, realizing that was why his 'tech jinx' didn't seem to effect the robotic girl. 'Wonder if she can rig me up a PC that runs on magic?' he mused, 'It would be kind of nice to get on this internet everyone talks about.'
“Here's your order of beef buns, Sensei,” Satsuki smiled, the chubby girl smiling up at him warmly as she put the tray in front of him.
“Thank you,” Harry nodded respectfully.
As Harry ate he watched Chachamaru calmly weave between customers, the tall green haired girl smiling gently as she delivered food or drinks. The level of technology involved must be incredible, yet she acted and moved just like a real girl. Hell, according to Negi she even had a soul!
Turning back to his food Harry ate another of the tasty meat buns and reviewed his classes, feeling oddly relieved at how well they were going. Not that he wasn't having problems, of course, he was only a passable speaker in Japanese, but his students were pretty forgiving and seemed to enjoy correcting him.
'I suppose we're teaching each other,' Harry thought with amusement.
“Hey, you!” a young man's voice called, and Harry looked up to see a young man pushing his way through the crowd, looking decidedly pissed. He was deffinately rushing towards Harry, and he instinctively shook his shield bracelet into place.
“Something I can do for you?” Harry asked, putting his food down. He didn't stand, knowing it might escalate whatever is going on.
“Yeah, what did you do with Negi?” the boy demanded angrily, “I just got back from a training journey and found out he was gone! Where is he?!”
“I didn't do anything with him,” Harry held up a hand, “Why don't you calm down and....”
Before Harry could finish the sentence the kid struck, hitting as hard and faster than many of Harry's enemies. Even though Harry rolled with the punch a bit he still went flying backwards, though thankfully away from the customers at the cafe.
“This is a matter for men!” the boy yelled, and as he raced at Harry his arm seemed to expand and grow fur.
'Werewolf, or something like it,' Harry thought as he got a shield up, blocking the next strike. 'Damn it, the kids aren't supposed to know about magic, how can I...?' he thought grimly.
“Everyone please stay back, they're filming a action scene from for a movie,” the glasses wearing girl yelled, several other students from Harry's class taking up the chant.
'Sharp girl,' Harry thought admiringly as claws scraped against his shield, light flashing. “You don't want to do this,” Harry told him, “I don't want to hurt you.”
“Hurt me?!” the kid actually looked amused. He struck with his fist into the ground, shouting something then Harry yelped as shadow wolves burst from the earth.
'Okay, that's impressive,' Harry conceded, getting his blasting rod loose from his ever present long coat. “Fuego!” he yelled, blasting one and clipping another as the wolves swarmed around him.
The next few minutes involved Harry dodging the kid and his attacks, while resisting the temptation to really cut loose. He was pretty certain he could hurt this kid if he used some of his more powerful stunts, but it looked like the kid was a friend of Negi's. Frying or electrocuting him would be impolite, at the very least.
“Kotaru-kun!” a angry girl's voice boomed, and the teen froze.
Harry blinked and turned, seeing that glasses girl had brought one of the other girls from class, Makie Sasaki. The brown haired girl was marching towards therm with blood in her eye, and he was surprised to see the boy visibly flinch.
“What do you think you're doing, Kotaru?!” Makie demanded, actually grabbing him on the ear.
“But Makie,” he wined, “I....”
Feeling more than a bit tired from all the running and jumping around Harry collapsed onto a nearby bench, watching with some amusement as the girl lectured the boy. Apparently they were a couple, because there was no way he could see someone controlling the kid by brute force.
“Are you all right, sir?” the young woman with large glasses smiled wryly, her long hair tied in the back in a ponytail.
“I'm fine,” Harry searched his memory, “Chisame, right?”
Chisame Hasegawa nodded, smiling slightly, “Yeah, that's me. I'm sorry I couldn't get help sooner, but I didn't think you wanted the crowd freaking out too.”
“Good thinking,” Harry nodded in approval. He nodded to where Kotaru was being lectured by Makie, “So, he's a friend of Negi's?”
