Balls, I was hoping to get the next Chisame Shipping chapter up, but I ran into a huge snag with the Chisame/ Chigusa section. Also the jackass down the hallway stole my remote and I had to waste an hour getting it back.
Hopefully it will be up tomorrow, although I have a paper to write.
EDIT: Here's the first half of the Chigusa section of it. I'll finish tomorrow.
“I can't keep doing this, dammit!” Chisame stormed out of bedroom, messily wrapping herself in her robe as she did so. “I just can't!”
“What's the problem?” Chigusa poked her head out the door after Chisame.
“The problem? Those things are the problem!” Chisame gestured angrily at the two monkey golems that were dancing around at Chigusa's feet. “Those stupid monkeys of yours!”
“What's wrong with them?” Chigusa reached down to let one of the monkeys clamor up her arm and onto her shoulder.
“What's wrong? You're obsessed! Everything is monkeys monkeys monkeys with you! I'm freaking sick of it!”
“Listen, we all have our little quirks-”
“This is worse than a quirk! Having a collection of monkey dolls is a quirk. Having a golden monkey statue is some sort of freakish compulsion!”
“Listen, just because I have strange tastes is no reason to call me a freak.”
“You listen!” Chisame spun around. “You know that it creeps me out! But, I learned to live with it, because I thought that you were worth the trouble. But now, I'm really starting to doubt that!”
“Ch..Chisame...”
“I tried to get around it. I really did. But this is where I draw the line. I wanted to be alone with you. Alone. Just the two of us.” She slumped down onto the couch. “But no. You had to drag those horrible creatures into bed with us! I'm not a furry, damn it, and I'm sure as hell not going to do anything with you until they're gone! Now either you get rid of those monkey charms and never use them near me again, or get out.”
“Can I at least explai-”
“No! If those...those things aren't gone for good in the next five minutes, we're through!”
“Fine.” Chigusa spat the word. She snatched her coat up and strode to the door, the monkeys following behind. “I'm sorry.” The door slammed so loudly that the wall shuddered. There was a muffled crunch as something fell off of the end table near the door.
Chisame stared blankly at the door. She hadn't actually expected Chigusa to choose the monkeys. It's probably for the best. She has some serious issues... She let out a deep breath before looking down to see what had fallen off of the table.
Chigusa's purse.
It was, of course, covered with monkeys. Chisame observed it distastefully before placing it back on the table. Most of the contents had spilled out. The most obvious thing was a ancient sock monkey doll. It was coated with all manner of different stains, and had so many repairs and patches that it resembled a quilt. This thing looks like it's been through a war...
She stuffed it back into the bag and turned her attention to the rest of the junk that was now scattered on her floor. Most of it was monkey-related. Monkey pocketbook, monkey keychain, monkey sunglasses. Chisame stuffed it all back into the bag. The only thing left was a small square of old paper. As she picked it from the ground, Chisame realized that it was photograph. She flipped it over.
The first thing that she saw were the smiling faces of a man and a woman, both dark haired and bright eyed. They both hand their hands on the shoulders of a young girl that stood between them, presumably their daughter. The girl stood stoically, apparently looking at the camera with cold eyes. Clutched in her hands was a sock monkey.
Chisame's hands started to shake as she tried to turn the picture over. On the back she could barely make out an “ '82 ” scratched into the corner. She reached back into the bag until she felt her fingers wrapping around the tattered, old, doll. It can't be... Her eyes darted back and forth from the picture to the doll. Years of damage and repairs aside, it was the same one.
As she sank to her knees, Chisame let out a long, low, groan as she clutched the monkey to her chest.
I'm an idiot...
Is it clear enough what's going on when Chisame finds the monkey doll and the picture? I didn't want to come right out and explain it, but I want it to be obvious enough that the reader can figure it out.
edited 1st Dec '10 8:57:09 PM by JapaneseTeeth
Reaction Image Repository... Mind if I seize this Freudian Excuse for the Chigusa in my ongoing, please?
