Baka-Tsuki - User contributions [en]

Kaze no Stigma:Volume2 Chapter 6

2010-03-29T21:38:45Z

173.56.162.249: /* 4 */

== Chapter Six - Finale - The Brave and Selfless Rescuer ==

=== 1 ===

“He” who observed all from the sky, had done so from the very beginning.

For humans, the area directly above them has always been a blind spot. The presence of "he" who lurked among dimensional intervals was undetectable even by the greatest Fuu-Jutsushi.

“He” was content. Everything was proceeding as planned, everyone moving as “he” had expected them to. They were completely unaware that they were pawns, believing that they were acting according to their own will.

Looking down like a god, "he" drank in this feeling of superiority.

(How lucky of me to have picked up such a useful tool.)

Oogami Misao - the first pawn “he” obtained. Blind with hatred, a pawn that bore a special meaning to that man.

"He" thanked the stars - "they" worshiped neither gods nor devils, after all - for guiding such a convenient pawn into his grasp.

From the start, it had never been much more than an amusing game. Assisting that silly child's naive plans for revenge------ and at such little cost. Such charitable actions were a favorite hobby of "his". After "he" named his price - a small one, really - an amusing expression that "he" could never get bored of appeared on her face.

Nonetheless, these were all but pointless amusements, because now Misao had already become a sharp blade capable of killing that man.

(Yagami Kazuma------ I must eliminate that unforgivable sinner with my own hands. Just what can be more glorious than that……)

Having such a prestigious record, “he” may be bestowed with an extremely high position. Receiving continuous praises, envies and admirations------ A future filled with glory.

That is neither a fantasy or a dream, that “tomorrow” that will definitely come about is right before his very eyes.

Of course, the power he has now is not enough, there is no way he can beat that monster head-on. But, he is very confident in his victory.

Even though he is powerful enough to do so, Kazuma can’t bring himself to kill Misao. Furthermore, Misao has yet to reach the stage of completion.

(Come on, Misao------ Just a little more.)

“He” reveals a smile filled with gentle love at the girl who is walking down the road of destruction.

“……Finally……”

Those red lips give off an agitated voice of happiness.

“This moment has finally arrived……”

“I don’t know which moment it is you are referring to, but it is indeed time to settle things.”

Kazuma nods, saying this meaningful line.

“I don’t really care------ But must you kill “that person”?”

“Ahh, you mean “this person”?”

Misao lowers her head to look at her father’s head that she is hugging.

“It is only right for the father to avenge his son right? But, not only did otou-san not agree to help me, he even intended to kill his very own daughter, me. So, I decided to just borrow his powers------ like this.”

Something similar to a powerful current flowered into Misao’s hand from Masayuki’s head. The skin of the head dries up rapidly, the hair that turned white begins falling off.

In a matter of seconds, the chopped off head became a dried mummy.

“Foolish otou-san.”

Misao grapples hard at her father’s head. At the same time as it is giving off irritating squeaking sounds, Masayuki’s head was crushed into pieces. The pieces were all disintegrated and blown off by the wind before reaching the floor.

“Come on, otou-san------ Become one with me, and let’s take revenge for onii-san together?”

Absorbing her father------ The life of the head of the Ogami, Misao’s youki shows an explosive increase.

“Woah!”

“Mmm……”

The remaining Jutsushis moans. Even Ayano stretches her arms before her, taking on a defensive stance.

An abnormally strong youki. Its strength is so, its quality is very ominous as well. This is the power she obtained from draining the lives of over a hundred, countless grudges from the souls are mixed within, it can be considered reasonable in some way.

“The few of you can just get back now!”

Ayano hurriedly warns the Jutsushis. Having evolved to such an immense youki, the powers of the branch family cannot handle it at all.

“B…… But……”

“Get back!”

Ayano shouts at those hesitant Jutsushis. The Jutsushis look towards each other.

“------Got it, we will obey Ayano-sama’s order.”

They discreetly stated that they are obeying orders, and then rushed off the scene.

Following that, Misao’s youki began to gather into a bundle. Basked in the youki that seemed as though one would be able to hear the voices of hatred from the victims, the fire spirits manifested in the form of pitch black flames.

(Oh…… That is rather quick……)

Looking at the black fireball created above Misao’s head, Ayano is secretly impressed.

Misao stretches her right hand out swiftly, pointing at Kazuma alone. Following that action, the fireball whistles off and closes in at Kazuma.

“…………”

Kazuma does not move an inch, staring silently at the fireball that is coming straight at him. Following that------ The sound of an explosion can be heard, Kazuma’s body is surrounded by pitch black flames.

Misao shows a hearty smile. But, seeing Kazuma covered in flames, there is no change on Ayano and Ren’s faces.

The flames disperses slowly. Appearing within is------

“------!”

Even though it may be unsuitable to say this, but it is naturally Kazuma, without a scratch.

“------ And then?”

“Grr------”

As if being pushed back by his presence, Misao bites hard at her teeth as she moves backwards, but after that she began gathering youki once more.

“Then------ How about this!?”

A black fireball is created above Misao’s head once more. Not just one. Two, three------ fireballs kept on appearing, each of the fireballs is twice as hot as one just now.

“Wow……” Ren exclaims. “Misao is really talented.”

“Yeah. If anyone would still dare to say her personality is not suitable for training now, that would be a joke. If she accumulates experience properly, she would probably have been the strongest Jutsushi among the branch families by now.”

Ayano praises Misao’s talent without any conservation. Yet, that calm expression is just opposite to what she has just said, she does not see Misao’s powers as a threat at all.

Up to ten fireballs came to Kazuma’s side one by one. The group of fireballs that has their heat and kinetic energy completely under control, surrounds Kazuma in a hemispherical manner and explodes.

Misao adjusts the direction of the explosion, causing all the energy to be focused within the hemisphere. Being scorched by the great heat, with the merciless pressure from explosion waves from all directions, a normal Jutsushi will probably be completely destroyed, leaving not a single piece of meat behind.

(That is really something. But……)

Needless to say, Kazuma is of course, not a normal Jutsushi. He stands in the interior of the explosion that is gradually dispersing, blocking off the black flames’ attack without a sweat.

“How can that be……”

“I say------”

Ayano informs Misao who is dumbstruck there with an impatient tone.

“If Kazuma would die under flames of that level, he would have been killed by me long ago.”

“Nee-san…… That is a little……”

“The way you handle your attacks is very flexible, but just looking at power alone it is way weaker than Ren. To use that kind of warm flames to kill Kazuma, it will not even be considered a joke to others.”

“How can that be…… This kind of thing should not happen!”

Faced with those heartless comments, Misao with a great change in her expression tries hard to rebut:

“I have become even stronger than Kazuma-san! I can definitely beat him now, Angel-sama guaranteed that!”

“Angel-sama?”

Ayano stares straight and hard at Misao.

These words sound a little mad, but she does not seem to be joking either.

(It seems something is helping her from behind the scenes------ and it is the kind that is not too decent.)

Ayano grumbles in her heart.

“Angel”------ What a shameful name. That should not be a real angel, but no matter whether it is a name he gave himself or by others, the moment that person accepts that name readily, he is not decent already.

“Just what kind of pervert is that?”

“It is insulting to call me a pervert.”

This answer that bears laughter within came from the sky suddenly.

“....!!”

Ayano raises her head abruptly to look up into the sky. About five meters in the air------ There he is.

Ayano stares closely at the youth that is gradually descending from the sky.

“So that’s it…… An “Angel”……”

His age appears to be around ten. Golden curly hair, round emerald eyes, and a smile filled with benevolence.

That appearance with gentle light coming out from all over his boy, it is just like the angel that is drawn on the pictures of religions. If there is background music and songs of praises now, then this would certainly be filled with a solemn atmosphere.

“Angel-sama!”

Misao runs to the youth’s side, looking very touched. She does not seem to mind if her kimono is dirtied, she kneels right by his feet entirely.

“Angel-sama, please guide me on what to do, please bestow upon me the way to successfully take revenge.”

Like a lost child yearning for his mother, Misao relies on the youth whole-heartedly.

The youth reveals a gentle smile, caressing Misao’s head gently, and says:

“There is no such method.”

Misao slowly blinks her eyes.

“…… Huh?”

“For you to defeat Kazuma Yagami, that is an impossible task.”

The youth said every word out very clearly. Everyone else besides Misao begins to notice, that that seemingly loving smile, is actually a joyful expression of torment.

“B…… But…… Angel-sama told me that I have already obtained enough power for revenge------”

“Oh, you mean that.”

The youth nods seriously, then lowers his head to look at Misao. Misao still seem as though she can’t believe that the youth betrayed her, her eyes shine with uneasiness.

“That is a lie.”

Misao is so shocked she is at a loss for words, and simply widens her eyes. The youth looks at the expression happily, and then uses an exaggerated tone to ask:

“Why do you seem so surprised? Didn’t you not even trust me from the very beginning?”

<nowiki>------</nowiki>For our mutual benefit, let us work together from now on-------

Misao suddenly remembers this line. It was undoubtedly spoken from her very lips. In less than a week’s time, she has completely forgotten all about it------

“That’s right, we were just using each other, that was the relationship between us. But now you believe in me unconditionally, just what made you that way?”

“T……That is……”

Misao tries hard to recollect her memories, but------

“…………”

“It seems you noticed, nothing. But you trust me, why?”

The youth’s smile is very gentle all along, the name “Angel” suits it very well.

“You…… What did you…… do to me……”

“Nothing special, just a little hypnosis. Don’t worry, it is dispelled now. And------ You have something with me, I shall return it to you as well!”

“------ Ahhh!”

Misao uses a very exaggerated motion to dodge the fingers that the youth stretched out at her, as though there is lethal poison at his fingertips.

The youth uses gentle eyes to look at Misao who collapsed to the floor and is unable to get up, moving her hips to try to get away, yet at the same time he raises his stretched out hand up towards the sky.

“Actually there is no need for direct contact.”

Snap, the youth’s fingers gave off a sound.

“Come, recall. All your actions before today.”

“Huh……?”

(All my actions……)

In order to take revenge for my brothers, I killed over a hundred innocent civilians to obtain their vigor------

(But, that was for revenge, it was for a justified cause, so……)

Just as she thought so naturally, her brain seems to have received an impact suddenly.

“So” what?

Because it is for a justified cause, so all those people who were killed would forgive her? And to willingly give their lives up?

That is impossible.

No matter the reason, taking away the lives of others is an undeniable sin, it is an unacceptable action------

<nowiki>------</nowiki> I don’t recall hiring dead people------

“No……”

<nowiki>------</nowiki> As long as I continue taking in the vigor of hundreds, thousands of people like this------

“No way……”

<nowiki>------</nowiki> Foolish otou-san------

“No…… No way……”

“Angel” made a merciless declaration at Misao who is trying to run away from reality.

“That is right, they were all killed by you.”

“Noooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!!”

Misao screams out.

“No way! No way! No way! It’s not me! I didn’t want to do that kind of thing!!”

“But you still did. In order to obtain power, so you manipulated youma and took away the lives of hundreds, and you won’t even spare your very own father.”

“------!”

Misao eyes expands to their limit. She raises her head to look at that gentle smile directed at her with extreme fear.

“Ah…… Ahh…… Ahhhh……”

She thought she was very cautious, and to use him instead. The result from such reckless actions------ Is this.

To not realize at all that she is the one being manipulated instead, and killed over a hundred innocent people, and even killing her own father in the end.

Originally intending to take revenge for her family, yet she killed her very family in the process. This can only be described as an extreme irony.

“You worked hard all this time, Misao. By the way------“

The youth asks Misao, who is at a loss thinking about her own sins, with a cheerful smile:

“Your father’s vigor, how did it taste?”

“----------------!!”

Her pupils shrink instantly, sweat coming out from her forehead. The mouth that opened subconsciously gave off a choking moan:

“…… Ah…… Ah……”

A great power that is way beyond her actual strength residing in her chest. The sound of that beating power became that of an attack, constantly blaming Misao.

The evidence of her sin is so obvious, there is no way she can escape the sound of those grudges coming from within her body.

“Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!”

Misao stretches her five fingers, stabbing them into the centre of her chest. As if trying to use her fingers to pierce through the ribs, digging that dreadful power out together with her heart.

“Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!”

Misao rolls around on the floor with red eyes as she continued screaming madly.

=== 2 ===

“What did you do……”

Ayano’s eyes shift away from the frantic Misao, and in turn stares at the youth.

“What did you do to Misao!?”

“I can’t believe someone would complain about me doing that.”

Ignoring her fierce eyes, the youth smiles to say:

“Didn’t I say that earlier? I am just returning what I held onto back to her.”

“What you held onto------?”

“This girl, Misao, is way too soft-hearted, even for revenge, she is unwilling to harm anyone that is not related in any way.”

Hearing Ayano’s question, the youth cheerfully explains:

“So I took away some obstructing emotions from Misao’s heart. Like how to respect others, worries as not hoping to cause trouble for others------ Meaning what most would call conscience or ethics?”

“What……”

Such malicious methods left Ayano speechless.

