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Kaze no Stigma:Volume4 Chapter 3

2013-12-27T06:53:15Z

86.20.14.91: /* Chapter 3 - Shinjuku RPG */

== Chapter 3 - Shinjuku RPG ==

=== Part 1 ===

"Kazuma! I heard you made some serious blunder, huh?"

Meeting Kazuma face to face, Ayano said so, extremely enjoyed.

"Aah."

But Kazuma's response was an indifferent nod and without giving any reply he entrusted his back to the wall, his limbs idle.

"Kazuma.....?"

In front of that attitude she couldn't sport with, Ayano forgot the next attack she already prepared and called out to him in doubt.

Kazuma didn't answer. Not like he was ignoring her, more like he didn't even hear.

"What's this?"

She involuntarily asked Kirika but of course, she doesn't have the answer.

"I don't know - By the way Isurugi-kun, how long are you going to stand there, come sit!"

That was the first time Ayano realized she had another visitor.

If this man came together with Kazuma, it means it must be the ''promising newcomer''. From what she heard, he was definitely twenty three years old. But he seemed at least five years younger.

He had an extreme child-face. Because he came here while running, his cheeks were red. He stood stand still outside the room until he was permitted to come in.

But even so, why doesn't he move even after being called in.

"Good grief......"

Kirika stood up with a sigh, briskly walked to Daiki and brought him in by the ear.

"Isurugi policeman! Open your eyes!"

"Y- yes!"

The intense pain and scolding voice, brought Daiki's consciousness back to reality. His muscles extended as if an electric current run through them and stood vertically in front of Kirika.

"Th- this is Isurugi Daiki, I have just arrived!"

"I appreciate your efforts but first of all come sit down"

Responding in a worn-out voice, Kirika seized Daiki's hand. And then pulled him down as if he was a child who lost his composure, making him sit behind her.

He was acting like a suspect in a crime - Kirika thought so seeing him stand on the balls of the feet .

But then, Kirika quickly realized that was a misunderstanding.

While fleetingly stealing glances at Ayano, sitting down, Daiki asked:

"Ah, errr...this miss is....."

"........."

Feeling the approaching headache at the too easy to understand attitude, Kirika pressed her temples.

Even if she said he was a promising newcomer, she couldn't help but feel a little ashamed.

Throwing a sidelong glance at Kirika, Ayano bowed with a graceful gesture.

"I was late in introducing myself. I am the daughter of Kannagi Juugo, my name is Ayano."

Her bow was polite and her salute very friendly.

All her gestures were, each and everyone, unimaginably refined and hugely different from the time she was with Kazuma.

"Y- you are?"

As expected, it seemed even he knew that name, his flushed face becoming nervous.

But, as the the face of the girl he was looking at smiled softly just now, his consciousness flew up to heaven.

"My- my name is Isurugi Daiki! I work as a policeman, I'm twenty three years old and single!"

Daiki returned the greeting in a much too excited voice, with a slightly different focus.

Maybe he was really planning for a formal marriage interview.

But Ayano didn't attack that happy idiot and bowed her head with a serious face.

"I heard about you from Inspector Tachibana. You are a newcomer that she has great hopes for in the future."

"N- no, how unthinkable! My power is almost like nonexistent when comparing it with the Kannagi Clan."

"It has nothing to do with the size of power. It's important what you can do and what you should do with your power. You can protect people with that power, right? I think that's something you can be proud of."

"Is- is that so?"

"Yes, of course."

Although clumsy, he talked freely for the first time.

''"Appearing in disguise, huh?"''

Kirika stared in admiration at Ayano's graceful attitude, so different from normal.

But in reality, this was how Kannagi Ayano appeared to the majority of people.

Without need of using the <<as if>> figurative expression she was the child of a genuine good family and it is obvious that she had a thorough instruction on etiquette.

As for Kirika, if their first meeting would have been different, they would have come in contact in a similar manner. As for Ayano, she's not aware of any sort of pretense. This is also the girl's true appearance.

But, in the middle of the pleasant talk, the flawless behavior made a slight crack. While nodding at Daiki's words, her glance seemed turned elsewhere, her lips sharp with dissatisfaction.

It was just for one moment so Daiki didn't notice. But Kirika didn't miss it. Turning in the direction Ayano's eyes just did, Kirika made a small, wry smile.

In one of the room's corners, in a posture with one knee up, Kazuma sits in silence without minding Ayano talking so cheerful with another man. Or perhaps, not even recognizing it.

"........."

Looking at Kazuma in such a state, Kirika's conviction that ''something did happened'' only deepened.

He wasn't a man with such an innocent charm as to behave jealously but normally he would at least make a few sarcastic comments on Ayano's elegant attitude and difference of standard for another.

But before she was able to investigate it, the conversation moved forward.

Kirika lightly clapped her hands and pulled back Daiki's consciousness, floating higher than the clouds.

"Well, it's about time we got to the main point. First Isurugi Daiki, report."

Saying that, Kirika stared coldly at Daiki, now coming to his senses and started speaking about the full particulars of his own error.

"What the fuck was that? Who was she or ''what'' was she?"

On the other side, Kazuma was completely ignoring the noisy surroundings, and was thinking about the girl he met.

She couldn't possibly Tsoi Rin. Even if that was a ghost, it wasn't Tsoi Rin's ghost.

But for some reason, he naturally accepted her as Tsoi Rin.

But, something was odd.

The fact is the girl supposed to be dead four years ago appeared unchanged was very abnormal in itself, what's more, he felt a somewhat uncomfortable feeling from her.

''".........What was it.........?"''

He compared the four years old memory and what he saw an hour before. The girl's smile he remembered in a long time.

Yes, she was a girl smiling with a carefree face.

Her cherry blossoms lips smiling broadly, making her pupils full of vitality sparkle -

"Aah, I see..."

Realizing the source of that uncomfortable feeling, Kazuma slapped his palms. And then spoke loudly without realizing.

"Tsoi Rin's were green, huh..."

That girl's eyes were lapis lazuli blue. Feeling good for finally settling the question, he finally became aware of the outside world.

And then realized that he became the center of attention.

A stunned Kirika. An absolutely bewildered Daiki. And then, because he uttered Tsuo Rin's name aloud, glaring at him with angered eyes was Ayano.

All three's glance, in different ways, pierced into Kazuma.

"Kazuma -" Kirika spoke together with a sigh.

"Did you hear what we were saying?"

"No, not at all," Kazuma responded honestly but the atmosphere couldn't be calmed down just because of that.

Kirika got the better of Ayano, whose eyes emitted a much more dangerous atmosphere and urged Kazuma.

"Just at the right time. Please explain today's fact from your point of view. It seems Isurugi-kun didn't understand anything."

"........I'm sorry"

Daiki made himself small. Everyone ignored him.

"Fine. But I'm telling you, I have yet to get to the bottom of this."

With that introduction, Kazuma started speaking about the circumstances of the fight with <<The Hell Hound>>. The meaningful words he spoke became the focus of the room.

"A class change at Pandemonium, huh? This seems more and more like a game."

After Kazuma's story was finished, Ayano whispered so in an amazed tone. But diagonally from her, Kirika kept quiet with a difficult facial expression.

"Did you thought of something?"

"There's also the site Shinomiya-san told us about. Something similar was written there"

"What you are trying to say is that this is not just <<The Hell Hound>>'s wild delusion?"

"There's also a possibility the people who wrote that think the same way"

Kirika replied so but she wasn't honest about that. The fact that she believes Kazuma's report and, the things written on the bulletin board as true, can be read between the lines from her speech.

But, that ''truth'' was not compatible with Ayano's common sense.

Piling up a great quantity of experience, that after exceeding a fixed number gave a level-up. If one were to raise their level even more, a class chance will happen and acquire a furthermore greater power.

''"That sort of convenient power, where on earth can you find it?"''

Finding a problem, Kirika opened her eyes wide in surprise.

"Ah, I didn't explain that incident. I'm sorry. Because I didn't hear from Shinomiya-san since, I didn't told you about that. Simply put -"

"Ayano-sama"

As if covering Kirika's voice, someone called Ayano from the hallway.

"What?"

At Ayano's short question, the servant replied with courtesy.

"You're wanted on the telephone."

".......Come in"

"Sorry to bother you"

The fusuma was soundlessly opened. Carrying a wooden tray the telephone was placed on, the yet young servant quietly entered.

"Who is it?"

"Someone called Suzuhara."

"Suzuhara?"

Without having any idea who that is, Ayano was puzzled.

"She said she was Ren-sama's classmate."

"Ah, Kanon-chan? - And you -"

While remembering the girl with adorable looks and lively character, Ayano looked at the servant frowning.

The ones serving the Kannagi family obviously know the Clan's occupation and the importance of that duty.

Even if he was a servant, a blockhead that interrupts a meeting for a personal call has no qualifications to work in this household.

But, not realizing he was on the verge of unemployment, the servant continued his words blandly.

"It seems an emergency. She said Ren-sama is missing."

"- Tch! Father?"

"Of course. As well with Genma-sama."
'''(!)'''

While answering frankly, the servant held out the tray. Ayano gripped the phone as if tearing it off.

"Hello?"

Coincident with Ayano's word, an upset voice flew in like a torrent.

"J- just calm down. Tell me what happened since the beginn - he disappeared? Suddenly, in front of your eyes? At Tokyo's Government Office? Why were you - Pandemonium?"

That last word frozen the already strained atmosphere of the room.

In the still as death space, only Ayano's voice resounded for a long time.

=== Part 2 ===

Seiryou Private Academy - this campus built not far of from the Imperial Palace, is a private prestigious school from middle school to senior high school.

With a tradition exceeding a hundred years, it's valued highly for yearly producing successful applicants to national universities with achievements in various fields, a school where a large number of ''children from respectable families'' attend.

And then, on the list of names of freshmen from that Seiryou Gakuen Middle School division, there are Kannagi Ren and the name of that ''friend''.

After school.

One boy approached the girl stuffing textbooks in her bag.

"Kanon -"

Being addressed with overly familiarity, the girl, Suzuhara Kanon turned over her shoulder with a sharp look.

"Do you have some business with me, Takamatsu-kun?"

Her tone was by no standard in a good mood but the boy called Takamatsu didn't notice and drew closer with a smile.

"Don't talk to me in such a reserved manner, call me Takashi. I'll also call you Kanon."

It seems that this boy, although a junior high school student, didn't learn any kind of etiquette until now. After not using honorifics and calling her ''you'', Kanon raised her eyebrows.

"Let's stop somewhere on the way home. The UFO catcher is my specialty. I'll catch whatever you fancy."

While saying so, he casually touched her shoulder. In Kanon's mind Takashi's death punishment was decided.

With a light breath she softly brushed Takashi's hand, the one touching her shoulder, and then -

"Aghyaaah!?"

She sized his middle finger and bent it backwards with all her strength.

Falling to his knees with an unsightly scream, he received a kick on top of his shoulders and rolled on the ground.

"Hey, ''Takamatsu-kun''?"

Kanon overlooked with a cold-hearted gaze Takashi, laying down with his face up.

"As it seems you don't know much about the manners of the world, I'll teach you but don't you think it's very rude to address a person you're not intimate with without using an honorific title?"

Sweeping the shoulder Takashi touched, whipping her hands with a handkerchief and even going as far as throwing that handkerchief in the garbage can - that three layered combo pointed out her real intent: ''I don't want to be touched by the likes of you'' and relentlessly delivered the final blow.

"If you want to chase after girls, you'd better improve your character. Because your face cannot compensate for your vulgar nature."

It was a blunt way of talking but from the classroom there could be heard snickers from here and there. It seems Kanon was not the only one who thought this boy was pushy.

"Y- you...."

"Ah, Ren-kun!"

Kanon looked at the moaning Takashi as if he was filth but the instant she recognized the boy at the entrance of the classroom she transformed to a girl in love.

Immediately forgetting about Takashi's existence, she rushed over with a light manner of walking.

"Re - n -kun!"

"Ah, Suzuhara-san. Did something happen?"

Without showing signs of faltering at the approaching beautiful girl, Ren grinned. Kanon, that seemed about to embrace him, stopped in her tracks, her face changed.

"Ren, kun......?"

"What?"

Intently watching Ren, softly smiling, Kanon thought:

''"As I thought, he changed."''

At almost the same time the new school term started, Ren took a long break. And then when he returned after half a month, he was exhausted, like a different person.

He almost never answered when she accosted him. He wouldn't laugh.

His eyes were dead.

In order to recover his smiling face, Kanon exerted herself greatly. It was annoying but she called her bitter enemy and joined hands with that homo bastard.

But it was useless.

Eventually, the graduation ceremony came and without laughing Ren left school. She knew they were going to the same junior high school but she remembers thinking that she will never see him again.

It seemed that was needless anxiety because when they occasionally met during the spring break Ren was laughing almost normally.

''"But still, something is different."''

She recognized it every time she saw him. He seemed recovered but something changed inside Ren. Although he was only five centimeters taller than her, he seemed big for some reason.

He was still gentle but she couldn't drag him along anymore. Although he drifted away, he would definitely not cross over a certain line - she felt that sort of flexible power.

Just like now. Although she would have simply hugged him before, right now he wouldn't tolerate it.

Something happened. Something related to the unique occupation of the Kannagi Family. A situation she couldn't comprehend deeply injured Ren's delicate heart. And by overcoming it, Ren became stronger.

She thought that side of Ren was cool too. But at times he seemed in a faraway place. ''Was it possible she can't reach him anymore?'' - she had those kinds of thoughts.

''"That's not true, right?"''

She fleetingly looked up at Ren with upturned eyes. Realizing the serious light dwelling in her gaze, Ren directly stared back at Kanon.

"Suzuhara-san, did something happen?"

"- No, it's nothing."

Kanon replied as bright as possible and boldly clung to Ren's arm.

"Su- Suzuhara-san?"

"I told you to call me Kanon."

Embracing Ren by pushing her chest against his arm, Kanon drew closer.

"Eh, well, but......"

Exasperated by Ren's bright red face, Kanon puffed out her cheeks.

''"Ugh, if I don't do something nothing will change!"''

Without shying away from the public gaze, she was thinking of forcing herself on him right on the spot. No, if she were to bring him like this to a deserted place -

"- Hey"

But that anticipation, unimaginable on a twelve year old girl, was obstructed by an impolite intruder. Looking over her shoulder without bothering to hide her displeasure, Kanon demanded an explanation in a thorny tone.

"Ara, Takamatsu-kun, do you still have some business with me?"

Takashi only looked at Kanon without answering and came near Ren. While their noses were almost touching he stared intensely at Ren's features and sneered with open disdain.

"That's what you like, Kanon? A man without redeeming features but his face?"

"What are you trying to say, Ren-kun is very smart. Or did you forget his speech as the freshman's representative?"

"Sh- shut it!"

Having his best effort at sarcasm easily retorted, Takashi was enraged. His eyes, red with anger, seized the surprised Ren who had not understood the situation.

He thought of targeting the short boy that seemed unrelated to fighting, a target fit for a diversion.

He quickly seized the nape of his neck and yanks it up, attacking him with a brutal countenance.
'''(!)''

"You're so composed! Why, there's no value in dealing with the likes of me, huh? Do you want me to hit that pretty face of yours, ahhh?"

"......Huh......."

Blinking at the sudden incident, Ren earnestly tried to communicate.

"It's Takamatsu-kun, right? I'm sorry but I don't understand why you are so upset? Could you please explain the situation before resorting to violence?"

"I can't, you idiot!"

While shouting close to his ears, Takashi hardened his fist and struck.

But that fist was returned next to Takashi's torso, before reaching Ren.

"Wha -"

"Stop right there. If Ren was serious the likes of you are nothing but a pushover."

The man that appeared unexpectedly in the background wrung Takashi's neck. Seeing that man, Kanon murmured unpleasant from the bottom of her heart.

"You came although I didn't call you, huh..."

"Humph, if it's for Ren I'll rush over from the end of the earth!"

Retorting a slightly complicated answer, the man threw out his robust chest. While looking over that dialogue that will never reach a common point with a tired face, Ren said.

"Serisawa-kun...please let him go. It must be painful, right?"

"Ah? Ah - sorry, sorry."

With an awkward smile the man released Takashi, who was about to stop breathing.

While coughing, Takashi scowled at the man who asked for trouble.

"Y- you.......ah?"

But, even by turning his face, he cannot see the man's face. A black wall, completely blocking his field of vision - after realizing it was the chest of the man wearing the high school uniform, he looked upward.

He was huge.

Taller than him by at least twenty centimeters. Meaning that although he was a first year student he was taller than a hundred and eighty centimeters.

In the entire class - no, the entire school there wasn't another one like this kind of guy.

"Se- Serisawa......"

"Yo."

With a broad grin the man - Ren's friend since middle school, Serisawa Tatsuya tightly held Takashi's head.

Gripping his small head with one hand, his huge arm as if ready to crush his skull as it is.

"Uugii.......gaah, ahh......."

Drawing near to Takashi's face, who was groaning in pain, Serisawa showed a ferocious smile.

"Listen! If you have a bone to pick with Ren, I'll be your opponent first. Try remembering that!"

While saying that he shook Takashi's head and heaved him. And then, without sparing a look for the boy flowing in the air, smiling with the whole face, he turned to Ren.

"Hey, Ren. You're not hurt right? I mean, that's impossible. Wahahahahaha"

With a lively laugh, Serisawa approached Ren. But Kanon stood in his way.

Looking up at Serisawa with a cold gaze, Kanon informed him.

"Thank you very much. Now that the nuisance is out of the way you can go back to the zoo. Your wife, the female gorilla, must wait for your return."

"Wh- who's a gorilla you stupid bitch!"

"You, of course it's you! Don't you think anything about being so big at only twelve? If it's not a gorilla, your ancestor must be some sort of anthropoid so please let some research institute have you!"

While looking over the quarrel he had no place in, Ren let out a small breath trying not to attract attention.

Although this kind of thing happened frequently during middle school, all the same he didn't predict it would continue even now. Leaving Kanon aside, nobody imagined Serisawa would be able to enter Seiryou Gakuen.

Since Serisawa was a really poor student except athletics, just how much effort he put to pass the entrance examination.

That noble endeavor and the conclusion that seemed the favor of gods was rumored to be some ''miracle of love''.

Though honestly, Ren would rather have that part forgotten.

But even so, not satisfied by only passing the exam and also being in the same, maybe Serisawa really had some divine protection.

What's more, since Kanon was also in the same class, that goddess of love must have had a black tail hidden underneath her white robes.

"Ren is hanging out with me!"

"Don't be stupid! He's coming with me!"

While Ren was trying to escape from reality their quarrel continued. And at that point they were contesting who is taking Ren on an after school date - without even asking for the feelings of the person himself.

''"Will I be able to stop then, I wonder....still......"'' Ren thought in a glum mood.

If he were to ignore it, it seems their dispute would really turn violent. As expected, he cannot ignore the damage to their surroundings.

Beside, different from the arguments between Nee-sama and Nii-sama, these two's argument was not so high a level that he cannot stop it.

Ren tried to console himself that maybe practising here will become useful in the future.

"Hey, listen..." he called out to them with as light a voice as possible.

Both turned their heads simultaneously. Controlling his urge to run away, Ren preserved his smiling face with great effort.

"It - it would be better if we all went. Instead of only two, isn't it more fun if it's all three of us, right?"

"................"

"................"

A heavy silence that hurt his stomach fell. Unable to put up with the sense of urgency, the fortunate students closer to the door plotted a speedy escape.

Compared to them, Ren was splendid. The cold sweat breaking out on his back didn't change his smiling face and he boldly received their glare.

After a long, long silence, Kanon and Serizawa lowered their pressuring gaze at the same time.

"- Well, if Ren-kun says so..."

"- There's no helping it."

Extremely unwillingly, they came to an agreement. Leading both of them, Ren tried to leave the classroom.

But a rough sound from the background stopped them in their tracks.

"Hey, hey, please stop it!"

"Shut it!"

A thoroughly angry voice. Without the need to turn around, the development excessively easy to understand made the trio exchange glances with wearily faces.

"Hey, just stop it already, you."

"Shut your trap, you enormity!"

Takashi shouted at Serisawa in a disgusted voice and glared at Ren standing next to him.

But Ren, who at twelve passed through numerous scenes of carnage, didn't feel threatened by only a violent boy.

On the contrary, not even recognizing he was being glared at, he tilted his head as is asking ''"Why on earth is he angry about?"''

And then, there was Kanon.

She received head on Takashi's hateful glare and returned a scornful laugh. Her folded arms and raised chin and her facial expression that haughtiness itself didn't hide her contempt for Takashi.

"......You're making fun of me......" he squeezed out from the gap between his clenched teeth, grasping his fists tightly.

"Don't get conceited you bitch!!"

And then, he leaped at her while screaming. As expected Kanon wasn't ready for this degree of violence, so she was unable to respond.

Takashi grabbed Kanon’s shoulder and swung his fist. A second later, everyone was convinced the girl was cruelly hit. But -

"- Gaah?"

[[File:Kaze no Stigma vol 04 155.jpg|thumb|]]

As abruptly as a spinning top launched in the middle of the way, Takashi was torn off from Kanon and pressed to the blackboard.

Because of that enormous power, the blackboard and Takashi's back started creaked ominously. With eyes growing hazy because of the pain, Takashi looked at the figure of the person who pressed him down.

''"Ka - Kannagi........? No way.......!"''

He couldn't believe it. That a boy much smaller than him could hide this much power. Because he was pushed up, he tilted his body was slowly forced up. Both his feet were floating in the air.

"Guu......Ha.....s - stop......"

Pressured by the fist grabbing him on the collar, his ribs were hurting. Trying to somehow raise a protesting voice, Takashi's tongue was frozen.

Ren was looking straight at him.

He was sharp, like a different person but despite that his gaze was carrying an intense anger.

His whole body tied by the power loaded in that pupil, Takashi shivered in fear at his wit's end.

''"I'll be killed!"''

He felt ''death'' closer than ever before. The fear of having a knife thrust at him seemed insignificant when compared to this.

It was the first time in his life his body was basking in the real thirst for blood. A precise, definite ''intent to slaughter''.

There was no escape.

Calmly, composedly and certainly -

''"This guy...will kill me!"''

"Hi - hiii......"

But, contrary to his expectation Takashi was suddenly released from the restraints. The body that lost its support slipped off, rubbing the wall with a dragging sound and feebly sunk down to the floor.

"Eh......ah.....?"

Looking up in a daze, he saw Ren looking at his own hand with an air of bewilderment. And several seconds after, he showed a minor bitter smile while looking down at Takashi cowering at his feet.

"Hey...."

"Hiiiii!"

"You can't be violent toward girls."

The persuasion Ren made in a gentle tone, while Takashi was greatly perplexed, didn't add up.

"Hey, eh........"

While thinking what to do about that, from beneath Takashi's feet, squatting down, a strange liquid poured out.

An offensive smell.

"......Eh?"

"What have you done?"

Serisawa forcibly drew out Ren, standing rock still dumbfounded. And then he put his arm around his neck as if trying to strangle him and forced him along to a place where the liquid that kept on flowing.

"Your indoor slippers will get dirty! Instead of cleaning this guy's piss from my slippers I'd rather throw them away!"

"Th- then that really was..."

Finally comprehending the nature of the smelling liquid, Ren's face became pale.

Looking at Takashi he saw that his body was still curled up. The reason why he was trembling was probably not only fear.

Incontinence - a boy that was already a junior high school student never felt so much shame. And, realizing all this Ren started speaking very upset.

"I'm, I'm sorry! I, didn't mean to.....I'll call Sensei immediately so - "

"- Ren"

Striking Ren's shoulder, Serisawa feebly shook his head.

"If you feel even a little pity for this guy, don't say anymore. Just leave him alone"

"Eh, but - if it stays like this it will seem I bullied him. And people who torment others are the worst."

Ren didn't say it with malice. He didn't but the consequence of those words was to break into small pieces the already wounded pride of Takashi.

As if whipping the dead or salt was rubbed into his wounds Takashi's body shivers worsened.

"Are - are you ok?"

Perceiving that reaction, Ren flustering rushed over to Takashi. He touched the trembling body.

".........!?"

That extended hand was flung off as far as possible. Ren's eyes blinking in shock were pierced by eyes full of murder.

"Son of a bitch..."

Raising a face full of tears and snot Takahashi glared at Ren with as much hatred as he could muster.

"Remember this, son of a bitch! My brother is really strong! He can kill the likes of you with one attack."

"Waah, how lame," Kanon commented scornfully.

"If you can't, will you run to your Onii-chan, huh? I wonder just what sort of person that is?"

"Shut up!" screamed Takashi with a voice turned inside out.

"Now it's the time to pull back you know! My Aniki has supernatural powers! He'll turn the likes of you into ash!!"

For a second the class was enveloped in silence. And then -

"Bahahahahahahahahahaha!!"

The classroom was shook by a maelstrom of very loud laughter.

"Were - were you serious just now, Takamatsu-kun? Are you saying that seriously?"

"And on top of that you are one of those who believe crop circles are made by aliens too, right?"

While striking desks and walls, and stamping their feet, the students unanimously ridicule Takashi.

But without bothering with their reaction Takashi only glared at Ren.

"Just go ahead and laugh. Make fun of me. Get cocky just because you're somewhat good at fighting...because I'll teach you that such things are helpless in front of absolute power!"

"You're the one who you cocky, stupid," spit out Serisawa tiresomely, throwing the black board eraser at Takashi who talked on and on in ecstasy.

His right hand was already loaded with the next eraser.

"Se - Serisawa! You'll do it, too? My Aniki will - "

"Shut the fuck up!"

Without hesitation Serisawa threw the other blackboard eraser with all his strength. The chalk powder sticking to the blackboard eraser hit Takashi in the face and the angry face already flushed deep red was dyed pure white.

Simultaneously, white smoke spreads like an explosion, and the boy who inhaled the dust convulsed with all his strength.

"I'm telling you to bring your brother! Because I don't have all day, you know!"

"You - you bastard....."

Spontaneously, ignoring Takashi trying to spit out the words while having a coughing fit, Serisawa pulled Ren and started walking.

"Well, this is boring. Forget about this and let's hang out. Where do you want to go?"

"Ehh, well..."

"I - I want to go to Shinjuku. I want to buy some clothes."

"Waah, do you think we want to go buy women's clothes?"

"I wasn't talking to you."

"What did you say?"

"Well, well, calm down both of you."

With a delicately stiff smiling face, Ren tried mediating the glaring pair.

"We should go to where you both want to go in turns. We have time."

The trio started deciding their after school activities enjoyed. It seems that inside their heads not a particle of Takashi's words remains.

"Then, Shinjuku is our first stop right?"

"Yeah."

"Right."

Gaining both their agreement, Ren started walking with a visibly relieved expression.

Behind him, as if his existence itself was thoroughly forgotten, there was the solitary figure of Takashi, crouching. His gaze, carrying the dark flame of hate saw off Ren's distant back without even blinking.

=== Part 3 ===

The game center the trio left was illuminated by the red sunlight of the evening. Feeling relief when released from the noisy environment, Kanon let out a small breath. And then she snuggled up to Ren like it was usual.

"Which reminds me, Ren-kun was really cool back then."

While clinging to Ren's arm, Kanon recalled the gallant figure of the boy that overwhelmed that failure of an idiot.

"Wasn't it the first time you acted like that in school?"

Kanon was familiar with Ren's strength. She understood that even a juvenile delinquent that took pride in fights couldn't go against him.

But Ren didn't try to display his own strength. Rather, he was actively trying to avoid that kind of situation.

Unrelated to his ability, he hated conflict. That's why before it could turn into a fight he tried to express his opinion and while taking the hit he would only counterattack to defend his body.

Although ''protecting Kanon'' was a just cause, Ren honestly thought it was inconceivable of exerting violence on boys his age.

"Ahh, yeah......."

Ren also thought his behaviour was strange and spontaneously expressed a bitter smile.

"I must definitely apologize to Takamatsu-kun later."

"I don't really care about that idiot but did you change your policy?"

"Policy huh, I didn't have such an exaggerated thing from the beginning. I just hate unreasonable violence, that's all. But when I thought Kanon-san was about to be hurt, I couldn’t control myself - is what you call ''to snap'', right?"

"Ehh....."

At those unanticipated words, Kanon’s cheeks were dyed red.

"Th- th- that means, I'm important enough for Ren-kun to spontaneously lose his temper for me?"

"Yes."

As if talking about an obvious thing, Ren smoothly agreed.

"You are important. I wish Suzuhara-san were happy. I want you to smile. That's why, I'll protect you - I don't want to lose anything anymore."

"Ren-kun -"

Overcome with emotion, Kanon embraced Ren. But just before she could, a huge hand like a glove covered Kanon’s face. And then, forcefully tore her off.

"What are you doing, you -"

"No, well, Ren said it was for a friend."

Interrupting Kanon who was about to swear, Serisawa praised Ren with an unnaturally bright expression.

"Of course, if I were in a pinch Ren would help me too, right? Because we're friends."

"Ehh...? Y- Yeah. But I cannot imagine Serisawa-san getting in a tough spot."

"That may be true. But, at that time I will trust in you when the time comes, ''friend''."

Striking Ren's shoulder Serisawa shifted his focus to Kanon. And then, raised his lips extremely enjoyed.

"I'm so glad for you, Kanon. Ren protected you ''as a friend''. You are mutually good friends. I'm sure your friendship will last ''all your life''. We'll ''alwaaaaays'' be friends, right?"

"..........."

Kanon glared at Serisawa with an extremely angry expression. Most likely, she was butchering him inside her head in hundreds of different ways.

She grasped her slender white fingers strongly as if trying to choke something.

"..........Just bring it on!"

"Ke ke ke ke ke ke."

Serisawa responded at the groaning Kanon with a loud laughter. In the space between them, invisible sparks were scattering.

"He- hey, calm down both of you!!"

Becoming aware they were attracting attention from the surroundings, Ren tried to mediate the duo. But, his gaze went around as if making sure of something.

"- Be quiet, both of you."

Sensing the alteration in Ren's tone, both his friends quickly became silent. At almost the same time, a single man drew closer.

Wearing an LL sized T-shirt that reached the middle of his tights and loose half pants - the person himself probably thought he was cool but the people who didn't have the same values could only call him untidy.

"Kannagi Ren?" the man asked shortly after, looking down on Ren.

"And you are?"

"It doesn't matter who I am. There's someone who has business with you. Follow me."

"I refuse."

"Aaah!?"

When Ren flatly rejected him the man tried to overpower him from right overhead.

"Who the fuck asked for your opinions!? Shut up and follow me or I'll kill you, damn brat!"

"I have no intention of obeying the likes of you, no matter what you say. Let's go."

Replying in a resolute manner, Ren urged Kanon and Serisawa on and started walking.

"...You bastard......."

Treated trivially by a middle school kid with feminine features, the man was quickly enraged. Drawing near the trio he seized Kanon’s neck.

"Don't underestimate me, damn brats! What happens to this woman- !?"

Unable to finish his speech, the man fainted in agony. The fist trusted into the pit of his stomach made him unconscious and he crumbled down before understanding what happened and who did this to him.

"Are you OK?" asked Ren pulling out the fist that was buried up to the wrist.

Kanon nodded without showing any disturbance.

"Yes. But, who is this guy?"

"Well, I don't know. But I don't remember becoming enemy to this kind of people -"

Closing his eyes partly Ren searched for presence in the surroundings.

They were surrounded.

Their clothes were different but they were approximately the same age and above all the boys had in common a wild presence while surrounding them.

They thought they weren’t yet detected so they slowly reduced the encircling net.

Ren informed Kanon in a small voice.

"For now we had better escape. Can you run?"

"Yeah. I'll do my best," Kanon nodded.

Next he made an eye signal at Serisawa, synchronizing their timing.

Just before the men moved, forestalling their movement by a second, Ren grabbed Kanon and started running.

"Move! Move! Move! "

Serisawa sent the men standing still, and taken by surprise, flying spendidly. Ren and Kannon nimbly ran through the hole that opened in the net.

"Shit! Don't let them escape!"

While being chased by harsh voices and more than ten footsteps the trio started running at high speed.

"Shit! Just how many are there?" cursed Serisawa while moving his legs determinedly.

From that point on, the trio weren't able to run from the men's pursuit for more than ten minutes.

They didn't understand why such a group of people were pursuing Ren, but it seemed there were more of them than those who surrounded Ren's group the first time.

The number of the men who ambushed them at their destination was already reaching thirty.

"Suzuhara-san, keep at it a bit longer," Ren murmured as if cheering up the girl who was short of breath.

Kanon was almost at her limit. By nature, her stamina was quite like that of a normal girl. When chased after by men with full grown bodies she couldn't possibly get away.

''"This is bad.........."'' thought Ren, when he remembered the distance so far.

They were being herded. He didn't know the final destination but the men were clearly leading them somewhere.

But, even if he knew that, there was nothing he could do about it. Even though the opponent is an amateur, their numbers were too large. He didn't have the confidence he could defeat all of them while defending Kanon and Serisawa without using En-jutsu.

Gradually they were being cornered to a desolate place with a bad atmosphere. While thinking he should start preparing himself they reached the corner.

As expected, they were ambushed.

In the space ten men were lying in wait, Ren's group naturally plunged into it. From behind several other people were approaching.

They were completely driven to the wall.

"Ren-kun......"

"It's OK."

Grasping the hand of the girl who leaned close to him uneasily, Ren smiled.

"If I have too, I'll use my power. I won't let them even touch both of you. Don't worry."

It was strictly prohibited using Jutsu when dealing with an ordinary person. But he didn't feel like complying with such regulations if his body and the bodies of his friends were in danger.

Ren was determined that more than hurting others, he couldn't tolerate if he himself were to get hurt.

"Ku ku ku ku ku."

Unnatural chuckles drifted in the air and the crowd of people in Ren's front parted left and right. From inside it, a boy with a pompous attitude stepped forward.

"Ku ku ku ku ku ku ku - ha ha ha ha ha ha!"

The supressed laugh gradually raised its tension and turned into a laughing scream.

It was a face they recognized.

The face they parted from only a few hours earlier laughed, arrogant and proud.

"You can't run anymore, Kannagi!" ''he'' declared with an already triumphant air.

Before he came out, it was possible that Ren's group was scared. Maybe they had a vision of asking for forgiveness with a menial attitude. But that completely backfired.

A strange unknown ''something'' sometimes intimidates the human heart much more than a tangible, physical threat could.

For Kanon and Serisawa, who were not used to being involved in serious fights, the strange men that chased them without pretext were very scary.

But the moment ''he'' showed himself the trio understood everything. The enemy's true character, his purpose and the conclusion.

"Aaa - aahhhh, my hair is so messy -"

Completely disregarding ''his'' existence Kanon started arranging her dishevelled hair. And then, the moment ''he'' tried opening his mouth a second time irritated, she beat him to it.

"The peeing boy, huh? Did you change your soiled pants?"

"Wha - wha - ....!"

He - Takamatsu Takashi, while trying to say something to make him look better, his face was dyed bright red with anger and opened and shut his mouth to no purpose.

Serisawa sunk the boot in him even more.

"Which means, these guys are your brother's henchmen? I didn't really think you would call your Aniki. You’re such a loser, it's kind of cool."

"Sh - shut up! It's too late to apologize now! For the likes of you, in one shot, Aniki will -"

"Ahh - yes, yes. Just call your brother already - Where are you, Onii-chan with super powers?"

"Mo - mother fucker....." Takashi began losing it at the speech looking down on him from the bottom of the heart.

"That's enough, Takashi. Leave the rest to me."

"A - Aniki."

Hearing the voice that reached from the back, Takashi regained his confidence.

"I trust you, Aniki! Turn them all to ash in one go!"

"All right"

Replying with a reassuring nod, one man appeared. That silhouette stared at the trio - a pitiless stare.

He was most likely in the latter half of his teens. His hair was bright orange and was standing up. He was wearing black leather pants and a deep crimson leather coat.

Coupled together with the orange hair, his appearance was really standing out. So much that you couldn't mistake him for another even at a distance of a hundred meters.

Sneakily, Serisawa and Kanon started speaking but in such a way that the opponent could clearly hear.

"Hey, what kind of cosplay do you think that is?"

"I don't know but I saw that pose, when facing the camera, appear at O-Bon and the last year International Exhibition Hall. He doesn't seem embarrassed, huh?"

".....Hey, damn brats," the man growled, deviating from the plan, his temple veins showing.

After all, since he was Takashi's brother, his capacity wasn't all that great.

Seeing through that, the duo got carried away even more.

"Hey, orange head Onii-chan, who do you cosplay? A game character? Or maybe anime?"

"Is that bad taste coat your casual wear? Are you really walking around dressed like that? No way - I can't believe it!"

Serisawa laughed like a horse while Kanon covered her sneer with her hand. For a man with a pretty low boiling point that was more than enough stimulation.

"You sons of bitches! I won't forgive you!"

Raising an angry roar, the man released his ''power''. The flame spirits drawn to him with brute force screamed in agony.

But as if not hearing that, the man kneaded the spirits being scrapped together.

In the man's surroundings, the air started flickering like a heat haze - and then, a deep crimson flame appeared.

"Se - seriously?" Serisawa murmured with a nervous face. Almost at the same time, as if trying to drown down his voice, from every direction cheers erupted.

"Waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah"~

"Kill! Kill! Kill!"

"Roast them! Colour them black! Turn them to ash!"

"Show us something flashy today too!"

Responding to the shouts of joy intoxicated in bloodlust, the man yelled.

"Yeaah, leave it to me!"

As if acting in concert with that scream, the fire gathered in both his palms. That curling flame raised its density, adjusted its shape and turned to high speed rotation fire bullets.

"Eat them, ''Fiiiiiiire Buuuuuleeeet''!"

The man spread his arms on a grand scale and threw the two softball-sized fireballs with a sidearm pitch.

The moment they were separated from his hand, the bullets accelerated as if repelled. The fireballs that left a flight afterimage headed to Kanon and Serisawa with a speed impossible to evade.

"It's dangerous!"

But, Ren reacted instantly and thrust both of them away, removing them from the fireball trajectory. Ren evaded them by slipping through the space between the fireballs and survived without problems.

"Hooo, aren't you good! Being able to dodge the <<Fire bullet>>!"

"What the heck are you thinking!!"

Ren scowled with an intense expression the man who raised his voice in compliment.

"Openly using Jutsu in public - and even attacking children! If you're also a Practitioner, understand how moderation works!"

"Ahhh? What's a Practitioner?"

At the unexpected retort, Ren unintentionally became speechless.

Laughing scornfully at the petrified Ren, the man introduced himself loudly.

"I am <<The Fire Leader>>! The supreme monarch that controls fire! You have no right to complain, no matter who I burn! Because there's no one in this world who can order the King!"

Looking dumbfounded at <<The Fire Leader>> laughing loudly, Ren was voluntarily greatly perplexed.

"Waaaah, he's the worst.........this man is ''dokkaku''...."

Dokkaku is a term derived from Buddhism and represents the people that made ascetic practices and reached Enlightment without the guidance of a teacher.

Of course, the truth that they barely managed to reach through that kind of process doesn't go beyond the impression of selfishness.

The same way, in the world of magic, the people who reached the manifestation of their power without any kind of instruction are also called this.

These kind of people, because they don't have anyone around them to compare to, have a tendency to think about their power as the greatest thing ever.

And then, they start a new religion by calling themselves ''The son of God'' and intend to exterminate mankind while under the impression they are ''the pioneers of progress''' and tend heavily to behave like a tyrant.

The man that stood before him was a stereotypical example of that.

"Well, are you ready?"

Punctuating the moment with a wild laugh, the man lifts his power a second time.

"Thanks for tormenting my little brother! I'll burn all three of you! Eat this, ''Phoenix Wing''!!"

<<The Fire Leader>> raised his hands to the sky. The fire spirits that were gathered beyond that point, embodied a bird in flames.

It was big. Its wing length exceeds three meters.

The phoenix moulded with delicate details like a living thing - and the heat loaded inside - Ren immediately saw through the fact that it was capable of perfectly burning three people to nothing.

"Get down!"

Covering up for Kanon and Serisawa, Ren confronted the fire bird. A huge quantity of heat that approached flapping its large wings. If a normal human were to take a direct hit from it would be turned to cinders. But -

"Disappear!"

At Ren's one command the fire bird scattered and vanished

"Whaaaat!?"

"Please don't get carried away. That sort of bluff jutsu doesn't even pass as the real Enjutsu."

"E - Enjutsu, you say..."

With a backward glance at <<The Fire Leader>> who murmured so with shock, Ren seized the broken fragments of the fire bird.

A slight pain travelled in his palm. ''Something'' mixed with the flame burned his skin.

Ren knew that feeling first-hand. A counterfeit pain that burned a regular human, the white hot sensation that polluted even the soul.

''"Youki !? What is happening?"''

Youki, the essence given by demonic beings - that is, the <<Ki>> of nonhuman life. It was something fundamentally different from simple evil concept like hatred, grudge and such.

It alternated the body of those with piles of experience, but different from the case of a black Jutsushi in the process of shedding his humanity, an amateur Jutsushi that only barely woken his powers was not supposed to be clad in it.

"- Let's go."

Finding it difficult to wait and see, Ren started a light attack. More than ten fireballs manifested instantly, leaving an afterimage.

The Jutsu composition and the shooting speed were both in a different league from <<The Fire Leader>>.

Unable to even recognise the fireballs, the man stood rock still simply dumbfounded.

"Waah!?"

But in spite of the fact that he clearly had not noticed it, from the body of <<The Fire Leader>>, a great number of flames were generated and intercepted Ren's Jutsu with unmatched accuracy.

Faced with the point blank explosion, the man finally noticed he was being attacked. For a little while his line of sight loitered around, not understanding what happened but abruptly he declared triumphantly, throwing out his chest.

"How naïve! Did you think that degree of offensive could knock down ''Me''?"

The convenient explanation that his power was invocated by an unconscious defensive instinct seemed self-sufficient.

"........."

Ren ignored the man's words and reflected on the phenomenon that just happened.

That power was obviously invoked without the intent of the person itself. A Youki coiling around. There was only one deduction he could make.

''"He's possessed by a Youma?"''

The man who called himself <<The Fire Leader>> seemed only to borrow the power of the Youma that lived off him like a parasite. But as he was proudly boasting of ''his own power'' he clearly didn't realise that.

"That's nasty..."

It was not something that was possible to occur by chance. Without a doubt, someone deceived this man and turned him into the object the Youma occupies, ready to be eaten in the near future.

He couldn't let that be.

He was bothered by the fact he let his power rampage but this man was unmistakeably a victim.

But, in front of Ren who decided to save him no matter what -

"Still, you're pretty good. It's been a long time since I met someone who could defend against my power."

The man got excited by himself. Expressing a smile that was supposed to be daring, he spoke dramatic words.

"Your power has the same attribute as mine - <<Fire>> - but you're also a senior class? Enjutsu-shi, you said?"

"- Senior class?"

"Isn't that right? That Vesalius mother fucker hid the fact there were other classes. What about you? Were you selected? Is <<Enjutsushi>> a higher class than <<The Fire Leader>>?"

''"Vesalius"''

Ren bore in mind that name. It seems he was the one who made this man be possessed by a Youma and the name of the man he absolutely had to bring down.

"Just what kind of person he is........that man?"

"Are you playing dumb? Whatever. I'll make you talk soon enough. Don't get cocky just because you're a senior class like me! It had nothing to do with class and level - because I, '''I''' am the most powerful!"

"No, I don't care about that, about that person named Vesalius......it's impossible?"

Observing the man endlessly excited, Ren understood persuasion was meaningless. Reluctantly, he took a posture preparing for offensive.

<<The Fire Leader>> shouted.

"Gooo! The ultimate secret, ''Flame Vortex''!!"

A crimson flame, coiling in swirls attacked Ren. Without shaming its mane, the ultimate mystery, its caloric value was fairly high - meaning, compared to the ones until now.

[[File:Kaze no Stigma vol 04 181.jpg|thumb|]]

"- Really"

While letting out a sigh, Ren stopped the ''Flame Vortex'' with one hand.

"Wh - Whaaaaaaaaat!?"

In front of the flame pushed back at him, <<The Fire Leader>> opened his eyes wide in surprise. As Ren's own power was added to it, that seemed to change into a golden helix.

"Wa - waaaaaaaaaaaaaa!!"

At the fire torrent that filled his vision, <<The Flame Leader>> prepared himself to death.

Piercing even through his tightly closed eyes, the golden flame burned his retina. The feeling of scorching heat pierced through something in his body.

But the pain he expected to come didn't hurt him in the end. Timidly, he half opened his eyes and the golden flame was already gone without trace.

"Wh -wha - ahh."

Confused for a short while, he realised the unsightly shape of his body, curled down like a turtle, and stood up.

"You - you son of a bitch! Don't make fun of me! You speak so proudly, but your technique is nothing more but a bluff."

"This wasn't a bluff."

Intended to cool down the indignant man or maybe to provoke him even more, Ren replied with a serene expression.

"It played out just as it supposed to. Because from the start, I didn't intend to be your opponent."

"Whaat?"

"More important, answer my questions. What kind of person is Vesalius? From the process used to give you power, to the features of his appearance, tell me in detail -"

"....Mother fucker......." squeezed the man out through the gap between his teeth.

Finally he reached the conclusion that until now he was the only one excited and recognised that Ren didn't even consider him a worthy opponent.

"Did you think I was out and over!? Don't fuck with me! I am <<The Fire Leader>>! Don't put me together with some small fish!"

His body trembling in anger as his inflated pride took a critical hit, the man released his power.

"''Shining Toooooooooorrent'' - ahh?"

But, the white light tornado that was supposed to come out couldn’t be even glimpsed.

"Wh - what? I don't have enough MP? Then, ''Fire Bullet''!"

It had the same result. The flame couldn't be brought forth. No matter how much he tried, he couldn't feel the response of collected power.

"It's useless," Ren informed the confused man.

"You have already lost your ability to manipulate fire. I got rid of it"

The essence of the Kannagi's power is the secret capacity of purifying and destroying all evil.

The flame Ren released before didn't affect <<The Fire Leader>> at all and only burned to nothing the demonic presence. Of course, the ability to manipulate the flame didn't remain.

"Im - Impossible! How on earth.......a seal? Or you neutralised it?"

"It makes no sense to play around with game terminology. It's time you face reality."

Those cold words were the sentence that ended the dream.

The letters <<Game Over>> flickered in his brain and the virtual character called <<The Flame leader>> vanished.

After that, only the human, Takamatsu Kyoshi, was left behind.

Ordinary and powerlessness, he was nothing but one of those many faces in the crowd.

"No......it's impossible......"

As Kyoshi trembled with the shock of loss, Ren slowly approached. Around him a golden flame flickered playfully.

"Hi....hiii...!"

Before the vibrant clarity, there was the sudden change of composition. Degraded to powerlessness spoils Kyoshi let out a wretched voice and looked up at Ren.

Ren was what he yesterday was. If he felt inclined to kill, he could easily kill him. Like trampling on an ant, just like he did before, very easily -

He looked around him. All the gathered underlings have fled, already disappearing without a trace. Nearby there was the silhouette of his brother, fallen on his back but it was clear he was useless.

"Do - Don't kill me........"

Without shame or honour, Kyoshi got down on his hands and knees, begging for forgiveness. For him, the man who lost all his power, there was no other way to survive.

"Anything.......I'll do anything..........so please........"

"Ah - Well......."

Confused by Kyoshi's sudden change of attitude, Ren unintentionally stepped back. Turning his way a gaze as if looking at an unstable man, he said.

"You have no power anymore, so I don't intend to hurt you further."

"Re - Really?" Kyoshi suddenly raised his face and shouted in a voice overflowing delight.

"Ye - Yeah. But I have some questions for you and I would be glad if you could answer them honestly."

"Ask me anything!!" nodded Kyoshi bracing himself.

Although the bizarre atmosphere increased a notch, Ren fired his question.

"Then, first of all about that Vesalius person. He's the one who gave you this power, right? Tell me everything about that."

".....Why, ask such a thing?"

When he heard Ren's question, Kyoshi asked back in wonder.

"Aren't you the same ～ Didn't Vesalius gave you your power at Pandemonium? And then you class changed after increasing your level?"

"Aah - I'm the one asking questions ～ "

Ren expressed an unsuitable ''cynical smile'' and gave a clumsy warning.

It was clear from his attitude that he wasn't used to this kind of interrogation but to Kyoshi who regarded him like his previous self, the effect was tremendous.

"Hiii - I'm sorry, I'm sorry."

Inside Ren he (involuntary) labelled Kyoshi's menial apology as foul play.

".........So, what is ''Pandemonium''?"

"Pa - Pandemonium is......an internet site.......sir."

"No need for honorifics - Internet?"

"Y - Yes.......I found it by chance. And then I was asked: ''Do you want power?'' I answered with YES. I thought it was a joke. I thought it was a peculiar formality. And then an odd pattern appeared on the screen and when I looked at it I fell asleep. And then when I woke up I had this power. It's true. It's not a lie, believe me..."

"........."

Ignoring the tedious talk that seemed to continue forever, Ren looked at the man's facial expression. He did not seem to lie.

Meaning, if that was the truth -

''"The Youma was converted to digital data and summoned through the internet?"''

It seemed to resemble more and more a game, so maybe it was like that. That must be the truth.

In a word, this man wasn't used as a Youma sacrifice but summoned the Youma from his own volition and contracted with it. It appears that was the form it took.

'''Do you want power?'''

The moment he answered that question with '''Yes''' Kyoshi made the pact to hand over his soul.

Of course, it was a defective contract. Using this coercive method, even the soul of a normal person without any kind of protection from the spirits cannot be taken immediately.

But that applies only once.

The allurement continues.

Even if a person is not influenced by the devilishness, a human being that owns a convenient power desires even more power.

Without deeply thinking what sort of compensation will be taken from them.

Until the time everything will be taken from them, they will continue requesting power.

"I see......that was done skilfully."

Ren let out a murmur of admiration.

A trap set at random on the network. Kyoshi can't be the only victim.

Just how many people have offered their soul for an hour of pleasure -

"Wh - what........"

Suddenly calming down, finding fault with his ears, Kyoshi looked up with an uneasy gaze at Ren.

"Ahh, that's no concern of yours. Don't worry about it."

Ren casually waved his hand, obstructing the investigation.

"So, let's go back to the story. Let me see........first, tell me the address of this Pandemonium."

"I don't know it."

"........."

Ren stared very long at Takamatsu, who answered immediately. Overpowered by his glance, Takamatsu talked on and on, losing his head.

"I - I really don't know! While I was unconscious back then the connection was cut and when I looked at the history log there was nothing........everyone says the same, it's true!"

"Everyone?"

"There's an information exchange bulletin board for those like me, who received power from Pandemonium. That's what I heard there. There's no one who accessed Pandemonium a second time. We arrived at it by chance."

"What you say is that that site has no direct connection with Pandemonium?"

"Yes. The admin is the same as us."

Although experiencing some discomfort when hearing the word ''us'' as if it was said they were the same kind of thing, Ren asked again:

"The address?"

"It's in my phone."

"Give it to me."

After one glance at the phone presented to him, Ren tossed it into the pocket of his high school uniform.

"I'll keep this. I think that's all I wanted to ask but -"

Inaudible, Kyoshi let out a breath.

"As you wish."

"By the way, what else is on that bulletin board?"

"Nothing really important. After all, it's a gathering of guys like me who don't know much. So, stuff like reasoning about this power's true colours, boasts about level or ability, battle appointments and -"

"Battle? Do you fight between yourselves?"

"Yeah, because it has a lot of XP."

"XP?", Ren asked in return.

"We receive e-mails about how to use our power. Like ''You received X experience points''"

"The sender?"

"It's Pandemonium. Of course there's no mail address."

"..........."

"So, when we collect enough experience points, we level up. When we level up enough, we class change."

"........Are you one of the senior classes?"

"Yes. I changed class from the basic <<Ignition Man>> to the <<Fire Leader>>. It was very hard accumulating so many experience points."

"..........Is that so?"

At the excessively game-like setting, Ren was unintentionally perplexed. But, although the setting was clichéd, that's not an usual way a Jutsushi is represented in reality.

''"But - What purpose does this -"''

Ren can't guess the objective of this Jutsushi called Vesalius. What meaning does it have to mass-produce people with special power in those like Kyoshi, people without discernment?

Is he just a criminal who takes pleasure in people's reaction to his crimes?

Although he knew it was meaningless, Ren asked his only source of information.

"What sort of person is Vesalius? Tell me everything you know."

"Uh huh."

As if sorting his memory, Kyoshi cast his eyes down in silence. Patiently Ren waited until the man opened his mouth.

""He was a imposing son of a bitch. All his speech and gestures were theatrical."

And then Kyoshi started narrating. In more detail than Ren expected.

"Something like platinum blonde? He had long silver hair practically colourless and a red mask on his face. Because he was disguised I couldn’t see his face."

"That's very specific. You didn't meet him personally, right?"

"No, I met him."

"Where?"

"At Pandemonium."

".........."

From the story until now Pandemonium was supposed to be an internet site.

"Please don't tell me your spirit navigated in the Internet world ～"

Normally he would laugh at this but in the present Shinjuku the common sense of the game world is overlooked. He couldn't affirm that it wasn't true.

But Kyoshi shook his head at that question.

"It's not like that. For a class change we had no choice but to go to Pandemonium. That's where I met him."

"................."

Ren stared very long at the man who concealed such an important piece of information until now. Pressed by that eloquent gaze, Kyoshi waved his hand in confusion.

"Ahh, I didn't particularly want to hide it. The order of the story, its logic, we still haven't -"

"Excuses don't matter. In other words, Pandemonium doesn't exist only on the Internet but also in reality, right?"

"Aaah. But I don't know where it is."

" - You still say that?" Ren groaned with a fed-up voice.

He imagined this would happen but still felt considerably depressed unable to track this down.

"N - No, hear me out! It couldn't be helped, you know?"

Turning a flattering gaze to him, Kyoshi defended himself desperately.

"I walked around instructed by mail, and before I knew I was lost and then I realised a residence with a Pandemonium written sign was in front of my eyes."

".........."

Letting out his irritation together with an exhalation, Ren regained his calm.

He understood getting angry right now was pointless. This clearly went exactly as Vesalius wanted it to.

Kyoshi's perception and cognisance, or possibly the space itself was warped so he wouldn't find out Pandemonium's real location.

It was impossible for an amateur like Kyoshi to go against such a practitioner who could exercise such large scale magic tricks.

"Have you seen something around Pandemonium? Or better, have you seen the outside scenery from inside Pandemonium?"

"..........."

With a face that seemed to have some clue, Kyoshi shut his mouth. With a smile Ren said:

"Keeping secrets won't help you."

"..............It's not a lie."

After a few more seconds of silence passed, Kyoshi spoke in a sulky voice. At that ''he won't believe me either way '' tone, Ren returned a bitter smile.

"The story until now is plenty absurd already. At this point I don't worry about common sense anymore so please tell me what you saw exactly."

"......After leaving Pandemonium's terrace, I saw the outside scenery."

While still hesitating, Kyoshi started speaking slowly.

"It was Shinjuku, I think. But it was extremely high. I looked from the terrace of the second floor but I could see the rooftop of all building standing in a row."

"....So it was on the rooftop of some skyscraper."

"That's impossible. I don't remember using stairs or an elevator, besides -"

"Yes?"

"On both sides of the mansion, identical towers were built."

"Towers?"

Hearing such unexpected words, Ren asked back starring in puzzlement.

"Yeah. Those buildings were slender, towers of twenty stores at most. With entirely the same shape, left and right, they were erected as if to hold Pandemonium in between"

"Hmmmm......."

Without saying anything, Ren gave a half-hearted answer. Was there in Shinjuku such a building, one from where one could see the rooftops of the other buildings?

"H - hey....."

Absorbed for a short while in meditation, Kyoshi called out to him in a flattering voice.

"It's fine, right? I told you everything I know. Please let me go."

Looking down at the pitiful man with sober eyes, Ren quickly made his decision.

He asked him everything he wanted. He could be identified through his brother, so letting him go now wasn't a big problem. Besides -

"That's right. I'm sorry for taking your time. You can go now."

With a smiling face that didn't reveal his true intentions, Ren permitted his departure.

At that moment, Kyoshi ran away at high speed. Without hesitation he abandoned his brother and didn't turn around even for a second, that sort of commendable escape.

"Wa - wait for me, Aniki!"

After a few seconds, Takashi calmed down and ran after his brother. Of course, nobody was actually chasing them.

=== Part 4 ===

"Was it OK to let them go?"

When the silhouettes of the brothers disappeared from view, Kanon and Serisawa approached from the little farther away spot they were watching the show from.

At Kanon's question, implying it may be dangerous to let them be, Ren replied with a smile.

"It's fine. They'll probably be arrested quickly anyway."

"Arrested? By who?"

"By the police."

"Wasn't the police unable to deal with magic stuff?"

"That's not true anymore. There is a department that deals with black magic and spiritual disaster. I'll report them today so they will probably be caught before the day is over."

Replying with a smiling face to Serisawa, who also joined the conversation, for some reason their faces became stiff.

"- What's up?"

"W - What, you ask..."

"Because Ren-kun wasn't so determined before,"

"Really? Then I'm glad. Because I can't continue being a spoiled brat forever."

Seeming glad from the bottom of his heart, Ren smiled with all his face.

Although faltering in front of Ren's unexpected growth and bearing, Kanon and Serisawa weren't mesmerized by that smile.

"So, what to do from now on?"

"Eeh, what do you mean?"

At Kanon's question, who already pulled herself together, Ren didn't have a smile.

Even if something must be done about this, he can't do anything about it today. For now he will return to the household and report this, and by using Tokyo MPD's Special Investigation Unit there's no choice but to investigate it.

While thinking that, Kanon looked up at Ren and showed a proud smile.

"You know, from what that guy said I know where to find that place."

"- Really? Where is it?"

But, as if dodging the question Kanon turned her back to Ren.

"What to do? - If Ren-kun will kiss me I may as well tell him........"

"Eeh........."

"Wait a second!"

Kanon's daring request was attacked by a threatening voice and an excessively huge leg. Kanon promptly prepared her body and escaped the huge foot sole, drawing near.

"......Hey, you're in the way"

Kanon glared up at Serisawa's large build, who blocked her way as if trying to protect Ren, with a penetrating cold gaze.

A glare that did not see a fellow human but an obstacle that must be eliminated. Her eyes were still.

But even so, Serisawa didn’t flinch. Fired up by the decision to protect his precious friend, he boldly opposed the evil witch.

"There's neither negligence nor chance. Because of this, you won't be alone with Ren anymore. You're too dangerous."

"It's not like I asked for your permission."

"Shut up, you harlot!"

Using random old-fashioned disparaging words that God knows where he learned them from, Serisawa abused Kanon.

"If you really think so highly of Ren, then I'll teach you not to use bargaining points with him. That's why I say women are dishonest!"

"Humph," Kanon faltered as he touched a nerve.

It was a fair argument. Even though there was lip service involved, it was still a fair argument so she couldn't refute it.

"Won't you tell me, Suzuhara-san ~"

What's more, Kanon had no way to resist to Ren's ''request''.

"If you were to at least call me Kanon, I'll give you both my body and my heart."

"Aah......ahahahahahahahaha....maybe at a different time. All right?"

Disciplining his smiling face that already became stiff as Kanon drew near with a peevish expression, Ren smoothly recovered his serious look.

"- So?"

"It's just as Ren-kun was about to guess."

"Being on top of a building, you mean?"

"Oi, oi, don't spout such stupidity. In what world there's a building with raised from the rooftop."

Serisawa didn't notice yet. But taking advantage of those words, Ren arrived at the right answer.

A building with two towers raised from the rooftop - there was definitely such a building in Shinjuku.

"The Tokyo Government Office!"

At the involuntarily shouting Ren, Kanon clapped her hands giving praise to him.

"What? Aah, I see."

Late by several seconds, Serisawa finally noticed.

Towering over the Shinjuku's governmental district, the most important governmental office of the Tokyo Metropolitan Area - to put it simply this building had the form of the ''Ou'' (concave) character.

Having forty eight floors above ground, from the thirty third floor upward tho neighbouring towers reached the heaven.

Between the south and north tower there was a huge empty space. If they were to stand there they would definitely see the scenery Kyoshi described.

"But, there's nothing there...."

"How stupid! It can be concealed with magic. Right?"

"Yeah. Maybe."

"I know, right? Then -"

"No."

Kanon's delighted words, Ren interrupted them softly but clearly.

"From here on, I'll go alone."

"Ehh - But....."

"Suzuhara-san."

With a slightly troubled expression Ren called attention to the whining Kanon.

Sensing the solid determination inside that soft word, reluctantly, Kanon gave up following him.

"Take care, all right."

"It's fine. I won't do something so rash as going by myself. I'll just scout out a bit. Well then, see you tomorrow."

Assuring them he won't behave recklessly, Ren started running aiming at the Tokyo Government Office. Because he was in a hurry, after that trivial farewell, he never looked back.

That's why he didn't notice. Although seeing Ren off, without even looking at each other the duo exchanged accomplice smiles.

When arriving at the Tokyo Government Office, Ren asked the lady at the reception about his purpose - the space between the north and south tower.

But, the answer was ruthless.

As she said: ''"There's nothing there, you can't go there"''

Of course, there is an entrance for work but right now he has no time to forcibly or maybe through political power push in. Ren left the reception desk and took the elevator.

Of course, the place of destination was the thirty third floor. The level separated in two was the lowest one.

If he were to go there, he thought he could peek at that place through the window but there was no window. When looking at the information board, he saw that one section of the opening turned into a conference room. As expected, he cannot enter it without permission.

''"What am I supposed to do ? If it's the outside window will I be able to see it?"''

The forty fifth floors of the Tokyo Government Office - both North and South, had a general opened window.

If it's there, it may be possible to see. After thoroughly investigating the thirtieth floor, Ren abandoned that method.

For one moment Ren returned to the first floor. It was impossible to go to the viewing room without taking a direct elevator.

Lightly greeting the elevator girl with a smile plastered on her face, he boarded the elevator going for the north tower. The elevator rose nonstop until the forty fifth floor, opened its doors again and let out the passenger.

When exiting the elevator, he met three people. One was another elevator girl and the other two were -

[[File:Kaze no Stigma vol 04 205.jpg|thumb|]]

"Yo, Ren."

"You are late, what are you doing?"

As Ren involuntarily staggered, he hit his head on one side of the elevator wall. At that the elevator girl came rushing.

"Dear customer? How are you feeling?"

"Th - this is nothing. Don't worry about it."

Sending away the elevator girl by waving is hand, Ren looked at his two friends, that were supposedly prohibited from coming.

"Why are you here?"

As Ren pressed her for an answer, Kanon feigned thorough ignorance.

"Eeeh, Shinjuku sightseeing of something?"

"It's not ''or something'', right?"

As expected she couldn't deceive him. Holding Kanon's glaze he glared at her with a stern expression.

"It's dangerous, you know!?"

"But I saw Ren-kun's gallant figure. And then you said there's no danger if it's only scouting."

"That may be true but...."

There is a discrepancy between what is dangerous for Kanon and what is dangerous for Ren. Understanding it was useless trying to explain such things, Ren shut his mouth. As they chased after him while pretending to go home it seems pointless to send them away now.

Accepting the reality with a sigh, Ren asked the question that suddenly came to his mind.

"By the way, how did you know I will be here?"

"There's no other place from where one is able to see, right?"

Kanon's answer was clear.

"You didn't discuss how to enter the place didn't ask and because it's Ren-kun, you wouldn't forcibly try to enter, right? That's why there was no place to go but the sightseeing room."

"But there's also a sightseeing room in the south tower."

"The other one is opened until five."

As expected, Kanon concluded with clarity.

"Although there's no question there's more than thirty minutes, isn't that what a person would normally choose? That's why we came to the north tower who is opened until nine."

Giving the impression ''It's a simple thing, Watson-kun'', Kanon displayed her reasoning. Ren gave up raising both his hands.

"You caught me, Holmes."

"Fu fu fu....come here then."

Kanon started walking in order to catch Ren's hands. Serisawa waited on her path.

"I don't see from here. It's somewhat obscure."

Serisawa pointed at the window he occupied until now. Ren bent over overlooking that place.

Surely, it was hard to see. Although the north and south towers had an octagon shape, there was no window on the walls facing each other.

Inevitably, they had a forty five degree viewing angle.

But even so, when looking out clinging to the window, they could perceive all of the place in question. There were some bling spots but they could compensate for those from the window on the opposite side.

"...It's not there."

"It's not."

Already having confirmed it, Serisawa and Kanon separated from the window after a fleeting glance. Ren persevered a bit longer but unable to perceive any abnormality, he turned around as expected.

"Did you found something?"

"Nothing."

Ren lightly shrugged his shoulders. From the beginning he didn't expect to find out something only by looking.

As Ren is an Enjutsushi, he doesn't have the ability to see through a high grade concealment that can warp space.

"Then, what are we going to do?"

"Right. There's no point having come here just to go back like this. Maybe I'll push a little bit."

Surprised by the confident speech, Kanon unexpectedly opened her eyes wide. But Ren was sticking to the window again so she immediately pulled herself together and stood next to him. Serisawa followed naturally.

Overlooking the scenery underneath him, Ren concentrated his mind.

Is Pandemonium really there? And if it's there, by what means did it concealed its appearance? - Ren has no ability to smell it out. But still.

''"There no need to see it. It doesn't matter if I can't grasp it"''

The phenomenon induced by the Spirit Magic is not a simple natural phenomenon.

Kazuma's wind can tear open dimensions, and when Ayano battled with a gravitation user she managed to pull of the stunt of burning the warped space itself.

A strongly sharpened will can undermine the laws of physics. That is the quintessence of the magic foundation.

Even if he can't see anything, even if he can't feel anything -

''"As long as there is something there - no matter what it is, I can <<burn it>>!"''

A golden fireball was born in the air. Although it happened somewhat farther from the building, it was pulled from east to west leaving an afterimage and pierced the opening between the north and south towers.

Together with a faint response, a soundless noise reached back and the space trembled. And then -

"Ah!"

Spontaneously Kanon screamed.

For a second - only for a second, inside the flickering space an old western style house could be seen in the gap.

"Ren-kun, just now - !"

Ren nodded carefully, and separated his body from the window.

''"Bingo !"''

He had no doubt. The enemy's headquarters, Pandemonium, was here.

He cannot be involved with this game of slapping cards any longer. It was when he was thinking about returning home as quickly as possible and report it.

"Wasn't your knock a bit too rude, boy?"

From behind, a low and composed voice reached his ears.

Ren's field of vision, promptly turning around, was instantly enveloped in darkness. Just before his consciousness was engulfed in darkness together with his vision - Ren's shape disappeared from the sightseeing room.

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| Back to [[Kaze_no_Stigma:Volume4_Chapter_2|Chapter 2]]
| Return to [[Kaze_no_Stigma|Main Page]]
| Forward to [[Kaze_no_Stigma:Volume4_Chapter_4|Chapter 4]]
|-
|}
</noinclude>

Kaze no Stigma:Volume4 Chapter 3

2013-12-27T06:51:46Z

86.20.14.91: /* Chapter 3 - Shinjuku RPG */

== Chapter 3 - Shinjuku RPG ==

=== Part 1 ===

"Kazuma! I heard you made some serious blunder, huh?"

Meeting Kazuma face to face, Ayano said so, extremely enjoyed.

"Aah."

But Kazuma's response was an indifferent nod and without giving any reply he entrusted his back to the wall, his limbs idle.

"Kazuma.....?"

In front of that attitude she couldn't sport with, Ayano forgot the next attack she already prepared and called out to him in doubt.

Kazuma didn't answer. Not like he was ignoring her, more like he didn't even hear.

"What's this?"

She involuntarily asked Kirika but of course, she doesn't have the answer.

"I don't know - By the way Isurugi-kun, how long are you going to stand there, come sit!"

That was the first time Ayano realized she had another visitor.

If this man came together with Kazuma, it means it must be the ''promising newcomer''. From what she heard, he was definitely twenty three years old. But he seemed at least five years younger.

He had an extreme child-face. Because he came here while running, his cheeks were red. He stood stand still outside the room until he was permitted to come in.

But even so, why doesn't he move even after being called in.

"Good grief......"

Kirika stood up with a sigh, briskly walked to Daiki and brought him in by the ear.

"Isurugi policeman! Open your eyes!"

"Y- yes!"

The intense pain and scolding voice, brought Daiki's consciousness back to reality. His muscles extended as if an electric current run through them and stood vertically in front of Kirika.

"Th- this is Isurugi Daiki, I have just arrived!"

"I appreciate your efforts but first of all come sit down"

Responding in a worn-out voice, Kirika seized Daiki's hand. And then pulled him down as if he was a child who lost his composure, making him sit behind her.