“Sort of,” Chisame answered, “for a long time he saw himself as Negi's rival and was determined to defeat him.”
“Guess that explains the training journey he said he was on,” Harry noted mildly.
“Yeah,” Chisame said, then blinked as something pinged loudly from a bag beside her. She pulled out a slim notebook computer, and Harry visibly winced as he realized what had probably just happened to it.
“I hope the power is off on that thing,” Harry said cautiously. “I have a... bad effect on electronics.”
Muttering to herself Chisame wandered off, opening up the slim unit and punching buttons with a annoyed look on her face. She punched away at the buttons, then looked somewhat relieved as whatever answer she got came up.
As Chisame was doing that Kotaru was walking up to where Harry was catching his breath, the younger boy looking distinctly uncomfortable. He actually bowed as Kotaru said, “I'm deeply sorry, sensei. Makie explained to me how you were taking Negi's position to protect him from the vampires.”
'And how did she hear that?' Harry wondered. He supposed there must be gossip around the school, but he had hoped things were being kept secret, if only for Negi's sake.
“Are you all right, sir?” Makie also asked, the girl looking at him in concern.
“Just a few rips in my suit,” Harry waved it off, then nodded to Kotaru. “No harm done,” he told the boy with a tense smile.
“I'll replace the suit,” Kotaru promised, getting a smile from Makie.
“Well,” Harry made himself stand up even though his muscles ached and said, “I'd better go see if my lunch survived.”
Thankfully, the cheerful staff of Chao Bao Z had put my buns in a warmer to keep, and I was able to finish it off handily. They weren't Burger King, but they'd do.
“What I don't get,” Harry admitted as he wiped his mouth with a napkin, “is why no one jumped in to help me with the wolf guy.”
Chachamaru looked somewhat sheepish. “It is considered impolite to interfere in a fight,” she said, “or at least that is what I have observed.”
Harry shook his head, chuckling as he said,. “Well, you are perfectly welcome to be impolite if you feel the need.”
With dead seriousness Chachamaru nodded, “Thank you, sir.”
After that Harry stopped in over at Evangeline's cabin, the vampiress greeting him with a sarcastic comment then taking him down to her resort to train. The strange 'castle in a bottle' was a safe place to try out the combat spells she and Negi had been showing him, as well as boosting training time. Somehow time was out of synch within the bottle, and one day passed inside to a hour spent in the outside world.
After that a very tired but pleasantly achy Harry headed out for a nightly patrol. He knew there were 'official' patrols going on and that the academy had capable defenders, but the vampires were after him in particular, as well as Negi. Knowing that he couldn't just stand by and let other people do the fighting for him.
“Good evening sensei,” Asuna Kagurazaka said, smiling up at him with a adoration that Harry honestly found uncomfortable.
“Miss Kagurazaka,” Harry nodded a bit stiffly as the girl fell into step beside him. He knew that many of the kids had 'special' talents, but he wasn't sure if he wanted one patrolling with him. 'Then again, both Kaede and Setsuna are frickin' scary,' he admitted.
“Please, just call me Asuna,” she corrected, smiling winningly. She was dressed in what looked like light armor, with chain mail, a steel arm guard and armored boots.
“Asuna, then,” Harry nodded slightly as they walked not far from the observatory and asked her, “is it really safe for you to be out here like this?”
The young woman looked startled, then faintly amused. “Did you forget about our training bout?” Asuna teased.
Harry winced, remembering the girl and her sword not only disrupting his magic but nearly gutting him. 'Not to mention getting a face full of her panties,' he thought, lips twitching in a smile.
Asuna was clearly thinking of the same thing as a blush colored her cheeks. “Anyway,” she said quickly, “I'm more than able to help you.”
Harry debated arguing, but he knew if he told her no, she's follow him just like Molly probably would. “All right,” he agreed, “but if I tell you to run, you run. I can't defend myself if I have to protect you too.”