Precisely because of that, Misao took the lives of others without hesitation, and used the reason “for revenge” to justify it.

And then, when Misao’s hands are tainted with blood, the emotions that were taken away earlier is put in once more. Converting her back to the kind and gentle Misao who would rather get injured than to hurt others.

All just to mock the way she crumples due to guilt.

“You actually……”

“It is really too interesting.”

The youth uses a smile to reply to those blaming eyes, then shifts his eyes slightly.

“So? Are you pleased?”

“……What is it that you want to do?”

Kazuma uses an emotionless tone to ask:

“To put in so much effort, and ruin a person just for fun?”

“That is one of my purposes as well, because I enjoy seeing how people get ruined. Even though very few people would make me put in this much effort, but------”

The youth’s smile becomes even more magnificent.

“Yagami Kazuma, to ruin someone that is special to you, won’t it be rude if I don’t put in more effort?”

The youth’s smile is very eerie. Ayano can’t help but retreat backwards, Ren on the other hand hides behind Kazuma.

There aren’t any changes in his tone and expression at all, but the hatred shown amidst his words, made the two who have no resistance against this kind of eccentric characters feel very scared.

Kazuma knits his brows slightly.

“……Have we met somewhere before?”

“This is the first time we met face to face. But I------ We did not forget you even for a second. You must understand, you standing here, alive, are in itself an unforgivable taboo.”

The youth voices out to scold him, yet he is unable to move Kazuma in any way.

“And here I was wondering what you wanted to say------”

Kazuma says with an obvious mockery:

“I offended way too many people, so I can’t really recall. Ahh, but you don’t need to explain any further, I won’t recall anyway.”

“You won’t recall? That is a good thing. The noble name of our master is not something that someone like you should remember, it is best that you have forgotten it.”

The youth fights back, taunting Kazuma.

“But as I am benevolent, I shall tell you my name!

My name is Mikaeru! Mikaeru Hari!! In the name of the stars and wisdom, I shall now eliminate our enemy Yagami Kazuma!”

“----------------!”

Kazuma’s expression vanished instantly. He bears that blank expression, as if wearing a mask, and stares at Mikaeru who announced his name with resolution.

<nowiki>------ </nowiki> In the name of the stars and wisdom------

Kazuma shut his eyes while facing the youth for a second.

In a certain way, this sentence made Kazuma who he is now. Four years ago------ That day, when he experienced for himself that the lack of power can sometimes be equivalent to a sin, “That man” melodiously declared that sentence before him.

<nowiki> ------ </nowiki> I only seek the truth ------

In his hand, he holds the girl whom Kazuma wanted to protect, yet failed to do so, her heart.

When he opens his eyes once more, Kazuma’s usual arrogant smile is back. But------

“…………”

Ren who stuck behind Kazuma, suddenly let go of his hand that is grabbing the lower part of his jacket, and backs off. Ayano turns her body, switching it to an angle that can see both Kazuma and Mikaeru at the same time.

“Ahh------ So that’s it.”

Silently------ Kazuma smiles silently.

“I got it, so you wanted to follow in your master’s footsteps?”

At the next moment, Kazuma’s “ki” exploded.

“Ahhhh!”

“Wahhhh!”

Multiplied, expanded------ it is not such a simple phenomenon. Basked in the pressure of the “ki” that is equivalent to a shockwave, Ren’s body began to float.

“Wait……Wait a minite…… This is……”

Ayano’s expression is very tense. Power of such intensity, she has not seen anything like it even when Kazuma is fighting against Ryuya.

(Just what is this about------!?)

A “ki” that is responding towards his furious roar, the wind begins to spin fiercely. All the energy that is being collected in a bundle is compressed to a scary intensity------

“Fine then------ Let me help you. Pray to the demon lord, to bless you such that you would follow your master to hell!”

The wind is released, a supersonic speed wind blade strikes towards Mikaeru rapidly.

“How naïve.”

The youth reveals a cold smile, and disappears the moment before he is cut by the wind blade.

“Che! Teleported?”

As if answering Kazuma, Mikaeru’s conscious echoed emptily.

''“I did not run away, because there is no such need. Why did you think I appeared before you? That is because I am not afraid of you------ Because I have obtained enough power to kill you!”''

As he makes his declaration loudly, countless goo pieces emerge from the ground surface.

''“As you have seen just now, that is not Misao’s true power. She is unable to completely control that great power------The method to use that power as one pleases lies within my hands.”''

“Misao------?”

Without realizing it, Misao’s screams had vanished. Ayano looks around, and finds Misao lying on the floor as if dead.

Her chest rises up slightly, but other than that there is no indication of life. The body with sand all over lies motionless, there is nothing reflected in those open, but empty eyes.

The goo pieces quietly crawls forward, pressing onto Misao’s body. In the blink of an eye, Misao is wrapped by a small semi-transparent mountain.

“Ah……”

First, the color changed.

The transparency disappeared, the surface began to bear the shine of a metallic surface. That wavering, seemingly soft appearance, with that ironic texture that can reflect light, makes one associate with gigantic mercury.

Then, the shape changed.

The goo pieces that sat still like a bun grew four legs, and lifted its gigantic body, then a head, tail reached out, and its back even grew wings.

The shape-shifting continued to progress.

Its appearance that is rough like the clay product made by a child, slowly and continuously adjusts its shape, gradually possessing a clear outline.

Joints appeared in those legs that were originally but four sticks, and sharp claws grew out of them. The surface of the body is covered closely by scales, a set of skeleton appeared in the interior of the head, tail and wings, evolving into a structure that is very logical in biology.

These changes took no longer than thirty seconds. Within such a short period of time, the semi-transparent slime changed into a huge silvery white dragon.

Ayano grumbles unknowingly:

“…… Why does a slime become a dragon upon job changing?”

“You play too many games, idiot.”

Kazuma rebuts bluntly.

“That is just changing into a form suited for combat, it is not a real dragon.”

In the end it is just an imitation. The shape of a dragon does not possess much meaning. Compared to its appearance, the main point lies in that all the slimes combined into one.

A single slime is just like trash, but when a number of them gathered, they can form a magical circuit. And, by connecting the different circuits with each other, a more complicated, bigger system can be formed.

A system so big that it can control the massive power that Misao has gathered.

“Hahahahahaha! How’s that, Yagami Kazuma! Can you defeat this “Vritra” that I created!?”

Mikaeru’s voice came from the gigantic dragon------ It seems its name is Vritra------ ’s back region. That puny body is more than half submerged into Vritra’s body.

“But then, by defeating it, Misao would die.”

After tossing this vicious sentence, the youth is completely merged with Vritra. The statue-like Vritra began to move.

“GRRRR……”

Vritra’s gigantic mouth gave off a low groan. Its wings spread out completely, the lowered head is raised upwards, looking at the sky proudly.

“WRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR-----------------------------!”

As if challenging the skies, the gigantic dragon roars loudly.

The coarse roar that is like a broken bell slowly becomes clear.

This may be proof that Mikaeru has began controlling Vritra. That clear sound that is like striking against crystal, reminds one of his high pitch voice.

To kill him before he takes action------ Normally Kazuma may just do so without hesitation, yet this is one of those rare exceptions. He looks up at the silvery white dragon. From the way he looks, there doesn’t seem to be any signs of him wanting to attack it.

“So, what to do……”

Ayano voices out to question Kazuma who is talking to himself:

“You still intend to save Misao?”

“Yes.”

Kazuma replies without any hesitation.

Ayano frowns and looks at Kazuma. After understanding all the truth behind it, she does not have any unpleasant emotions against Misao anymore, but------

“Listen, even though you may not want to heed what I say…… But, judging from Misao’s current situation, won’t she be happier if she dies?”

She has nothing now. Everything has been taken away by Hyoue, Mikaeru, and------ Kazuma.

Just remembering her scream then, Ayano’s chest felt as though it is being squeezed tightly.

Maybe it really is possible to save Misao from the clutches of Mikaeru. But, would that be the result that she would want?

Even if she survived, all that awaits her in the future, won’t it be only days tormented by guilt?

“…… Perhaps so!”

She had originally expected Kazuma to be angered, but he agreed unexpectedly.

“But, even so……”

There is soil in his mouth, as he raises his head to look up at that back.

That tiny body can’t stop trembling.

But the girl still spread her arms courageously, determined to stand before him.

<nowiki>------</nowiki> Please stop! This is really too much! ------

The girl uses a tone that is close to bursting in tears to beg. Even if she is right------ No, Precisely because it is right, that is why it would not be accepted by others, this was such a sentence.

Even if she is stared at, even if she is blamed, the girl still did not back off.

Her entire body trembled, a tiny back.

Burned into his blurred eyes, the one single time ten years ago that------

“Even so, I still hope that she will live on……”

“…………”

“…………”

Hearing Kazuma murmur to himself as if praying, Ayano and Ren can’t help but wonder if they had heard right.

Especially Ren. He had even forgotten to hide his shocked expression, and stares at Kazuma dumbly with his mouth wide open.

Kazuma stares at his dumbfounded brother.

“What? Is there something strange?”

“Huh……? Ah, no, there is nothing strange at all.”

Ren shakes his head hurriedly. At the same time as his tiny head wavers, his eyes also stares straight at the silent Ayano who bears a complicated expression.

“------What?”

Sensing Ren’s stare, Ayano asks impolitely.

“N…… Nothing…… Nothing at all.”

Ayano turns her back against the stuttering Ren, looks at Kazuma and says calmly:

“There is nothing wrong with that. Let’s go save her! I will act according to your instructions.”

“Is that so.”

Kazuma acts almighty, and nods his head as if that is how things should be. Ayano did not feel angry towards his attitude, but calmly listens to his plans.

“So then what should we do? If we do not know where Misao is, I cannot burn that thing up at one go. Should I start burning it slowly from the sides?”

“Why go to such trouble…… The purifying flames are used at times like this. If you just burn off all the youki, all that remains would be the living Misao. Simple right?”

“I can’t perform such a high level trick.”

“------------------------------------------ Ah?”

Kazuma stares straight at Ayano who replied instantly. He seems to be really shocked, his eyes shifted away from Vritra.

“What did you say?”

“I said, I do not know that kind of high level technique that can burn youki only.”

“……………………………”

After staring at Ayano blankly for some time, Kazuma looks towards Ren for a shred of hope. Ren shakes his head hurriedly in denial.

Kazuma sighs out deeply, grumbling in his mouth:

“……Good-for-nothing……”

“Sorry for that.”

Ayano humphs and flicks the hair that is stuck on her cheek towards the back.

“Damn! If my old man is here, this could be done so easily…… Why is it that he is not around at crucial times like this?”

“What do you mean by why------ You were the one to beat him up remember? He is still in the hospital now.”

“…… Nii-sama, that is really willful for you to say that.”

The two’s simultaneous rebuts were completely ignored by Kazuma.

“Oh well, There is no point in wishing for things that just isn’t there. It is better to have something than none, you can start burning from the side then!”

Just as those words left his mouth.

“Is your little discussion finally over?”

A laughter suddenly sounded off from above them. Raising their heads, they see the gigantic dragon using that big face that is of the size of a small lorry to look at them.

Those eyes are a bright emerald green------ Just like Mikaeru’s. That emerald luster that is reflected on that large silvery white body is undoubtedly the proof that the gigantic dragon’s body is under complete control of the dark mage.

“It should be about time that we begin.””

“It has begun long ago, you idiot.”

Faced with that will that can’t wait to start the fight, a mocking voice and a wind blade responded to it at the same time. The wind blade did not let Vritra have any time to react, and sliced off both its wings entirely.

The sliced off wings changed back into the transparent slimes upon leaving the dragon’s body. The slimes crawled forward on the ground surface, and then stuck onto the dragon’s legs, combining with the dragon directly from that spot.

After several seconds, wings sprouted from Vritra’s back once more.

“That was mean.”

With a meaning completely different from what he said, Mikaeru announces unhurriedly:

“And I was waiting so patiently for you guys. Yet to sneak attack without even shouting start, how despicable. You really have no sportsmanship.”

“Oh really, you flatter me.”

Kazuma acts humble, looking serious. The word “despicable” is but a praise to his ears.

“Next it shall be my turn!”

Vritra draws in one deep breathe. As if it really possesses lungs, its chest area begins to inflate.

After the crystal-like transparent teeth bite against each other, hot sparks were flared out in its mouth. All the air that filled the entire chest was blown out at the same time.

Dragon’s breath.

Pitch black flames stretched out in a straight line, passing through where the three were just now.

“Dragons can breathe fire. This guy really faithfully acts as how a dragon should be.”

Kazuma murmurs as he flies backwards. Vritra turns its head in pursuit of Kazuma, the shining black flames burns the air, following closely behind Kazuma.

“How persistent!”

Kazuma waves his right hand horizontally, the wind generated by this action blows the flames that are closing in at him off. At the same time, an upward wind strikes at Vritra’s chin like an uppercut.

Kachunk, the dragon’s mouth is closed up, the dragon’s breathe naturally stops as well. Kazuma lands onto the ground unhurriedly.