He was acting like a suspect in a crime - Kirika thought so seeing him stand on the balls of the feet .

But then, Kirika quickly realized that was a misunderstanding.

While fleetingly stealing glances at Ayano, sitting down, Daiki asked:

"Ah, errr...this miss is....."

"........."

Feeling the approaching headache at the too easy to understand attitude, Kirika pressed her temples.

Even if she said he was a promising newcomer, she couldn't help but feel a little ashamed.

Throwing a sidelong glance at Kirika, Ayano bowed with a graceful gesture.

"I was late in introducing myself. I am the daughter of Kannagi Juugo, my name is Ayano."

Her bow was polite and her salute very friendly.

All her gestures were, each and everyone, unimaginably refined and hugely different from the time she was with Kazuma.

"Y- you are?"

As expected, it seemed even he knew that name, his flushed face becoming nervous.

But, as the the face of the girl he was looking at smiled softly just now, his consciousness flew up to heaven.

"My- my name is Isurugi Daiki! I work as a policeman, I'm twenty three years old and single!"

Daiki returned the greeting in a much too excited voice, with a slightly different focus.

Maybe he was really planning for a formal marriage interview.

But Ayano didn't attack that happy idiot and bowed her head with a serious face.

"I heard about you from Inspector Tachibana. You are a newcomer that she has great hopes for in the future."

"N- no, how unthinkable! My power is almost like nonexistent when comparing it with the Kannagi Clan."

"It has nothing to do with the size of power. It's important what you can do and what you should do with your power. You can protect people with that power, right? I think that's something you can be proud of."

"Is- is that so?"

"Yes, of course."

Although clumsy, he talked freely for the first time.

''"Appearing in disguise, huh?"''

Kirika stared in admiration at Ayano's graceful attitude, so different from normal.

But in reality, this was how Kannagi Ayano appeared to the majority of people.

Without need of using the <<as if>> figurative expression she was the child of a genuine good family and it is obvious that she had a thorough instruction on etiquette.

As for Kirika, if their first meeting would have been different, they would have come in contact in a similar manner. As for Ayano, she's not aware of any sort of pretense. This is also the girl's true appearance.

But, in the middle of the pleasant talk, the flawless behavior made a slight crack. While nodding at Daiki's words, her glance seemed turned elsewhere, her lips sharp with dissatisfaction.

It was just for one moment so Daiki didn't notice. But Kirika didn't miss it. Turning in the direction Ayano's eyes just did, Kirika made a small, wry smile.

In one of the room's corners, in a posture with one knee up, Kazuma sits in silence without minding Ayano talking so cheerful with another man. Or perhaps, not even recognizing it.

"........."

Looking at Kazuma in such a state, Kirika's conviction that ''something did happened'' only deepened.

He wasn't a man with such an innocent charm as to behave jealously but normally he would at least make a few sarcastic comments on Ayano's elegant attitude and difference of standard for another.

But before she was able to investigate it, the conversation moved forward.

Kirika lightly clapped her hands and pulled back Daiki's consciousness, floating higher than the clouds.

"Well, it's about time we got to the main point. First Isurugi Daiki, report."

Saying that, Kirika stared coldly at Daiki, now coming to his senses and started speaking about the full particulars of his own error.

"What the fuck was that? Who was she or ''what'' was she?"

On the other side, Kazuma was completely ignoring the noisy surroundings, and was thinking about the girl he met.

She couldn't possibly Tsoi Rin. Even if that was a ghost, it wasn't Tsoi Rin's ghost.

But for some reason, he naturally accepted her as Tsoi Rin.

But, something was odd.

The fact is the girl supposed to be dead four years ago appeared unchanged was very abnormal in itself, what's more, he felt a somewhat uncomfortable feeling from her.

''".........What was it.........?"''

He compared the four years old memory and what he saw an hour before. The girl's smile he remembered in a long time.

Yes, she was a girl smiling with a carefree face.

Her cherry blossoms lips smiling broadly, making her pupils full of vitality sparkle -

"Aah, I see..."

Realizing the source of that uncomfortable feeling, Kazuma slapped his palms. And then spoke loudly without realizing.

"Tsoi Rin's were green, huh..."

That girl's eyes were lapis lazuli blue. Feeling good for finally settling the question, he finally became aware of the outside world.

And then realized that he became the center of attention.

A stunned Kirika. An absolutely bewildered Daiki. And then, because he uttered Tsuo Rin's name aloud, glaring at him with angered eyes was Ayano.

All three's glance, in different ways, pierced into Kazuma.

"Kazuma -" Kirika spoke together with a sigh.

"Did you hear what we were saying?"

"No, not at all," Kazuma responded honestly but the atmosphere couldn't be calmed down just because of that.

Kirika got the better of Ayano, whose eyes emitted a much more dangerous atmosphere and urged Kazuma.

"Just at the right time. Please explain today's fact from your point of view. It seems Isurugi-kun didn't understand anything."

"........I'm sorry"

Daiki made himself small. Everyone ignored him.

"Fine. But I'm telling you, I have yet to get to the bottom of this."

With that introduction, Kazuma started speaking about the circumstances of the fight with <<The Hell Hound>>. The meaningful words he spoke became the focus of the room.

"A class change at Pandemonium, huh? This seems more and more like a game."

After Kazuma's story was finished, Ayano whispered so in an amazed tone. But diagonally from her, Kirika kept quiet with a difficult facial expression.

"Did you thought of something?"

"There's also the site Shinomiya-san told us about. Something similar was written there"

"What you are trying to say is that this is not just <<The Hell Hound>>'s wild delusion?"

"There's also a possibility the people who wrote that think the same way"

Kirika replied so but she wasn't honest about that. The fact that she believes Kazuma's report and, the things written on the bulletin board as true, can be read between the lines from her speech.

But, that ''truth'' was not compatible with Ayano's common sense.

Piling up a great quantity of experience, that after exceeding a fixed number gave a level-up. If one were to raise their level even more, a class chance will happen and acquire a furthermore greater power.

''"That sort of convenient power, where on earth can you find it?"''

Finding a problem, Kirika opened her eyes wide in surprise.

"Ah, I didn't explain that incident. I'm sorry. Because I didn't hear from Shinomiya-san since, I didn't told you about that. Simply put -"

"Ayano-sama"

As if covering Kirika's voice, someone called Ayano from the hallway.

"What?"

At Ayano's short question, the servant replied with courtesy.

"You're wanted on the telephone."

".......Come in"

"Sorry to bother you"

The fusuma was soundlessly opened. Carrying a wooden tray the telephone was placed on, the yet young servant quietly entered.

"Who is it?"

"Someone called Suzuhara."

"Suzuhara?"

Without having any idea who that is, Ayano was puzzled.

"She said she was Ren-sama's classmate."

"Ah, Kanon-chan? - And you -"

While remembering the girl with adorable looks and lively character, Ayano looked at the servant frowning.

The ones serving the Kannagi family obviously know the Clan's occupation and the importance of that duty.

Even if he was a servant, a blockhead that interrupts a meeting for a personal call has no qualifications to work in this household.

But, not realizing he was on the verge of unemployment, the servant continued his words blandly.

"It seems an emergency. She said Ren-sama is missing."

"- Tch! Father?"

"Of course. As well with Genma-sama."
'''(!)'''

While answering frankly, the servant held out the tray. Ayano gripped the phone as if tearing it off.

"Hello?"

Coincident with Ayano's word, an upset voice flew in like a torrent.

"J- just calm down. Tell me what happened since the beginn - he disappeared? Suddenly, in front of your eyes? At Tokyo's Government Office? Why were you - Pandemonium?"

That last word frozen the already strained atmosphere of the room.

In the still as death space, only Ayano's voice resounded for a long time.

=== Part 2 ===

Seiryou Private Academy - this campus built not far of from the Imperial Palace, is a private prestigious school from middle school to senior high school.

With a tradition exceeding a hundred years, it's valued highly for yearly producing successful applicants to national universities with achievements in various fields, a school where a large number of ''children from respectable families'' attend.

And then, on the list of names of freshmen from that Seiryou Gakuen Middle School division, there are Kannagi Ren and the name of that ''friend''.

After school.

One boy approached the girl stuffing textbooks in her bag.

"Kanon -"

Being addressed with overly familiarity, the girl, Suzuhara Kanon turned over her shoulder with a sharp look.

"Do you have some business with me, Takamatsu-kun?"

Her tone was by no standard in a good mood but the boy called Takamatsu didn't notice and drew closer with a smile.

"Don't talk to me in such a reserved manner, call me Takashi. I'll also call you Kanon."

It seems that this boy, although a junior high school student, didn't learn any kind of etiquette until now. After not using honorifics and calling her ''you'', Kanon raised her eyebrows.

"Let's stop somewhere on the way home. The UFO catcher is my specialty. I'll catch whatever you fancy."

While saying so, he casually touched her shoulder. In Kanon's mind Takashi's death punishment was decided.

With a light breath she softly brushed Takashi's hand, the one touching her shoulder, and then -

"Aghyaaah!?"

She sized his middle finger and bent it backwards with all her strength.

Falling to his knees with an unsightly scream, he received a kick on top of his shoulders and rolled on the ground.

"Hey, ''Takamatsu-kun''?"

Kanon overlooked with a cold-hearted gaze Takashi, laying down with his face up.

"As it seems you don't know much about the manners of the world, I'll teach you but don't you think it's very rude to address a person you're not intimate with without using an honorific title?"

Sweeping the shoulder Takashi touched, whipping her hands with a handkerchief and even going as far as throwing that handkerchief in the garbage can - that three layered combo pointed out her real intent: ''I don't want to be touched by the likes of you'' and relentlessly delivered the final blow.

"If you want to chase after girls, you'd better improve your character. Because your face cannot compensate for your vulgar nature."

It was a blunt way of talking but from the classroom there could be heard snickers from here and there. It seems Kanon was not the only one who thought this boy was pushy.

"Y- you...."

"Ah, Ren-kun!"

Kanon looked at the moaning Takashi as if he was filth but the instant she recognized the boy at the entrance of the classroom she transformed to a girl in love.

Immediately forgetting about Takashi's existence, she rushed over with a light manner of walking.

"Re - n -kun!"

"Ah, Suzuhara-san. Did something happen?"

Without showing signs of faltering at the approaching beautiful girl, Ren grinned. Kanon, that seemed about to embrace him, stopped in her tracks, her face changed.

"Ren, kun......?"

"What?"

Intently watching Ren, softly smiling, Kanon thought:

''"As I thought, he changed."''

At almost the same time the new school term started, Ren took a long break. And then when he returned after half a month, he was exhausted, like a different person.

He almost never answered when she accosted him. He wouldn't laugh.

His eyes were dead.

In order to recover his smiling face, Kanon exerted herself greatly. It was annoying but she called her bitter enemy and joined hands with that homo bastard.

But it was useless.

Eventually, the graduation ceremony came and without laughing Ren left school. She knew they were going to the same junior high school but she remembers thinking that she will never see him again.

It seemed that was needless anxiety because when they occasionally met during the spring break Ren was laughing almost normally.

''"But still, something is different."''

She recognized it every time she saw him. He seemed recovered but something changed inside Ren. Although he was only five centimeters taller than her, he seemed big for some reason.

He was still gentle but she couldn't drag him along anymore. Although he drifted away, he would definitely not cross over a certain line - she felt that sort of flexible power.

Just like now. Although she would have simply hugged him before, right now he wouldn't tolerate it.

Something happened. Something related to the unique occupation of the Kannagi Family. A situation she couldn't comprehend deeply injured Ren's delicate heart. And by overcoming it, Ren became stronger.

She thought that side of Ren was cool too. But at times he seemed in a faraway place. ''Was it possible she can't reach him anymore?'' - she had those kinds of thoughts.

''"That's not true, right?"''

She fleetingly looked up at Ren with upturned eyes. Realizing the serious light dwelling in her gaze, Ren directly stared back at Kanon.

"Suzuhara-san, did something happen?"

"- No, it's nothing."

Kanon replied as bright as possible and boldly clung to Ren's arm.

"Su- Suzuhara-san?"

"I told you to call me Kanon."

Embracing Ren by pushing her chest against his arm, Kanon drew closer.

"Eh, well, but......"

Exasperated by Ren's bright red face, Kanon puffed out her cheeks.

''"Ugh, if I don't do something nothing will change!"''

Without shying away from the public gaze, she was thinking of forcing herself on him right on the spot. No, if she were to bring him like this to a deserted place -

"- Hey"

But that anticipation, unimaginable on a twelve year old girl, was obstructed by an impolite intruder. Looking over her shoulder without bothering to hide her displeasure, Kanon demanded an explanation in a thorny tone.

"Ara, Takamatsu-kun, do you still have some business with me?"

Takashi only looked at Kanon without answering and came near Ren. While their noses were almost touching he stared intensely at Ren's features and sneered with open disdain.

"That's what you like, Kanon? A man without redeeming features but his face?"

"What are you trying to say, Ren-kun is very smart. Or did you forget his speech as the freshman's representative?"

"Sh- shut it!"

Having his best effort at sarcasm easily retorted, Takashi was enraged. His eyes, red with anger, seized the surprised Ren who had not understood the situation.

He thought of targeting the short boy that seemed unrelated to fighting, a target fit for a diversion.

He quickly seized the nape of his neck and yanks it up, attacking him with a brutal countenance.
'''(!)''

"You're so composed! Why, there's no value in dealing with the likes of me, huh? Do you want me to hit that pretty face of yours, ahhh?"

"......Huh......."

Blinking at the sudden incident, Ren earnestly tried to communicate.

"It's Takamatsu-kun, right? I'm sorry but I don't understand why you are so upset? Could you please explain the situation before resorting to violence?"

"I can't, you idiot!"

While shouting close to his ears, Takashi hardened his fist and struck.

But that fist was returned next to Takashi's torso, before reaching Ren.

"Wha -"

"Stop right there. If Ren was serious the likes of you are nothing but a pushover."

The man that appeared unexpectedly in the background wrung Takashi's neck. Seeing that man, Kanon murmured unpleasant from the bottom of her heart.

"You came although I didn't call you, huh..."

"Humph, if it's for Ren I'll rush over from the end of the earth!"

Retorting a slightly complicated answer, the man threw out his robust chest. While looking over that dialogue that will never reach a common point with a tired face, Ren said.

"Serisawa-kun...please let him go. It must be painful, right?"

"Ah? Ah - sorry, sorry."

With an awkward smile the man released Takashi, who was about to stop breathing.

While coughing, Takashi scowled at the man who asked for trouble.

"Y- you.......ah?"

But, even by turning his face, he cannot see the man's face. A black wall, completely blocking his field of vision - after realizing it was the chest of the man wearing the high school uniform, he looked upward.

He was huge.

Taller than him by at least twenty centimeters. Meaning that although he was a first year student he was taller than a hundred and eighty centimeters.

In the entire class - no, the entire school there wasn't another one like this kind of guy.

"Se- Serisawa......"

"Yo."

With a broad grin the man - Ren's friend since middle school, Serisawa Tatsuya tightly held Takashi's head.

Gripping his small head with one hand, his huge arm as if ready to crush his skull as it is.

"Uugii.......gaah, ahh......."

Drawing near to Takashi's face, who was groaning in pain, Serisawa showed a ferocious smile.

"Listen! If you have a bone to pick with Ren, I'll be your opponent first. Try remembering that!"

While saying that he shook Takashi's head and heaved him. And then, without sparing a look for the boy flowing in the air, smiling with the whole face, he turned to Ren.

"Hey, Ren. You're not hurt right? I mean, that's impossible. Wahahahahaha"

With a lively laugh, Serisawa approached Ren. But Kanon stood in his way.

Looking up at Serisawa with a cold gaze, Kanon informed him.

"Thank you very much. Now that the nuisance is out of the way you can go back to the zoo. Your wife, the female gorilla, must wait for your return."

"Wh- who's a gorilla you stupid bitch!"

"You, of course it's you! Don't you think anything about being so big at only twelve? If it's not a gorilla, your ancestor must be some sort of anthropoid so please let some research institute have you!"

While looking over the quarrel he had no place in, Ren let out a small breath trying not to attract attention.

Although this kind of thing happened frequently during middle school, all the same he didn't predict it would continue even now. Leaving Kanon aside, nobody imagined Serisawa would be able to enter Seiryou Gakuen.

Since Serisawa was a really poor student except athletics, just how much effort he put to pass the entrance examination.

That noble endeavor and the conclusion that seemed the favor of gods was rumored to be some ''miracle of love''.

Though honestly, Ren would rather have that part forgotten.

But even so, not satisfied by only passing the exam and also being in the same, maybe Serisawa really had some divine protection.

What's more, since Kanon was also in the same class, that goddess of love must have had a black tail hidden underneath her white robes.

"Ren is hanging out with me!"

"Don't be stupid! He's coming with me!"

While Ren was trying to escape from reality their quarrel continued. And at that point they were contesting who is taking Ren on an after school date - without even asking for the feelings of the person himself.

''"Will I be able to stop then, I wonder....still......"'' Ren thought in a glum mood.

If he were to ignore it, it seems their dispute would really turn violent. As expected, he cannot ignore the damage to their surroundings.

Beside, different from the arguments between Nee-sama and Nii-sama, these two's argument was not so high a level that he cannot stop it.

Ren tried to console himself that maybe practising here will become useful in the future.

"Hey, listen..." he called out to them with as light a voice as possible.

Both turned their heads simultaneously. Controlling his urge to run away, Ren preserved his smiling face with great effort.

"It - it would be better if we all went. Instead of only two, isn't it more fun if it's all three of us, right?"

"................"

"................"

A heavy silence that hurt his stomach fell. Unable to put up with the sense of urgency, the fortunate students closer to the door plotted a speedy escape.

Compared to them, Ren was splendid. The cold sweat breaking out on his back didn't change his smiling face and he boldly received their glare.

After a long, long silence, Kanon and Serizawa lowered their pressuring gaze at the same time.

"- Well, if Ren-kun says so..."

"- There's no helping it."

Extremely unwillingly, they came to an agreement. Leading both of them, Ren tried to leave the classroom.

But a rough sound from the background stopped them in their tracks.

"Hey, hey, please stop it!"

"Shut it!"

A thoroughly angry voice. Without the need to turn around, the development excessively easy to understand made the trio exchange glances with wearily faces.

"Hey, just stop it already, you."

"Shut your trap, you enormity!"

Takashi shouted at Serisawa in a disgusted voice and glared at Ren standing next to him.

But Ren, who at twelve passed through numerous scenes of carnage, didn't feel threatened by only a violent boy.

On the contrary, not even recognizing he was being glared at, he tilted his head as is asking ''"Why on earth is he angry about?"''

And then, there was Kanon.

She received head on Takashi's hateful glare and returned a scornful laugh. Her folded arms and raised chin and her facial expression that haughtiness itself didn't hide her contempt for Takashi.

"......You're making fun of me......" he squeezed out from the gap between his clenched teeth, grasping his fists tightly.

"Don't get conceited you bitch!!"

And then, he leaped at her while screaming. As expected Kanon wasn't ready for this degree of violence, so she was unable to respond.

Takashi grabbed Kanon’s shoulder and swung his fist. A second later, everyone was convinced the girl was cruelly hit. But -

"- Gaah?"

[[File:Kaze no Stigma vol 04 155.jpg|thumb|]]

As abruptly as a spinning top launched in the middle of the way, Takashi was torn off from Kanon and pressed to the blackboard.

Because of that enormous power, the blackboard and Takashi's back started creaked ominously. With eyes growing hazy because of the pain, Takashi looked at the figure of the person who pressed him down.

''"Ka - Kannagi........? No way.......!"''

He couldn't believe it. That a boy much smaller than him could hide this much power. Because he was pushed up, he tilted his body was slowly forced up. Both his feet were floating in the air.

"Guu......Ha.....s - stop......"

Pressured by the fist grabbing him on the collar, his ribs were hurting. Trying to somehow raise a protesting voice, Takashi's tongue was frozen.

Ren was looking straight at him.

He was sharp, like a different person but despite that his gaze was carrying an intense anger.

His whole body tied by the power loaded in that pupil, Takashi shivered in fear at his wit's end.

''"I'll be killed!"''

He felt ''death'' closer than ever before. The fear of having a knife thrust at him seemed insignificant when compared to this.

It was the first time in his life his body was basking in the real thirst for blood. A precise, definite ''intent to slaughter''.

There was no escape.

Calmly, composedly and certainly -

''"This guy...will kill me!"''

"Hi - hiii......"

But, contrary to his expectation Takashi was suddenly released from the restraints. The body that lost its support slipped off, rubbing the wall with a dragging sound and feebly sunk down to the floor.

"Eh......ah.....?"

Looking up in a daze, he saw Ren looking at his own hand with an air of bewilderment. And several seconds after, he showed a minor bitter smile while looking down at Takashi cowering at his feet.

"Hey...."

"Hiiiii!"

"You can't be violent toward girls."

The persuasion Ren made in a gentle tone, while Takashi was greatly perplexed, didn't add up.

"Hey, eh........"

While thinking what to do about that, from beneath Takashi's feet, squatting down, a strange liquid poured out.

An offensive smell.

"......Eh?"

"What have you done?"

Serisawa forcibly drew out Ren, standing rock still dumbfounded. And then he put his arm around his neck as if trying to strangle him and forced him along to a place where the liquid that kept on flowing.

"Your indoor slippers will get dirty! Instead of cleaning this guy's piss from my slippers I'd rather throw them away!"

"Th- then that really was..."

Finally comprehending the nature of the smelling liquid, Ren's face became pale.

Looking at Takashi he saw that his body was still curled up. The reason why he was trembling was probably not only fear.

Incontinence - a boy that was already a junior high school student never felt so much shame. And, realizing all this Ren started speaking very upset.

"I'm, I'm sorry! I, didn't mean to.....I'll call Sensei immediately so - "

"- Ren"

Striking Ren's shoulder, Serisawa feebly shook his head.

"If you feel even a little pity for this guy, don't say anymore. Just leave him alone"

"Eh, but - if it stays like this it will seem I bullied him. And people who torment others are the worst."

Ren didn't say it with malice. He didn't but the consequence of those words was to break into small pieces the already wounded pride of Takashi.

As if whipping the dead or salt was rubbed into his wounds Takashi's body shivers worsened.

"Are - are you ok?"

Perceiving that reaction, Ren flustering rushed over to Takashi. He touched the trembling body.

".........!?"

That extended hand was flung off as far as possible. Ren's eyes blinking in shock were pierced by eyes full of murder.

"Son of a bitch..."

Raising a face full of tears and snot Takahashi glared at Ren with as much hatred as he could muster.

"Remember this, son of a bitch! My brother is really strong! He can kill the likes of you with one attack."

"Waah, how lame," Kanon commented scornfully.

"If you can't, will you run to your Onii-chan, huh? I wonder just what sort of person that is?"

"Shut up!" screamed Takashi with a voice turned inside out.

"Now it's the time to pull back you know! My Aniki has supernatural powers! He'll turn the likes of you into ash!!"

For a second the class was enveloped in silence. And then -

"Bahahahahahahahahahaha!!"

The classroom was shook by a maelstrom of very loud laughter.

"Were - were you serious just now, Takamatsu-kun? Are you saying that seriously?"

"And on top of that you are one of those who believe crop circles are made by aliens too, right?"

While striking desks and walls, and stamping their feet, the students unanimously ridicule Takashi.

But without bothering with their reaction Takashi only glared at Ren.

"Just go ahead and laugh. Make fun of me. Get cocky just because you're somewhat good at fighting...because I'll teach you that such things are helpless in front of absolute power!"

"You're the one who you cocky, stupid," spit out Serisawa tiresomely, throwing the black board eraser at Takashi who talked on and on in ecstasy.

His right hand was already loaded with the next eraser.

"Se - Serisawa! You'll do it, too? My Aniki will - "

"Shut the fuck up!"

Without hesitation Serisawa threw the other blackboard eraser with all his strength. The chalk powder sticking to the blackboard eraser hit Takashi in the face and the angry face already flushed deep red was dyed pure white.

Simultaneously, white smoke spreads like an explosion, and the boy who inhaled the dust convulsed with all his strength.

"I'm telling you to bring your brother! Because I don't have all day, you know!"

"You - you bastard....."

Spontaneously, ignoring Takashi trying to spit out the words while having a coughing fit, Serisawa pulled Ren and started walking.

"Well, this is boring. Forget about this and let's hang out. Where do you want to go?"

"Ehh, well..."

"I - I want to go to Shinjuku. I want to buy some clothes."

"Waah, do you think we want to go buy women's clothes?"

"I wasn't talking to you."

"What did you say?"

"Well, well, calm down both of you."

With a delicately stiff smiling face, Ren tried mediating the glaring pair.

"We should go to where you both want to go in turns. We have time."

The trio started deciding their after school activities enjoyed. It seems that inside their heads not a particle of Takashi's words remains.

"Then, Shinjuku is our first stop right?"

"Yeah."

"Right."

Gaining both their agreement, Ren started walking with a visibly relieved expression.

Behind him, as if his existence itself was thoroughly forgotten, there was the solitary figure of Takashi, crouching. His gaze, carrying the dark flame of hate saw off Ren's distant back without even blinking.

=== Part 3 ===

The game center the trio left was illuminated by the red sunlight of the evening. Feeling relief when released from the noisy environment, Kanon let out a small breath. And then she snuggled up to Ren like it was usual.

"Which reminds me, Ren-kun was really cool back then."

While clinging to Ren's arm, Kanon recalled the gallant figure of the boy that overwhelmed that failure of an idiot.

"Wasn't it the first time you acted like that in school?"

Kanon was familiar with Ren's strength. She understood that even a juvenile delinquent that took pride in fights couldn't go against him.

But Ren didn't try to display his own strength. Rather, he was actively trying to avoid that kind of situation.

Unrelated to his ability, he hated conflict. That's why before it could turn into a fight he tried to express his opinion and while taking the hit he would only counterattack to defend his body.

Although ''protecting Kanon'' was a just cause, Ren honestly thought it was inconceivable of exerting violence on boys his age.

"Ahh, yeah......."

Ren also thought his behaviour was strange and spontaneously expressed a bitter smile.

"I must definitely apologize to Takamatsu-kun later."

"I don't really care about that idiot but did you change your policy?"

"Policy huh, I didn't have such an exaggerated thing from the beginning. I just hate unreasonable violence, that's all. But when I thought Kanon-san was about to be hurt, I couldn’t control myself - is what you call ''to snap'', right?"

"Ehh....."

At those unanticipated words, Kanon’s cheeks were dyed red.

"Th- th- that means, I'm important enough for Ren-kun to spontaneously lose his temper for me?"

"Yes."

As if talking about an obvious thing, Ren smoothly agreed.

"You are important. I wish Suzuhara-san were happy. I want you to smile. That's why, I'll protect you - I don't want to lose anything anymore."

"Ren-kun -"

Overcome with emotion, Kanon embraced Ren. But just before she could, a huge hand like a glove covered Kanon’s face. And then, forcefully tore her off.

"What are you doing, you -"

"No, well, Ren said it was for a friend."

Interrupting Kanon who was about to swear, Serisawa praised Ren with an unnaturally bright expression.

"Of course, if I were in a pinch Ren would help me too, right? Because we're friends."

"Ehh...? Y- Yeah. But I cannot imagine Serisawa-san getting in a tough spot."

"That may be true. But, at that time I will trust in you when the time comes, ''friend''."

Striking Ren's shoulder Serisawa shifted his focus to Kanon. And then, raised his lips extremely enjoyed.

"I'm so glad for you, Kanon. Ren protected you ''as a friend''. You are mutually good friends. I'm sure your friendship will last ''all your life''. We'll ''alwaaaaays'' be friends, right?"

"..........."

Kanon glared at Serisawa with an extremely angry expression. Most likely, she was butchering him inside her head in hundreds of different ways.

She grasped her slender white fingers strongly as if trying to choke something.

"..........Just bring it on!"

"Ke ke ke ke ke ke."

Serisawa responded at the groaning Kanon with a loud laughter. In the space between them, invisible sparks were scattering.

"He- hey, calm down both of you!!"

Becoming aware they were attracting attention from the surroundings, Ren tried to mediate the duo. But, his gaze went around as if making sure of something.

"- Be quiet, both of you."

Sensing the alteration in Ren's tone, both his friends quickly became silent. At almost the same time, a single man drew closer.

Wearing an LL sized T-shirt that reached the middle of his tights and loose half pants - the person himself probably thought he was cool but the people who didn't have the same values could only call him untidy.

"Kannagi Ren?" the man asked shortly after, looking down on Ren.

"And you are?"

"It doesn't matter who I am. There's someone who has business with you. Follow me."

"I refuse."

"Aaah!?"

When Ren flatly rejected him the man tried to overpower him from right overhead.

"Who the fuck asked for your opinions!? Shut up and follow me or I'll kill you, damn brat!"

"I have no intention of obeying the likes of you, no matter what you say. Let's go."

Replying in a resolute manner, Ren urged Kanon and Serisawa on and started walking.

"...You bastard......."

Treated trivially by a middle school kid with feminine features, the man was quickly enraged. Drawing near the trio he seized Kanon’s neck.

"Don't underestimate me, damn brats! What happens to this woman- !?"

Unable to finish his speech, the man fainted in agony. The fist trusted into the pit of his stomach made him unconscious and he crumbled down before understanding what happened and who did this to him.

"Are you OK?" asked Ren pulling out the fist that was buried up to the wrist.

Kanon nodded without showing any disturbance.

"Yes. But, who is this guy?"

"Well, I don't know. But I don't remember becoming enemy to this kind of people -"

Closing his eyes partly Ren searched for presence in the surroundings.

They were surrounded.

Their clothes were different but they were approximately the same age and above all the boys had in common a wild presence while surrounding them.

They thought they weren’t yet detected so they slowly reduced the encircling net.

Ren informed Kanon in a small voice.

"For now we had better escape. Can you run?"

"Yeah. I'll do my best," Kanon nodded.

Next he made an eye signal at Serisawa, synchronizing their timing.

Just before the men moved, forestalling their movement by a second, Ren grabbed Kanon and started running.

"Move! Move! Move! "

Serisawa sent the men standing still, and taken by surprise, flying spendidly. Ren and Kannon nimbly ran through the hole that opened in the net.

"Shit! Don't let them escape!"

While being chased by harsh voices and more than ten footsteps the trio started running at high speed.

"Shit! Just how many are there?" cursed Serisawa while moving his legs determinedly.

From that point on, the trio weren't able to run from the men's pursuit for more than ten minutes.

They didn't understand why such a group of people were pursuing Ren, but it seemed there were more of them than those who surrounded Ren's group the first time.

The number of the men who ambushed them at their destination was already reaching thirty.

"Suzuhara-san, keep at it a bit longer," Ren murmured as if cheering up the girl who was short of breath.

Kanon was almost at her limit. By nature, her stamina was quite like that of a normal girl. When chased after by men with full grown bodies she couldn't possibly get away.

''"This is bad.........."'' thought Ren, when he remembered the distance so far.

They were being herded. He didn't know the final destination but the men were clearly leading them somewhere.

But, even if he knew that, there was nothing he could do about it. Even though the opponent is an amateur, their numbers were too large. He didn't have the confidence he could defeat all of them while defending Kanon and Serisawa without using En-jutsu.

Gradually they were being cornered to a desolate place with a bad atmosphere. While thinking he should start preparing himself they reached the corner.

As expected, they were ambushed.

In the space ten men were lying in wait, Ren's group naturally plunged into it. From behind several other people were approaching.

They were completely driven to the wall.

"Ren-kun......"

"It's OK."

Grasping the hand of the girl who leaned close to him uneasily, Ren smiled.

"If I have too, I'll use my power. I won't let them even touch both of you. Don't worry."

It was strictly prohibited using Jutsu when dealing with an ordinary person. But he didn't feel like complying with such regulations if his body and the bodies of his friends were in danger.

Ren was determined that more than hurting others, he couldn't tolerate if he himself were to get hurt.

"Ku ku ku ku ku."

Unnatural chuckles drifted in the air and the crowd of people in Ren's front parted left and right. From inside it, a boy with a pompous attitude stepped forward.

"Ku ku ku ku ku ku ku - ha ha ha ha ha ha!"

The supressed laugh gradually raised its tension and turned into a laughing scream.

It was a face they recognized.

The face they parted from only a few hours earlier laughed, arrogant and proud.

"You can't run anymore, Kannagi!" ''he'' declared with an already triumphant air.

Before he came out, it was possible that Ren's group was scared. Maybe they had a vision of asking for forgiveness with a menial attitude. But that completely backfired.

A strange unknown ''something'' sometimes intimidates the human heart much more than a tangible, physical threat could.

For Kanon and Serisawa, who were not used to being involved in serious fights, the strange men that chased them without pretext were very scary.

But the moment ''he'' showed himself the trio understood everything. The enemy's true character, his purpose and the conclusion.

"Aaa - aahhhh, my hair is so messy -"

Completely disregarding ''his'' existence Kanon started arranging her dishevelled hair. And then, the moment ''he'' tried opening his mouth a second time irritated, she beat him to it.

"The peeing boy, huh? Did you change your soiled pants?"

"Wha - wha - ....!"

He - Takamatsu Takashi, while trying to say something to make him look better, his face was dyed bright red with anger and opened and shut his mouth to no purpose.

Serisawa sunk the boot in him even more.

"Which means, these guys are your brother's henchmen? I didn't really think you would call your Aniki. You’re such a loser, it's kind of cool."

"Sh - shut up! It's too late to apologize now! For the likes of you, in one shot, Aniki will -"

"Ahh - yes, yes. Just call your brother already - Where are you, Onii-chan with super powers?"

"Mo - mother fucker....." Takashi began losing it at the speech looking down on him from the bottom of the heart.

"That's enough, Takashi. Leave the rest to me."

"A - Aniki."

Hearing the voice that reached from the back, Takashi regained his confidence.

"I trust you, Aniki! Turn them all to ash in one go!"

"All right"

Replying with a reassuring nod, one man appeared. That silhouette stared at the trio - a pitiless stare.

He was most likely in the latter half of his teens. His hair was bright orange and was standing up. He was wearing black leather pants and a deep crimson leather coat.

Coupled together with the orange hair, his appearance was really standing out. So much that you couldn't mistake him for another even at a distance of a hundred meters.

Sneakily, Serisawa and Kanon started speaking but in such a way that the opponent could clearly hear.

"Hey, what kind of cosplay do you think that is?"

"I don't know but I saw that pose, when facing the camera, appear at O-Bon and the last year International Exhibition Hall. He doesn't seem embarrassed, huh?"

".....Hey, damn brats," the man growled, deviating from the plan, his temple veins showing.

After all, since he was Takashi's brother, his capacity wasn't all that great.

Seeing through that, the duo got carried away even more.

"Hey, orange head Onii-chan, who do you cosplay? A game character? Or maybe anime?"

"Is that bad taste coat your casual wear? Are you really walking around dressed like that? No way - I can't believe it!"

Serisawa laughed like a horse while Kanon covered her sneer with her hand. For a man with a pretty low boiling point that was more than enough stimulation.

"You sons of bitches! I won't forgive you!"

Raising an angry roar, the man released his ''power''. The flame spirits drawn to him with brute force screamed in agony.

But as if not hearing that, the man kneaded the spirits being scrapped together.

In the man's surroundings, the air started flickering like a heat haze - and then, a deep crimson flame appeared.

"Se - seriously?" Serisawa murmured with a nervous face. Almost at the same time, as if trying to drown down his voice, from every direction cheers erupted.

"Waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah"~

"Kill! Kill! Kill!"

"Roast them! Colour them black! Turn them to ash!"

"Show us something flashy today too!"

Responding to the shouts of joy intoxicated in bloodlust, the man yelled.

"Yeaah, leave it to me!"

As if acting in concert with that scream, the fire gathered in both his palms. That curling flame raised its density, adjusted its shape and turned to high speed rotation fire bullets.

"Eat them, ''Fiiiiiiire Buuuuuleeeet''!"

The man spread his arms on a grand scale and threw the two softball-sized fireballs with a sidearm pitch.

The moment they were separated from his hand, the bullets accelerated as if repelled. The fireballs that left a flight afterimage headed to Kanon and Serisawa with a speed impossible to evade.

"It's dangerous!"

But, Ren reacted instantly and thrust both of them away, removing them from the fireball trajectory. Ren evaded them by slipping through the space between the fireballs and survived without problems.

"Hooo, aren't you good! Being able to dodge the <<Fire bullet>>!"

"What the heck are you thinking!!"

Ren scowled with an intense expression the man who raised his voice in compliment.

"Openly using Jutsu in public - and even attacking children! If you're also a Practitioner, understand how moderation works!"

"Ahhh? What's a Practitioner?"

At the unexpected retort, Ren unintentionally became speechless.

Laughing scornfully at the petrified Ren, the man introduced himself loudly.

"I am <<The Fire Leader>>! The supreme monarch that controls fire! You have no right to complain, no matter who I burn! Because there's no one in this world who can order the King!"

Looking dumbfounded at <<The Fire Leader>> laughing loudly, Ren was voluntarily greatly perplexed.

"Waaaah, he's the worst.........this man is ''dokkaku''...."

Dokkaku is a term derived from Buddhism and represents the people that made ascetic practices and reached Enlightment without the guidance of a teacher.

Of course, the truth that they barely managed to reach through that kind of process doesn't go beyond the impression of selfishness.

The same way, in the world of magic, the people who reached the manifestation of their power without any kind of instruction are also called this.

These kind of people, because they don't have anyone around them to compare to, have a tendency to think about their power as the greatest thing ever.

And then, they start a new religion by calling themselves ''The son of God'' and intend to exterminate mankind while under the impression they are ''the pioneers of progress''' and tend heavily to behave like a tyrant.

The man that stood before him was a stereotypical example of that.

"Well, are you ready?"

Punctuating the moment with a wild laugh, the man lifts his power a second time.

"Thanks for tormenting my little brother! I'll burn all three of you! Eat this, ''Phoenix Wing''!!"

<<The Fire Leader>> raised his hands to the sky. The fire spirits that were gathered beyond that point, embodied a bird in flames.

It was big. Its wing length exceeds three meters.

The phoenix moulded with delicate details like a living thing - and the heat loaded inside - Ren immediately saw through the fact that it was capable of perfectly burning three people to nothing.

"Get down!"

Covering up for Kanon and Serisawa, Ren confronted the fire bird. A huge quantity of heat that approached flapping its large wings. If a normal human were to take a direct hit from it would be turned to cinders. But -

"Disappear!"

At Ren's one command the fire bird scattered and vanished

"Whaaaat!?"

"Please don't get carried away. That sort of bluff jutsu doesn't even pass as the real Enjutsu."

"E - Enjutsu, you say..."

With a backward glance at <<The Fire Leader>> who murmured so with shock, Ren seized the broken fragments of the fire bird.

A slight pain travelled in his palm. ''Something'' mixed with the flame burned his skin.

Ren knew that feeling first-hand. A counterfeit pain that burned a regular human, the white hot sensation that polluted even the soul.

''"Youki !? What is happening?"''

Youki, the essence given by demonic beings - that is, the <<Ki>> of nonhuman life. It was something fundamentally different from simple evil concept like hatred, grudge and such.

It alternated the body of those with piles of experience, but different from the case of a black Jutsushi in the process of shedding his humanity, an amateur Jutsushi that only barely woken his powers was not supposed to be clad in it.

"- Let's go."

Finding it difficult to wait and see, Ren started a light attack. More than ten fireballs manifested instantly, leaving an afterimage.

The Jutsu composition and the shooting speed were both in a different league from <<The Fire Leader>>.

Unable to even recognise the fireballs, the man stood rock still simply dumbfounded.

"Waah!?"

But in spite of the fact that he clearly had not noticed it, from the body of <<The Fire Leader>>, a great number of flames were generated and intercepted Ren's Jutsu with unmatched accuracy.

Faced with the point blank explosion, the man finally noticed he was being attacked. For a little while his line of sight loitered around, not understanding what happened but abruptly he declared triumphantly, throwing out his chest.

"How naïve! Did you think that degree of offensive could knock down ''Me''?"

The convenient explanation that his power was invocated by an unconscious defensive instinct seemed self-sufficient.

"........."

Ren ignored the man's words and reflected on the phenomenon that just happened.

That power was obviously invoked without the intent of the person itself. A Youki coiling around. There was only one deduction he could make.

''"He's possessed by a Youma?"''

The man who called himself <<The Fire Leader>> seemed only to borrow the power of the Youma that lived off him like a parasite. But as he was proudly boasting of ''his own power'' he clearly didn't realise that.

"That's nasty..."

It was not something that was possible to occur by chance. Without a doubt, someone deceived this man and turned him into the object the Youma occupies, ready to be eaten in the near future.

He couldn't let that be.

He was bothered by the fact he let his power rampage but this man was unmistakeably a victim.

But, in front of Ren who decided to save him no matter what -

"Still, you're pretty good. It's been a long time since I met someone who could defend against my power."

The man got excited by himself. Expressing a smile that was supposed to be daring, he spoke dramatic words.

"Your power has the same attribute as mine - <<Fire>> - but you're also a senior class? Enjutsu-shi, you said?"

"- Senior class?"

"Isn't that right? That Vesalius mother fucker hid the fact there were other classes. What about you? Were you selected? Is <<Enjutsushi>> a higher class than <<The Fire Leader>>?"

''"Vesalius"''

Ren bore in mind that name. It seems he was the one who made this man be possessed by a Youma and the name of the man he absolutely had to bring down.

"Just what kind of person he is........that man?"

"Are you playing dumb? Whatever. I'll make you talk soon enough. Don't get cocky just because you're a senior class like me! It had nothing to do with class and level - because I, '''I''' am the most powerful!"

"No, I don't care about that, about that person named Vesalius......it's impossible?"

Observing the man endlessly excited, Ren understood persuasion was meaningless. Reluctantly, he took a posture preparing for offensive.

<<The Fire Leader>> shouted.

"Gooo! The ultimate secret, ''Flame Vortex''!!"

A crimson flame, coiling in swirls attacked Ren. Without shaming its mane, the ultimate mystery, its caloric value was fairly high - meaning, compared to the ones until now.

[[File:Kaze no Stigma vol 04 181.jpg|thumb|]]

"- Really"

While letting out a sigh, Ren stopped the ''Flame Vortex'' with one hand.

"Wh - Whaaaaaaaaat!?"

In front of the flame pushed back at him, <<The Fire Leader>> opened his eyes wide in surprise. As Ren's own power was added to it, that seemed to change into a golden helix.

"Wa - waaaaaaaaaaaaaa!!"

At the fire torrent that filled his vision, <<The Flame Leader>> prepared himself to death.

Piercing even through his tightly closed eyes, the golden flame burned his retina. The feeling of scorching heat pierced through something in his body.

But the pain he expected to come didn't hurt him in the end. Timidly, he half opened his eyes and the golden flame was already gone without trace.

"Wh -wha - ahh."

Confused for a short while, he realised the unsightly shape of his body, curled down like a turtle, and stood up.

"You - you son of a bitch! Don't make fun of me! You speak so proudly, but your technique is nothing more but a bluff."

"This wasn't a bluff."

Intended to cool down the indignant man or maybe to provoke him even more, Ren replied with a serene expression.

"It played out just as it supposed to. Because from the start, I didn't intend to be your opponent."

"Whaat?"

"More important, answer my questions. What kind of person is Vesalius? From the process used to give you power, to the features of his appearance, tell me in detail -"

"....Mother fucker......." squeezed the man out through the gap between his teeth.

Finally he reached the conclusion that until now he was the only one excited and recognised that Ren didn't even consider him a worthy opponent.

"Did you think I was out and over!? Don't fuck with me! I am <<The Fire Leader>>! Don't put me together with some small fish!"

His body trembling in anger as his inflated pride took a critical hit, the man released his power.

"''Shining Toooooooooorrent'' - ahh?"

But, the white light tornado that was supposed to come out couldn’t be even glimpsed.

"Wh - what? I don't have enough MP? Then, ''Fire Bullet''!"

It had the same result. The flame couldn't be brought forth. No matter how much he tried, he couldn't feel the response of collected power.

"It's useless," Ren informed the confused man.

"You have already lost your ability to manipulate fire. I got rid of it"

The essence of the Kannagi's power is the secret capacity of purifying and destroying all evil.

The flame Ren released before didn't affect <<The Fire Leader>> at all and only burned to nothing the demonic presence. Of course, the ability to manipulate the flame didn't remain.

"Im - Impossible! How on earth.......a seal? Or you neutralised it?"

"It makes no sense to play around with game terminology. It's time you face reality."

Those cold words were the sentence that ended the dream.

The letters <<Game Over>> flickered in his brain and the virtual character called <<The Flame leader>> vanished.

After that, only the human, Takamatsu Kyoshi, was left behind.

Ordinary and powerlessness, he was nothing but one of those many faces in the crowd.

"No......it's impossible......"

As Kyoshi trembled with the shock of loss, Ren slowly approached. Around him a golden flame flickered playfully.

"Hi....hiii...!"

Before the vibrant clarity, there was the sudden change of composition. Degraded to powerlessness spoils Kyoshi let out a wretched voice and looked up at Ren.

Ren was what he yesterday was. If he felt inclined to kill, he could easily kill him. Like trampling on an ant, just like he did before, very easily -

He looked around him. All the gathered underlings have fled, already disappearing without a trace. Nearby there was the silhouette of his brother, fallen on his back but it was clear he was useless.

"Do - Don't kill me........"

Without shame or honour, Kyoshi got down on his hands and knees, begging for forgiveness. For him, the man who lost all his power, there was no other way to survive.

"Anything.......I'll do anything..........so please........"

"Ah - Well......."

Confused by Kyoshi's sudden change of attitude, Ren unintentionally stepped back. Turning his way a gaze as if looking at an unstable man, he said.

"You have no power anymore, so I don't intend to hurt you further."

"Re - Really?" Kyoshi suddenly raised his face and shouted in a voice overflowing delight.

"Ye - Yeah. But I have some questions for you and I would be glad if you could answer them honestly."

"Ask me anything!!" nodded Kyoshi bracing himself.

Although the bizarre atmosphere increased a notch, Ren fired his question.

"Then, first of all about that Vesalius person. He's the one who gave you this power, right? Tell me everything about that."

".....Why, ask such a thing?"

When he heard Ren's question, Kyoshi asked back in wonder.

"Aren't you the same ～ Didn't Vesalius gave you your power at Pandemonium? And then you class changed after increasing your level?"

"Aah - I'm the one asking questions ～ "

Ren expressed an unsuitable ''cynical smile'' and gave a clumsy warning.

It was clear from his attitude that he wasn't used to this kind of interrogation but to Kyoshi who regarded him like his previous self, the effect was tremendous.

"Hiii - I'm sorry, I'm sorry."

Inside Ren he (involuntary) labelled Kyoshi's menial apology as foul play.

".........So, what is ''Pandemonium''?"

"Pa - Pandemonium is......an internet site.......sir."

"No need for honorifics - Internet?"

"Y - Yes.......I found it by chance. And then I was asked: ''Do you want power?'' I answered with YES. I thought it was a joke. I thought it was a peculiar formality. And then an odd pattern appeared on the screen and when I looked at it I fell asleep. And then when I woke up I had this power. It's true. It's not a lie, believe me..."

"........."

Ignoring the tedious talk that seemed to continue forever, Ren looked at the man's facial expression. He did not seem to lie.

Meaning, if that was the truth -

''"The Youma was converted to digital data and summoned through the internet?"''

It seemed to resemble more and more a game, so maybe it was like that. That must be the truth.

In a word, this man wasn't used as a Youma sacrifice but summoned the Youma from his own volition and contracted with it. It appears that was the form it took.

'''Do you want power?'''

The moment he answered that question with '''Yes''' Kyoshi made the pact to hand over his soul.

Of course, it was a defective contract. Using this coercive method, even the soul of a normal person without any kind of protection from the spirits cannot be taken immediately.

But that applies only once.

The allurement continues.

Even if a person is not influenced by the devilishness, a human being that owns a convenient power desires even more power.

Without deeply thinking what sort of compensation will be taken from them.

Until the time everything will be taken from them, they will continue requesting power.

"I see......that was done skilfully."

Ren let out a murmur of admiration.

A trap set at random on the network. Kyoshi can't be the only victim.

Just how many people have offered their soul for an hour of pleasure -

"Wh - what........"

Suddenly calming down, finding fault with his ears, Kyoshi looked up with an uneasy gaze at Ren.

"Ahh, that's no concern of yours. Don't worry about it."

Ren casually waved his hand, obstructing the investigation.

"So, let's go back to the story. Let me see........first, tell me the address of this Pandemonium."

"I don't know it."

"........."

Ren stared very long at Takamatsu, who answered immediately. Overpowered by his glance, Takamatsu talked on and on, losing his head.

"I - I really don't know! While I was unconscious back then the connection was cut and when I looked at the history log there was nothing........everyone says the same, it's true!"

"Everyone?"

"There's an information exchange bulletin board for those like me, who received power from Pandemonium. That's what I heard there. There's no one who accessed Pandemonium a second time. We arrived at it by chance."

"What you say is that that site has no direct connection with Pandemonium?"

"Yes. The admin is the same as us."

Although experiencing some discomfort when hearing the word ''us'' as if it was said they were the same kind of thing, Ren asked again:

"The address?"

"It's in my phone."

"Give it to me."

After one glance at the phone presented to him, Ren tossed it into the pocket of his high school uniform.

"I'll keep this. I think that's all I wanted to ask but -"

Inaudible, Kyoshi let out a breath.

"As you wish."

"By the way, what else is on that bulletin board?"

"Nothing really important. After all, it's a gathering of guys like me who don't know much. So, stuff like reasoning about this power's true colours, boasts about level or ability, battle appointments and -"

"Battle? Do you fight between yourselves?"

"Yeah, because it has a lot of XP."

"XP?", Ren asked in return.

"We receive e-mails about how to use our power. Like ''You received X experience points''"

"The sender?"

"It's Pandemonium. Of course there's no mail address."

"..........."

"So, when we collect enough experience points, we level up. When we level up enough, we class change."

"........Are you one of the senior classes?"

"Yes. I changed class from the basic <<Ignition Man>> to the <<Fire Leader>>. It was very hard accumulating so many experience points."

"..........Is that so?"

At the excessively game-like setting, Ren was unintentionally perplexed. But, although the setting was clichéd, that's not an usual way a Jutsushi is represented in reality.

''"But - What purpose does this -"''

Ren can't guess the objective of this Jutsushi called Vesalius. What meaning does it have to mass-produce people with special power in those like Kyoshi, people without discernment?

Is he just a criminal who takes pleasure in people's reaction to his crimes?

Although he knew it was meaningless, Ren asked his only source of information.

"What sort of person is Vesalius? Tell me everything you know."

"Uh huh."

As if sorting his memory, Kyoshi cast his eyes down in silence. Patiently Ren waited until the man opened his mouth.

""He was a imposing son of a bitch. All his speech and gestures were theatrical."

And then Kyoshi started narrating. In more detail than Ren expected.

"Something like platinum blonde? He had long silver hair practically colourless and a red mask on his face. Because he was disguised I couldn’t see his face."

"That's very specific. You didn't meet him personally, right?"

"No, I met him."

"Where?"

"At Pandemonium."

".........."

From the story until now Pandemonium was supposed to be an internet site.

"Please don't tell me your spirit navigated in the Internet world ～"

Normally he would laugh at this but in the present Shinjuku the common sense of the game world is overlooked. He couldn't affirm that it wasn't true.

But Kyoshi shook his head at that question.

"It's not like that. For a class change we had no choice but to go to Pandemonium. That's where I met him."

"................."

Ren stared very long at the man who concealed such an important piece of information until now. Pressed by that eloquent gaze, Kyoshi waved his hand in confusion.

"Ahh, I didn't particularly want to hide it. The order of the story, its logic, we still haven't -"

"Excuses don't matter. In other words, Pandemonium doesn't exist only on the Internet but also in reality, right?"

"Aaah. But I don't know where it is."

" - You still say that?" Ren groaned with a fed-up voice.

He imagined this would happen but still felt considerably depressed unable to track this down.

"N - No, hear me out! It couldn't be helped, you know?"

Turning a flattering gaze to him, Kyoshi defended himself desperately.

"I walked around instructed by mail, and before I knew I was lost and then I realised a residence with a Pandemonium written sign was in front of my eyes."

".........."

Letting out his irritation together with an exhalation, Ren regained his calm.

He understood getting angry right now was pointless. This clearly went exactly as Vesalius wanted it to.

Kyoshi's perception and cognisance, or possibly the space itself was warped so he wouldn't find out Pandemonium's real location.

It was impossible for an amateur like Kyoshi to go against such a practitioner who could exercise such large scale magic tricks.

"Have you seen something around Pandemonium? Or better, have you seen the outside scenery from inside Pandemonium?"

"..........."

With a face that seemed to have some clue, Kyoshi shut his mouth. With a smile Ren said:

"Keeping secrets won't help you."

"..............It's not a lie."

After a few more seconds of silence passed, Kyoshi spoke in a sulky voice. At that ''he won't believe me either way '' tone, Ren returned a bitter smile.

"The story until now is plenty absurd already. At this point I don't worry about common sense anymore so please tell me what you saw exactly."

"......After leaving Pandemonium's terrace, I saw the outside scenery."

While still hesitating, Kyoshi started speaking slowly.

"It was Shinjuku, I think. But it was extremely high. I looked from the terrace of the second floor but I could see the rooftop of all building standing in a row."

"....So it was on the rooftop of some skyscraper."

"That's impossible. I don't remember using stairs or an elevator, besides -"

"Yes?"

"On both sides of the mansion, identical towers were built."

"Towers?"

Hearing such unexpected words, Ren asked back starring in puzzlement.

"Yeah. Those buildings were slender, towers of twenty stores at most. With entirely the same shape, left and right, they were erected as if to hold Pandemonium in between"

"Hmmmm......."

Without saying anything, Ren gave a half-hearted answer. Was there in Shinjuku such a building, one from where one could see the rooftops of the other buildings?

"H - hey....."

Absorbed for a short while in meditation, Kyoshi called out to him in a flattering voice.

"It's fine, right? I told you everything I know. Please let me go."

Looking down at the pitiful man with sober eyes, Ren quickly made his decision.

He asked him everything he wanted. He could be identified through his brother, so letting him go now wasn't a big problem. Besides -

"That's right. I'm sorry for taking your time. You can go now."

With a smiling face that didn't reveal his true intentions, Ren permitted his departure.

At that moment, Kyoshi ran away at high speed. Without hesitation he abandoned his brother and didn't turn around even for a second, that sort of commendable escape.

"Wa - wait for me, Aniki!"

After a few seconds, Takashi calmed down and ran after his brother. Of course, nobody was actually chasing them.

=== Part 4 ===

"Was it OK to let them go?"

When the silhouettes of the brothers disappeared from view, Kanon and Serisawa approached from the little farther away spot they were watching the show from.

At Kanon's question, implying it may be dangerous to let them be, Ren replied with a smile.

"It's fine. They'll probably be arrested quickly anyway."

"Arrested? By who?"

"By the police."

"Wasn't the police unable to deal with magic stuff?"

"That's not true anymore. There is a department that deals with black magic and spiritual disaster. I'll report them today so they will probably be caught before the day is over."

Replying with a smiling face to Serisawa, who also joined the conversation, for some reason their faces became stiff.

"- What's up?"

"W - What, you ask..."

"Because Ren-kun wasn't so determined before,"

"Really? Then I'm glad. Because I can't continue being a spoiled brat forever."

Seeming glad from the bottom of his heart, Ren smiled with all his face.

Although faltering in front of Ren's unexpected growth and bearing, Kanon and Serisawa weren't mesmerized by that smile.

"So, what to do from now on?"

"Eeh, what do you mean?"

At Kanon's question, who already pulled herself together, Ren didn't have a smile.

Even if something must be done about this, he can't do anything about it today. For now he will return to the household and report this, and by using Tokyo MPD's Special Investigation Unit there's no choice but to investigate it.

While thinking that, Kanon looked up at Ren and showed a proud smile.

"You know, from what that guy said I know where to find that place."

"- Really? Where is it?"

But, as if dodging the question Kanon turned her back to Ren.

"What to do? - If Ren-kun will kiss me I may as well tell him........"

"Eeh........."

"Wait a second!"

Kanon's daring request was attacked by a threatening voice and an excessively huge leg. Kanon promptly prepared her body and escaped the huge foot sole, drawing near.

"......Hey, you're in the way"

Kanon glared up at Serisawa's large build, who blocked her way as if trying to protect Ren, with a penetrating cold gaze.

A glare that did not see a fellow human but an obstacle that must be eliminated. Her eyes were still.

But even so, Serisawa didn’t flinch. Fired up by the decision to protect his precious friend, he boldly opposed the evil witch.

"There's neither negligence nor chance. Because of this, you won't be alone with Ren anymore. You're too dangerous."

"It's not like I asked for your permission."

"Shut up, you harlot!"

Using random old-fashioned disparaging words that God knows where he learned them from, Serisawa abused Kanon.

"If you really think so highly of Ren, then I'll teach you not to use bargaining points with him. That's why I say women are dishonest!"

"Humph," Kanon faltered as he touched a nerve.

It was a fair argument. Even though there was lip service involved, it was still a fair argument so she couldn't refute it.

"Won't you tell me, Suzuhara-san ~"

What's more, Kanon had no way to resist to Ren's ''request''.

"If you were to at least call me Kanon, I'll give you both my body and my heart."

"Aah......ahahahahahahahaha....maybe at a different time. All right?"

Disciplining his smiling face that already became stiff as Kanon drew near with a peevish expression, Ren smoothly recovered his serious look.

"- So?"

"It's just as Ren-kun was about to guess."

"Being on top of a building, you mean?"

"Oi, oi, don't spout such stupidity. In what world there's a building with raised from the rooftop."

Serisawa didn't notice yet. But taking advantage of those words, Ren arrived at the right answer.

A building with two towers raised from the rooftop - there was definitely such a building in Shinjuku.

"The Tokyo Government Office!"

At the involuntarily shouting Ren, Kanon clapped her hands giving praise to him.

"What? Aah, I see."

Late by several seconds, Serisawa finally noticed.

Towering over the Shinjuku's governmental district, the most important governmental office of the Tokyo Metropolitan Area - to put it simply this building had the form of the ''Ou'' (concave) character.

Having forty eight floors above ground, from the thirty third floor upward tho neighbouring towers reached the heaven.

Between the south and north tower there was a huge emplty space. If they were to stand there they would definitely see the scenery Kyoshi described.

"But, there's nothing there...."

"How stupid! It can be concealed with magic. Right?"

"Yeah. Maybe."

"I know, right? Then -"

"No."

Kanon's delighted words, Ren interrupted them softly but clearly.

"From here on, I'll go alone."

"Ehh - But....."

"Suzuhara-san."

With a slightly troubled expression Ren called attention to the whining Kanon.

Sensing the solid determination inside that soft word, reluctantly, Kanon gave up following him.

"Take care, all right."

"It's fine. I won't do something so rash as going by myself. I'll just scout out a bit. Well then, see you tomorrow."

Assuring them he won't behave recklessly, Ren started running aiming at the Tokyo Government Office. Because he was in a hurry, after that trivial farewell, he never looked back.

That's why he didn't notice. Although seeing Ren off, without even looking at each other the duo exchanged accomplice smiles.

When arriving at the Tokyo Government Office, Ren asked the lady at the reception about his purpose - the space between the north and south tower.

But, the answer was ruthless.

As she said: ''"There's nothing there, you can't go there"''

Of course, there is an entrance for work but right now he has no time to forcibly or maybe through political power push in. Ren left the reception desk and took the elevator.

Of course, the place of destination was the thirty third floor. The level separated in two was the lowest one.

If he were to go there, he thought he could peek at that place through the window but there was no window. When looking at the information board, he saw that one section of the opening turned into a conference room. As expected, he cannot enter it without permission.

''"What am I supposed to do ? If it's the outside window will I be able to see it?"''

The forty fifth floors of the Tokyo Government Office - both North and South, had a general opened window.

If it's there, it may be possible to see. After thoroughly investigating the thirtieth floor, Ren abandoned that method.

For one moment Ren returned to the first floor. It was impossible to go to the viewing room without taking a direct elevator.

Lightly greeting the elevator girl with a smile plastered on her face, he boarded the elevator going for the north tower. The elevator rose nonstop until the forty fifth floor, opened its doors again and let out the passenger.

When exiting the elevator, he met three people. One was another elevator girl and the other two were -

[[File:Kaze no Stigma vol 04 205.jpg|thumb|]]

"Yo, Ren."

"You are late, what are you doing?"

As Ren involuntarily staggered, he hit his head on one side of the elevator wall. At that the elevator girl came rushing.

"Dear customer? How are you feeling?"

"Th - this is nothing. Don't worry about it."

Sending away the elevator girl by waving is hand, Ren looked at his two friends, that were supposedly prohibited from coming.

"Why are you here?"

As Ren pressed her for an answer, Kanon feigned thorough ignorance.

"Eeeh, Shinjuku sightseeing of something?"

"It's not ''or something'', right?"

As expected she couldn't deceive him. Holding Kanon's glaze he glared at her with a stern expression.

"It's dangerous, you know!?"

"But I saw Ren-kun's gallant figure. And then you said there's no danger if it's only scouting."

"That may be true but...."

There is a discrepancy between what is dangerous for Kanon and what is dangerous for Ren. Understanding it was useless trying to explain such things, Ren shut his mouth. As they chased after him while pretending to go home it seems pointless to send them away now.

Accepting the reality with a sigh, Ren asked the question that suddenly came to his mind.

"By the way, how did you know I will be here?"

"There's no other place from where one is able to see, right?"

Kanon's answer was clear.

"You didn't discuss how to enter the place didn't ask and because it's Ren-kun, you wouldn't forcibly try to enter, right? That's why there was no place to go but the sightseeing room."

"But there's also a sightseeing room in the south tower."

"The other one is opened until five."

As expected, Kanon concluded with clarity.

"Although there's no question there's more than thirty minutes, isn't that what a person would normally choose? That's why we came to the north tower who is opened until nine."

Giving the impression ''It's a simple thing, Watson-kun'', Kanon displayed her reasoning. Ren gave up raising both his hands.

"You caught me, Holmes."

"Fu fu fu....come here then."

Kanon started walking in order to catch Ren's hands. Serisawa waited on her path.

"I don't see from here. It's somewhat obscure."

Serisawa pointed at the window he occupied until now. Ren bent over overlooking that place.

Surely, it was hard to see. Although the north and south towers had an octagon shape, there was no window on the walls facing each other.

Inevitably, they had a forty five degree viewing angle.

But even so, when looking out clinging to the window, they could perceive all of the place in question. There were some bling spots but they could compensate for those from the window on the opposite side.

"...It's not there."

"It's not."

Already having confirmed it, Serisawa and Kanon separated from the window after a fleeting glance. Ren persevered a bit longer but unable to perceive any abnormality, he turned around as expected.

"Did you found something?"

"Nothing."

Ren lightly shrugged his shoulders. From the beginning he didn't expect to find out something only by looking.

As Ren is an Enjutsushi, he doesn't have the ability to see through a high grade concealment that can warp space.

"Then, what are we going to do?"

"Right. There's no point having come here just to go back like this. Maybe I'll push a little bit."

Surprised by the confident speech, Kanon unexpectedly opened her eyes wide. But Ren was sticking to the window again so she immediately pulled herself together and stood next to him. Serisawa followed naturally.

Overlooking the scenery underneath him, Ren concentrated his mind.

Is Pandemonium really there? And if it's there, by what means did it concealed its appearance? - Ren has no ability to smell it out. But still.

''"There no need to see it. It doesn't matter if I can't grasp it"''

The phenomenon induced by the Spirit Magic is not a simple natural phenomenon.

Kazuma's wind can tear open dimensions, and when Ayano battled with a gravitation user she managed to pull of the stunt of burning the warped space itself.

A strongly sharpened will can undermine the laws of physics. That is the quintessence of the magic foundation.

Even if he can't see anything, even if he can't feel anything -

''"As long as there is something there - no matter what it is, I can <<burn it>>!"''

A golden fireball was born in the air. Although it happened somewhat farther from the building, it was pulled from east to west leaving an afterimage and pierced the opening between the north and south towers.

Together with a faint response, a soundless noise reached back and the space trembled. And then -

"Ah!"

Spontaneously Kanon screamed.

For a second - only for a second, inside the flickering space an old western style house could be seen in the gap.

"Ren-kun, just now - !"

Ren nodded carefully, and separated his body from the window.

''"Bingo !"''

He had no doubt. The enemy's headquarters, Pandemonium, was here.

He cannot be involved with this game of slapping cards any longer. It was when he was thinking about returning home as quickly as possible and report it.

"Wasn't your knock a bit too rude, boy?"

From behind, a low and composed voice reached his ears.

Ren's field of vision, promptly turning around, was instantly enveloped in darkness. Just before his consciousness was engulfed in darkness together with his vision - Ren's shape disappeared from the sightseeing room.

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| Back to [[Kaze_no_Stigma:Volume4_Chapter_2|Chapter 2]]
| Return to [[Kaze_no_Stigma|Main Page]]
| Forward to [[Kaze_no_Stigma:Volume4_Chapter_4|Chapter 4]]
|-
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</noinclude>

Kaze no Stigma:Volume4 Chapter 3

2013-12-27T06:41:22Z

86.20.14.91: /* Chapter 3 - Shinjuku RPG */

== Chapter 3 - Shinjuku RPG ==

=== Part 1 ===

"Kazuma! I heard you made some serious blunder, huh?"

Meeting Kazuma face to face, Ayano said so, extremely enjoyed.

"Aah."

But Kazuma's response was an indifferent nod and without giving any reply he entrusted his back to the wall, his limbs idle.

"Kazuma.....?"

In front of that attitude she couldn't sport with, Ayano forgot the next attack she already prepared and called out to him in doubt.

Kazuma didn't answer. Not like he was ignoring her, more like he didn't even hear.

"What's this?"

She involuntarily asked Kirika but of course, she doesn't have the answer.

"I don't know - By the way Isurugi-kun, how long are you going to stand there, come sit!"

That was the first time Ayano realized she had another visitor.

If this man came together with Kazuma, it means it must be the ''promising newcomer''. From what she heard, he was definitely twenty three years old. But he seemed at least five years younger.

He had an extreme child-face. Because he came here while running, his cheeks were red. He stood stand still outside the room until he was permitted to come in.

But even so, why doesn't he move even after being called in.

"Good grief......"

Kirika stood up with a sigh, briskly walked to Daiki and brought him in by the ear.

"Isurugi policeman! Open your eyes!"

"Y- yes!"

The intense pain and scolding voice, brought Daiki's consciousness back to reality. His muscles extended as if an electric current run through them and stood vertically in front of Kirika.

"Th- this is Isurugi Daiki, I have just arrived!"

"I appreciate your efforts but first of all come sit down"

Responding in a worn-out voice, Kirika seized Daiki's hand. And then pulled him down as if he was a child who lost his composure, making him sit behind her.

He was acting like a suspect in a crime - Kirika thought so seeing him stand on the balls of the feet .

But then, Kirika quickly realized that was a misunderstanding.

While fleetingly stealing glances at Ayano, sitting down, Daiki asked:

"Ah, errr...this miss is....."

"........."

Feeling the approaching headache at the too easy to understand attitude, Kirika pressed her temples.

Even if she said he was a promising newcomer, she couldn't help but feel a little ashamed.

Throwing a sidelong glance at Kirika, Ayano bowed with a graceful gesture.

"I was late in introducing myself. I am the daughter of Kannagi Juugo, my name is Ayano."

Her bow was polite and her salute very friendly.

All her gestures were, each and everyone, unimaginably refined and hugely different from the time she was with Kazuma.

"Y- you are?"

As expected, it seemed even he knew that name, his flushed face becoming nervous.

But, as the the face of the girl he was looking at smiled softly just now, his consciousness flew up to heaven.

"My- my name is Isurugi Daiki! I work as a policeman, I'm twenty three years old and single!"

Daiki returned the greeting in a much too excited voice, with a slightly different focus.

Maybe he was really planning for a formal marriage interview.

But Ayano didn't attack that happy idiot and bowed her head with a serious face.

"I heard about you from Inspector Tachibana. You are a newcomer that she has great hopes for in the future."

"N- no, how unthinkable! My power is almost like nonexistent when comparing it with the Kannagi Clan."

"It has nothing to do with the size of power. It's important what you can do and what you should do with your power. You can protect people with that power, right? I think that's something you can be proud of."

"Is- is that so?"

"Yes, of course."

Although clumsy, he talked freely for the first time.

''"Appearing in disguise, huh?"''

Kirika stared in admiration at Ayano's graceful attitude, so different from normal.

But in reality, this was how Kannagi Ayano appeared to the majority of people.