“Yes sir,” Asuna nodded, clearly intending to ignore a run order.
'Was I ever that cocky?' Harry wondered as they walked under a elevated train track. 'Hell yes,' he decided glumly, knowing how much trouble it had gotten him into over the years. Curiously he asked, “How many other girls in the class can fight?”
“Most of them,” Asuna answered him promptly, “but I think you're wondering how many could fight monsters?”
“Pretty much,” Harry agreed.
As Asuna rattled off names and bios, Harry had to fight the urge to shake his head in honest disbelief. Out of a class of thirty kids almost half of them had serious combat abilities, and a few were damn scary. He fervently hoped that none of them turned to the dark side, because if they did they were all in trouble.
“Sorry you asked?” Asuna wondered, smiling.
“No,” Harry shook his head as he took on a sort of lecturing mode, like he would with his apprentice, “information is always good to have, even if you don't like it.”
“That's true,” Asuna nodded, and something in her eyes told Harry she had gotten some unpleasant information in her past, too.
They walked on quietly for a bit, then arched around to where Harry's apartment was. “Thanks for coming along,” Harry told her as they reached the building.
“You're welcome,” Asuna said sweetly.
Asuna clearly hoped to be invited up, and there was no way that Harry was going to let that happen. Not only was she a good kid, but it'd cause trouble for the school and him too. “Good night,” he nodded as he went inside, then shut the door behind him.
To be continued....
Notes: Harry and Kotaru were both holding back, which is why the fight went that way. Harry didn't want to go too far and kill Kotaru while Kotaru wanted to keep Harry intact to question. I worked in Harry's 'techbane' status with poor Chisame, and I also established why Chachamaru is safe from it, being a sort of golem/android combo.
Series: a Dresden Files meets Negima fanfiction
Type: Crossover
Links: http://www.fanfiction.net/s/5959964/4/The_Substitute
Chapter Four
Harry Dresden blinked as he sat in the cafe Chao Bao Z after classes, grabbing a snack since he skipped lunch again. “You're telling me,” he said as he looked at Satomi Hakase curiously, “that Chachamaru is a android powered by magic?”
“Yes sir,” the black haired teen nodded cheerfully, Hakase helping run the restaurant along with Ku Fei and Satsuki Yotsuba.
“Wow,” Harry murmured, realizing that was why his 'tech jinx' didn't seem to effect the robotic girl. 'Wonder if she can rig me up a PC that runs on magic?' he mused, 'It would be kind of nice to get on this internet everyone talks about.'
“Here's your order of beef buns, Sensei,” Satsuki smiled, the chubby girl smiling up at him warmly as she put the tray in front of him.
“Thank you,” Harry nodded respectfully.
As Harry ate he watched Chachamaru calmly weave between customers, the tall green haired girl smiling gently as she delivered food or drinks. The level of technology involved must be incredible, yet she acted and moved just like a real girl. Hell, according to Negi she even had a soul!
Turning back to his food Harry ate another of the tasty meat buns and reviewed his classes, feeling oddly relieved at how well they were going. Not that he wasn't having problems, of course, he was only a passable speaker in Japanese, but his students were pretty forgiving and seemed to enjoy correcting him.
'I suppose we're teaching each other,' Harry thought with amusement.
“Hey, you!” a young man's voice called, and Harry looked up to see a young man pushing his way through the crowd, looking decidedly pissed. He was deffinately rushing towards Harry, and he instinctively shook his shield bracelet into place.
“Something I can do for you?” Harry asked, putting his food down. He didn't stand, knowing it might escalate whatever is going on.
“Yeah, what did you do with Negi?” the boy demanded angrily, “I just got back from a training journey and found out he was gone! Where is he?!”
“I didn't do anything with him,” Harry held up a hand, “Why don't you calm down and....”
Before Harry could finish the sentence the kid struck, hitting as hard and faster than many of Harry's enemies. Even though Harry rolled with the punch a bit he still went flying backwards, though thankfully away from the customers at the cafe.