“Did you expect something like that can defeat me? If so, you are really underestimating me too much!”

“We were just getting to the good part!”

Vritra roars as a strike from its front legs rushes at Kazuma.

The five hooked claws at its feet, each of them possesses a length and sharpness similar to a katana. There is perhaps no organism on earth that can get hit by such a strike and still possess a full corpse!

Faced with the attack coming in horizontally, Kazuma calmly calculates the distance and dodges it easily. Having its full-scale attack dodged by the opponent, Vritra’s body began wavering, having lost balance.

“You fell for it.”

With its back towards Kazuma, Vritra bears its teeth and smirks. With the centrifugal force that comes with making a semi-circular rotation, its tail was flung out with a devastating force.

Kazuma originally intended to use wind blades to cut the tail off, but at the last moment he decided not to.

That tail that is like a log, its size is enough to contain a person within, and he cannot be certain that Misao is not inside.

“-------Che!”

He jumps up to evade, but he was just a little too late. The tail swept past the tip of his feet, Kazuma who was in the air, his body began rotating vigorously.

“Nii-sama!”

Ren releases fire pellets at Vritra who intends to follow up on its attack. The golden flames hit the neck portion of the gigantic dragon------but are reflected off by the silvery white scales.

“Huh!?”

“Quit meddling around!!”

Ren jumps backwards, attempting to dodge the backhand claws. However, pitch black fireballs were released from the tip of Vritra’s claws.

“-------!!”

Ren who is in mid-air is unable to dodge at all. Seeing Ren who hurriedly intends to use his hands to defend, Kazuma who regained his posture shouts out loudly:

[[Image:Kaze no Stigma vol 02 263.jpg|thumb]]
“Don’t block it! Get away!”

This is an impossible request, the black flames mercilessly wraps around Ren’s arms.

That filthy thing that bears youki can no longer be associated with the word fire, it is just a boiling hot mass of filthy particles.

Having its properties changed to such an extent, the spirit’s blessings are unable to take effect. The black flames mercilessly erode the body that can originally resist against fire.

“Wahhh!”

“Ren!!”

Vritra uses its huge body to stand before Kazuma who is rushing to his brother’s side.

“Get lost------------!!”

“GRRRRYYYYYYYWWWWW!!”

The shockwave met the dragon’s breathe head-on. Though the wind sliced the black flames apart, the weakened shockwave is insufficient to send Vritra’s huge body off.

“Don’t block my way------”

Kazuma waves his hand out once more. However, Vritra takes in a huge breath as well, preparing to spit fire. Ignoring the opponent’s actions entirely, Kazuma acts on his own and begins to gather wind blades.

Yet, just before the conflict happens again, a plasma ball from the side sent Vritra flying. The huge body that has a weight greater than a blue whale, is now flying in the air like a stray cat being knocked down by a car.

“------ Ayano?”

“Leave this to me.”

Ayano uses a monotonous voice to say, and then began closing in onto Vritra. She does not even look at Kazuma, and waves Enraiha calmly.

“……?”

Though Kazuma is very puzzled by that cold behaviour, but right now Ren’s situation is more important. He leaves Vritra to Ayano, and runs to the side of Ren who is sitting on the floor.

“Are you still alive, Ren!?”

“Ah, yes…… I survived somehow. But, my flames actually bounced off……”

“Well, since it is using Misao as its core, so its fire resistance probably increased as well.”

In fact, it is too humble to say that it “probably increased as well”. Having taken that attack from Ayano earlier, there is not even a trace of burnt mark on those silvery white scales. Just looking at its fire resistance, Vritra is comparable to a member of the Kannagi main family.

(…… That is to say, I cannot expect much from the two of them, and that I must take care of this myself? And to add on to that, this is free service.)

Kazuma indulges in depressing thoughts as he checks Ren’s injuries.

He was burnt from the back of his hand to his elbow, but it will not place his life in danger. Ren seems to have used his own flames to nullify the attack.

“Hmm------ It looks fine. This should not leave a scar.”

Seeing that the injury is lighter than what he had expected, he relaxes and caresses Ren’s tiny head.

“You can back off now, just leave everything else to Ayano and me.”

“I still can fight!”

Ren shouts out instantly. He raises his head and uses determined eyes to look at the surprised Kazuma.

“I still can fight, I cannot back off just because of a small injury like this.”

“----------------”

Kazuma looks straight at his brother, who possesses a strong will to fight, for some time------ and then places his hand on Ren’s head once more.

“I want to save Misao, lend me your strength!”

“Yes!”

Ren nods with pride. At this moment------

“GRRRRLLLLYYYY------------!!”

Vritra’s roar shook the air. Ren looks towards that direction, and subconsciously widens his eyes.

A glowing magical formation suddenly appeared on the ground surface, and began to wrap by the side of the gigantic dragon that is giving off a silvery white glow.

The hexagonal formation that has two circles of different diameters at the center slowly begins to spin. As the volume of the roar increases, the glow becomes more glaring, lightning running at the surface.

The lightning that is rampaging on the ground surface created countless lightning balls, floating around Vritra. The lightning balls that are connected to each other by thin lightning, is just like an electric prison trapping a gigantic dragon.

“GYYYR!”

With its short cry as a signal, all the lightning balls shot off at the same time. There were no fixed targets, just a bunch of lightning balls being shot off in a wide area, following an unpredictable route to strike at Ayano.

“Onee-sama!”

Ren cries out loudly. At this moment, Ayano uses a speed faster than the speed of sound to sprint out.

Up against the lightning balls that are falling down like rain, the tiny body speeds within their gaps at a godly speed.

An emergency stop that brings down her speed in an instant, a sharp directional change that goes against the law of inertia, and an amazing acceleration to speed up to her limit in an instant, Ayano illustrates such a body motion that can be called a miracle. The countless lightning balls are unable to touch their target at all, and begins to lose their energy like that.

After passing through the torrent of lightning, Ayano buries herself into the chest of Vritra. She dodges the claws and tail that strike at her with ease, and jumps onto Vritra’s back at the same time, using the entire weight of her body to stab Enraiha downwards.

Kachun!

A solid sound sounded off, the tip of Enraiha pierced through the silvery white scale.

Damage of this level, is nothing but a needle prick to Vritra. This is not Ayano’s real intention.

“------ Huuu!”

As she breathes out, fire spirits are injected into the gigantic dragon’s body from the tip of Enraiha. And then, ignited.

“GWYYYYYYYYYY!”

Even the sturdy scales seems fragile under the explosion from within the body. A gap big enough to contain a person within was made on the back of the dragon by the explosion.

“GRRRRWWWWWWWWWW!!”

Vritra gives off an angry roar as it twists its body. Ayano dodges the randomly waving claws and tail calmly, and pulls a distance from Vritra once more.

“------ Onee-sama is so powerful……”

After witnessing Ayano’s astonishing strength in battle, Ren gasps. Yet, Kazuma beside him seems to look displeased.

“That girl…… What the hell is she thinking?”

Ren thought that he was commenting on Ayano, and speaks in her aid hurriedly:

“B……But! Misao is also a Jutsushi of the Kannagi, she will probably not be killed by that hit earlier------”

“I don’t mean that, that kind of fighting style is too reckless. She has completely given up on defense------ Does she want to die?”

Kazuma’s voice did not carry any joke or mockery. Ren shivers, and looks at Ayano who consistently performs kamikaze style attacks.

“Onee-sama……!”

=== 3 ===

Ayano did not have anything else on her mind, focusing solely on waving the Enraiha.

Not thinking about anything at all, not hesitating, just focusing on fighting alone. She had had thoughts of showing some mercy, but she forgot about that instantly. Besides, if she goes easy against Vritra which possesses superb fire resistance, she won’t be able to do so much as to scratch it.

Wielding the divine blade that is shining with brilliance, Ayano became a weapon.

Perhaps due to this, her mental capabilities were raised to a level beyond any before. So much so that she can accurately predict the movement of those thunderballs almost at the speed of light.

Ayano dodges the furious waves of attacks by her agile movements alone. She did not have any efforts to spare to defend, and instead transfers all her energy into Enraiha’s blade.

To run even further.

To move even faster.

Without any considerations at all regarding how to protect herself, just viciously and calmly attacking the enemy. The way she is now is no different from a fighting machine.

She dodged the claws and teeth by several millimeters, and thrusts the Enraiha at the root of Vritra’s tail. The fire spirits that entered through the sharp tip, materializes into its golden flame form.

“GRRRYYYYWWWWWWW!!”

Dragging its tail that has more than half of it blown off, the giant dragon roars loudly. Ayano attacks once more fearlessly, and slices off the tail that is as big as two people hugging together entirely.

The severed tail loses its silvery white shine, turning back into a semi transparent goo piece. But that was for just a moment------ The goo piece that attaches itself with Vritra, transforms back into the shape of a tail as if nothing has happened.

The gigantic dragon bares its crystal teeth to smirk. The body that has completed its regeneration shines with a silvery white glow, there is no trace of the damage done to it earlier.

“------------”

Ayano silently brings up her Enraiha. Even after witnessing the seemingly infinite regeneration capabilities, her will to fight has not wavered one bit.

That is of course. A machine does not fear, a weapon does not hesitate, nor think at all------

<nowiki>------</nowiki> Why are you so concerned about Misao? Is it because…… You like her?

That kind of thing does not matter anymore. No matter who is in Kazuma’s heart, a machine would not be bothered by it at all.

<nowiki>------</nowiki> Even so, I still hope that she will live on……

A fighting machine that will neither waver, nor feel at a loss, does not require a heart that would be disturbed by a mere sentence.

Ayano steps onto the ground with force, plunging at Vritra’s chest.

Vritra’s hooked claws strike at Ayano at the same time, sandwiching from both directions, left and right. For that massive size, such an action may be considered very swift, but to Ayano now, it was as if it is still.

Ayano slices the middle and ring finger of the right hooked claw off, passing through the gap that she has just created, and took a detour, getting to Vritra’s back.

Yet, this is a miscalculation that cannot be any more obvious. Because Ayano still does not know, that Vritra is a combination of magical beings, and that this dragon outer appearance is but a form it took up.

Something like a tentacle grew out from somewhere around dragon’s right elbow suddenly. The sharp tip did not have a moment of hesitation, as it flies straight towards Ayano.

Her accelerated senses can already feel this gradually stretching tentacle, its distance is less than one meter away.

(...It's unavoidable.)

Ayano calmly admits this fact.

Even though her senses are accelerated, her motion will not be accelerated along with it. In this air that is sticky and gluey like tar, Ayano’s movements are slower than that of the tentacle.

The tentacle aims directly and accurate at the dead centre of Ayano’s body, causing Ayano to be unable to dodge by merely twisting her body around. At this rate, the tentacle will clearly and surely pierce through Ayano, and dealing her a fatal injury.

Ayano closes her eyes gently, quietly accepting the unavoidable “death”.

“...Ugh!?”

Padong!

This is definitely not the feeling of a murderous weapon stabbing into the body. It felt just like someone’s body come crashing into her---

“Are ya still sleeping!? Wake up! You dumb girl!”

“Ahh!?”

The angry shout by her ear pulled Ayano back to reality. She opens her eyes, Kazuma’s angry expression appears ten centimeters before her eyes.

“Ka……Kazuma!?”

The negative feelings she had ten seconds ago vanished without a trace.

This is the shocking reality, her conscience was drawn in by the glow in those eyes before her, the throbbing in her heart cannot be suppressed.

(Was he the one who saved me……?)

On that expression that is tense with nervousness, he lost his usual smile. Seeing the sweat that is coming out from his forehead, Ayano showed a smile.

Looking at the smiling Ayano, Kazuma------

“Argh!?”

Pinches her nose.

“What are you staring blankly at? Didn’t I tell you to wake up?”

“Who…… Who said I was sleeping!”

Ayano flings that hand away, but did not let go of the hand that Kazuma is hugging tightly. Their bodies are flying several tens of meters in the air. In the sky that is even higher and further up than Vritra’s head.

(I don't have a choice.)

Ayano finds an excuse for herself, and then hugs Kazuma’s body even more tightly. She subconsciously look towards Kazuma’s back.

“...Behind you!”

Before Ayano shouted, Kazuma had already turned his body agilely in mid-air. Following that, he saw countless tentacles stretching towards the two of them from all over Vritra’s body.

“Che------”

Kazuma raises his right hand at the tentacles------ but his body tenses up suddenly for some unknown reason. The wind spirits that had originally gathered at his right hand disperses immediately after going out of control.

He summons the wind once more. Yet------ The tentacles was quicker.

(Doomed!)

Right before the eyes of Ayano who once again prepared herself death, golden flames burnt off the countless tentacles.

“Great job. Ren, you did us a great favor.”

Kazuma shows a bitter smile, his mouth not forgetting to praise Ren. Looking downwards, Ren is standing on the floor with his hands high up with a prideful smile.

Kazuma reduces the speed of descent, landing cautiously. But at the moment before the landing, he was unable to support Ayano’s body weight and lost balance.

“Yoshh------“

“What’s the matter?”