Without need of using the <<as if>> figurative expression she was the child of a genuine good family and it is obvious that she had a thorough instruction on etiquette.

As for Kirika, if their first meeting would have been different, they would have come in contact in a similar manner. As for Ayano, she's not aware of any sort of pretense. This is also the girl's true appearance.

But, in the middle of the pleasant talk, the flawless behavior made a slight crack. While nodding at Daiki's words, her glance seemed turned elsewhere, her lips sharp with dissatisfaction.

It was just for one moment so Daiki didn't notice. But Kirika didn't miss it. Turning in the direction Ayano's eyes just did, Kirika made a small, wry smile.

In one of the room's corners, in a posture with one knee up, Kazuma sits in silence without minding Ayano talking so cheerful with another man. Or perhaps, not even recognizing it.

"........."

Looking at Kazuma in such a state, Kirika's conviction that ''something did happened'' only deepened.

He wasn't a man with such an innocent charm as to behave jealously but normally he would at least make a few sarcastic comments on Ayano's elegant attitude and difference of standard for another.

But before she was able to investigate it, the conversation moved forward.

Kirika lightly clapped her hands and pulled back Daiki's consciousness, floating higher than the clouds.

"Well, it's about time we got to the main point. First Isurugi Daiki, report."

Saying that, Kirika stared coldly at Daiki, now coming to his senses and started speaking about the full particulars of his own error.

"What the fuck was that? Who was she or ''what'' was she?"

On the other side, Kazuma was completely ignoring the noisy surroundings, and was thinking about the girl he met.

She couldn't possibly Tsoi Rin. Even if that was a ghost, it wasn't Tsoi Rin's ghost.

But for some reason, he naturally accepted her as Tsoi Rin.

But, something was odd.

The fact is the girl supposed to be dead four years ago appeared unchanged was very abnormal in itself, what's more, he felt a somewhat uncomfortable feeling from her.

''".........What was it.........?"''

He compared the four years old memory and what he saw an hour before. The girl's smile he remembered in a long time.

Yes, she was a girl smiling with a carefree face.

Her cherry blossoms lips smiling broadly, making her pupils full of vitality sparkle -

"Aah, I see..."

Realizing the source of that uncomfortable feeling, Kazuma slapped his palms. And then spoke loudly without realizing.

"Tsoi Rin's were green, huh..."

That girl's eyes were lapis lazuli blue. Feeling good for finally settling the question, he finally became aware of the outside world.

And then realized that he became the center of attention.

A stunned Kirika. An absolutely bewildered Daiki. And then, because he uttered Tsuo Rin's name aloud, glaring at him with angered eyes was Ayano.

All three's glance, in different ways, pierced into Kazuma.

"Kazuma -" Kirika spoke together with a sigh.

"Did you hear what we were saying?"

"No, not at all," Kazuma responded honestly but the atmosphere couldn't be calmed down just because of that.

Kirika got the better of Ayano, whose eyes emitted a much more dangerous atmosphere and urged Kazuma.

"Just at the right time. Please explain today's fact from your point of view. It seems Isurugi-kun didn't understand anything."

"........I'm sorry"

Daiki made himself small. Everyone ignored him.

"Fine. But I'm telling you, I have yet to get to the bottom of this."

With that introduction, Kazuma started speaking about the circumstances of the fight with <<The Hell Hound>>. The meaningful words he spoke became the focus of the room.

"A class change at Pandemonium, huh? This seems more and more like a game."

After Kazuma's story was finished, Ayano whispered so in an amazed tone. But diagonally from her, Kirika kept quiet with a difficult facial expression.

"Did you thought of something?"

"There's also the site Shinomiya-san told us about. Something similar was written there"

"What you are trying to say is that this is not just <<The Hell Hound>>'s wild delusion?"

"There's also a possibility the people who wrote that think the same way"

Kirika replied so but she wasn't honest about that. The fact that she believes Kazuma's report and, the things written on the bulletin board as true, can be read between the lines from her speech.

But, that ''truth'' was not compatible with Ayano's common sense.

Piling up a great quantity of experience, that after exceeding a fixed number gave a level-up. If one were to raise their level even more, a class chance will happen and acquire a furthermore greater power.

''"That sort of convenient power, where on earth can you find it?"''

Finding a problem, Kirika opened her eyes wide in surprise.

"Ah, I didn't explain that incident. I'm sorry. Because I didn't hear from Shinomiya-san since, I didn't told you about that. Simply put -"

"Ayano-sama"

As if covering Kirika's voice, someone called Ayano from the hallway.

"What?"

At Ayano's short question, the servant replied with courtesy.

"You're wanted on the telephone."

".......Come in"

"Sorry to bother you"

The fusuma was soundlessly opened. Carrying a wooden tray the telephone was placed on, the yet young servant quietly entered.

"Who is it?"

"Someone called Suzuhara."

"Suzuhara?"

Without having any idea who that is, Ayano was puzzled.

"She said she was Ren-sama's classmate."

"Ah, Kanon-chan? - And you -"

While remembering the girl with adorable looks and lively character, Ayano looked at the servant frowning.

The ones serving the Kannagi family obviously know the Clan's occupation and the importance of that duty.

Even if he was a servant, a blockhead that interrupts a meeting for a personal call has no qualifications to work in this household.

But, not realizing he was on the verge of unemployment, the servant continued his words blandly.

"It seems an emergency. She said Ren-sama is missing."

"- Tch! Father?"

"Of course. As well with Genma-sama."
'''(!)'''

While answering frankly, the servant held out the tray. Ayano gripped the phone as if tearing it off.

"Hello?"

Coincident with Ayano's word, an upset voice flew in like a torrent.

"J- just calm down. Tell me what happened since the beginn - he disappeared? Suddenly, in front of your eyes? At Tokyo's Government Office? Why were you - Pandemonium?"

That last word frozen the already strained atmosphere of the room.

In the still as death space, only Ayano's voice resounded for a long time.

=== Part 2 ===

Seiryou Private Academy - this campus built not far of from the Imperial Palace, is a private prestigious school from middle school to senior high school.

With a tradition exceeding a hundred years, it's valued highly for yearly producing successful applicants to national universities with achievements in various fields, a school where a large number of ''children from respectable families'' attend.

And then, on the list of names of freshmen from that Seiryou Gakuen Middle School division, there are Kannagi Ren and the name of that ''friend''.

After school.

One boy approached the girl stuffing textbooks in her bag.

"Kanon -"

Being addressed with overly familiarity, the girl, Suzuhara Kanon turned over her shoulder with a sharp look.

"Do you have some business with me, Takamatsu-kun?"

Her tone was by no standard in a good mood but the boy called Takamatsu didn't notice and drew closer with a smile.

"Don't talk to me in such a reserved manner, call me Takashi. I'll also call you Kanon."

It seems that this boy, although a junior high school student, didn't learn any kind of etiquette until now. After not using honorifics and calling her ''you'', Kanon raised her eyebrows.

"Let's stop somewhere on the way home. The UFO catcher is my specialty. I'll catch whatever you fancy."

While saying so, he casually touched her shoulder. In Kanon's mind Takashi's death punishment was decided.

With a light breath she softly brushed Takashi's hand, the one touching her shoulder, and then -

"Aghyaaah!?"

She sized his middle finger and bent it backwards with all her strength.

Falling to his knees with an unsightly scream, he received a kick on top of his shoulders and rolled on the ground.

"Hey, ''Takamatsu-kun''?"

Kanon overlooked with a cold-hearted gaze Takashi, laying down with his face up.

"As it seems you don't know much about the manners of the world, I'll teach you but don't you think it's very rude to address a person you're not intimate with without using an honorific title?"

Sweeping the shoulder Takashi touched, whipping her hands with a handkerchief and even going as far as throwing that handkerchief in the garbage can - that three layered combo pointed out her real intent: ''I don't want to be touched by the likes of you'' and relentlessly delivered the final blow.

"If you want to chase after girls, you'd better improve your character. Because your face cannot compensate for your vulgar nature."

It was a blunt way of talking but from the classroom there could be heard snickers from here and there. It seems Kanon was not the only one who thought this boy was pushy.

"Y- you...."

"Ah, Ren-kun!"

Kanon looked at the moaning Takashi as if he was filth but the instant she recognized the boy at the entrance of the classroom she transformed to a girl in love.

Immediately forgetting about Takashi's existence, she rushed over with a light manner of walking.

"Re - n -kun!"

"Ah, Suzuhara-san. Did something happen?"

Without showing signs of faltering at the approaching beautiful girl, Ren grinned. Kanon, that seemed about to embrace him, stopped in her tracks, her face changed.

"Ren, kun......?"

"What?"

Intently watching Ren, softly smiling, Kanon thought:

''"As I thought, he changed."''

At almost the same time the new school term started, Ren took a long break. And then when he returned after half a month, he was exhausted, like a different person.

He almost never answered when she accosted him. He wouldn't laugh.

His eyes were dead.

In order to recover his smiling face, Kanon exerted herself greatly. It was annoying but she called her bitter enemy and joined hands with that homo bastard.

But it was useless.

Eventually, the graduation ceremony came and without laughing Ren left school. She knew they were going to the same junior high school but she remembers thinking that she will never see him again.

It seemed that was needless anxiety because when they occasionally met during the spring break Ren was laughing almost normally.

''"But still, something is different."''

She recognized it every time she saw him. He seemed recovered but something changed inside Ren. Although he was only five centimeters taller than her, he seemed big for some reason.

He was still gentle but she couldn't drag him along anymore. Although he drifted away, he would definitely not cross over a certain line - she felt that sort of flexible power.

Just like now. Although she would have simply hugged him before, right now he wouldn't tolerate it.

Something happened. Something related to the unique occupation of the Kannagi Family. A situation she couldn't comprehend deeply injured Ren's delicate heart. And by overcoming it, Ren became stronger.

She thought that side of Ren was cool too. But at times he seemed in a faraway place. ''Was it possible she can't reach him anymore?'' - she had those kinds of thoughts.

''"That's not true, right?"''

She fleetingly looked up at Ren with upturned eyes. Realizing the serious light dwelling in her gaze, Ren directly stared back at Kanon.

"Suzuhara-san, did something happen?"

"- No, it's nothing."

Kanon replied as bright as possible and boldly clung to Ren's arm.

"Su- Suzuhara-san?"

"I told you to call me Kanon."

Embracing Ren by pushing her chest against his arm, Kanon drew closer.

"Eh, well, but......"

Exasperated by Ren's bright red face, Kanon puffed out her cheeks.

''"Ugh, if I don't do something nothing will change!"''

Without shying away from the public gaze, she was thinking of forcing herself on him right on the spot. No, if she were to bring him like this to a deserted place -

"- Hey"

But that anticipation, unimaginable on a twelve year old girl, was obstructed by an impolite intruder. Looking over her shoulder without bothering to hide her displeasure, Kanon demanded an explanation in a thorny tone.

"Ara, Takamatsu-kun, do you still have some business with me?"

Takashi only looked at Kanon without answering and came near Ren. While their noses were almost touching he stared intensely at Ren's features and sneered with open disdain.

"That's what you like, Kanon? A man without redeeming features but his face?"

"What are you trying to say, Ren-kun is very smart. Or did you forget his speech as the freshman's representative?"

"Sh- shut it!"

Having his best effort at sarcasm easily retorted, Takashi was enraged. His eyes, red with anger, seized the surprised Ren who had not understood the situation.

He thought of targeting the short boy that seemed unrelated to fighting, a target fit for a diversion.

He quickly seized the nape of his neck and yanks it up, attacking him with a brutal countenance.
'''(!)''

"You're so composed! Why, there's no value in dealing with the likes of me, huh? Do you want me to hit that pretty face of yours, ahhh?"

"......Huh......."

Blinking at the sudden incident, Ren earnestly tried to communicate.

"It's Takamatsu-kun, right? I'm sorry but I don't understand why you are so upset? Could you please explain the situation before resorting to violence?"

"I can't, you idiot!"

While shouting close to his ears, Takashi hardened his fist and struck.

But that fist was returned next to Takashi's torso, before reaching Ren.

"Wha -"

"Stop right there. If Ren was serious the likes of you are nothing but a pushover."

The man that appeared unexpectedly in the background wrung Takashi's neck. Seeing that man, Kanon murmured unpleasant from the bottom of her heart.

"You came although I didn't call you, huh..."

"Humph, if it's for Ren I'll rush over from the end of the earth!"

Retorting a slightly complicated answer, the man threw out his robust chest. While looking over that dialogue that will never reach a common point with a tired face, Ren said.

"Serisawa-kun...please let him go. It must be painful, right?"

"Ah? Ah - sorry, sorry."

With an awkward smile the man released Takashi, who was about to stop breathing.

While coughing, Takashi scowled at the man who asked for trouble.

"Y- you.......ah?"

But, even by turning his face, he cannot see the man's face. A black wall, completely blocking his field of vision - after realizing it was the chest of the man wearing the high school uniform, he looked upward.

He was huge.

Taller than him by at least twenty centimeters. Meaning that although he was a first year student he was taller than a hundred and eighty centimeters.

In the entire class - no, the entire school there wasn't another one like this kind of guy.

"Se- Serisawa......"

"Yo."

With a broad grin the man - Ren's friend since middle school, Serisawa Tatsuya tightly held Takashi's head.

Gripping his small head with one hand, his huge arm as if ready to crush his skull as it is.

"Uugii.......gaah, ahh......."

Drawing near to Takashi's face, who was groaning in pain, Serisawa showed a ferocious smile.

"Listen! If you have a bone to pick with Ren, I'll be your opponent first. Try remembering that!"

While saying that he shook Takashi's head and heaved him. And then, without sparing a look for the boy flowing in the air, smiling with the whole face, he turned to Ren.

"Hey, Ren. You're not hurt right? I mean, that's impossible. Wahahahahaha"

With a lively laugh, Serisawa approached Ren. But Kanon stood in his way.

Looking up at Serisawa with a cold gaze, Kanon informed him.

"Thank you very much. Now that the nuisance is out of the way you can go back to the zoo. Your wife, the female gorilla, must wait for your return."

"Wh- who's a gorilla you stupid bitch!"

"You, of course it's you! Don't you think anything about being so big at only twelve? If it's not a gorilla, your ancestor must be some sort of anthropoid so please let some research institute have you!"

While looking over the quarrel he had no place in, Ren let out a small breath trying not to attract attention.

Although this kind of thing happened frequently during middle school, all the same he didn't predict it would continue even now. Leaving Kanon aside, nobody imagined Serisawa would be able to enter Seiryou Gakuen.

Since Serisawa was a really poor student except athletics, just how much effort he put to pass the entrance examination.

That noble endeavor and the conclusion that seemed the favor of gods was rumored to be some ''miracle of love''.

Though honestly, Ren would rather have that part forgotten.

But even so, not satisfied by only passing the exam and also being in the same, maybe Serisawa really had some divine protection.

What's more, since Kanon was also in the same class, that goddess of love must have had a black tail hidden underneath her white robes.

"Ren is hanging out with me!"

"Don't be stupid! He's coming with me!"

While Ren was trying to escape from reality their quarrel continued. And at that point they were contesting who is taking Ren on an after school date - without even asking for the feelings of the person himself.

''"Will I be able to stop then, I wonder....still......"'' Ren thought in a glum mood.

If he were to ignore it, it seems their dispute would really turn violent. As expected, he cannot ignore the damage to their surroundings.

Beside, different from the arguments between Nee-sama and Nii-sama, these two's argument was not so high a level that he cannot stop it.

Ren tried to console himself that maybe practising here will become useful in the future.

"Hey, listen..." he called out to them with as light a voice as possible.

Both turned their heads simultaneously. Controlling his urge to run away, Ren preserved his smiling face with great effort.

"It - it would be better if we all went. Instead of only two, isn't it more fun if it's all three of us, right?"

"................"

"................"

A heavy silence that hurt his stomach fell. Unable to put up with the sense of urgency, the fortunate students closer to the door plotted a speedy escape.

Compared to them, Ren was splendid. The cold sweat breaking out on his back didn't change his smiling face and he boldly received their glare.

After a long, long silence, Kanon and Serizawa lowered their pressuring gaze at the same time.

"- Well, if Ren-kun says so..."

"- There's no helping it."

Extremely unwillingly, they came to an agreement. Leading both of them, Ren tried to leave the classroom.

But a rough sound from the background stopped them in their tracks.

"Hey, hey, please stop it!"

"Shut it!"

A thoroughly angry voice. Without the need to turn around, the development excessively easy to understand made the trio exchange glances with wearily faces.

"Hey, just stop it already, you."

"Shut your trap, you enormity!"

Takashi shouted at Serisawa in a disgusted voice and glared at Ren standing next to him.

But Ren, who at twelve passed through numerous scenes of carnage, didn't feel threatened by only a violent boy.

On the contrary, not even recognizing he was being glared at, he tilted his head as is asking ''"Why on earth is he angry about?"''

And then, there was Kanon.

She received head on Takashi's hateful glare and returned a scornful laugh. Her folded arms and raised chin and her facial expression that haughtiness itself didn't hide her contempt for Takashi.

"......You're making fun of me......" he squeezed out from the gap between his clenched teeth, grasping his fists tightly.

"Don't get conceited you bitch!!"

And then, he leaped at her while screaming. As expected Kanon wasn't ready for this degree of violence, so she was unable to respond.

Takashi grabbed Kanon’s shoulder and swung his fist. A second later, everyone was convinced the girl was cruelly hit. But -

"- Gaah?"

[[File:Kaze no Stigma vol 04 155.jpg|thumb|]]

As abruptly as a spinning top launched in the middle of the way, Takashi was torn off from Kanon and pressed to the blackboard.

Because of that enormous power, the blackboard and Takashi's back started creaked ominously. With eyes growing hazy because of the pain, Takashi looked at the figure of the person who pressed him down.

''"Ka - Kannagi........? No way.......!"''

He couldn't believe it. That a boy much smaller than him could hide this much power. Because he was pushed up, he tilted his body was slowly forced up. Both his feet were floating in the air.

"Guu......Ha.....s - stop......"

Pressured by the fist grabbing him on the collar, his ribs were hurting. Trying to somehow raise a protesting voice, Takashi's tongue was frozen.

Ren was looking straight at him.

He was sharp, like a different person but despite that his gaze was carrying an intense anger.

His whole body tied by the power loaded in that pupil, Takashi shivered in fear at his wit's end.

''"I'll be killed!"''

He felt ''death'' closer than ever before. The fear of having a knife thrust at him seemed insignificant when compared to this.

It was the first time in his life his body was basking in the real thirst for blood. A precise, definite ''intent to slaughter''.

There was no escape.

Calmly, composedly and certainly -

''"This guy...will kill me!"''

"Hi - hiii......"

But, contrary to his expectation Takashi was suddenly released from the restraints. The body that lost its support slipped off, rubbing the wall with a dragging sound and feebly sunk down to the floor.

"Eh......ah.....?"

Looking up in a daze, he saw Ren looking at his own hand with an air of bewilderment. And several seconds after, he showed a minor bitter smile while looking down at Takashi cowering at his feet.

"Hey...."

"Hiiiii!"

"You can't be violent toward girls."

The persuasion Ren made in a gentle tone, while Takashi was greatly perplexed, didn't add up.

"Hey, eh........"

While thinking what to do about that, from beneath Takashi's feet, squatting down, a strange liquid poured out.

An offensive smell.

"......Eh?"

"What have you done?"

Serisawa forcibly drew out Ren, standing rock still dumbfounded. And then he put his arm around his neck as if trying to strangle him and forced him along to a place where the liquid that kept on flowing.

"Your indoor slippers will get dirty! Instead of cleaning this guy's piss from my slippers I'd rather throw them away!"

"Th- then that really was..."

Finally comprehending the nature of the smelling liquid, Ren's face became pale.

Looking at Takashi he saw that his body was still curled up. The reason why he was trembling was probably not only fear.

Incontinence - a boy that was already a junior high school student never felt so much shame. And, realizing all this Ren started speaking very upset.

"I'm, I'm sorry! I, didn't mean to.....I'll call Sensei immediately so - "

"- Ren"

Striking Ren's shoulder, Serisawa feebly shook his head.

"If you feel even a little pity for this guy, don't say anymore. Just leave him alone"

"Eh, but - if it stays like this it will seem I bullied him. And people who torment others are the worst."

Ren didn't say it with malice. He didn't but the consequence of those words was to break into small pieces the already wounded pride of Takashi.

As if whipping the dead or salt was rubbed into his wounds Takashi's body shivers worsened.

"Are - are you ok?"

Perceiving that reaction, Ren flustering rushed over to Takashi. He touched the trembling body.

".........!?"

That extended hand was flung off as far as possible. Ren's eyes blinking in shock were pierced by eyes full of murder.

"Son of a bitch..."

Raising a face full of tears and snot Takahashi glared at Ren with as much hatred as he could muster.

"Remember this, son of a bitch! My brother is really strong! He can kill the likes of you with one attack."

"Waah, how lame," Kanon commented scornfully.

"If you can't, will you run to your Onii-chan, huh? I wonder just what sort of person that is?"

"Shut up!" screamed Takashi with a voice turned inside out.

"Now it's the time to pull back you know! My Aniki has supernatural powers! He'll turn the likes of you into ash!!"

For a second the class was enveloped in silence. And then -

"Bahahahahahahahahahaha!!"

The classroom was shook by a maelstrom of very loud laughter.

"Were - were you serious just now, Takamatsu-kun? Are you saying that seriously?"

"And on top of that you are one of those who believe crop circles are made by aliens too, right?"

While striking desks and walls, and stamping their feet, the students unanimously ridicule Takashi.

But without bothering with their reaction Takashi only glared at Ren.

"Just go ahead and laugh. Make fun of me. Get cocky just because you're somewhat good at fighting...because I'll teach you that such things are helpless in front of absolute power!"

"You're the one who you cocky, stupid," spit out Serisawa tiresomely, throwing the black board eraser at Takashi who talked on and on in ecstasy.

His right hand was already loaded with the next eraser.

"Se - Serisawa! You'll do it, too? My Aniki will - "

"Shut the fuck up!"

Without hesitation Serisawa threw the other blackboard eraser with all his strength. The chalk powder sticking to the blackboard eraser hit Takashi in the face and the angry face already flushed deep red was dyed pure white.

Simultaneously, white smoke spreads like an explosion, and the boy who inhaled the dust convulsed with all his strength.

"I'm telling you to bring your brother! Because I don't have all day, you know!"

"You - you bastard....."

Spontaneously, ignoring Takashi trying to spit out the words while having a coughing fit, Serisawa pulled Ren and started walking.

"Well, this is boring. Forget about this and let's hang out. Where do you want to go?"

"Ehh, well..."

"I - I want to go to Shinjuku. I want to buy some clothes."

"Waah, do you think we want to go buy women's clothes?"

"I wasn't talking to you."

"What did you say?"

"Well, well, calm down both of you."

With a delicately stiff smiling face, Ren tried mediating the glaring pair.

"We should go to where you both want to go in turns. We have time."

The trio started deciding their after school activities enjoyed. It seems that inside their heads not a particle of Takashi's words remains.

"Then, Shinjuku is our first stop right?"

"Yeah."

"Right."

Gaining both their agreement, Ren started walking with a visibly relieved expression.

Behind him, as if his existence itself was thoroughly forgotten, there was the solitary figure of Takashi, crouching. His gaze, carrying the dark flame of hate saw off Ren's distant back without even blinking.

=== Part 3 ===

The game center the trio left was illuminated by the red sunlight of the evening. Feeling relief when released from the noisy environment, Kanon let out a small breath. And then she snuggled up to Ren like it was usual.

"Which reminds me, Ren-kun was really cool back then."

While clinging to Ren's arm, Kanon recalled the gallant figure of the boy that overwhelmed that failure of an idiot.

"Wasn't it the first time you acted like that in school?"

Kanon was familiar with Ren's strength. She understood that even a juvenile delinquent that took pride in fights couldn't go against him.

But Ren didn't try to display his own strength. Rather, he was actively trying to avoid that kind of situation.

Unrelated to his ability, he hated conflict. That's why before it could turn into a fight he tried to express his opinion and while taking the hit he would only counterattack to defend his body.

Although ''protecting Kanon'' was a just cause, Ren honestly thought it was inconceivable of exerting violence on boys his age.

"Ahh, yeah......."

Ren also thought his behaviour was strange and spontaneously expressed a bitter smile.

"I must definitely apologize to Takamatsu-kun later."

"I don't really care about that idiot but did you change your policy?"

"Policy huh, I didn't have such an exaggerated thing from the beginning. I just hate unreasonable violence, that's all. But when I thought Kanon-san was about to be hurt, I couldn’t control myself - is what you call ''to snap'', right?"

"Ehh....."

At those unanticipated words, Kanon’s cheeks were dyed red.

"Th- th- that means, I'm important enough for Ren-kun to spontaneously lose his temper for me?"

"Yes."

As if talking about an obvious thing, Ren smoothly agreed.

"You are important. I wish Suzuhara-san were happy. I want you to smile. That's why, I'll protect you - I don't want to lose anything anymore."

"Ren-kun -"

Overcome with emotion, Kanon embraced Ren. But just before she could, a huge hand like a glove covered Kanon’s face. And then, forcefully tore her off.

"What are you doing, you -"

"No, well, Ren said it was for a friend."

Interrupting Kanon who was about to swear, Serisawa praised Ren with an unnaturally bright expression.

"Of course, if I were in a pinch Ren would help me too, right? Because we're friends."

"Ehh...? Y- Yeah. But I cannot imagine Serisawa-san getting in a tough spot."

"That may be true. But, at that time I will trust in you when the time comes, ''friend''."

Striking Ren's shoulder Serisawa shifted his focus to Kanon. And then, raised his lips extremely enjoyed.

"I'm so glad for you, Kanon. Ren protected you ''as a friend''. You are mutually good friends. I'm sure your friendship will last ''all your life''. We'll ''alwaaaaays'' be friends, right?"

"..........."

Kanon glared at Serisawa with an extremely angry expression. Most likely, she was butchering him inside her head in hundreds of different ways.

She grasped her slender white fingers strongly as if trying to choke something.

"..........Just bring it on!"

"Ke ke ke ke ke ke."

Serisawa responded at the groaning Kanon with a loud laughter. In the space between them, invisible sparks were scattering.

"He- hey, calm down both of you!!"

Becoming aware they were attracting attention from the surroundings, Ren tried to mediate the duo. But, his gaze went around as if making sure of something.

"- Be quiet, both of you."

Sensing the alteration in Ren's tone, both his friends quickly became silent. At almost the same time, a single man drew closer.

Wearing an LL sized T-shirt that reached the middle of his tights and loose half pants - the person himself probably thought he was cool but the people who didn't have the same values could only call him untidy.

"Kannagi Ren?" the man asked shortly after, looking down on Ren.

"And you are?"

"It doesn't matter who I am. There's someone who has business with you. Follow me."

"I refuse."

"Aaah!?"

When Ren flatly rejected him the man tried to overpower him from right overhead.

"Who the fuck asked for your opinions!? Shut up and follow me or I'll kill you, damn brat!"

"I have no intention of obeying the likes of you, no matter what you say. Let's go."

Replying in a resolute manner, Ren urged Kanon and Serisawa on and started walking.

"...You bastard......."

Treated trivially by a middle school kid with feminine features, the man was quickly enraged. Drawing near the trio he seized Kanon’s neck.

"Don't underestimate me, damn brats! What happens to this woman- !?"

Unable to finish his speech, the man fainted in agony. The fist trusted into the pit of his stomach made him unconscious and he crumbled down before understanding what happened and who did this to him.

"Are you OK?" asked Ren pulling out the fist that was buried up to the wrist.

Kanon nodded without showing any disturbance.

"Yes. But, who is this guy?"

"Well, I don't know. But I don't remember becoming enemy to this kind of people -"

Closing his eyes partly Ren searched for presence in the surroundings.

They were surrounded.

Their clothes were different but they were approximately the same age and above all the boys had in common a wild presence while surrounding them.

They thought they weren’t yet detected so they slowly reduced the encircling net.

Ren informed Kanon in a small voice.

"For now we had better escape. Can you run?"

"Yeah. I'll do my best," Kanon nodded.

Next he made an eye signal at Serisawa, synchronizing their timing.

Just before the men moved, forestalling their movement by a second, Ren grabbed Kanon and started running.

"Move! Move! Move! "

Serisawa sent the men standing still, and taken by surprise, flying spendidly. Ren and Kannon nimbly ran through the hole that opened in the net.

"Shit! Don't let them escape!"

While being chased by harsh voices and more than ten footsteps the trio started running at high speed.

"Shit! Just how many are there?" cursed Serisawa while moving his legs determinedly.

From that point on, the trio weren't able to run from the men's pursuit for more than ten minutes.

They didn't understand why such a group of people were pursuing Ren, but it seemed there were more of them than those who surrounded Ren's group the first time.

The number of the men who ambushed them at their destination was already reaching thirty.

"Suzuhara-san, keep at it a bit longer," Ren murmured as if cheering up the girl who was short of breath.

Kanon was almost at her limit. By nature, her stamina was quite like that of a normal girl. When chased after by men with full grown bodies she couldn't possibly get away.

''"This is bad.........."'' thought Ren, when he remembered the distance so far.

They were being herded. He didn't know the final destination but the men were clearly leading them somewhere.

But, even if he knew that, there was nothing he could do about it. Even though the opponent is an amateur, their numbers were too large. He didn't have the confidence he could defeat all of them while defending Kanon and Serisawa without using En-jutsu.

Gradually they were being cornered to a desolate place with a bad atmosphere. While thinking he should start preparing himself they reached the corner.

As expected, they were ambushed.

In the space ten men were lying in wait, Ren's group naturally plunged into it. From behind several other people were approaching.

They were completely driven to the wall.

"Ren-kun......"

"It's OK."

Grasping the hand of the girl who leaned close to him uneasily, Ren smiled.

"If I have too, I'll use my power. I won't let them even touch both of you. Don't worry."

It was strictly prohibited using Jutsu when dealing with an ordinary person. But he didn't feel like complying with such regulations if his body and the bodies of his friends were in danger.

Ren was determined that more than hurting others, he couldn't tolerate if he himself were to get hurt.

"Ku ku ku ku ku."

Unnatural chuckles drifted in the air and the crowd of people in Ren's front parted left and right. From inside it, a boy with a pompous attitude stepped forward.

"Ku ku ku ku ku ku ku - ha ha ha ha ha ha!"

The supressed laugh gradually raised its tension and turned into a laughing scream.

It was a face they recognized.

The face they parted from only a few hours earlier laughed, arrogant and proud.

"You can't run anymore, Kannagi!" ''he'' declared with an already triumphant air.

Before he came out, it was possible that Ren's group was scared. Maybe they had a vision of asking for forgiveness with a menial attitude. But that completely backfired.

A strange unknown ''something'' sometimes intimidates the human heart much more than a tangible, physical threat could.

For Kanon and Serisawa, who were not used to being involved in serious fights, the strange men that chased them without pretext were very scary.

But the moment ''he'' showed himself the trio understood everything. The enemy's true character, his purpose and the conclusion.

"Aaa - aahhhh, my hair is so messy -"

Completely disregarding ''his'' existence Kanon started arranging her dishevelled hair. And then, the moment ''he'' tried opening his mouth a second time irritated, she beat him to it.

"The peeing boy, huh? Did you change your soiled pants?"

"Wha - wha - ....!"

He - Takamatsu Takashi, while trying to say something to make him look better, his face was dyed bright red with anger and opened and shut his mouth to no purpose.

Serisawa sunk the boot in him even more.

"Which means, these guys are your brother's henchmen? I didn't really think you would call your Aniki. You’re such a loser, it's kind of cool."

"Sh - shut up! It's too late to apologize now! For the likes of you, in one shot, Aniki will -"

"Ahh - yes, yes. Just call your brother already - Where are you, Onii-chan with super powers?"

"Mo - mother fucker....." Takashi began losing it at the speech looking down on him from the bottom of the heart.

"That's enough, Takashi. Leave the rest to me."

"A - Aniki."

Hearing the voice that reached from the back, Takashi regained his confidence.

"I trust you, Aniki! Turn them all to ash in one go!"

"All right"

Replying with a reassuring nod, one man appeared. That silhouette stared at the trio - a pitiless stare.

He was most likely in the latter half of his teens. His hair was bright orange and was standing up. He was wearing black leather pants and a deep crimson leather coat.

Coupled together with the orange hair, his appearance was really standing out. So much that you couldn't mistake him for another even at a distance of a hundred meters.

Sneakily, Serisawa and Kanon started speaking but in such a way that the opponent could clearly hear.

"Hey, what kind of cosplay do you think that is?"

"I don't know but I saw that pose, when facing the camera, appear at O-Bon and the last year International Exhibition Hall. He doesn't seem embarrassed, huh?"

".....Hey, damn brats," the man growled, deviating from the plan, his temple veins showing.

After all, since he was Takashi's brother, his capacity wasn't all that great.

Seeing through that, the duo got carried away even more.

"Hey, orange head Onii-chan, who do you cosplay? A game character? Or maybe anime?"

"Is that bad taste coat your casual wear? Are you really walking around dressed like that? No way - I can't believe it!"

Serisawa laughed like a horse while Kanon covered her sneer with her hand. For a man with a pretty low boiling point that was more than enough stimulation.

"You sons of bitches! I won't forgive you!"

Raising an angry roar, the man released his ''power''. The flame spirits drawn to him with brute force screamed in agony.

But as if not hearing that, the man kneaded the spirits being scrapped together.

In the man's surroundings, the air started flickering like a heat haze - and then, a deep crimson flame appeared.

"Se - seriously?" Serisawa murmured with a nervous face. Almost at the same time, as if trying to drown down his voice, from every direction cheers erupted.

"Waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah"~

"Kill! Kill! Kill!"

"Roast them! Colour them black! Turn them to ash!"

"Show us something flashy today too!"

Responding to the shouts of joy intoxicated in bloodlust, the man yelled.

"Yeaah, leave it to me!"

As if acting in concert with that scream, the fire gathered in both his palms. That curling flame raised its density, adjusted its shape and turned to high speed rotation fire bullets.

"Eat them, ''Fiiiiiiire Buuuuuleeeet''!"

The man spread his arms on a grand scale and threw the two softball-sized fireballs with a sidearm pitch.

The moment they were separated from his hand, the bullets accelerated as if repelled. The fireballs that left a flight afterimage headed to Kanon and Serisawa with a speed impossible to evade.

"It's dangerous!"

But, Ren reacted instantly and thrust both of them away, removing them from the fireball trajectory. Ren evaded them by slipping through the space between the fireballs and survived without problems.

"Hooo, aren't you good! Being able to dodge the <<Fire bullet>>!"

"What the heck are you thinking!!"

Ren scowled with an intense expression the man who raised his voice in compliment.

"Openly using Jutsu in public - and even attacking children! If you're also a Practitioner, understand how moderation works!"

"Ahhh? What's a Practitioner?"

At the unexpected retort, Ren unintentionally became speechless.

Laughing scornfully at the petrified Ren, the man introduced himself loudly.

"I am <<The Fire Leader>>! The supreme monarch that controls fire! You have no right to complain, no matter who I burn! Because there's no one in this world who can order the King!"

Looking dumbfounded at <<The Fire Leader>> laughing loudly, Ren was voluntarily greatly perplexed.

"Waaaah, he's the worst.........this man is ''dokkaku''...."

Dokkaku is a term derived from Buddhism and represents the people that made ascetic practices and reached Enlightment without the guidance of a teacher.

Of course, the truth that they barely managed to reach through that kind of process doesn't go beyond the impression of selfishness.

The same way, in the world of magic, the people who reached the manifestation of their power without any kind of instruction are also called this.

These kind of people, because they don't have anyone around them to compare to, have a tendency to think about their power as the greatest thing ever.

And then, they start a new religion by calling themselves ''The son of God'' and intend to exterminate mankind while under the impression they are ''the pioneers of progress''' and tend heavily to behave like a tyrant.

The man that stood before him was a stereotypical example of that.

"Well, are you ready?"

Punctuating the moment with a wild laugh, the man lifts his power a second time.

"Thanks for tormenting my little brother! I'll burn all three of you! Eat this, ''Phoenix Wing''!!"

<<The Fire Leader>> raised his hands to the sky. The fire spirits that were gathered beyond that point, embodied a bird in flames.

It was big. Its wing length exceeds three meters.

The phoenix moulded with delicate details like a living thing - and the heat loaded inside - Ren immediately saw through the fact that it was capable of perfectly burning three people to nothing.

"Get down!"

Covering up for Kanon and Serisawa, Ren confronted the fire bird. A huge quantity of heat that approached flapping its large wings. If a normal human were to take a direct hit from it would be turned to cinders. But -

"Disappear!"

At Ren's one command the fire bird scattered and vanished

"Whaaaat!?"

"Please don't get carried away. That sort of bluff jutsu doesn't even pass as the real Enjutsu."

"E - Enjutsu, you say..."

With a backward glance at <<The Fire Leader>> who murmured so with shock, Ren seized the broken fragments of the fire bird.

A slight pain travelled in his palm. ''Something'' mixed with the flame burned his skin.

Ren knew that feeling first-hand. A counterfeit pain that burned a regular human, the white hot sensation that polluted even the soul.

''"Youki !? What is happening?"''

Youki, the essence given by demonic beings - that is, the <<Ki>> of nonhuman life. It was something fundamentally different from simple evil concept like hatred, grudge and such.

It alternated the body of those with piles of experience, but different from the case of a black Jutsushi in the process of shedding his humanity, an amateur Jutsushi that only barely woken his powers was not supposed to be clad in it.

"- Let's go."

Finding it difficult to wait and see, Ren started a light attack. More than ten fireballs manifested instantly, leaving an afterimage.

The Jutsu composition and the shooting speed were both in a different league from <<The Fire Leader>>.

Unable to even recognise the fireballs, the man stood rock still simply dumbfounded.

"Waah!?"

But in spite of the fact that he clearly had not noticed it, from the body of <<The Fire Leader>>, a great number of flames were generated and intercepted Ren's Jutsu with unmatched accuracy.

Faced with the point blank explosion, the man finally noticed he was being attacked. For a little while his line of sight loitered around, not understanding what happened but abruptly he declared triumphantly, throwing out his chest.

"How naïve! Did you think that degree of offensive could knock down ''Me''?"

The convenient explanation that his power was invocated by an unconscious defensive instinct seemed self-sufficient.

"........."

Ren ignored the man's words and reflected on the phenomenon that just happened.

That power was obviously invoked without the intent of the person itself. A Youki coiling around. There was only one deduction he could make.

''"He's possessed by a Youma?"''

The man who called himself <<The Fire Leader>> seemed only to borrow the power of the Youma that lived off him like a parasite. But as he was proudly boasting of ''his own power'' he clearly didn't realise that.

"That's nasty..."

It was not something that was possible to occur by chance. Without a doubt, someone deceived this man and turned him into the object the Youma occupies, ready to be eaten in the near future.

He couldn't let that be.

He was bothered by the fact he let his power rampage but this man was unmistakeably a victim.

But, in front of Ren who decided to save him no matter what -

"Still, you're pretty good. It's been a long time since I met someone who could defend against my power."

The man got excited by himself. Expressing a smile that was supposed to be daring, he spoke dramatic words.

"Your power has the same attribute as mine - <<Fire>> - but you're also a senior class? Enjutsu-shi, you said?"

"- Senior class?"

"Isn't that right? That Vesalius mother fucker hid the fact there were other classes. What about you? Were you selected? Is <<Enjutsushi>> a higher class than <<The Fire Leader>>?"

''"Vesalius"''

Ren bore in mind that name. It seems he was the one who made this man be possessed by a Youma and the name of the man he absolutely had to bring down.

"Just what kind of person he is........that man?"

"Are you playing dumb? Whatever. I'll make you talk soon enough. Don't get cocky just because you're a senior class like me! It had nothing to do with class and level - because I, '''I''' am the most powerful!"

"No, I don't care about that, about that person named Vesalius......it's impossible?"

Observing the man endlessly excited, Ren understood persuasion was meaningless. Reluctantly, he took a posture preparing for offensive.

<<The Fire Leader>> shouted.

"Gooo! The ultimate secret, ''Flame Vortex''!!"

A crimson flame, coiling in swirls attacked Ren. Without shaming its mane, the ultimate mystery, its caloric value was fairly high - meaning, compared to the ones until now.

[[File:Kaze no Stigma vol 04 181.jpg|thumb|]]

"- Really"

While letting out a sigh, Ren stopped the ''Flame Vortex'' with one hand.

"Wh - Whaaaaaaaaat!?"

In front of the flame pushed back at him, <<The Fire Leader>> opened his eyes wide in surprise. As Ren's own power was added to it, that seemed to change into a golden helix.

"Wa - waaaaaaaaaaaaaa!!"

At the fire torrent that filled his vision, <<The Flame Leader>> prepared himself to death.

Piercing even through his tightly closed eyes, the golden flame burned his retina. The feeling of scorching heat pierced through something in his body.

But the pain he expected to come didn't hurt him in the end. Timidly, he half opened his eyes and the golden flame was already gone without trace.

"Wh -wha - ahh."

Confused for a short while, he realised the unsightly shape of his body, curled down like a turtle, and stood up.

"You - you son of a bitch! Don't make fun of me! You speak so proudly, but your technique is nothing more but a bluff."

"This wasn't a bluff."

Intended to cool down the indignant man or maybe to provoke him even more, Ren replied with a serene expression.

"It played out just as it supposed to. Because from the start, I didn't intend to be your opponent."

"Whaat?"

"More important, answer my questions. What kind of person is Vesalius? From the process used to give you power, to the features of his appearance, tell me in detail -"

"....Mother fucker......." squeezed the man out through the gap between his teeth.

Finally he reached the conclusion that until now he was the only one excited and recognised that Ren didn't even consider him a worthy opponent.

"Did you think I was out and over!? Don't fuck with me! I am <<The Fire Leader>>! Don't put me together with some small fish!"

His body trembling in anger as his inflated pride took a critical hit, the man released his power.

"''Shining Toooooooooorrent'' - ahh?"

But, the white light tornado that was supposed to come out couldn’t be even glimpsed.

"Wh - what? I don't have enough MP? Then, ''Fire Bullet''!"

It had the same result. The flame couldn't be brought forth. No matter how much he tried, he couldn't feel the response of collected power.

"It's useless," Ren informed the confused man.

"You have already lost your ability to manipulate fire. I got rid of it"

The essence of the Kannagi's power is the secret capacity of purifying and destroying all evil.

The flame Ren released before didn't affect <<The Fire Leader>> at all and only burned to nothing the demonic presence. Of course, the ability to manipulate the flame didn't remain.

"Im - Impossible! How on earth.......a seal? Or you neutralised it?"

"It makes no sense to play around with game terminology. It's time you face reality."

Those cold words were the sentence that ended the dream.

The letters <<Game Over>> flickered in his brain and the virtual character called <<The Flame leader>> vanished.

After that, only the human, Takamatsu Kyoshi, was left behind.

Ordinary and powerlessness, he was nothing but one of those many faces in the crowd.

"No......it's impossible......"

As Kyoshi trembled with the shock of loss, Ren slowly approached. Around him a golden flame flickered playfully.

"Hi....hiii...!"

Before the vibrant clarity, there was the sudden change of composition. Degraded to powerlessness spoils Kyoshi let out a wretched voice and looked up at Ren.

Ren was what he yesterday was. If he felt inclined to kill, he could easily kill him. Like trampling on an ant, just like he did before, very easily -

He looked around him. All the gathered underlings have fled, already disappearing without a trace. Nearby there was the silhouette of his brother, fallen on his back but it was clear he was useless.

"Do - Don't kill me........"

Without shame or honour, Kyoshi got down on his hands and knees, begging for forgiveness. For him, the man who lost all his power, there was no other way to survive.

"Anything.......I'll do anything..........so please........"

"Ah - Well......."

Confused by Kyoshi's sudden change of attitude, Ren unintentionally stepped back. Turning his way a gaze as if looking at an unstable man, he said.

"You have no power anymore, so I don't intend to hurt you further."

"Re - Really?" Kyoshi suddenly raised his face and shouted in a voice overflowing delight.

"Ye - Yeah. But I have some questions for you and I would be glad if you could answer them honestly."

"Ask me anything!!" nodded Kyoshi bracing himself.

Although the bizarre atmosphere increased a notch, Ren fired his question.

"Then, first of all about that Vesalius person. He's the one who gave you this power, right? Tell me everything about that."

".....Why, ask such a thing?"

When he heard Ren's question, Kyoshi asked back in wonder.

"Aren't you the same ～ Didn't Vesalius gave you your power at Pandemonium? And then you class changed after increasing your level?"

"Aah - I'm the one asking questions ～ "

Ren expressed an unsuitable ''cynical smile'' and gave a clumsy warning.

It was clear from his attitude that he wasn't used to this kind of interrogation but to Kyoshi who regarded him like his previous self, the effect was tremendous.

"Hiii - I'm sorry, I'm sorry."

Inside Ren he (involuntary) labelled Kyoshi's menial apology as foul play.

".........So, what is ''Pandemonium''?"

"Pa - Pandemonium is......an internet site.......sir."

"No need for honorifics - Internet?"

"Y - Yes.......I found it by chance. And then I was asked: ''Do you want power?'' I answered with YES. I thought it was a joke. I thought it was a peculiar formality. And then an odd pattern appeared on the screen and when I looked at it I fell asleep. And then when I woke up I had this power. It's true. It's not a lie, believe me..."

"........."

Ignoring the tedious talk that seemed to continue forever, Ren looked at the man's facial expression. He did not seem to lie.

Meaning, if that was the truth -

''"The Youma was converted to digital data and summoned through the internet?"''

It seemed to resemble more and more a game, so maybe it was like that. That must be the truth.

In a word, this man wasn't used as a Youma sacrifice but summoned the Youma from his own volition and contracted with it. It appears that was the form it took.

'''Do you want power?'''

The moment he answered that question with '''Yes''' Kyoshi made the pact to hand over his soul.

Of course, it was a defective contract. Using this coercive method, even the soul of a normal person without any kind of protection from the spirits cannot be taken immediately.

But that applies only once.

The allurement continues.

Even if a person is not influenced by the devilishness, a human being that owns a convenient power desires even more power.

Without deeply thinking what sort of compensation will be taken from them.

Until the time everything will be taken from them, they will continue requesting power.

"I see......that was done skilfully."

Ren let out a murmur of admiration.

A trap set at random on the network. Kyoshi can't be the only victim.

Just how many people have offered their soul for an hour of pleasure -

"Wh - what........"

Suddenly calming down, finding fault with his ears, Kyoshi looked up with an uneasy gaze at Ren.

"Ahh, that's no concern of yours. Don't worry about it."

Ren casually waved his hand, obstructing the investigation.

"So, let's go back to the story. Let me see........first, tell me the address of this Pandemonium."

"I don't know it."

"........."

Ren stared very long at Takamatsu, who answered immediately. Overpowered by his glance, Takamatsu talked on and on, losing his head.

"I - I really don't know! While I was unconscious back then the connection was cut and when I looked at the history log there was nothing........everyone says the same, it's true!"

"Everyone?"

"There's an information exchange bulletin board for those like me, who received power from Pandemonium. That's what I heard there. There's no one who accessed Pandemonium a second time. We arrived at it by chance."

"What you say is that that site has no direct connection with Pandemonium?"

"Yes. The admin is the same as us."

Although experiencing some discomfort when hearing the word ''us'' as if it was said they were the same kind of thing, Ren asked again:

"The address?"

"It's in my phone."

"Give it to me."

After one glance at the phone presented to him, Ren tossed it into the pocket of his high school uniform.

"I'll keep this. I think that's all I wanted to ask but -"

Inaudible, Kyoshi let out a breath.

"As you wish."

"By the way, what else is on that bulletin board?"

"Nothing really important. After all, it's a gathering of guys like me who don't know much. So, stuff like reasoning about this power's true colours, boasts about level or ability, battle appointments and -"

"Battle? Do you fight between yourselves?"

"Yeah, because it has a lot of XP."

"XP?", Ren asked in return.

"We receive e-mails about how to use our power. Like ''You received X experience points''"

"The sender?"

"It's Pandemonium. Of course there's no mail address."

"..........."

"So, when we collect enough experience points, we level up. When we level up enough, we class change."

"........Are you one of the senior classes?"

"Yes. I changed class from the basic <<Ignition Man>> to the <<Fire Leader>>. It was very hard accumulating so many experience points."

"..........Is that so?"

At the excessively game-like setting, Ren was unintentionally perplexed. But, although the setting was clichéd, that's not an usual way a Jutsushi is represented in reality.

''"But - What purpose does this -"''

Ren can't guess the objective of this Jutsushi called Vesalius. What meaning does it have to mass-produce people with special power in those like Kyoshi, people without discernment?

Is he just a criminal who takes pleasure in people's reaction to his crimes?

Although he knew it was meaningless, Ren asked his only source of information.

"What sort of person is Vesalius? Tell me everything you know."

"Uh huh."

As if sorting his memory, Kyoshi cast his eyes down in silence. Patiently Ren waited until the man opened his mouth.

""He was a imposing son of a bitch. All his speech and gestures were theatrical."

And then Kyoshi started narrating. In more detail than Ren expected.

"Something like platinum blonde? He had long silver hair practically colourless and a red mask on his face. Because he was disguised I couldn’t see his face."

"That's very specific. You didn't meet him personally, right?"

"No, I met him."

"Where?"

"At Pandemonium."

".........."

From the story until now Pandemonium was supposed to be an internet site.

"Please don't tell me your spirit navigated in the Internet world ～"

Normally he would laugh at this but in the present Shinjuku the common sense of the game world is overlooked. He couldn't affirm that it wasn't true.

But Kyoshi shook his head at that question.

"It's not like that. For a class change we had no choice but to go to Pandemonium. That's where I met him."

"................."

Ren stared very long at the man who concealed such an important piece of information until now. Pressed by that eloquent gaze, Kyoshi waved his hand in confusion.

"Ahh, I didn't particularly want to hide it. The order of the story, its logic, we still haven't -"

"Excuses don't matter. In other words, Pandemonium doesn't exist only on the Internet but also in reality, right?"

"Aaah. But I don't know where it is."

" - You still say that?" Ren groaned with a fed-up voice.

He imagined this would happen but still felt considerably depressed unable to track this down.

"N - No, hear me out! It couldn't be helped, you know?"

Turning a flattering gaze to him, Kyoshi defended himself desperately.

"I walked around instructed by mail, and before I knew I was lost and then I realised a residence with a Pandemonium written sign was in front of my eyes."

".........."

Letting out his irritation together with an exhalation, Ren regained his calm.

He understood getting angry right now was pointless. This clearly went exactly as Vesalius wanted it to.

Kyoshi's perception and cognisance, or possibly the space itself was warped so he wouldn't find out Pandemonium's real location.

It was impossible for an amateur like Kyoshi to go against such a practitioner who could exercise such large scale magic tricks.

"Have you seen something around Pandemonium? Or better, have you seen the outside scenery from inside Pandemonium?"

"..........."

With a face that seemed to have some clue, Kyoshi shut his mouth. With a smile Ren said:

"Keeping secrets won't help you."

"..............It's not a lie."

After a few more seconds of silence passed, Kyoshi spoke in a sulky voice. At that ''he won't believe me either way '' tone, Ren returned a bitter smile.

"The story until now is plenty absurd already. At this point I don't worry about common sense anymore so please tell me what you saw exactly."

"......After leaving Pandemonium's terrace, I saw the outside scenery."

While still hesitating, Kyoshi started speaking slowly.

"It was Shinjuku, I think. But it was extremely high. I looked from the terrace of the second floor but I could see the rooftop of all building standing in a row."

"....So it was on the rooftop of some skyscraper."

"That's impossible. I don't remember using stairs or an elevator, besides -"

"Yes?"

"On both sides of the mansion, identical towers were built."

"Towers?"

Hearing such unexpected words, Ren asked back starring in puzzlement.

"Yeah. Those buildings were slender, towers of twenty stores at most. With entirely the same shape, left and right, they were erected as if to hold Pandemonium in between"

"Hmmmm......."

Without saying anything, Ren gave a half-hearted answer. Was there in Shinjuku such a building, one from where one could see the rooftops of the other buildings?

"H - hey....."

Absorbed for a short while in meditation, Kyoshi called out to him in a flattering voice.

"It's fine, right? I told you everything I know. Please let me go."

Looking down at the pitiful man with sober eyes, Ren quickly made his decision.

He asked him everything he wanted. He could be identified through his brother, so letting him go now wasn't a big problem. Besides -

"That's right. I'm sorry for taking your time. You can go now."

With a smiling face that didn't reveal his true intentions, Ren permitted his departure.

At that moment, Kyoshi ran away at high speed. Without hesitation he abandoned his brother and didn't turn around even for a second, that sort of commendable escape.

"Wa - wait for me, Aniki!"

After a few seconds, Takashi calmed down and ran after his brother. Of course, nobody was actually chasing them.

=== Part 4 ===

"Was it OK to let them go?"

When the silhouettes of the brothers disappeared from view, Kanon and Serisawa approached from the little farther away spot they were watching the show from.

At Kanon's question, implying it may be dangerous to let them be, Ren replied with a smile.

"It's fine. They'll probably be arrested quickly anyway."

"Arrested? By who?"

"By the police."

"Wasn't the police unable to deal with magic stuff?"

"That's not true anymore. There is a department that deals with black magic and spiritual disaster. I'll report them today so they will probably be caught before the day is over."

Replying with a smiling face to Serisawa, who also joined the conversation, for some reason their faces became stiff.

"- What's up?"

"W - What, you ask..."

"Because Ren-kun wasn't so determined before,"

"Really? Then I'm glad. Because I can't continue being a spoiled brat forever."

Seeming glad from the bottom of his heart, Ren smiled with all his face.

Although faltering in front of Ren's unexpected growth and bearing, Kanon and Serisawa weren't mesmerized by that smile.

"So, what to do from now on?"

"Eeh, what do you mean?"

At Kanon's question, who already pulled herself together, Ren didn't have a smile.

Even if something must be done about this, he can't do anything about it today. For now he will return to the household and report this, and by using Tokyo MPD's Special Investigation Unit there's no choice but to investigate it.

While thinking that, Kanon looked up at Ren and showed a proud smile.

"You know, from what that guy said I know where to find that place."

"- Really? Where is it?"

But, as if dodging the question Kanon turned her back to Ren.

"What to do? - If Ren-kun will kiss me I may as well tell him........"

"Eeh........."

"Wait a second!"

Kanon's daring request was attacked by a threatening voice and an excessively huge leg. Kanon promptly prepared her body and escaped the huge foot sole, drawing near.

"......Hey, you're in the way"

Kanon glared up at Serisawa's large build, who blocked her way as if trying to protect Ren, with a penetrating cold gaze.

A glare that did not see a fellow human but an obstacle that must be eliminated. Her eyes were still.

But even so, Serisawa didn’t flinch. Fired up by the decision to protect his precious friend, he boldly opposed the evil witch.

"There's neither negligence nor chance. Because of this, you won't be alone with Ren anymore. You're too dangerous."

"It's not like I asked for your permission."

"Shut up, you harlot!"

Using random old-fashioned disparaging words that God knows where he learned them from, Serisawa abused Kanon.

"If you really think so highly of Ren, then I'll teach you not to use bargaining points with him. That's why I say women are dishonest!"

"Humph," Kanon faltered as he touched a nerve.

It was a fair argument. Even though there was lip service involved, it was still a fair argument so she couldn't refute it.

"Won't you tell me, Suzuhara-san ~"

What's more, Kanon had no way to resist to Ren's ''request''.

"If you were to at least call me Kanon, I'll give yu both my body and my heart."

"Aah......ahahahahahahahaha....maybe at a different time. All right?"

Disciplining his smiling face that already became stiff as Kanon drew near with a peevish expression, Ren smoothly recovered his serious look.

"- So?"

"It's just as Ren-kun was about to guess."

"Being on top of a building, you mean?"

"Oi, oi, don't spout such stupidity. In what world there's a building with raised from the rooftop."

Serisawa didn't notice yet. But taking advantage of those words, Ren arrived at the right answer.

A building with two towers raised from the rooftop - there was definitely such a building in Shinjuku.

"The Tokyo Government Office!"

At the involuntarily shouting Ren, Kanon clapped her hands giving praise to him.

"What? Aah, I see."

Late by several seconds, Serisawa finally noticed.

Towering over the Shinjuku's governmental district, the most important governmental office of the Tokyo Metropolitan Area - to put it simply this building had the form of the ''Ou'' (concave) character.

Having forty eight floors above ground, from the thirty third floor upward tho neighbouring towers reached the heaven.

Between the south and north tower there was a huge emplty space. If they were to stand there they would definitely see the scenery Kyoshi described.

"But, there's nothing there...."

"How stupid! It can be concealed with magic. Right?"

"Yeah. Maybe."

"I know, right? Then -"

"No."

Kanon's delighted words, Ren interrupted them softly but clearly.

"From here on, I'll go alone."

"Ehh - But....."

"Suzuhara-san."

With a slightly troubled expression Ren called attention to the whining Kanon.

Sensing the solid determination inside that soft word, reluctantly, Kanon gave up following him.

"Take care, all right."

"It's fine. I won't do something so rash as going by myself. I'll just scout out a bit. Well then, see you tomorrow."

Assuring them he won't behave recklessly, Ren started running aiming at the Tokyo Government Office. Because he was in a hurry, after that trivial farewell, he never looked back.

That's why he didn't notice. Although seeing Ren off, without even looking at each other the duo exchanged accomplice smiles.

When arriving at the Tokyo Government Office, Ren asked the lady at the reception about his purpose - the space between the north and south tower.

But, the answer was ruthless.

As she said: ''"There's nothing there, you can't go there"''

Of course, there is an entrance for work but right now he has no time to forcibly or maybe through political power push in. Ren left the reception desk and took the elevator.

Of course, the place of destination was the thirty third floor. The level separated in two was the lowest one.

If he were to go there, he thought he could peek at that place through the window but there was no window. When looking at the information board, he saw that one section of the opening turned into a conference room. As expected, he cannot enter it without permission.

''"What am I supposed to do ? If it's the outside window will I be able to see it?"''

The forty fifth floors of the Tokyo Government Office - both North and South, had a general opened window.

If it's there, it may be possible to see. After thoroughly investigating the thirtieth floor, Ren abandoned that method.

For one moment Ren returned to the first floor. It was impossible to go to the viewing room without taking a direct elevator.

Lightly greeting the elevator girl with a smile plastered on her face, he boarded the elevator going for the north tower. The elevator rose nonstop until the forty fifth floor, opened its doors again and let out the passenger.

When exiting the elevator, he met three people. One was another elevator girl and the other two were -

[[File:Kaze no Stigma vol 04 205.jpg|thumb|]]

"Yo, Ren."

"You are late, what are you doing?"

As Ren involuntarily staggered, he hit his head on one side of the elevator wall. At that the elevator girl came rushing.

"Dear customer? How are you feeling?"

"Th - this is nothing. Don't worry about it."

Sending away the elevator girl by waving is hand, Ren looked at his two friends, that were supposedly prohibited from coming.

"Why are you here?"

As Ren pressed her for an answer, Kanon feigned thorough ignorance.

"Eeeh, Shinjuku sightseeing of something?"

"It's not ''or something'', right?"

As expected she couldn't deceive him. Holding Kanon's glaze he glared at her with a stern expression.

"It's dangerous, you know!?"

"But I saw Ren-kun's gallant figure. And then you said there's no danger if it's only scouting."

"That may be true but...."

There is a discrepancy between what is dangerous for Kanon and what is dangerous for Ren. Understanding it was useless trying to explain such things, Ren shut his mouth. As they chased after him while pretending to go home it seems pointless to send them away now.

Accepting the reality with a sigh, Ren asked the question that suddenly came to his mind.

"By the way, how did you know I will be here?"

"There's no other place from where one is able to see, right?"

Kanon's answer was clear.

"You didn't discuss how to enter the place didn't ask and because it's Ren-kun, you wouldn't forcibly try to enter, right? That's why there was no place to go but the sightseeing room."

"But there's also a sightseeing room in the south tower."

"The other one is opened until five."

As expected, Kanon concluded with clarity.

"Although there's no question there's more than thirty minutes, isn't that what a person would normally choose? That's why we came to the north tower who is opened until nine."

Giving the impression ''It's a simple thing, Watson-kun'', Kanon displayed her reasoning. Ren gave up raising both his hands.

"You caught me, Holmes."

"Fu fu fu....come here then."

Kanon started walking in order to catch Ren's hands. Serisawa waited on her path.

"I don't see from here. It's somewhat obscure."

Serisawa pointed at the window he occupied until now. Ren bent over overlooking that place.

Surely, it was hard to see. Although the north and south towers had an octagon shape, there was no window on the walls facing each other.

Inevitably, they had a forty five degree viewing angle.

But even so, when looking out clinging to the window, they could perceive all of the place in question. There were some bling spots but they could compensate for those from the window on the opposite side.

"...It's not there."

"It's not."

Already having confirmed it, Serisawa and Kanon separated from the window after a fleeting glance. Ren persevered a bit longer but unable to perceive any abnormality, he turned around as expected.

"Did you found something?"

"Nothing."

Ren lightly shrugged his shoulders. From the beginning he didn't expect to find out something only by looking.

As Ren is an Enjutsushi, he doesn't have the ability to see through a high grade concealment that can warp space.

"Then, what are we going to do?"

"Right. There's no point having come here just to go back like this. Maybe I'll push a little bit."

Surprised by the confident speech, Kanon unexpectedly opened her eyes wide. But Ren was sticking to the window again so she immediately pulled herself together and stood next to him. Serisawa followed naturally.

Overlooking the scenery underneath him, Ren concentrated his mind.

Is Pandemonium really there? And if it's there, by what means did it concealed its appearance? - Ren has no ability to smell it out. But still.

''"There no need to see it. It doesn't matter if I can't grasp it"''

The phenomenon induced by the Spirit Magic is not a simple natural phenomenon.

Kazuma's wind can tear open dimensions, and when Ayano battled with a gravitation user she managed to pull of the stunt of burning the warped space itself.

A strongly sharpened will can undermine the laws of physics. That is the quintessence of the magic foundation.

Even if he can't see anything, even if he can't feel anything -

''"As long as there is something there - no matter what it is, I can <<burn it>>!"''

A golden fireball was born in the air. Although it happened somewhat farther from the building, it was pulled from east to west leaving an afterimage and pierced the opening between the north and south towers.

Together with a faint response, a soundless noise reached back and the space trembled. And then -

"Ah!"

Spontaneously Kanon screamed.

For a second - only for a second, inside the flickering space an old western style house could be seen in the gap.

"Ren-kun, just now - !"

Ren nodded carefully, and separated his body from the window.

''"Bingo !"''

He had no doubt. The enemy's headquarters, Pandemonium, was here.

He cannot be involved with this game of slapping cards any longer. It was when he was thinking about returning home as quickly as possible and report it.

"Wasn't your knock a bit too rude, boy?"

From behind, a low and composed voice reached his ears.

Ren's field of vision, promptly turning around, was instantly enveloped in darkness. Just before his consciousness was engulfed in darkness together with his vision - Ren's shape disappeared from the sightseeing room.

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| Back to [[Kaze_no_Stigma:Volume4_Chapter_2|Chapter 2]]
| Return to [[Kaze_no_Stigma|Main Page]]
| Forward to [[Kaze_no_Stigma:Volume4_Chapter_4|Chapter 4]]
|-
|}
</noinclude>

Kaze no Stigma:Volume4 Chapter 3

2013-12-27T06:38:04Z

86.20.14.91: /* Chapter 3 - Shinjuku RPG */

== Chapter 3 - Shinjuku RPG ==

=== Part 1 ===

"Kazuma! I heard you made some serious blunder, huh?"

Meeting Kazuma face to face, Ayano said so, extremely enjoyed.

"Aah."

But Kazuma's response was an indifferent nod and without giving any reply he entrusted his back to the wall, his limbs idle.

"Kazuma.....?"

In front of that attitude she couldn't sport with, Ayano forgot the next attack she already prepared and called out to him in doubt.

Kazuma didn't answer. Not like he was ignoring her, more like he didn't even hear.

"What's this?"

She involuntarily asked Kirika but of course, she doesn't have the answer.

"I don't know - By the way Isurugi-kun, how long are you going to stand there, come sit!"

That was the first time Ayano realized she had another visitor.

If this man came together with Kazuma, it means it must be the ''promising newcomer''. From what she heard, he was definitely twenty three years old. But he seemed at least five years younger.

He had an extreme child-face. Because he came here while running, his cheeks were red. He stood stand still outside the room until he was permitted to come in.

But even so, why doesn't he move even after being called in.

"Good grief......"

Kirika stood up with a sigh, briskly walked to Daiki and brought him in by the ear.

"Isurugi policeman! Open your eyes!"

"Y- yes!"

The intense pain and scolding voice, brought Daiki's consciousness back to reality. His muscles extended as if an electric current run through them and stood vertically in front of Kirika.

"Th- this is Isurugi Daiki, I have just arrived!"

"I appreciate your efforts but first of all come sit down"

Responding in a worn-out voice, Kirika seized Daiki's hand. And then pulled him down as if he was a child who lost his composure, making him sit behind her.

He was acting like a suspect in a crime - Kirika thought so seeing him stand on the balls of the feet .

But then, Kirika quickly realized that was a misunderstanding.

While fleetingly stealing glances at Ayano, sitting down, Daiki asked:

"Ah, errr...this miss is....."

"........."

Feeling the approaching headache at the too easy to understand attitude, Kirika pressed her temples.

Even if she said he was a promising newcomer, she couldn't help but feel a little ashamed.

Throwing a sidelong glance at Kirika, Ayano bowed with a graceful gesture.

"I was late in introducing myself. I am the daughter of Kannagi Juugo, my name is Ayano."

Her bow was polite and her salute very friendly.

All her gestures were, each and everyone, unimaginably refined and hugely different from the time she was with Kazuma.

"Y- you are?"

As expected, it seemed even he knew that name, his flushed face becoming nervous.

But, as the the face of the girl he was looking at smiled softly just now, his consciousness flew up to heaven.

"My- my name is Isurugi Daiki! I work as a policeman, I'm twenty three years old and single!"

Daiki returned the greeting in a much too excited voice, with a slightly different focus.

Maybe he was really planning for a formal marriage interview.

But Ayano didn't attack that happy idiot and bowed her head with a serious face.

"I heard about you from Inspector Tachibana. You are a newcomer that she has great hopes for in the future."

"N- no, how unthinkable! My power is almost like nonexistent when comparing it with the Kannagi Clan."

"It has nothing to do with the size of power. It's important what you can do and what you should do with your power. You can protect people with that power, right? I think that's something you can be proud of."

"Is- is that so?"

"Yes, of course."

Although clumsy, he talked freely for the first time.

''"Appearing in disguise, huh?"''

Kirika stared in admiration at Ayano's graceful attitude, so different from normal.

But in reality, this was how Kannagi Ayano appeared to the majority of people.

Without need of using the <<as if>> figurative expression she was the child of a genuine good family and it is obvious that she had a thorough instruction on etiquette.

As for Kirika, if their first meeting would have been different, they would have come in contact in a similar manner. As for Ayano, she's not aware of any sort of pretense. This is also the girl's true appearance.

But, in the middle of the pleasant talk, the flawless behavior made a slight crack. While nodding at Daiki's words, her glance seemed turned elsewhere, her lips sharp with dissatisfaction.

It was just for one moment so Daiki didn't notice. But Kirika didn't miss it. Turning in the direction Ayano's eyes just did, Kirika made a small, wry smile.

In one of the room's corners, in a posture with one knee up, Kazuma sits in silence without minding Ayano talking so cheerful with another man. Or perhaps, not even recognizing it.

"........."

Looking at Kazuma in such a state, Kirika's conviction that ''something did happened'' only deepened.

He wasn't a man with such an innocent charm as to behave jealously but normally he would at least make a few sarcastic comments on Ayano's elegant attitude and difference of standard for another.

But before she was able to investigate it, the conversation moved forward.

Kirika lightly clapped her hands and pulled back Daiki's consciousness, floating higher than the clouds.

"Well, it's about time we got to the main point. First Isurugi Daiki, report."

Saying that, Kirika stared coldly at Daiki, now coming to his senses and started speaking about the full particulars of his own error.

"What the fuck was that? Who was she or ''what'' was she?"

On the other side, Kazuma was completely ignoring the noisy surroundings, and was thinking about the girl he met.

She couldn't possibly Tsoi Rin. Even if that was a ghost, it wasn't Tsoi Rin's ghost.

But for some reason, he naturally accepted her as Tsoi Rin.

But, something was odd.