“This is a matter for men!” the boy yelled, and as he raced at Harry his arm seemed to expand and grow fur.
'Werewolf, or something like it,' Harry thought as he got a shield up, blocking the next strike. 'Damn it, the kids aren't supposed to know about magic, how can I...?' he thought grimly.
“Everyone please stay back, they're filming a action scene from for a movie,” the glasses wearing girl yelled, several other students from Harry's class taking up the chant.
'Sharp girl,' Harry thought admiringly as claws scraped against his shield, light flashing. “You don't want to do this,” Harry told him, “I don't want to hurt you.”
“Hurt me?!” the kid actually looked amused. He struck with his fist into the ground, shouting something then Harry yelped as shadow wolves burst from the earth.
'Okay, that's impressive,' Harry conceded, getting his blasting rod loose from his ever present long coat. “Fuego!” he yelled, blasting one and clipping another as the wolves swarmed around him.
The next few minutes involved Harry dodging the kid and his attacks, while resisting the temptation to really cut loose. He was pretty certain he could hurt this kid if he used some of his more powerful stunts, but it looked like the kid was a friend of Negi's. Frying or electrocuting him would be impolite, at the very least.
“Kotaru-kun!” a angry girl's voice boomed, and the teen froze.
Harry blinked and turned, seeing that glasses girl had brought one of the other girls from class, Makie Sasaki. The brown haired girl was marching towards therm with blood in her eye, and he was surprised to see the boy visibly flinch.
“What do you think you're doing, Kotaru?!” Makie demanded, actually grabbing him on the ear.
“But Makie,” he wined, “I....”
Feeling more than a bit tired from all the running and jumping around Harry collapsed onto a nearby bench, watching with some amusement as the girl lectured the boy. Apparently they were a couple, because there was no way he could see someone controlling the kid by brute force.
“Are you all right, sir?” the young woman with large glasses smiled wryly, her long hair tied in the back in a ponytail.
“I'm fine,” Harry searched his memory, “Chisame, right?”
Chisame Hasegawa nodded, smiling slightly, “Yeah, that's me. I'm sorry I couldn't get help sooner, but I didn't think you wanted the crowd freaking out too.”
“Good thinking,” Harry nodded in approval. He nodded to where Kotaru was being lectured by Makie, “So, he's a friend of Negi's?”
“Sort of,” Chisame answered, “for a long time he saw himself as Negi's rival and was determined to defeat him.”
“Guess that explains the training journey he said he was on,” Harry noted mildly.
“Yeah,” Chisame said, then blinked as something pinged loudly from a bag beside her. She pulled out a slim notebook computer, and Harry visibly winced as he realized what had probably just happened to it.
“I hope the power is off on that thing,” Harry said cautiously. “I have a... bad effect on electronics.”
Muttering to herself Chisame wandered off, opening up the slim unit and punching buttons with a annoyed look on her face. She punched away at the buttons, then looked somewhat relieved as whatever answer she got came up.
As Chisame was doing that Kotaru was walking up to where Harry was catching his breath, the younger boy looking distinctly uncomfortable. He actually bowed as Kotaru said, “I'm deeply sorry, sensei. Makie explained to me how you were taking Negi's position to protect him from the vampires.”
'And how did she hear that?' Harry wondered. He supposed there must be gossip around the school, but he had hoped things were being kept secret, if only for Negi's sake.
“Are you all right, sir?” Makie also asked, the girl looking at him in concern.
“Just a few rips in my suit,” Harry waved it off, then nodded to Kotaru. “No harm done,” he told the boy with a tense smile.
“I'll replace the suit,” Kotaru promised, getting a smile from Makie.
“Well,” Harry made himself stand up even though his muscles ached and said, “I'd better go see if my lunch survived.”
Thankfully, the cheerful staff of Chao Bao Z had put my buns in a warmer to keep, and I was able to finish it off handily. They weren't Burger King, but they'd do.