Witnessing Kazuma’s rare stumble, Ayano gives off a simplistic smile. However, at the moment when she landed, she accidentally felt that warm texture at her lateral abdomen, her expression changes entirely.

She raises her hand hurriedly. Just as she thought, her entire palm is stained red.

“Wait…… Wait a minute, you're injured……”

“I'm fine, this is nothing.”

Kazuma uses his hand to press against the wound, then says with a calm expression on his face.

But Ayano does not believe one bit of what he just said. If it is just a minor wound, it would be impossible that Kazuma failed to control the wind, and it would make even less sense that he is unable to even support Ayano's weight.

With his back facing Ayano who seems to still want to ask some questions, Kazuma confronts Vritra. Obviously, he shows no signs of backing off. His determined resolve to “definitely save Misao” can be seen from the shadow emitted by his back.

And thus, her tone became very unfriendly naturally.

“Why did you save me? You even got yourself injured for that.”

“You didn’t want me to save you?”

Needless to say, that is not the answer Ayano was hoping for. Ayano thought that he was trying to change the topic, so her attitude became even more willful.

“No one asked for your help, I did not want someone like you to save me at all!”

Hearing such an ungrateful speech, even Kazuma can’t help but be a little enraged. Yet the still angry Ayano failed to notice Kazuma’s expression.

“You are the one who wanted to be a busybody, yet you still want to look as though you are the savior! You only have Misao in your mind, then don’t come bothering me, just think about how to save Misao!”

“Even if Misao is saved, it would be pointless if you died.”

“……Huh?”

Ayano ponders about what that sentence means------ No matter the conclusion, she flushes red completely.

“Wha……What! You want to be a two-timer!? I will absolutely not allow this kind of thing!”

(Chinese text used is “You want to step on two boats at the same time!?”)

“Ahh, two-timing, three-timing, they are all the same! Because I have enough power to protect them all!”

(Chinese text used is “Be it two boats, three boats, they are all the same!”)

“…………………….……………..Huh? Protect……………………………..?”

(Wait…… This means……)

Up to this point, Ayano finally realized that she has misunderstood completely. But Kazuma has yet to finish what he wants to say.

“It is not because I am chosen that I was given power! But to not lose again, to not let others take everything away------ I have already decided on that! I will not give up on anyone! I will save Misao! And I won't let you and Ren die either! I'm gonna kill that arrogant kid! Total perfection! That is the only result I will accept! You got a problem with that?!”

“Ah…… No…… Not at all.”

Faced with that imposing aura that doesn’t even allow the slightest of doubts, Ayano unknowingly replies politely. And as she was replying, she felt her expression loosen up gradually.

“Let’s forget about whether it has reached the level of love, but anyway you have created him to have a liking towards you. So there is still a chance!”

Ayano suddenly recalls what Nanase said then, her sixth sense has always been so accurate.

Kazuma sees her as “someone that he must protect”. Just this alone, all the negative feelings that has been stuck up in her heart disappeared.

She lifts her head to see Vritra who is fighting against Ren. Maybe it is just her imagination, but the opponent looks so much smaller as compared to just now. She does not even think that she would lose.

Placing her eyes back onto Kazuma, Ayano smiles and says:

“Come, let’s finish this quickly and then go home. Kazuma------ Kazuma!?”

Her voice raised by an entire scale. In the few seconds that her eyes left Kazuma, Kazuma------ That almighty Kazuma actually kneeled onto the floor entirely. She looks at the incredible sight with a pale look on her face.

“Kazuma! Ka------”

Ayano who panicked for a moment, finally recovers upon seeing that pool of blood at her feet.

There is no time to be shocked. This amount of blood loss------ Not good at all.

Even though he commands overwhelming power, he is still mortal. He will still die when faced with dying situations, a critical amount of blood loss cannot be compensated by mental strength.

Ayano doesn’t mind getting blood onto her clothes at all, and goes up to kneel by Kazuma’s side.

“Kazuma?”

“I'm fine.”

“What do you mean by fine------”

Ayano swallows the words that almost spilled out from her mouth.

Within those quiet eyes looking upwards, a strong and undying determination can be seen within. Those eyes beats any language or words, and stops any refutes.

(It won’t work……)

There is no need to even ask, Ayano understood in an instant. Just looking into those eyes, anyone would have had thought the same thing!

<nowiki>------</nowiki>Nothing can stop him.

“Move aside.”

Kazuma seems to feel impatient towards the motionless Ayano, and began to take action. He grabs Ayano by her shoulder, wanting to force her aside------ Yet that strength is pathetically weak.

Ayano breathes out lightly, and then gently removes the hand pressing against her shoulder. Instead she grabs Kazuma by his arm, who’s about to collapse, and pulls him to her side.

“You------”

“Stop your bleeding first!”

Ayano says to Kazuma who is staring at her with a fierce look.

“------Ahh?”

“I said “Stop your bleeding”! At the rate it is going, you would die within five seconds of the battle. At least cover that wound on the outside, then try to think of some way to recover your energy. Ren and I will support buy you the time to recover.”

“What the hell are you talking about, how can I leave it to you two.”

Kazuma ignores Ayano’s kind suggestion, and tries to force his legs to stand up. At this moment------

“You idiot! That is enough!”

Ayano finally got angry. She grabs Kazuma’s collar, then pulls him back with force. Kazuma’s knee loses strength once more, and falls into the pool of blood.

“What can you achieve by dragging that dying body! To just say you did your best when you lost every ounce of energy, so as to satisfy yourself, and then die just like that? Don’t make me laugh!”

Ayano continues to grab his collar, shaking Kazuma continuously. This is way too vigorous for someone who is badly wounded, but Ayano in her anger is not in the mood to care about such things.

“You want to save Misao right? You want to protect me and Ren right? Since you dare say “to protect everything”, then do what you said you would! Don’t you dare use death to run away! I will definitely not let you get away so easily! We will both leaving you your share, so back off until you can move with ease!”

“…………”

For a while, Kazuma stares dumbfounded at Ayano who is so angry she is about to cry------

“Wai……Wait……What are you doing……!?”

And then hugs her tightly.

Ayano’s ears turn red completely, her body tenses up entirely. She opens her mouth wanting to say something, but due to the sudden shock, her thoughts cannot be conveyed into words.

“……Kazuma?”

While she was being hugged, Ayano notices that Kazuma’s body trembles from time to time. She originally thought that it was due to the pain from the wound, but it seems slightly different.

It would be quite a while later that she realizes that this was him laughing to himself.

“------Kazuma?”

Hearing that low and threatening questioning, Kazuma answers, still with a bit of that laughter left on his face:

“No, I was just thinking------ You might become a fine woman in the future.”

Hearing such sudden words of flattery, the temperature of Ayano’s face went even higher. But to be able to express her joy frankly, Ayano still lacks some experience.

“Might? A fine woman? What a joke! I will definitely become a top class beauty! When that time comes, it would be too late for you to regret not having realized my potential!”

“That is hard to say, there are a lot of people who are younger than you that are already women. This has nothing to do with virgin or not, but as long as you keep thinking “someday”, you will never be a grown up.”

“……You sure are talkative for a dying man.”

Kazuma smiles against that weak rebuttal, and makes a declaration:

“Five minutes.”

“------Huh?”

“Five minutes, buy me some time.”

“Is five minutes enough? Ten minutes, or maybe twenty would be easier------”

“Five minutes.”

Kazuma holds his ground, repeating himself once more. This is not the minimum time required, but probably that the maximum amount of time he is willing to suppress his pride is five minutes?

“Fine, fine.”

Ayano replies simply, as if hoaxing a child, and then stands up. She walks straight at Vritra, but turns around again after a few steps.

She lowers her head to look at Kazuma who is placing “ki” into his palm and began healing his wound.

“------What?”

“I just wanted to ask you------ You have never thought about sacrificing yourself to save Misao, did you?”

As if trying to seek the true meaning to her words, Kazuma stares at Ayano, the side of his lips rises up suddenly.

“I------”

That originally frowning, serious look that doesn’t befit Kazuma is gone. He uses an arrogant, invincible and easy smile------ the one Ayano is most familiar with, the expression that suits Kazuma the most, to reply:

“------I don’t like dying.”

“Great!”

Ayano smiles happily, and runs off without turning her head.

Running towards the battlefield.

=== 4 ===

“GRRYYWWWWWW!!”

Ren jumps to avoid Vritra’s dragon breathe. Without a care for his pride, he runs away everywhere, and timing it to release flames when the breathe pauses from time to time.

Perhaps to try to imitate Kazuma’s wind blade, the sharp and tiny golden flames he gathered, move into Vritra’s mouth in a manner leaving a laser-like trail behind.

In the blink of an eye, the golden brilliance explodes within Vritra’s mouth. Seeing the huge dragon that tries hard to shake its head in order to put out the flames, Ren begins to adjust his irregular breathing.

Seeing that, the impressed Ayano praises:

“My, you are quite good at fighting.”

Hearing the voice behind him, Ren turns his entire body vigorous to the back.

“Nee-sama!”

But that originally bright and delightful expression soon changed to worry. Seeing the blood stains at Ayano’s feet and clothes, Ren asked in a trembling voice:

“Nii-sama, he……?”

“He is off the scene for now, but he will be back very soon.”

Even hearing Ayano’s ascertained explanation, Ren’s expression did not ease up. Ayano imitates Kazuma, and uses a slightly rough motion to caress Ren’s head.

“Believe in him, your brother is a very strong guy.”

This is definitely not a consoling sentence that is said without basis. Kazuma will be back within this period of time, regarding this, Ayano has no doubt about it.

“You are right……”

Perhaps due to that sentence, Ren’s tense expression loosens up gradually, Ayano nods her head naturally.

“That’s right, that guy won’t die even if you kill him.”

“Isn’t that going a little overboard……?”

Ignoring Ren’s objections as always, Ayano continues to say:

“So to say, our mission is to buy time and weaken the enemy’s strength------ Let’s do it!”

Ayano imbues all her strength as she waves Enraiha. The flames that burst out from the blade spills out like a flood, surrounding the silvery white dragon.

Vritra’s body which possesses outstanding fire resistance will not suffer fatal damage if it suffers a direct hit from Enraiha. To use a flame that spill out widely, without concentrating at any point, it should be unable to beat through its defenses. Yet------

“GYYYYYYYWWWWWWWW!!”

The golden flames ruthlessly invades Vritra’s body. The silvery white scales and crystal teeth are caught in the flames, and slowly drop onto the floor one by one.

“Phew------”

Placing the swung Enraiha at her shoulder, Ayano breathes out in satisfaction. Seeing that gesture, Ren laughs out, with a slight intention of making fun of her amidst his joy.

“You are finally back to your normal self?”

“Guess you can say that. Sorry, for making you guys worried.”

The reason Ayano can wield Enraiha is not because of her father, and she is certainly worthy of wielding it. Because she is undoubtedly the Jutsushi with the purest Kannagi blood in this generation.

Before such power, one cannot relax no matter how strong one’s flame resistance capabilities may be. As long as she removed jealousy and machine-like ruthlessness, and uses her power in the most natural state, it is very easy to break through Vritra’s defenses.

“Okay, one more time! Follow my timing.”

“Got it!”

Just as the two co-operate and prepare to follow up with another attack on Vritra.

“You two…… don’t seem to know your own places?”

Mikaeru’s consciousness sounds off in their minds.

“Watch this!”

With that said, a horn protrudes from the inside of the dragon’s forehead. That impressive sharp horn that matches its gigantic body very well------ On its surface, there is a female figure like those statues at the front of a ship.

After recognizing who this female is, Ren cries out loud:

“It’s Misao!”

The change does not end there.

“Woah……”

Misao’s face continues to emerge like bamboo shoots after the rain, gradually covering the entire outer surface of Vritra. Seeing such an eerie sight that would one find it hard to look at directly, Ayano and Ren shifted their eyes away at the same time.
(“Bamboo shoots after the rain” is a saying in Japan, this is because the rain will wash away the soil, revealing the bamboo shoots. It implies the appearance of something after an event. Please ask Japanese translators to give a better explanation if required.)

“See------ now you guys won’t be able to attack can you? You might as well just get killed by Vritra, I will place your heads right before Yagami’s eyes!”

“GRRRRRYYYYYYWWWWW!!”

While dodging the black flames that fall down like rain, Ayano seems to be out of ideas, and asks Ren:

“What do you think? Which one do you think is the real one?”

“Normally speaking it should be that horn…… But I don’t want to push my luck.”

“Yeah, I agree. It feels as though it is placed there on purpose, as if luring us to it.”

“GRRRRLLLLYYYY------!!”

A magical formation appears below the dragon’s feet. In resonance with its roar, lighting emerges from the gaps in the patterns.

(Lightning strike------!)

Ayano shouts out immediately:

“Hide behind me!”

“O……Okay!”

Enraiha is swung out horizontally. A wide area of fire forms a protective shield, blocking countless fireballs.
(Chinese translation error? I think it should be lightning balls…)

Withstanding the impact of hundreds of lightning balls, Ayano curses angrily:

“He seems to be getting a little arrogant thinking that we cannot retaliate……”

“Nee-sama! In front!”