The fact is the girl supposed to be dead four years ago appeared unchanged was very abnormal in itself, what's more, he felt a somewhat uncomfortable feeling from her.

''".........What was it.........?"''

He compared the four years old memory and what he saw an hour before. The girl's smile he remembered in a long time.

Yes, she was a girl smiling with a carefree face.

Her cherry blossoms lips smiling broadly, making her pupils full of vitality sparkle -

"Aah, I see..."

Realizing the source of that uncomfortable feeling, Kazuma slapped his palms. And then spoke loudly without realizing.

"Tsoi Rin's were green, huh..."

That girl's eyes were lapis lazuli blue. Feeling good for finally settling the question, he finally became aware of the outside world.

And then realized that he became the center of attention.

A stunned Kirika. An absolutely bewildered Daiki. And then, because he uttered Tsuo Rin's name aloud, glaring at him with angered eyes was Ayano.

All three's glance, in different ways, pierced into Kazuma.

"Kazuma -" Kirika spoke together with a sigh.

"Did you hear what we were saying?"

"No, not at all," Kazuma responded honestly but the atmosphere couldn't be calmed down just because of that.

Kirika got the better of Ayano, whose eyes emitted a much more dangerous atmosphere and urged Kazuma.

"Just at the right time. Please explain today's fact from your point of view. It seems Isurugi-kun didn't understand anything."

"........I'm sorry"

Daiki made himself small. Everyone ignored him.

"Fine. But I'm telling you, I have yet to get to the bottom of this."

With that introduction, Kazuma started speaking about the circumstances of the fight with <<The Hell Hound>>. The meaningful words he spoke became the focus of the room.

"A class change at Pandemonium, huh? This seems more and more like a game."

After Kazuma's story was finished, Ayano whispered so in an amazed tone. But diagonally from her, Kirika kept quiet with a difficult facial expression.

"Did you thought of something?"

"There's also the site Shinomiya-san told us about. Something similar was written there"

"What you are trying to say is that this is not just <<The Hell Hound>>'s wild delusion?"

"There's also a possibility the people who wrote that think the same way"

Kirika replied so but she wasn't honest about that. The fact that she believes Kazuma's report and, the things written on the bulletin board as true, can be read between the lines from her speech.

But, that ''truth'' was not compatible with Ayano's common sense.

Piling up a great quantity of experience, that after exceeding a fixed number gave a level-up. If one were to raise their level even more, a class chance will happen and acquire a furthermore greater power.

''"That sort of convenient power, where on earth can you find it?"''

Finding a problem, Kirika opened her eyes wide in surprise.

"Ah, I didn't explain that incident. I'm sorry. Because I didn't hear from Shinomiya-san since, I didn't told you about that. Simply put -"

"Ayano-sama"

As if covering Kirika's voice, someone called Ayano from the hallway.

"What?"

At Ayano's short question, the servant replied with courtesy.

"You're wanted on the telephone."

".......Come in"

"Sorry to bother you"

The fusuma was soundlessly opened. Carrying a wooden tray the telephone was placed on, the yet young servant quietly entered.

"Who is it?"

"Someone called Suzuhara."

"Suzuhara?"

Without having any idea who that is, Ayano was puzzled.

"She said she was Ren-sama's classmate."

"Ah, Kanon-chan? - And you -"

While remembering the girl with adorable looks and lively character, Ayano looked at the servant frowning.

The ones serving the Kannagi family obviously know the Clan's occupation and the importance of that duty.

Even if he was a servant, a blockhead that interrupts a meeting for a personal call has no qualifications to work in this household.

But, not realizing he was on the verge of unemployment, the servant continued his words blandly.

"It seems an emergency. She said Ren-sama is missing."

"- Tch! Father?"

"Of course. As well with Genma-sama."
'''(!)'''

While answering frankly, the servant held out the tray. Ayano gripped the phone as if tearing it off.

"Hello?"

Coincident with Ayano's word, an upset voice flew in like a torrent.

"J- just calm down. Tell me what happened since the beginn - he disappeared? Suddenly, in front of your eyes? At Tokyo's Government Office? Why were you - Pandemonium?"

That last word frozen the already strained atmosphere of the room.

In the still as death space, only Ayano's voice resounded for a long time.

=== Part 2 ===

Seiryou Private Academy - this campus built not far of from the Imperial Palace, is a private prestigious school from middle school to senior high school.

With a tradition exceeding a hundred years, it's valued highly for yearly producing successful applicants to national universities with achievements in various fields, a school where a large number of ''children from respectable families'' attend.

And then, on the list of names of freshmen from that Seiryou Gakuen Middle School division, there are Kannagi Ren and the name of that ''friend''.

After school.

One boy approached the girl stuffing textbooks in her bag.

"Kanon -"

Being addressed with overly familiarity, the girl, Suzuhara Kanon turned over her shoulder with a sharp look.

"Do you have some business with me, Takamatsu-kun?"

Her tone was by no standard in a good mood but the boy called Takamatsu didn't notice and drew closer with a smile.

"Don't talk to me in such a reserved manner, call me Takashi. I'll also call you Kanon."

It seems that this boy, although a junior high school student, didn't learn any kind of etiquette until now. After not using honorifics and calling her ''you'', Kanon raised her eyebrows.

"Let's stop somewhere on the way home. The UFO catcher is my specialty. I'll catch whatever you fancy."

While saying so, he casually touched her shoulder. In Kanon's mind Takashi's death punishment was decided.

With a light breath she softly brushed Takashi's hand, the one touching her shoulder, and then -

"Aghyaaah!?"

She sized his middle finger and bent it backwards with all her strength.

Falling to his knees with an unsightly scream, he received a kick on top of his shoulders and rolled on the ground.

"Hey, ''Takamatsu-kun''?"

Kanon overlooked with a cold-hearted gaze Takashi, laying down with his face up.

"As it seems you don't know much about the manners of the world, I'll teach you but don't you think it's very rude to address a person you're not intimate with without using an honorific title?"

Sweeping the shoulder Takashi touched, whipping her hands with a handkerchief and even going as far as throwing that handkerchief in the garbage can - that three layered combo pointed out her real intent: ''I don't want to be touched by the likes of you'' and relentlessly delivered the final blow.

"If you want to chase after girls, you'd better improve your character. Because your face cannot compensate for your vulgar nature."

It was a blunt way of talking but from the classroom there could be heard snickers from here and there. It seems Kanon was not the only one who thought this boy was pushy.

"Y- you...."

"Ah, Ren-kun!"

Kanon looked at the moaning Takashi as if he was filth but the instant she recognized the boy at the entrance of the classroom she transformed to a girl in love.

Immediately forgetting about Takashi's existence, she rushed over with a light manner of walking.

"Re - n -kun!"

"Ah, Suzuhara-san. Did something happen?"

Without showing signs of faltering at the approaching beautiful girl, Ren grinned. Kanon, that seemed about to embrace him, stopped in her tracks, her face changed.

"Ren, kun......?"

"What?"

Intently watching Ren, softly smiling, Kanon thought:

''"As I thought, he changed."''

At almost the same time the new school term started, Ren took a long break. And then when he returned after half a month, he was exhausted, like a different person.

He almost never answered when she accosted him. He wouldn't laugh.

His eyes were dead.

In order to recover his smiling face, Kanon exerted herself greatly. It was annoying but she called her bitter enemy and joined hands with that homo bastard.

But it was useless.

Eventually, the graduation ceremony came and without laughing Ren left school. She knew they were going to the same junior high school but she remembers thinking that she will never see him again.

It seemed that was needless anxiety because when they occasionally met during the spring break Ren was laughing almost normally.

''"But still, something is different."''

She recognized it every time she saw him. He seemed recovered but something changed inside Ren. Although he was only five centimeters taller than her, he seemed big for some reason.

He was still gentle but she couldn't drag him along anymore. Although he drifted away, he would definitely not cross over a certain line - she felt that sort of flexible power.

Just like now. Although she would have simply hugged him before, right now he wouldn't tolerate it.

Something happened. Something related to the unique occupation of the Kannagi Family. A situation she couldn't comprehend deeply injured Ren's delicate heart. And by overcoming it, Ren became stronger.

She thought that side of Ren was cool too. But at times he seemed in a faraway place. ''Was it possible she can't reach him anymore?'' - she had those kinds of thoughts.

''"That's not true, right?"''

She fleetingly looked up at Ren with upturned eyes. Realizing the serious light dwelling in her gaze, Ren directly stared back at Kanon.

"Suzuhara-san, did something happen?"

"- No, it's nothing."

Kanon replied as bright as possible and boldly clung to Ren's arm.

"Su- Suzuhara-san?"

"I told you to call me Kanon."

Embracing Ren by pushing her chest against his arm, Kanon drew closer.

"Eh, well, but......"

Exasperated by Ren's bright red face, Kanon puffed out her cheeks.

''"Ugh, if I don't do something nothing will change!"''

Without shying away from the public gaze, she was thinking of forcing herself on him right on the spot. No, if she were to bring him like this to a deserted place -

"- Hey"

But that anticipation, unimaginable on a twelve year old girl, was obstructed by an impolite intruder. Looking over her shoulder without bothering to hide her displeasure, Kanon demanded an explanation in a thorny tone.

"Ara, Takamatsu-kun, do you still have some business with me?"

Takashi only looked at Kanon without answering and came near Ren. While their noses were almost touching he stared intensely at Ren's features and sneered with open disdain.

"That's what you like, Kanon? A man without redeeming features but his face?"

"What are you trying to say, Ren-kun is very smart. Or did you forget his speech as the freshman's representative?"

"Sh- shut it!"

Having his best effort at sarcasm easily retorted, Takashi was enraged. His eyes, red with anger, seized the surprised Ren who had not understood the situation.

He thought of targeting the short boy that seemed unrelated to fighting, a target fit for a diversion.

He quickly seized the nape of his neck and yanks it up, attacking him with a brutal countenance.
'''(!)''

"You're so composed! Why, there's no value in dealing with the likes of me, huh? Do you want me to hit that pretty face of yours, ahhh?"

"......Huh......."

Blinking at the sudden incident, Ren earnestly tried to communicate.

"It's Takamatsu-kun, right? I'm sorry but I don't understand why you are so upset? Could you please explain the situation before resorting to violence?"

"I can't, you idiot!"

While shouting close to his ears, Takashi hardened his fist and struck.

But that fist was returned next to Takashi's torso, before reaching Ren.

"Wha -"

"Stop right there. If Ren was serious the likes of you are nothing but a pushover."

The man that appeared unexpectedly in the background wrung Takashi's neck. Seeing that man, Kanon murmured unpleasant from the bottom of her heart.

"You came although I didn't call you, huh..."

"Humph, if it's for Ren I'll rush over from the end of the earth!"

Retorting a slightly complicated answer, the man threw out his robust chest. While looking over that dialogue that will never reach a common point with a tired face, Ren said.

"Serisawa-kun...please let him go. It must be painful, right?"

"Ah? Ah - sorry, sorry."

With an awkward smile the man released Takashi, who was about to stop breathing.

While coughing, Takashi scowled at the man who asked for trouble.

"Y- you.......ah?"

But, even by turning his face, he cannot see the man's face. A black wall, completely blocking his field of vision - after realizing it was the chest of the man wearing the high school uniform, he looked upward.

He was huge.

Taller than him by at least twenty centimeters. Meaning that although he was a first year student he was taller than a hundred and eighty centimeters.

In the entire class - no, the entire school there wasn't another one like this kind of guy.

"Se- Serisawa......"

"Yo."

With a broad grin the man - Ren's friend since middle school, Serisawa Tatsuya tightly held Takashi's head.

Gripping his small head with one hand, his huge arm as if ready to crush his skull as it is.

"Uugii.......gaah, ahh......."

Drawing near to Takashi's face, who was groaning in pain, Serisawa showed a ferocious smile.

"Listen! If you have a bone to pick with Ren, I'll be your opponent first. Try remembering that!"

While saying that he shook Takashi's head and heaved him. And then, without sparing a look for the boy flowing in the air, smiling with the whole face, he turned to Ren.

"Hey, Ren. You're not hurt right? I mean, that's impossible. Wahahahahaha"

With a lively laugh, Serisawa approached Ren. But Kanon stood in his way.

Looking up at Serisawa with a cold gaze, Kanon informed him.

"Thank you very much. Now that the nuisance is out of the way you can go back to the zoo. Your wife, the female gorilla, must wait for your return."

"Wh- who's a gorilla you stupid bitch!"

"You, of course it's you! Don't you think anything about being so big at only twelve? If it's not a gorilla, your ancestor must be some sort of anthropoid so please let some research institute have you!"

While looking over the quarrel he had no place in, Ren let out a small breath trying not to attract attention.

Although this kind of thing happened frequently during middle school, all the same he didn't predict it would continue even now. Leaving Kanon aside, nobody imagined Serisawa would be able to enter Seiryou Gakuen.

Since Serisawa was a really poor student except athletics, just how much effort he put to pass the entrance examination.

That noble endeavor and the conclusion that seemed the favor of gods was rumored to be some ''miracle of love''.

Though honestly, Ren would rather have that part forgotten.

But even so, not satisfied by only passing the exam and also being in the same, maybe Serisawa really had some divine protection.

What's more, since Kanon was also in the same class, that goddess of love must have had a black tail hidden underneath her white robes.

"Ren is hanging out with me!"

"Don't be stupid! He's coming with me!"

While Ren was trying to escape from reality their quarrel continued. And at that point they were contesting who is taking Ren on an after school date - without even asking for the feelings of the person himself.

''"Will I be able to stop then, I wonder....still......"'' Ren thought in a glum mood.

If he were to ignore it, it seems their dispute would really turn violent. As expected, he cannot ignore the damage to their surroundings.

Beside, different from the arguments between Nee-sama and Nii-sama, these two's argument was not so high a level that he cannot stop it.

Ren tried to console himself that maybe practising here will become useful in the future.

"Hey, listen..." he called out to them with as light a voice as possible.

Both turned their heads simultaneously. Controlling his urge to run away, Ren preserved his smiling face with great effort.

"It - it would be better if we all went. Instead of only two, isn't it more fun if it's all three of us, right?"

"................"

"................"

A heavy silence that hurt his stomach fell. Unable to put up with the sense of urgency, the fortunate students closer to the door plotted a speedy escape.

Compared to them, Ren was splendid. The cold sweat breaking out on his back didn't change his smiling face and he boldly received their glare.

After a long, long silence, Kanon and Serizawa lowered their pressuring gaze at the same time.

"- Well, if Ren-kun says so..."

"- There's no helping it."

Extremely unwillingly, they came to an agreement. Leading both of them, Ren tried to leave the classroom.

But a rough sound from the background stopped them in their tracks.

"Hey, hey, please stop it!"

"Shut it!"

A thoroughly angry voice. Without the need to turn around, the development excessively easy to understand made the trio exchange glances with wearily faces.

"Hey, just stop it already, you."

"Shut your trap, you enormity!"

Takashi shouted at Serisawa in a disgusted voice and glared at Ren standing next to him.

But Ren, who at twelve passed through numerous scenes of carnage, didn't feel threatened by only a violent boy.

On the contrary, not even recognizing he was being glared at, he tilted his head as is asking ''"Why on earth is he angry about?"''

And then, there was Kanon.

She received head on Takashi's hateful glare and returned a scornful laugh. Her folded arms and raised chin and her facial expression that haughtiness itself didn't hide her contempt for Takashi.

"......You're making fun of me......" he squeezed out from the gap between his clenched teeth, grasping his fists tightly.

"Don't get conceited you bitch!!"

And then, he leaped at her while screaming. As expected Kanon wasn't ready for this degree of violence, so she was unable to respond.

Takashi grabbed Kanon’s shoulder and swung his fist. A second later, everyone was convinced the girl was cruelly hit. But -

"- Gaah?"

[[File:Kaze no Stigma vol 04 155.jpg|thumb|]]

As abruptly as a spinning top launched in the middle of the way, Takashi was torn off from Kanon and pressed to the blackboard.

Because of that enormous power, the blackboard and Takashi's back started creaked ominously. With eyes growing hazy because of the pain, Takashi looked at the figure of the person who pressed him down.

''"Ka - Kannagi........? No way.......!"''

He couldn't believe it. That a boy much smaller than him could hide this much power. Because he was pushed up, he tilted his body was slowly forced up. Both his feet were floating in the air.

"Guu......Ha.....s - stop......"

Pressured by the fist grabbing him on the collar, his ribs were hurting. Trying to somehow raise a protesting voice, Takashi's tongue was frozen.

Ren was looking straight at him.

He was sharp, like a different person but despite that his gaze was carrying an intense anger.

His whole body tied by the power loaded in that pupil, Takashi shivered in fear at his wit's end.

''"I'll be killed!"''

He felt ''death'' closer than ever before. The fear of having a knife thrust at him seemed insignificant when compared to this.

It was the first time in his life his body was basking in the real thirst for blood. A precise, definite ''intent to slaughter''.

There was no escape.

Calmly, composedly and certainly -

''"This guy...will kill me!"''

"Hi - hiii......"

But, contrary to his expectation Takashi was suddenly released from the restraints. The body that lost its support slipped off, rubbing the wall with a dragging sound and feebly sunk down to the floor.

"Eh......ah.....?"

Looking up in a daze, he saw Ren looking at his own hand with an air of bewilderment. And several seconds after, he showed a minor bitter smile while looking down at Takashi cowering at his feet.

"Hey...."

"Hiiiii!"

"You can't be violent toward girls."

The persuasion Ren made in a gentle tone, while Takashi was greatly perplexed, didn't add up.

"Hey, eh........"

While thinking what to do about that, from beneath Takashi's feet, squatting down, a strange liquid poured out.

An offensive smell.

"......Eh?"

"What have you done?"

Serisawa forcibly drew out Ren, standing rock still dumbfounded. And then he put his arm around his neck as if trying to strangle him and forced him along to a place where the liquid that kept on flowing.

"Your indoor slippers will get dirty! Instead of cleaning this guy's piss from my slippers I'd rather throw them away!"

"Th- then that really was..."

Finally comprehending the nature of the smelling liquid, Ren's face became pale.

Looking at Takashi he saw that his body was still curled up. The reason why he was trembling was probably not only fear.

Incontinence - a boy that was already a junior high school student never felt so much shame. And, realizing all this Ren started speaking very upset.

"I'm, I'm sorry! I, didn't mean to.....I'll call Sensei immediately so - "

"- Ren"

Striking Ren's shoulder, Serisawa feebly shook his head.

"If you feel even a little pity for this guy, don't say anymore. Just leave him alone"

"Eh, but - if it stays like this it will seem I bullied him. And people who torment others are the worst."

Ren didn't say it with malice. He didn't but the consequence of those words was to break into small pieces the already wounded pride of Takashi.

As if whipping the dead or salt was rubbed into his wounds Takashi's body shivers worsened.

"Are - are you ok?"

Perceiving that reaction, Ren flustering rushed over to Takashi. He touched the trembling body.

".........!?"

That extended hand was flung off as far as possible. Ren's eyes blinking in shock were pierced by eyes full of murder.

"Son of a bitch..."

Raising a face full of tears and snot Takahashi glared at Ren with as much hatred as he could muster.

"Remember this, son of a bitch! My brother is really strong! He can kill the likes of you with one attack."

"Waah, how lame," Kanon commented scornfully.

"If you can't, will you run to your Onii-chan, huh? I wonder just what sort of person that is?"

"Shut up!" screamed Takashi with a voice turned inside out.

"Now it's the time to pull back you know! My Aniki has supernatural powers! He'll turn the likes of you into ash!!"

For a second the class was enveloped in silence. And then -

"Bahahahahahahahahahaha!!"

The classroom was shook by a maelstrom of very loud laughter.

"Were - were you serious just now, Takamatsu-kun? Are you saying that seriously?"

"And on top of that you are one of those who believe crop circles are made by aliens too, right?"

While striking desks and walls, and stamping their feet, the students unanimously ridicule Takashi.

But without bothering with their reaction Takashi only glared at Ren.

"Just go ahead and laugh. Make fun of me. Get cocky just because you're somewhat good at fighting...because I'll teach you that such things are helpless in front of absolute power!"

"You're the one who you cocky, stupid," spit out Serisawa tiresomely, throwing the black board eraser at Takashi who talked on and on in ecstasy.

His right hand was already loaded with the next eraser.

"Se - Serisawa! You'll do it, too? My Aniki will - "

"Shut the fuck up!"

Without hesitation Serisawa threw the other blackboard eraser with all his strength. The chalk powder sticking to the blackboard eraser hit Takashi in the face and the angry face already flushed deep red was dyed pure white.

Simultaneously, white smoke spreads like an explosion, and the boy who inhaled the dust convulsed with all his strength.

"I'm telling you to bring your brother! Because I don't have all day, you know!"

"You - you bastard....."

Spontaneously, ignoring Takashi trying to spit out the words while having a coughing fit, Serisawa pulled Ren and started walking.

"Well, this is boring. Forget about this and let's hang out. Where do you want to go?"

"Ehh, well..."

"I - I want to go to Shinjuku. I want to buy some clothes."

"Waah, do you think we want to go buy women's clothes?"

"I wasn't talking to you."

"What did you say?"

"Well, well, calm down both of you."

With a delicately stiff smiling face, Ren tried mediating the glaring pair.

"We should go to where you both want to go in turns. We have time."

The trio started deciding their after school activities enjoyed. It seems that inside their heads not a particle of Takashi's words remains.

"Then, Shinjuku is our first stop right?"

"Yeah."

"Right."

Gaining both their agreement, Ren started walking with a visibly relieved expression.

Behind him, as if his existence itself was thoroughly forgotten, there was the solitary figure of Takashi, crouching. His gaze, carrying the dark flame of hate saw off Ren's distant back without even blinking.

=== Part 3 ===

The game center the trio left was illuminated by the red sunlight of the evening. Feeling relief when released from the noisy environment, Kanon let out a small breath. And then she snuggled up to Ren like it was usual.

"Which reminds me, Ren-kun was really cool back then."

While clinging to Ren's arm, Kanon recalled the gallant figure of the boy that overwhelmed that failure of an idiot.

"Wasn't it the first time you acted like that in school?"

Kanon was familiar with Ren's strength. She understood that even a juvenile delinquent that took pride in fights couldn't go against him.

But Ren didn't try to display his own strength. Rather, he was actively trying to avoid that kind of situation.

Unrelated to his ability, he hated conflict. That's why before it could turn into a fight he tried to express his opinion and while taking the hit he would only counterattack to defend his body.

Although ''protecting Kanon'' was a just cause, Ren honestly thought it was inconceivable of exerting violence on boys his age.

"Ahh, yeah......."

Ren also thought his behaviour was strange and spontaneously expressed a bitter smile.

"I must definitely apologize to Takamatsu-kun later."

"I don't really care about that idiot but did you change your policy?"

"Policy huh, I didn't have such an exaggerated thing from the beginning. I just hate unreasonable violence, that's all. But when I thought Kanon-san was about to be hurt, I couldn’t control myself - is what you call ''to snap'', right?"

"Ehh....."

At those unanticipated words, Kanon’s cheeks were dyed red.

"Th- th- that means, I'm important enough for Ren-kun to spontaneously lose his temper for me?"

"Yes."

As if talking about an obvious thing, Ren smoothly agreed.

"You are important. I wish Suzuhara-san were happy. I want you to smile. That's why, I'll protect you - I don't want to lose anything anymore."

"Ren-kun -"

Overcome with emotion, Kanon embraced Ren. But just before she could, a huge hand like a glove covered Kanon’s face. And then, forcefully tore her off.

"What are you doing, you -"

"No, well, Ren said it was for a friend."

Interrupting Kanon who was about to swear, Serisawa praised Ren with an unnaturally bright expression.

"Of course, if I were in a pinch Ren would help me too, right? Because we're friends."

"Ehh...? Y- Yeah. But I cannot imagine Serisawa-san getting in a tough spot."

"That may be true. But, at that time I will trust in you when the time comes, ''friend''."

Striking Ren's shoulder Serisawa shifted his focus to Kanon. And then, raised his lips extremely enjoyed.

"I'm so glad for you, Kanon. Ren protected you ''as a friend''. You are mutually good friends. I'm sure your friendship will last ''all your life''. We'll ''alwaaaaays'' be friends, right?"

"..........."

Kanon glared at Serisawa with an extremely angry expression. Most likely, she was butchering him inside her head in hundreds of different ways.

She grasped her slender white fingers strongly as if trying to choke something.

"..........Just bring it on!"

"Ke ke ke ke ke ke."

Serisawa responded at the groaning Kanon with a loud laughter. In the space between them, invisible sparks were scattering.

"He- hey, calm down both of you!!"

Becoming aware they were attracting attention from the surroundings, Ren tried to mediate the duo. But, his gaze went around as if making sure of something.

"- Be quiet, both of you."

Sensing the alteration in Ren's tone, both his friends quickly became silent. At almost the same time, a single man drew closer.

Wearing an LL sized T-shirt that reached the middle of his tights and loose half pants - the person himself probably thought he was cool but the people who didn't have the same values could only call him untidy.

"Kannagi Ren?" the man asked shortly after, looking down on Ren.

"And you are?"

"It doesn't matter who I am. There's someone who has business with you. Follow me."

"I refuse."

"Aaah!?"

When Ren flatly rejected him the man tried to overpower him from right overhead.

"Who the fuck asked for your opinions!? Shut up and follow me or I'll kill you, damn brat!"

"I have no intention of obeying the likes of you, no matter what you say. Let's go."

Replying in a resolute manner, Ren urged Kanon and Serisawa on and started walking.

"...You bastard......."

Treated trivially by a middle school kid with feminine features, the man was quickly enraged. Drawing near the trio he seized Kanon’s neck.

"Don't underestimate me, damn brats! What happens to this woman- !?"

Unable to finish his speech, the man fainted in agony. The fist trusted into the pit of his stomach made him unconscious and he crumbled down before understanding what happened and who did this to him.

"Are you OK?" asked Ren pulling out the fist that was buried up to the wrist.

Kanon nodded without showing any disturbance.

"Yes. But, who is this guy?"

"Well, I don't know. But I don't remember becoming enemy to this kind of people -"

Closing his eyes partly Ren searched for presence in the surroundings.

They were surrounded.

Their clothes were different but they were approximately the same age and above all the boys had in common a wild presence while surrounding them.

They thought they weren’t yet detected so they slowly reduced the encircling net.

Ren informed Kanon in a small voice.

"For now we had better escape. Can you run?"

"Yeah. I'll do my best," Kanon nodded.

Next he made an eye signal at Serisawa, synchronizing their timing.

Just before the men moved, forestalling their movement by a second, Ren grabbed Kanon and started running.

"Move! Move! Move! "

Serisawa sent the men standing still, and taken by surprise, flying spendidly. Ren and Kannon nimbly ran through the hole that opened in the net.

"Shit! Don't let them escape!"

While being chased by harsh voices and more than ten footsteps the trio started running at high speed.

"Shit! Just how many are there?" cursed Serisawa while moving his legs determinedly.

From that point on, the trio weren't able to run from the men's pursuit for more than ten minutes.

They didn't understand why such a group of people were pursuing Ren, but it seemed there were more of them than those who surrounded Ren's group the first time.

The number of the men who ambushed them at their destination was already reaching thirty.

"Suzuhara-san, keep at it a bit longer," Ren murmured as if cheering up the girl who was short of breath.

Kanon was almost at her limit. By nature, her stamina was quite like that of a normal girl. When chased after by men with full grown bodies she couldn't possibly get away.

''"This is bad.........."'' thought Ren, when he remembered the distance so far.

They were being herded. He didn't know the final destination but the men were clearly leading them somewhere.

But, even if he knew that, there was nothing he could do about it. Even though the opponent is an amateur, their numbers were too large. He didn't have the confidence he could defeat all of them while defending Kanon and Serisawa without using En-jutsu.

Gradually they were being cornered to a desolate place with a bad atmosphere. While thinking he should start preparing himself they reached the corner.

As expected, they were ambushed.

In the space ten men were lying in wait, Ren's group naturally plunged into it. From behind several other people were approaching.

They were completely driven to the wall.

"Ren-kun......"

"It's OK."

Grasping the hand of the girl who leaned close to him uneasily, Ren smiled.

"If I have too, I'll use my power. I won't let them even touch both of you. Don't worry."

It was strictly prohibited using Jutsu when dealing with an ordinary person. But he didn't feel like complying with such regulations if his body and the bodies of his friends were in danger.

Ren was determined that more than hurting others, he couldn't tolerate if he himself were to get hurt.

"Ku ku ku ku ku."

Unnatural chuckles drifted in the air and the crowd of people in Ren's front parted left and right. From inside it, a boy with a pompous attitude stepped forward.

"Ku ku ku ku ku ku ku - ha ha ha ha ha ha!"

The supressed laugh gradually raised its tension and turned into a laughing scream.

It was a face they recognized.

The face they parted from only a few hours earlier laughed, arrogant and proud.

"You can't run anymore, Kannagi!" ''he'' declared with an already triumphant air.

Before he came out, it was possible that Ren's group was scared. Maybe they had a vision of asking for forgiveness with a menial attitude. But that completely backfired.

A strange unknown ''something'' sometimes intimidates the human heart much more than a tangible, physical threat could.

For Kanon and Serisawa, who were not used to being involved in serious fights, the strange men that chased them without pretext were very scary.

But the moment ''he'' showed himself the trio understood everything. The enemy's true character, his purpose and the conclusion.

"Aaa - aahhhh, my hair is so messy -"

Completely disregarding ''his'' existence Kanon started arranging her dishevelled hair. And then, the moment ''he'' tried opening his mouth a second time irritated, she beat him to it.

"The peeing boy, huh? Did you change your soiled pants?"

"Wha - wha - ....!"

He - Takamatsu Takashi, while trying to say something to make him look better, his face was dyed bright red with anger and opened and shut his mouth to no purpose.

Serisawa sunk the boot in him even more.

"Which means, these guys are your brother's henchmen? I didn't really think you would call your Aniki. You’re such a loser, it's kind of cool."

"Sh - shut up! It's too late to apologize now! For the likes of you, in one shot, Aniki will -"

"Ahh - yes, yes. Just call your brother already - Where are you, Onii-chan with super powers?"

"Mo - mother fucker....." Takashi began losing it at the speech looking down on him from the bottom of the heart.

"That's enough, Takashi. Leave the rest to me."

"A - Aniki."

Hearing the voice that reached from the back, Takashi regained his confidence.

"I trust you, Aniki! Turn them all to ash in one go!"

"All right"

Replying with a reassuring nod, one man appeared. That silhouette stared at the trio - a pitiless stare.

He was most likely in the latter half of his teens. His hair was bright orange and was standing up. He was wearing black leather pants and a deep crimson leather coat.

Coupled together with the orange hair, his appearance was really standing out. So much that you couldn't mistake him for another even at a distance of a hundred meters.

Sneakily, Serisawa and Kanon started speaking but in such a way that the opponent could clearly hear.

"Hey, what kind of cosplay do you think that is?"

"I don't know but I saw that pose, when facing the camera, appear at O-Bon and the last year International Exhibition Hall. He doesn't seem embarrassed, huh?"

".....Hey, damn brats," the man growled, deviating from the plan, his temple veins showing.

After all, since he was Takashi's brother, his capacity wasn't all that great.

Seeing through that, the duo got carried away even more.

"Hey, orange head Onii-chan, who do you cosplay? A game character? Or maybe anime?"

"Is that bad taste coat your casual wear? Are you really walking around dressed like that? No way - I can't believe it!"

Serisawa laughed like a horse while Kanon covered her sneer with her hand. For a man with a pretty low boiling point that was more than enough stimulation.

"You sons of bitches! I won't forgive you!"

Raising an angry roar, the man released his ''power''. The flame spirits drawn to him with brute force screamed in agony.

But as if not hearing that, the man kneaded the spirits being scrapped together.

In the man's surroundings, the air started flickering like a heat haze - and then, a deep crimson flame appeared.

"Se - seriously?" Serisawa murmured with a nervous face. Almost at the same time, as if trying to drown down his voice, from every direction cheers erupted.

"Waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah"~

"Kill! Kill! Kill!"

"Roast them! Colour them black! Turn them to ash!"

"Show us something flashy today too!"

Responding to the shouts of joy intoxicated in bloodlust, the man yelled.

"Yeaah, leave it to me!"

As if acting in concert with that scream, the fire gathered in both his palms. That curling flame raised its density, adjusted its shape and turned to high speed rotation fire bullets.

"Eat them, ''Fiiiiiiire Buuuuuleeeet''!"

The man spread his arms on a grand scale and threw the two softball-sized fireballs with a sidearm pitch.

The moment they were separated from his hand, the bullets accelerated as if repelled. The fireballs that left a flight afterimage headed to Kanon and Serisawa with a speed impossible to evade.

"It's dangerous!"

But, Ren reacted instantly and thrust both of them away, removing them from the fireball trajectory. Ren evaded them by slipping through the space between the fireballs and survived without problems.

"Hooo, aren't you good! Being able to dodge the <<Fire bullet>>!"

"What the heck are you thinking!!"

Ren scowled with an intense expression the man who raised his voice in compliment.

"Openly using Jutsu in public - and even attacking children! If you're also a Practitioner, understand how moderation works!"

"Ahhh? What's a Practitioner?"

At the unexpected retort, Ren unintentionally became speechless.

Laughing scornfully at the petrified Ren, the man introduced himself loudly.

"I am <<The Fire Leader>>! The supreme monarch that controls fire! You have no right to complain, no matter who I burn! Because there's no one in this world who can order the King!"

Looking dumbfounded at <<The Fire Leader>> laughing loudly, Ren was voluntarily greatly perplexed.

"Waaaah, he's the worst.........this man is ''dokkaku''...."

Dokkaku is a term derived from Buddhism and represents the people that made ascetic practices and reached Enlightment without the guidance of a teacher.

Of course, the truth that they barely managed to reach through that kind of process doesn't go beyond the impression of selfishness.

The same way, in the world of magic, the people who reached the manifestation of their power without any kind of instruction are also called this.

These kind of people, because they don't have anyone around them to compare to, have a tendency to think about their power as the greatest thing ever.

And then, they start a new religion by calling themselves ''The son of God'' and intend to exterminate mankind while under the impression they are ''the pioneers of progress''' and tend heavily to behave like a tyrant.

The man that stood before him was a stereotypical example of that.

"Well, are you ready?"

Punctuating the moment with a wild laugh, the man lifts his power a second time.

"Thanks for tormenting my little brother! I'll burn all three of you! Eat this, ''Phoenix Wing''!!"

<<The Fire Leader>> raised his hands to the sky. The fire spirits that were gathered beyond that point, embodied a bird in flames.

It was big. Its wing length exceeds three meters.

The phoenix moulded with delicate details like a living thing - and the heat loaded inside - Ren immediately saw through the fact that in was capable of perfectly burning three people to nothing.

"Get down!"

Covering up for Kanon and Serisawa, Ren confronted the fire bird. A huge quantity of heat that approached flapping its large wings. If a normal human were to take a direct hit from it would be turned to cinders. But -

"Disappear!"

At Ren's one command the fire bird scattered and vanished

"Whaaaat!?"

"Please don't get carried away. That sort of bluff jutsu doesn't even pass as the real Enjutsu."

"E - Enjutsu, you say..."

With a backward glance at <<The Fire Leader>> who murmured so with shock, Ren seized the broken fragments of the fire bird.

A slight pain travelled in his palm. ''Something'' mixed with the flame burned his skin.

Ren knew that feeling first-hand. A counterfeit pain that burned a regular human, the white hot sensation that polluted even the soul.

''"Youki !? What is happening?"''

Youki, the essence given by demonic beings - that is, the <<Ki>> of nonhuman life. It was something fundamentally different from simple evil concept like hatred, grudge and such.

It alternated the body of those with piles of experience, but different from the case of a black Jutsushi in the process of shedding his humanity, an amateur Jutsushi that only barely woken his powers was not supposed to be clad in it.

"- Let's go."

Finding it difficult to wait and see, Ren started a light attack. More than ten fireballs manifested instantly, leaving an afterimage.

The Jutsu composition and the shooting speed were both in a different league from <<The Fire Leader>>.

Unable to even recognise the fireballs, the man stood rock still simply dumbfounded.

"Waah!?"

But in spite of the fact that he clearly had not noticed it, from the body of <<The Fire Leader>>, a great number of flames were generated and intercepted Ren's Jutsu with unmatched accuracy.

Faced with the point blank explosion, the man finally noticed he was being attacked. For a little while his line of sight loitered around, not understanding what happened but abruptly he declared triumphantly, throwing out his chest.

"How naïve! Did you think that degree of offensive could knock down ''Me''?"

The convenient explanation that his power was invocated by an unconscious defensive instinct seemed self-sufficient.

"........."

Ren ignored the man's words and reflected on the phenomenon that just happened.

That power was obviously invoked without the intent of the person itself. A Youki coiling around. There was only one deduction he could make.

''"He's possessed by a Youma?"''

The man who called himself <<The Fire Leader>> seemed only to borrow the power of the Youma that lived off him like a parasite. But as he was proudly boasting of ''his own power'' he clearly didn't realise that.

"That's nasty..."

It was not something that was possible to occur by chance. Without a doubt, someone deceived this man and turned him into the object the Youma occupies, ready to be eaten in the near future.

He couldn't let that be.

He was bothered by the fact he let his power rampage but this man was unmistakeably a victim.

But, in front of Ren who decided to save him no matter what -

"Still, you're pretty good. It's been a long time since I met someone who could defend against my power."

The man got excited by himself. Expressing a smile that was supposed to be daring, he spoke dramatic words.

"Your power has the same attribute as mine - <<Fire>> - but you're also a senior class? Enjutsu-shi, you said?"

"- Senior class?"

"Isn't that right? That Vesalius mother fucker hid the fact there were other classes. What about you? Were you selected? Is <<Enjutsushi>> a higher class than <<The Fire Leader>>?"

''"Vesalius"''

Ren bore in mind that name. It seems he was the one who made this man be possessed by a Youma and the name of the man he absolutely had to bring down.

"Just what kind of person he is........that man?"

"Are you playing dumb? Whatever. I'll make you talk soon enough. Don't get cocky just because you're a senior class like me! It had nothing to do with class and level - because I, '''I''' am the most powerful!"

"No, I don't care about that, about that person named Vesalius......it's impossible?"

Observing the man endlessly excited, Ren understood persuasion was meaningless. Reluctantly, he took a posture preparing for offensive.

<<The Fire Leader>> shouted.

"Gooo! The ultimate secret, ''Flame Vortex''!!"

A crimson flame, coiling in swirls attacked Ren. Without shaming its mane, the ultimate mystery, its caloric value was fairly high - meaning, compared to the ones until now.

[[File:Kaze no Stigma vol 04 181.jpg|thumb|]]

"- Really"

While letting out a sigh, Ren stopped the ''Flame Vortex'' with one hand.

"Wh - Whaaaaaaaaat!?"

In front of the flame pushed back at him, <<The Fire Leader>> opened his eyes wide in surprise. As Ren's own power was added to it, that seemed to change into a golden helix.

"Wa - waaaaaaaaaaaaaa!!"

At the fire torrent that filled his vision, <<The Flame Leader>> prepared himself to death.

Piercing even through his tightly closed eyes, the golden flame burned his retina. The feeling of scorching heat pierced through something in his body.

But the pain he expected to come didn't hurt him in the end. Timidly, he half opened his eyes and the golden flame was already gone without trace.

"Wh -wha - ahh."

Confused for a short while, he realised the unsightly shape of his body, curled down like a turtle, and stood up.

"You - you son of a bitch! Don't make fun of me! You speak so proudly, but your technique is nothing more but a bluff."

"This wasn't a bluff."

Intended to cool down the indignant man or maybe to provoke him even more, Ren replied with a serene expression.

"It played out just as it supposed to. Because from the start, I didn't intend to be your opponent."

"Whaat?"

"More important, answer my questions. What kind of person is Vesalius? From the process used to give you power, to the features of his appearance, tell me in detail -"

"....Mother fucker......." squeezed the man out through the gap between his teeth.

Finally he reached the conclusion that until now he was the only one excited and recognised that Ren didn't even consider him a worthy opponent.

"Did you think I was out and over!? Don't fuck with me! I am <<The Fire Leader>>! Don't put me together with some small fish!"

His body trembling in anger as his inflated pride took a critical hit, the man released his power.

"''Shining Toooooooooorrent'' - ahh?"

But, the white light tornado that was supposed to come out couldn’t be even glimpsed.

"Wh - what? I don't have enough MP? Then, ''Fire Bullet''!"

It had the same result. The flame couldn't be brought forth. No matter how much he tried, he couldn't feel the response of collected power.

"It's useless," Ren informed the confused man.

"You have already lost your ability to manipulate fire. I got rid of it"

The essence of the Kannagi's power is the secret capacity of purifying and destroying all evil.

The flame Ren released before didn't affect <<The Fire Leader>> at all and only burned to nothing the demonic presence. Of course, the ability to manipulate the flame didn't remain.

"Im - Impossible! How on earth.......a seal? Or you neutralised it?"

"It makes no sense to play around with game terminology. It's time you face reality."

Those cold words were the sentence that ended the dream.

The letters <<Game Over>> flickered in his brain and the virtual character called <<The Flame leader>> vanished.

After that, only the human, Takamatsu Kyoshi, was left behind.

Ordinary and powerlessness, he was nothing but one of those many faces in the crowd.

"No......it's impossible......"

As Kyoshi trembled with the shock of loss, Ren slowly approached. Around him a golden flame flickered playfully.

"Hi....hiii...!"

Before the vibrant clarity, there was the sudden change of composition. Degraded to powerlessness spoils Kyoshi let out a wretched voice and looked up at Ren.

Ren was what he yesterday was. If he felt inclined to kill, he could easily kill him. Like trampling on an ant, just like he did before, very easily -

He looked around him. All the gathered underlings have fled, already disappearing without a trace. Nearby there was the silhouette of his brother, fallen on his back but it was clear he was useless.

"Do - Don't kill me........"

Without shame or honour, Kyoshi got down on his hands and knees, begging for forgiveness. For him, the man who lost all his power, there was no other way to survive.

"Anything.......I'll do anything..........so please........"

"Ah - Well......."

Confused by Kyoshi's sudden change of attitude, Ren unintentionally stepped back. Turning his way a gaze as if looking at an unstable man, he said.

"You have no power anymore, so I don't intend to hurt you further."

"Re - Really?" Kyoshi suddenly raised his face and shouted in a voice overflowing delight.

"Ye - Yeah. But I have some questions for you and I would be glad if you could answer them honestly."

"Ask me anything!!" nodded Kyoshi bracing himself.

Although the bizarre atmosphere increased a notch, Ren fired his question.

"Then, first of all about that Vesalius person. He's the one who gave you this power, right? Tell me everything about that."

".....Why, ask such a thing?"

When he heard Ren's question, Kyoshi asked back in wonder.

"Aren't you the same ～ Didn't Vesalius gave you your power at Pandemonium? And then you class changed after increasing your level?"

"Aah - I'm the one asking questions ～ "

Ren expressed an unsuitable ''cynical smile'' and gave a clumsy warning.

It was clear from his attitude that he wasn't used to this kind of interrogation but to Kyoshi who regarded him like his previous self, the effect was tremendous.

"Hiii - I'm sorry, I'm sorry."

Inside Ren he (involuntary) labelled Kyoshi's menial apology as foul play.

".........So, what is ''Pandemonium''?"

"Pa - Pandemonium is......an internet site.......sir."

"No need for honorifics - Internet?"

"Y - Yes.......I found it by chance. And then I was asked: ''Do you want power?'' I answered with YES. I thought it was a joke. I thought it was a peculiar formality. And then an odd pattern appeared on the screen and when I looked at it I fell asleep. And then when I woke up I had this power. It's true. It's not a lie, believe me..."

"........."

Ignoring the tedious talk that seemed to continue forever, Ren looked at the man's facial expression. He did not seem to lie.

Meaning, if that was the truth -

''"The Youma was converted to digital data and summoned through the internet?"''

It seemed to resemble more and more a game, so maybe it was like that. That must be the truth.

In a word, this man wasn't used as a Youma sacrifice but summoned the Youma from his own volition and contracted with it. It appears that was the form it took.

'''Do you want power?'''

The moment he answered that question with '''Yes''' Kyoshi made the pact to hand over his soul.

Of course, it was a defective contract. Using this coercive method, even the soul of a normal person without any kind of protection from the spirits cannot be taken immediately.

But that applies only once.

The allurement continues.

Even if a person is not influenced by the devilishness, a human being that owns a convenient power desires even more power.

Without deeply thinking what sort of compensation will be taken from them.

Until the time everything will be taken from them, they will continue requesting power.

"I see......that was done skilfully."

Ren let out a murmur of admiration.

A trap set at random on the network. Kyoshi can't be the only victim.

Just how many people have offered their soul for an hour of pleasure -

"Wh - what........"

Suddenly calming down, finding fault with his ears, Kyoshi looked up with an uneasy gaze at Ren.

"Ahh, that's no concern of yours. Don't worry about it."

Ren casually waved his hand, obstructing the investigation.

"So, let's go back to the story. Let me see........first, tell me the address of this Pandemonium."

"I don't know it."

"........."

Ren stared very long at Takamatsu, who answered immediately. Overpowered by his glance, Takamatsu talked on and on, losing his head.

"I - I really don't know! While I was unconscious back then the connection was cut and when I looked at the history log there was nothing........everyone says the same, it's true!"

"Everyone?"

"There's an information exchange bulletin board for those like me, who received power from Pandemonium. That's what I heard there. There's no one who accessed Pandemonium a second time. We arrived at it by chance."

"What you say is that that site has no direct connection with Pandemonium?"

"Yes. The admin is the same as us."

Although experiencing some discomfort when hearing the word ''us'' as if it was said they were the same kind of thing, Ren asked again:

"The address?"

"It's in my phone."

"Give it to me."

After one glance at the phone presented to him, Ren tossed it into the pocket of his high school uniform.

"I'll keep this. I think that's all I wanted to ask but -"

Inaudible, Kyoshi let out a breath.

"As you wish."

"By the way, what else is on that bulletin board?"

"Nothing really important. After all, it's a gathering of guys like me who don't know much. So, stuff like reasoning about this power's true colours, boasts about level or ability, battle appointments and -"

"Battle? Do you fight between yourselves?"

"Yeah, because it has a lot of XP."

"XP?", Ren asked in return.

"We receive e-mails about how to use our power. Like ''You received X experience points''"

"The sender?"

"It's Pandemonium. Of course there's no mail address."

"..........."

"So, when we collect enough experience points, we level up. When we level up enough, we class change."

"........Are you one of the senior classes?"

"Yes. I changed class from the basic <<Ignition Man>> to the <<Fire Leader>>. It was very hard accumulating so many experience points."

"..........Is that so?"

At the excessively game-like setting, Ren was unintentionally perplexed. But, although the setting was clichéd, that's not an usual way a Jutsushi is represented in reality.

''"But - What purpose does this -"''

Ren can't guess the objective of this Jutsushi called Vesalius. What meaning does it have to mass-produce people with special power in those like Kyoshi, people without discernment?

Is he just a criminal who takes pleasure in people's reaction to his crimes?

Although he knew it was meaningless, Ren asked his only source of information.

"What sort of person is Vesalius? Tell me everything you know."

"Uh huh."

As if sorting his memory, Kyoshi cast his eyes down in silence. Patiently Ren waited until the man opened his mouth.

""He was a imposing son of a bitch. All his speech and gestures were theatrical."

And then Kyoshi started narrating. In more detail than Ren expected.

"Something like platinum blonde? He had long silver hair practically colourless and a red mask on his face. Because he was disguised I couldn’t see his face."

"That's very specific. You didn't meet him personally, right?"

"No, I met him."

"Where?"

"At Pandemonium."

".........."

From the story until now Pandemonium was supposed to be an internet site.

"Please don't tell me your spirit navigated in the Internet world ～"

Normally he would laugh at this but in the present Shinjuku the common sense of the game world is overlooked. He couldn't affirm that it wasn't true.

But Kyoshi shook his head at that question.

"It's not like that. For a class change we had no choice but to go to Pandemonium. That's where I met him."

"................."

Ren stared very long at the man who concealed such an important piece of information until now. Pressed by that eloquent gaze, Kyoshi waved his hand in confusion.

"Ahh, I didn't particularly want to hide it. The order of the story, its logic, we still haven't -"

"Excuses don't matter. In other words, Pandemonium doesn't exist only on the Internet but also in reality, right?"

"Aaah. But I don't know where it is."

" - You still say that?" Ren groaned with a fed-up voice.

He imagined this would happen but still felt considerably depressed unable to track this down.

"N - No, hear me out! It couldn't be helped, you know?"

Turning a flattering gaze to him, Kyoshi defended himself desperately.

"I walked around instructed by mail, and before I knew I was lost and then I realised a residence with a Pandemonium written sign was in front of my eyes."

".........."

Letting out his irritation together with an exhalation, Ren regained his calm.

He understood getting angry right now was pointless. This clearly went exactly as Vesalius wanted it to.

Kyoshi's perception and cognisance, or possibly the space itself was warped so he wouldn't find out Pandemonium's real location.

It was impossible for an amateur like Kyoshi to go against such a practitioner who could exercise such large scale magic tricks.

"Have you seen something around Pandemonium? Or better, have you seen the outside scenery from inside Pandemonium?"

"..........."

With a face that seemed to have some clue, Kyoshi shut his mouth. With a smile Ren said:

"Keeping secrets won't help you."

"..............It's not a lie."

After a few more seconds of silence passed, Kyoshi spoke in a sulky voice. At that ''he won't believe me either way '' tone, Ren returned a bitter smile.

"The story until now is plenty absurd already. At this point I don't worry about common sense anymore so please tell me what you saw exactly."

"......After leaving Pandemonium's terrace, I saw the outside scenery."

While still hesitating, Kyoshi started speaking slowly.

"It was Shinjuku, I think. But it was extremely high. I looked from the terrace of the second floor but I could see the rooftop of all building standing in a row."

"....So it was on the rooftop of some skyscraper."

"That's impossible. I don't remember using stairs or an elevator, besides -"

"Yes?"

"On both sides of the mansion, identical towers were built."

"Towers?"

Hearing such unexpected words, Ren asked back starring in puzzlement.

"Yeah. Those buildings were slender, towers of twenty stores at most. With entirely the same shape, left and right, they were erected as if to hold Pandemonium in between"

"Hmmmm......."

Without saying anything, Ren gave a half-hearted answer. Was there in Shinjuku such a building, one from where one could see the rooftops of the other buildings?

"H - hey....."

Absorbed for a short while in meditation, Kyoshi called out to him in a flattering voice.

"It's fine, right? I told you everything I know. Please let me go."

Looking down at the pitiful man with sober eyes, Ren quickly made his decision.

He asked him everything he wanted. He could be identified through his brother, so letting him go now wasn't a big problem. Besides -

"That's right. I'm sorry for taking your time. You can go now."

With a smiling face that didn't reveal his true intentions, Ren permitted his departure.

At that moment, Kyoshi ran away at high speed. Without hesitation he abandoned his brother and didn't turn around even for a second, that sort of commendable escape.

"Wa - wait for me, Aniki!"

After a few seconds, Takashi calmed down and ran after his brother. Of course, nobody was actually chasing them.

=== Part 4 ===

"Was it OK to let them go?"

When the silhouettes of the brothers disappeared from view, Kanon and Serisawa approached from the little farther away spot they were watching the show from.

At Kanon's question, implying it may be dangerous to let them be, Ren replied with a smile.

"It's fine. They'll probably be arrested quickly anyway."

"Arrested? By who?"

"By the police."

"Wasn't the police unable to deal with magic stuff?"

"That's not true anymore. There is a department that deals with black magic and spiritual disaster. I'll report them today so they will probably be caught before the day is over."

Replying with a smiling face to Serisawa, who also joined the conversation, for some reason their faces became stiff.

"- What's up?"

"W - What, you ask..."

"Because Ren-kun wasn't so determined before,"

"Really? Then I'm glad. Because I can't continue being a spoiled brat forever."

Seeming glad from the bottom of his heart, Ren smiled with all his face.

Although faltering in front of Ren's unexpected growth and bearing, Kanon and Serisawa weren't mesmerized by that smile.

"So, what to do from now on?"

"Eeh, what do you mean?"

At Kanon's question, who already pulled herself together, Ren didn't have a smile.

Even if something must be done about this, he can't do anything about it today. For now he will return to the household and report this, and by using Tokyo MPD's Special Investigation Unit there's no choice but to investigate it.

While thinking that, Kanon looked up at Ren and showed a proud smile.

"You know, from what that guy said I know where to find that place."

"- Really? Where is it?"

But, as if dodging the question Kanon turned her back to Ren.

"What to do? - If Ren-kun will kiss me I may as well tell him........"

"Eeh........."

"Wait a second!"

Kanon's daring request was attacked by a threatening voice and an excessively huge leg. Kanon promptly prepared her body and escaped the huge foot sole, drawing near.

"......Hey, you're in the way"

Kanon glared up at Serisawa's large build, who blocked her way as if trying to protect Ren, with a penetrating cold gaze.

A glare that did not see a fellow human but an obstacle that must be eliminated. Her eyes were still.

But even so, Serisawa didn’t flinch. Fired up by the decision to protect his precious friend, he boldly opposed the evil witch.

"There's neither negligence nor chance. Because of this, you won't be alone with Ren anymore. You're too dangerous."

"It's not like I asked for your permission."

"Shut up, you harlot!"

Using random old-fashioned disparaging words that God knows where he learned them from, Serisawa abused Kanon.

"If you really think so highly of Ren, then I'll teach you not to use bargaining points with him. That's why I say women are dishonest!"

"Humph," Kanon faltered as he touched a nerve.

It was a fair argument. Even though there was lip service involved, it was still a fair argument so she couldn't refute it.

"Won't you tell me, Suzuhara-san ~"

What's more, Kanon had no way to resist to Ren's ''request''.

"If you were to at least call me Kanon, I'll give yu both my body and my heart."

"Aah......ahahahahahahahaha....maybe at a different time. All right?"

Disciplining his smiling face that already became stiff as Kanon drew near with a peevish expression, Ren smoothly recovered his serious look.

"- So?"

"It's just as Ren-kun was about to guess."

"Being on top of a building, you mean?"

"Oi, oi, don't spout such stupidity. In what world there's a building with raised from the rooftop."

Serisawa didn't notice yet. But taking advantage of those words, Ren arrived at the right answer.

A building with two towers raised from the rooftop - there was definitely such a building in Shinjuku.

"The Tokyo Government Office!"

At the involuntarily shouting Ren, Kanon clapped her hands giving praise to him.

"What? Aah, I see."

Late by several seconds, Serisawa finally noticed.

Towering over the Shinjuku's governmental district, the most important governmental office of the Tokyo Metropolitan Area - to put it simply this building had the form of the ''Ou'' (concave) character.

Having forty eight floors above ground, from the thirty third floor upward tho neighbouring towers reached the heaven.

Between the south and north tower there was a huge emplty space. If they were to stand there they would definitely see the scenery Kyoshi described.

"But, there's nothing there...."

"How stupid! It can be concealed with magic. Right?"

"Yeah. Maybe."

"I know, right? Then -"

"No."

Kanon's delighted words, Ren interrupted them softly but clearly.

"From here on, I'll go alone."

"Ehh - But....."

"Suzuhara-san."

With a slightly troubled expression Ren called attention to the whining Kanon.

Sensing the solid determination inside that soft word, reluctantly, Kanon gave up following him.

"Take care, all right."

"It's fine. I won't do something so rash as going by myself. I'll just scout out a bit. Well then, see you tomorrow."

Assuring them he won't behave recklessly, Ren started running aiming at the Tokyo Government Office. Because he was in a hurry, after that trivial farewell, he never looked back.

That's why he didn't notice. Although seeing Ren off, without even looking at each other the duo exchanged accomplice smiles.

When arriving at the Tokyo Government Office, Ren asked the lady at the reception about his purpose - the space between the north and south tower.

But, the answer was ruthless.

As she said: ''"There's nothing there, you can't go there"''

Of course, there is an entrance for work but right now he has no time to forcibly or maybe through political power push in. Ren left the reception desk and took the elevator.

Of course, the place of destination was the thirty third floor. The level separated in two was the lowest one.

If he were to go there, he thought he could peek at that place through the window but there was no window. When looking at the information board, he saw that one section of the opening turned into a conference room. As expected, he cannot enter it without permission.

''"What am I supposed to do ? If it's the outside window will I be able to see it?"''

The forty fifth floors of the Tokyo Government Office - both North and South, had a general opened window.

If it's there, it may be possible to see. After thoroughly investigating the thirtieth floor, Ren abandoned that method.

For one moment Ren returned to the first floor. It was impossible to go to the viewing room without taking a direct elevator.

Lightly greeting the elevator girl with a smile plastered on her face, he boarded the elevator going for the north tower. The elevator rose nonstop until the forty fifth floor, opened its doors again and let out the passenger.

When exiting the elevator, he met three people. One was another elevator girl and the other two were -

[[File:Kaze no Stigma vol 04 205.jpg|thumb|]]

"Yo, Ren."

"You are late, what are you doing?"

As Ren involuntarily staggered, he hit his head on one side of the elevator wall. At that the elevator girl came rushing.

"Dear customer? How are you feeling?"

"Th - this is nothing. Don't worry about it."

Sending away the elevator girl by waving is hand, Ren looked at his two friends, that were supposedly prohibited from coming.

"Why are you here?"

As Ren pressed her for an answer, Kanon feigned thorough ignorance.

"Eeeh, Shinjuku sightseeing of something?"

"It's not ''or something'', right?"

As expected she couldn't deceive him. Holding Kanon's glaze he glared at her with a stern expression.

"It's dangerous, you know!?"

"But I saw Ren-kun's gallant figure. And then you said there's no danger if it's only scouting."

"That may be true but...."

There is a discrepancy between what is dangerous for Kanon and what is dangerous for Ren. Understanding it was useless trying to explain such things, Ren shut his mouth. As they chased after him while pretending to go home it seems pointless to send them away now.

Accepting the reality with a sigh, Ren asked the question that suddenly came to his mind.

"By the way, how did you know I will be here?"

"There's no other place from where one is able to see, right?"

Kanon's answer was clear.

"You didn't discuss how to enter the place didn't ask and because it's Ren-kun, you wouldn't forcibly try to enter, right? That's why there was no place to go but the sightseeing room."

"But there's also a sightseeing room in the south tower."

"The other one is opened until five."

As expected, Kanon concluded with clarity.

"Although there's no question there's more than thirty minutes, isn't that what a person would normally choose? That's why we came to the north tower who is opened until nine."

Giving the impression ''It's a simple thing, Watson-kun'', Kanon displayed her reasoning. Ren gave up raising both his hands.

"You caught me, Holmes."

"Fu fu fu....come here then."

Kanon started walking in order to catch Ren's hands. Serisawa waited on her path.

"I don't see from here. It's somewhat obscure."

Serisawa pointed at the window he occupied until now. Ren bent over overlooking that place.

Surely, it was hard to see. Although the north and south towers had an octagon shape, there was no window on the walls facing each other.

Inevitably, they had a forty five degree viewing angle.

But even so, when looking out clinging to the window, they could perceive all of the place in question. There were some bling spots but they could compensate for those from the window on the opposite side.

"...It's not there."

"It's not."

Already having confirmed it, Serisawa and Kanon separated from the window after a fleeting glance. Ren persevered a bit longer but unable to perceive any abnormality, he turned around as expected.

"Did you found something?"

"Nothing."

Ren lightly shrugged his shoulders. From the beginning he didn't expect to find out something only by looking.

As Ren is an Enjutsushi, he doesn't have the ability to see through a high grade concealment that can warp space.

"Then, what are we going to do?"

"Right. There's no point having come here just to go back like this. Maybe I'll push a little bit."

Surprised by the confident speech, Kanon unexpectedly opened her eyes wide. But Ren was sticking to the window again so she immediately pulled herself together and stood next to him. Serisawa followed naturally.

Overlooking the scenery underneath him, Ren concentrated his mind.

Is Pandemonium really there? And if it's there, by what means did it concealed its appearance? - Ren has no ability to smell it out. But still.

''"There no need to see it. It doesn't matter if I can't grasp it"''

The phenomenon induced by the Spirit Magic is not a simple natural phenomenon.

Kazuma's wind can tear open dimensions, and when Ayano battled with a gravitation user she managed to pull of the stunt of burning the warped space itself.

A strongly sharpened will can undermine the laws of physics. That is the quintessence of the magic foundation.

Even if he can't see anything, even if he can't feel anything -

''"As long as there is something there - no matter what it is, I can <<burn it>>!"''

A golden fireball was born in the air. Although it happened somewhat farther from the building, it was pulled from east to west leaving an afterimage and pierced the opening between the north and south towers.

Together with a faint response, a soundless noise reached back and the space trembled. And then -

"Ah!"

Spontaneously Kanon screamed.

For a second - only for a second, inside the flickering space an old western style house could be seen in the gap.

"Ren-kun, just now - !"

Ren nodded carefully, and separated his body from the window.

''"Bingo !"''

He had no doubt. The enemy's headquarters, Pandemonium, was here.

He cannot be involved with this game of slapping cards any longer. It was when he was thinking about returning home as quickly as possible and report it.

"Wasn't your knock a bit too rude, boy?"

From behind, a low and composed voice reached his ears.

Ren's field of vision, promptly turning around, was instantly enveloped in darkness. Just before his consciousness was engulfed in darkness together with his vision - Ren's shape disappeared from the sightseeing room.

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| Back to [[Kaze_no_Stigma:Volume4_Chapter_2|Chapter 2]]
| Return to [[Kaze_no_Stigma|Main Page]]
| Forward to [[Kaze_no_Stigma:Volume4_Chapter_4|Chapter 4]]
|-
|}
</noinclude>

Kaze no Stigma:Volume4 Chapter 3

2013-12-27T06:18:55Z

86.20.14.91: /* Chapter 3 - Shinjuku RPG */

== Chapter 3 - Shinjuku RPG ==

=== Part 1 ===

"Kazuma! I heard you made some serious blunder, huh?"

Meeting Kazuma face to face, Ayano said so, extremely enjoyed.

"Aah."

But Kazuma's response was an indifferent nod and without giving any reply he entrusted his back to the wall, his limbs idle.

"Kazuma.....?"

In front of that attitude she couldn't sport with, Ayano forgot the next attack she already prepared and called out to him in doubt.

Kazuma didn't answer. Not like he was ignoring her, more like he didn't even hear.

"What's this?"

She involuntarily asked Kirika but of course, she doesn't have the answer.

"I don't know - By the way Isurugi-kun, how long are you going to stand there, come sit!"

That was the first time Ayano realized she had another visitor.

If this man came together with Kazuma, it means it must be the ''promising newcomer''. From what she heard, he was definitely twenty three years old. But he seemed at least five years younger.

He had an extreme child-face. Because he came here while running, his cheeks were red. He stood stand still outside the room until he was permitted to come in.

But even so, why doesn't he move even after being called in.

"Good grief......"

Kirika stood up with a sigh, briskly walked to Daiki and brought him in by the ear.

"Isurugi policeman! Open your eyes!"

"Y- yes!"

The intense pain and scolding voice, brought Daiki's consciousness back to reality. His muscles extended as if an electric current run through them and stood vertically in front of Kirika.

"Th- this is Isurugi Daiki, I have just arrived!"

"I appreciate your efforts but first of all come sit down"

Responding in a worn-out voice, Kirika seized Daiki's hand. And then pulled him down as if he was a child who lost his composure, making him sit behind her.

He was acting like a suspect in a crime - Kirika thought so seeing him stand on the balls of the feet .

But then, Kirika quickly realized that was a misunderstanding.

While fleetingly stealing glances at Ayano, sitting down, Daiki asked:

"Ah, errr...this miss is....."

"........."

Feeling the approaching headache at the too easy to understand attitude, Kirika pressed her temples.

Even if she said he was a promising newcomer, she couldn't help but feel a little ashamed.

Throwing a sidelong glance at Kirika, Ayano bowed with a graceful gesture.

"I was late in introducing myself. I am the daughter of Kannagi Juugo, my name is Ayano."

Her bow was polite and her salute very friendly.

All her gestures were, each and everyone, unimaginably refined and hugely different from the time she was with Kazuma.

"Y- you are?"

As expected, it seemed even he knew that name, his flushed face becoming nervous.

But, as the the face of the girl he was looking at smiled softly just now, his consciousness flew up to heaven.

"My- my name is Isurugi Daiki! I work as a policeman, I'm twenty three years old and single!"

Daiki returned the greeting in a much too excited voice, with a slightly different focus.

Maybe he was really planning for a formal marriage interview.

But Ayano didn't attack that happy idiot and bowed her head with a serious face.

"I heard about you from Inspector Tachibana. You are a newcomer that she has great hopes for in the future."

"N- no, how unthinkable! My power is almost like nonexistent when comparing it with the Kannagi Clan."

"It has nothing to do with the size of power. It's important what you can do and what you should do with your power. You can protect people with that power, right? I think that's something you can be proud of."

"Is- is that so?"

"Yes, of course."

Although clumsy, he talked freely for the first time.

''"Appearing in disguise, huh?"''

Kirika stared in admiration at Ayano's graceful attitude, so different from normal.

But in reality, this was how Kannagi Ayano appeared to the majority of people.

Without need of using the <<as if>> figurative expression she was the child of a genuine good family and it is obvious that she had a thorough instruction on etiquette.

As for Kirika, if their first meeting would have been different, they would have come in contact in a similar manner. As for Ayano, she's not aware of any sort of pretense. This is also the girl's true appearance.

But, in the middle of the pleasant talk, the flawless behavior made a slight crack. While nodding at Daiki's words, her glance seemed turned elsewhere, her lips sharp with dissatisfaction.

It was just for one moment so Daiki didn't notice. But Kirika didn't miss it. Turning in the direction Ayano's eyes just did, Kirika made a small, wry smile.

In one of the room's corners, in a posture with one knee up, Kazuma sits in silence without minding Ayano talking so cheerful with another man. Or perhaps, not even recognizing it.

"........."

Looking at Kazuma in such a state, Kirika's conviction that ''something did happened'' only deepened.

He wasn't a man with such an innocent charm as to behave jealously but normally he would at least make a few sarcastic comments on Ayano's elegant attitude and difference of standard for another.

But before she was able to investigate it, the conversation moved forward.

Kirika lightly clapped her hands and pulled back Daiki's consciousness, floating higher than the clouds.

"Well, it's about time we got to the main point. First Isurugi Daiki, report."

Saying that, Kirika stared coldly at Daiki, now coming to his senses and started speaking about the full particulars of his own error.

"What the fuck was that? Who was she or ''what'' was she?"

On the other side, Kazuma was completely ignoring the noisy surroundings, and was thinking about the girl he met.

She couldn't possibly Tsoi Rin. Even if that was a ghost, it wasn't Tsoi Rin's ghost.

But for some reason, he naturally accepted her as Tsoi Rin.

But, something was odd.

The fact is the girl supposed to be dead four years ago appeared unchanged was very abnormal in itself, what's more, he felt a somewhat uncomfortable feeling from her.

''".........What was it.........?"''

He compared the four years old memory and what he saw an hour before. The girl's smile he remembered in a long time.

Yes, she was a girl smiling with a carefree face.

Her cherry blossoms lips smiling broadly, making her pupils full of vitality sparkle -

"Aah, I see..."

Realizing the source of that uncomfortable feeling, Kazuma slapped his palms. And then spoke loudly without realizing.

"Tsoi Rin's were green, huh..."

That girl's eyes were lapis lazuli blue. Feeling good for finally settling the question, he finally became aware of the outside world.

And then realized that he became the center of attention.

A stunned Kirika. An absolutely bewildered Daiki. And then, because he uttered Tsuo Rin's name aloud, glaring at him with angered eyes was Ayano.

All three's glance, in different ways, pierced into Kazuma.

"Kazuma -" Kirika spoke together with a sigh.

"Did you hear what we were saying?"

"No, not at all," Kazuma responded honestly but the atmosphere couldn't be calmed down just because of that.

Kirika got the better of Ayano, whose eyes emitted a much more dangerous atmosphere and urged Kazuma.

"Just at the right time. Please explain today's fact from your point of view. It seems Isurugi-kun didn't understand anything."

"........I'm sorry"

Daiki made himself small. Everyone ignored him.

"Fine. But I'm telling you, I have yet to get to the bottom of this."

With that introduction, Kazuma started speaking about the circumstances of the fight with <<The Hell Hound>>. The meaningful words he spoke became the focus of the room.

"A class change at Pandemonium, huh? This seems more and more like a game."

After Kazuma's story was finished, Ayano whispered so in an amazed tone. But diagonally from her, Kirika kept quiet with a difficult facial expression.

"Did you thought of something?"