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You might as well; I'm pretty sure that it was there in the manga, so I can't claim it. I just worked in the reasoning for the monkey obsession.
EDIT: Do you think the Chigusa section works on its own? I was thinking of putting it up as is and finishing the story in a later installment.
EDIT 2: Next section of that Christmas fic. As usual this thing is turning out to be much longer than I anticipated.
“Maybe Master will let us train in her resort.” Even with his magic boost, Negi was having trouble keeping up. “I mean, that's where we usually train. Or maybe that castle.”
Asuna grinned widely. The possibility of visiting Eva's resort had somehow escaped her mind despite the fact that it was the most-used training area.
“Okay, maybe it won't be so bad...” She turned to look at Negi, who was floundering in a snow bank behind her. “Oh come on, Negi. After all you've been through I would think you could handle a snow bank!”
“Sorry, it's just really deep...”
“HEY NEGI!”
Negi and Asuna turned to see an enormous white tiger barreling toward them. In an instant Negi and Asuna had staff and sword pointed at the oncoming cat. As it neared them, they noticed the straps on its back, trailing off into the whiteness. The tiger slowed, coming to a halt a short ways away. A large white sleigh glided out of the billowing snowflakes. As they examined the bizarre sight, Asuna and Negi realized that Haruna was holding the reins. Yue and Nodoka poked their heads out of the back of the sleigh.
“Would you like a ride, sensei?” Nodoka's voice was barely audible over the wind.
“Sure!” Asuna clamored into the contraption. “I'm assuming the tiger was Haruna's idea?”
“Of course.” Yue banged her juice box on the inner wall of the sled. Frozen solid. “I myself think it's a little over the top.”
Asuna reached over the edge to drag Negi into the sleigh.
“I could care less as long as I don't have to walk- ugh!” She grunted as Negi lost his footing and toppled awkwardly on top of her. “Get offa me!” She rolled him awkwardly into the seat next to her.
“Alright, let's go!” Haruna snapped the reins and the giant tiger lurched forward.
edited 2nd Dec '10 11:42:38 AM by JapaneseTeeth
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Nah, I'm keeping that aspect to a minimum this time around.
There is a reason for this instance, though.
edited 2nd Dec '10 1:36:51 PM by JapaneseTeeth
Reaction Image RepositoryI think it'd work best with a single-segment pause between both parts. I assume Chigusa will come back for her photo opening the chance for a reconciliation.
Part of me also itches to see what would the rest of Ala Alba would think about the relationship...
EDIT: A single review so far one day after putting a whole-week spending, 10,000+ words chapter. I feel SO down.
edited 2nd Dec '10 2:49:57 PM by NapoleonDeCheese
I hate it when that happens.
Yeah, I already have an idea for the 2nd half of the story. I just don't know if I want to take the time to write it right now.
Reaction Image Repository^^I hate that. Thirty-One And Then Some, which took me assloads of time and was a pain to right, has, I think, three reviews so far. One of them is from the guy who gave me the idea in the first place, one of them is a one-liner, and one of them is from JTeeth.
It's been fun.![]()
Oh, I get views, alright. I check my Traffic index regularly, and my mail always has notifications of being Favorited and added to Alert Lists (those things that automatically alert you if a favorited story has been updated). It's just people doesn't review. Or go to the forum (except for one wonderful and very insightful poster). Although the chapter with Sakurako kissing Hakase DID have quite a lot of replies, but... that kinda was to be expected.
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I apologize for not reviewing as well, which makes me to feel kinda hypocrital. Never been a fan of the Fatettes, but I'll try to get on it soon.
edited 2nd Dec '10 5:47:53 PM by NapoleonDeCheese
I used to get views when I actually had time to update stuff. They kinda slack off if I don't post anything, and I haven't posted anything in like a week and a half. That's why I'm trying to get the next Chisame chapter and the Christmas story done.
If I decide to leave the Chigusa section as a cliffhanger, I could upload the next chapter tonight, but I'm still not sure if I should finish it or not. If not, it'll probably be in the next chapter.
edited 2nd Dec '10 6:07:17 PM by JapaneseTeeth
Reaction Image RepositoryFinished two installments of Unequally..., but they don't deal with the Negima characters, but another subplot, so I won't be posting them here. To compensate, here's the rough draft of the first part of the Unequally Christmas Special.