“------!”

As Ayano is focusing on maintaining the kekkai, Vritra quietly snuck towards them, its vicious hooked claws are now closing in right at them..

Ayano wanted to chop its entire arm off at first, but she saw Misao’s face within the dragon’s palm. She was smiling.

“Argh------”

Ayano changes the path of her sword in an instant, and finally managed to only cut the hooked claws. She hurriedly pulls her distance away and gets back into her battle stance, but is completely out of ideas on what to do.

“Nee-sama, what should we do?”

“------What do you think we should do?”

Ayano smiles and shrugs her shoulders as she thought to herself:

(Luckily he didn’t ask for twenty minutes.)

The promised five minutes is almost up, at this rate, they will probably pull through.

(Come back quickly, Kazuma. If you dare say “give me another five more minutes”, I will not let you off.)

“WRRRRRRYYYYYYYYYY!!”

“Damn------ How annoying!”

Just as Ayano is using Enraiha to reflect the who-knows-what-number wave of attack.

Suddenly, a certain feeling emerges from the back.

Even though there is someone at the back, Ayano shows no sign of wavering, and instead accepted this feeling.

Clear with a sense of stability within. Basking in this feeling, she adapted to it without even realizing it, as if she had been fighting like this for years now.

The two stands at the most effective, and most comforting position there is.

To click together as one. That is the kind of feeling.

Ayano asks without even turning her head:

“Isn’t this a little too quick?”

“Because a boastful someone was chased everywhere. I don’t have a choice, but to return sooner. Be grateful!”

Hearing the usual sarcastic reply, Ayano laughs. This guy, he will probably talk like this to his very last breath before his death?

The surrounding winds begin to glow with a faint blue shine. Ayano grabs Enraiha tightly once more, gathering energy for this moment. Like a bow pulled back fully, all the energy is gathered at a single point------

“Go!”

Together with that angry shout, Ayano waves Enraiha down with all the strength she can muster.

Ren and Ayano separated while they were running around evading Vritra’s attacks.

“Nee…… Nee-sama……?”

As Ren is intending to confirm his nee-sama’s safety, an exceptionally powerful energy wave flew into his consciousness all of a sudden. As he is too close to it, there is no way for him to judge where it originated from. This feeling that seems as though the surrounding space shook, caused all his hair to stand up.

The impact came from the right side. An azure flame bursts out, and uses its cleansing light to surround Vritra’s huge body. The cleansing power burns off more than half of that silvery white body, Vritra loses its dragon appearance in an instant.

“Otou-san?”

Even though he knows its impossible, Ren still called out without thinking. A crystal clear azure glow, an incomparably powerful cleansing power. Without a doubt, that is the ultimate flame that Kannagi Genma controls------“The Azure Flame”.

But, Genma is still in the hospital, and he must definitely get some quiet rest, there is no way that he can appear in a place like this.

Ren follows the path of the flame, and saw that……

“Ah……”

He sighs out in relief, as if a great burden has just been lifted, and sits down onto the floor entirely. Just as he relaxes, he is also completely drained, but it doesn’t matter. Because his mission is over, all that is left is to cheer for those two.

“Go on! Nii-sama, Nee-sama!”

Ren roots for them softly.

“Wow……”

Ayano opens her eyes wide, staring at the flame that she is releasing.

The azure wind------ winds in a spiraling motion stained with the color of Kazuma’s “ki”, revolving around the golden flames that are bursting out. The two powers combine together very naturally, and boost each other.

Even hotter, even clearer------ a holy flame that pushes “cleansing” to its extreme, achieving the goal of vanquishing evil, and perhaps even through dimension, it might even be called a divine flame. Even though it feels like she is being treated like a living kerosene gun, but Ayano still continues to release flames.

Kazuma stands up to the front.

“------ Kazuma?”

“Continue.”

Kazuma gives a short command, and then rides the wind, flying up into the sky. As if the synchronized feeling just now is just an illusion, Kazuma leaves Ayano’s side without a care, flying towards the remains of Vritra.

“…………”

What he is there for, there is no need to even ask. Because the reason is so obvious, yet even though she knows the reason------

“Ahhhh! This is infuriating!”

In response to Ayano’s fury, the flame burns even more vigorously.

How can this be!?

Within Vritra’s gradually collapsing body, Mikaeru’s face becomes stiff from fear.

(How can this…… Impossible…… This has collected several hundreds------ almost one thousand people’s vigor! But, how is it possible that it lost against a mere three people? Just who the hell are they? Are there really anyone that can accommodate such an immense power among humans?)

In the end he is still unable to understand. But in reality, he is being beaten. Vritra has been destroyed beyond recovery, all the vigor collected through Misao has all been used up as well.

Defeated.

He can only admit it. There is no way to turn this around, this is failure.

Mikaeru decides to retreat instantly.

(Remember this------ Yagami Kazuma! One day I will definitely------)

He separates himself from the remains of Vritra------ the area which had been the head, that place is already a sea of flames. The azure flames mercilessly rip off the layers of youki.

The corroding horn stands tall before his eyes, Mikaeru uses eyes of hatred to stare at the girl sealed within.

“Useless thing.”

He can’t help but curse, yet he never expected anyone to reply.

“I believe you don’t have the right to say that!”

Mikaeru turns around, as if struck by lightning.

“Ya……yagami Kazuma!”

A pathetic voice can be heard with it. Kazuma has no intentions of mocking his pathetic state, and just lowers his head to looks at Mikaeru silently.

“I knew it, just as things doesn’t seem right, you will definitely run off. Because a kid like you, don’t have the determination or will to fight to your death.”

That is a plain tone that bears no emotions, as if the other party does not even deserve to be humiliated.

This reaction hurts Mikaeru’s pride deeply, but he still forces a smile.

“Just take it that you won this time. But, don’t think this is over, I will come back again!”

With that, Mikaeru activates teleportation. Even though a kekkai that prevents teleportation has been set in this area, but that is specially designed against Misao, and is insufficient to seal Mikaeru’s teleportation. If it is just a short distance teleportation, there should be no problem------

“Wha------What?”

“What’s wrong?”

Seeing the shocked Mikaeru, Kazuma asks with an uninterested expression.

Mikaeru stares at his dreaded enemy that bears an easy expression on his face, and tries to activate teleportation once more.

<nowiki>------</nowiki>Failure.

No matter how many times he try, the result is still the same. The distorted space created to link two points up, gets destroyed immediately after it is created.

“How…… How can that……”

Mikaeru stares blankly at Kazuma. There is no doubt, this must be Kazuma’s doing. But------

“You…… You can see it? Could it be that you can see through the distorted space I created amidst this rampaging space!?”

“You can take it that way.”

“…………”

Kazuma nods as if its only natural, Mikaeru looks as though he is about to go mad as he stares at Kazuma.

The azure flames release such a massive energy that even space has begun to be distorted. Under such conditions, a small distortion created for teleportation should not even be noticed.

To put it simply, it is just like locking onto a ripple made by a small fish amidst the sea surface being rampaged by a storm. It is not humanly possible.

“You…… Just “what” the hell are you?”

Watching the murmuring Mikaeru, Kazuma smiles proudly.

“------ To not even know this, you dare to challenge me?”

Mikaeru uses fearful eyes to look up at Kazuma, looking into those blue eyes that bears a clear and deep luster within.

“A contractor……”

Someone under a contract with the spirit lord of the winds, to control all winds. To form a contract with an extraordinary existence, the world’s only “Contractor”.

Those blue eyes can be seen as proof of being a saint. A messiah that represents a spirit lord on this Earth, the mark of a saint------Stigma.

“The winds will tell me everything. Where there is air, nothing can hide from me.”

“Damn…… Dammit…… You monster……!”

Mikaeru murmurs unhappily, then draws a dagger out and jumps out. Not towards Kazuma, but to that standing sharp horn at the back------ Misao who is sealed within.

“Don’t move!”

Placing the dagger at Misao’s throat, Mikaeru shouts:

“I know. I know very well, you will not stand to watch this girl die, so I still have one last trump card. It is still to early for you to get cocky! Yagami Kazuma!”

He shows a sinister smile, and uses a sharp voice to say.

That face no longer has any of that innocent look that a child would have. A young appearance matched with an ugly, greedy expression, that unsuitable feeling made him look even uglier.

Kazuma seems uninterested as he listened to Mikaeru’s threat, and grumbles in his mouth:

“------ What an unworthy death.”

“Don’t move!”

Kazuma ignores his warning, and stretches his hand into his chest to get a cigarette. The way he lighted the cigarette looks very lazy as well, drawing the smoke deeply to fill his lungs.

“You……You think I am kidding you!? If you want this girl to live------”

“Enough.”

Kazuma stops Mikaeru in his speech.

“Wha…… What------?”

I have seen this already. If you don’t have any other tricks, then die!”

From a high altitude far away, Kazuma says that. As if saying, if you can perform some interesting new trick to please him, then for this period Kazuma will “let him live temporarily”.

“You bastard……”

Against this unbearable humiliation, Mikaeru’s voice and the hand he uses to hold the dagger begins to tremble. His bloodshot emerald eyes gradually loses rationality.

“You bastard…… You bastard…… You bastard------------!!”

Mikaeru gives off a scream at a frequency beyond what humans can hear, then thrusts the dagger in his hand. Just as the sharp blade is about to slit Misao’s throat.

<nowiki>------</nowiki>Swish!

Mikaeru’s right arm is severed from his elbow on, fresh blood gushes out like a fountain.

“Ah……Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!”

Following that, the remaining two legs and left arm were sliced apart from their roots. Mikaeru’s caterpillar-like body, then rolls into the pool of his own blood.

Kazuma steps onto Mikaeru’s stomach with force. His stomach seems to have been broken by the step, but at this point in time there is no point in caring about that.

“I had originally intended to slowly torture you, but I don’t have that much time either------ so bear with it.”

Kazuma kicks Mikaeru like a soccer ball and sends him flying. The tiny body flew off in an instant, and falls into the fiercely burning azure flames in the end.

This body that has suffered heavy injuries, no longer has any power to withstand the power of the purifying flames. The blue flames burns away the the youki that has soaked into the cells, purifying them together with the body. There is no time to even scream, the existence of Mikaeru Hari disappeared from this world entirely.

Kazuma sighs out lightly, and adjusts his breath.

“I wasted too much time, I must hurry……”

A contract with the spirit lord means to borrow the rights of the lord under limitations.

The human body can withstand the power of an extraordinary existence for some time, but this burden is beyond measure.

For example, it is like a person trying to block off an upcoming tsunami alone, to withstand such a massive force based on mental strength alone, there is no way it can last.

Needless to say that his body condition now is very bad, and is at its limit.

Kazuma urges his tired body, and walks towards that sharp horn with Misao sealed within.

To say that she is sealed is actually not accurate enough. Most of the sharp horn has already been burnt away, all that is left is the portion covering Misao’s waist and below. There is no constraint on her upper body.

Kazuma stands right before Misao, and places his hand on her forehand, forcing “ki” into her, and then gives a simple command:

“Get up.”

”……Mm……”

Misao murmurs softly, her eyelids twitches, and slowly opens.

“……Ah……?”

She doesn’t seem to be able to apprehend the current situation, and gives off a puzzled sound. The opened empty eyes gradually regains focus------ and at the instant she recognized Kazuma, she opens her eyes wide.

“Kazuma……san……”

She uses a coarse voice to call out his name, there is not a shred of hatred within that expression and voice.

“Yup. Has mind control been completely released? Let’s go back then!”

Kazuma announces calmly, then reaches out to her. Yet, Misao turns her face around, her hands placed before her chest.

“------?”

“Please, just let me…… die……”

Misao says with a trembling voice.

Kazuma stares at Misao closely, as if trying to look through Misao’s expression, with her head lowered and is covered by her hair.

“Why?”

“Because…… I am a sinner.”

“Oh? So?”

Kazuma seems to find this unbelievable, and asks once more. Misao stares at Kazuma with slanted eyes, probably thinking that he is teasing her on purpose.

“I have committed an unforgivable sin…… So…… I can only redeem myself through death……”

Kazuma looks coldly at Misao who is seeking atonement continuously.

“You are really important aren’t you.”

“……Huh?”

Kazuma stands up before the puzzled Misao, and uses the tip of his feet to kick below his feet.

“This guy, it was a really big dragon just now------ Did you know what energy did it use to move?”

“Yes…… It uses……”

Towards the pale Misao, Kazuma announces the truth mercilessly:

“It is all the people you killed, their vigor.”

“------!”

“There is probably a few hundred people------ Energy capable of moving that massive thing, I guess it would take more than just a hundred or two people!”

Misao is at a loss for words, she feels grieved over her deep sins and trembles over it.

“Using your “precious” one life, you can redeem the sin of killing several hundred people?”

Kazuma uses an extremely unnatural gentle tone to question her, and then grabs Misao’s hair, pulling her lowered face up forcefully.

“Quit joking! Are you some religious chief of some new religion!? Did you think pinning you on a cross can save all the people in this world? Don’t be so naïve! You are just trying to run away. Unwilling to face the deep sins you have committed, and unwilling to seek any method of atonement, to just try to escape through death, isn’t that right!”