"There's also the site Shinomiya-san told us about. Something similar was written there"

"What you are trying to say is that this is not just <<The Hell Hound>>'s wild delusion?"

"There's also a possibility the people who wrote that think the same way"

Kirika replied so but she wasn't honest about that. The fact that she believes Kazuma's report and, the things written on the bulletin board as true, can be read between the lines from her speech.

But, that ''truth'' was not compatible with Ayano's common sense.

Piling up a great quantity of experience, that after exceeding a fixed number gave a level-up. If one were to raise their level even more, a class chance will happen and acquire a furthermore greater power.

''"That sort of convenient power, where on earth can you find it?"''

Finding a problem, Kirika opened her eyes wide in surprise.

"Ah, I didn't explain that incident. I'm sorry. Because I didn't hear from Shinomiya-san since, I didn't told you about that. Simply put -"

"Ayano-sama"

As if covering Kirika's voice, someone called Ayano from the hallway.

"What?"

At Ayano's short question, the servant replied with courtesy.

"You're wanted on the telephone."

".......Come in"

"Sorry to bother you"

The fusuma was soundlessly opened. Carrying a wooden tray the telephone was placed on, the yet young servant quietly entered.

"Who is it?"

"Someone called Suzuhara."

"Suzuhara?"

Without having any idea who that is, Ayano was puzzled.

"She said she was Ren-sama's classmate."

"Ah, Kanon-chan? - And you -"

While remembering the girl with adorable looks and lively character, Ayano looked at the servant frowning.

The ones serving the Kannagi family obviously know the Clan's occupation and the importance of that duty.

Even if he was a servant, a blockhead that interrupts a meeting for a personal call has no qualifications to work in this household.

But, not realizing he was on the verge of unemployment, the servant continued his words blandly.

"It seems an emergency. She said Ren-sama is missing."

"- Tch! Father?"

"Of course. As well with Genma-sama."
'''(!)'''

While answering frankly, the servant held out the tray. Ayano gripped the phone as if tearing it off.

"Hello?"

Coincident with Ayano's word, an upset voice flew in like a torrent.

"J- just calm down. Tell me what happened since the beginn - he disappeared? Suddenly, in front of your eyes? At Tokyo's Government Office? Why were you - Pandemonium?"

That last word frozen the already strained atmosphere of the room.

In the still as death space, only Ayano's voice resounded for a long time.

=== Part 2 ===

Seiryou Private Academy - this campus built not far of from the Imperial Palace, is a private prestigious school from middle school to senior high school.

With a tradition exceeding a hundred years, it's valued highly for yearly producing successful applicants to national universities with achievements in various fields, a school where a large number of ''children from respectable families'' attend.

And then, on the list of names of freshmen from that Seiryou Gakuen Middle School division, there are Kannagi Ren and the name of that ''friend''.

After school.

One boy approached the girl stuffing textbooks in her bag.

"Kanon -"

Being addressed with overly familiarity, the girl, Suzuhara Kanon turned over her shoulder with a sharp look.

"Do you have some business with me, Takamatsu-kun?"

Her tone was by no standard in a good mood but the boy called Takamatsu didn't notice and drew closer with a smile.

"Don't talk to me in such a reserved manner, call me Takashi. I'll also call you Kanon."

It seems that this boy, although a junior high school student, didn't learn any kind of etiquette until now. After not using honorifics and calling her ''you'', Kanon raised her eyebrows.

"Let's stop somewhere on the way home. The UFO catcher is my specialty. I'll catch whatever you fancy."

While saying so, he casually touched her shoulder. In Kanon's mind Takashi's death punishment was decided.

With a light breath she softly brushed Takashi's hand, the one touching her shoulder, and then -

"Aghyaaah!?"

She sized his middle finger and bent it backwards with all her strength.

Falling to his knees with an unsightly scream, he received a kick on top of his shoulders and rolled on the ground.

"Hey, ''Takamatsu-kun''?"

Kanon overlooked with a cold-hearted gaze Takashi, laying down with his face up.

"As it seems you don't know much about the manners of the world, I'll teach you but don't you think it's very rude to address a person you're not intimate with without using an honorific title?"

Sweeping the shoulder Takashi touched, whipping her hands with a handkerchief and even going as far as throwing that handkerchief in the garbage can - that three layered combo pointed out her real intent: ''I don't want to be touched by the likes of you'' and relentlessly delivered the final blow.

"If you want to chase after girls, you'd better improve your character. Because your face cannot compensate for your vulgar nature."

It was a blunt way of talking but from the classroom there could be heard snickers from here and there. It seems Kanon was not the only one who thought this boy was pushy.

"Y- you...."

"Ah, Ren-kun!"

Kanon looked at the moaning Takashi as if he was filth but the instant she recognized the boy at the entrance of the classroom she transformed to a girl in love.

Immediately forgetting about Takashi's existence, she rushed over with a light manner of walking.

"Re - n -kun!"

"Ah, Suzuhara-san. Did something happen?"

Without showing signs of faltering at the approaching beautiful girl, Ren grinned. Kanon, that seemed about to embrace him, stopped in her tracks, her face changed.

"Ren, kun......?"

"What?"

Intently watching Ren, softly smiling, Kanon thought:

''"As I thought, he changed."''

At almost the same time the new school term started, Ren took a long break. And then when he returned after half a month, he was exhausted, like a different person.

He almost never answered when she accosted him. He wouldn't laugh.

His eyes were dead.

In order to recover his smiling face, Kanon exerted herself greatly. It was annoying but she called her bitter enemy and joined hands with that homo bastard.

But it was useless.

Eventually, the graduation ceremony came and without laughing Ren left school. She knew they were going to the same junior high school but she remembers thinking that she will never see him again.

It seemed that was needless anxiety because when they occasionally met during the spring break Ren was laughing almost normally.

''"But still, something is different."''

She recognized it every time she saw him. He seemed recovered but something changed inside Ren. Although he was only five centimeters taller than her, he seemed big for some reason.

He was still gentle but she couldn't drag him along anymore. Although he drifted away, he would definitely not cross over a certain line - she felt that sort of flexible power.

Just like now. Although she would have simply hugged him before, right now he wouldn't tolerate it.

Something happened. Something related to the unique occupation of the Kannagi Family. A situation she couldn't comprehend deeply injured Ren's delicate heart. And by overcoming it, Ren became stronger.

She thought that side of Ren was cool too. But at times he seemed in a faraway place. ''Was it possible she can't reach him anymore?'' - she had those kinds of thoughts.

''"That's not true, right?"''

She fleetingly looked up at Ren with upturned eyes. Realizing the serious light dwelling in her gaze, Ren directly stared back at Kanon.

"Suzuhara-san, did something happen?"

"- No, it's nothing."

Kanon replied as bright as possible and boldly clung to Ren's arm.

"Su- Suzuhara-san?"

"I told you to call me Kanon."

Embracing Ren by pushing her chest against his arm, Kanon drew closer.

"Eh, well, but......"

Exasperated by Ren's bright red face, Kanon puffed out her cheeks.

''"Ugh, if I don't do something nothing will change!"''

Without shying away from the public gaze, she was thinking of forcing herself on him right on the spot. No, if she were to bring him like this to a deserted place -

"- Hey"

But that anticipation, unimaginable on a twelve year old girl, was obstructed by an impolite intruder. Looking over her shoulder without bothering to hide her displeasure, Kanon demanded an explanation in a thorny tone.

"Ara, Takamatsu-kun, do you still have some business with me?"

Takashi only looked at Kanon without answering and came near Ren. While their noses were almost touching he stared intensely at Ren's features and sneered with open disdain.

"That's what you like, Kanon? A man without redeeming features but his face?"

"What are you trying to say, Ren-kun is very smart. Or did you forget his speech as the freshman's representative?"

"Sh- shut it!"

Having his best effort at sarcasm easily retorted, Takashi was enraged. His eyes, red with anger, seized the surprised Ren who had not understood the situation.

He thought of targeting the short boy that seemed unrelated to fighting, a target fit for a diversion.

He quickly seized the nape of his neck and yanks it up, attacking him with a brutal countenance.
'''(!)''

"You're so composed! Why, there's no value in dealing with the likes of me, huh? Do you want me to hit that pretty face of yours, ahhh?"

"......Huh......."

Blinking at the sudden incident, Ren earnestly tried to communicate.

"It's Takamatsu-kun, right? I'm sorry but I don't understand why you are so upset? Could you please explain the situation before resorting to violence?"

"I can't, you idiot!"

While shouting close to his ears, Takashi hardened his fist and struck.

But that fist was returned next to Takashi's torso, before reaching Ren.

"Wha -"

"Stop right there. If Ren was serious the likes of you are nothing but a pushover."

The man that appeared unexpectedly in the background wrung Takashi's neck. Seeing that man, Kanon murmured unpleasant from the bottom of her heart.

"You came although I didn't call you, huh..."

"Humph, if it's for Ren I'll rush over from the end of the earth!"

Retorting a slightly complicated answer, the man threw out his robust chest. While looking over that dialogue that will never reach a common point with a tired face, Ren said.

"Serisawa-kun...please let him go. It must be painful, right?"

"Ah? Ah - sorry, sorry."

With an awkward smile the man released Takashi, who was about to stop breathing.

While coughing, Takashi scowled at the man who asked for trouble.

"Y- you.......ah?"

But, even by turning his face, he cannot see the man's face. A black wall, completely blocking his field of vision - after realizing it was the chest of the man wearing the high school uniform, he looked upward.

He was huge.

Taller than him by at least twenty centimeters. Meaning that although he was a first year student he was taller than a hundred and eighty centimeters.

In the entire class - no, the entire school there wasn't another one like this kind of guy.

"Se- Serisawa......"

"Yo."

With a broad grin the man - Ren's friend since middle school, Serisawa Tatsuya tightly held Takashi's head.

Gripping his small head with one hand, his huge arm as if ready to crush his skull as it is.

"Uugii.......gaah, ahh......."

Drawing near to Takashi's face, who was groaning in pain, Serisawa showed a ferocious smile.

"Listen! If you have a bone to pick with Ren, I'll be your opponent first. Try remembering that!"

While saying that he shook Takashi's head and heaved him. And then, without sparing a look for the boy flowing in the air, smiling with the whole face, he turned to Ren.

"Hey, Ren. You're not hurt right? I mean, that's impossible. Wahahahahaha"

With a lively laugh, Serisawa approached Ren. But Kanon stood in his way.

Looking up at Serisawa with a cold gaze, Kanon informed him.

"Thank you very much. Now that the nuisance is out of the way you can go back to the zoo. Your wife, the female gorilla, must wait for your return."

"Wh- who's a gorilla you stupid bitch!"

"You, of course it's you! Don't you think anything about being so big at only twelve? If it's not a gorilla, your ancestor must be some sort of anthropoid so please let some research institute have you!"

While looking over the quarrel he had no place in, Ren let out a small breath trying not to attract attention.

Although this kind of thing happened frequently during middle school, all the same he didn't predict it would continue even now. Leaving Kanon aside, nobody imagined Serisawa would be able to enter Seiryou Gakuen.

Since Serisawa was a really poor student except athletics, just how much effort he put to pass the entrance examination.

That noble endeavor and the conclusion that seemed the favor of gods was rumored to be some ''miracle of love''.

Though honestly, Ren would rather have that part forgotten.

But even so, not satisfied by only passing the exam and also being in the same, maybe Serisawa really had some divine protection.

What's more, since Kanon was also in the same class, that goddess of love must have had a black tail hidden underneath her white robes.

"Ren is hanging out with me!"

"Don't be stupid! He's coming with me!"

While Ren was trying to escape from reality their quarrel continued. And at that point they were contesting who is taking Ren on an after school date - without even asking for the feelings of the person himself.

''"Will I be able to stop then, I wonder....still......"'' Ren thought in a glum mood.

If he were to ignore it, it seems their dispute would really turn violent. As expected, he cannot ignore the damage to their surroundings.

Beside, different from the arguments between Nee-sama and Nii-sama, these two's argument was not so high a level that he cannot stop it.

Ren tried to console himself that maybe practising here will become useful in the future.

"Hey, listen..." he called out to them with as light a voice as possible.

Both turned their heads simultaneously. Controlling his urge to run away, Ren preserved his smiling face with great effort.

"It - it would be better if we all went. Instead of only two, isn't it more fun if it's all three of us, right?"

"................"

"................"

A heavy silence that hurt his stomach fell. Unable to put up with the sense of urgency, the fortunate students closer to the door plotted a speedy escape.

Compared to them, Ren was splendid. The cold sweat breaking out on his back didn't change his smiling face and he boldly received their glare.

After a long, long silence, Kanon and Serizawa lowered their pressuring gaze at the same time.

"- Well, if Ren-kun says so..."

"- There's no helping it."

Extremely unwillingly, they came to an agreement. Leading both of them, Ren tried to leave the classroom.

But a rough sound from the background stopped them in their tracks.

"Hey, hey, please stop it!"

"Shut it!"

A thoroughly angry voice. Without the need to turn around, the development excessively easy to understand made the trio exchange glances with wearily faces.

"Hey, just stop it already, you."

"Shut your trap, you enormity!"

Takashi shouted at Serisawa in a disgusted voice and glared at Ren standing next to him.

But Ren, who at twelve passed through numerous scenes of carnage, didn't feel threatened by only a violent boy.

On the contrary, not even recognizing he was being glared at, he tilted his head as is asking ''"Why on earth is he angry about?"''

And then, there was Kanon.

She received head on Takashi's hateful glare and returned a scornful laugh. Her folded arms and raised chin and her facial expression that haughtiness itself didn't hide her contempt for Takashi.

"......You're making fun of me......" he squeezed out from the gap between his clenched teeth, grasping his fists tightly.

"Don't get conceited you bitch!!"

And then, he leaped at her while screaming. As expected Kanon wasn't ready for this degree of violence, so she was unable to respond.

Takashi grabbed Kanon’s shoulder and swung his fist. A second later, everyone was convinced the girl was cruelly hit. But -

"- Gaah?"

[[File:Kaze no Stigma vol 04 155.jpg|thumb|]]

As abruptly as a spinning top launched in the middle of the way, Takashi was torn off from Kanon and pressed to the blackboard.

Because of that enormous power, the blackboard and Takashi's back started creaked ominously. With eyes growing hazy because of the pain, Takashi looked at the figure of the person who pressed him down.

''"Ka - Kannagi........? No way.......!"''

He couldn't believe it. That a boy much smaller than him could hide this much power. Because he was pushed up, he tilted his body was slowly forced up. Both his feet were floating in the air.

"Guu......Ha.....s - stop......"

Pressured by the fist grabbing him on the collar, his ribs were hurting. Trying to somehow raise a protesting voice, Takashi's tongue was frozen.

Ren was looking straight at him.

He was sharp, like a different person but despite that his gaze was carrying an intense anger.

His whole body tied by the power loaded in that pupil, Takashi shivered in fear at his wit's end.

''"I'll be killed!"''

He felt ''death'' closer than ever before. The fear of having a knife thrust at him seemed insignificant when compared to this.

It was the first time in his life his body was basking in the real thirst for blood. A precise, definite ''intent to slaughter''.

There was no escape.

Calmly, composedly and certainly -

''"This guy...will kill me!"''

"Hi - hiii......"

But, contrary to his expectation Takashi was suddenly released from the restraints. The body that lost its support slipped off, rubbing the wall with a dragging sound and feebly sunk down to the floor.

"Eh......ah.....?"

Looking up in a daze, he saw Ren looking at his own hand with an air of bewilderment. And several seconds after, he showed a minor bitter smile while looking down at Takashi cowering at his feet.

"Hey...."

"Hiiiii!"

"You can't be violent toward girls."

The persuasion Ren made in a gentle tone, while Takashi was greatly perplexed, didn't add up.

"Hey, eh........"

While thinking what to do about that, from beneath Takashi's feet, squatting down, a strange liquid poured out.

An offensive smell.

"......Eh?"

"What have you done?"

Serisawa forcibly drew out Ren, standing rock still dumbfounded. And then he put his arm around his neck as if trying to strangle him and forced him along to a place where the liquid that kept on flowing.

"Your indoor slippers will get dirty! Instead of cleaning this guy's piss from my slippers I'd rather throw them away!"

"Th- then that really was..."

Finally comprehending the nature of the smelling liquid, Ren's face became pale.

Looking at Takashi he saw that his body was still curled up. The reason why he was trembling was probably not only fear.

Incontinence - a boy that was already a junior high school student never felt so much shame. And, realizing all this Ren started speaking very upset.

"I'm, I'm sorry! I, didn't mean to.....I'll call Sensei immediately so - "

"- Ren"

Striking Ren's shoulder, Serisawa feebly shook his head.

"If you feel even a little pity for this guy, don't say anymore. Just leave him alone"

"Eh, but - if it stays like this it will seem I bullied him. And people who torment others are the worst."

Ren didn't say it with malice. He didn't but the consequence of those words was to break into small pieces the already wounded pride of Takashi.

As if whipping the dead or salt was rubbed into his wounds Takashi's body shivers worsened.

"Are - are you ok?"

Perceiving that reaction, Ren flustering rushed over to Takashi. He touched the trembling body.

".........!?"

That extended hand was flung off as far as possible. Ren's eyes blinking in shock were pierced by eyes full of murder.

"Son of a bitch..."

Raising a face full of tears and snot Takahashi glared at Ren with as much hatred as he could muster.

"Remember this, son of a bitch! My brother is really strong! He can kill the likes of you with one attack."

"Waah, how lame," Kanon commented scornfully.

"If you can't, will you run to your Onii-chan, huh? I wonder just what sort of person that is?"

"Shut up!" screamed Takashi with a voice turned inside out.

"Now it's the time to pull back you know! My Aniki has supernatural powers! He'll turn the likes of you into ash!!"

For a second the class was enveloped in silence. And then -

"Bahahahahahahahahahaha!!"

The classroom was shook by a maelstrom of very loud laughter.

"Were - were you serious just now, Takamatsu-kun? Are you saying that seriously?"

"And on top of that you are one of those who believe crop circles are made by aliens too, right?"

While striking desks and walls, and stamping their feet, the students unanimously ridicule Takashi.

But without bothering with their reaction Takashi only glared at Ren.

"Just go ahead and laugh. Make fun of me. Get cocky just because you're somewhat good at fighting...because I'll teach you that such things are helpless in front of absolute power!"

"You're the one who you cocky, stupid," spit out Serisawa tiresomely, throwing the black board eraser at Takashi who talked on and on in ecstasy.

His right hand was already loaded with the next eraser.

"Se - Serisawa! You'll do it, too? My Aniki will - "

"Shut the fuck up!"

Without hesitation Serisawa threw the other blackboard eraser with all his strength. The chalk powder sticking to the blackboard eraser hit Takashi in the face and the angry face already flushed deep red was dyed pure white.

Simultaneously, white smoke spreads like an explosion, and the boy who inhaled the dust convulsed with all his strength.

"I'm telling you to bring your brother! Because I don't have all day, you know!"

"You - you bastard....."

Spontaneously, ignoring Takashi trying to spit out the words while having a coughing fit, Serisawa pulled Ren and started walking.

"Well, this is boring. Forget about this and let's hang out. Where do you want to go?"

"Ehh, well..."

"I - I want to go to Shinjuku. I want to buy some clothes."

"Waah, do you think we want to go buy women's clothes?"

"I wasn't talking to you."

"What did you say?"

"Well, well, calm down both of you."

With a delicately stiff smiling face, Ren tried mediating the glaring pair.

"We should go to where you both want to go in turns. We have time."

The trio started deciding their after school activities enjoyed. It seems that inside their heads not a particle of Takashi's words remains.

"Then, Shinjuku is our first stop right?"

"Yeah."

"Right."

Gaining both their agreement, Ren started walking with a visibly relieved expression.

Behind him, as if his existence itself was thoroughly forgotten, there was the solitary figure of Takashi, crouching. His gaze, carrying the dark flame of hate saw off Ren's distant back without even blinking.

=== Part 3 ===

The game center the trio left was illuminated by the red sunlight of the evening. Feeling relief when released from the noisy environment, Kanon let out a small breath. And then she snuggled up to Ren like it was usual.

"Which reminds me, Ren-kun was really cool back then."

While clinging to Ren's arm, Kanon recalled the gallant figure of the boy that overwhelmed that failure of an idiot.

"Wasn't it the first time you acted like that in school?"

Kanon was familiar with Ren's strength. She understood that even a juvenile delinquent that took pride in fights couldn't go against him.

But Ren didn't try to display his own strength. Rather, he was actively trying to avoid that kind of situation.

Unrelated to his ability, he hated conflict. That's why before it could turn into a fight he tried to express his opinion and while taking the hit he would only counterattack to defend his body.

Although ''protecting Kanon'' was a just cause, Ren honestly thought it was inconceivable of exerting violence on boys his age.

"Ahh, yeah......."

Ren also thought his behaviour was strange and spontaneously expressed a bitter smile.

"I must definitely apologize to Takamatsu-kun later."

"I don't really care about that idiot but did you change your policy?"

"Policy huh, I didn't have such an exaggerated thing from the beginning. I just hate unreasonable violence, that's all. But when I thought Kanon-san was about to be hurt, I couldn’t control myself - is what you call ''to snap'', right?"

"Ehh....."

At those unanticipated words, Kanon’s cheeks were dyed red.

"Th- th- that means, I'm important enough for Ren-kun to spontaneously lose his temper for me?"

"Yes."

As if talking about an obvious thing, Ren smoothly agreed.

"You are important. I wish Suzuhara-san were happy. I want you to smile. That's why, I'll protect you - I don't want to lose anything anymore."

"Ren-kun -"

Overcome with emotion, Kanon embraced Ren. But just before she could, a huge hand like a glove covered Kanon’s face. And then, forcefully tore her off.

"What are you doing, you -"

"No, well, Ren said it was for a friend."

Interrupting Kanon who was about to swear, Serisawa praised Ren with an unnaturally bright expression.

"Of course, if I were in a pinch Ren would help me too, right? Because we're friends."

"Ehh...? Y- Yeah. But I cannot imagine Serisawa-san getting in a tough spot."

"That may be true. But, at that time I will trust in you when the time comes, ''friend''."

Striking Ren's shoulder Serisawa shifted his focus to Kanon. And then, raised his lips extremely enjoyed.

"I'm so glad for you, Kanon. Ren protected you ''as a friend''. You are mutually good friends. I'm sure your friendship will last ''all your life''. We'll ''alwaaaaays'' be friends, right?"

"..........."

Kanon glared at Serisawa with an extremely angry expression. Most likely, she was butchering him inside her head in hundreds of different ways.

She grasped her slender white fingers strongly as if trying to choke something.

"..........Just bring it on!"

"Ke ke ke ke ke ke."

Serisawa responded at the groaning Kanon with a loud laughter. In the space between them, invisible sparks were scattering.

"He- hey, calm down both of you!!"

Becoming aware they were attracting attention from the surroundings, Ren tried to mediate the duo. But, his gaze went around as if making sure of something.

"- Be quiet, both of you."

Sensing the alteration in Ren's tone, both his friends quickly became silent. At almost the same time, a single man drew closer.

Wearing an LL sized T-shirt that reached the middle of his tights and loose half pants - the person himself probably thought he was cool but the people who didn't have the same values could only call him untidy.

"Kannagi Ren?" the man asked shortly after, looking down on Ren.

"And you are?"

"It doesn't matter who I am. There's someone who has business with you. Follow me."

"I refuse."

"Aaah!?"

When Ren flatly rejected him the man tried to overpower him from right overhead.

"Who the fuck asked for your opinions!? Shut up and follow me or I'll kill you, damn brat!"

"I have no intention of obeying the likes of you, no matter what you say. Let's go."

Replying in a resolute manner, Ren urged Kanon and Serisawa on and started walking.

"...You bastard......."

Treated trivially by a middle school kid with feminine features, the man was quickly enraged. Drawing near the trio he seized Kanon’s neck.

"Don't underestimate me, damn brats! What happens to this woman- !?"

Unable to finish his speech, the man fainted in agony. The fist trusted into the pit of his stomach made him unconscious and he crumbled down before understanding what happened and who did this to him.

"Are you OK?" asked Ren pulling out the fist that was buried up to the wrist.

Kanon nodded without showing any disturbance.

"Yes. But, who is this guy?"

"Well, I don't know. But I don't remember becoming enemy to this kind of people -"

Closing his eyes partly Ren searched for presence in the surroundings.

They were surrounded.

Their clothes were different but they were approximately the same age and above all the boys had in common a wild presence while surrounding them.

They thought they weren’t yet detected so they slowly reduced the encircling net.

Ren informed Kanon in a small voice.

"For now we had better escape. Can you run?"

"Yeah. I'll do my best," Kanon nodded.

Next he made an eye signal at Serisawa, synchronizing their timing.

Just before the men moved, forestalling their movement by a second, Ren grabbed Kanon and started running.

"Move! Move! Move! "

Serisawa sent the men standing still, and taken by surprise, flying spendidly. Ren and Kannon nimbly ran through the hole that opened in the net.

"Shit! Don't let them escape!"

While being chased by harsh voices and more than ten footsteps the trio started running at high speed.

"Shit! Just how many are there?" cursed Serisawa while moving his legs determinedly.

From that point on, the trio weren't able to run from the men's pursuit for more than ten minutes.

They didn't understand why such a group of people were pursuing Ren, but it seemed there were more of them than those who surrounded Ren's group the first time.

The number of the men who ambushed them at their destination was already reaching thirty.

"Suzuhara-san, keep at it a bit longer," Ren murmured as if cheering up the girl who was short of breath.

Kanon was almost at her limit. By nature, her stamina was quite like that of a normal girl. When chased after by men with full grown bodies she couldn't possibly get away.

''"This is bad.........."'' thought Ren, when he remembered the distance so far.

They were being herded. He didn't know the final destination but the men were clearly leading them somewhere.

But, even if he knew that, there was nothing he could do about it. Even though the opponent is an amateur, their numbers were too large. He didn't have the confidence he could defeat all of them while defending Kanon and Serisawa without using En-jutsu.

Gradually they were being cornered to a desolate place with a bad atmosphere. While thinking he should start preparing himself they reached the corner.

As expected, they were ambushed.

In the space ten men were lying in wait, Ren's group naturally plunged into it. From behind several other people were approaching.

They were completely driven to the wall.

"Ren-kun......"

"It's OK."

Grasping the hand of the girl who leaned close to him uneasily, Ren smiled.

"If I have too, I'll use my power. I won't let them even touch both of you. Don't worry."

It was strictly prohibited using Jutsu when dealing with an ordinary person. But he didn't feel like complying with such regulations if his body and the bodies of his friends were in danger.

Ren was determined that more than hurting others, he couldn't tolerate if he himself were to get hurt.

"Ku ku ku ku ku."

Unnatural chuckles drifted in the air and the crowd of people in Ren's front parted left and right. From inside it, a boy with a pompous attitude stepped forward.

"Ku ku ku ku ku ku ku - ha ha ha ha ha ha!"

The supressed laugh gradually raised its tension and turned into a laughing scream.

It was a face they recognized.

The face they parted from only a few hours earlier laughed, arrogant and proud.

"You can't run anymore, Kannagi!" ''he'' declared with an already triumphant air.

Before he came out, it was possible that Ren's group was scared. Maybe they had a vision of asking for forgiveness with a menial attitude. But that completely backfired.

A strange unknown ''something'' sometimes intimidates the human heart much more than a tangible, physical threat could.

For Kanon and Serisawa, who were not used to being involved in serious fights, the strange men that chased them without pretext were very scary.

But the moment ''he'' showed himself the trio understood everything. The enemy's true character, his purpose and the conclusion.

"Aaa - aahhhh, my hair is so messy -"

Completely disregarding ''his'' existence Kanon started arranging her dishevelled hair. And then, the moment ''he'' tried opening his mouth a second time irritated, she beat him to it.

"The peeing boy, huh? Did you change your soiled pants?"

"Wha - wha - ....!"

He - Takamatsu Takashi, while trying to say something to make him look better, his face was dyed bright red with anger and opened and shut his mouth to no purpose.

Serisawa sunk the boot in him even more.

"Which means, these guys are your brother's henchmen? I didn't really think you would call your Aniki. You’re such a looser, it's kind of cool."

"Sh - shut up! It's too late to apologize now! For the likes of you, in one shot, Aniki will -"

"Ahh - yes, yes. Just call your brother already - Where are you, Onii-chan with super powers?"

"Mo - mother fucker....." Takashi began losing it at the speech looking down on him from the bottom of the heart.

"That's enough, Takashi. Leave the rest to me."

"A - Aniki."

Hearing the voice that reached from the back, Takashi regained his confidence.

"I trust you, Aniki! Turn them all to ash in one go!"

"All right"

Replying with a reassuring nod, one man appeared. That silhouette stared at the trio - a pitiless stare.

He was most likely in the latter half of his teens. His hair was bright orange and was standing up. He was wearing black leather pants and a deep crimson leather coat.

Coupled together with the orange hair, his appearance was really standing out. So much that you couldn't mistake him for another even at a distance of a hundred meters.

Sneakily, Serisawa and Kanon started speaking but in such a way that the opponent could clearly hear.

"Hey, what kind of cosplay do you think that is?"

"I don't know but I saw that pose, when facing the camera, appear at O-Bon and the last year International Exhibition Hall. He doesn't seem embarrassed, huh?"

".....Hey, damn brats," the man growled, deviating from the plan, his temple veins showing.

After all, since he was Takashi's brother, his capacity wasn't all that great.

Seeing through that, the duo got carried away even more.

"Hey, orange head Onii-chan, who do you cosplay? A game character? Or maybe anime?"

"Is that bad taste coat your casual wear? Are you really walking around dressed like that? No way - I can't believe it!"

Serisawa laughed like a horse while Kanon covered her sneer with her hand. For a man with a pretty low boiling point that was more than enough stimulation.

"You sons of bitches! I won't forgive you!"

Raising an angry roar, the man released his ''power''. The flame spirits drawn to him with brute force screamed in agony.

But as if not hearing that, the man kneaded the spirits being scrapped together.

In the man's surroundings, the air started flickering like a heat haze - and then, a deep crimson flame appeared.

"Se - seriously?" Serisawa murmured with a nervous face. Almost at the same time, as if trying to drown down his voice, from every direction cheers erupted.

"Waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah"~

"Kill! Kill! Kill!"

"Roast them! Colour them black! Turn them to ash!"

"Show us something flashy today too!"

Responding to the shouts of joy intoxicated in bloodlust, the man yelled.

"Yeaah, leave it to me!"

As if acting in concert with that scream, the fire gathered in both his palms. That curling flame raised its density, adjusted its shape and turned to high speed rotation fire bullets.

"Eat them, ''Fiiiiiiire Buuuuuleeeet''!"

The man spread his arms on a grand scale and threw the two softball-sized fireballs with a sidearm pitch.

The moment they were separated from his hand, the bullets accelerated as if repelled. The fireballs that left a flight afterimage headed to Kanon and Serisawa with a speed impossible to evade.

"It's dangerous!"

But, Ren reacted instantly and thrust both of them away, removing them from the fireball trajectory. Ren evaded them by slipping through the space between the fireballs and survived without problems.

"Hooo, aren't you good! Being able to dodge the <<Fire bullet>>!"

"What the heck are you thinking!!"

Ren scowled with an intense expression the man who raised his voice in compliment.

"Openly using Jutsu in public - and even attacking children! If you're also a Practitioner, understand how moderation works!"

"Ahhh? What's a Practitioner?"

At the unexpected retort, Ren unintentionally became speechless.

Laughing scornfully at the petrified Ren, the man introduced himself loudly.

"I am <<The Fire Leader>>! The supreme monarch that controls fire! You have no right to complain, no matter who I burn! Because there's no one in this world who can order the King!"

Looking dumbfounded at <<The Fire Leader>> laughing loudly, Ren was voluntarily greatly perplexed.

"Waaaah, he's the worst.........this man is ''dokkaku''...."

Dokkaku is a term derived from Buddhism and represents the people that made ascetic practices and reached Enlightment without the guidance of a teacher.

Of course, the truth that they barely managed to reach through that kind of process doesn't go beyond the impression of selfishness.

The same way, in the world of magic, the people who reached the manifestation of their power without any kind of instruction are also called this.

These kind of people, because they don't have anyone around them to compare to, have a tendency to think about their power as the greatest thing ever.

And then, they start a new religion by calling themselves ''The son of God'' and intend to exterminate mankind while under the impression they are ''the pioneers of progress''' and tend heavily to behave like a tyrant.

The man that stood before him was a stereotypical example of that.

"Well, are you ready?"

Punctuating the moment with a wild laugh, the man lifts his power a second time.

"Thanks for tormenting my little brother! I'll burn all three of you! Eat this, ''Phoenix Wing''!!"

<<The Fire Leader>> raised his hands to the sky. The fire spirits that were gathered beyond that point, embodied a bird in flames.

It was big. Its wing length exceeds three meters.

The phoenix moulded with delicate details like a living thing - and the heat loaded inside - Ren immediately saw through the fact that in was capable of perfectly burning three people to nothing.

"Get down!"

Covering up for Kanon and Serisawa, Ren confronted the fire bird. A huge quantity of heat that approached flapping its large wings. If a normal human were to take a direct hit from it would be turned to cinders. But -

"Disappear!"

At Ren's one command the fire bird scattered and vanished

"Whaaaat!?"

"Please don't get carried away. That sort of bluff jutsu doesn't even pass as the real Enjutsu."

"E - Enjutsu, you say..."

With a backward glance at <<The Fire Leader>> who murmured so with shock, Ren seized the broken fragments of the fire bird.

A slight pain travelled in his palm. ''Something'' mixed with the flame burned his skin.

Ren knew that feeling first-hand. A counterfeit pain that burned a regular human, the white hot sensation that polluted even the soul.

''"Youki !? What is happening?"''

Youki, the essence given by demonic beings - that is, the <<Ki>> of nonhuman life. It was something fundamentally different from simple evil concept like hatred, grudge and such.

It alternated the body of those with piles of experience, but different from the case of a black Jutsushi in the process of shedding his humanity, an amateur Jutsushi that only barely woken his powers was not supposed to be clad in it.

"- Let's go."

Finding it difficult to wait and see, Ren started a light attack. More than ten fireballs manifested instantly, leaving an afterimage.

The Jutsu composition and the shooting speed were both in a different league from <<The Fire Leader>>.

Unable to even recognise the fireballs, the man stood rock still simply dumbfounded.

"Waah!?"

But in spite of the fact that he clearly had not noticed it, from the body of <<The Fire Leader>>, a great number of flames were generated and intercepted Ren's Jutsu with unmatched accuracy.

Faced with the point blank explosion, the man finally noticed he was being attacked. For a little while his line of sight loitered around, not understanding what happened but abruptly he declared triumphantly, throwing out his chest.

"How naïve! Did you think that degree of offensive could knock down ''Me''?"

The convenient explanation that his power was invocated by an unconscious defensive instinct seemed self-sufficient.

"........."

Ren ignored the man's words and reflected on the phenomenon that just happened.

That power was obviously invoked without the intent of the person itself. A Youki coiling around. There was only one deduction he could make.

''"He's possessed by a Youma?"''

The man who called himself <<The Fire Leader>> seemed only to borrow the power of the Youma that lived off him like a parasite. But as he was proudly boasting of ''his own power'' he clearly didn't realise that.

"That's nasty..."

It was not something that was possible to occur by chance. Without a doubt, someone deceived this man and turned him into the object the Youma occupies, ready to be eaten in the near future.

He couldn't let that be.

He was bothered by the fact he let his power rampage but this man was unmistakeably a victim.

But, in front of Ren who decided to save him no matter what -

"Still, you're pretty good. It's been a long time since I met someone who could defend against my power."

The man got excited by himself. Expressing a smile that was supposed to be daring, he spoke dramatic words.

"Your power has the same attribute as mine - <<Fire>> - but you're also a senior class? Enjutsu-shi, you said?"

"- Senior class?"

"Isn't that right? That Vesalius mother fucker hid the fact there were other classes. What about you? Were you selected? Is <<Enjutsushi>> a higher class than <<The Fire Leader>>?"

''"Vesalius"''

Ren bore in mind that name. It seems he was the one who made this man be possessed by a Youma and the name of the man he absolutely had to bring down.

"Just what kind of person he is........that man?"

"Are you playing dumb? Whatever. I'll make you talk soon enough. Don't get cocky just because you're a senior class like me! It had nothing to do with class and level - because I, '''I''' am the most powerful!"

"No, I don't care about that, about that person named Vesalius......it's impossible?"

Observing the man endlessly excited, Ren understood persuasion was meaningless. Reluctantly, he took a posture preparing for offensive.

<<The Fire Leader>> shouted.

"Gooo! The ultimate secret, ''Flame Vortex''!!"

A crimson flame, coiling in swirls attacked Ren. Without shaming its mane, the ultimate mystery, its caloric value was fairly high - meaning, compared to the ones until now.

[[File:Kaze no Stigma vol 04 181.jpg|thumb|]]

"- Really"

While letting out a sigh, Ren stopped the ''Flame Vortex'' with one hand.

"Wh - Whaaaaaaaaat!?"

In front of the flame pushed back at him, <<The Fire Leader>> opened his eyes wide in surprise. As Ren's own power was added to it, that seemed to change into a golden helix.

"Wa - waaaaaaaaaaaaaa!!"

At the fire torrent that filled his vision, <<The Flame Leader>> prepared himself to death.

Piercing even through his tightly closed eyes, the golden flame burned his retina. The feeling of scorching heat pierced through something in his body.

But the pain he expected to come didn't hurt him in the end. Timidly, he half opened his eyes and the golden flame was already gone without trace.

"Wh -wha - ahh."

Confused for a short while, he realised the unsightly shape of his body, curled down like a turtle, and stood up.

"You - you son of a bitch! Don't make fun of me! You speak so proudly, but your technique is nothing more but a bluff."

"This wasn't a bluff."

Intended to cool down the indignant man or maybe to provoke him even more, Ren replied with a serene expression.

"It played out just as it supposed to. Because from the start, I didn't intend to be your opponent."

"Whaat?"

"More important, answer my questions. What kind of person is Vesalius? From the process used to give you power, to the features of his appearance, tell me in detail -"

"....Mother fucker......." squeezed the man out through the gap between his teeth.

Finally he reached the conclusion that until now he was the only one excited and recognised that Ren didn't even consider him a worthy opponent.

"Did you think I was out and over!? Don't fuck with me! I am <<The Fire Leader>>! Don't put me together with some small fish!"

His body trembling in anger as his inflated pride took a critical hit, the man released his power.

"''Shining Toooooooooorrent'' - ahh?"

But, the white light tornado that was supposed to come out couldn’t be even glimpsed.

"Wh - what? I don't have enough MP? Then, ''Fire Bullet''!"

It had the same result. The flame couldn't be brought forth. No matter how much he tried, he couldn't feel the response of collected power.

"It's useless," Ren informed the confused man.

"You have already lost your ability to manipulate fire. I got rid of it"

The essence of the Kannagi's power is the secret capacity of purifying and destroying all evil.

The flame Ren released before didn't affect <<The Fire Leader>> at all and only burned to nothing the demonic presence. Of course, the ability to manipulate the flame didn't remain.

"Im - Impossible! How on earth.......a seal? Or you neutralised it?"

"It makes no sense to play around with game terminology. It's time you face reality."

Those cold words were the sentence that ended the dream.

The letters <<Game Over>> flickered in his brain and the virtual character called <<The Flame leader>> vanished.

After that, only the human, Takamatsu Kyoshi, was left behind.

Ordinary and powerlessness, he was nothing but one of those many faces in the crowd.

"No......it's impossible......"

As Kyoshi trembled with the shock of loss, Ren slowly approached. Around him a golden flame flickered playfully.

"Hi....hiii...!"

Before the vibrant clarity, there was the sudden change of composition. Degraded to powerlessness spoils Kyoshi let out a wretched voice and looked up at Ren.

Ren was what he yesterday was. If he felt inclined to kill, he could easily kill him. Like trampling on an ant, just like he did before, very easily -

He looked around him. All the gathered underlings have fled, already disappearing without a trace. Nearby there was the silhouette of his brother, fallen on his back but it was clear he was useless.

"Do - Don't kill me........"

Without shame or honour, Kyoshi got down on his hands and knees, begging for forgiveness. For him, the man who lost all his power, there was no other way to survive.

"Anything.......I'll do anything..........so please........"

"Ah - Well......."

Confused by Kyoshi's sudden change of attitude, Ren unintentionally stepped back. Turning his way a gaze as if looking at an unstable man, he said.

"You have no power anymore, so I don't intend to hurt you further."

"Re - Really?" Kyoshi suddenly raised his face and shouted in a voice overflowing delight.

"Ye - Yeah. But I have some questions for you and I would be glad if you could answer them honestly."

"Ask me anything!!" nodded Kyoshi bracing himself.

Although the bizarre atmosphere increased a notch, Ren fired his question.

"Then, first of all about that Vesalius person. He's the one who gave you this power, right? Tell me everything about that."

".....Why, ask such a thing?"

When he heard Ren's question, Kyoshi asked back in wonder.

"Aren't you the same ～ Didn't Vesalius gave you your power at Pandemonium? And then you class changed after increasing your level?"

"Aah - I'm the one asking questions ～ "

Ren expressed an unsuitable ''cynical smile'' and gave a clumsy warning.

It was clear from his attitude that he wasn't used to this kind of interrogation but to Kyoshi who regarded him like his previous self, the effect was tremendous.

"Hiii - I'm sorry, I'm sorry."

Inside Ren he (involuntary) labelled Kyoshi's menial apology as foul play.

".........So, what is ''Pandemonium''?"

"Pa - Pandemonium is......an internet site.......sir."

"No need for honorifics - Internet?"

"Y - Yes.......I found it by chance. And then I was asked: ''Do you want power?'' I answered with YES. I thought it was a joke. I thought it was a peculiar formality. And then an odd pattern appeared on the screen and when I looked at it I fell asleep. And then when I woke up I had this power. It's true. It's not a lie, believe me..."

"........."

Ignoring the tedious talk that seemed to continue forever, Ren looked at the man's facial expression. He did not seem to lie.

Meaning, if that was the truth -

''"The Youma was converted to digital data and summoned through the internet?"''

It seemed to resemble more and more a game, so maybe it was like that. That must be the truth.

In a word, this man wasn't used as a Youma sacrifice but summoned the Youma from his own volition and contracted with it. It appears that was the form it took.

'''Do you want power?'''

The moment he answered that question with '''Yes''' Kyoshi made the pact to hand over his soul.

Of course, it was a defective contract. Using this coercive method, even the soul of a normal person without any kind of protection from the spirits cannot be taken immediately.

But that applies only once.

The allurement continues.

Even if a person is not influenced by the devilishness, a human being that owns a convenient power desires even more power.

Without deeply thinking what sort of compensation will be taken from them.

Until the time everything will be taken from them, they will continue requesting power.

"I see......that was done skilfully."

Ren let out a murmur of admiration.

A trap set at random on the network. Kyoshi can't be the only victim.

Just how many people have offered their soul for an hour of pleasure -

"Wh - what........"

Suddenly calming down, finding fault with his ears, Kyoshi looked up with an uneasy gaze at Ren.

"Ahh, that's no concern of yours. Don't worry about it."

Ren casually waved his hand, obstructing the investigation.

"So, let's go back to the story. Let me see........first, tell me the address of this Pandemonium."

"I don't know it."

"........."

Ren stared very long at Takamatsu, who answered immediately. Overpowered by his glance, Takamatsu talked on and on, losing his head.

"I - I really don't know! While I was unconscious back then the connection was cut and when I looked at the history log there was nothing........everyone says the same, it's true!"

"Everyone?"

"There's an information exchange bulletin board for those like me, who received power from Pandemonium. That's what I heard there. There's no one who accessed Pandemonium a second time. We arrived at it by chance."

"What you say is that that site has no direct connection with Pandemonium?"

"Yes. The admin is the same as us."

Although experiencing some discomfort when hearing the word ''us'' as if it was said they were the same kind of thing, Ren asked again:

"The address?"

"It's in my phone."

"Give it to me."

After one glance at the phone presented to him, Ren tossed it into the pocket of his high school uniform.

"I'll keep this. I think that's all I wanted to ask but -"

Inaudible, Kyoshi let out a breath.

"As you wish."

"By the way, what else is on that bulletin board?"

"Nothing really important. After all, it's a gathering of guys like me who don't know much. So, stuff like reasoning about this power's true colours, boasts about level or ability, battle appointments and -"

"Battle? Do you fight between yourselves?"

"Yeah, because it has a lot of XP."

"XP?", Ren asked in return.

"We receive e-mails about how to use our power. Like ''You received X experience points''"

"The sender?"

"It's Pandemonium. Of course there's no mail address."

"..........."

"So, when we collect enough experience points, we level up. When we level up enough, we class change."

"........Are you one of the senior classes?"

"Yes. I changed class from the basic <<Ignition Man>> to the <<Fire Leader>>. It was very hard accumulating so many experience points."

"..........Is that so?"

At the excessively game-like setting, Ren was unintentionally perplexed. But, although the setting was clichéd, that's not an usual way a Jutsushi is represented in reality.

''"But - What purpose does this -"''

Ren can't guess the objective of this Jutsushi called Vesalius. What meaning does it have to mass-produce people with special power in those like Kyoshi, people without discernment?

Is he just a criminal who takes pleasure in people's reaction to his crimes?

Although he knew it was meaningless, Ren asked his only source of information.

"What sort of person is Vesalius? Tell me everything you know."

"Uh huh."

As if sorting his memory, Kyoshi cast his eyes down in silence. Patiently Ren waited until the man opened his mouth.

""He was a imposing son of a bitch. All his speech and gestures were theatrical."

And then Kyoshi started narrating. In more detail than Ren expected.

"Something like platinum blonde? He had long silver hair practically colourless and a red mask on his face. Because he was disguised I couldn’t see his face."

"That's very specific. You didn't meet him personally, right?"

"No, I met him."

"Where?"

"At Pandemonium."

".........."

From the story until now Pandemonium was supposed to be an internet site.

"Please don't tell me your spirit navigated in the Internet world ～"

Normally he would laugh at this but in the present Shinjuku the common sense of the game world is overlooked. He couldn't affirm that it wasn't true.

But Kyoshi shook his head at that question.

"It's not like that. For a class change we had no choice but to go to Pandemonium. That's where I met him."

"................."

Ren stared very long at the man who concealed such an important piece of information until now. Pressed by that eloquent gaze, Kyoshi waved his hand in confusion.

"Ahh, I didn't particularly want to hide it. The order of the story, its logic, we still haven't -"

"Excuses don't matter. In other words, Pandemonium doesn't exist only on the Internet but also in reality, right?"

"Aaah. But I don't know where it is."

" - You still say that?" Ren groaned with a fed-up voice.

He imagined this would happen but still felt considerably depressed unable to track this down.

"N - No, hear me out! It couldn't be helped, you know?"

Turning a flattering gaze to him, Kyoshi defended himself desperately.

"I walked around instructed by mail, and before I knew I was lost and then I realised a residence with a Pandemonium written sign was in front of my eyes."

".........."

Letting out his irritation together with an exhalation, Ren regained his calm.

He understood getting angry right now was pointless. This clearly went exactly as Vesalius wanted it to.

Kyoshi's perception and cognisance, or possibly the space itself was warped so he wouldn't find out Pandemonium's real location.

It was impossible for an amateur like Kyoshi to go against such a practitioner who could exercise such large scale magic tricks.

"Have you seen something around Pandemonium? Or better, have you seen the outside scenery from inside Pandemonium?"

"..........."

With a face that seemed to have some clue, Kyoshi shut his mouth. With a smile Ren said:

"Keeping secrets won't help you."

"..............It's not a lie."

After a few more seconds of silence passed, Kyoshi spoke in a sulky voice. At that ''he won't believe me either way '' tone, Ren returned a bitter smile.

"The story until now is plenty absurd already. At this point I don't worry about common sense anymore so please tell me what you saw exactly."

"......After leaving Pandemonium's terrace, I saw the outside scenery."

While still hesitating, Kyoshi started speaking slowly.

"It was Shinjuku, I think. But it was extremely high. I looked from the terrace of the second floor but I could see the rooftop of all building standing in a row."

"....So it was on the rooftop of some skyscraper."

"That's impossible. I don't remember using stairs or an elevator, besides -"

"Yes?"

"On both sides of the mansion, identical towers were built."

"Towers?"

Hearing such unexpected words, Ren asked back starring in puzzlement.

"Yeah. Those buildings were slender, towers of twenty stores at most. With entirely the same shape, left and right, they were erected as if to hold Pandemonium in between"

"Hmmmm......."

Without saying anything, Ren gave a half-hearted answer. Was there in Shinjuku such a building, one from where one could see the rooftops of the other buildings?

"H - hey....."

Absorbed for a short while in meditation, Kyoshi called out to him in a flattering voice.

"It's fine, right? I told you everything I know. Please let me go."

Looking down at the pitiful man with sober eyes, Ren quickly made his decision.

He asked him everything he wanted. He could be identified through his brother, so letting him go now wasn't a big problem. Besides -

"That's right. I'm sorry for taking your time. You can go now."

With a smiling face that didn't reveal his true intentions, Ren permitted his departure.

At that moment, Kyoshi ran away at high speed. Without hesitation he abandoned his brother and didn't turn around even for a second, that sort of commendable escape.

"Wa - wait for me, Aniki!"

After a few seconds, Takashi calmed down and ran after his brother. Of course, nobody was actually chasing them.

=== Part 4 ===

"Was it OK to let them go?"

When the silhouettes of the brothers disappeared from view, Kanon and Serisawa approached from the little farther away spot they were watching the show from.

At Kanon's question, implying it may be dangerous to let them be, Ren replied with a smile.

"It's fine. They'll probably be arrested quickly anyway."

"Arrested? By who?"

"By the police."

"Wasn't the police unable to deal with magic stuff?"

"That's not true anymore. There is a department that deals with black magic and spiritual disaster. I'll report them today so they will probably be caught before the day is over."

Replying with a smiling face to Serisawa, who also joined the conversation, for some reason their faces became stiff.

"- What's up?"

"W - What, you ask..."

"Because Ren-kun wasn't so determined before,"

"Really? Then I'm glad. Because I can't continue being a spoiled brat forever."

Seeming glad from the bottom of his heart, Ren smiled with all his face.

Although faltering in front of Ren's unexpected growth and bearing, Kanon and Serisawa weren't mesmerized by that smile.

"So, what to do from now on?"

"Eeh, what do you mean?"

At Kanon's question, who already pulled herself together, Ren didn't have a smile.

Even if something must be done about this, he can't do anything about it today. For now he will return to the household and report this, and by using Tokyo MPD's Special Investigation Unit there's no choice but to investigate it.

While thinking that, Kanon looked up at Ren and showed a proud smile.

"You know, from what that guy said I know where to find that place."

"- Really? Where is it?"

But, as if dodging the question Kanon turned her back to Ren.

"What to do? - If Ren-kun will kiss me I may as well tell him........"

"Eeh........."

"Wait a second!"

Kanon's daring request was attacked by a threatening voice and an excessively huge leg. Kanon promptly prepared her body and escaped the huge foot sole, drawing near.

"......Hey, you're in the way"

Kanon glared up at Serisawa's large build, who blocked her way as if trying to protect Ren, with a penetrating cold gaze.

A glare that did not see a fellow human but an obstacle that must be eliminated. Her eyes were still.

But even so, Serisawa didn’t flinch. Fired up by the decision to protect his precious friend, he boldly opposed the evil witch.

"There's neither negligence nor chance. Because of this, you won't be alone with Ren anymore. You're too dangerous."

"It's not like I asked for your permission."

"Shut up, you harlot!"

Using random old-fashioned disparaging words that God knows where he learned them from, Serisawa abused Kanon.

"If you really think so highly of Ren, then I'll teach you not to use bargaining points with him. That's why I say women are dishonest!"

"Humph," Kanon faltered as he touched a nerve.

It was a fair argument. Even though there was lip service involved, it was still a fair argument so she couldn't refute it.

"Won't you tell me, Suzuhara-san ~"

What's more, Kanon had no way to resist to Ren's ''request''.

"If you were to at least call me Kanon, I'll give yu both my body and my heart."

"Aah......ahahahahahahahaha....maybe at a different time. All right?"

Disciplining his smiling face that already became stiff as Kanon drew near with a peevish expression, Ren smoothly recovered his serious look.

"- So?"

"It's just as Ren-kun was about to guess."

"Being on top of a building, you mean?"

"Oi, oi, don't spout such stupidity. In what world there's a building with raised from the rooftop."

Serisawa didn't notice yet. But taking advantage of those words, Ren arrived at the right answer.

A building with two towers raised from the rooftop - there was definitely such a building in Shinjuku.

"The Tokyo Government Office!"

At the involuntarily shouting Ren, Kanon clapped her hands giving praise to him.

"What? Aah, I see."

Late by several seconds, Serisawa finally noticed.

Towering over the Shinjuku's governmental district, the most important governmental office of the Tokyo Metropolitan Area - to put it simply this building had the form of the ''Ou'' (concave) character.

Having forty eight floors above ground, from the thirty third floor upward tho neighbouring towers reached the heaven.

Between the south and north tower there was a huge emplty space. If they were to stand there they would definitely see the scenery Kyoshi described.

"But, there's nothing there...."

"How stupid! It can be concealed with magic. Right?"

"Yeah. Maybe."

"I know, right? Then -"

"No."

Kanon's delighted words, Ren interrupted them softly but clearly.

"From here on, I'll go alone."

"Ehh - But....."

"Suzuhara-san."

With a slightly troubled expression Ren called attention to the whining Kanon.

Sensing the solid determination inside that soft word, reluctantly, Kanon gave up following him.

"Take care, all right."

"It's fine. I won't do something so rash as going by myself. I'll just scout out a bit. Well then, see you tomorrow."

Assuring them he won't behave recklessly, Ren started running aiming at the Tokyo Government Office. Because he was in a hurry, after that trivial farewell, he never looked back.

That's why he didn't notice. Although seeing Ren off, without even looking at each other the duo exchanged accomplice smiles.

When arriving at the Tokyo Government Office, Ren asked the lady at the reception about his purpose - the space between the north and south tower.

But, the answer was ruthless.

As she said: ''"There's nothing there, you can't go there"''

Of course, there is an entrance for work but right now he has no time to forcibly or maybe through political power push in. Ren left the reception desk and took the elevator.

Of course, the place of destination was the thirty third floor. The level separated in two was the lowest one.

If he were to go there, he thought he could peek at that place through the window but there was no window. When looking at the information board, he saw that one section of the opening turned into a conference room. As expected, he cannot enter it without permission.

''"What am I supposed to do ? If it's the outside window will I be able to see it?"''

The forty fifth floors of the Tokyo Government Office - both North and South, had a general opened window.

If it's there, it may be possible to see. After thoroughly investigating the thirtieth floor, Ren abandoned that method.

For one moment Ren returned to the first floor. It was impossible to go to the viewing room without taking a direct elevator.

Lightly greeting the elevator girl with a smile plastered on her face, he boarded the elevator going for the north tower. The elevator rose nonstop until the forty fifth floor, opened its doors again and let out the passenger.

When exiting the elevator, he met three people. One was another elevator girl and the other two were -

[[File:Kaze no Stigma vol 04 205.jpg|thumb|]]

"Yo, Ren."

"You are late, what are you doing?"

As Ren involuntarily staggered, he hit his head on one side of the elevator wall. At that the elevator girl came rushing.

"Dear customer? How are you feeling?"

"Th - this is nothing. Don't worry about it."

Sending away the elevator girl by waving is hand, Ren looked at his two friends, that were supposedly prohibited from coming.

"Why are you here?"

As Ren pressed her for an answer, Kanon feigned thorough ignorance.

"Eeeh, Shinjuku sightseeing of something?"

"It's not ''or something'', right?"

As expected she couldn't deceive him. Holding Kanon's glaze he glared at her with a stern expression.

"It's dangerous, you know!?"

"But I saw Ren-kun's gallant figure. And then you said there's no danger if it's only scouting."

"That may be true but...."

There is a discrepancy between what is dangerous for Kanon and what is dangerous for Ren. Understanding it was useless trying to explain such things, Ren shut his mouth. As they chased after him while pretending to go home it seems pointless to send them away now.

Accepting the reality with a sigh, Ren asked the question that suddenly came to his mind.

"By the way, how did you know I will be here?"

"There's no other place from where one is able to see, right?"

Kanon's answer was clear.

"You didn't discuss how to enter the place didn't ask and because it's Ren-kun, you wouldn't forcibly try to enter, right? That's why there was no place to go but the sightseeing room."

"But there's also a sightseeing room in the south tower."

"The other one is opened until five."

As expected, Kanon concluded with clarity.

"Although there's no question there's more than thirty minutes, isn't that what a person would normally choose? That's why we came to the north tower who is opened until nine."

Giving the impression ''It's a simple thing, Watson-kun'', Kanon displayed her reasoning. Ren gave up raising both his hands.

"You caught me, Holmes."

"Fu fu fu....come here then."

Kanon started walking in order to catch Ren's hands. Serisawa waited on her path.

"I don't see from here. It's somewhat obscure."

Serisawa pointed at the window he occupied until now. Ren bent over overlooking that place.

Surely, it was hard to see. Although the north and south towers had an octagon shape, there was no window on the walls facing each other.

Inevitably, they had a forty five degree viewing angle.

But even so, when looking out clinging to the window, they could perceive all of the place in question. There were some bling spots but they could compensate for those from the window on the opposite side.

"...It's not there."

"It's not."

Already having confirmed it, Serisawa and Kanon separated from the window after a fleeting glance. Ren persevered a bit longer but unable to perceive any abnormality, he turned around as expected.

"Did you found something?"

"Nothing."

Ren lightly shrugged his shoulders. From the beginning he didn't expect to find out something only by looking.

As Ren is an Enjutsushi, he doesn't have the ability to see through a high grade concealment that can warp space.

"Then, what are we going to do?"

"Right. There's no point having come here just to go back like this. Maybe I'll push a little bit."

Surprised by the confident speech, Kanon unexpectedly opened her eyes wide. But Ren was sticking to the window again so she immediately pulled herself together and stood next to him. Serisawa followed naturally.

Overlooking the scenery underneath him, Ren concentrated his mind.

Is Pandemonium really there? And if it's there, by what means did it concealed its appearance? - Ren has no ability to smell it out. But still.

''"There no need to see it. It doesn't matter if I can't grasp it"''

The phenomenon induced by the Spirit Magic is not a simple natural phenomenon.

Kazuma's wind can tear open dimensions, and when Ayano battled with a gravitation user she managed to pull of the stunt of burning the warped space itself.

A strongly sharpened will can undermine the laws of physics. That is the quintessence of the magic foundation.

Even if he can't see anything, even if he can't feel anything -

''"As long as there is something there - no matter what it is, I can <<burn it>>!"''

A golden fireball was born in the air. Although it happened somewhat farther from the building, it was pulled from east to west leaving an afterimage and pierced the opening between the north and south towers.

Together with a faint response, a soundless noise reached back and the space trembled. And then -

"Ah!"

Spontaneously Kanon screamed.

For a second - only for a second, inside the flickering space an old western style house could be seen in the gap.

"Ren-kun, just now - !"

Ren nodded carefully, and separated his body from the window.

''"Bingo !"''

He had no doubt. The enemy's headquarters, Pandemonium, was here.

He cannot be involved with this game of slapping cards any longer. It was when he was thinking about returning home as quickly as possible and report it.

"Wasn't your knock a bit too rude, boy?"

From behind, a low and composed voice reached his ears.

Ren's field of vision, promptly turning around, was instantly enveloped in darkness. Just before his consciousness was engulfed in darkness together with his vision - Ren's shape disappeared from the sightseeing room.

<noinclude>

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| Back to [[Kaze_no_Stigma:Volume4_Chapter_2|Chapter 2]]
| Return to [[Kaze_no_Stigma|Main Page]]
| Forward to [[Kaze_no_Stigma:Volume4_Chapter_4|Chapter 4]]
|-
|}
</noinclude>

Kaze no Stigma:Volume4 Chapter 1

2013-12-26T23:31:41Z

86.20.14.91: /* Chapter 1 - A certain cameraman's day */

== Chapter 1 - A certain cameraman's day ==

=== Part 1 ===

"Ugh, why are you always like that?"

"Don't say vague words such as ''like that''. Was there a problem?"

"A big one, you baka! You're always, always forcing everything on me! To think that just by standing there you get paid, don't you think of apologizing to the diligent working people?"

"Not at all."

"You low-life scoundreeeeeell!"

The girl's angry roar, rumbled in a big way.

It happened during the evening, in front of the Shinjuku Station. The lovely girl's scream, became the focal point for the people passing through.

"Ah."

Belatedly realizing she became the target of attention, the girl's face became colored with shame.

"You're the center of attention."

The man who seemed to accompany her, nonchalantly informed her. For a second time the girl frowned but being careful of the surroundings this time, she said in a whisper.

"Who- whose fault is it?"

"It's yours, yours, yours. Don't shift the responsibility."

"Uuu.......a- anyway, we're changing the place."

The girl took the man's hand and left that place behind as if running.

Without being particularly unusual, a commonplace act found anywhere.

But this was the beginning of everything.

"Go- good grief......I was so embarrassed."

While out of breath because of the powerful sprint, the girl glared at the man standing next to her.

The man, while running the same distance at the same speed, with no indication of heavy breath, he replied calmly.

"I already told you it was your fault. Don't complain to me."

"A- aren't you in the wrong for not working seriously?"

In short, it was like that.

The girl's name was Kannagi Ayano. The man's name was Yagami Kazuma.

Their occupation is to exorcise evil and protect the world from harm.

As the man's motto was ''earn money with ease'', for people that possess first class battle abilities like Ayano, whom he met during work, he doesn't hesitate to bear the stigma of a salary thief.

That's what happened this time. Without literally raising a finger Kazuma watched over Ayano like a sightseer frivolously ridiculing the seriously fighting Ayano.

Being too serious and having pride towards herself as a practitioner, Ayano couldn't forgive Kazuma's attitude.

"J- just stop it already you low-life scoundrel!!!"

Which means her anger exploded in the already familiar way.

What happened until now can be called an ordinary scene. But -

"That's no good, making your woman work while you have it easy, such a windward man is no good."

"Eh?"

Called out from an unexpected direction, Ayano frowned with a twitch. Turning her face around, a strange man before his twenties, with a sloppy smile, approached grinning.

"Forget about that useless man and come with me. I'll make you happy."

''.....What, a flirt.....''

Ayano instantly lost her interest for the man. Ignoring him, she turned to where Kazuma was. But - no one was there.

Watching around even more, the ''useless man'' was putting a coin into a vending machine.

"Hey.", said Ayano in a crushed to death tone.

But even so, without changing his facial expression Kazuma took a sip of the Oolong tea, enjoyed the cold liquid reaching his neck, sampled its flavor in full and finally answered.

"......What?"

"It's not ''.......what?'' is it!? Why, when I'm being involved with a left-over inferior man, are you ignoring it without taking any sort of position!?"

"Don't say that. The job is already finished, so I don't think I have any obligation to protect you."

In spite of absolutely not protecting her during the job, Kazuma said so, shamelessly.

Of course, Ayano can't be deceived with those words.

"This has nothing to do with work. Every man had the duty to protect the girl he's with at the same time!"

"I think that sort of sexual discrimination has no logic. To begin with, one or two dozen of skirt-chasers makes no difference for you right?"

"That's why I told you that's not it! With the technique of escorting a young woman - any man of caliber should care about that!"

"That caliber should be fine even without asking."

While arguing noisily both of them naturally took their leave.

The skirt chaser saw them off dumbfounded, but after finally noticing something he shouted with grim eyes.

"W- wait you!!"

".........."

".........."

Stopping at the same time, both turned around with bored expressions.

"Why couldn't he watch us off quietly?"

"He's really an idiot that can't read the atmosphere."

"You....you!!"

Completely made fun of, the man's face flushed bright red. Of course, not being ashamed because he doesn't know his standing.

Gripping his fists, the man drew closer with a rough gait. No matter how you look at it, he wasn't in the disposition to flirt with Ayano anymore.

"Really......"

Letting out a bothersome sigh, Kazuma took a step forward. It seems he intended to become the man's opponent but from that figure, standing there with one Oolong tea can in his hand, no tension can be felt.

"You should pick your partner a little better. It's impossible to get this woman through flirting you know?"

".........What does that mean?"

At his tone that was definitely not praising her, while her temples were twitching, Ayano pressed a question.

Kazuma answered with nonchalantly.

"It means that your behavior is firm, that you're a very level-headed Ojou-sama."

"............."

With a pure white look, Ayano stared at Kazuma very long.

"Say that again while looking into my eyes."

"Sorry, that's impossible."

An immediate reply. Furthermore, he adverted his eyes making an unnatural face.

''"Kazuma?"''

With a sweet smile but while her temple veins were pulsing Ayano grabbed Kazuma's collar.

She pulled Kazuma closer with a superhuman strength her slender arms didn't seem capable of and glared at him point blank, their faces very close.

No matter how those two think about it, that was from the start nothing more but a lover's quarrel.

What's more, they didn't even pay attention to the existence of the man drawing closer.

His very small pride stepped over, the skirt chaser's face was warped with anger.

"Yooooooooouuuuu!!"

Glaring at the two huddling closer preparing to kiss, the man struck.

But, just before the attack reached, Kazuma gently pushed Ayano aside and retreated himself, using that recoil.

The man's fist and then his body slipped through the space between those two.

First his fist and then his upper body and then the lower half of his body went through.

Nonchalantly, with his foot left in place, Kazuma swiped the man's feet.

"Gee!?"

Unable to defend, the man lively fell down. And soundlessly meeting him half-way, using the pointed end of his tiptoe, Kazuma kicked the man's jaw.

" - gh!"

Raising a voiceless shriek, he fell flat, the white of his eyes showing.

Without even making sure of the conclusion, Kazuma turned back to Ayano.

"Well, let's go."

"Yeah."

Heartless, the two started walking leaving the fainted man as it is. But, after advancing a few steps, Kazuma suddenly stopped.

"What happened?"

Without answering Ayano, Kazuma turned back unusually slow. Ayano too, followed his gaze, and looked at the same thing he was.

''" - Why?"''

Ayano inclined her head a little. There's no mistake about it, Kazuma's kick shot the lights out of the man's jaw.

That man's cranium and his brain were violently shaken inside and he wouldn't be conscious for at least an hour.

"Hmmm - "

Icily looking at the man that was recovering with an unusual speed, Kazuma pushed out his Oolong tea to Ayano.

"Hold it."

"Ah, yeah," nodding obediently Ayano took the can.

Fleetingly looking at the can in her hand, for some reason her cheeks were dyed red.

"Y- You....u...."

Looking at Ayano, although staggering, the man got up. Admirably, his sturdiness is clearly exceeding his intellect.

"You made me so angry.......I won't go easy on you - I'll kill you!"

While spouting words with no ingenuity, the man was rapidly recovering. The unfocused pupil, was glaring at Kazuma now.

" - Raah!"

Raising a strange voice, the man started running towards Kazuma. He was fast.

The movement excluding any technique based only on force and the explosive power was closer to that of a beast.

Reaching top speed in just three steps, he brandished his hardened fists.

"Dieeee!"

The fist pushed out in a straight line. Kazuma handled that with a empty handed movement, parrying by rotating. Simultaneously seizing the opponent's arm, making sure to catch his fingertips, he lightly overturned the opponent's wrist.

Only by that movement, the man's body flew in mid-air. And then, with no sign of effort put into it, he was blown off with extreme force.

By seizing a linear motion thrust with a circular one is swallowed up and the center of gravity crumbles.

This is a technique that is called Aiki in Japan and China or Hapki in Korea.

By utilizing the opponent's power, a larger amount of power can be controlled with a smaller one - that is the advantage of this power but -

<nowiki> - bekiii! -</nowiki>

But even so, how much power did that man's attack have, to be flung away with enough force to break the roadside trees he crashed into.

Kazuma looked down in silence at the man that tumbled from the nearby crashed trees. There is no negligence in those eyes. It was an expression convinced that he will definitely get up.

"Heh......hehehehehehe.....there's no use......"

As he thought, the man showed no sign of damage.

"On the me right now, human attacks don't work!"

While screaming the man took off his jumper. That body dressed in a T-shirt is skinny. But -

"Koooo......"

Together with the exhalation, the thin body rapidly grew thicker.

The over-sized T-shirt was pushed and stretched by the inflating body.

"Ooaaaa!!"

It was torn off when its limit crossed-over.

".....Is this what you call ''pump up''?" asked Ayano, lacking a sense of reality.

By repeating muscle contraction, by means of pumping large quantities of blood containing oxygen, the muscles will dramatically expand - there certainly is such a technique. But still -

"Well - did the human muscle fiber extend this much?" Kazuma returned with a bitter smile.