“What I don't get,” Harry admitted as he wiped his mouth with a napkin, “is why no one jumped in to help me with the wolf guy.”
Chachamaru looked somewhat sheepish. “It is considered impolite to interfere in a fight,” she said, “or at least that is what I have observed.”
Harry shook his head, chuckling as he said,. “Well, you are perfectly welcome to be impolite if you feel the need.”
With dead seriousness Chachamaru nodded, “Thank you, sir.”
After that Harry stopped in over at Evangeline's cabin, the vampiress greeting him with a sarcastic comment then taking him down to her resort to train. The strange 'castle in a bottle' was a safe place to try out the combat spells she and Negi had been showing him, as well as boosting training time. Somehow time was out of synch within the bottle, and one day passed inside to a hour spent in the outside world.
After that a very tired but pleasantly achy Harry headed out for a nightly patrol. He knew there were 'official' patrols going on and that the academy had capable defenders, but the vampires were after him in particular, as well as Negi. Knowing that he couldn't just stand by and let other people do the fighting for him.
“Good evening sensei,” Asuna Kagurazaka said, smiling up at him with a adoration that Harry honestly found uncomfortable.
“Miss Kagurazaka,” Harry nodded a bit stiffly as the girl fell into step beside him. He knew that many of the kids had 'special' talents, but he wasn't sure if he wanted one patrolling with him. 'Then again, both Kaede and Setsuna are frickin' scary,' he admitted.
“Please, just call me Asuna,” she corrected, smiling winningly. She was dressed in what looked like light armor, with chain mail, a steel arm guard and armored boots.
“Asuna, then,” Harry nodded slightly as they walked not far from the observatory and asked her, “is it really safe for you to be out here like this?”
The young woman looked startled, then faintly amused. “Did you forget about our training bout?” Asuna teased.
Harry winced, remembering the girl and her sword not only disrupting his magic but nearly gutting him. 'Not to mention getting a face full of her panties,' he thought, lips twitching in a smile.
Asuna was clearly thinking of the same thing as a blush colored her cheeks. “Anyway,” she said quickly, “I'm more than able to help you.”
Harry debated arguing, but he knew if he told her no, she's follow him just like Molly probably would. “All right,” he agreed, “but if I tell you to run, you run. I can't defend myself if I have to protect you too.”
“Yes sir,” Asuna nodded, clearly intending to ignore a run order.
'Was I ever that cocky?' Harry wondered as they walked under a elevated train track. 'Hell yes,' he decided glumly, knowing how much trouble it had gotten him into over the years. Curiously he asked, “How many other girls in the class can fight?”
“Most of them,” Asuna answered him promptly, “but I think you're wondering how many could fight monsters?”
“Pretty much,” Harry agreed.
As Asuna rattled off names and bios, Harry had to fight the urge to shake his head in honest disbelief. Out of a class of thirty kids almost half of them had serious combat abilities, and a few were damn scary. He fervently hoped that none of them turned to the dark side, because if they did they were all in trouble.
“Sorry you asked?” Asuna wondered, smiling.
“No,” Harry shook his head as he took on a sort of lecturing mode, like he would with his apprentice, “information is always good to have, even if you don't like it.”
“That's true,” Asuna nodded, and something in her eyes told Harry she had gotten some unpleasant information in her past, too.
They walked on quietly for a bit, then arched around to where Harry's apartment was. “Thanks for coming along,” Harry told her as they reached the building.
“You're welcome,” Asuna said sweetly.
Asuna clearly hoped to be invited up, and there was no way that Harry was going to let that happen. Not only was she a good kid, but it'd cause trouble for the school and him too. “Good night,” he nodded as he went inside, then shut the door behind him.
To be continued....
Notes: Harry and Kotaru were both holding back, which is why the fight went that way. Harry didn't want to go too far and kill Kotaru while Kotaru wanted to keep Harry intact to question. I worked in Harry's 'techbane' status with poor Chisame, and I also established why Chachamaru is safe from it, being a sort of golem/android combo.