“Ah…… Ahhh……”

The weakness within her heart being revealed, Misao’s tears fall down like rain.

“Even so…… Even so, what do you think I should do? With such deep sins, could there possibly be some way to redeem myself?”

She urges Kazuma for an answer. However, the answer was cruel.

“How would I know.”

“You…… You……!”

Misao can’t help but show an angry expression.

“You are really full of yourself!”

“No matter what others say, I don’t know what I don’t know. I killed plenty of people too, but let’s not mention atonement, I did not even review myself even once.”

What a completely self-centered guy. If anyone is to ask for a way to redeem himself, he is probably the most unsuitable person in the world to ask.

“Besides, aren’t you getting the sequence wrong?”

“…… What do you mean?”

Not understanding what this sentence means, the puzzled Misao questions Kazuma back.

“Who are the ones you must compensate to first? Is it those people whom we do not even know their names? Or that dumb father that wanted to kill his own daughter but got killed instead?”

Kazuma pauses for a second, then continues to say:

“No! Of course not! The one whom you created the most trouble for, the one who needs compensation most is me! It is me! So before you think about dying or to live, you should repay me first! To put it more bluntly, you have to repay with your body!”

“…………Ah?”

Misao realizes that Kazuma is not looking at her face, but staring at the location around a distance of one head below her eyes------ around her chest.

She follows Kazuma’s eyes towards her chest. Perhaps due to her clothes being dissolved by slimes, Misao is naked, and revealing her natural figure.

At the end of Kazuma’s glance, there are two soft bloated objects------

“------------!”

Misao senses an unknown danger, and uses her hands to cover her exposed breasts immediately. At the very same time, a large plasma bullet is shot from the ground.

“------Ahh?”

Kazuma uses the back of his hand to deflect the plasma shot without even turning his head around.

“Please…… Please calm down, nee-sama!”

“Let me go, Ren! I am going to vaporize that lowdown thing right here!”

Seeing the ruckus on the ground, Kazuma complains with an irritated look:

“What an annoying person, there is no way to calm down and talk about the serious stuff like this.”

(------ Serious stuff?)

Misao can’t help but stare at Kazuma’s face.

“What’s up?”

“------Ha!”

Kazuma asks seriously. The moment she saw that expression, Misao suddenly burst out in laughter.

Misao continues to bend over and laugh, Kazuma on the other hand looks at her with a puzzled look on his face.

“------Have you gone mad?”

“N……No…… I am fine.”

Misao finally suppresses the urge to laugh, and reaches out to wipe her tears.

Even though so saddened, people can still laugh. What a new discovery.

“I…… I must first compensate Kazuma-san right?”

“Ahhh, yes.”

Kazuma nods in response, and Misao nods lightly in agreement.

“I got it. Please let me compensate you with all my heart. While I make my compensation to you, I will continue to find ways to compensate the others.”

“------Is that so?”

“That is to say------ Please help me. I do not wish to die yet.”

Misao’s lower body is still connected to Vritra’s remains. At this rate, she will face the same fate as Mikaeru.

“Understood. These remains, and the youki left in your body, I will purify them altogether. It may waver a little, be careful.”

“Okay.”

Misao nods lightly, then closes her eyes.

Kazuma rides the wind flying up to the sky, pulling away the distance. Following that, he raises his right hand in the air------ and waves down at one go.

The blue wind comes tumbling down from the directly above Misao. The wind blows away all surrounding flames, and purifies all that can be considered “evil” completely.

Kazuma returns to the ground. Ayano and Ren come up to receive him.

“Where’s Misao?”

Towards Ayano’s question, Kazuma only shifts his eyes slightly upwards.

In the space where the blue light slowly grows faint, there is something that is descending from the skies slowly. The naked female covered in the light seems pure and beautiful, anyone that sees this would be deeply mesmerized.

Kazuma removes his jacket, and places it on the girl that descended from heaven.

As Ayano sees this scene, her eyebrow raised upwards. Perhaps she is reminded of the previous incident------ Kazuma completely unwilling to remove his jacket to cover her last time, until she had to strip it off him herself.

“Still alive?”

Ayano observes Misao who is being carried by Kazuma. She is unconscious, but still breathing.

“Yeah, you better go get a car, we are heading back.”

“Ah, yeah------ By the way, how’s your injury?”

“The bleeding stopped, I should be fine as long as I don’t move around too much.”

Even though he sounds relaxed, but he looks really bad, obviously having lost too much blood.

Ayano says worriedly:

“Should we go to the hospital first? You seem even weaker than Misao.”

“I must hand Misao to Suzerain personally first.”

“Yeah------ you are really gentle aren’t you.”

“You jealous?”

Ayano reflexively pulls out Enraiha.

“What…… What are you talking about! Look at your body condition, you really think you can still fight leisurely? I am definitely stronger than you now!”

“Oh? You want to kill someone that got hurt because of you? Kids these days don’t even know basic courtesy.”

Raising his head to look at the two staring at each other, Ren sighs out painfully. Once again verifying that these adults before him cannot be relied upon, he decides to contact their family by himself.

“Ah, is it Suou? We are done here, please come to get us. Try to make it quick------ Huh? Yes, someone is injured, but if we don’t try to put a stop to this, the surrounding areas…… Yes, I leave it to you.”

Keeping his cell phone, Ren’s focus shifts back to the two. There is no need to even see them to feel that their “ki” is rising.

He really didn’t expect the two to be so childish, but just in case, round two may start.

(Suou…… Come quick……)

Ren sighs once more, and praying that this calamity can be avoided at the same time.

<noinclude>
{| border="1" cellpadding="5" cellspacing="0" style="margin: 1em 1em 1em 0; background: #f9f9f9; border: 1px #aaaaaa solid; padding: 0.2em; border-collapse: collapse;"
|-
| Return to [[Kaze_no_Stigma|Main Page]]
| Back to [[Kaze_no_Stigma:Volume2_Chapter_5|Chapter 5]]
| Forward to [[Kaze_no_Stigma:Volume2_Epilogue|Epilogue]]
|-
|}
</noinclude>

Kaze no Stigma:Volume2 Chapter 4

2010-03-29T18:29:52Z

173.56.162.249: /* 1 */

==Chapter Four - Fall – The price for power- ==

=== 1 ===
(Caught you……)

With absolute confidence in himself, Kazuma believes firmly that he has already won.

He has complete grasp over the scent of the enemy. And to add onto that, the enemy has not realized this yet.

Certain victory------ No, a sure kill situation. Because the only difficult part of this job is merely “how to find the enemy”.

From the way he gathers energy, the act of sucking the vigor of humans can be considered the last resort. Despite how efficient this method may be, the risk is great in comparison.

Killing this many people, it is impossible to keep the operation hidden, and the number of people investigating this will naturally increase. If it is a clever jutsushi, he will probably try to avoid having meaningless conflicts with these people, and in turn use a safer method.

This enemy conducts such a large scale operation, from that it is easily seen how crude his technique is. It is just like a normal human being who by some chance obtained power, and making trouble from his arrogance.

(Even though it is possible that this is just a farce------ Who cares, it shouldn’t matter once I found him. Besides, I already prepared a “safety precaution” here.)

Ayano will definitely chase after him. Regarding this, Kazuma has no doubts at all. As long as she follows the route signs I left------ situated at every junction, the guiding winds that points in the right direction, she should be able to reach me in the shortest distance.

“So, let’s just go at it!”

Kazuma murmurs, and then he steps out from “there”. Below him, there is nothing in contact with his legs or body, and at the same time he felt the chains of gravity pulling him mercilessly.

From the rooftop of a sixty stories tall building------ SUNSHINE60, Kazuma drops down as if committing suicide.

Raging strong winds constantly trample upon Kazuma’s body, yet Kazuma still carries a fearless smile on his face.

He controls the speed and direction of his fall, and flies to the side of Ikebukuro central park. He lowers his speed, adjusting it to approximately the speed of a fall from the second story and lands gradually.

Right before the “enemy”.

“…… Kazuma-san……?”

The girl sitting on the bench looks dumbly at Kazuma who came from the skies.

“…………”

Kazuma tilts his head downwards to look at her with a shocked expression. After a long stare, he gives a deep sigh.

“…… I had considered that it might be you…… But I never expected you to go to such an extent.”

The girl did not reply, and only continues to smile.

This girl seems to be the only one in the park. There is no kekkai set up here, merely just that an average person would not be able to bear the youki she releases.

Even without spiritual eyes, normal instincts of living things will automatically reject abnormal presences. The youki that lingers in the park is that dense.

At the girl’s feet, a smooth clear substance wriggles continuously. Despite her feet being tangled by goo that Kazuma has gotten so familiar with these few days------ A youma that can consume human vigor, her expression still does not show any sign of being in pain.

This is unquestionably an obvious proof. She is the “enemy” that Kazuma has been seeking.

Kazuma looks at the girl with painful eyes, and says bitterly:

“To go to such an extent, you really want to kill me that much------ Misao?”

“Of course.”

Ogami Misao------ A girl who is supposed to manipulate the purifying flames, yet at this moment even though youki is being released from all parts of her body, she is using an innocent smile to nod in reply.

“I never dreamt that you would find this place, the searching capabilities of a Fuu-jutsushi are really impressive.”

As if chatting casually, Misao smiles at Kazuma. Maybe because she is at ease in her heart, causing her to seem as though she has no intentions of getting up from that bench. Or maybe she already saw that Kazuma has no intentions of fighting.

In fact, it is very rare to see Kazuma being unable to decide what actions to take like now.

He must not kill her. Yet, he must not let her escape.

Misao is walking onto a wrong path. If left unattended, she would fall into a deep abyss, and perhaps destroy herself in the end! Kazuma cannot watch this happen idly.

(But, what should I do?)

Frankly speaking, he is out of ideas now. He has absolutely no idea how to stop Misao without killing her.

There is nothing left to be said between the two, and so the two stare at each other silently------ Alas, the still tension in the area was broken immediately.

“Is this the place!?”

A loud and clear voice sounded off in the area, together with a crimson red divine aura announcing the arrival of a divine descendent of flames. An astonishing power like the sun swept away all the youki in the park.

Kazuma turns his head slightly, and uses one corner of his eye to look at her valiant appearance. She------ Ayano Kannagi seems more courageous than usual, it makes one want to clap to praise her.

“…… She came.”

But at this moment in time, she is but a pesky little girl. Kazuma can’t help but click his tongue, mainly displeased with his own miscalculations.

(Darn------ I forgot to take back all the route signs.)

It is probably due to his wavering heart, to commit such a dumb mistake. He knew that members of the Kannagi must not see Misao now, yet he led the way for them------

“Ka……”

Ayano swallowed her words back as she tried to call out to Kazuma. That is because she has noticed Misao’s presence, and her eyes of shock reflected the image of someone who “was” in her clan, so much so that it made her forget to blink.

“……Misao……?”

“Yes------ Is anything the matter?”

Misao answers calmly, and then stands up.

An image of her wearing silk kimono and standing there quietly and vacantly entered her view. From the outside, this can be said to be more like Misao compared to a few days back!

However------

Ayano saw a change at a much deeper level instantly.

That is but of course.

That is because as a Jutsushi, they exist to destroy “That thing”.

Her entire family has been training hard to improve their technique for the past thousand years just for that purpose.

“How…… How can this……”

Ayano’s eyes stare hard at Misao as she shakes her head weakly.

To her, this is perhaps the worst situation, much worse than any nightmare. As a member of a clan that does exorcising as an occupation, an En-jutsushi that manipulates the purifying flames, Misao ironically became the youma that they must defeat.

On the other hand, Misao no longer takes note of this newly arrived character after a few seconds. She let Ayano who has yet to recover from the shock become part of the background, and focuses on Kazuma.

A never-changing smile. Looking clear and pure, a simple smile that bears only one emotion.

That is like pure water that contains no impurities, impossible to exist naturally, normal people will definitely not be able to give off such a smile.

Bearing an obvious expression of detest, Misao declares:

“Yagami Kazuma------ The hateful man that killed my brother. I have sworn, no matter the price or sacrifice, I will defeat you.”

“…………”

This sentence sounds highly unreasonable. The one who killed Takeya is Ryuya, and Hyoue who was manipulating Ryuya amidst the shadows. Kazuma was just being made the scapegoat.

To be killed because of Kazuma------ This is probably the explanation of only those who hate Kazuma would have.
But, Kazuma ignores the irony within, and asks calmly:

“Do you think that you can defeat me?”

“Definitely.”

Misao answers confidently:

”No matter how powerful you may be, you are still only a human. As long as I continue taking in the vigor of hundreds or thousands of people, my power will definitely surpass yours.”

“……Doesn’t matter, as long as you can not control it.”

“I can. I only need to take in enough to defeat you. After this is over, it doesn’t matter what I become.”

This is not the encouraging tone that one would have when making a declaration. Even though she challenged Kazuma, such a powerful Jutsushi, Misao does not seem agitated at all.