Practically, when seeing this you have no choice but to laugh. The man's transformation reached the limit of metamorphosis.

The thickness of his arms, the width of his chest, all his muscles, without exaggerating, swelled up more than three times.

The body, neglected because of laziness, suddenly evolved to the utmost limits of a well trained bodybuilder.

"Ku ku ku ku ....."

Expressing a full smile, the man inserted power in his muscles. The body that increased its thickness to the limit became even wider.

"You'll die you know? There's no one who survived after seeing this body!"

".........."

With sober eyes Kazuma inspected the surroundings. It was obvious but they became the target of attention for many pedestrians crossing in front of the Shijuku station.

"This is a rough estimate but a hundred people are watching you. Do you intend to kill them all?"

"Shut- shut-up!"

Since his cool line was calmly retorted, the man shouted with a red face.

"Don't talk down on me! Let's go!!"

Together with his voice, the man's figure disappeared. That's what it must have looked like through the eyes of ordinary men.

Much faster than the first charge, with a speed that obviously exceeds what a man can achieve, he dashed.

The fist pushed out a second time and Kazuma dealt with it using the same circular motion.

But, whether Aiki or Hapki, although it appears like a supernatural movement for the untrained eyes, the principle is still the same.

Even using the principle of leverage, if the opponent's power is bigger, there won't be any effect.

The man's physical strength, drastically transcended the human limits. Although Kazuma had a far better posture, even using his whole energy, he couldn't change the thrust's trajectory.

As soon as he noticed that, he moved. Diagonally stepping ahead, he moved his body from the trajectory and going even further, he went around the man's back.

The powerful fist was dodged and his slovenly stance was destroyed, leaving his back defenseless. Placing his foot on the back of the knee, Kazuma stepped on it with all his strength.

With a crumbling sound, the knee's ligament broke. But still he mercilessly stepped on it, beating the man's knee to the ground. The white tiles spread on the ground broke at the same time with the kneecap.

"Hikyaaa!"

His knee completely destroyed, the man screamed with intense pain. Maybe because of the dull sound made by the knee, his upper body arched with force to watch for Kazuma behind him.

Using the foot he broke the knee with as a pivot, Kazuma raised his elbow overhead.

The cranium that was approaching from the opposite side was attacked by Kazuma's elbow that seemed to bore a hole in it.

The <<Ki>> pumped into the cranium via that extremely violent power blow penetrated his brain and came out through the forehead.

The man's body convulsed, then fell down like a doll with broken strings and was silent.

As expected, he didn't get up this time.

"Many thanks."

"Ah, I pointlessly used my physical strength."

At Ayano's thankful words, Kazuma made a sluggish reply.

Although it was minor, because he exercised he felt thirsty and extended his hand to Ayano.

"Oolong tea."

Kazuma carelessly stretched his hand but the next second he turned his entire body around.

He noticed that Ayano's hand was empty.

"My Oolong tea?"

Cross-examined by Kazuma, Ayano's cheeks lightly colored and smiled while showing her tongue.

[[File:Kaze no Stigma vol 04 021.jpg|thumb|]]

"I drank it."

"Aah!?"

Extremely childish, Kazuma's eyes peeled openly angry.

"You, don't behave selfishly with the social standing of a rich woman! Return my Oolong tea!"

".....Still, don't you think that it's unsightly......" Ayano murmured, dejected by the excessive cheapness.

Rare nowadays, she was full of disappointment.

"Shut up. I can't stand when other people take my stuff."

"Well, leaving that aside...."

Considerably displeased, Ayano forcefully changed the topic.

"What do we do with this?"

In front of her eyes, the fallen flirty man became a mere shadow of its former self.

His flesh deflated and his body returned to the modest former self.

No, it didn't just return. Even after returning to the same shape, the muscles' atrophy didn't stop.

Thoroughly endless, as if air slipped out of it, the man's body shrunk until it turned into a creature of only skin and bone.

"Is this...the backlash of power? But he doesn't seem dead."

"Well then."

"Who on earth was this guy?"

Kazuma shrugs his shoulders but doesn't answer. Different from Ayano, tilting her head in wonder, he does not seem to have any sort of interest towards it.

Taking an attitude with no sense of responsibility, Ayano stares at Kazuma including blame.

"You'll just ignore it?"

"It doesn't concern me. Well, as for the obligation I have as a citizen, shall I inform the police?"

Taking out his cellphone, he pressed the buttons. But, contrary to his words he didn't press 119.

"Kirika? There is knocked down half naked suspicious person at the south entrance of Shinjuku. If you catch it, you may hear something interesting. Bye."

Without waiting for the other side to reply, he one-sidedly informed her about the business and closed the phone.

Ayano looked up at Kazuma with a stunned expression.

"How to say this, you can't be kind no matter the circumstance?"

She knew who he contacted. That's someone she definitely didn't like but she couldn't help but feel pity for Kirika.

But, Kazuma replied very naturally.

"It's fine because it's Kirika."

A casual tone full of trust. That careless contact, unkind but without omitting crucial steps, recognizing the signs of Kazuma's confidence in ''if it's Kirika, that's enough'', for some reason Ayano felt discomfort.

"Hmmm, is Tachibana such a capable police officer?"

''Not in other areas'' - without using words just by placing accent, Ayano spit out the thorny words.

Tachibana Kirika is the name of the person Kazuma called. Her rank is police superintendent. She serves as the Chief of the Special Investigation Unit, the institution dealing with expelling evil spirits.

It would be better not saying this but, as a matter of fact, this organization is made of only puny abilities.

Especially their battle capabilities were really meager. So after discovering the devilishness to be defeated, they leave the actual ''defeating'' to the big guns - the Kannagi Clan.

And so, the trust Kazuma was placing on Kirika seemed to be related to police business but -

"Aa, ahhh, Kirika is really capable ''even'' as a government worker."

It appears that Kazuma was trusting Kirika as a practitioner. Answering her question that was supposed to be mean earnestly made Ayano's face become even more grim.

"You meant very capable as a practitioner?"

"Yes, isn't she a top class Onmyoji?"

"But isn't that person from one of Tachibana's branch families?"

Even if it is an Onmyoji name, it belongs after all to one of the branch families. To say nothing of the do-nothing-job as a police chief.

In front of Ayano who was having such warped thoughts, Kazuma shamelessly praised another woman.

"Because she was more capable than the branch family, she was gotten rid of to Tokyo MPD's Special Investigation Unit as some sort of exile."

".............Really?"

"Especially for her, because she adopted fairly unprincipled different style techniques, they had various reasons for punishment. But, at the very least now there isn't a single person from the Tachibana more capable than her."

"Hmm, really?"

Seeming really displeased, Ayano made agreeable responses in short sentences with no intonation.

Incompletely understanding her obvious ''I'm angry'' attitude, Kazuma looked into Ayano's face.

"What happened?"

"Nothing!"

Shouting angrily, Ayano turned her face away. Watching her reaction, Kazuma's lips curved as if finally noticing something.

"What's up with you, don't tell you have a sense of rivalry towards Kirika?"

"I- it's not like that!"

That was an almost reflex answer but it was definitely not a lie. The one Ayano was fussing over was not Kirika.

''More than that woman, I was, by far...''

She looked up to Kazuma peevishly.

As for Ayano, she was conceited about the fact that Kazuma was her partner. More than Kirika, she was far more helpful. She fought for the sake of Kazuma.

''"It's fine because it's Ayano."''

He never told her such words, not even once.

He doesn't trust in her. Perhaps he doesn't even have confidence in her.

''Am I that useless?''

It seems she'll forever be nothing more but an unskilled half-share. Thinking like that, she becomes unbearably anxious.

Even so, this man never says what she wants to hear and only spouts worthless bullshit with a frivolous laugh.

"It's fine. In other areas it's out of the question but as a practitioner you won't loose. When exchanging blows you're absolutely stronger." - Like that.

At the expressively well timed reply, Ayano is helplessly enraged.

"That's not a follow-up! You baka! Just die!"

Kazuma stares at Ayano's fit of anger really, really happy.

Since before the trust comment, for the sake of enjoying himself with Ayano's reactions, Kazuma takes careful aim with his words and before she will realize it, many of these incidents will happen.

=== Part 2 ===

One ordinary day after school.

One section of the practice ground was filled with a silence full of tension. Everyone was neglecting their practice and while holding a hand to their mouths, their gazes were concentrating to one point.

Before their eyes...was that girl's figure. Elatedly reacting to the gaze that was already turned into physical pressure, she was standing there with a clear facial expression.

Someone gulped - strangely that sound clearly reached her ears. As if that was a signal, the girl lightly kicked the earth's surface and started running. Her route drew a light arc, a forward obliqueness, aiming at the bar the same height as her stature.

Stepping on her left foot, the girl was released from the restraints of gravity. Her bent chest aiming the sky, her slender limbs danced in midair.

"Oooh...."

While watching over the excited onlookers, the girl's head, then her beautiful arched body and her long stretched legs, passed above the bar.

The posture of a perfect jump. The body that jumped over the bar was once more caught by gravity but that one moment was beautiful.

With a light sound, the girl's body was buried in the mattress. Her limbs spread in abandon, overhead the bar was still, expressing the high success of the jump.

"........."

A moment of silence. And then - an explosion of applause and cheers.

"Veeeery goood! A new record!"

"Kudo-senpai is great!"

"Nanase, I love you!"

In the middle of the bursting cheers, the girl - Kudo Nanase slowly got up.

Not really exposing her emotions, it didn't look as if she sympathized with the uproar.

Looking up at the bar overhead, her lips faintly raised. That was all the joy she displayed for breaking a new record.

Nanase Kudo - a beautiful girl with androgynous features and straight short-cut hair.

Always calm, with quick movements and not an easy going tone like most girls and yet not boyish, she was enjoying an overwhelming popularity between girls her age - that's why, this kind of scene was a daily occurrence.

"Senpai, please use this!"

A first year, winning through a violent competition presented Nanase, descending from the mattress a towel.

"Ah, thank you."

Nanase accepted it with a small smile. She returned it after lightly whipping off her sweat.

"Haa..."

Inhaling with yearning her senpai's perspiration, the girl embraced the towel with an ecstatic expression. The others in the big crowd, having been outwitted, glared at the girl with murder in their eyes.

Somewhere close to the development of the all-girl's school-like act -

"........"

Clearly separating herself from that naive society, with a severe facial expression, Nanase looked in the way of the tennis court.

She glared at the blackish shadow clinging to the fence with a violent repugnance.

"Is he here again?"

"Senpai?"

A girl's voice asked a question in a surprised tone. Noticing that, Nanase looked at the girl and showed a harmless smile.

"Nothing important. Just, you know?"

While answering, she gently brushed the girl's head in a casual manner. It as an action with no significance in particular but -

".........uu?"

With a scream that didn't seem to reach the surroundings, the girl in question fell to the ground with a swoon face.

".....What happened?"

"No- no......nothing....."

With a red face and clouded eyes, as if fever made her delirious, the girl slowly shook her head.

"I see. Then, take care."

Not really thinking about it, Nanase started walking - aiming at the tennis court.

The moment she turned to it, she had already forgotten the conversation with the girl. She was concentrating on the suspicious figure clinging to the tennis court's fence.

With a cool expression, totally different from the one pointed at the girl before, unforgiving, as if giving a sentence.

"Hey, he's still coming?"

A second year in the tennis club, Sughino Mie murmured so, displeased from the bottom of her heart. Before her eyes, sticking to the tennis court's fence, a short and fat shadow was peeking.

Just by looking, he was a suspicious man.

Setting up his digital camera, that figure taking snapshots of the girls' appearance, no other word described him better than ''degenerate''.

If this man wasn't a pupil of Seiryou Academy, they would definitely call the police. Or perhaps, there are a lot of people who think they should call the police nevertheless.

Utsumi Kousuke.

That is this man's name. He is a second year but his results were so poor it was a miracle he managed to promote.

His facial features resemble a frog. His whole face is full of pimples, and he had a greasy sweat regardless of the season so his frog image is spot-on.

He belonged to the photography club but the subjects of his photos are just a step away from criminal or maybe already crossing over that line, only that kind of crap.

But even so, the perpetrator is claiming that this is art, although nobody believed him.

It's only natural. If one were to see the expression on his while taking pictures, there can be no place for misunderstanding.

The feeling of various dangers emitted from his blood-shot eyes gave the impression of a real sex-offender.

"As I thought, he's dangerous. Shouldn't we do something?"

"That's right, he's also scaring the first years....."

Weirdly stared at by Utsumi, pressing his shutter as if possessed, the girls were murmuring between themselves.

As if hiding behind her back the first years that have just joined the club, revealed their thought when looking for the first time at the ominous living creature.

"Se- senpai......what is ''that''?"

"That's a pervert."

Mie immediately replied with no hesitation. That answer was something the first years, who didn't know the circumstance, could't comprehend but just because of that, their disgust and dread didn't soften.

"Can't you do something? Maybe calling the teacher..."

"Ah, yes.....he won't come...."

Staring at her kouhais, supplication clearly in their eyes, Mie's gaze wandered around, her face troubled.

No matter how suspicious he was, Utsumi was a pupil of this school. Moreover he had the pretext of being a member of the photography club.

That means, photographing as a club activity was for him very reasonable. They can't stop him from photographing just because his vulgar smile was eerie.

"No way..."

At that explanation, based on last year's events, the first year's crying faces were pitiable but nothing could be done at the present. Just when she was instructing them to give up, it happened -

"Huh....Kudo-san...?" murmured Mie, recognizing the girl walking behind Utsumi.

Simultaneously Utsumi also realized this and turned around, separating his eyes from the fence.

At that moment -

"Bukyaa!?"

A foot sole with no leniency stroke Utsumi's back of the head. The blow, more like stepping on him than trying to kick, forced Utsumi to strongly kiss the fence.

"Gyaa.....Gyaabii.....?"

To Utsumi's ears, as he was wordlessly screaming, reached a cold notice of conviction:

"How long did you think I would overlook your vulgar molestation, low-life?"

"Guugyaaa....bebii...."

Although Utsumi was trying to escape the restraint, his lazy, neglected body couldn't overcome the force of the foot trampling his head.

Vainly resisting, he was pressed down by the already doubled force. The flesh of his loosen face was squeezed through the mesh of the fence.

"Uuu......"

Because his already ugly face was distorted even more, all the girls in the tennis club simultaneously adverted their eyes.

A dozen seconds after - at the time everyone was starting to see his face really getting cut in the mesh, the girl - Nanase removed her leg.

The released Utsumi crouched holding his face. Crawling unsightly, from the gaps between his fingers he raised his eyes to Nanase.

"Hiii......please....stop the violence...."

A high shriek escaped. He tried to escape, stepping back as if crawling on his ass, but in the crowded place the fence blocked his escape route.

Fleetingly watching behind him, Utsumi's face became even more grim. On the other side of the fence, the girls belonging to the tennis club were watching him with grim eyes.

Being encouraged by Nanase's strong entrance, their eyes lost their fear for the ominous thing. Their looks filled with anger and flared up while their restraints towards the punishment of the insolent peeping demon broke.

In confusion, Utsumi started an explanation,

"Please, please wait. As a member of the photography club, for the sake of the year book photos, I - "

"Don't joke around!"

"Hiii -"

In a fit of rage the women kicked the fence and Utsumi fled that place as if tumbling.

But of course, Nanase is in that direction. This time his face, receiving a Yakuza Kick, was once again dragged in front of the girls.

"N- no, hey, listen....."

"Only lies, huh?" one of the girls shouted.

"How can you take such low angle photos for the year album? Everyone knows that you take dirty photos for the sake of your hobby!"

"That's true! That's true!"

"You rotten fat otaku shit! Diee!"

"It stinks! Don't get closer than a hundred meters!" several girls unanimously shouted.

Obviously there were some unjust accusations mixed in between but Utsumi was quiet.

Originally, except for taking pictures of girl's lower parts he is a timid person. While being surrounded by female students, it's impossible for him to object coherently.

No matter how unreasonable the verbal attacks he received, there was nothing to do but to put up with it in silence.

"Uuu, uuuu....."

"This should be fine, right?"

But a helping hand appeared from an unexpected place.

That was Nanase.

Naturally, she had the character of someone feeling refreshed after <<splitting the bamboo>>. She doesn't like the act of a large group ganging up on someone.

To say nothing of the girls' words which had already entered into a state of wild excitement and began to drift from the original point, changing into nothing but slander and ridicule.

Nanase disliked that development so she got back to the point.

It was just that, but -

"Ku- Kudo-san!"

With a face as if seeing Buddha from the depths of hell, Utsumi's eyes sparkled. It seems that he was convinced that Nanase became his ally.

"I - I knew you would understand! That's right, my photos are art. These women can't understand that!"

Bracing himself he stood up while talking non-stop. He didn't notice the cold anger filling Nanase's eyes.

"Aah, I understand! That's why you were angry. Because I didn't look at you and was taking pictures of this bunch. You don't have to worry, you're my most important subject. From now on, always - "

Perhaps Utsumi's character wasn't vulgar but simply stupid. If a neutral person were to stand there, he or she could only think that.

In the tennis girl's expressions, there was already no anger. What dwelt there was pity and dread. As if looking at a bomb timer decreasing each moment, they nervously observed Utsumi and Nanase.

And then -

GASYAN!

An ominous sound interrupted Utsumi's triumphant speech. His camera, rolling on the ground, was trampled upon with all her strength by Nanase.

"Aah, aaaaaaaaaa!?"

The expensive lens turned into shards of glass. Utsumi cried in a bitter voice.

"Wh- what are you doing!?"

Without answering, Nanase kicked the camera with her foot. Placing the camera with a crooked frame on the top of her foot, she used a half rotation to volley-kick and sent it flying.

The camera that flew with power crashed into the school building and smashed.

"Hiiiiii!"

With a pose similar to Munch's Scream, Utsumi shouted.

"Ah, ah, a..."

Leaking out as murmurs, as if his soul escaped his body, he looked up at Nanase in blank amazement.

A frozen gaze looked down on Utsumi.

"Hi, hiii......"

Nanase ordered the pale Utsumi with indifference.

"Get out of my sight!"

"Ah, waaa........waaaaa...."

Revealing a meaningless cry, Utsumi started running on all fours.

"Fucking trash! Just die!!"

"Don't ever come back!"

Showering his back with the tennis girls' boos, Utsumi ran away faster.

Nanase stared at that retreating figure thoroughly indifferent.

=== Part 3 ===

''Shit, just watch you bitches....''

While placing desks one on top of the other behind the tennis club's room - in a perfectly blind spot from the front, Utsumi boiled in anger when thinking of those bitches that didn't understand his art.

''After shooting them at great pains, they falsely accuse me of peeping and taking peeping films...then it's fine to answer your expectations right?''

The insistence of repeating the failed argument over and over is filling his mind. That was nothing more than a pretext, but for him it didn't matter.

Even if someone were to deny it, for him that was the absolute truth and he found no reason to hesitate to respond to the ''undeserved'' persecution with ''rightful'' retribution.

"Yes, it got through!"

Utsumi, standing on top of the desks, reached the ventilation fan's frame. His body trembling in dark joy, he raised a small sound of joy.

He quietly inserted the small CCD camera in the small gap opened in the corner of the ventilation fan. On the monitor he was holding, silhouettes of girls in their underwear appeared clearly.

"How about this, did you realize.......?"

Without realizing, while smiling simple-mindedly watching the girls changing clothes, a naturally scornful smile appeared on his face.

While video recording the defenseless silhouettes of the people that insulted him, he was intoxicated by his own sense on superiority as if he could decide their fates.

"I won't be satisfied by just this. I'll leak your pictures on the net. With no censorship. Hyahahahaha!"

Of course, he will spread the video address inside the school. Intoxicated with sleazy delusions, in a sense, Utsumi was getting the hang of being a man.

Making the gap and plunging the camera to the extent of warping the secret ventilation fan's frame, bringing the old, discarded desks for support- even if it was for the sake of peeking, maybe he deserves some praise for putting so much effort into it.

At present, Utsumi's effort was greatly rewarded. Moment by moment, the camera's memory is filled with undressed girls.

It's understandable for them not to notice. The back of the club room had no windows, the fan is three meters high so nobody paid attention to it.

Not one person noticed the fact that the fan's frame was subtly warped. Therefore, Utsumi's plan against the tennis club could be called perfect.

If there was a miscalculation, it could only be that he didn't notice the gloomy path weaving its way through the groove of trees was used as a shortcut.

And so, when ''she'' called out to him asking for his identity, her character was not simple enough to make it a prior warning.

"Uhii!?"

Suddenly something shook underfoot. Realizing that someone kicked the desks serving as scaffolding, his plump relaxed body fell, aiming for the ground.

" - uu!"

He fell on his back. For an instant, his breathing stopped. Without really being able to scream in pain, extremely nervous and convulsing, Utsumi fainted.

"Good grief - "

A murmur reached his ear. For some reason he could clearly understand that voice even in the middle of roaring noise made by the falling bricks.

He slowly opened his eyelids, tightly closed in pain. The first thing in his field of vision were two slender, long legs.

Ankles closed tightly. Calves covered with knee socks. Firm tights - extremely healthy, the beautiful legs of an active person.

Legs he recognized. Without having to look at her face, Utsumi knew who those legs belonged to. Track club, second year, Kudo Nanase.

They were without doubt the legs of that girl, his main target.

Forgetting the situation he was in, Utsumi was fascinated by those legs soaring before his eyes.

The one he captured on hundred of pictures but as expected looking at them so close, the intensity was different.

Furthermore, because of the extremely low angle he was looking from, he could see almost to her crotch. Those essentials were covered by her skirt but they were very suggestive.

This was a chance. Forgetting the pain in his body Utsumi shuffled his feet remaining in the same position, approaching Nanase.

''More, just a bit more...''

He stretched his neck to the limit, trying to peek behind the mystery veil but -

[[File:Kaze no Stigma vol 04 045.jpg|thumb|]]

Together with a crash resounding all around his cranium, his field of vision was plunged into darkness.

"Guu......Gyaa....?"

While not understanding that his face was stepped on, Utsumi tried to brush away the thing covering his eyes. But he was powerless against the unforgiving trampling that didn't hesitate to rub dirt into his eyes.

"You really don't learn, do you?" Nanase spit out disgusted, while stepping on and grinding Utsumi's face.

"Don't techniques like reflection and regret suit your body, bizarre frog man?"

"Fuu....Fuguu...Gyaaah....!"

Although her manner of speaking was excessive, Utsumi had no strength to object, his face being ground and all, so he clenched his teeth.

That was the moment when the girls from the tennis club rushed out, hearing noise.

" - Nanase-san?"

"Yo."

Nanase replied to Mie's reflexive cry, lightly raising her hand. Of course, she didn't stop stomping and treading on the piece of meat beneath her feet.

Noticing that movement, Mie shifted her gaze to Nanase's feet. And then, to the surroundings.

First of all to the source of the noise, the scattered desks. And then on the CCD camera thrust into a crack made in the ventilation fan. The small monitor connected to the camera was swinging like a pendulum.

It was a very clear scene. After looking at Utsumi with a penetrating cold glance, she exchanged looks with her colleagues that followed her.

There was no need for words. Reading Mie's intent just by eye contact, they rushed back to the club-room.

Ten seconds after, the club's door was opened for a second time and all the girls in the club rushed out with rough steps. They speedily encircled Utsumi and glared at him with eyes burning in anger.

A bit later the first years came out of the club-room. The reason they were late could be clearly seen. They collected the lynching tools. As expected they avoided the rackets, the emphasis was on the mop. But one person was holding a battered metal bat taken from somewhere.

".....Thank you, Nanase-san. That's enough." Mie said in a restrained voice.

"Yeah."

Nanase nodded, knocking down Utsumi's head with a thick sound. While his body was faced up, she turned his head. Again, his head twisted.

"Oo...Okekereba..."

Bearing a pain intense enough to break his neck-bones, Utsumi rolled his body the same way his neck did.

Nanase chose that moment, when he was lying with his face on the ground, to retreat in a slippery manner of walking. That was only for the sake of not having the insides of her skirt exposed while removing her leg but of course, nobody complained that it was overkill.

The girls were rather impressed by that brilliant movement.

"Uuu.....Uuuuu....."

The released Utsumi tried to get up. And then he saw the expression of the girls surrounding him.

"Uu....aaah...."

Revitalized by fear, Utsumi revealed a sight of agony and death. Realizing he could not escape, he started to explain in a trembling voice.

"Th- this is art..."

"Shut up, you're annoying."

His thoughtless words rejected, Mie thrust her hand out to the first years, waiting behind her.

"Demolishing bat!"

"Yes!"

Without a moment's delay, the first years presented her the scratched metal bat. Strongly gripping the overused bat, Mie shouted.

"Heavenly punishment!!"

''"Oooooooooooooo!"''

Rising their voices, the girls raised their tools. And then like birds of prey swarming around a dead body, they jumped on the petrified Utsumi.

"Uu, Waaaaaahhh!"

A torrent of high pitched shrieks - and then silence.

"........"

Nanase meaninglessly raised her eyes to the sky and then, shifted her attention to the place where the gruesome lynching was performed. The target was silenced but still, the ''sword of justice'' was continuously swinging downward. The girl's faces were radiating great joy.

''"Should I stop it?"''

"It's fine."

As if reading Nanase's thoughts, a smiling voice could be heard from her side. Turning her face around, before she knew, the one that commanded the punishment, Mie stood beside her.

"Are you satisfied, Sugino?"

"Yeah, as you can see -"

Mie was holding the metal bat, stroking gently the ''sword blade'' stained in new blood.

"The demolishing bat has the power to wound and kill and beside it could turn bad so I had to stop."

"Must be hard being the vice-president."

"We are of equal status in this regard."

Both exchanged a bitter smile, bonding for being in the same place and having the same troubles.

Unrelated to the disastrous scene happening a few meters before them, there was a gentle atmosphere around these two.

"By the way, I didn't properly thank you. Thank you very much for today. You helped us twice."

"That's fine. The track club was also at a loss when it came to Utsumi so it wasn't just your business."

"Maybe it would have been better to do something like this quicker, huh?" Mie said while looking at the girls beating the hell out of Utsumi.

"True. This kind of idiot will only be spoiled if left alone. Because he doesn't understand when talking to him, there's no way but to painfully teach it to him."

"True. That's so true!"

Grasping tightly the metal bat, Mie nodded awfully forceful.

"Now that we inherited the ''Demolishing Bat'', we can't permit perverted acts towards the members!"

".......No, I don't think that has anything to do with it..."

"Is that so? Anyway, it would be fine if the idiot learned something from that experience."

They both had the same opinion on this point so Nanase nodded.

"Certainly. But don't overdo it. It's not worth it to be charged with a crime because of such a guy."

"I know. Leave it to me."

Leaving it to the girl that declared so pulling out her chest, Nanase said her parting words.

"Then, I leave the rest to you. See you tomorrow."

"Yeah, see you tomorrow."

A commonplace greeting. Smiling at each other. Without foundation, both believed that the tomorrow that will come will be the same as today. At that hour, they still thought so.

=== Part 4 ===

"Hmm, did something like that happened yesterday?"

The next day's lunch break.

While eating her lunch, Nanase told her friends - Kannagi Ayano and Shinomiya Yukari yesterday's incident.

"Ha ha, he got what he deserved," Ayano replied delightedly from the bottom of her heart.

She also thinks Utsumi's deeds are unpleasant so she doesn't have a particle of sympathy for him.

"So, is he still alive?"

At Ayano's question Nanase simply shrugged her shoulders as if saying ''I wonder''. Substituting her friend who really didn't care from the bottom of her heart, Yukari answered.

"Of course he's alive. Because luckily Ayano-chan wasn't at that place."

Yukari was wearing her shoulder length hair wavy, and seemed like a very gentle girl. Although speaking slowly, quite a number of people noticed at times her irony.

"I see, that was unlucky - wait a second!"

But, because they were friends for a long time Ayano couldn't be deceived. On the verge of noticing, she glared with half open eyes at her friend, grinning at her with a happy smiling face.

"Didn't you just say something inexcusable with a straight face just now?"

"I wonder...I only spoke the truth."

"That's even worse!"

"Kya- Nanase-chan help!"

Pretending to be scared of the roaring Ayano, whose face was blazing, Yukari hid behind Nanase.

"Wait!"

"Kyaa-"

The moving around Ayano. Yukari escaping again. Gradually increasing their speed, both started running round and round around Nanase.

"You guys, I'm in the middle of eating-"

Amazed, Nanase warned them but without seeming to hear both continued to run around.

After fixedly staring at them, Nanase closed the bentou lid and casually pushed out her leg forward. With superb timing, that leg caught Ayano running in front of her.

"Waahyaa!"

Ayano fell forward with all her strength. As expected, she avoided falling down but Yukari crashed into her back half a second later.

"Waaa!"

"Kyaaa!"

Entangled, Ayano and Yukari tumbled on the floor of the rooftop. Disregarding those two, Nanase calmly resumed her meal.

"Ow...uch..."

Several seconds after, Ayano got up raising a grazed moan. Tearing off Yukari's body tangled with hers as in a judo locking technique, she stood up while arranging her hair.

"Na - na - se."

Being spoken to in such a harsh voice, Nanase didn't show any sign of being perturbed. While steadily chewing her fries she just put in her mouth, she declared as a matter of course.

"I told you I'm in the middle of eating. You were raising dust."

"But still suddenly tripping me up-"

"It's fine, I carefully chose the opponent. I wouldn't do it to anyone except you."

"Don't do it to me either!"

"By the way-"

Ignoring Ayano's outcry, Nanase turned her eyes to Yukari. Finally getting up while cleaning the dust off her clothes Yukari tilted her head as if asking ''What is it?''

"Do you know?"

Yukari accurately read the aim of the untitled question.

"About Utsumi-kun? Of course he didn't die, nor is he hospitalized. You see, people don't generally use tools and seriously strike at someone, right?" said Yukari while fleetingly glancing at Ayano.

Sensing that, Ayano frowned.

"Why were you looking at me?"

Yukari nonchalantly turned away. As if she didn't hear anything, she continued her conversation with Nanase.

"That's why, the injury he received from those blows is pretty much to the level of mouth cuts. They said his bones are whole."

"Just that...."

"Yes, just that. As expected, he will stay in bed today but compared to the damage he would have suffered from Ayano-chan, that's just like a gentle brush."

"Why are you using me as an example?" Ayano raised her voice again.

Sensing she had reached a critical section, Yukari didn't ignore her this time and faced her with an honest face.

"Listen to me, Ayano-chan."

"Wh- what?"

The atmosphere suddenly changed and as if pressured by Yukari closing in, Ayano retreated a little.

"I think of Ayano-chan as an important friend."

"I see.....thanks."

That was a pretty common thing to say but not in this context.

She nodded frankly.

"That's why, please-"

The light of sincerity dwelling in her eyes, like a prayer, like a request, Yukari continued.

"So please, don't say such mean things to me."

"..........."

Ayano's temple had a cramp. Staring at Yukari with a dark glare, she let out a voice that must have crawled from the bottom of hell.

"Yu - ka - ri...."

"Wh ~ a ~ t?"

Contrary to Ayano's dark tone, Yukari's reply didn't have an atom of darkness. The song-like tone felt like the elegance of a bright spring.

There's no need to say it but this only had the opposite effect.

Ayano slightly moved forward her center of gravity, the muscles all over her body poised. An attitude that gave the impression of a feline hunter on the verge of leaping on her pray.

"Yukari....it seems necessary. We need to have a lengthy discussion one of these days......"

Ayano let out a low, small whisper. It seems it was lost in wind but it was the kind of sentence that would definitely reach the other party.

The tiptoes of Ayano's feet placed on the floor, lightly scratched the concrete.

When the few moments before the strife began expanding over and over - at that time -

"Oh, it's open!"

Several boys came to the rooftop with a basket ball. It seems they wanted to exercise some after eating.

The minute that the door was opened Ayano and Yukari returned to their former positions so fast it didn't even leave an afterimage.

Sitting straight, those figures smiling elegantly didn't show any sign a cat fight was about to happen seconds before.

"Hurry up. The lunch break will end - huh?"

The boy in the front - apparently a first year - finally perceived Ayano's group. His eyes opened wide in surprise.

"Shi- Shinomiya-san? Kudo-san and- and even Kannagi-san?"

The good fortune of being able to see the Academy's top three beautiful girls in the same place made the boy's face become loose. On the faces of the boys following him, an expression of supreme bliss floated.

"I'm sorry, we're in the middle of lunch. Can you restrain yourselves?" asked Yukari, while showing an brutally cute smile.

As there were no boys who could go against that face, they immediately replied with a straight posture.

"Of- of course! We're apologizing for causing you trouble!"

"We're sorry."

Moreover, Ayano's smile increased the tension. The boys' consciousness flew higher than the sky, their thinking ability all evaporated.

Nanase saw off the departing boys, their faces intoxicated.

The door closed, the sound of footsteps died out and waiting a few more seconds just to make sure, Nanase spoke with a sigh.

"How to put this - both of you have a tremendous skill in hiding your true selves."

"Isn't it fine? There're all happy.", Yukari replied with a nonchalant face.

Ayano didn't reply, on account of resuming her lunch.

Understanding she said something completely pointless, Nanase feebly shook her head, resuming her thoughts. She once again looked at Yukari who knew all the gossip.

"So, Yukari. Was his punishment decided?"

"Three days of house arrest," Yukari quickly replied to Nanase's question.

Unintentionally Ayano shouted when hearing the too indulgent punishment.

"Just that?"

"Just that. He was a first offender."

Also dissatisfied, Nanase frowned.

"It could have been so peaceful had he been expelled......."

"That's impossible. If it's Utsumi-kun, they won't expel him before raping someone."

"<<If it's Utsumi-kun>>? What do you mean by that?"

"He's from a rich family in hospital administration. The amount of his donations is top class."

"Ah, I see."

At the tough reality, Nanase kept silent with a sullen face.

Seiryou Academy was a private school but it wasn't unaffected by the declining birth rates. The period when only the best pupils were selected had passed and because its name was famous, noted families pursued it.

The management was definitely not difficult but the funds were never enough.

To put it in simple words, it was hard to part from valuable gold.

"I heard rumors he entered the school through the back door, that guy."

"Yeah, but those rumors were false."

"Were they?"

"Yes.", Yukari declared with no doubt.

That was an information unavailable to a simple student but neither Ayano nor Nanase were suspicious about it. Frankly this girl, without changing her gentle exterior appearance, or maybe in accordance with her image was randomly well connected.

Currently she is occupying the position of secretary in the Student Council but except for that she belongs to different committees and influential clubs. On top of that she has connections among the teaching staff.

That vast and subtle information network had an unparalleled accuracy. No school event escapes her eyes.

"That's why, he'll probably come back to school after three days with a calm face. Maybe he will be quiet for some time and reflect upon his actions."

".....I wonder."

Remembering his persistent gaze trying to look under her skirt even after he was caught during the crime, Nanase breathed a sigh, fed up with it.

"It can't be helped, even if it's a makeshift solution. If he will continue with this crap day after day, no matter how stupid he is, he will come to care about his well being."

"Like yesterday? Ah, about that-"

"What?"

"Wasn't Sugino-san the one that organized yesterday's beating? It seems she suddenly fell into a coma."

"Ehh? Is that true?"

Unintentionally Nanase asked again so Yukari's lips became sharp seeming displeased.

"I never tell false information."

"Well, that's true - that's just so strange, she looked so well yesterday," said Nanase doubtfully.

Yukari raised her finger and said to her.

"Maybe she was cursed by Utsumi-kun, huh?"

" - Yukari, that's not funny."

"Eh, that was an indiscretion. I'm sorry."

Gazing at Yukari, putting out her tongue, Nanase anxiously frowned with a light reprimand.

She told herself she was thinking too much. But she instinctively knew. That this is just the beginning. That something bad, something really bad is just about to happen.

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Kaze no Stigma:Volume3 Chapter 6

2013-12-26T15:20:18Z

86.20.14.91: /* Chapter 6 - Confession underneath the moonlight */

== Chapter 6 - Confession underneath the moonlight ==

=== Part 1 ===

"......oh."

Suddenly Kureha looked up at the sky. Before her eyes there was nothing but interminable rough stone. But, seeing something there, her lips raised faintly and she murmured slowly.

"He was unexpectedly fragile. I wanted him to at least deal with that child called Ren."

Advancing at most ten steps, Ren looked over his shoulder. With an awkward face he wanted to ask those two behind him a question.

".........................so where are we supposed to go?"

"...supposed to?"

Without giving it any thought Ayano discarded Kazuma's question.

Together with a heavy sigh Kazuma asked them.

"...........you two, what the heck did you come here for?"

"Well you see, we came here on the spur of the moment. We didn't have time to investigate."

"That's no reason, stupid.", Kazuma said in a cold manner.

And then he started to walk in front.

"Do you know where to?"

"More or less."

Last night he confirmed Ayumi's silhouette. It wasn't difficult to follow that presence.

After walking a few minutes, guided by the voice of the wind, the trio came to the deepest part of the mansion, in front of the cave shrine.

"Welcome to our family's greatest sanctuary."

A soft alto welcomed them. A single beautiful woman, who could only be called bewitching, stood there and behind here five subordinate Chijutsushi.

"Hi. Thanks for yesterday."

Kazuma greeted her in a relaxed manner and returned the Chijutsushi's gaze, full of hatred.

But to the last Kureha was full of courtesy - or maybe rudely courteous - when asking about their business.

"Can I ask you what business do you have here?"

"So she said."

Kazuma looked at Ren. Ren took a step forward, faced the group of Chijutsushi and boldly declared.

"I came to save Ayumi-chan."

"....and instead of her to let Mayumi become a sacrifice?"

"No. We won't allow the ceremony to happen. The three of us will defeat the demon beast sleeping inside Mt. Fuji."

"........................."

As expected that was surprising enough for Kureha's eyes to become round. But she straightened her attitude in a second and admonished Ren like an adult would a helpless child.

"Boy - you would be better learning how to look at reality more closely."

"I am looking. At the very least more than you.", retorted Ren with no hesitation.

"Letting the sacrificing continue for three hundred years and labeling it as <<It can't be helped>> it seems much more strange to me. I won't let you do it any further. I won't allow it! Absolutely!"

Pressed down by Ren's vigor and strong declaration, the Chijutsushi backed off. But, Kureha - the one that didn't move an inch from that place looked down on the boy and fearlessly laughed.

"I see - that's like saying there's no more room for discussion - well then - let's start shall we?"
[[Image:Kaze no Stigma vol 03 261.jpg|thumb]]

As if encouraged by Kureha's composure, the Chijutsushi started to prepare for battle. In response to it, so did Kazuma's side.

Unsheathing Enraiha, Ayano shouted:

"Ren, ignore the small fry! Match me!"

"Yes!"

Ayano and Ren let out fireballs simultaneously aiming at Kureha. Even though it was far inferior to their real power, the people who could oppose it were a very select category.

But even when faced with such a calorific value, Kureha didn't lose her smile.

"Fu fu........"

Without moving even a finger, it was clear she didn't use her power. But, the fireballs aiming at her described an arc, as if avoiding her and parted left and right. Shrinking as if crushed, they split open.

"Wha.....?"

Kureha started taunting Ayano in mute amazement.

"Is this the famous Kannagi flame from the stories? How very lukewarm, huh?"

A cold sweat followed the muscles along the spine. It was entirely impossible to tell what happened. She had no counter-plan for it. She could elevate the calorific value further but will that work?

"I saw it yesterday too - you have a very curious technique. You, are you really a Chijutsushi?"

From Ayano's back, feeling disturbed, a voice that kept it's cool reached. Always calm and steady in all respects, a low voice that she grew accustomed to hear.

"Kazuma!? What did just happen?"

Casually controlling Ayano's question, Kazuma started walking.

"That ability, did you receive it together with your power?"

"......................."

Easily divulging her most important secret, for one moment, Kureha opened her eyes wide. But she immediately regained her composure and expressed a suspicious and somewhat transcendental smile.

"True, if you saw Yuuji's shape, it's no wonder you saw through me. But that was wrong. Because I was born with it, you see."

Stopping without changing her posture, Kureha talked indifferently.

"Without being able to manipulate even a grain of sand, the one who can't hear the voice of spirits, I can on the contrary use this. A unique power. Because of it, Father hated me very much. All the more because it was so strong."

"Even when that strong, did you desire even more power?"

"For someone who plans on becoming a sorcerer, don't you think that's a natural desire?"

"...........I think that depends on the power."

Ayano was unable to follow those two's indifferent exchange. She couldn't understand the omitted parts from their own self-evident truth.

"Hey!"

Finally loosing her patience Ayano pulled the hem of Kazuma's jacket.

"Explain. What is Kureha's power?"

Requesting it in a tentatively small voice, in her own way she tried to pay attention not to spoil the mood. But it wasn't effective.

Kazuma had a truthfully annoyed face, that only changed when seeing Ren's expression, standing next to Ayano, asking the same question.

"It's the control of gravity."

".........the control.........of gravity........", Ayano repeated once more, amazed.

It's not like she didn't understand the meaning of the words. But -

"Why is a Chijutsushi able to do that?"

The phenomena caused by the Spirit Magic were exceedingly pragmatic. For a Enjuthushi flame, for a Chijutsushi soil and stone - they are able to manipulate such things.

Surely, if one presumed gravity was an adaptation of the four elements, it would be a symbol of the <<Earth>> attribute but the Spirit magic doesn't handle such general concept like symbols.

While it may be true that the flame is the symbol of destruction and regeneration, an Enjutsushi that is able to manifest a <<Healing Flame>> has yet to appear.

Although it wasn't unreasonable for Ayano to be surprised, Kazuma completely discarded such considerations.

"It can't be helped if you thought so before this. But accept the reality in front of you."

"Well, you could say that..........", Ayano mumbled insecure.

Being the opponent of gravity, an invisible power, she didn't have the slightest idea on how to fight it.

"You must start by recognizing the distortions in space. Don't see it with your eyes and don't think about it. Just feel it."

"Don't say such even-before-the-first-generation-of-battle-manga lines..............."

Ayano was sulking but Kazuma didn't really pay attention to her. Shifting his focus on Kureha, he said:

"We don't have time to carefully work over the battle plan, you know right? Because the other side is trying to waste time."

Ayano too observed Kureha. In all this time they were conversing, no matter how much opportunities she had for attacking she didn't and only stood in front of the shrine. As if she doesn't proactively want to fight.

Is she buying time? For the Tsuwabuki people to do so, there can only be one reason.

"Then, the ceremony is already.........."

"Correct, it's about time for it to begin."

"Is- isn't this really bad? I need to hurry!", Ren shouted, completely changing his facial expression.

Lightly knocking his head to calm down, Kazuma laughed.

"That's true. You must hurry. That's why, a little unreasonableness can't be helped, right?"

Faced with Kazuma's smile, that no matter how you look at it was scheming, Ren unintentionally backed off. Unwilling to break his commitment, he chose some prudent words.

"Killing is absolutely no good."

No one will become a sacrifice - if he couldn't keep that promise, saving Ayumi will have lost its meaning. It's not a question of finishing it with <<It can't be helped>>.

"That's fine, the one to experience hardships is only you."

"Ehh.........me?"

Without answering back, Kazuma lifted Ren by grabbing him by the collar. He held him aloft with all his power.

"Ni- Nii-sama!?"

"Gooooooooooooo!!"

He threw him violently. The small body wrapped in wind, instantly reached a speed of two hundred kilometers and before any of the Chijutsushi had time to react, reached the small shrine and disappeared inside the cave.

"Uuuuaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!!"

From inside the cave, the boy's shrieks, reverberating over and over could be heard.

"................................"

Friend or foe regardless, they all stared dumbfounded at the interior of the shrine and only Kazuma threw his chest out with pride.

"Excellent, it turned out well."

"Wait a secooooooond!", shouted Ayano after coming to her senses.

"What is it?"

"Don't you <<What is it?>> me!! Why are you being so reckless!?"

As Ayano's hands grabbed him by the collar and shook him with an almost magical skill, Kazuma laughed with an endlessly superficial smile.

"Ah! Isn't it fine? I made sure to harden the defenses."

"Even so, with that unreasonable speed!?"

"It can't be helped right? If he was any slower, he might have been shot down. I'm telling you not to worry, he may feel faint but I made it so he won't get hurt."

"........really? In that case it's fine.........."

But if Ren were to hear those words, no matter how gentle a child he is, he would have complained in a big voice.

"Where is the part I ''may feel fainttttttttttt''...................?"

=== Part 2 ===

"Uwaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!!!"

Together with that scream, Ren landed right in the center of that ceremonial place. That is, he crashed there.

The Chijutsushi that were just about to start the ceremony watched in a daze how a boy was suspended right before the technique's focal point and then he fell over with a grumbling sound.

Lying face down as if prostrating, Ren didn't even twitch.

Is he dead? At the time the Chijutsushi started to think so, his fingertips began moving as if convulsing and then, while weakly shaking his head, he got up.

"....ugh."

''Nii-sama............this was a bit overdone............''

The scream that was turned against the entire world, because of the crash's intensity, couldn't come out. Adjusting his breathing, he firmly held to his consciousness in order for it not to fly away.

From all of Ren's personal experience it wasn't something that could be easily be brushed off as ''It made me somewhat dizzy''. Only comparing it with ten times the speed of a roller-coaster gives maybe a similar feel..

The barrier of wind flawlessly protected the body from wounds but did nothing to improve the riding experience. In the middle of the ride while rebounding from wall to wall and ground to ceiling, rotating vertically, rotating horizontally, spinning, he was entirely exhausted by the complex 3D maneuver.

"No......no more..............I'll vomit...."

While his semicircular canals had yet to recover, his brain gave him a shaking feeling, as if the earth was undulating. His stomach was convulsing and from inside his mouth, a regurgitating movement was trying to start.

It was at that time when that voice made his ears shook.

"...................Ren?"

".........!"

An impossible to confuse, soft voice. More precious than anyone or anything, remembering her elegantly simple smiling face, Ren stood up despite the pain. In front of her, it's impossible to be more disgraceful than this. Controlling his nausea with desperate effort, he slowly raised his face.

Only a few centimeters away - literally in front of him, she was there. It seems she was fully dressed for the sacrifice, wearing a red hakama and a white coat, the typical costume of a shrine maiden. Her hair was loose, naturally overflowing.

"Aaaah - how beautiful......."

Forgetting his situation, Ren became fascinated with her. For him there was the one and only - Tsuwabuki Ayumi's figure.

"Why......are you here?"

Towards Ayumi inquiring so in bewilderment, Ren extended a hand, smiling. He naturally informed her of the natural conclusion.

"I came to save you."

"Ren..."

With a bitter facial expression, Ayumi slowly shook her head. She turned away, as if refusing the extended hand.

"No. I must carry on my mission. It's impossible to run away."

A clear refusal. But even so, Ren didn't withdraw his hand.

"Yes, I know. But that's been solved. Because I'll defeat the demon beast myself."

".........eh?"

Almost as if she didn't comprehend what he said, Ayumi opened her eyes wide. After a few seconds, when her eyes were full of understanding, she promptly doubt it and then she switched to negation.

"That sort of thing.....it's impossible."

"I can do it."

With a quiet self-confidence, Ren declared so.

"For me alone it would be impossible to do but Nii-sama and Nee-sama are lending me their power. If it's those two, no matter what they deal with, they won't lose. They will surely win."

"But - but - !!"

For some reason having the attitude of a cornered person, Ayumi searched for words of rejection.

"What will it happen if you lose? Mt. Fuji will erupt, you know! I would rather die than see that! Because you see, from the beginning I was made for that purpose!"

"That sort of thing is not worth worrying about."

"............eh?"

"You see, this is something Nee-sama told me but........"

With that introduction, Ren asked the big question.

"What do ''you'' want to do?"

"..............!!"

"Whether it's for the sake of everyone else, or duty, or the reason of your existence, you shouldn't concern yourself with such things. What do ''you'' want to do? What do ''you'' desire? Tell me your wish."

"Eehh, I - I want............"

Decide by yourself the path you want to follow - that kind of thinking was a foreign concept for Ayumi.

From the moment she was made, a fixed road with no place for divergence was pointed out for her. She never thought of getting off it.

The self that will become a sacrifice no matter what. Imagining that, Ayumi remembered she was reminded of an uneasy feeling close to horror. A dread that shook the very root of the meaning of her existence. Comparing it to the fear of loosing her life in the ceremony, that's not even close. Because the concept called death is nothing more than the proof of accomplishing the task bestowed upon her.

"Before coming here I met Yuuji-san."

"For the sake of protecting Mayumi-san, Yuuji-san shed away his humanity. Literally throwing everything away, all for the sake of holding me back. A fighter throwing away his life is certainly strong. But. "

Remembering the strength of Yuuji's grotesque form, Ren shuddered. When thinking of the power difference it seems right to say that winning was nothing short of a miracle.

"Frankly, I was overwhelmed. I thought that such a human prepared to go that far for the sake of protecting a precious person was really amazing. But - that was wrong."

That was maybe one of the possible answers. Rather than throwing away one's ideals and loosing everything, maybe that was the better choice. But, even so.

"The happiness made of someone else's sacrifice is turned to sorrow. You can't feel delight only by yourself. At the very least, I do not wish for that. I want to choose another path."

Not to sacrifice everything else for the sake of the important, not to throw away the self -

Without loosing anything, for everyone to become happy - he definitely thinks such a dream-like path exists.

"I will protect you. I will protect you and all that you want to protect. So please, don't give up."

"Ren - "

As if the held out hand was inviting her, Ayumi took a step forward. But -

"We won't let you!"

Together with unrefined voices, stone spears appeared in the space in between as if to separate them.

With eyes that held no emotion Ren turned in the direction of the voice.

"How long do you think we would listen to your foolish jokes? We won't let a brat like you get in the way of our family's holiest ceremony. While we lament the foolishness of challenging Chijutsushi so deep underground we will destroy you even if you don't resist."

The practitioners possible representative, the oldest one, gave the execution order in an antique speaking-style.

In response to that voice, the Chijutsushi prepared their attack. Ren starred at the offensive approaching from every direction with bored looking eyes.

One moment. The downpour of stones from overhead, the fangs rapidly growing from the ground, were instantly all burned to nothing.

"Wh - wha.........."

"Hey - "

Facing the Chijutsushi prepared to flee after the failure of the one-kill attack, Ren informed them full of irritation.

"I'm sorry but right now I'm in the middle of a once in a lifetime confession. Can't you please not get in the way?"

"..........................."

That was equivalent with ''I think nothing of you'' but no one complained. To the point of foolishness, the overwhelming difference in power sealed all objection.

"Well then, let's start again."

Comfortably accepting the following silence, Ren extended his hand a second time.

"Will you trust in me?"

".........................."

Maybe because she didn't really have time to think about it, Ayumi didn't instantly take Ren's hand.

"Why?"

She asked in a somewhat blaming, tough tone.

"Why do you go to such lengths? Even without the ceremony I will still die, you know?"

"But that doesn't mean you want to die right now, no?", Ren replied instantly.

"If there's not much time left anyway, then you should live fully all the more. No matter what you wish for, I will make it happen. I will take you wherever you want to go. That's why...that's why - "

Mustering all his strength, Ren took the final step. He took Ayumi's hand and then told her:

"Even if it's just one month, even if it's just one week, will you live together with me?"

Ayumi's eyes became round, and the next second her face was dyed bright red. A few seconds later Ren also realized the meaning of his words.

''A- awkward''

He was too forward. This was almost like a proposal. It left a love confession far behind.

"W- wro- this is, well........."

Ren's hand that in confusion tried to move away, Ayumi grasped it firmly and didn't let go.

Her eyes were full of tears like she couldn't suppress her happiness and she teasingly asked, smiling while crying.

"Is that wrong?"

Ren immediately tried to suppress his struggling heart. Returning the grip to the hand that held his, he looked straight into Ayumi's eyes.

"No it's not.", he declared.

"We will be together all the time. Until the absolute last second, we will never part ways."

Moved to tears, Ayumi nodded too.

"Yes. I want to live. I want to live together with Ren."

"Ayumi-chan."

Ren firmly hugged the girl's body. The skin's temperature transmitted by their touching skin gave them a unity, of becoming one.

Never to part again - they swore a second time.

But there is no time to stay embraced for as long as they like. A few minutes after, although reluctant Ren ended the hug and smiled at Ayumi.

"Well then, let's go. Onii-sama and Onee-sama are waiting."

"That's right."

He heard the answer from the back. In front of Ren's eyes, turning back in horror, the shadow of a person that couldn't possibly be there appeared.

"Ni- Nii-sama!? Why are you here?"

"...onii-san?"

Ignoring Ren's shout, Kazuma lightly greeted Ayumi.

"I'm this guy's brother Kazuma. Nice meeting you. If you like I don't mind you calling me brother in law."

"Onii-sama!"

"Ah, my name is Tsuwabuki Ayumi. Even though I may be inexperienced, please treat me well."

"Ayumi-chan!"

Ren shouted with a bright red face, but Ayumi bowed her head with a serious expression.

"In such occasions, isn't this the proper greeting?"

"True but it's not like that - enough of this!"

While scratching his head, Ren glared at Kazuma.

"............since when have you been watching?"

"From the <<What do ''you'' want to do?>> part."

That's almost since the beginning. Understanding he heard all about his embarrassing confession, Ren's face was full of shame.

''Huh?''

Suddenly feeling a sense of discomfort, he looked around. There's nothing else. There's ''no one'' else. Except for Kazuma.

"Where is Nee-sama?"

"Ah, because she's so heroic she's detaining Kureha by herself."

Ren was not such a foolish boy as to take those words seriously. Changing the distrustful glance to one of blame, he stared at his brother.

"Did you use her as bait ''again''?"

He stressed the word again with all his power but of course Kazuma is impervious to that degree of cynicism.

"Oi, oi,''again'' is not right. If you say it like that, it's it almost as if I'm using Ayano."

"......is that wrong?"

"Of course it's wrong.", Kazuma declared while puffing out his chest.

It was a magnificent attitude as if saying ''There's nothing I need to be ashamed of''.

Although definitely not agreeing with this, Ren gave up investigating. He said in a resigned tone.

"Let's return quickly. I'm worried about Nee-sama."

"Certainly, I agree leaving this gloomy stinking place."

Answering in a subtle different focus, Kazuma had the same opinion. But before they began running, Ayumi pulled away her hand from Ren's.

"Please wait! We need to save Mayumi-sama!"

"What do you mean?", asked Ren without understanding the meaning.

"Yesterday suddenly Kureha-sama suggested that Mayumi-sama should participate in the ceremony too. That with two people, a much stronger seal can be performed."

"....what's that?"

It was a strange story. From the start, Ayumi was the sacrifice made so that Mayumi will live. Even if it was for the sake of a stronger seal, this was like putting the cart before the horse.

"I too thought it was strange, but right now, there is no one who can go against Kureha-sama."

The Head, Iwao, fell to bed due to illness, Kureha sized all authority, Ayumi roughly explained.

But, Kazuma totally ignored the circumstance of the Tsuwabuki family and only asked what's necessary.

"Well, that sort of thing is inconsequential. So, where is that Mayumi?"

"Right there."

Ayumi pointed at the faintly sparkling crystal pillar. Ren and Kazuma stared with wonder at Mayumi sealed inside it.

"What a beautiful thing."

"I don't think that relevant....so, how are we getting it out of there?"

"Well, because Kureha-sama doesn't have the ability, I think someone else did it....."

"I see."

Kazuma nodded, turned his eyes on one the Chijutsushi standing there petrified and arrogantly commanded him.

"Do it. If you obey I won't 80% kill you, I'll drop it to 50%."

"Do- don't screw arou- kyaa!"

The man could't finish those courageous words of resistance. The atmosphere turned rigid as the man's face was hit and his nose sunk ten centimeters into his cranium.

"........is this an 80% kill?"

"Don't be stupid. That was just because he talked back to me."

Kazuma replied to Ren's question, in a stunned expression, lightly shrugging his shoulders.

"It can't be helped. It's troublesome asking each and everyone of them so I'll do it."

''Please?''

Before one realized he unbelievably said such a thing, dangerous even from a layman's point of view.

"Can you do it?"

"Leave it to me. The likes of a crystal is trivial."

"Eh....wait, that is- "

Ayumi tried to say something but without minding her Kazuma released the wind blades.

Above Mayumi's head and underneath her feet, two wind blades smoothly cut through the crystal as if it were glass.

The crystal mass slipped off in accordance with the diagonal cross-section. Furthermore, Kazuma cut that too.

Without injuring the body inside, the wind blades scrapped off only the crystal. By the time she fell to the ground, there wasn't even a fragment of crystal sticking to Mayumi's body.

"As expected of Nii-sama! This was amazing, righ- "

Ren was cheering in a loud voice but when watching Ayumi's paper-white face, his words were interrupted.

While having an extremely bad premonition, he asked.

"What's the matter?"

"......that crystal pillar was the pillar supporting this cave."

For some reason, Ren turned his head around and looked at the crystal pillar. At the now completely-cut-in-the-center pillar.

Because of what happened, it's impossible for it to function like a pillar anymore.

"We...el, that means- "

Feeling her lungs with air, Ayumi screamed.

"It's collapsing!!"

As if starting with her shout, the ceiling cave started shaking with an ominous rumble. Rocks of various sizes started raining down from the ceiling, and cracks appeared on the walls.

Ren shouted with a changed expression.

"Ni- Nii-sama! Quickly let's run.......!"

"Hmm...,what to do?", Kazuma murmured totally calm.

"That cave was really long. I don't doubt that if we run we'll be buried long before reaching the ground."

"Then what do you suppose we should do?"

"That's right, first of all - it's noisy!"

He looked up annoyed and only that, the falling rocks stopped. The earth tremor too grew remarkably quiet.

Looking up at the ceiling, Ayumi's eyes ogled in shock.

"Did you stop the cave-in with wind? No way, we're a hundred meters underground!"

"It's not like my powers stop working a hundred meters underground, you know?"

Kiiiiiiiiiiii!

"Waaaah?"

"Kyaaa!"

Together with Kazuma's words, a violent buzzing in the ear reached Ren and Ayumi.

Seeing them press their ears in anguish, Kazuma somewhat beckoned them.

"Come a little bit closer. It's bothersome spreading two more barriers."

Standing next to Kazuma, the buzzing incredibly calmed down. Ren asked in wonder.

"What did you do?"

"There's not enough volume of air, so I'm increasing it"

"You're increasing it?"

Thinking about how could one increase the atmosphere in an enclosed space, there's no way to do it but increase the atmospheric pressure.It means that the buzzing from some time ago was the result of the eardrum being pressed. All the Chijutsushi collapsed.

"Hey....doesn't it seem there are people fainting in agony with blood poring from their ears?"

"That's because if you suddenly increase the atmospheric pressure ten times, at least the eardrums will be torn."

As he thought, Kazuma didn't care about the health of the Chijutsushi. He respected Ren's request and was careful not to kill them but except for that he really didn't care.

''It's fine as long as the heart keeps beating.'', that kind of feeling.

Experiencing a much more ominous feeling than the one when the cave-in happened, Ren asked.

" -So, what are you going to do now?"

"It's settled. We're going above ground. By taking the shortest distance!"

''the shortest distance?''

Ren looked up at the ceiling. Understanding what he wanted to do with all the build-up atmospheric pressure, his ominous feelings changed to certainty.

With no hesitation, Kazuma released wind. To the shortest distance, right above their head.

Like a rushing stream the atmosphere pierced the hundred meter thick bedrock almost like paper.

Pulverized and minced, the fragments of rock under pressure were blown by he wind.

Ren looked up at the skies. Already without ceiling he could see the twinkling stars high in the sky.

He looked down. He didn't see the shadows nor the bodies of the Chijutsushi that were supposed to tumble on the ground. Being swallowed in Kazuma's wind, they were flying here and there in space.

Maybe they became man-made-satellites. Leaving the joke aside, Ren seriously thought so.

"......was there a need to go so far?"

"I wonder. First of all, this was the quickest and easiest way.", Kazuma stated calmly without showing a particle of introspection.

"Let's get out already. There's no more fun to be here."

"......that so?"

Leaving out the pointless complaints, Ren agreed in a worn-out voice.

By riding on the wind they appeared right in the mist of the sea of trees. Although it goes without saying what was the reason for the mowed down trees around them, the view was still nice.

"We came out quite a long way off. Well then, Ayano is- "

Just when Kazuma was saying that, a pillar of fire rose approximately a kilometer away from them. Kazuma and Ren exchanged glances difficult to express.

"...well, at least she's easy to find huh?"

"........right."

Exchanging a dry smile, they avoided sour criticism beyond that.

"Well then, let's meet up first."

"That's fine and all, but did you think about a proper explanation? I'm sure she's really angry."

"You worry too much. You'll go bald in the future."

"And who do you thing is adding up to my worries?", Ren screamed with so much grief, he didn't seem an elementary school student at all.

Seeming to enjoy herself, Ayumi watched close that charming exchange.

"........kuu......it...huurts......."

In a place a little separated from the trio that, at the same time, were harmoniously smiling at each other, with a pain assailing her entire body, Mayumi finally regained her consciousness.

Having been swallowed up by the violent air current and raised at once from a hundred meters in the ground to a hundred meters above surface, at last, she was thrown as a result into the ground because of gravity.

No matter how much protection she received from the Ground Spirits, they couldn't nullify this kind of damage.

Although a normal human's body would have been scattered in pieces, but she didn't even fracture her bones showed that a direct descendant of Tsuwabuki was a different kind of thing altogether.

"I wonder, is Yuuji safe?....and Onee-sama, what is she planning..."

The time she was sealed into the crystal was almost like a long dream but she was generally conscious. She somewhat understood what happened.

But even so, she didn't grasp Kureha's real intentions.

"A two people seal, what will that accomplish? If Father were to know of such a thing- "

In front of Mayumi, raising up her upper body, a huge piece of rock tumbled. Although it was a commonplace rock, for some reason it weighted on her mind so she looked at it carefully.

Perceiving her reason for her sense of discomfort, Mayumi grimaced. On the surface of the rock, the face of an anguished man was carved. Plus-

"What's this, what bad taste.......wait, is this Father's? Who sculpted this?"

Raising an indignant shout, Mayumi was about to smash the sculpture, letting anger take its course.

But a small voice stopped her.

"......yumi....Mayumi..."

"Eh?"

Being called out by the rock sculpture, that was a rare experience even for a Chijutsushi so unintentionally she froze.

"F...ath..er, no way....no way....is that really you Father....?"

As if answering that call, the sculpture opened its eyes. He glared at Mayumi with a distorted and cracked face.

"Mayumi...stop, Kureha...."

"Onee-sama? What do you mean Father? Father, is that really you? Why are you like th- "

"Stop Kureha...! To maintain the family's pride, you must..."

In a state he couldn't even hear his beloved daughter's voice, Iwao tried to get up. With a sublime expression, as if he was seeing death, Mayumi could do nothing but look at him in a daze.

===Part 3===

"Haaa!"

With Enraiha, Ayano split apart the gravitational field drawing near her. And simultaneously she ''burned'' the stretched out distorted space that was enveloping her.

"Good grief.", Kureha murmured as if amazed.

"To burn a gravitational field, no, the space itself, what a lack of common sense!"

"I don't want to hear that from a Chijutsushi that can manipulate gravitation.", Ayano retorted in a cool manner.

"I won't let you go further!"

Their standpoints became their exact opposite. To protect the cave's entrance, the place where Ren and the annoying Kazuma sneaked in, was now Ayano's duty.

Kureha's five companions, the Chijutsushi went after them but Ayano was not really concerned about that. Rather she thought it was better if she can only concentrate on Kureha.

Thanks to that she was now becoming fairly accustomed to burning space.

Without being able to use her vision she used her sensitivity to grasp the signs around her and to hold out until those two came back.

"Just come back already stupid!"

While boos replaced her fighting spirit, Ayano released fireballs. In order to match that Kureha shot gravitational fields.

That was the exact moment Kazuma came back.

Both the gravitation field able to compress a human to the size of a fist and the red-hot blaze that burns humans to nothingness turned into a fatal blow, attacking Kazuma from the front and back.

"Yo- you idiot!", screamed Ayano.

But in front of her-

A wind blade cut down both attacks in one go.

"Yo. Did you wait?", asked Kazuma as if nothing happened.

While holding with both hands Ren and Ayumi.

''.....you monster.'',Ayano said voicelessly.

Even though it was for an instant, feeling worried for him seemed foolish.

"First of all, why don't you let those kids down?"

"Hmm? Ah, that's right."

Kazuma bent over a little and dropped down those two he was holding under his arms.

That small moment his glance strayed, Ayano quickly filled the space between.

"N-- Nii-sama!"

"...Oh?"

Receiving Ren's warning he raised his face. Right before his eyes Ayano was holding Enraiha aloft.

Kazuma moved his body to the left evading the attack and grasped Ayano's wrist, trying to swing downward.

Catching Ayano's gaze, burning in anger from the front, he said.

"That's a pretty dangerous welcome. Instead of saying <<Welcome back!>> is Kannagi-san's home proper etiquette to hit someone in the head?"

"You're always always always always- "

Without responding to Kazuma's persiflage, Ayano squeezed out words from the gap between her teeth.

"You're always pushing out the troublesome stuff to me! Just die already!"

Her jumping right foot described a sharp arc. Kazuma lightly bent backwards and dodged the rotating kick that was about to hit his jaw.

"You should stop doing high kicks in a skirt. You're a woman from the biological point of view, right?"

"How fussy! Just let me hit you once!"

"Even though ''you'' tried to hit me!"

"Ahem- o(-"-;)"

Unnaturally someone cleared his throat restraining these two were caught up in their usual mood. That was Ren.

"I'm sorry to interrupt your enjoyment but please leave it at that for today. You're frightening Ayumi-chan and above all, this is not over!"

At once they turned to the same spot together. To where Tsuwabuki Kureha was starring back with a stunned expression.

"You're lacking too much tension. Do you still believe you can win?"

"Something like that.", Kazuma replied matter of course.

"I released both would-be sacrifices. If you're goal was to execute the ceremony, that already became impossible."

"Is that so? It they were snatched away all I have to do is take them back. That's all."

"Do you plan on defeating all three of us? I think that in this country the only ''human'' capable is someone of Kannagi Juugo's level."

At Kazuma's weird speaking style, Ayano asked from the back.

"Hey, you found something out while pursuing Ren, right? If you did, just say it already!"

"Oh, is that true?"

Ren thought he didn't simply come just to spy on him. Kureha too waited with great interest for Kazuma's reply.

"There's nothing to be found out."

Acting all important, Kazuma folded his arms.

"About Kureha's aim, I don't know it even now. But I know what is the source of supply for her power."

"Source of supply?"

"That's right. From where did she get her hands on it, how did she hand it out to Yuuji. The existence that is the origin of the unusual talent improper for a Chijutsushi- "

At those last words Kureha visibly frowned.

"I believe I told I had this power since I had been born."

"Since you were born?"

At Kureha's words, Kazuma laughed scornfully.

"And you didn't try to explain it? What can alter a Chijutsushi so that she is able to control gravity? You're not a Chijutsushi. On the contrary, I think you're not human!"

"............"

Kureha glared at Kazuma with a grim face. Even an outsider could see she's disturbed. All the composure she's shown so far seemed to have disappeared somewhere.

Even so, when she showed a forced smile she urged Kazuma to keep on going.

"Isn't that interesting? Then by all means tell me what you think. My own secret I don't even know."

"That is- "

At the time when everyone was getting ready to hear Kazuma's words-

Countless stone spears raised from the ground. They interrupted Kazuma's speech but didn't reach them. Their aim was only one and that was Kureha.

"....!!"

Nimbly chasing Kureha who escaped into the air, while writhing like snakes the stone spears reached for the sky. But, the attack that let the chance of certain-kill escape didn't have power to destroy Kureha. The gravity's hand caught the spears and crushed them all at once.

"What are you trying to do?"

Lightly dancing in space, Kureha asked quietly. There's no disturbance about her. Without even asking, she understands everything - that's the kind of face she's making.

"Aren't you attacking the wrong side Mayumi?"

While talking as if gossiping, Kureha smashed one of the closer trees.

From the shade of the ruined trees caught up in the attack, a single girl appeared.

If one were to remove the age difference, its facial features were identical to Ayumi. But that pupil burned with the fire of hatred, something Ayumi is not capable of.

It was the eldest child of the Tsuwabuki family, Ayumi's blueprint, Tsuwabuki Mayumi.

"Ma- Mayumi-sama....?", Ayumi murmured in a daze, without understanding the situation.

Did she just become their ally?

"Look, Ayumi is right there. Catch her quickly and resume the ceremony."

"Shut up, you betrayer!"