"Man, Christmas sure came all of a sudden this year," Asuna observed in a grumpy tone, while lazily brooming the floors of the dorm she shared with Konoe Konoka. "How did it happen? I'd swear it was February a few weeks ago..."
From the kitchen, where she was cooking a large pot of steaming soup and happily chopping vegetables with expert diligence, wearing pink slippers and a 'Piyo Piyo' apron, Konoka giggled.
"They say time flies by when you're happy and at home!"
"Yeah, but I can say this evening will be awfully slow," her redheaded friend complained. "I did my best to forget, so can you remind me again how many of them did you invite?"
"Well," Konoka began, "Negi-kun, of course, and Chisame-chan and Prof-chan. Then there's Setchan, and the librarians, and the cheerleaders. Iincho and Itoshiki-sensei, and Kaede and the twins. Misora seems very close to Negi-kun lately, so I invited her, too. Everyone else seemed to have prior commitments."
"Too many as it is!" Asuna blinked. "We'll be overcrowded!"
"Do you think Iincho will come?" Konoka asked, somewhat concerned.
"If the brat's here, she'll come, no matter what she thinks of me," Asuna grumbled. "And why did you have to invite Despair-sensei over? He's a drag! He'll ruin the whole mood! Why not invite Takahata-sensei instead?"
"Grandpa sent Takahata-sensei out on an urgent errand tonight, remember?" Konoka innocently offered. "And Itoshiki-sensei is always so alone and sad, I figured he'd need some company to cheer him up".
Asuna pouted, leaning ahead on the top of her broomstick, arms crossed under her chin. "It's too unfair!"
Konoka giggled again. "But Itoshiki-sensei is an older man, too! I thought you liked those!"
"I like elegant and mature men!" her longtime friend scowled. "Despair-sensei is neither!"
Konoka just smiled fondly at her. "You're always so funny when you get steamed up, Asuna!"
"Yeah, I'm a barrel of Ho-Ho-Hos," she snorted. Right before smiling back anyway.
edited 3rd Dec '10 3:02:43 PM by NapoleonDeCheese
I just decided to go ahead and upload the next Chisame Shipping chapter.
Please review, etc. The second and last sections are kinda filler-ish, but whatever.
Reaction Image Repository^^Just a few things, Over. 'Prior compromises' should be 'prior commitments', and later on, it should be 'why not invite Takahata-sensei instead'. The rules for infinitives in English are weird, but generally you don't have to put the 'to' in there in sentences like that.
^Good stuff, JTeeth. Nothing new to say with this chapter. I do, however, take issue with 'The English translation isn't out yet.' >.>
edited 2nd Dec '10 11:37:49 PM by RedSavant
It's been fun.
What I meant was that the chapter itself has yet to be released in English. I probably should have phrased that better.
I need to stop uploading stuff at midnight...
edited 3rd Dec '10 5:22:57 AM by JapaneseTeeth
Reaction Image RepositoryDoes anyone remember how much time passed in Mundus Magicus up till now? I know it was stated somewhere (alternatively it was stated how much the time in MM sped up), but I can't seem to be able to find it. I'm trying to figure out how old are the members of Ala Alba due to that whole mess.
Und wenn du lange in einen Abgrund blickst, blickt der Abgrund auch in dich hinein.A few months at most; not any length of time that really affects them. Unless you're trying to figure out where they're birthdays would fall.
Reaction Image RepositoryHere
is a very handy timeline. It's good up until Fate's showdown with Negi (when Asuna gets kidnapped), so I'm not sure how much use it will be to you, but...

New Unequally chapter at FF.Net. A million thanks to SCM for all his help.
http://www.fanfiction.net/s/6228161/18/Unequally_Rational_and_Emotional
No board update for tonight, sorry. I'll try to write a double dose tomorrow to compensate.