But, can this really be considered a clear and still state of mind? After draining the life of others to obtain power, can she really laugh it out?

Even if she has fallen down the demonic path, her heart still retained that innocent smile. A pure smile that is stained with blood all over.

.------ People call that “Madness”.

“Hey------ Is that all you want to say?”

The suppressed voice finally bursts out at one go. Ayano takes a step forward, Enraiha in her hand since long ago.

“Ayano-san, this has nothing to do with you.”

“Move to one side.”

“Shut up!”

Ayano refutes the request made by both parties.

“If you want to kill Kazuma, I will not stop you. But, I will never forgive you for degenerating into a youma, and the act of harming innocent civilians. No matter the reason, things that are not meant to be done are not to be done. This is something you should know very well. Misao!”

“------ So?”

Faced with Ayano’s reprimanding, that cold smile shows no indication of wavering. Hearing Misao’s reply, Ayano declares coldly:

“I have nothing else to say------ Begone, Misao!”

The glow of Enraiha becomes more glaring. Before that powerful golden power, Misao’s powers have no way of resisting.

If she really swung that blade down that is.

“Stop, Ayano!”

“What are you talking about!”

Ayano refuses the request for her to stop without even turning her head around.

“This is the duty of the Kannagi main family, don’t interfere.”

She ignores Kazuma, and raises Enraiha high up, but she just could not swing it down.

Because before she can strike off a plasma shot strong enough to vaporize Misao in one shot, Kazuma’s hands held Ayano back.

“I told you to stop.”

“…………”

Ayano did not say a word. She maintains that posture with Enraiha high up, and she lowers her head down.

In terms of physical techniques, the difference in strength between the two is also as great as heaven and Earth. Ayano is unable to escape Kazuma’s binds based on physical techniques alone.

Indeed, based on physical techniques alone.

Kazuma’s mistake, lies in him underestimating Ayano’s fury.

Seeing that Kazuma only cares for Misao, and completely ignores her, Ayano’s fury has slowly raised to the level filled with killing intents.

This kind of emotion, she has not realized it at all. And because of that, she cannot control herself, plus, Ayano’s greatest strong point lies at how straightforward she is, she will not hesitate at anything.

“……Let……go……”

“------ What did you say?”

Kazuma who did not catch her words lean towards Ayano.

“Let go of me!!”

Kaboom!

Flames burst out from Ayano’s entire body.

“Woah!?”

Even though he was not burnt by it, but Kazuma in his shock released Ayano’s hands slightly.

Grabbing this chance, Ayano leaps at Misao.

It is said that an expert in Jigen-Ryu can travel a distance of about nine meters in every step. And Ayano’s strength is not below this standard.

In the blink of an eye, Ayano has already closed in before Misao.

“Chuck------“

Kazuma manipulates the wind instantly, intending to blow Ayano away. Yet at this point in time, it is perhaps a little too much to handle with his power.

(Will I make it in time------?)

Kazuma is very anxious, yet the movement of a shadow is even swifter than Kazuma.

It is a shadow indeed.

Misao’s shadow begins to extend, and inflates into a three-dimensional state. A huge pitch black face lies right before Misao.

“……Huh?”

That gigantic face opens its mouth wide, and Ayano raises the Enraiha at the same moment. There is no way to stop them now.

As if she jumped into it herself, Ayano gets swallowed by the mouth of that gigantic face.

“……………………………………Ah……”

Kazuma does not know how to express his feelings now. He exaggeratedly swallows his saliva, and looks at the big face that swallowed Ayano up.

Because it was too spectacular, he was unable to say anything at all. This kamikaze attack style is just like Ayano. Maybe he should worry about her, but things having become the way they are now, it is very comical------ In fact, he can only laugh.

But, laughing will not solve all the problems at hand. Kazuma gives a dry laugh for a while, and then leisurely begins to summon the wind.

“Gee------ What a troublemaker------“

As he is about to release wind blades, Misao halts Kazuma softly.

“It is best you do not do that.”

“------Ah ah?”

“If you kill it, Ayano-san will forever be lost amidst the gaps in time.”

Kazuma maintains that posture with his right hand raised up and stopped his actions.

Misao reaches out to cover her mouth, and finally broke into laughter.

“Despite how heartless you sound, you still treasure Ayano-san. Won’t it be better to just say so frankly in her face?”

“What will telling her do? She will only get overboard. By the way, what do you intend to do with Ayano?”

Misao laughs even more happily.

“Don’t worry, I only intend to send her away slightly. Even though I can use her as a hostage, but you probably will not use your life to trade for hers right?”

“Of course.”

Kazuma says without hesitation:

“Even if she is the daughter of Soushu, I have no reason to go to such an extent.”

“The daughter of Soushu? Is that the only reason?”

Misao laughs with some deep meaning. To that, Kazuma answers clearly:

“What other reason can there be?”

“…… So be it, this is of no relevance to the two of us.”

“Indeed. So, what do you plan to do next?”

“I will be going off soon, because my power is insufficient to defeat you now.”

As she says this, Misao’s shadow becomes a cone shape and surrounds her. As Ayano is now her hostage, Kazuma is unable to attack that thing.

“Take care.”

Before Kazuma who is unable to do anything, Misao disappears as if swallowed up by the shadow, leaving no trace behind. Up against this kind of movement that travels beyond space, even Kazuma cannot ask the wind to follow them.

“……Gee.”

Kazuma grumbles in a tired voice, and sat down at a bench nearby.

At the same time, Ayano’s scent suddenly appeared. The distance is a little far------ But, Kazuma has no intentions of travelling specially to welcome her.

(Anyway she will definitely be angry again.)

If possible, he does not intend to meet her until she is no longer angry. Even if he knows that that would be impossible.

He takes out a cigarette from his bosom and nibbles on it. After drawing in the smoke to fill his entire lung area and letting his mood settle down, Kazuma takes a relaxed position as he waits for the return of the girl.

.------ After about ten minutes.

Ta ta ta ta ta ta ta ta ta!!

Sounds of bold footsteps as if planning to break the ground surface appeared, Kazuma who is leisurely sitting on the bench turns his head around

Biting the cigarette, praising the return of Ayano.

The place Ayano was thrown off, is on the other side of the station. Even though the direct distance is not even three kilometers, but with confusing paths and many traffic lights, it is not that easy to pass through.

Yet Ayano reached here in less than ten minutes. From this it is easily seen that, be it the question about her physical fitness or traffic morals, she had tossed them to the far ends of her mind.

Seeing Ayano who is panting continuously, Kazuma says in his regular tone:

“Not bad. You wanna participate in mid-distance Olympics?”

“Where is Misao!?”

Cutting short Kazuma’s joke, Ayano questions with a scary look on her face.

“Escaped.”

“Escaped------!? Why!?”

“How should I say this……”

Kazuma hesitates on how to explain, and thinking back on what happened a few minutes ago.

(So, how should I explain this……)

Thinking and thinking about it, he just could not find a suitable way of phrasing it, and so in the end he decides to choose a way of expression that sounds very superficial.

“Basically, a lot has happened.”

This is the excuse he tried his best to come up with. But before that, he could have perhaps considered the way he looks as he spits out smoke rings, he does not seem convincing at all.

“Oh------? “A lot has happened”? Just what happened?”

This reason naturally is unable to make Ayano submit. Ayano stares at Kazuma with eyes of high suspicion, as if saying “don’t tell me you were seduced by her”.

Kazuma just gives a bitter smile, and does not rebut in any way.

Indeed, he can hardly say he tried his best. Other than ensuring Ayano’s safety, he must nab Misao at the same time------ This is not impossible to him.

But------

(I am still too naïve……)

He sighs out as if mocking himself. What point is there to be bothered by something that the person concerned has long forgotten now……

Under Ayano’s blaming eyes, Kazuma stands up.

“------Where are you going?”

“Home. She will probably not come out again today.”

Against the back of that man leaving as if nothing happened, Ayano uses a nervous voice to declare:

“Let me remind you, I will report everything today as it is. The Kannagi will go full force at eliminating Misao. If you dare to obstruct us------“

“Who are you talking to, girl?”

A cold voice interrupted Ayano’s words. Kazuma turns around, and the cold smile on his face sent a chill down her spine.

“If you want to stop me, then don’t just talk, tell me with your strength! If you are mentally prepared------ I will take you on anytime.”

Ayano almost forgot to breathe, and just watched Kazuma who stepped out once more. When the shadow disappeared down the stairs, she fell to her knees.

Her entire body could not stop trembling. Once again she has experienced first-hand, that she must never become the enemy of this man, Kazuma.

Even so, she still must eliminate Misao. If she doesn’t, then the Kannagi will lose the meaning of existence.

“Just what do you expect me to do……”

She can’t help but begin to complain.

=== 2 ===

“Ta…… Takeshi!?”

Seeing the blood-stained youth in Masayuki’s arms, Takeya’s expression changes greatly, and runs to his father immediately.

“Father! What are you thinking------“

Masayuki walks past Takeya at his own pace, and places Takeshi down before Misao who was stunned by the scene.

“Treat him.”

After giving that order, Masayuki turns around as if it is nothing.

“…… Wait.”

Takeya uses a suppressed voice to stop Masayuki who is about to walk out of the room.

“Tell me, why did you cause Takeshi to be in such a state------“

“Training.”

“Don’t joke around with me!”

Hearing his father’s straight reply, Takeya shouts out immediately to scold:

“This is an illegal punishment! Why must you go to such an extent!?”

“Takeshi did not get enough practice, that is why he is injured.”

“Takeshi is only ten!”

“So what?”

Masayuki questions back with an emotionless look on his face:

“This has nothing to do with age. Since he is born in the Ogami family, then it is his duty to become strong. If you have time to complain, why don’t you use that time to train.”

“You asshole……”

Takeya’s eyes are filled with hatred, it is totally unlike the attitude one would have to his own family. However, a slight mockery was shown in those eyes unintentionally.

“You think such superficial efforts would actually be of use?”

“……What do you mean?”

“You are just trying to get back at uncle aren’t you? That uncle that took the title of chief away from you without so much of an effort!”

After such a taunting speech was said, the originally emotionless Masayuki’s expression changes entirely.

“Damn…… Damn you!”

Bearing a black face, he hits his son’s face forcefully.

This is a strike when he is truly angry. Takeya’s whole body was sent flying instantly, and aftering breaking the paper door, he rolled onto the corridor.

“Onii-san!”

“……I am fine.”

Replying to Misao’s cry, Takeya moves the remains of the paper door away and stands up. He spit out his saliva with blood mixed within, and looks at Masayuki with extremely belittling eyes.

“I was right, wasn’t I?”

“…… Shut it!”

“If you want to beat uncle, then do it yourself------ You have already been a loser at the moment you decided to push everything to your son!”

“I told you to shut it!!”

“Stop this!”

Misao hugs Masayuki who intends to beat up Takeya again tightly, and tries her best to cry out to stop them:

“Please stop this…… Don’t do this anymore……”

“…………”

Masayuki does not seem to go to the extent of using violence on Misao. He forcefully flings off Misao who is hugging his right arm, and leaves the room with irregular footsteps.

“Hehe, I finally said it.”

“Are you alright, onii-san?”

Seeing Misao who is very worried, Takeya waves at her with a smile.

“This is nothing, don’t worry. By the way, you better hurry and take a look at Takeshi’s injuries. When that is over, then help me over here.”

“------ Okay.”
Misao takes out the first-aid kit hurriedly, and begins to treat Takeshi who is filled with injuries all around him.

“------ Let me tell you this, Misao.”

“Yes?”

“That ass of a father only treats us as tools of revenge.”

“Onii-san, about this------“

Takeya, with a solemn expression, stops Misao who intends to try to cover up for their father.

“This is what it is, just accept this reality. It is the same for mum, she has no intentions of raising us. So, we must become strong, so as to be able to live independently without them.”

“Onii-san……”

“You must be strong too, Misao. You must become strong enough to live on alone.”

Hearing her beloved brother say this, Misao shakes her head hard in denial:

“No, I am not alone. I have onii-san with me, Takeshi as well.”

“------No.”

“Takeshi? You shouldn’t get up yet……”

Takeshi who is supposed to be still unconscious, woke up without them realizing it. He pushes away the hand that intends to make him lie on bed once more, and slowly lifts his upper body up.

“Onee-san will be alone. Because------“

Suddenly, Takeshi’s head began swaying. His entire head tilts to an angle where his neckbone obviously came off, and pa-chunk, drops off.

“------ Ah!”

Takeshi’s head kept on rolling, and in the end it stopped right before Misao, upside down.

“Because, we are already dead.”

(------ We?)

Misao turns her head around hurriedly.

(……Onii…… Onii-san……)

The connecting part of Takeya’s body is entirely cut off. Becoming a lower half that lies facing down, and an upper half that lies facing upwards. The open empty eyes stare into the ceiling.

“We were both killed by Kazuma.”

Misao turns her head around once more. The upside down head uses a clear voice to say:

“How I wish to become strong, and protect onee-san.”

There was not a single drop of blood flowing out from the cut upwards. That abnormally smooth surface looks just like a computed tomography scan.