As if instigated by her sister's words, Mayumi interrupted her with a refusal. Her eyes beyond anger she said in a crushed to death tone.

"Father is dead."

"Really?"

Silent for just one moment, Kureha bowed her hand dully.

"''Really?'' Is that all? Is that all you have to say for the father you raised your hand against?"

"He challenged me so I defeated him. That's all there is to it.", said Kureha over her shoulder, thoroughly indifferent.

"You're only blaming me but you don't think anything about the father trying to kill his daughter?"

"What shameless things are you saying? If I consider all your schemes, I won't complain about killing you a hundred times over!"

"Is that so? If you were the one scheming, do you think Father would have killed you?"

".....what are you trying to say?"

"Nothing much. It's just tedious talk. It doesn't mean anything. -So, what will you do?", Kureha inquired as if asking what does her sister want for lunch.

Excessively serene, so unconcerned she didn't seem to ask about a life or death choice.

"What, you ask."

"Dying meaninglessly if you attack me or accomplish the family's duty with me, I'm asking you to choose one."

"Wha- "

For a moment Mayumi was at a loss of words but she became so angry her body trembled.

"The family's duty? Are you, are ''you'' really saying those words?"

"I'm not asking for your opinion. I'm asking for your answer. Hurry up and choose."

"Don't........joke with me!"

Together with an angry roar, the stone spears from underground are stretching and attacking Kureha. Without even looking, Kureha crushed them but Mayumi couldn't understand the simple-mindedness of her attack.

"For the honor of the Tsuwabuki family! Kureha! I'm bringing judgement upon you! Prepare yourself!"

"....what an idiotic child."

Letting out a dry murmur, Kureha locked her sister in a gravity barrier.

Although worried about the aftermath, the spherical barrier with a two meter diameter was contracted one centimeter. There's no way to escape.

But just before that, a wind gale destroyed the gravity barrier and blew up the insides.

"Kyaaa!?"

Mayumi mercilessly got blown by the wind and landed face first on the ground.

"Wh- what....?"

Stepping up in front of the surprised Mayumi, he looked down on her as if he was coercing her.

"You can kill yourself if you want to, but before that I need some answers. What is Kureha's purpose?"

"Why would I tell- "

Kazuma stepped on the ground with all his strength right next to Mayumi's head. His shoe sole pulverized the hard rock-bed, his shoe print engraved one centimeter deep.

He said unconcerned to Mayumi's stiff face.

"Is protecting that information valuable enough for me to step on your head and break your skull?"

Now that he said it, there was no merit to hold on the information. Her rejection was nothing more but her disposition.

"Kureha's purpose is- ", she said in a sulky tone, already without calling her sister.

"To make all of the Demon Beast's power her own."

" -!!"

Ayano, Ren, Ayumi all opened their eyes in shock. But Kazuma, at least on the surface, didn't show a particle of disturbance.

"......the two-layer seal, the power divided three-way - I see, so that's how it is?"

He murmured something, nodded his head in understanding but Mayumi, the one who told him, was the one looking up at Kazuma astonished.

"Did- did you figured it out just by hearing that?"

"Not really, I don't think I understood everything. I have no interest in something like the circumstance of your family. But I understood pretty much all I wanted to."

"I don't understand.", Ayano interrupted the conversation drawing close to Kazuma.

"What is it? Explain yourself."

"Just this and that- "

Shrugging his shoulders Kazuma started a broad explanation.

"Kureha's aim is to obtain the huge power of the Demon Beast sealed by the Tsuwabuki Family. What's the problem?"

"That's not something possible to achieve, right?", Ayano said frankly.

"The Demon Beast is the embodying of Mt. Fuji's life energy right? That's not something compatible with a human container. Instead of taking the power isn't it true that the power would take her?"

"Well, while I certainly do believe that it's reckless, it's not something really unusual, right? People that tried to get their hands on godly powers, demon beasts et cetera you can find a dime at a dozen."

Even if it seems Ayano doesn't understand, Kazuma continues only in his mind. Just like Kureha said, for a magician it was only natural to wish for an even bigger power. The only ones who didn't think like that were those like the Kannagis and that was because they were already possessing a mighty power.

The quest for an even greater power. For a deeper knowledge. That desire has no bounds, it doesn't need reason or purpose.

To completely fall to the desire to enhance oneself, that is the honest disposition of a magician.

"But, how will she accomplish that?"

"What will you do if you know?", Kazuma repelled Ayano's question point-blank.

"Even without knowing the theory behind it, if we finish off this woman so does the story, right?"

"While that may be true..."

"I too want to know.", interposed Kureha as is backing up the hesitating Ayano.

"How much do you understand, I'm really interested in that. Besides, I've yet to listen to my secret."

".....Well, that's fine."

Finally, Kazuma agreed. Except for time buying there's no other loss.

"I think you noticed already but the power Kureha and Yuuji obtained belongs to the sealed Monster Beast."

"Yes."

Ayano nodded. As one would expect, her senses aren't so dull no to notice such a thing.

"What I mean, at this point the Demon Beasts power is already divided into three parts. The Demon Beast's <<Ki>> itself was absorbed so that means the demon's himself was divided into three parts. And then, when that is integrated again, the biggest part will take the initiative."

"But, if it's like that....", Ayano said in a doubtful voice.

She understood the theory but even so it's impossible for Kureha to win.

"Of course, at the present time its real form it's extremely big. Even Kureha and Yuuji put together probably doesn't even reach 1% of the main body. But that's where the sealing ceremony comes in."

All present turned their eyes on Ayumi. And then, on Mayumi.

"You see, the seal basically holds down and compresses not only Mt. Fuji just before the explosion but also the life force of the Demon Beast. Doubling such a powerful seal that can go on for thirty years, Kureha's power will exceed the beast's I think. So, was I right?"

"Well done!"

Kureha responded to the half-hearted question with an apathetic applause.

"You receive an A+. Gee, even though this was a plan cautiously advancing for the last five years, I wonder why there's nothing but unexpected intrusions just before it's completed?"

"Because it's only human.", said Kazuma chilly over his shoulder.

From the start, he was the kind of man that without a few exceptions is heartless towards all humanity.

He didn't happen to have any kindness for his enemy.

"Well..."

Sorting out the newly received information, Ayano looks at Ayumi and Mayumi. It seems none want to cooperate with Kureha.

"In short, that woman's plan failed right? At this point she doesn't have the power to defeat all three of us."

"Yes."

"I wonder about that."

At the same time, Kazuma and Kureha said the exact opposite words. All looks converged on the Kureha that even now still didn't lose her composure.

"Surely I don't have enough confidence to defeat all three of you and to take back the sacrifices. But, I'm pretty confident I can escape."

"What will running achieve?"

"I'll prepare a new sacrifice", Kureha declared naturally.

"You half asleep? Where will you find such a- "

Pausing his words in the middle, Kazuma turned a severe look to Mayumi.

"Oi, girl."

"Wh- what...?"

Mayumi tried to make herself as small as possible as if she lost in the mental battle.

"What happened to the institute that made your clone?"

"....I don't know. Perhaps, Father was controlling- "

Understanding its significance, Mayumi opened her eyes wide in terror and looked up at Kureha high in the sky.

Kureha's lips lifted.

"I'm the one managing it now. Of course, I also store your cells."

"Yoooooooouuuuuuuuuuu!!!", Mayumi screamed in fury.

She couldn't allow it. For the sake of despicable lust for Kureha to play with her cells and mass-produce imitations that looked exactly like her - the disgrace of having her very existence insulted burned through her consciousness.

"I won't allow it! I won't allow it! I won't allow it! Even if it's only you I will- "

Really angry, Mayumi released her power. From the underground stone spears grew and the blowing up pebbles coiled incessantly raining stones from the heaven.

But-

"It's useless. "

Even straining all her power, she couldn't even scratch Kureha.

Grinding her teeth in pain, Mayumi looked up at Kureha and from her eyes burning with hatred, tears fell down.

"I'll kill you...I'll definitely kill you..."

"No. You'll die here."

For the sister caught in a violent emotion, with no sign of being moved Kureha declared so, coldly.

"..........."

Kazuma viewed the extreme quarrel between sisters unfolding in front of him with sober eyes. As if remembering, he searched his pocket and took out tobacco.

"Hmm?"

His lighter doesn't work. Throwing away the 100 yen lighter out of gas, he said to Ren.

"Fire."

"Ye- yes!"

Ren looked at the cigarette's pointed end. Without really doing anything, just by that the cigarette tip was ignited. Kazuma inhaled the fumes silently.

"Why are you acting like you have all the time in the world, you!?"

There, Ayano swung downward Enraiha. Easily evading it, Kazuma laughed with a carefree face.

"Calm down."

"Calm down!?", Ayano replied instantly.

"We need to hurry! To be in a rush - no matter how you look at it, that woman is already broken! If we don't deal with it now- "

"Hmm- but..."

With an attitude that had no vitality, Kazuma observed Kureha.

"To make a clone takes time right? Won't the seal get torn in the meantime?"

"That's fine.", Kureha guaranteed it.

"If I disperse mine and Yuuji's power, the mountain's <<Ki>> will stabilize. If I were to do that, even without the ceremony the current seal will last for at least ten years."

"......Ah, is that so?"

Observing Kazuma's appearance opening his eyes wide seeming really surprised, Ayano felt a great sense of foreboding. This is not just an off prediction.

Something else, a much more absurd situation is happening.

"Kazuma....you, what did you do?"

"........"

Ayano drew near and even including an intent to kill she gripped Kazuma's collar, trying to look away.

"Don't try to deceive me with that distant expression! Spill it out! What did you do?"

"Well....it was troublesome when we were trying to get out from the underground so I just blew up the ceiling."

"Ah, something like that happened. For an instant I thought that Mt. Fuji erupted. And then?"

"Then this worlds law of action and reaction happened. When I turned my power upwards, the same amount of power was turned downwards."

"...!"

At those words Ayumi, Mayumi and Kureha held their breath. They stared at Kazuma in a pale, ashen face.

"What happened?", Ren asked Ayumi.

But instead of Ayumi that lost her voice due to terror, Mayumi answered in a cracked voice.

"....That ceremonial place is located on top of the dragon pulse emitted from Mt. Fuji. That's why we held the ceremony there, because from there we can directly reach Mt. Fuji's power."

"Wh-what! That is..."

Anticipating the conclusion, Ren changed his expression. Without concerning herself with him, Mayumi continued - as he expected.

"Just try to hit that hundred meter bedrock found there with your indecent power! The weakened seal will flip open and the demon beast will jump to his feet you know! Like, right now!"

"............."

All the people present, except for Kureha looked at Kazuma with the same intent. But, Kazuma shrugged his shoulders as if he didn't feel all the pressure gathered around him and showed a somewhat bitter smile.

"No, if you were to stop the ceremony I think the seal would be broken immediately. That's why I have a better timing. Kureha, you're the one to blame. You should have said such a thing sooner!"

All of a sudden his tone became overly familiar. But of course, just by that it's impossible to deceive them.

"You idio- "

''"What have you done!?"''

With enough volume to completely overtake Ayano's insult, Kureha screamed. She had the expression of an ogre.

Although her features were voluptuous, her face with eyes that became bloodshot and teeth bared became considerably frightening.

"Isn't she kind of angry?"

"......isn't it obvious?"

Intimidated by the intensity of Kureha's anger, Ayano replied in a frail manner. She felt something similar to pity for Kureha, whose ambition was thwarted by this kind of man.

"But still, her ''real desire'' will come true so I think she could be happy."

"Eh?", asked Ayano in return unintentionally.

High in the sky, crushing her anger, Kureha looked down on Kazuma really pissed.

"You only talk in such a round-about way - If you have something to say, say it clearly!"

"That's right! That's right!", interrupted Ayano.

Glaring at Ayano with a look of light reprimand, Kazuma continued the conversation annoyed.

"First, you said you invested five years in this plan but that's a mistake."

"What- "

"Hear me out first. For a human being the Demon Beast's power is a foreign substance. If you were to take in something like that, a sense of discomfort will appear. Actually Yuuji couldn't manifest the power he received but like an appendix in an irregular form. But you have no sense of discomfort. You are perfectly integrated."

No matter how much you investigate it, the result is the same. For a human being to grow accustomed to a demon beast's <<ki>> - no, at that time only the beast's <<ki>> can be felt.

"Just by five years - no, what's important here is the period of twenty something years you lived as a human. A human's way of being established in all those years and months can't all disappear in just five years."

".........."

Kureha said nothing. No, maybe she could't. That face, biting on her lips, looked as if she felt resentment towards her own self that couldn't object.

"Thinking about it there's just one answer. From the time you were born but not later than two or three years old you carried the demon beast's power in your body. Maybe you only looked at the Demon Beast for the last five years but long before that, for the sake of escaping the seal the beast had you under his control."

"Ho- how stupid! That's wrong! I- "

"I have even more proof."

Kazuma callously pressed even more the confused Kureha.

"Your power. If you lack the divine protection of the Spirits, what kind of power are you borrowing? Isn't it natural not to hear the Spirit's voices? Instead of senseless spirits an existence with a far stronger will and power, endlessly shouting inside your head ''Release me!'' ?"

"Wro- Wrong!", Kureha raised scream full of bitterness and covered her ears.

"I decided on it by my own will! I'm not being manipulated! That's impossible!"

"If that's the case I can check right?"

Informed by Kazuma's cold words, Kureha opened her eyes wide.

"....what did you say?"

"Let's make sure. Let's ask the demon itself. All it's clear except this. Don't be reserved, I'll take care of it myself - so you can die relived!"

A wind blade vertically bisected Kureha's body, standing there in a daze.

Unable to defend, unable to resist, Kureha could't do anything. No, without even trying, she just ''looked''.

A blade that invited death. The body to be killed. And - the killed body.

"..........Ah?"

Split in two, Kureha was still alive. Or at the very least, she didn't die.

The body cleaved in two equal parts, with a gap of a few centimeters in between, that for some reason didn't fall but kept its balance and stood erect. Not even a drop of blood was flowing.

"Ah......aha........ahahahahahaha....."

Looking with her right eye at the left half of the body, with her left eye at the right half of the body Kureha revealed an empty laughter. There was no place for objection. Right now - no, from some long gone day she stopped being human.

Intending to manipulate everything, she was always manipulated. Only having the illusion of free will, everything stood on top of the demon beast's palm.

"This is...is this the punishment for killing Father.......? Are you saying this is the appropriate punishment for my sin?", Kureha murmured smiling in a broken way.

"But there was no helping it, was there. My Father didn't love me, you know? He didn't even scold me. At that time, my father was laughing. Without even listening to the reason why I broke the taboo, he was so happy he had the reason to get rid of the burden I was for him ''he was laughing''!!"

"Onee-sama...."

"Aren't you fine? Loved by all, protected by all. Then, if no one loved me, if no one protected me, I had no choice but to become stronger. To become stronger than anyone else! Is that what you call a sin? Are you, the one that stole ''everything'' from me trying to blame me!?"

Kureha screaming in bitterness - without being able to look at her, Mayumi cast her eyes down.

That Kureha was Father's enemy doesn't change. But, after knowing everything Mayumi was not heartless enough to blame her.

On the other hand, when listening to Kureha violent confession, Ayano felt a different unpleasantness from Mayumi's.

''This feels like a familiar story....''

She stealthy peeked at Kazuma's appearance. Hiding his face, Kazuma smoked in silence. Perceiving irritation from that silhouette seemed like some sort of optical illusion.

Suddenly, Kazuma threw away his tobacco. And then.

"Shut the fuck up. Just fucking die already!"

Together with merciless words, he hit her with wind blades. This time, from her back, he cut her up horizontally.

"Wh- wait- "

Ignoring the others wincing at his excessive cruelty, he grinds the fallen tobacco.

"Nobody loved you, huh? Isn't that natural? Did you think wishes come true just by waiting for them to!? If you have something you want then work for it!"

High in the sky, there was Kureha's body divided cross-wise. As expected, holding herself together was difficult - she was shaking unsteady.

"Don't make it someone else's fault. It was all your decision. Closing yourself in because you were too afraid to deal with other people, choosing isolation once and again, wasn't it all your choice?", Kazuma shouted unable to control his words.

Does he himself realize? That Kureha is nothing else but his own twisted mirror?

Ignored by Genma, shunned by all his clan - Kannagi Kazuma and Kureha, they are terribly alike.

If he didn't became disinherited by Genma, maybe he wouldn't have found the determination to leave the home. And then - maybe he would have become something like this.

Because he could clearly imagine himself that way he felt discomfort when looking at this woman. He felt bitterness. He couldn't put up with it. He could't stand up hearing such pitiable complaints.

"If you decided to live by yourself then quietly die by yourself! After all this time don't start whining like a spoiled child!"

Countless wind blades chopped Kureha's body to shreds. As expected, unable to maintain a human shape, Tsuwabuki Kureha died.

For Kureha, annihilated without any closing words, Kazuma saw her off without offering tribute for the departed. But immediately following that, he faintly frowned.

"Shit - did it escape?"

Ayano opened her eyes wide.

"Eh? Is that thing still alive?"

"No, as expected Kureha died but I didn't get rid of that Demon Beast's <<Ki>> inside her. I wanted to decrease it even by a few percents! Well it can't be helped - "

Feeling the same thing as the Demon Beast's <<Ki>> passing through the dragon pulse and returning to Mt. Fuji - it was seized by Kazuma's sharp perception.

That doesn't only means the enemy became stronger. Although small, the <<Ki>> activated - without mistake, that was the stimulation that became the last push that made the Demon Beast open his eyes.

The time for the decisive battle was drawing closer.

"But thinking on it, she was a really pitiable person. Without being loved by anyone and trying to become stronger for this reason, just to be manipulated.", Ren murmured earnestly.

Maybe because he already saved Ayumi he now had the composure to commiserate his enemy.

Looking at that Ren with an expressionless gaze, Kazuma said.

"You, did you believe that nonsense story?"

".................................yes?"

"Can I take that as an affirmation?"

After an even longer,heavier silence Ren asked blankly.

"J- just wait a second! No way, was it all just random bullshit!?"

"No, that wasn't random bullshit but I have no proof. Just pilling up one hypothesis after another, a reasoning that can't be verified by proof is the same as trash. If you gulp it down so easily you'll be seen as an idiot."

"Then, why did you say all those things?"

To Ren's timid questioning Kazuma answered exasperated holding his head.

"That woman was strong enough for it to become a hard fight if I were to fight her directly. Not to become tired before the main performance, I tried my best to bluff but I didn't believe it would be that effective. Your Onii-chan was so surprised!"

".............."

He brought the conversation to a finish very sweetly but that didn't soften the shock even a little bit.

Not a cruel voice can be heard. Even Mayumi who hated Kureha the most couldn't suppress her pity.

"......how cowardly.....", murmured Ayano.

They were just two words but others that would express Kazuma's behavior more accurately don't exist in this world.

All the party, except Kazuma, nodded showing their deep agreement.

"''All for the winner'' - isn't that a fine expression?"

Of course, Kazuma didn't pay attention to their reaction.

=== Part 4 ===

"Well then isn't it about time?"

At Kazuma's words, standing alone, everyone's body shivered.

Even without having to say it they all noticed. That the earth was vibrating slightly but continuously.

The activity of the ground spirits already reached a state of wild excitement.

A great existence was in the process of waking up. The earth was being scared of that omen.

"It- it's coming!"

Suddenly Ayumi shouted. Immediately-

The sky was dyed red.

"!!"

The light source that removed the darkness was a pillar of flame gushing out from Mt. Fuji's crater. The red hot magma running up as if aiming at the heavens was glittering in a vivid red.

"....This means the eruption comes first, huh? This is quite a surprise."

"Why are you so calm about the situation?"

Expressionless, Ren drew closer to Kazuma taking his time to admire at leisure the magnificence of the scenery.

"There wasn't supposed to be any damage."

"Well, calm down. It's no use arguing about spilled milk. Besides, just one eruption shot won't do too much damage. If it's that degree it will basically cool down by the time it reaches the foot of the mountain - Ooh?"

Kazuma, trying to comfort Ren and soothe him, forgot his words at the scene in front of his eyes. When Ren turned his head in confusion he had the same reaction.

The lava, unable to reach the heavens fell down and returned to the crater describing a clearly unnatural arc.

As if the mountain didn't want to let loose even a drop of its own heat. Taking back all it spit out with the same opening Mt. Fuji became apparently dull.

But -

"It's - not over."

Without a need for warning they all understood. That this is the beginning.

It's coming out. Something, extremely unbelievable.

"So, what will come out?"

With an expression used when tearing open a present's wrapping paper but with a facial expression that goes beyond dangerous, Kazuma said so.

The seal already lost its effect. Following the caldera, from the depths of earth an enormous power was crawling out. The footsteps that made the earth tremor, they had the feeling they could hear them.

"Eh?"

Before noticing it, that ''thing'' showed on the summit of the mountain. Omitting all the process.

"Just now, how did it appear?"

"As if I know. Maybe it teleported."

Kazuma casually answered Ayano's question. It seems that even by using his power of perception this man couldn't capture its movement process. The question on how it really crossed over the space was recurrent.

"Please stop it.......making that stupid appearance....."

" - It doesn't particularly feel slow-witted."

"But isn't that a turtle!?"

"Well......it's a turtle."

It seems they both agree on this. Certainly, of all the living things it resembles a turtle the most.

Two short feet, protruding from a shell, a head and a tail. But that thing lacked all that made a turtle lovely.

Almost like it was made of rock, the acute-angled body was composed of only planes and straight lines. From its mouth many atrocious fangs stood up in line. And then, among that boorish body that seemed made of inorganic substance, almost like a different creature only the tail, like a living thing, took the shape on a large snake.

And then, more dreadful than anything else, that appearance was ''understanding''.

The Demon Beast was at the top of the mountain, they were at the base of it. The distance between them was approximately ten kilometers. But - even so ''it was looking''.

The fangs that were fully visible, sheet after sheet of snake scales, they could perceive it all as if it were in front of their eyes.

It wasn't just big. The excessively overwhelming power, its own being was etched in detail in their consciousness not permitting a vague recognition.

"Is this.........Genbu (trad: The Black Tortoise)? But, that was supposed to be the Sacred Beast of water..."

"Well, it's impossible to be that thing right? Folklore about a mountain sustaining turtle exists in China but this has no association with it.", answered Kazuma without positive proof.

And then, Ayumi explained.

"That thing shape was decided by us."

"By the Tsuwabuki Family?"

"No, by humans."

Contemplating on it for a while, Kazuma reached an answer.

"Its shape was given by the power of the collective unconscious?"

"It's not something that grand. If we were to consult the records from those days, at first it had an indefinite shape but took one while fighting and finally became that. It's called Zenon."

" - Who the heck named it like that three hundred years ago?"

Achilles and the tortoise?[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zeno%27s_paradoxes#Achilles_and_the_tortoise]

Unintentionally Kazuma laughed at an inappropriate time.

The practitioners that fought ''Zenon'' and the people that saw it happen imagined it various ways.

''What is this thing'' or something. They saw the sturdy turtle they couldn't suppress no matter how much they attacked and maybe they remembered the same Chinese legend like Kazuma did.

Or maybe, unable to catch up with it no matter how long they chased, they found out the transcendent nature resembling a philosophical contradiction.

That kind of deed gave the course of action - the shape for that confusing power.

The fact that they fought with the intent to throw it down but on the contrary they couldn't kill the enemy can only be called ironic.

"That's why, the Tsuwabuki concealed Zenon's existence even after the sealing. For the sake of not giving it an even clearer form. If at a different time the seal is solved, they prayed it would revert to the original disorderly power."

"It seems that's a wasted effort."

"That's true. Maybe it already stabilized like this."

The two exchanged a dry smile.

Ren viewed the situation somewhat displeased but he couldn't really complain.

"Hey - ", Ayano pulled the hem of Kazuma's jacket.

"Isn't it kind of looking at us?"

"Aah. As if it were a loaded gun.", Kazuma nodded.

The Demon Beast - Zenon, was starring here with a look full of hatred. That pressure could be felt on the skin.

Thinking what happened since the beginning, the manifestation of Zenon's crude <<Ki>> - he's a cluster of destructive impulses. It's impossible to turn its hatred on a particular somebody.

"And yet, why?"

"It's just a conjecture but will you listen?"

"Say it."

"It's Kureha.", Kazuma frankly answered.

"The plan failed but a part of the demon beast was mingled with her. Although impossible to capture, the emotion that occupied most of her consciousness - like her hate towards us is influencing it, maybe."

"Don't use ''us''. The only one Kureha hated was you. You're the one who fucked her up, made her despair and finally massacred her!"

"The same thing.", Kazuma eluded the riposte calmly, shrugging his shoulders.

"It seems we can omit the time needed to climb up to the top! It's coming!"

Simultaneously with his words, Zenon vanished. And one instant later, he reappeared.

Right in front of Ayano.

" - !!"

The head that opened its mouth in a big way, descended from right overhead. Time to react, there was none.

" - RAAAAAAAAH!!"

But Kazuma, jumping out in front of Ayano with a powerful gale, knocked the rock head with a fist clad in wind.

The demon beast's cranium was instantly pulverized and that huge build flew in midair.

"What the heck was that? Can it seriously teleport!?"

"No, that's wrong. That was reconstruction."

"What's that?"

"It temporarily reduced its body to <<Ki>> went through the dragon pulse and then reconstructed. It really helps that there is a time lag before reorganizing its body."

Saying that, Kazuma focused on Zenon. The head that was supposed to be pulverized was regenerated for the most part.

"Wow it's really not working - Ayumi!"

"Y- yes!"

"Run away. As far as your body can hold."

She drew out her chin. Maybe she became self-conscious of her own uselessness. Ayumi nodded deeply and started running without saying anything.

Around the time that silhouette disappeared Zenon finished regenerating and got up. Looking at him from the front he is really huge. Including his tail, his length measures more than a hundred meters. A majestic appearance certainly appropriate for the mountain's avatar.

"Hmm!"

Even so, without hesitating, Kazuma showed a fearless smile and looked up at that large build.

"Come, let's go! Hey vanguard, just knock him off already like we previously discussed. Isn't that your only redeeming feature?"

"Shut up baka!"

With a retort that was already close to a conditional reflex, Ayano began to run straight ahead.

Zenon overlooked the petty living thing that didn't know its place from a higher position looking bored.

"KYAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHH!!"

"Don't shout stupid turtle!!"

While backing up the advancing Ayano, the rear guard made up of two people starting attacking. Wind and flame - that power that would obliterate a dozen demon beasts in one go, how effective will it be against this opponent -

Setting up Enraiha while running wind and flame passed her from both sides.

Using long distance attacks as a faint and using Enraiha for the finishing blow - that was their most basic tactic.

"GYAAAAAAAAAAAHH!!"

Once again the Demon Beast howled. As if invited by that scream, rock snakes appeared from the underground - an infinite number of them.

Each was a serpent with two meters in diameter and they all blocked the way to Zenon. And then, using their bodies to stop the wind and flame, they gulped it down and were crushed.

''I can still go!!''

Ayano didn't stop from running. Forcibly breaking through the diminished snake barrier, she was aiming at Zenon's body.

A turbulent presence was generated high in the sky. The presence she grew accustomed to when fighting Kureha. She instantly understood.

A gravitation field.

And in addition to that, a different order of magnitude than Kureha's. An extravagant gravitation field was formed that right now was changing to something like a black hole. It's not like she can't oppose it but -

"Kazuma!", she shouted without turning her face around.

Believing she could be understood only by that, Ayano ignored the gravitational field and went even further.

Zenon's foot that was soaring right in front of her, she cut it in one stroke. Simultaneously a wind blade split open the gravitational field.

That was an extremely exquisite combination - if it was successful, but -

"......wa!?"

Reverberating with a hard sound Enraiha bounced back without being able to scratch the surface. The wind blade that tried to cut the gravitational field was crushed and vanished instead.

"Che!"

"Nee-sama!"

Ren hit with all his power the gravitational field that tried to crush Ayano. And a new wind blade swung downward and this time managed to slice and tear up the warped space.

"Fall back!"

Obeying Kazuma's direction, Ayano speedily retreated. There was no pursuit.

"Wait a second, that's absurdly hard! How did you manage to smash its head?"

"No, it would turn bad if I would attempt it a second time."

Sidestepping Ayano that drew closer agitated, Kazuma casually shook his head.

"Eh? That means - "

"Yes, it hardened since then."

Ayano looked up at Kazuma with a pale complexion.

"Does that mean it's evolving?"

"Instead of evolving maybe adapting oneself would be more appropriate - well, it's the same no matter what we call it....this is bad."

Receiving damage and then enhancing itself so that it can withstand that degree of damage. Furthermore its energy reaches almost infinite levels so it can more or less immediately recover from that damage.

"How- how are we supposed to fight that kind of opponent?"

At Ayano's question Kazuma showed his open hands as if saying ''give up hope''.

"What to do?"

"''What to do?'' you say - "

Before the unintentionally speechless found a retort, the situation changed.

A group of remaining rock snakes opened their mouths simultaneously. From inside, darkness was peeking out.

" - Run!"

Coincident with the shout, Kazuma grabbed Ren and jumped with all his strength. Ayano too, left that place with all her energy.

Immediately following that, something invisible ran through the place the trio stood. That something drilled the thick sea of trees opening a straight road in it.

The Tsuwabuki mansion placed up ahead in a straight line was annihilated without trace. Without using an explosion or blaze - literally annihilated.

Descending on the ground surface with a new outlook on life, Kazuma murmured.

"Is this......what you call a gravity rifle........? This is turning more and more into a SF..."

"Now it's not the time for side comments! Just hurry up and get serious already!!"

Kazuma made a contract with the Spirit Lord and is holding a power that exceeds the human container.

Ayano is telling him to let it out but -

"I don't really care but if I were to do that but after five minutes I'm out. Do you take responsibility for what happens after?"

It's not like Kazuma is suppressing his power on a whim or to show off. Using a power that rises above humanity in a human body, first of all that sort of thing is impossible.

If he were to overcome that impossibility a back lash will always appear.

He didn't test the limit but it's around five minutes. Anything more than that will fry his brain. Since they have yet to find a breach it would be reckless to use their only trump card.

"Ugh - you're useless!"

"Say that after you did something!"

Ren looked at these two, exchanging a bloodthirsty conversation, with anxiety. Becoming aware of that gaze, Kazuma softened his facial expression.

"It's fine. I fought a much stronger opponent than myself on countless occasions."

''Even I said that - ''

Silently, Kazuma continued.

''It's the first time I oppose such overwhelming odds. Can we do this?''

But before Kazuma had time to think of a counter plan, the situation deteriorated even more.

Raising a howl Zenon summoned a large quantity of new rock snakes from underground.

The rock snakes whose numbers suddenly doubled simultaneously oppened their mouths.

"Wait a seeeeecond!!"

On the battlefield where the gravity guns were flying wildly about the trio could do nothing but run.

And then -

Disobeying Kazuma's command Ayumi was watching over the battlefield from a short distance.

Even for her untrained eyes it was clear that Ren's group was cornered.

''Wha- what to do.....''

"How unsightly."

"!?"

From the trembling Ayumi's back a voice full of scorn was suddenly raised. When turning around, in Ayumi's eyes war reflected the same face.

"Ma- Mayumi-sama - "

Without answering, Mayumi eyes were full of glee watching Kazuma and the rest being driven to the wall.

"After all that talking it eventually became such a sad sight, huh? It's impossible for humans to destroy that thing. Are they stupid?"

Openly expressing her scorn she overlooked her imitation, whose eyes were like those of a frightened puppy.

"Well then, let's go."

"Eh? Wh- where?"

"Withdrawing for the moment, reorganizing our force and then resuming the ceremony. Because both these guys and Kureha were acting stupid the command line was torn.........so for now, we're leaving this place."

Mayumi took Ayumi's hand and tried to pull her but Ayumi resisted firmly planting her feet on the ground.

"Such a thing! Please wait! We can't abandon Ren - "

"I don't care about those guys! There're fighting Zenon by their own will so they can die for all I care!"

''by their own will''

Mayumi's words had the opposite effect - that exact phrase made Ayumi decide. Including force, she shook off Mayumi's hand.

"It's not yet decided that they are going to lose!"

"They can't possibly win!"

"They'll win! I - I will- "

Mayumi opened her eyes wide in shock watching the pathetic determination hardening on that face. What was Ayumi trying to do - she understood it.

"Y- you - "

"Mayumi-sama."

With a pale face but watching Mayumi steady the girl implored in a trembling voice.

"Lend me your strength! Not enough to perfectly seal it but if we could weaken it, Ren will definitely defeat Zenon."

"Don't- Don't mess around! Why would I have to - "

"Think about it calmly!"

Ayumi drew near, completely overturning the power relationship.

"If you were to go now and gather the remaining Chijutsushi do you think that this newly set free Zenon will let you do it? If you want to do it, now is the time! If there's the two of us surely - "

"No! I don't want to die!"

As if trying to deny Ayumi's words, Mayumi covered her ears. In those eyes, looking down on her own replica pure terror was floating.

"You don't have to do it until that point! Only to reduce Zenon's power - "

"No! Definitely no!", screamed Mayumi blocking her ears. Closing her eyes firmly as if to shut away reality, she shook her head and crouched down like a helpless child.
[[Image:Kaze no Stigma vol 03 333.jpg|thumb]]

Overlooking Mayumi refusing to listen to anything, Ayumi let out a sigh.

"I understand. Well then."

She lowered her head, accepting what she shouldn't have seen and started walking towards the battlefield.

Understanding that Ayumi intends on sealing Zenon by herself, Mayumi unintentionally asked.

"You...Do you feel like killing yourself?"

Ayumi quietly looked over her shoulder. Overawed by her determined gaze, Mayumi slightly looked away.

"Wrong.", Ayumi declared with no hesitation.

"I want to live. I want to live together with Ren!"

Bowing her head once again in front of the speechless Mayumi, Ayumi started running.

".............I'm beaten..........there's no end to this........"

With a voice blurred with weariness, Kazuma coughed. Ayano and Ren were panting, lightly injured on different parts of their bodies.

They were not done yet. Chopping down rock snakes, they even managed to injure Zenon. But that was immediately healed.

It was as if swinging their fists at the ground. Because the opponent was too large, there wasn't a meaning in attacking it. Even with a meaning there was no result from attacking it.

They didn't even had a match. The current status doesn't allow for a competition. One-sidedly scraping off their physical strength, it's only waiting for a chance to annihilate them - they were in the midst of such a hopeless situation. When Ayumi started participating in the war.

"Ayumi-chan?"

Suddenly recognizing Ayumi's appearance rushing in at the last minute, Ren changed his expression.

"Don't- don't to that! Run away quickly - "

Without answering, positioning herself at the same distance from Ren and Zenon, at the top of an equilateral triangle, she adjusted her breathing.

And then, slowly kneeling she joined hands taking a posture of prayer.

"Ayumi-chan...?"

After a few seconds, from Ayumi's body an enormous power was released. On earth light ripples ware running, and little by little they converged to where Zenon was.

What was she doing, Ren immediately understood.

"Ayumi-chan! No!"

Ren began to run trying to stop her. But from his back Kazuma asked a question on a low tone.

"Where are you going, brat?"

"What are you asking, Ayumi-chan is - "

Not concerned about Ren's agitation, indifferently, Kazuma asked again.

"What did you say to Ayumi?"

"Eh? That...that is..."

''What do you want to do?''

" - But!"

"Ayumi answered your question. What will you do?"

"..........."

Biting his lip, Ren turned his back to Ayumi. He looked up at Zenon. Surely, its power was weakened.

If it's like that - they can win.

"I'll butcher it. Nii-sama get serious!"

"Ok."

Nodding deeply, Kazuma closed his eyes. Several seconds after - the pair of eyes that showed a second time were dyed in a transparent blue. That was the carved seal engraved by the spirit Lord of the Wind. The wind spirits playing in the sky were the evidence that he was allowed to control everything.

Holding a power that tremendously magnified in his hands, the supreme ruler of the sky fearlessly laughed.

"So, let's go - the spirit of reincarnation from just one mountain, smash it to pieces until there's nothing left!"

=== Part 5 ===

Ayumi felt the fast approaching <<Death>> closing in with each second. As if she were a drained water tank, the power was flowing out of her at an alarming rate.

Even though she understood that she will die the moment this power will have run out, she didn't try to ''save'' it.

It wasn't out of despair. She didn't plan on risking her life. For the sake of living with Ren, it was necessarily to do so, so she did it.

''Just a bit more, just a bit more.''

But that wasn't an infinite power. Enduring it with great effort, compensating for it with fighting spirit, she did it to the limit. Her breathing was severed, she couldn't help but to inhale.

''Just.... a bit....more......''

As if she was turned off, she suddenly lost all her senses. The consciousness that sunk into the darkness, no matter how much she called out to it, her body already doesn't have enough force to respond to it. She slowly collapsed forward -

"What are you doing?"

On the verge of collapsing front-faced on the ground a stretched out hand from the back sized the nape of her neck and pulled back Ayumi's body. Her awaken consciousness recognized the silhouette of her savior.

"Mayumi.......sama......?"

"You talk big but is this it? If you, the one that should be protected dies first what will happen?"

Folding her arms arrogantly, Mayumi sneered at the foolish doll.

"Though you're my imperfect clone I don't want you to lose from such a thing."

"..........."

In blank amazement Ayumi looked up at Mayumi. In other words, this is -

" - Hmm."

Making an entirely arrogant facial expression Mayumi raised Ayumi's chin.

"I don't want to be told that by Mayumi-sama who deserted under the enemy's fire."

Making such a provocative declaration with all her strength, a huge vein popped on Mayumi's temple.

"....you can talk back now, huh?"

"Of course. That's because I'm nothing but Mayumi-sama's duplicate. Besides, no matter who it is, the performance of the one that is born after is obviously excellent."

"......very good......"

While her temples were violently convulsing, Mayumi murmured in a low voice.

"Should I teach you what the original's power is like? Prostrate yourself in front of the overwhelming power difference Ayumi!"

Together with a sonorous shout, Mayumi released her power. The ripple that paused when Ayumi used all her strength started binding the demon beast for a second time.

''Mayumi-sama, thank you very much.''

Expressing words of gratitude inside her heart, she bowed deeply at Mayumi's back. And once again she adjusted her breathing and gave her own power to Mayumi. The doubled effort tied Zenon much more powerfully.

''With this we can win - No, we <<will>> win. And then, together - ''

While mustering all her strength, Ayumi addressed Ren.

'' - we will become happy, right?''

"Woooooooohhh!!"

The wind blade released by Kazuma cut all four of Zenon's legs. Not letting the moment it was disconected from the earth escape, he pushed up the limbless body into the sky.

As long as Zenon comes in contact with the ground it has an infinite amount of power. So, in order to defeat it, all its links with the earth must be severed, attack it with the greatest amount of power while in that state, and before it can regenerate destroy it so that not even a fragment of its existence is left behind.

That chance, doesn't appear very often. There was only this moment.

"We finish it off right now!", Kazuma shouted, while forcibly throwing away Ren body, found near-by.

Surprised for just one moment he quickly understood Kazuma's plan and he converged all his power at one point.

"Match it from below!"

"Ok!"

In accordance with Kazuma's instruction, Ayano slipped right under Zenon. While in the Hassō-no-kamae stance, she put all her remaining power on the single stroke and swung it with all her strength.

The plasma whose caloric value rivaled that of the sun sank inside Zenon's shell. And then, from overhead, the descending Ren released all his power.

"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHH!!!"

The calorific value Ren emitted at that time may have exceeded Ayano's holding Enraiha. The gushing out golden plasma simply went through the impenetrable shell, broke it and burned it to nothing.

Broken pieces of Zenon were scattering and exploding in all directions - but Kazuma didn't permit the existence of such delicate splinters.

"Vanish!!"

A hard wind exceeding the speed of sound - no, the intent to kill carried by the wind annihilated the countless fragments until none remained.

Literally annihilated. Without even leaving dust, all traces of Zenon's existence disappeared.

"Aahh - shit!", spit out Kazuma, tired.

That was the limit. His brain was about to start burning off. With the last of his power making Ren, about to crash, land softly, right away the seal placed on his eyes was resumed. He couldn't move, not even a step. If he were to release his consciousness he would continue sleeping for at least three days.

''But.....I can't do that.''

He had the obligation to see the end with his own eyes. Because although he knew he did everything he could he didn't stop it.

''We can't save can we? Me and you too....''

''We.........we woooooooooooooonn!!''

While flying down on the wind, Ren was overjoyed inside.

He quickly wanted to meet Ayumi. He wanted to see Ayumi's delighted face. That thought was overflowing his consciousness.

A few more meters remained before reaching the ground but he hurriedly destroyed the wind barrier and jumped out.

Coincident with his landing, he started running. Aiming for the girl he loved more than anyone else.

"Ayumi-chan!"

To Ren waving his hand with a fully smiling face Ayumi returned a blank smile,and then - she collapsed.

"Ayumi-chan?"

Ren stood still opening his eyes wide in surprise but when he calmed down he immediately ran to her.

He held the senseless girl in his arms and shouted.

"Ayumi-chan! Ayumi-chan......!?"

"What happened......!?"

Ayano too tried to run over when she realized the disaster that befallen Ayumi. But, Kazuma's hand restrained her.

Gripping her hand firmly, Kazuma said:

"You're not needed."

"What are you saying? She needs treatment quickly - "

"I said it's not needed", Kazuma repeated, not looking her in the eyes.

Just hearing that serious tone, Ayano's face, elated from victory became stiff.

"What the heck...is that?"

Standing in front of Kazuma, Ayano asked with a cracked voice.

"What are you trying to say? Answer me! Look into my eyes!"

".........."

With a sigh turned to the sky, he pointed an emotionless glance to Ayano. And then - he suddenly started a story that apparently didn't have any connection to this one.

"..........Ayumi, Mayumi's clone, said she grew up this much in just one month, right?"

"Yeah, that's what I heard."

"You can't do such a thing."

".....eh?"

At Ayano's involuntary question, Kazuma repeated plainly.

"With the contemporary science human clones can be made but you can't accelerate their growth. If you want to create a twelve years old clone you need twelve years."

"Just- just wait a second."

Not really understanding, Ayano hastily interrupted Kazuma's words.

"But, isn't Ayumi actually here? Are you trying to say Ayumi is not really a clone?"

".......wouldn't that be nice?"

At the convenient guess, Kazuma was really cynical. He showed a wasted smile.

"Mayumi's father managed to accomplish something that the science can't. What I mean - "

''"Jya jya jya jyan!"''

Interrupting Kazuma's explanation, with a sky-rocketing high tension, without understanding the situation, blurting out her thoughts.

''"They used something that for us fairies is more important that anything else, the egg from which the next Patriarch will be born!"''

At those two's blank stare, Tiana stuck out her chest with an <<ahem>>.

".......egg?"

Noticing Kazuma's isolated murmur, Tiana pressed her mouth noticing the verbal slip. But, she immediately started talking non-stop.

''"Actually - that is right. Ah, that doesn't necessarily mean we reproduce by eggs you know! Is this what you call a <<metaphorical expression>>?"''

"You, where have you been until now?", Ayano interrupted the stream of words with a indistinct expression and cross-examined the fairy that appeared out of nowhere.

"Eh? It was scary so I took refuge. But it seems everything's over so I thought to come back to carry out the request. Hey, hey, can you hurry up? So you must wait until that kid dies? At any rate that's two or three minutes more - Ugyaaa?"

Without saying anything, mercilessly, Kazuma grabbed Tiana tightly.

"You...You can't talk until I say so."

There was no need to continue with ''or else...''. Coerced by the overflowing, naked thirst for blood, Tiana voicelessly fainted.

"Well, that's how it is. That way Ayumi was forcibly grown to the age where she can endure the ceremony."

Throwing away the fainted fairy, Kazuma continued as if he didn't do anything.

"Using such a excessive method will naturally burden the body. That's why her life span was so short. Yesterday, her cells already began to crumble. And she squeezed out that much power with her body in such a state. There's nothing to be done."

"No way......."

Ayano murmured in a daze and - unexpectedly scowled at Kazuma with angry eyes.

"Why....if you knew such a thing, why didn't you stop Ayumi?"

"And then what would have happened?", Kazuma asked back coldly.

"Stop her and then we all die together - would that have been better?"

"That's....."

Becoming speechless, Ayano hanged her head heartbroken.

"Then, what did we fight for? Wanting to save her, didn't we just shorten that girl's life span!?"

"........"

Kazuma looked up at the sky for a second time. And then, while on that posture, standing alone, he muttered.

" - I'm sorry for being so weak."

"!!"

''That's wrong...''

She understood. This was not Kazuma's fault. It's not only Kazuma's fault. She doesn't deserve to condemn others.

Not meeting his eyes, hanging her hand in shame, Ayano apologized.

"Sorry...I took it out on you......"

"That's right."

Although blunt Kazuma embraced Ayano tenderly. While brushing her head gently the way as if comforting a child, he said close to her ears.

"You can do at least that much. Because this time I really couldn't do anything."

"I was even more....."

"Aaah. Let's get stronger. So that we can protect next time."

"Fuuu......"

Pressing her head on Kazuma's chest, Ayano cried.

While feeling unbearably comfortable. The warmth of the wide chest, the feeling of Kazuma gently brushing her head.

"Ayumi-chan! Ayumi-chan! Pull yourself together!"

Holding Ayumi's completely limp body, Ren called out to her with a frantic expression.

Maybe because that feeling was transmitted, Ayumi's closed eyelids slowly opened.

"......Ren?"

"Ayumi....chan....."

"I'm so glad - I meet you again..."

Softly and tenderly, Ayumi smiled. Just by watching that clear facial expression, Ren realized.

That she was beyond his help. Unable to bear it, tears were flooding.

"....Ayumi-chan...."

".......I used too much power.....I'm already......no good......"

I couldn't protect - At that regretful thought scorching Ren's body Ayumi showed an absurd smile, as if she lost something petty.

"I'm sorry.....I....I wanted more......"

Ayumi slowly shook her head. As if saying ''it's not Ren's fault''.

"Listen, Ren......in the end, I have only one wish........"

"In the end....!"

Beginning to speak, Ren opened and closed his mouth soundlessly. At this point, words of consolation have no meaning.

"......what is is?"

''No matter what wish, I'll grant it'', Ren decided strongly in his heart. It doesn't matter if it takes him all his life.

If she will say she wants both to leave together, he will gladly die.

Ren brought hie ear closer to listen to Ayumi's faint murmur.

"Don't.....pity me....."

"!!"

Unintentionally Ren opened his eyes and watched Ayumi.

Without regret or attachment, there it was the pupil that calmly accepted death.

Different from the same way she was when he first met her, she doesn't think it's fine to die because she has no reason to live. Having finished what she had to do, dying with that satisfaction, her eyes were full of that pride.

"I....don't regret it.....you see, I decided it by myself. Just like Ren said, by my own will, I chose what to do. That's why.....that's why.....understand. I'm not a ''pitiable child''. I can stick out my chest against anyone, I lived, that kind of life...."

"Yes....yes."

While endlessly shedding tears, Ren nodded many times over.

"That's true...Ayumi-chan was, splendid.....so much stronger, than I am....."

"Really....? If you really think so, I'm happy......"

Ayumi laughed gently. Feeling as if that silhouette was growing hazy, Ren blinked.

"!!"

It wasn't an optical illusion.

She collapsed like trash. Her hair, her hands, her feet. From the extremities of her body, like sand, Ayumi's body mercilessly started crumbling and the life made of trash turned to trash, incapable of leaving a corpse.

"A....yumi.....chan......"

His face crumbled by the overflowing tears, Ren called out the girl's name. Ayumi's face pouted, looking up at Ren.

"No, Ren. Smile - "

"Ayumi-chan....."

"The last time I see Ren's face I don't want it to be a crying face. I want you to see me off smiling. That's why, please?"

"Ayumi-chan - "

The face distorted by grief, Ren forcibly turned it into a smiling one. One that no matter how you look at it strangely smiles while crying but Ayumi, looking happy, returned a content smile.

That perfectly clear smiling face was showing that the end is near. A human being cannot smile in such a pure way.

That was an angel or maybe the smile of martyrdom from a holy woman.

''Not yet!''

He could not yet believe that it was over. Ren has yet to say the most important thing. He came all this way for the sake of telling her that important thing.

"Ayumi-chan!"

There have been only two days since they met. But even so, inside Ren's heart the girl's existence became more important than anyone else's.

He couldn't protect her.

He couldn't save her.

They couldn't be together.

More important than anyone and anything, Ren's only one. Even if she changed to rubbish, that thought doesn't change.

"I love Ayumi-chan!"

It was obvious even without the words but he never said it before.

He just wanted to say this. He had to say this. Not out of compassion, not out of a sense of obligation, he had to convey the feeling that got him this far.

"I love Ayumi-chan more than anyone else in the world!"

Opening her eyes, her pupils were clouded with tears. Her face was tinged with red, and the transcendent, heavenly smile returned to one appropriate to a girl her age.

"..........., ...................."

Looking up at Ren, Ayumi quietly murmured. But that whisper already couldn't make the atmosphere vibrate and disappeared inside her mouth.

"Eh? What - ", Ren asked back, but at that moment -

''Zaaaaahh''

with a dry sound, Ayumi's full body changed to trash.

From the gaps between his arms, the substance that was Ayumi spilled and dissipated.

The shrine maiden costume that lost its master was strongly, strongly embraced by the boy.

"................."

The only proof that the girl existed was the lingering warmth that has yet to disappear from the clothes.

Swept away by the wind, Ayumi disappeared from this world.

"What are you doing? Do you have a miko fetish at such a young age?"

Ren, frantically clinging to the white robe, teeth bared, heard such a sober voice.

Ren raised his face as if flipping.

"......nii-sama......."

" - Aaah"

"......couldn't protect......I couldn't protect......"

"It's not like that."

" - eh?"

To Ren's blank face, Kazuma trivially replied.

"She had a short life but she died well. She died while smiling. She'll have no regrets."

"But........"

"No buts. Do you want to look down on her last request? Don't pity her. That's insulting."

"But.....but....."

Grasping his hands tightly, shedding tears for his own powerlessness, Ren forced the words out.

"I couldn't be together with her.......I couldn't make her happy....."

"......I think she was happy enough as it was......"

Overlooking Ren with a troubled face, Kazuma murmured.

"If not for you, Ayumi would have died in ignorance, without understanding the meaning of happiness or that of despair. You rescued her from that. Isn't that enough?"

Without saying anything he shook his completely crumpled, tear-stained face. Many, many times over.

Kazuma gave up on persuading him and let out a small breath.

" - Well a man who would take the death of the woman he fell in love in a very rational way would be very eerie. If you want to cry then cry. You don't have hold back."

He beckoned him as if saying ''come!'' and Ren jumped into his brother's chest with force enough for a body blow. And then, he started crying in a large voice.

"UWAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!"

Hardly grasping his fists, he hit Kazuma's chest many times over. Without even moving his body an inch, taking it all in, Kazuma gently brushed Ren's head.

"Ayumi-chan! Ayumi-chan! Ayumi-chaaaaaaaaaaaaaann!"

The boy's sobs resounded over and over again at night in the sea of trees.

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Kaze no Stigma:Volume3 Chapter 6

2013-12-26T15:18:51Z

86.20.14.91: /* Part 5 */

== Chapter 6 - Confession underneath the moonlight ==

=== Part 1 ===

"......oh."

Suddenly Kureha looked up at the sky. Before her eyes there was nothing but interminable rough stone. But, seeing something there, her lips raised faintly and she murmured slowly.

"He was unexpectedly fragile. I wanted him to at least deal with that child called Ren."

Advancing at most ten steps, Ren looked over his shoulder. With an awkward face he wanted to ask those two behind him a question.

".........................so where are we supposed to go?"

"...supposed to?"

Without giving it any thought Ayano discarded Kazuma's question.

Together with a heavy sigh Kazuma asked them.

"...........you two, what the heck did you come here for?"

"Well you see, we came here on the spur of the moment. We didn't have time to investigate."

"That's no reason, stupid.", Kazuma said in a cold manner.

And then he started to walk in front.

"Do you know where to?"

"More or less."

Last night he confirmed Ayumi's silhouette. It wasn't difficult to follow that presence.

After walking a few minutes, guided by the voice of the wind, the trio came to the deepest part of the mansion, in front of the cave shrine.

"Welcome to our family's greatest sanctuary."

A soft alto welcomed them. A single beautiful woman, who could only be called bewitching, stood there and behind here five subordinate Chijutsushi.

"Hi. Thanks for yesterday."

Kazuma greeted her in a relaxed manner and returned the Chijutsushi's gaze, full of hatred.

But to the last Kureha was full of courtesy - or maybe rudely courteous - when asking about their business.

"Can I ask you what business do you have here?"

"So she said."

Kazuma looked at Ren. Ren took a step forward, faced the group of Chijutsushi and boldly declared.

"I came to save Ayumi-chan."

"....and instead of her to let Mayumi become a sacrifice?"

"No. We won't allow the ceremony to happen. The three of us will defeat the demon beast sleeping inside Mt. Fuji."

"........................."

As expected that was surprising enough for Kureha's eyes to become round. But she straightened her attitude in a second and admonished Ren like an adult would a helpless child.

"Boy - you would be better learning how to look at reality more closely."

"I am looking. At the very least more than you.", retorted Ren with no hesitation.

"Letting the sacrificing continue for three hundred years and labeling it as <<It can't be helped>> it seems much more strange to me. I won't let you do it any further. I won't allow it! Absolutely!"

Pressed down by Ren's vigor and strong declaration, the Chijutsushi backed off. But, Kureha - the one that didn't move an inch from that place looked down on the boy and fearlessly laughed.

"I see - that's like saying there's no more room for discussion - well then - let's start shall we?"
[[Image:Kaze no Stigma vol 03 261.jpg|thumb]]

As if encouraged by Kureha's composure, the Chijutsushi started to prepare for battle. In response to it, so did Kazuma's side.

Unsheathing Enraiha, Ayano shouted:

"Ren, ignore the small fry! Match me!"

"Yes!"

Ayano and Ren let out fireballs simultaneously aiming at Kureha. Even though it was far inferior to their real power, the people who could oppose it were a very select category.

But even when faced with such a calorific value, Kureha didn't loose her smile.

"Fu fu........"

Without moving even a finger, it was clear she didn't use her power. But, the fireballs aiming at her described an arc, as if avoiding her and parted left and right. Shrinking as if crushed, they split open.

"Wha.....?"

Kureha started taunting Ayano in mute amazement.

"Is this the famous Kannagi flame from the stories? How very lukewarm, huh?"

A cold sweat followed the muscles along the spine. It was entirely impossible to tell what happened. She had no counter-plan for it. She could elevate the calorific value further but will that work?

"I saw it yesterday too - you have a very curious technique. You, are you really a Chijutsushi?"

From Ayano's back, feeling disturbed, a voice that kept it's cool reached. Always calm and steady in all respects, a low voice that she grew accustomed to hear.

"Kazuma!? What did just happen?"

Casually controlling Ayano's question, Kazuma started walking.

"That ability, did you receive it together with your power?"

"......................."

Easily divulging her most important secret, for one moment, Kureha opened her eyes wide. But she immediately regained her composure and expressed a suspicious and somewhat transcendental smile.

"True, if you saw Yuuji's shape, it's no wonder you saw through me. But that was wrong. Because I was born with it, you see."

Stopping without changing her posture, Kureha talked indifferently.

"Without being able to manipulate even a grain of sand, the one who can't hear the voice of spirits, I can on the contrary use this. A unique power. Because of it, Father hated me very much. All the more because it was so strong."

"Even when that strong, did you desire even more power?"

"For someone who plans on becoming a sorcerer, don't you think that's a natural desire?"

"...........I think that depends on the power."

Ayano was unable to follow those two's indifferent exchange. She couldn't understand the omitted parts from their own self-evident truth.

"Hey!"

Finally loosing her patience Ayano pulled the hem of Kazuma's jacket.

"Explain. What is Kureha's power?"

Requesting it in a tentatively small voice, in her own way she tried to pay attention not to spoil the mood. But it wasn't effective.

Kazuma had a truthfully annoyed face, that only changed when seeing Ren's expression, standing next to Ayano, asking the same question.

"It's the control of gravity."

".........the control.........of gravity........", Ayano repeated once more, amazed.

It's not like she didn't understand the meaning of the words. But -

"Why is a Chijutsushi able to do that?"

The phenomena caused by the Spirit Magic were exceedingly pragmatic. For a Enjuthushi flame, for a Chijutsushi soil and stone - they are able to manipulate such things.

Surely, if one presumed gravity was an adaptation of the four elements, it would be a symbol of the <<Earth>> attribute but the Spirit magic doesn't handle such general concept like symbols.

While it may be true that the flame is the symbol of destruction and regeneration, an Enjutsushi that is able to manifest a <<Healing Flame>> has yet to appear.

Although it wasn't unreasonable for Ayano to be surprised, Kazuma completely discarded such considerations.

"It can't be helped if you thought so before this. But accept the reality in front of you."

"Well, you could say that..........", Ayano mumbled insecure.

Being the opponent of gravity, an invisible power, she didn't have the slightest idea on how to fight it.

"You must start by recognizing the distortions in space. Don't see it with your eyes and don't think about it. Just feel it."

"Don't say such even-before-the-first-generation-of-battle-manga lines..............."

Ayano was sulking but Kazuma didn't really pay attention to her. Shifting his focus on Kureha, he said:

"We don't have time to carefully work over the battle plan, you know right? Because the other side is trying to waste time."

Ayano too observed Kureha. In all this time they were conversing, no matter how much opportunities she had for attacking she didn't and only stood in front of the shrine. As if she doesn't proactively want to fight.

Is she buying time? For the Tsuwabuki people to do so, there can only be one reason.

"Then, the ceremony is already.........."

"Correct, it's about time for it to begin."

"Is- isn't this really bad? I need to hurry!", Ren shouted, completely changing his facial expression.

Lightly knocking his head to calm down, Kazuma laughed.

"That's true. You must hurry. That's why, a little unreasonableness can't be helped, right?"

Faced with Kazuma's smile, that no matter how you look at it was scheming, Ren unintentionally backed off. Unwilling to break his commitment, he chose some prudent words.

"Killing is absolutely no good."

No one will become a sacrifice - if he couldn't keep that promise, saving Ayumi will have lost its meaning. It's not a question of finishing it with <<It can't be helped>>.

"That's fine, the one to experience hardships is only you."

"Ehh.........me?"

Without answering back, Kazuma lifted Ren by grabbing him by the collar. He held him aloft with all his power.

"Ni- Nii-sama!?"

"Gooooooooooooo!!"

He threw him violently. The small body wrapped in wind, instantly reached a speed of two hundred kilometers and before any of the Chijutsushi had time to react, reached the small shrine and disappeared inside the cave.

"Uuuuaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!!"

From inside the cave, the boy's shrieks, reverberating over and over could be heard.

"................................"

Friend or foe regardless, they all stared dumbfounded at the interior of the shrine and only Kazuma threw his chest out with pride.

"Excellent, it turned out well."

"Wait a secooooooond!", shouted Ayano after coming to her senses.

"What is it?"

"Don't you <<What is it?>> me!! Why are you being so reckless!?"

As Ayano's hands grabbed him by the collar and shook him with an almost magical skill, Kazuma laughed with an endlessly superficial smile.

"Ah! Isn't it fine? I made sure to harden the defenses."

"Even so, with that unreasonable speed!?"

"It can't be helped right? If he was any slower, he might have been shot down. I'm telling you not to worry, he may feel faint but I made it so he won't get hurt."

"........really? In that case it's fine.........."

But if Ren were to hear those words, no matter how gentle a child he is, he would have complained in a big voice.

"Where is the part I ''may feel fainttttttttttt''...................?"

=== Part 2 ===

"Uwaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!!!"

Together with that scream, Ren landed right in the center of that ceremonial place. That is, he crashed there.

The Chijutsushi that were just about to start the ceremony watched in a daze how a boy was suspended right before the technique's focal point and then he fell over with a grumbling sound.

Lying face down as if prostrating, Ren didn't even twitch.

Is he dead? At the time the Chijutsushi started to think so, his fingertips began moving as if convulsing and then, while weakly shaking his head, he got up.

"....ugh."

''Nii-sama............this was a bit overdone............''

The scream that was turned against the entire world, because of the crash's intensity, couldn't come out. Adjusting his breathing, he firmly held to his consciousness in order for it not to fly away.

From all of Ren's personal experience it wasn't something that could be easily be brushed off as ''It made me somewhat dizzy''. Only comparing it with ten times the speed of a roller-coaster gives maybe a similar feel..

The barrier of wind flawlessly protected the body from wounds but did nothing to improve the riding experience. In the middle of the ride while rebounding from wall to wall and ground to ceiling, rotating vertically, rotating horizontally, spinning, he was entirely exhausted by the complex 3D maneuver.

"No......no more..............I'll vomit...."

While his semicircular canals had yet to recover, his brain gave him a shaking feeling, as if the earth was undulating. His stomach was convulsing and from inside his mouth, a regurgitating movement was trying to start.

It was at that time when that voice made his ears shook.

"...................Ren?"

".........!"

An impossible to confuse, soft voice. More precious than anyone or anything, remembering her elegantly simple smiling face, Ren stood up despite the pain. In front of her, it's impossible to be more disgraceful than this. Controlling his nausea with desperate effort, he slowly raised his face.

Only a few centimeters away - literally in front of him, she was there. It seems she was fully dressed for the sacrifice, wearing a red hakama and a white coat, the typical costume of a shrine maiden. Her hair was loose, naturally overflowing.

"Aaaah - how beautiful......."

Forgetting his situation, Ren became fascinated with her. For him there was the one and only - Tsuwabuki Ayumi's figure.

"Why......are you here?"

Towards Ayumi inquiring so in bewilderment, Ren extended a hand, smiling. He naturally informed her of the natural conclusion.

"I came to save you."

"Ren..."

With a bitter facial expression, Ayumi slowly shook her head. She turned away, as if refusing the extended hand.

"No. I must carry on my mission. It's impossible to run away."

A clear refusal. But even so, Ren didn't withdraw his hand.

"Yes, I know. But that's been solved. Because I'll defeat the demon beast myself."

".........eh?"

Almost as if she didn't comprehend what he said, Ayumi opened her eyes wide. After a few seconds, when her eyes were full of understanding, she promptly doubt it and then she switched to negation.

"That sort of thing.....it's impossible."

"I can do it."

With a quiet self-confidence, Ren declared so.

"For me alone it would be impossible to do but Nii-sama and Nee-sama are lending me their power. If it's those two, no matter what they deal with, they won't loose. They will surely win."

"But - but - !!"

For some reason having the attitude of a cornered person, Ayumi searched for words of rejection.

"What will it happen if you loose? Mt. Fuji will erupt, you know! I would rather die than see that! Because you see, from the beginning I was made for that purpose!"

"That sort of thing is not worth worrying about."

"............eh?"

"You see, this is something Nee-sama told me but........"

With that introduction, Ren asked the big question.

"What do ''you'' want to do?"

"..............!!"

"Whether it's for the sake of everyone else, or duty, or the reason of your existence, you shouldn't concern yourself with such things. What do ''you'' want to do? What do ''you'' desire? Tell me your wish."

"Eehh, I - I want............"

Decide by yourself the path you want to follow - that kind of thinking was a foreign concept for Ayumi.

From the moment she was made, a fixed road with no place for divergence was pointed out for her. She never thought of getting off it.

The self that will become a sacrifice no matter what. Imagining that, Ayumi remembered she was reminded of an uneasy feeling close to horror. A dread that shook the very root of the meaning of her existence. Comparing it to the fear of loosing her life in the ceremony, that's not even close. Because the concept called death is nothing more than the proof of accomplishing the task bestowed upon her.

"Before coming here I met Yuuji-san."

"For the sake of protecting Mayumi-san, Yuuji-san shed away his humanity. Literally throwing everything away, all for the sake of holding me back. A fighter throwing away his life is certainly strong. But. "

Remembering the strength of Yuuji's grotesque form, Ren shuddered. When thinking of the power difference it seems right to say that winning was nothing short of a miracle.

"Frankly, I was overwhelmed. I thought that such a human prepared to go that far for the sake of protecting a precious person was really amazing. But - that was wrong."

That was maybe one of the possible answers. Rather than throwing away one's ideals and loosing everything, maybe that was the better choice. But, even so.

"The happiness made of someone else's sacrifice is turned to sorrow. You can't feel delight only by yourself. At the very least, I do not wish for that. I want to choose another path."

Not to sacrifice everything else for the sake of the important, not to throw away the self -

Without loosing anything, for everyone to become happy - he definitely thinks such a dream-like path exists.

"I will protect you. I will protect you and all that you want to protect. So please, don't give up."

"Ren - "

As if the held out hand was inviting her, Ayumi took a step forward. But -

"We won't let you!"

Together with unrefined voices, stone spears appeared in the space in between as if to separate them.

With eyes that held no emotion Ren turned in the direction of the voice.

"How long do you think we would listen to your foolish jokes? We won't let a brat like you get in the way of our family's holiest ceremony. While we lament the foolishness of challenging Chijutsushi so deep underground we will destroy you even if you don't resist."

The practitioners possible representative, the oldest one, gave the execution order in an antique speaking-style.

In response to that voice, the Chijutsushi prepared their attack. Ren starred at the offensive approaching from every direction with bored looking eyes.

One moment. The downpour of stones from overhead, the fangs rapidly growing from the ground, were instantly all burned to nothing.

"Wh - wha.........."

"Hey - "

Facing the Chijutsushi prepared to flee after the failure of the one-kill attack, Ren informed them full of irritation.

"I'm sorry but right now I'm in the middle of a once in a lifetime confession. Can't you please not get in the way?"

"..........................."

That was equivalent with ''I think nothing of you'' but no one complained. To the point of foolishness, the overwhelming difference in power sealed all objection.

"Well then, let's start again."

Comfortably accepting the following silence, Ren extended his hand a second time.

"Will you trust in me?"

".........................."

Maybe because she didn't really have time to think about it, Ayumi didn't instantly take Ren's hand.

"Why?"

She asked in a somewhat blaming, tough tone.

"Why do you go to such lengths? Even without the ceremony I will still die, you know?"

"But that doesn't mean you want to die right now, no?", Ren replied instantly.

"If there's not much time left anyway, then you should live fully all the more. No matter what you wish for, I will make it happen. I will take you wherever you want to go. That's why...that's why - "

Mustering all his strength, Ren took the final step. He took Ayumi's hand and then told her:

"Even if it's just one month, even if it's just one week, will you live together with me?"

Ayumi's eyes became round, and the next second her face was dyed bright red. A few seconds later Ren also realized the meaning of his words.

''A- awkward''

He was too forward. This was almost like a proposal. It left a love confession far behind.

"W- wro- this is, well........."

Ren's hand that in confusion tried to move away, Ayumi grasped it firmly and didn't let go.

Her eyes were full of tears like she couldn't suppress her happiness and she teasingly asked, smiling while crying.

"Is that wrong?"

Ren immediately tried to suppress his struggling heart. Returning the grip to the hand that held his, he looked straight into Ayumi's eyes.

"No it's not.", he declared.

"We will be together all the time. Until the absolute last second, we will never part ways."

Moved to tears, Ayumi nodded too.

"Yes. I want to live. I want to live together with Ren."

"Ayumi-chan."

Ren firmly hugged the girl's body. The skin's temperature transmitted by their touching skin gave them a unity, of becoming one.

Never to part again - they swore a second time.

But there is no time to stay embraced for as long as they like. A few minutes after, although reluctant Ren ended the hug and smiled at Ayumi.

"Well then, let's go. Onii-sama and Onee-sama are waiting."

"That's right."

He heard the answer from the back. In front of Ren's eyes, turning back in horror, the shadow of a person that couldn't possibly be there appeared.

"Ni- Nii-sama!? Why are you here?"

"...onii-san?"

Ignoring Ren's shout, Kazuma lightly greeted Ayumi.

"I'm this guy's brother Kazuma. Nice meeting you. If you like I don't mind you calling me brother in law."

"Onii-sama!"

"Ah, my name is Tsuwabuki Ayumi. Even though I may be inexperienced, please treat me well."

"Ayumi-chan!"

Ren shouted with a bright red face, but Ayumi bowed her head with a serious expression.

"In such occasions, isn't this the proper greeting?"

"True but it's not like that - enough of this!"

While scratching his head, Ren glared at Kazuma.

"............since when have you been watching?"

"From the <<What do ''you'' want to do?>> part."

That's almost since the beginning. Understanding he heard all about his embarrassing confession, Ren's face was full of shame.

''Huh?''

Suddenly feeling a sense of discomfort, he looked around. There's nothing else. There's ''no one'' else. Except for Kazuma.

"Where is Nee-sama?"

"Ah, because she's so heroic she's detaining Kureha by herself."