“But, I can’t do it. Because I am killed------ Like this!”

A shadow appears suddenly without warning, and places his leg on Takeshi’s head, stepping on it just like that.

Kachunk.

Her cute younger brother, his head shatters like a fragile glass art piece.

“Hohoho……”

A hearty laugher came into her ears. Lifting her head, a man came at the centre of her view, mocking them.

Yagami Kazuma------ That is the name of her hateful enemy, the person who took everything away from her.

This is the first time Ogami Misao has hated someone so much, so much so that she hopes for him to die. Fantasizing herself stained with the blood spilt by Kazuma made her feel joy.

“Ah…… Ah…… Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!”

Her burning hatred became red lotus flames, locking Kazuma in a scorching jail.

(I succeeded------!)

Yet, the joy of victory lasts but a moment. After the flames disappeared, there lies Kazuma, uninjured.

“Too weak.”

He says so coldly, and reaches his hand to point at Misao. Raging winds released from his fingertip blows Misao out of the residence.

(This place is……?)

Gradually and unknowingly, Misao realizes that she is floating amidst the darkness. Unable to see anything, nor feel anything. Her five senses are not functional.

(Am I…… Dead……?)

The dreadful enemy that killed my brothers are right before me, yet I cannot even avenge them------

.------ Too weak------

Kazuma’s mockery rings by her ear, even if she goes full force, she cannot fight against him. The difference in power is just too great.

(I don’t want to lose like this…… If only I have more power…… For power, I am willing to do anything, it doesn’t matter no matter what I will have to lose……)

In the darkness, Misao even hoped for a devil to come. If she can use her soul to trade for power, she will do so without hesitation.

“Hoho, you seem to have had a good dream, Misao.”

[[Image:Kaze no Stigma vol 02 173.jpg|thumb]]
The youth shows an innocent smile, looking by his feet.

Just from the fact that he can smile looking at that scene, perhaps people would consider him as one of the bad guys?

In the holy space that is originally meant for praying to God, at this moment it is filled with glue-like monsters.

The monster that covers the entire floor completely were packed up to two meters in height, forming an area that could be called a sea of goo.

The slime that stretches out from within like tentacles are tangling on a statue of Jesus pinned on a cross. This scene is disrespectful to God that it would make a faithful believer faint upon seeing this.

At the bottom of this sea of goo, Misao is floating within, naked. Maybe because she is still dreaming, her expression gets distorted from sadness from time to time.

It has been over a week since this kind of dream has begun. A dream mixed with both fantasies and reality, is slowly and gradually invading Misao’s consciousness.

Which part is real, which part is but a fantasy, Misao cannot differentiate clearly anymore. She only hates Kazuma, the Kazuma who took away her precious family members from her------

(I want power…… A power that can defeat that man……)

“Then use all the power that is flooding this place!”

The youth solemnly commands her. Hearing a reply, which should have been impossible, Misao’s body shook. In those wide empty eyes, a youth that gives off a brilliant glow is reflected within.

(…… You are……?)

“I am an angel. As a servant to the absolute one God, I will grant your wish.”

(Angel……?)

“Let me bestow strength upon you! Because your wish is justified. Justified wishes will get justified rewards------ This is what it means to have “Justice”.”

(Give me…… Strength……?)

Impossible.

In her misty consciousness came a weak voice of refutation.

An angel means a messenger of God, a representative of absolute justice. Such an existence will never bestow power upon her.

But at this moment, the voice appeared once more.

That voice said, this is but of course.

Misao who is unable to find an answer, lifts her head and uses begging eyes to look at the youth.

Before her eyes lie a being beyond any, giving off a holy glow from all around his body. Despite how young he seems to be from the outside, the wisdom hidden within his eyes are beyond measure, showing a dignified figure worshipped by thousands.

Just questioning whether his words are true seems like a disrespectful act.

There was no need to consider, as he is an existence that stands above all man. That absolute will of heaven allows no arguments, Man should just follow the orders blindly------

Misao does not know at all, that this is not the first time she has met this youth, nor the fact that her memories has been changed countless times already.

Every time this “first meeting” is repeated, Misao’s consciousness is changed little by little. In the “real” first meeting, the cold eyes that she placed upon the youth who claimed to be an angel is but no more.

Now, the way Misao looks at the youth, within her eyes, she is almost worshipping him. With an expression like forgetting oneself when having high fever, there is no reason left within her.

“To obtain power, are you prepared to sacrifice, Misao?”

To the question from the youth, Misao nods without hesitation.

(No matter what happens, I will not hesitate…… Angel-sama.)

“Good girl.”

The youth waves his right hand like a conductor waving his stick. Following his movements, the grossly wriggling sea of goo begins to give off a faint phosphorescence glow.

One, two------ The phosphorescence being made consistently gathers around Misao, shining upon her naked body.

(This is…… Power……?)

Misao reaches out to the gentle phosphorescence uneasily with her hand, and a passionate and uplifting power flows into her body from her fingertips. Following that------

“Nooooooooooooooo!! Somebody……Somebody save me ahhhhh!!”

Dying screams rings in Misao’s head. As the power flows in, the hatred that comes along made her realize what these phosphorescences really are.

That is the light of life. Just like picking the most matured fruit, the essence of life that is harvested at the most fulfilling moments of these people.

(------Arrrgh!)

Misao is unable to withstand such a horrifying feeling, her entire body resists the power that is flowing in. The phosphorescence released dims slightly, then as if being squeezed back by something, returns to under Misao’s feet.

“What is the matter, Misao? Don’t you want power?”

The youth continues to wear a kind and loving smile, constantly seducing her with the forbidden method of consuming her own kind. Misao lifts her head to look at the youth, her eyes were those of fear.

(B…… But…… This is……)

”Don’t worry, this is not a crime. Because your wish is justified, and as long as your wish is justified, anything you do for it will also be justified. Right?”

This means, that the end justifies the means? This is not called quibbling, this is a ridiculous logic.

But------

Faced with the phosphorescence that come forth upon being released, Misao reaches out to grab them once more. Ignoring the bone-chilling screams, she squeezes the light in her hand till they are shattered. A fulfilling feeling surges out from her body, and she can clearly sense that the power that flowed in has become hers.

“That is the way, keep absorbing!”

Hearing the youth’s hush, Misao nods in response. She has been acknowledged by God------ This “fact” made Misao’s guilt disappear without a trace instantly.

The phosphorescence floating around flies into her body continuously. Where did they come from, who do they belong to, these questions are not important. The fact that her heart bears a strong desire to kill Kazuma causes her to greedily take in the power.

(Power…… I need even more power!)

Her hatred for Kazuma grows and inflates consistently, logic and views being ripped off entirely. Massive power continues flowing into that unstable mind.

If it was an average person, he would have had a mental breakdown long ago, and not even be able to maintain the shape of a human. Even for Misao, who is merely using her desire for revenge against Kazuma to support her, is barely able to maintain consciousness.

“Not bad, to actually not breakdown yet. The Kannagi bloodline is really not to be underestimated.”

Lowering his head to look at that scene, the youth gives off a sigh.

“I had intended to just play a little…… But I guess I should get serious!”

His large eyes squints to a line, from those eyes, a glow similar to that of a carnivore was reflected within.

But that was just for an instant, those green eyes returned to their original shine instantly. Those eyes are just that of a kid that knows not of the suffering of others, with innocence and cruelty mixed together at the same time.

“Misao------ Since your child wants to take revenge, as parents you should help out too. Don’t you think so?”

Looking at the girl who is single-mindedly and greedily seeking move vigor, the youth asks happily from deep within his heart.

=== 3 ===

Seeing the shadow of Kazuma, Ayano shrinks her body at that moment.

Juugo thinks it to be very strange and looks at her with eerie eyes, but looks back at Kazuma after that.

Kazuma’s attitude is the same as always. Regarding Ayano who seems unsettled, he does not even bother to look at her, his eyes looking directly at Juugo.

“Sorry, to call you over suddenly.”

“It’s nothing------ What is the matter?”

Looking at Kazuma who has sat down, Juugo goes straight to the point and declares:

“I would like to cancel my previous request.”

“Of course. To not do anything and hope to get money, how can there be such a good thing in this world.”

Ayano suddenly smiles, her attitude becoming abnormally taunting.

(……Did something happen again?)

Juugo feels worried about his emotionally unstable daughter, but on the surface he still maintains his calm attitude.

He orders the arrogant Ayano:

“You too, you are not to interfere with this from now on.”

“------Huh? W……Why?”

“Misao’s punishment, will be conducted with the leadership of the Ogami. This has been decided.”

Juugo disregards all objections with a tone that does not allow any doubt.

Ayano, who is at a loss, lifts her head to look at her father, but her father seems to have no intentions of continuing to explain.

She looks at Kazuma. The usual satirizing smile is not on his face, in replacement, it is an expression of mockery, insult------ and anger.

“------That is enough. Just because he intends to finish his daughter with his own hands, he hopes that this ugly news will be forgotten? And you accepted this proposal?”

“------ There is no choice, we cannot just cut our relations with the Ogami.”

(…… So that is what is going on.)

Hearing the two’s straight conversation, Ayano finally understood the situation now.

What Misao has done is clearly unforgivable. That is not to say that taking a gun to start a terrorist attack can be forgiven, but that is just a normal crime, and can be settled just by the police.

But, as a Jutsushi who is meant to exorcise youma, to degenerate into a youma herself. The seriousness of this matter is something the previous example cannot be compared with, as this is a grave matter that can lead to the life or death of a clan.

Even if Ayano or Kazuma were to punish Misao, this responsibility is not to be on Misao’s alone. The Ogami family will definitely be dragged in as well!

Ogami Masayuki intends to punish his daughter who has committed a forbidden and grave mistake by his very own hands, so as to clear the name of the Ogami.

This may be his wishful thinking, but logically it makes sense. As long as he brings up the excuse that “it is the duty of her parents”, there is probably no one who can refuse him.

(So in this case…… Kazuma must be very angry……)

Ayano even thinks that he would be so angry he would want to go and kill Masayuki this instant. But surprisingly, Kazuma looks very calm.

“So be it, since you are the one who requested for my help, you can do as you wish to terminate your request, but I have my way of doing things as well.”

Seeing that Kazuma insists on not letting the matter off, Juugo frowns.

“You will take part in this no matter what?”

“Yes.”

“…… So that is the case.”

Knowing that he cannot persuade Kazuma out of this, Juugo sighs heavily.

“By the way.”

Kazuma asks out of curiousity:

“You said that the Ogami will lead this, but is there any fighting power left in the Ogami now? Or maybe I should say, since Misao has become like that, then won’t there be no descendents left in the Ogami family?”

From what Kazuma knows, the children of Masayuki are only Takeya, Misao and Takeshi. Masato was not even married.

So assuming that they did not find any illegitimate children within these four years, there is no one to take up the title of the next head of the Ogami.

However, Ayano toppled such a mindset.

“There is still Takeya’s son.”

“Huh? He is married?”

“He has been married two years ago. Just half a year ago, a pair of male twins were born.”

“Oh------ That is really……”

Maybe he felt that he was getting old, that is why Kazuma had such an emotional reply.

“Maybe I should have sent his wife a bouquet of flowers?”

“------ Don’t mention that, be careful that you don’t get stabbed with a knife again.”

Hearing Kazuma’s lame joke, Ayano rebuts him, looking as though she has a painful headache.

“But, their fighting power is still not enough! What can the head and his wife do with just their daughter-in-law?”

“I never said that the Ogami will be doing this alone. The Kuga and Shijou families have agreed to help.”

Just to mention, both these families are branch families of the Kannagi. Especially the Kuga, as Takeya’s wife, Sei, is from the Kuga, so their relationship is very close.

“------Hmm. Even though I don’t really think that those people in the branch families can be of much help, but they still have to try whatever they can do!”

Kazuma says coldly, and then stands up.

“So, I will be going back now. Call me again when there is a job.”

“W…… Wait a minute!”

The foot that is just about to step out of the room stopped. Ayano directs the question that she keep in her heart for a long time at the back of that person who did not even turn his head back:

“Why…… Why are you so concerned about Misao? Is it because…… You like her?”

Her usual imposing tone is not there at all. Even though she does not wish to have to open her mouth to ask this question, yet at the same time she must. This dilemma is reflected in her tone, so she seems to be hesitating as she asked.

However, Kazuma’s attitude is the same as always.

“It doesn’t concern you.”

A very cold reply. The paper door, as if to obstruct further questions, closes coldly.

Hearing the footsteps that leave gradually, Ayano curses softly:

“Idiot……”

<noinclude>
{| border="1" cellpadding="5" cellspacing="0" style="margin: 1em 1em 1em 0; background: #f9f9f9; border: 1px #aaaaaa solid; padding: 0.2em; border-collapse: collapse;"
|-
| Return to [[Kaze_no_Stigma|Main Page]]
| Back to [[Kaze_no_Stigma:Volume2_Chapter_3|Chapter 3]]
| Forward to [[Kaze_no_Stigma:Volume2_Chapter_5|Chapter 5]]
|-
|}
</noinclude>