Ren was not such a foolish boy as to take those words seriously. Changing the distrustful glance to one of blame, he stared at his brother.

"Did you use her as bait ''again''?"

He stressed the word again with all his power but of course Kazuma is impervious to that degree of cynicism.

"Oi, oi,''again'' is not right. If you say it like that, it's it almost as if I'm using Ayano."

"......is that wrong?"

"Of course it's wrong.", Kazuma declared while puffing out his chest.

It was a magnificent attitude as if saying ''There's nothing I need to be ashamed of''.

Although definitely not agreeing with this, Ren gave up investigating. He said in a resigned tone.

"Let's return quickly. I'm worried about Nee-sama."

"Certainly, I agree leaving this gloomy stinking place."

Answering in a subtle different focus, Kazuma had the same opinion. But before they began running, Ayumi pulled away her hand from Ren's.

"Please wait! We need to save Mayumi-sama!"

"What do you mean?", asked Ren without understanding the meaning.

"Yesterday suddenly Kureha-sama suggested that Mayumi-sama should participate in the ceremony too. That with two people, a much stronger seal can be performed."

"....what's that?"

It was a strange story. From the start, Ayumi was the sacrifice made so that Mayumi will live. Even if it was for the sake of a stronger seal, this was like putting the cart before the horse.

"I too thought it was strange, but right now, there is no one who can go against Kureha-sama."

The Head, Iwao, fell to bed due to illness, Kureha sized all authority, Ayumi roughly explained.

But, Kazuma totally ignored the circumstance of the Tsuwabuki family and only asked what's necessary.

"Well, that sort of thing is inconsequential. So, where is that Mayumi?"

"Right there."

Ayumi pointed at the faintly sparkling crystal pillar. Ren and Kazuma stared with wonder at Mayumi sealed inside it.

"What a beautiful thing."

"I don't think that relevant....so, how are we getting it out of there?"

"Well, because Kureha-sama doesn't have the ability, I think someone else did it....."

"I see."

Kazuma nodded, turned his eyes on one the Chijutsushi standing there petrified and arrogantly commanded him.

"Do it. If you obey I won't 80% kill you, I'll drop it to 50%."

"Do- don't screw arou- kyaa!"

The man could't finish those courageous words of resistance. The atmosphere turned rigid as the man's face was hit and his nose sunk ten centimeters into his cranium.

"........is this an 80% kill?"

"Don't be stupid. That was just because he talked back to me."

Kazuma replied to Ren's question, in a stunned expression, lightly shrugging his shoulders.

"It can't be helped. It's troublesome asking each and everyone of them so I'll do it."

''Please?''

Before one realized he unbelievably said such a thing, dangerous even from a layman's point of view.

"Can you do it?"

"Leave it to me. The likes of a crystal is trivial."

"Eh....wait, that is- "

Ayumi tried to say something but without minding her Kazuma released the wind blades.

Above Mayumi's head and underneath her feet, two wind blades smoothly cut through the crystal as if it were glass.

The crystal mass slipped off in accordance with the diagonal cross-section. Furthermore, Kazuma cut that too.

Without injuring the body inside, the wind blades scrapped off only the crystal. By the time she fell to the ground, there wasn't even a fragment of crystal sticking to Mayumi's body.

"As expected of Nii-sama! This was amazing, righ- "

Ren was cheering in a loud voice but when watching Ayumi's paper-white face, his words were interrupted.

While having an extremely bad premonition, he asked.

"What's the matter?"

"......that crystal pillar was the pillar supporting this cave."

For some reason, Ren turned his head around and looked at the crystal pillar. At the now completely-cut-in-the-center pillar.

Because of what happened, it's impossible for it to function like a pillar anymore.

"We...el, that means- "

Feeling her lungs with air, Ayumi screamed.

"It's collapsing!!"

As if starting with her shout, the ceiling cave started shaking with an ominous rumble. Rocks of various sizes started raining down from the ceiling, and cracks appeared on the walls.

Ren shouted with a changed expression.

"Ni- Nii-sama! Quickly let's run.......!"

"Hmm...,what to do?", Kazuma murmured totally calm.

"That cave was really long. I don't doubt that if we run we'll be buried long before reaching the ground."

"Then what do you suppose we should do?"

"That's right, first of all - it's noisy!"

He looked up annoyed and only that, the falling rocks stopped. The earth tremor too grew remarkably quiet.

Looking up at the ceiling, Ayumi's eyes ogled in shock.

"Did you stop the cave-in with wind? No way, we're a hundred meters underground!"

"It's not like my powers stop working a hundred meters underground, you know?"

Kiiiiiiiiiiii!

"Waaaah?"

"Kyaaa!"

Together with Kazuma's words, a violent buzzing in the ear reached Ren and Ayumi.

Seeing them press their ears in anguish, Kazuma somewhat beckoned them.

"Come a little bit closer. It's bothersome spreading two more barriers."

Standing next to Kazuma, the buzzing incredibly calmed down. Ren asked in wonder.

"What did you do?"

"There's not enough volume of air, so I'm increasing it"

"You're increasing it?"

Thinking about how could one increase the atmosphere in an enclosed space, there's no way to do it but increase the atmospheric pressure.It means that the buzzing from some time ago was the result of the eardrum being pressed. All the Chijutsushi collapsed.

"Hey....doesn't it seem there are people fainting in agony with blood poring from their ears?"

"That's because if you suddenly increase the atmospheric pressure ten times, at least the eardrums will be torn."

As he thought, Kazuma didn't care about the health of the Chijutsushi. He respected Ren's request and was careful not to kill them but except for that he really didn't care.

''It's fine as long as the heart keeps beating.'', that kind of feeling.

Experiencing a much more ominous feeling than the one when the cave-in happened, Ren asked.

" -So, what are you going to do now?"

"It's settled. We're going above ground. By taking the shortest distance!"

''the shortest distance?''

Ren looked up at the ceiling. Understanding what he wanted to do with all the build-up atmospheric pressure, his ominous feelings changed to certainty.

With no hesitation, Kazuma released wind. To the shortest distance, right above their head.

Like a rushing stream the atmosphere pierced the hundred meter thick bedrock almost like paper.

Pulverized and minced, the fragments of rock under pressure were blown by he wind.

Ren looked up at the skies. Already without ceiling he could see the twinkling stars high in the sky.

He looked down. He didn't see the shadows nor the bodies of the Chijutsushi that were supposed to tumble on the ground. Being swallowed in Kazuma's wind, they were flying here and there in space.

Maybe they became man-made-satellites. Leaving the joke aside, Ren seriously thought so.

"......was there a need to go so far?"

"I wonder. First of all, this was the quickest and easiest way.", Kazuma stated calmly without showing a particle of introspection.

"Let's get out already. There's no more fun to be here."

"......that so?"

Leaving out the pointless complaints, Ren agreed in a worn-out voice.

By riding on the wind they appeared right in the mist of the sea of trees. Although it goes without saying what was the reason for the mowed down trees around them, the view was still nice.

"We came out quite a long way off. Well then, Ayano is- "

Just when Kazuma was saying that, a pillar of fire rose approximately a kilometer away from them. Kazuma and Ren exchanged glances difficult to express.

"...well, at least she's easy to find huh?"

"........right."

Exchanging a dry smile, they avoided sour criticism beyond that.

"Well then, let's meet up first."

"That's fine and all, but did you think about a proper explanation? I'm sure she's really angry."

"You worry too much. You'll go bald in the future."

"And who do you thing is adding up to my worries?", Ren screamed with so much grief, he didn't seem an elementary school student at all.

Seeming to enjoy herself, Ayumi watched close that charming exchange.

"........kuu......it...huurts......."

In a place a little separated from the trio that, at the same time, were harmoniously smiling at each other, with a pain assailing her entire body, Mayumi finally regained her consciousness.

Having been swallowed up by the violent air current and raised at once from a hundred meters in the ground to a hundred meters above surface, at last, she was thrown as a result into the ground because of gravity.

No matter how much protection she received from the Ground Spirits, they couldn't nullify this kind of damage.

Although a normal human's body would have been scattered in pieces, but she didn't even fracture her bones showed that a direct descendant of Tsuwabuki was a different kind of thing altogether.

"I wonder, is Yuuji safe?....and Onee-sama, what is she planning..."

The time she was sealed into the crystal was almost like a long dream but she was generally conscious. She somewhat understood what happened.

But even so, she didn't grasp Kureha's real intentions.

"A two people seal, what will that accomplish? If Father were to know of such a thing- "

In front of Mayumi, raising up her upper body, a huge piece of rock tumbled. Although it was a commonplace rock, for some reason it weighted on her mind so she looked at it carefully.

Perceiving her reason for her sense of discomfort, Mayumi grimaced. On the surface of the rock, the face of an anguished man was carved. Plus-

"What's this, what bad taste.......wait, is this Father's? Who sculpted this?"

Raising an indignant shout, Mayumi was about to smash the sculpture, letting anger take its course.

But a small voice stopped her.

"......yumi....Mayumi..."

"Eh?"

Being called out by the rock sculpture, that was a rare experience even for a Chijutsushi so unintentionally she froze.

"F...ath..er, no way....no way....is that really you Father....?"

As if answering that call, the sculpture opened its eyes. He glared at Mayumi with a distorted and cracked face.

"Mayumi...stop, Kureha...."

"Onee-sama? What do you mean Father? Father, is that really you? Why are you like th- "

"Stop Kureha...! To maintain the family's pride, you must..."

In a state he couldn't even hear his beloved daughter's voice, Iwao tried to get up. With a sublime expression, as if he was seeing death, Mayumi could do nothing but look at him in a daze.

===Part 3===

"Haaa!"

With Enraiha, Ayano split apart the gravitational field drawing near her. And simultaneously she ''burned'' the stretched out distorted space that was enveloping her.

"Good grief.", Kureha murmured as if amazed.

"To burn a gravitational field, no, the space itself, what a lack of common sense!"

"I don't want to hear that from a Chijutsushi that can manipulate gravitation.", Ayano retorted in a cool manner.

"I won't let you go further!"

Their standpoints became their exact opposite. To protect the cave's entrance, the place where Ren and the annoying Kazuma sneaked in, was now Ayano's duty.

Kureha's five companions, the Chijutsushi went after them but Ayano was not really concerned about that. Rather she thought it was better if she can only concentrate on Kureha.

Thanks to that she was now becoming fairly accustomed to burning space.

Without being able to use her vision she used her sensitivity to grasp the signs around her and to hold out until those two came back.

"Just come back already stupid!"

While boos replaced her fighting spirit, Ayano released fireballs. In order to match that Kureha shot gravitational fields.

That was the exact moment Kazuma came back.

Both the gravitation field able to compress a human to the size of a fist and the red-hot blaze that burns humans to nothingness turned into a fatal blow, attacking Kazuma from the front and back.

"Yo- you idiot!", screamed Ayano.

But in front of her-

A wind blade cut down both attacks in one go.

"Yo. Did you wait?", asked Kazuma as if nothing happened.

While holding with both hands Ren and Ayumi.

''.....you monster.'',Ayano said voicelessly.

Even though it was for an instant, feeling worried for him seemed foolish.

"First of all, why don't you let those kids down?"

"Hmm? Ah, that's right."

Kazuma bent over a little and dropped down those two he was holding under his arms.

That small moment his glance strayed, Ayano quickly filled the space between.

"N-- Nii-sama!"

"...Oh?"

Receiving Ren's warning he raised his face. Right before his eyes Ayano was holding Enraiha aloft.

Kazuma moved his body to the left evading the attack and grasped Ayano's wrist, trying to swing downward.

Catching Ayano's gaze, burning in anger from the front, he said.

"That's a pretty dangerous welcome. Instead of saying <<Welcome back!>> is Kannagi-san's home proper etiquette to hit someone in the head?"

"You're always always always always- "

Without responding to Kazuma's persiflage, Ayano squeezed out words from the gap between her teeth.

"You're always pushing out the troublesome stuff to me! Just die already!"

Her jumping right foot described a sharp arc. Kazuma lightly bent backwards and dodged the rotating kick that was about to hit his jaw.

"You should stop doing high kicks in a skirt. You're a woman from the biological point of view, right?"

"How fussy! Just let me hit you once!"

"Even though ''you'' tried to hit me!"

"Ahem- o(-"-;)"

Unnaturally someone cleared his throat restraining these two were caught up in their usual mood. That was Ren.

"I'm sorry to interrupt your enjoyment but please leave it at that for today. You're frightening Ayumi-chan and above all, this is not over!"

At once they turned to the same spot together. To where Tsuwabuki Kureha was starring back with a stunned expression.

"You're lacking too much tension. Do you still believe you can win?"

"Something like that.", Kazuma replied matter of course.

"I released both would-be sacrifices. If you're goal was to execute the ceremony, that already became impossible."

"Is that so? It they were snatched away all I have to do is take them back. That's all."

"Do you plan on defeating all three of us? I think that in this country the only ''human'' capable is someone of Kannagi Juugo's level."

At Kazuma's weird speaking style, Ayano asked from the back.

"Hey, you found something out while pursuing Ren, right? If you did, just say it already!"

"Oh, is that true?"

Ren thought he didn't simply come just to spy on him. Kureha too waited with great interest for Kazuma's reply.

"There's nothing to be found out."

Acting all important, Kazuma folded his arms.

"About Kureha's aim, I don't know it even now. But I know what is the source of supply for her power."

"Source of supply?"

"That's right. From where did she get her hands on it, how did she hand it out to Yuuji. The existence that is the origin of the unusual talent improper for a Chijutsushi- "

At those last words Kureha visibly frowned.

"I believe I told I had this power since I had been born."

"Since you were born?"

At Kureha's words, Kazuma laughed scornfully.

"And you didn't try to explain it? What can alter a Chijutsushi so that she is able to control gravity? You're not a Chijutsushi. On the contrary, I think you're not human!"

"............"

Kureha glared at Kazuma with a grim face. Even an outsider could see she's disturbed. All the composure she's shown so far seemed to have disappeared somewhere.

Even so, when she showed a forced smile she urged Kazuma to keep on going.

"Isn't that interesting? Then by all means tell me what you think. My own secret I don't even know."

"That is- "

At the time when everyone was getting ready to hear Kazuma's words-

Countless stone spears raised from the ground. They interrupted Kazuma's speech but didn't reach them. Their aim was only one and that was Kureha.

"....!!"

Nimbly chasing Kureha who escaped into the air, while writhing like snakes the stone spears reached for the sky. But, the attack that let the chance of certain-kill escape didn't have power to destroy Kureha. The gravity's hand caught the spears and crushed them all at once.

"What are you trying to do?"

Lightly dancing in space, Kureha asked quietly. There's no disturbance about her. Without even asking, she understands everything - that's the kind of face she's making.

"Aren't you attacking the wrong side Mayumi?"

While talking as if gossiping, Kureha smashed one of the closer trees.

From the shade of the ruined trees caught up in the attack, a single girl appeared.

If one were to remove the age difference, its facial features were identical to Ayumi. But that pupil burned with the fire of hatred, something Ayumi is not capable of.

It was the eldest child of the Tsuwabuki family, Ayumi's blueprint, Tsuwabuki Mayumi.

"Ma- Mayumi-sama....?", Ayumi murmured in a daze, without understanding the situation.

Did she just become their ally?

"Look, Ayumi is right there. Catch her quickly and resume the ceremony."

"Shut up, you betrayer!"

As if instigated by her sister's words, Mayumi interrupted her with a refusal. Her eyes beyond anger she said in a crushed to death tone.

"Father is dead."

"Really?"

Silent for just one moment, Kureha bowed her hand dully.

"''Really?'' Is that all? Is that all you have to say for the father you raised your hand against?"

"He challenged me so I defeated him. That's all there is to it.", said Kureha over her shoulder, thoroughly indifferent.

"You're only blaming me but you don't think anything about the father trying to kill his daughter?"

"What shameless things are you saying? If I consider all your schemes, I won't complain about killing you a hundred times over!"

"Is that so? If you were the one scheming, do you think Father would have killed you?"

".....what are you trying to say?"

"Nothing much. It's just tedious talk. It doesn't mean anything. -So, what will you do?", Kureha inquired as if asking what does her sister want for lunch.

Excessively serene, so unconcerned she didn't seem to ask about a life or death choice.

"What, you ask."

"Dying meaninglessly if you attack me or accomplish the family's duty with me, I'm asking you to choose one."

"Wha- "

For a moment Mayumi was at a loss of words but she became so angry her body trembled.

"The family's duty? Are you, are ''you'' really saying those words?"

"I'm not asking for your opinion. I'm asking for your answer. Hurry up and choose."

"Don't........joke with me!"

Together with an angry roar, the stone spears from underground are stretching and attacking Kureha. Without even looking, Kureha crushed them but Mayumi couldn't understand the simple-mindedness of her attack.

"For the honor of the Tsuwabuki family! Kureha! I'm bringing judgement upon you! Prepare yourself!"

"....what an idiotic child."

Letting out a dry murmur, Kureha locked her sister in a gravity barrier.

Although worried about the aftermath, the spherical barrier with a two meter diameter was contracted one centimeter. There's no way to escape.

But just before that, a wind gale destroyed the gravity barrier and blew up the insides.

"Kyaaa!?"

Mayumi mercilessly got blown by the wind and landed face first on the ground.

"Wh- what....?"

Stepping up in front of the surprised Mayumi, he looked down on her as if he was coercing her.

"You can kill yourself if you want to, but before that I need some answers. What is Kureha's purpose?"

"Why would I tell- "

Kazuma stepped on the ground with all his strength right next to Mayumi's head. His shoe sole pulverized the hard rock-bed, his shoe print engraved one centimeter deep.

He said unconcerned to Mayumi's stiff face.

"Is protecting that information valuable enough for me to step on your head and break your skull?"

Now that he said it, there was no merit to hold on the information. Her rejection was nothing more but her disposition.

"Kureha's purpose is- ", she said in a sulky tone, already without calling her sister.

"To make all of the Demon Beast's power her own."

" -!!"

Ayano, Ren, Ayumi all opened their eyes in shock. But Kazuma, at least on the surface, didn't show a particle of disturbance.

"......the two-layer seal, the power divided three-way - I see, so that's how it is?"

He murmured something, nodded his head in understanding but Mayumi, the one who told him, was the one looking up at Kazuma astonished.

"Did- did you figured it out just by hearing that?"

"Not really, I don't think I understood everything. I have no interest in something like the circumstance of your family. But I understood pretty much all I wanted to."

"I don't understand.", Ayano interrupted the conversation drawing close to Kazuma.

"What is it? Explain yourself."

"Just this and that- "

Shrugging his shoulders Kazuma started a broad explanation.

"Kureha's aim is to obtain the huge power of the Demon Beast sealed by the Tsuwabuki Family. What's the problem?"

"That's not something possible to achieve, right?", Ayano said frankly.

"The Demon Beast is the embodying of Mt. Fuji's life energy right? That's not something compatible with a human container. Instead of taking the power isn't it true that the power would take her?"

"Well, while I certainly do believe that it's reckless, it's not something really unusual, right? People that tried to get their hands on godly powers, demon beasts et cetera you can find a dime at a dozen."

Even if it seems Ayano doesn't understand, Kazuma continues only in his mind. Just like Kureha said, for a magician it was only natural to wish for an even bigger power. The only ones who didn't think like that were those like the Kannagis and that was because they were already possessing a mighty power.

The quest for an even greater power. For a deeper knowledge. That desire has no bounds, it doesn't need reason or purpose.

To completely fall to the desire to enhance oneself, that is the honest disposition of a magician.

"But, how will she accomplish that?"

"What will you do if you know?", Kazuma repelled Ayano's question point-blank.

"Even without knowing the theory behind it, if we finish off this woman so does the story, right?"

"While that may be true..."

"I too want to know.", interposed Kureha as is backing up the hesitating Ayano.

"How much do you understand, I'm really interested in that. Besides, I've yet to listen to my secret."

".....Well, that's fine."

Finally, Kazuma agreed. Except for time buying there's no other loss.

"I think you noticed already but the power Kureha and Yuuji obtained belongs to the sealed Monster Beast."

"Yes."

Ayano nodded. As one would expect, her senses aren't so dull no to notice such a thing.

"What I mean, at this point the Demon Beasts power is already divided into three parts. The Demon Beast's <<Ki>> itself was absorbed so that means the demon's himself was divided into three parts. And then, when that is integrated again, the biggest part will take the initiative."

"But, if it's like that....", Ayano said in a doubtful voice.

She understood the theory but even so it's impossible for Kureha to win.

"Of course, at the present time its real form it's extremely big. Even Kureha and Yuuji put together probably doesn't even reach 1% of the main body. But that's where the sealing ceremony comes in."

All present turned their eyes on Ayumi. And then, on Mayumi.

"You see, the seal basically holds down and compresses not only Mt. Fuji just before the explosion but also the life force of the Demon Beast. Doubling such a powerful seal that can go on for thirty years, Kureha's power will exceed the beast's I think. So, was I right?"

"Well done!"

Kureha responded to the half-hearted question with an apathetic applause.

"You receive an A+. Gee, even though this was a plan cautiously advancing for the last five years, I wonder why there's nothing but unexpected intrusions just before it's completed?"

"Because it's only human.", said Kazuma chilly over his shoulder.

From the start, he was the kind of man that without a few exceptions is heartless towards all humanity.

He didn't happen to have any kindness for his enemy.

"Well..."

Sorting out the newly received information, Ayano looks at Ayumi and Mayumi. It seems none want to cooperate with Kureha.

"In short, that woman's plan failed right? At this point she doesn't have the power to defeat all three of us."

"Yes."

"I wonder about that."

At the same time, Kazuma and Kureha said the exact opposite words. All looks converged on the Kureha that even now still didn't loose her composure.

"Surely I don't have enough confidence to defeat all three of you and to take back the sacrifices. But, I'm pretty confident I can escape."

"What will running achieve?"

"I'll prepare a new sacrifice", Kureha declared naturally.

"You half asleep? Where will you find such a- "

Pausing his words in the middle, Kazuma turned a severe look to Mayumi.

"Oi, girl."

"Wh- what...?"

Mayumi tried to make herself as small as possible as if she lost in the mental battle.

"What happened to the institute that made your clone?"

"....I don't know. Perhaps, Father was controlling- "

Understanding its significance, Mayumi opened her eyes wide in terror and looked up at Kureha high in the sky.

Kureha's lips lifted.

"I'm the one managing it now. Of course, I also store your cells."

"Yoooooooouuuuuuuuuuu!!!", Mayumi screamed in fury.

She couldn't allow it. For the sake of despicable lust for Kureha to play with her cells and mass-produce imitations that looked exactly like her - the disgrace of having her very existence insulted burned through her consciousness.

"I won't allow it! I won't allow it! I won't allow it! Even if it's only you I will- "

Really angry, Mayumi released her power. From the underground stone spears grew and the blowing up pebbles coiled incessantly raining stones from the heaven.

But-

"It's useless. "

Even straining all her power, she couldn't even scratch Kureha.

Grinding her teeth in pain, Mayumi looked up at Kureha and from her eyes burning with hatred, tears fell down.

"I'll kill you...I'll definitely kill you..."

"No. You'll die here."

For the sister caught in a violent emotion, with no sign of being moved Kureha declared so, coldly.

"..........."

Kazuma viewed the extreme quarrel between sisters unfolding in front of him with sober eyes. As if remembering, he searched his pocket and took out tobacco.

"Hmm?"

His lighter doesn't work. Throwing away the 100 yen lighter out of gas, he said to Ren.

"Fire."

"Ye- yes!"

Ren looked at the cigarette's pointed end. Without really doing anything, just by that the cigarette tip was ignited. Kazuma inhaled the fumes silently.

"Why are you acting like you have all the time in the world, you!?"

There, Ayano swung downward Enraiha. Easily evading it, Kazuma laughed with a carefree face.

"Calm down."

"Calm down!?", Ayano replied instantly.

"We need to hurry! To be in a rush - no matter how you look at it, that woman is already broken! If we don't deal with it now- "

"Hmm- but..."

With an attitude that had no vitality, Kazuma observed Kureha.

"To make a clone takes time right? Won't the seal get torn in the meantime?"

"That's fine.", Kureha guaranteed it.

"If I disperse mine and Yuuji's power, the mountain's <<Ki>> will stabilize. If I were to do that, even without the ceremony the current seal will last for at least ten years."

"......Ah, is that so?"

Observing Kazuma's appearance opening his eyes wide seeming really surprised, Ayano felt a great sense of foreboding. This is not just an off prediction.

Something else, a much more absurd situation is happening.

"Kazuma....you, what did you do?"

"........"

Ayano drew near and even including an intent to kill she gripped Kazuma's collar, trying to look away.

"Don't try to deceive me with that distant expression! Spill it out! What did you do?"

"Well....it was troublesome when we were trying to get out from the underground so I just blew up the ceiling."

"Ah, something like that happened. For an instant I thought that Mt. Fuji erupted. And then?"

"Then this worlds law of action and reaction happened. When I turned my power upwards, the same amount of power was turned downwards."

"...!"

At those words Ayumi, Mayumi and Kureha held their breath. They stared at Kazuma in a pale, ashen face.

"What happened?", Ren asked Ayumi.

But instead of Ayumi that lost her voice due to terror, Mayumi answered in a cracked voice.

"....That ceremonial place is located on top of the dragon pulse emitted from Mt. Fuji. That's why we held the ceremony there, because from there we can directly reach Mt. Fuji's power."

"Wh-what! That is..."

Anticipating the conclusion, Ren changed his expression. Without concerning herself with him, Mayumi continued - as he expected.

"Just try to hit that hundred meter bedrock found there with your indecent power! The weakened seal will flip open and the demon beast will jump to his feet you know! Like, right now!"

"............."

All the people present, except for Kureha looked at Kazuma with the same intent. But, Kazuma shrugged his shoulders as if he didn't feel all the pressure gathered around him and showed a somewhat bitter smile.

"No, if you were to stop the ceremony I think the seal would be broken immediately. That's why I have a better timing. Kureha, you're the one to blame. You should have said such a thing sooner!"

All of a sudden his tone became overly familiar. But of course, just by that it's impossible to deceive them.

"You idio- "

''"What have you done!?"''

With enough volume to completely overtake Ayano's insult, Kureha screamed. She had the expression of an ogre.

Although her features were voluptuous, her face with eyes that became bloodshot and teeth bared became considerably frightening.

"Isn't she kind of angry?"

"......isn't it obvious?"

Intimidated by the intensity of Kureha's anger, Ayano replied in a frail manner. She felt something similar to pity for Kureha, whose ambition was thwarted by this kind of man.

"But still, her ''real desire'' will come true so I think she could be happy."

"Eh?", asked Ayano in return unintentionally.

High in the sky, crushing her anger, Kureha looked down on Kazuma really pissed.

"You only talk in such a round-about way - If you have something to say, say it clearly!"

"That's right! That's right!", interrupted Ayano.

Glaring at Ayano with a look of light reprimand, Kazuma continued the conversation annoyed.

"First, you said you invested five years in this plan but that's a mistake."

"What- "

"Hear me out first. For a human being the Demon Beast's power is a foreign substance. If you were to take in something like that, a sense of discomfort will appear. Actually Yuuji couldn't manifest the power he received but like an appendix in an irregular form. But you have no sense of discomfort. You are perfectly integrated."

No matter how much you investigate it, the result is the same. For a human being to grow accustomed to a demon beast's <<ki>> - no, at that time only the beast's <<ki>> can be felt.

"Just by five years - no, what's important here is the period of twenty something years you lived as a human. A human's way of being established in all those years and months can't all disappear in just five years."

".........."

Kureha said nothing. No, maybe she could't. That face, biting on her lips, looked as if she felt resentment towards her own self that couldn't object.

"Thinking about it there's just one answer. From the time you were born but not later than two or three years old you carried the demon beast's power in your body. Maybe you only looked at the Demon Beast for the last five years but long before that, for the sake of escaping the seal the beast had you under his control."

"Ho- how stupid! That's wrong! I- "

"I have even more proof."

Kazuma callously pressed even more the confused Kureha.

"Your power. If you lack the divine protection of the Spirits, what kind of power are you borrowing? Isn't it natural not to hear the Spirit's voices? Instead of senseless spirits an existence with a far stronger will and power, endlessly shouting inside your head ''Release me!'' ?"

"Wro- Wrong!", Kureha raised scream full of bitterness and covered her ears.

"I decided on it by my own will! I'm not being manipulated! That's impossible!"

"If that's the case I can check right?"

Informed by Kazuma's cold words, Kureha opened her eyes wide.

"....what did you say?"

"Let's make sure. Let's ask the demon itself. All it's clear except this. Don't be reserved, I'll take care of it myself - so you can die relived!"

A wind blade vertically bisected Kureha's body, standing there in a daze.

Unable to defend, unable to resist, Kureha could't do anything. No, without even trying, she just ''looked''.

A blade that invited death. The body to be killed. And - the killed body.

"..........Ah?"

Split in two, Kureha was still alive. Or at the very least, she didn't die.

The body cleaved in two equal parts, with a gap of a few centimeters in between, that for some reason didn't fall but kept its balance and stood erect. Not even a drop of blood was flowing.

"Ah......aha........ahahahahahaha....."

Looking with her right eye at the left half of the body, with her left eye at the right half of the body Kureha revealed an empty laughter. There was no place for objection. Right now - no, from some long gone day she stopped being human.

Intending to manipulate everything, she was always manipulated. Only having the illusion of free will, everything stood on top of the demon beast's palm.

"This is...is this the punishment for killing Father.......? Are you saying this is the appropriate punishment for my sin?", Kureha murmured smiling in a broken way.

"But there was no helping it, was there. My Father didn't love me, you know? He didn't even scold me. At that time, my father was laughing. Without even listening to the reason why I broke the taboo, he was so happy he had the reason to get rid of the burden I was for him ''he was laughing''!!"

"Onee-sama...."

"Aren't you fine? Loved by all, protected by all. Then, if no one loved me, if no one protected me, I had no choice but to become stronger. To become stronger than anyone else! Is that what you call a sin? Are you, the one that stole ''everything'' from me trying to blame me!?"

Kureha screaming in bitterness - without being able to look at her, Mayumi cast her eyes down.

That Kureha was Father's enemy doesn't change. But, after knowing everything Mayumi was not heartless enough to blame her.

On the other hand, when listening to Kureha violent confession, Ayano felt a different unpleasantness from Mayumi's.

''This feels like a familiar story....''

She stealthy peeked at Kazuma's appearance. Hiding his face, Kazuma smoked in silence. Perceiving irritation from that silhouette seemed like some sort of optical illusion.

Suddenly, Kazuma threw away his tobacco. And then.

"Shut the fuck up. Just fucking die already!"

Together with merciless words, he hit her with wind blades. This time, from her back, he cut her up horizontally.

"Wh- wait- "

Ignoring the others wincing at his excessive cruelty, he grinds the fallen tobacco.

"Nobody loved you, huh? Isn't that natural? Did you think wishes come true just by waiting for them to!? If you have something you want then work for it!"

High in the sky, there was Kureha's body divided cross-wise. As expected, holding herself together was difficult - she was shaking unsteady.

"Don't make it someone else's fault. It was all your decision. Closing yourself in because you were too afraid to deal with other people, choosing isolation once and again, wasn't it all your choice?", Kazuma shouted unable to control his words.

Does he himself realize? That Kureha is nothing else but his own twisted mirror?

Ignored by Genma, shunned by all his clan - Kannagi Kazuma and Kureha, they are terribly alike.

If he didn't became disinherited by Genma, maybe he wouldn't have found the determination to leave the home. And then - maybe he would have become something like this.

Because he could clearly imagine himself that way he felt discomfort when looking at this woman. He felt bitterness. He couldn't put up with it. He could't stand up hearing such pitiable complaints.

"If you decided to live by yourself then quietly die by yourself! After all this time don't start whining like a spoiled child!"

Countless wind blades chopped Kureha's body to shreds. As expected, unable to maintain a human shape, Tsuwabuki Kureha died.

For Kureha, annihilated without any closing words, Kazuma saw her off without offering tribute for the departed. But immediately following that, he faintly frowned.

"Shit - did it escape?"

Ayano opened her eyes wide.

"Eh? Is that thing still alive?"

"No, as expected Kureha died but I didn't get rid of that Demon Beast's <<Ki>> inside her. I wanted to decrease it even by a few percents! Well it can't be helped - "

Feeling the same thing as the Demon Beast's <<Ki>> passing through the dragon pulse and returning to Mt. Fuji - it was seized by Kazuma's sharp perception.

That doesn't only means the enemy became stronger. Although small, the <<Ki>> activated - without mistake, that was the stimulation that became the last push that made the Demon Beast open his eyes.

The time for the decisive battle was drawing closer.

"But thinking on it, she was a really pitiable person. Without being loved by anyone and trying to become stronger for this reason, just to be manipulated.", Ren murmured earnestly.

Maybe because he already saved Ayumi he now had the composure to commiserate his enemy.

Looking at that Ren with an expressionless gaze, Kazuma said.

"You, did you believe that nonsense story?"

".................................yes?"

"Can I take that as an affirmation?"

After an even longer,heavier silence Ren asked blankly.

"J- just wait a second! No way, was it all just random bullshit!?"

"No, that wasn't random bullshit but I have no proof. Just pilling up one hypothesis after another, a reasoning that can't be verified by proof is the same as trash. If you gulp it down so easily you'll be seen as an idiot."

"Then, why did you say all those things?"

To Ren's timid questioning Kazuma answered exasperated holding his head.

"That woman was strong enough for it to become a hard fight if I were to fight her directly. Not to become tired before the main performance, I tried my best to bluff but I didn't believe it would be that effective. Your Onii-chan was so surprised!"

".............."

He brought the conversation to a finish very sweetly but that didn't soften the shock even a little bit.

Not a cruel voice can be heard. Even Mayumi who hated Kureha the most couldn't suppress her pity.

"......how cowardly.....", murmured Ayano.

They were just two words but others that would express Kazuma's behavior more accurately don't exist in this world.

All the party, except Kazuma, nodded showing their deep agreement.

"''All for the winner'' - isn't that a fine expression?"

Of course, Kazuma didn't pay attention to their reaction.

=== Part 4 ===

"Well then isn't it about time?"

At Kazuma's words, standing alone, everyone's body shivered.

Even without having to say it they all noticed. That the earth was vibrating slightly but continuously.

The activity of the ground spirits already reached a state of wild excitement.

A great existence was in the process of waking up. The earth was being scared of that omen.

"It- it's coming!"

Suddenly Ayumi shouted. Immediately-

The sky was dyed red.

"!!"

The light source that removed the darkness was a pillar of flame gushing out from Mt. Fuji's crater. The red hot magma running up as if aiming at the heavens was glittering in a vivid red.

"....This means the eruption comes first, huh? This is quite a surprise."

"Why are you so calm about the situation?"

Expressionless, Ren drew closer to Kazuma taking his time to admire at leisure the magnificence of the scenery.

"There wasn't supposed to be any damage."

"Well, calm down. It's no use arguing about spilled milk. Besides, just one eruption shot won't do too much damage. If it's that degree it will basically cool down by the time it reaches the foot of the mountain - Ooh?"

Kazuma, trying to comfort Ren and soothe him, forgot his words at the scene in front of his eyes. When Ren turned his head in confusion he had the same reaction.

The lava, unable to reach the heavens fell down and returned to the crater describing a clearly unnatural arc.

As if the mountain didn't want to let loose even a drop of its own heat. Taking back all it spit out with the same opening Mt. Fuji became apparently dull.

But -

"It's - not over."

Without a need for warning they all understood. That this is the beginning.

It's coming out. Something, extremely unbelievable.

"So, what will come out?"

With an expression used when tearing open a present's wrapping paper but with a facial expression that goes beyond dangerous, Kazuma said so.

The seal already lost its effect. Following the caldera, from the depths of earth an enormous power was crawling out. The footsteps that made the earth tremor, they had the feeling they could hear them.

"Eh?"

Before noticing it, that ''thing'' showed on the summit of the mountain. Omitting all the process.

"Just now, how did it appear?"

"As if I know. Maybe it teleported."

Kazuma casually answered Ayano's question. It seems that even by using his power of perception this man couldn't capture its movement process. The question on how it really crossed over the space was recurrent.

"Please stop it.......making that stupid appearance....."

" - It doesn't particularly feel slow-witted."

"But isn't that a turtle!?"

"Well......it's a turtle."

It seems they both agree on this. Certainly, of all the living things it resembles a turtle the most.

Two short feet, protruding from a shell, a head and a tail. But that thing lacked all that made a turtle lovely.

Almost like it was made of rock, the acute-angled body was composed of only planes and straight lines. From its mouth many atrocious fangs stood up in line. And then, among that boorish body that seemed made of inorganic substance, almost like a different creature only the tail, like a living thing, took the shape on a large snake.

And then, more dreadful than anything else, that appearance was ''understanding''.

The Demon Beast was at the top of the mountain, they were at the base of it. The distance between them was approximately ten kilometers. But - even so ''it was looking''.

The fangs that were fully visible, sheet after sheet of snake scales, they could perceive it all as if it were in front of their eyes.

It wasn't just big. The excessively overwhelming power, its own being was etched in detail in their consciousness not permitting a vague recognition.

"Is this.........Genbu (trad: The Black Tortoise)? But, that was supposed to be the Sacred Beast of water..."

"Well, it's impossible to be that thing right? Folklore about a mountain sustaining turtle exists in China but this has no association with it.", answered Kazuma without positive proof.

And then, Ayumi explained.

"That thing shape was decided by us."

"By the Tsuwabuki Family?"

"No, by humans."

Contemplating on it for a while, Kazuma reached an answer.

"Its shape was given by the power of the collective unconscious?"

"It's not something that grand. If we were to consult the records from those days, at first it had an indefinite shape but took one while fighting and finally became that. It's called Zenon."

" - Who the heck named it like that three hundred years ago?"

Achilles and the tortoise?[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zeno%27s_paradoxes#Achilles_and_the_tortoise]

Unintentionally Kazuma laughed at an inappropriate time.

The practitioners that fought ''Zenon'' and the people that saw it happen imagined it various ways.

''What is this thing'' or something. They saw the sturdy turtle they couldn't suppress no matter how much they attacked and maybe they remembered the same Chinese legend like Kazuma did.

Or maybe, unable to catch up with it no matter how long they chased, they found out the transcendent nature resembling a philosophical contradiction.

That kind of deed gave the course of action - the shape for that confusing power.

The fact that they fought with the intent to throw it down but on the contrary they couldn't kill the enemy can only be called ironic.

"That's why, the Tsuwabuki concealed Zenon's existence even after the sealing. For the sake of not giving it an even clearer form. If at a different time the seal is solved, they prayed it would revert to the original disorderly power."

"It seems that's a wasted effort."

"That's true. Maybe it already stabilized like this."

The two exchanged a dry smile.

Ren viewed the situation somewhat displeased but he couldn't really complain.

"Hey - ", Ayano pulled the hem of Kazuma's jacket.

"Isn't it kind of looking at us?"

"Aah. As if it were a loaded gun.", Kazuma nodded.

The Demon Beast - Zenon, was starring here with a look full of hatred. That pressure could be felt on the skin.

Thinking what happened since the beginning, the manifestation of Zenon's crude <<Ki>> - he's a cluster of destructive impulses. It's impossible to turn its hatred on a particular somebody.

"And yet, why?"

"It's just a conjecture but will you listen?"

"Say it."

"It's Kureha.", Kazuma frankly answered.

"The plan failed but a part of the demon beast was mingled with her. Although impossible to capture, the emotion that occupied most of her consciousness - like her hate towards us is influencing it, maybe."

"Don't use ''us''. The only one Kureha hated was you. You're the one who fucked her up, made her despair and finally massacred her!"

"The same thing.", Kazuma eluded the riposte calmly, shrugging his shoulders.

"It seems we can omit the time needed to climb up to the top! It's coming!"

Simultaneously with his words, Zenon vanished. And one instant later, he reappeared.

Right in front of Ayano.

" - !!"

The head that opened its mouth in a big way, descended from right overhead. Time to react, there was none.

" - RAAAAAAAAH!!"

But Kazuma, jumping out in front of Ayano with a powerful gale, knocked the rock head with a fist clad in wind.

The demon beast's cranium was instantly pulverized and that huge build flew in midair.

"What the heck was that? Can it seriously teleport!?"

"No, that's wrong. That was reconstruction."

"What's that?"

"It temporarily reduced its body to <<Ki>> went through the dragon pulse and then reconstructed. It really helps that there is a time lag before reorganizing its body."

Saying that, Kazuma focused on Zenon. The head that was supposed to be pulverized was regenerated for the most part.

"Wow it's really not working - Ayumi!"

"Y- yes!"

"Run away. As far as your body can hold."

She drew out her chin. Maybe she became self-conscious of her own uselessness. Ayumi nodded deeply and started running without saying anything.

Around the time that silhouette disappeared Zenon finished regenerating and got up. Looking at him from the front he is really huge. Including his tail, his length measures more than a hundred meters. A majestic appearance certainly appropriate for the mountain's avatar.

"Hmm!"

Even so, without hesitating, Kazuma showed a fearless smile and looked up at that large build.

"Come, let's go! Hey vanguard, just knock him off already like we previously discussed. Isn't that your only redeeming feature?"

"Shut up baka!"

With a retort that was already close to a conditional reflex, Ayano began to run straight ahead.

Zenon overlooked the petty living thing that didn't know its place from a higher position looking bored.

"KYAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHH!!"

"Don't shout stupid turtle!!"

While backing up the advancing Ayano, the rear guard made up of two people starting attacking. Wind and flame - that power that would obliterate a dozen demon beasts in one go, how effective will it be against this opponent -

Setting up Enraiha while running wind and flame passed her from both sides.

Using long distance attacks as a faint and using Enraiha for the finishing blow - that was their most basic tactic.

"GYAAAAAAAAAAAHH!!"

Once again the Demon Beast howled. As if invited by that scream, rock snakes appeared from the underground - an infinite number of them.

Each was a serpent with two meters in diameter and they all blocked the way to Zenon. And then, using their bodies to stop the wind and flame, they gulped it down and were crushed.

''I can still go!!''

Ayano didn't stop from running. Forcibly breaking through the diminished snake barrier, she was aiming at Zenon's body.

A turbulent presence was generated high in the sky. The presence she grew accustomed to when fighting Kureha. She instantly understood.

A gravitation field.

And in addition to that, a different order of magnitude than Kureha's. An extravagant gravitation field was formed that right now was changing to something like a black hole. It's not like she can't oppose it but -

"Kazuma!", she shouted without turning her face around.

Believing she could be understood only by that, Ayano ignored the gravitational field and went even further.

Zenon's foot that was soaring right in front of her, she cut it in one stroke. Simultaneously a wind blade split open the gravitational field.

That was an extremely exquisite combination - if it was successful, but -

"......wa!?"

Reverberating with a hard sound Enraiha bounced back without being able to scratch the surface. The wind blade that tried to cut the gravitational field was crushed and vanished instead.

"Che!"

"Nee-sama!"

Ren hit with all his power the gravitational field that tried to crush Ayano. And a new wind blade swung downward and this time managed to slice and tear up the warped space.

"Fall back!"

Obeying Kazuma's direction, Ayano speedily retreated. There was no pursuit.

"Wait a second, that's absurdly hard! How did you manage to smash its head?"

"No, it would turn bad if I would attempt it a second time."

Sidestepping Ayano that drew closer agitated, Kazuma casually shook his head.

"Eh? That means - "

"Yes, it hardened since then."

Ayano looked up at Kazuma with a pale complexion.

"Does that mean it's evolving?"

"Instead of evolving maybe adapting oneself would be more appropriate - well, it's the same no matter what we call it....this is bad."

Receiving damage and then enhancing itself so that it can withstand that degree of damage. Furthermore its energy reaches almost infinite levels so it can more or less immediately recover from that damage.

"How- how are we supposed to fight that kind of opponent?"

At Ayano's question Kazuma showed his open hands as if saying ''give up hope''.

"What to do?"

"''What to do?'' you say - "

Before the unintentionally speechless found a retort, the situation changed.

A group of remaining rock snakes opened their mouths simultaneously. From inside, darkness was peeking out.

" - Run!"

Coincident with the shout, Kazuma grabbed Ren and jumped with all his strength. Ayano too, left that place with all her energy.

Immediately following that, something invisible ran through the place the trio stood. That something drilled the thick sea of trees opening a straight road in it.

The Tsuwabuki mansion placed up ahead in a straight line was annihilated without trace. Without using an explosion or blaze - literally annihilated.

Descending on the ground surface with a new outlook on life, Kazuma murmured.

"Is this......what you call a gravity rifle........? This is turning more and more into a SF..."

"Now it's not the time for side comments! Just hurry up and get serious already!!"

Kazuma made a contract with the Spirit Lord and is holding a power that exceeds the human container.

Ayano is telling him to let it out but -

"I don't really care but if I were to do that but after five minutes I'm out. Do you take responsibility for what happens after?"

It's not like Kazuma is suppressing his power on a whim or to show off. Using a power that rises above humanity in a human body, first of all that sort of thing is impossible.

If he were to overcome that impossibility a back lash will always appear.

He didn't test the limit but it's around five minutes. Anything more than that will fry his brain. Since they have yet to find a breach it would be reckless to use their only trump card.

"Ugh - you're useless!"

"Say that after you did something!"

Ren looked at these two, exchanging a bloodthirsty conversation, with anxiety. Becoming aware of that gaze, Kazuma softened his facial expression.

"It's fine. I fought a much stronger opponent than myself on countless occasions."

''Even I said that - ''

Silently, Kazuma continued.

''It's the first time I oppose such overwhelming odds. Can we do this?''

But before Kazuma had time to think of a counter plan, the situation deteriorated even more.

Raising a howl Zenon summoned a large quantity of new rock snakes from underground.

The rock snakes whose numbers suddenly doubled simultaneously oppened their mouths.

"Wait a seeeeecond!!"

On the battlefield where the gravity guns were flying wildly about the trio could do nothing but run.

And then -

Disobeying Kazuma's command Ayumi was watching over the battlefield from a short distance.

Even for her untrained eyes it was clear that Ren's group was cornered.

''Wha- what to do.....''

"How unsightly."

"!?"

From the trembling Ayumi's back a voice full of scorn was suddenly raised. When turning around, in Ayumi's eyes war reflected the same face.

"Ma- Mayumi-sama - "

Without answering, Mayumi eyes were full of glee watching Kazuma and the rest being driven to the wall.

"After all that talking it eventually became such a sad sight, huh? It's impossible for humans to destroy that thing. Are they stupid?"

Openly expressing her scorn she overlooked her imitation, whose eyes were like those of a frightened puppy.

"Well then, let's go."

"Eh? Wh- where?"

"Withdrawing for the moment, reorganizing our force and then resuming the ceremony. Because both these guys and Kureha were acting stupid the command line was torn.........so for now, we're leaving this place."

Mayumi took Ayumi's hand and tried to pull her but Ayumi resisted firmly planting her feet on the ground.

"Such a thing! Please wait! We can't abandon Ren - "

"I don't care about those guys! There're fighting Zenon by their own will so they can die for all I care!"

''by their own will''

Mayumi's words had the opposite effect - that exact phrase made Ayumi decide. Including force, she shook off Mayumi's hand.

"It's not yet decided that they are going to loose!"

"They can't possibly win!"

"They'll win! I - I will- "

Mayumi opened her eyes wide in shock watching the pathetic determination hardening on that face. What was Ayumi trying to do - she understood it.

"Y- you - "

"Mayumi-sama."

With a pale face but watching Mayumi steady the girl implored in a trembling voice.

"Lend me your strength! Not enough to perfectly seal it but if we could weaken it, Ren will definitely defeat Zenon."

"Don't- Don't mess around! Why would I have to - "

"Think about it calmly!"

Ayumi drew near, completely overturning the power relationship.

"If you were to go now and gather the remaining Chijutsushi do you think that this newly set free Zenon will let you do it? If you want to do it, now is the time! If there's the two of us surely - "

"No! I don't want to die!"

As if trying to deny Ayumi's words, Mayumi covered her ears. In those eyes, looking down on her own replica pure terror was floating.

"You don't have to do it until that point! Only to reduce Zenon's power - "

"No! Definitely no!", screamed Mayumi blocking her ears. Closing her eyes firmly as if to shut away reality, she shook her head and crouched down like a helpless child.
[[Image:Kaze no Stigma vol 03 333.jpg|thumb]]

Overlooking Mayumi refusing to listen to anything, Ayumi let out a sigh.

"I understand. Well then."

She lowered her head, accepting what she shouldn't have seen and started walking towards the battlefield.

Understanding that Ayumi intends on sealing Zenon by herself, Mayumi unintentionally asked.

"You...Do you feel like killing yourself?"

Ayumi quietly looked over her shoulder. Overawed by her determined gaze, Mayumi slightly looked away.

"Wrong.", Ayumi declared with no hesitation.

"I want to live. I want to live together with Ren!"

Bowing her head once again in front of the speechless Mayumi, Ayumi started running.

".............I'm beaten..........there's no end to this........"

With a voice blurred with weariness, Kazuma coughed. Ayano and Ren were panting, lightly injured on different parts of their bodies.

They were not done yet. Chopping down rock snakes, they even managed to injure Zenon. But that was immediately healed.

It was as if swinging their fists at the ground. Because the opponent was too large, there wasn't a meaning in attacking it. Even with a meaning there was no result from attacking it.

They didn't even had a match. The current status doesn't allow for a competition. One-sidedly scraping off their physical strength, it's only waiting for a chance to annihilate them - they were in the midst of such a hopeless situation. When Ayumi started participating in the war.

"Ayumi-chan?"

Suddenly recognizing Ayumi's appearance rushing in at the last minute, Ren changed his expression.

"Don't- don't to that! Run away quickly - "

Without answering, positioning herself at the same distance from Ren and Zenon, at the top of an equilateral triangle, she adjusted her breathing.

And then, slowly kneeling she joined hands taking a posture of prayer.

"Ayumi-chan...?"

After a few seconds, from Ayumi's body an enormous power was released. On earth light ripples ware running, and little by little they converged to where Zenon was.

What was she doing, Ren immediately understood.

"Ayumi-chan! No!"

Ren began to run trying to stop her. But from his back Kazuma asked a question on a low tone.

"Where are you going, brat?"

"What are you asking, Ayumi-chan is - "

Not concerned about Ren's agitation, indifferently, Kazuma asked again.

"What did you say to Ayumi?"

"Eh? That...that is..."

''What do you want to do?''

" - But!"

"Ayumi answered your question. What will you do?"

"..........."

Biting his lip, Ren turned his back to Ayumi. He looked up at Zenon. Surely, its power was weakened.

If it's like that - they can win.

"I'll butcher it. Nii-sama get serious!"

"Ok."

Nodding deeply, Kazuma closed his eyes. Several seconds after - the pair of eyes that showed a second time were dyed in a transparent blue. That was the carved seal engraved by the spirit Lord of the Wind. The wind spirits playing in the sky were the evidence that he was allowed to control everything.

Holding a power that tremendously magnified in his hands, the supreme ruler of the sky fearlessly laughed.

"So, let's go - the spirit of reincarnation from just one mountain, smash it to pieces until there's nothing left!"

=== Part 5 ===

Ayumi felt the fast approaching <<Death>> closing in with each second. As if she were a drained water tank, the power was flowing out of her at an alarming rate.

Even though she understood that she will die the moment this power will have run out, she didn't try to ''save'' it.

It wasn't out of despair. She didn't plan on risking her life. For the sake of living with Ren, it was necessarily to do so, so she did it.

''Just a bit more, just a bit more.''

But that wasn't an infinite power. Enduring it with great effort, compensating for it with fighting spirit, she did it to the limit. Her breathing was severed, she couldn't help but to inhale.

''Just.... a bit....more......''

As if she was turned off, she suddenly lost all her senses. The consciousness that sunk into the darkness, no matter how much she called out to it, her body already doesn't have enough force to respond to it. She slowly collapsed forward -

"What are you doing?"

On the verge of collapsing front-faced on the ground a stretched out hand from the back sized the nape of her neck and pulled back Ayumi's body. Her awaken consciousness recognized the silhouette of her savior.

"Mayumi.......sama......?"

"You talk big but is this it? If you, the one that should be protected dies first what will happen?"

Folding her arms arrogantly, Mayumi sneered at the foolish doll.

"Though you're my imperfect clone I don't want you to lose from such a thing."

"..........."

In blank amazement Ayumi looked up at Mayumi. In other words, this is -

" - Hmm."

Making an entirely arrogant facial expression Mayumi raised Ayumi's chin.

"I don't want to be told that by Mayumi-sama who deserted under the enemy's fire."

Making such a provocative declaration with all her strength, a huge vein popped on Mayumi's temple.

"....you can talk back now, huh?"

"Of course. That's because I'm nothing but Mayumi-sama's duplicate. Besides, no matter who it is, the performance of the one that is born after is obviously excellent."

"......very good......"

While her temples were violently convulsing, Mayumi murmured in a low voice.

"Should I teach you what the original's power is like? Prostrate yourself in front of the overwhelming power difference Ayumi!"

Together with a sonorous shout, Mayumi released her power. The ripple that paused when Ayumi used all her strength started binding the demon beast for a second time.

''Mayumi-sama, thank you very much.''

Expressing words of gratitude inside her heart, she bowed deeply at Mayumi's back. And once again she adjusted her breathing and gave her own power to Mayumi. The doubled effort tied Zenon much more powerfully.

''With this we can win - No, we <<will>> win. And then, together - ''

While mustering all her strength, Ayumi addressed Ren.

'' - we will become happy, right?''

"Woooooooohhh!!"

The wind blade released by Kazuma cut all four of Zenon's legs. Not letting the moment it was disconected from the earth escape, he pushed up the limbless body into the sky.

As long as Zenon comes in contact with the ground it has an infinite amount of power. So, in order to defeat it, all its links with the earth must be severed, attack it with the greatest amount of power while in that state, and before it can regenerate destroy it so that not even a fragment of its existence is left behind.

That chance, doesn't appear very often. There was only this moment.

"We finish it off right now!", Kazuma shouted, while forcibly throwing away Ren body, found near-by.

Surprised for just one moment he quickly understood Kazuma's plan and he converged all his power at one point.

"Match it from below!"

"Ok!"

In accordance with Kazuma's instruction, Ayano slipped right under Zenon. While in the Hassō-no-kamae stance, she put all her remaining power on the single stroke and swung it with all her strength.

The plasma whose caloric value rivaled that of the sun sank inside Zenon's shell. And then, from overhead, the descending Ren released all his power.

"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHH!!!"

The calorific value Ren emitted at that time may have exceeded Ayano's holding Enraiha. The gushing out golden plasma simply went through the impenetrable shell, broke it and burned it to nothing.

Broken pieces of Zenon were scattering and exploding in all directions - but Kazuma didn't permit the existence of such delicate splinters.

"Vanish!!"

A hard wind exceeding the speed of sound - no, the intent to kill carried by the wind annihilated the countless fragments until none remained.

Literally annihilated. Without even leaving dust, all traces of Zenon's existence disappeared.

"Aahh - shit!", spit out Kazuma, tired.

That was the limit. His brain was about to start burning off. With the last of his power making Ren, about to crash, land softly, right away the seal placed on his eyes was resumed. He couldn't move, not even a step. If he were to release his consciousness he would continue sleeping for at least three days.

''But.....I can't do that.''

He had the obligation to see the end with his own eyes. Because although he knew he did everything he could he didn't stop it.

''We can't save can we? Me and you too....''

''We.........we woooooooooooooonn!!''

While flying down on the wind, Ren was overjoyed inside.

He quickly wanted to meet Ayumi. He wanted to see Ayumi's delighted face. That thought was overflowing his consciousness.

A few more meters remained before reaching the ground but he hurriedly destroyed the wind barrier and jumped out.

Coincident with his landing, he started running. Aiming for the girl he loved more than anyone else.

"Ayumi-chan!"

To Ren waving his hand with a fully smiling face Ayumi returned a blank smile,and then - she collapsed.

"Ayumi-chan?"

Ren stood still opening his eyes wide in surprise but when he calmed down he immediately ran to her.

He held the senseless girl in his arms and shouted.

"Ayumi-chan! Ayumi-chan......!?"

"What happened......!?"

Ayano too tried to run over when she realized the disaster that befallen Ayumi. But, Kazuma's hand restrained her.

Gripping her hand firmly, Kazuma said:

"You're not needed."

"What are you saying? She needs treatment quickly - "

"I said it's not needed", Kazuma repeated, not looking her in the eyes.

Just hearing that serious tone, Ayano's face, elated from victory became stiff.

"What the heck...is that?"

Standing in front of Kazuma, Ayano asked with a cracked voice.

"What are you trying to say? Answer me! Look into my eyes!"

".........."

With a sigh turned to the sky, he pointed an emotionless glance to Ayano. And then - he suddenly started a story that apparently didn't have any connection to this one.

"..........Ayumi, Mayumi's clone, said she grew up this much in just one month, right?"

"Yeah, that's what I heard."

"You can't do such a thing."

".....eh?"

At Ayano's involuntary question, Kazuma repeated plainly.

"With the contemporary science human clones can be made but you can't accelerate their growth. If you want to create a twelve years old clone you need twelve years."

"Just- just wait a second."

Not really understanding, Ayano hastily interrupted Kazuma's words.

"But, isn't Ayumi actually here? Are you trying to say Ayumi is not really a clone?"

".......wouldn't that be nice?"

At the convenient guess, Kazuma was really cynical. He showed a wasted smile.

"Mayumi's father managed to accomplish something that the science can't. What I mean - "

''"Jya jya jya jyan!"''

Interrupting Kazuma's explanation, with a sky-rocketing high tension, without understanding the situation, blurting out her thoughts.

''"They used something that for us fairies is more important that anything else, the egg from which the next Patriarch will be born!"''

At those two's blank stare, Tiana stuck out her chest with an <<ahem>>.

".......egg?"

Noticing Kazuma's isolated murmur, Tiana pressed her mouth noticing the verbal slip. But, she immediately started talking non-stop.

''"Actually - that is right. Ah, that doesn't necessarily mean we reproduce by eggs you know! Is this what you call a <<metaphorical expression>>?"''

"You, where have you been until now?", Ayano interrupted the stream of words with a indistinct expression and cross-examined the fairy that appeared out of nowhere.

"Eh? It was scary so I took refuge. But it seems everything's over so I thought to come back to carry out the request. Hey, hey, can you hurry up? So you must wait until that kid dies? At any rate that's two or three minutes more - Ugyaaa?"

Without saying anything, mercilessly, Kazuma grabbed Tiana tightly.

"You...You can't talk until I say so."

There was no need to continue with ''or else...''. Coerced by the overflowing, naked thirst for blood, Tiana voicelessly fainted.

"Well, that's how it is. That way Ayumi was forcibly grown to the age where she can endure the ceremony."

Throwing away the fainted fairy, Kazuma continued as if he didn't do anything.

"Using such a excessive method will naturally burden the body. That's why her life span was so short. Yesterday, her cells already began to crumble. And she squeezed out that much power with her body in such a state. There's nothing to be done."

"No way......."

Ayano murmured in a daze and - unexpectedly scowled at Kazuma with angry eyes.

"Why....if you knew such a thing, why didn't you stop Ayumi?"

"And then what would have happened?", Kazuma asked back coldly.

"Stop her and then we all die together - would that have been better?"

"That's....."

Becoming speechless, Ayano hanged her head heartbroken.

"Then, what did we fight for? Wanting to save her, didn't we just shorten that girl's life span!?"

"........"

Kazuma looked up at the sky for a second time. And then, while on that posture, standing alone, he muttered.

" - I'm sorry for being so weak."

"!!"

''That's wrong...''

She understood. This was not Kazuma's fault. It's not only Kazuma's fault. She doesn't deserve to condemn others.

Not meeting his eyes, hanging her hand in shame, Ayano apologized.

"Sorry...I took it out on you......"

"That's right."

Although blunt Kazuma embraced Ayano tenderly. While brushing her head gently the way as if comforting a child, he said close to her ears.

"You can do at least that much. Because this time I really couldn't do anything."

"I was even more....."

"Aaah. Let's get stronger. So that we can protect next time."

"Fuuu......"

Pressing her head on Kazuma's chest, Ayano cried.

While feeling unbearably comfortable. The warmth of the wide chest, the feeling of Kazuma gently brushing her head.

"Ayumi-chan! Ayumi-chan! Pull yourself together!"

Holding Ayumi's completely limp body, Ren called out to her with a frantic expression.

Maybe because that feeling was transmitted, Ayumi's closed eyelids slowly opened.

"......Ren?"

"Ayumi....chan....."

"I'm so glad - I meet you again..."

Softly and tenderly, Ayumi smiled. Just by watching that clear facial expression, Ren realized.

That she was beyond his help. Unable to bear it, tears were flooding.

"....Ayumi-chan...."

".......I used too much power.....I'm already......no good......"

I couldn't protect - At that regretful thought scorching Ren's body Ayumi showed an absurd smile, as if she lost something petty.

"I'm sorry.....I....I wanted more......"

Ayumi slowly shook her head. As if saying ''it's not Ren's fault''.

"Listen, Ren......in the end, I have only one wish........"

"In the end....!"

Beginning to speak, Ren opened and closed his mouth soundlessly. At this point, words of consolation have no meaning.

"......what is is?"

''No matter what wish, I'll grant it'', Ren decided strongly in his heart. It doesn't matter if it takes him all his life.

If she will say she wants both to leave together, he will gladly die.

Ren brought hie ear closer to listen to Ayumi's faint murmur.

"Don't.....pity me....."

"!!"

Unintentionally Ren opened his eyes and watched Ayumi.

Without regret or attachment, there it was the pupil that calmly accepted death.

Different from the same way she was when he first met her, she doesn't think it's fine to die because she has no reason to live. Having finished what she had to do, dying with that satisfaction, her eyes were full of that pride.

"I....don't regret it.....you see, I decided it by myself. Just like Ren said, by my own will, I chose what to do. That's why.....that's why.....understand. I'm not a ''pitiable child''. I can stick out my chest against anyone, I lived, that kind of life...."

"Yes....yes."

While endlessly shedding tears, Ren nodded many times over.

"That's true...Ayumi-chan was, splendid.....so much stronger, than I am....."

"Really....? If you really think so, I'm happy......"

Ayumi laughed gently. Feeling as if that silhouette was growing hazy, Ren blinked.

"!!"

It wasn't an optical illusion.

She collapsed like trash. Her hair, her hands, her feet. From the extremities of her body, like sand, Ayumi's body mercilessly started crumbling and the life made of trash turned to trash, incapable of leaving a corpse.

"A....yumi.....chan......"

His face crumbled by the overflowing tears, Ren called out the girl's name. Ayumi's face pouted, looking up at Ren.

"No, Ren. Smile - "

"Ayumi-chan....."

"The last time I see Ren's face I don't want it to be a crying face. I want you to see me off smiling. That's why, please?"

"Ayumi-chan - "

The face distorted by grief, Ren forcibly turned it into a smiling one. One that no matter how you look at it strangely smiles while crying but Ayumi, looking happy, returned a content smile.

That perfectly clear smiling face was showing that the end is near. A human being cannot smile in such a pure way.

That was an angel or maybe the smile of martyrdom from a holy woman.

''Not yet!''

He could not yet believe that it was over. Ren has yet to say the most important thing. He came all this way for the sake of telling her that important thing.

"Ayumi-chan!"

There have been only two days since they met. But even so, inside Ren's heart the girl's existence became more important than anyone else's.

He couldn't protect her.

He couldn't save her.

They couldn't be together.

More important than anyone and anything, Ren's only one. Even if she changed to rubbish, that thought doesn't change.

"I love Ayumi-chan!"

It was obvious even without the words but he never said it before.

He just wanted to say this. He had to say this. Not out of compassion, not out of a sense of obligation, he had to convey the feeling that got him this far.

"I love Ayumi-chan more than anyone else in the world!"

Opening her eyes, her pupils were clouded with tears. Her face was tinged with red, and the transcendent, heavenly smile returned to one appropriate to a girl her age.

"..........., ...................."

Looking up at Ren, Ayumi quietly murmured. But that whisper already couldn't make the atmosphere vibrate and disappeared inside her mouth.

"Eh? What - ", Ren asked back, but at that moment -

''Zaaaaahh''

with a dry sound, Ayumi's full body changed to trash.

From the gaps between his arms, the substance that was Ayumi spilled and dissipated.

The shrine maiden costume that lost its master was strongly, strongly embraced by the boy.

"................."

The only proof that the girl existed was the lingering warmth that has yet to disappear from the clothes.

Swept away by the wind, Ayumi disappeared from this world.

"What are you doing? Do you have a miko fetish at such a young age?"

Ren, frantically clinging to the white robe, teeth bared, heard such a sober voice.

Ren raised his face as if flipping.

"......nii-sama......."

" - Aaah"

"......couldn't protect......I couldn't protect......"

"It's not like that."

" - eh?"

To Ren's blank face, Kazuma trivially replied.

"She had a short life but she died well. She died while smiling. She'll have no regrets."

"But........"

"No buts. Do you want to look down on her last request? Don't pity her. That's insulting."

"But.....but....."

Grasping his hands tightly, shedding tears for his own powerlessness, Ren forced the words out.

"I couldn't be together with her.......I couldn't make her happy....."

"......I think she was happy enough as it was......"

Overlooking Ren with a troubled face, Kazuma murmured.

"If not for you, Ayumi would have died in ignorance, without understanding the meaning of happiness or that of despair. You rescued her from that. Isn't that enough?"

Without saying anything he shook his completely crumpled, tear-stained face. Many, many times over.

Kazuma gave up on persuading him and let out a small breath.

" - Well a man who would take the death of the woman he fell in love in a very rational way would be very eerie. If you want to cry then cry. You don't have hold back."

He beckoned him as if saying ''come!'' and Ren jumped into his brother's chest with force enough for a body blow. And then, he started crying in a large voice.

"UWAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!"

Hardly grasping his fists, he hit Kazuma's chest many times over. Without even moving his body an inch, taking it all in, Kazuma gently brushed Ren's head.

"Ayumi-chan! Ayumi-chan! Ayumi-chaaaaaaaaaaaaaann!"

The boy's sobs resounded over and over again at night in the sea of trees.

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Kaze no Stigma:Volume3 Chapter 6

2013-12-26T14:17:49Z

86.20.14.91: /* Part 1 */

== Chapter 6 - Confession underneath the moonlight ==

=== Part 1 ===

"......oh."

Suddenly Kureha looked up at the sky. Before her eyes there was nothing but interminable rough stone. But, seeing something there, her lips raised faintly and she murmured slowly.

"He was unexpectedly fragile. I wanted him to at least deal with that child called Ren."

Advancing at most ten steps, Ren looked over his shoulder. With an awkward face he wanted to ask those two behind him a question.

".........................so where are we supposed to go?"

"...supposed to?"

Without giving it any thought Ayano discarded Kazuma's question.

Together with a heavy sigh Kazuma asked them.

"...........you two, what the heck did you come here for?"

"Well you see, we came here on the spur of the moment. We didn't have time to investigate."

"That's no reason, stupid.", Kazuma said in a cold manner.

And then he started to walk in front.

"Do you know where to?"

"More or less."

Last night he confirmed Ayumi's silhouette. It wasn't difficult to follow that presence.

After walking a few minutes, guided by the voice of the wind, the trio came to the deepest part of the mansion, in front of the cave shrine.

"Welcome to our family's greatest sanctuary."

A soft alto welcomed them. A single beautiful woman, who could only be called bewitching, stood there and behind here five subordinate Chijutsushi.

"Hi. Thanks for yesterday."

Kazuma greeted her in a relaxed manner and returned the Chijutsushi's gaze, full of hatred.

But to the last Kureha was full of courtesy - or maybe rudely courteous - when asking about their business.

"Can I ask you what business do you have here?"

"So she said."

Kazuma looked at Ren. Ren took a step forward, faced the group of Chijutsushi and boldly declared.

"I came to save Ayumi-chan."

"....and instead of her to let Mayumi become a sacrifice?"

"No. We won't allow the ceremony to happen. The three of us will defeat the demon beast sleeping inside Mt. Fuji."

"........................."

As expected that was surprising enough for Kureha's eyes to become round. But she straightened her attitude in a second and admonished Ren like an adult would a helpless child.

"Boy - you would be better learning how to look at reality more closely."

"I am looking. At the very least more than you.", retorted Ren with no hesitation.

"Letting the sacrificing continue for three hundred years and labeling it as <<It can't be helped>> it seems much more strange to me. I won't let you do it any further. I won't allow it! Absolutely!"

Pressed down by Ren's vigor and strong declaration, the Chijutsushi backed off. But, Kureha - the one that didn't move an inch from that place looked down on the boy and fearlessly laughed.

"I see - that's like saying there's no more room for discussion - well then - let's start shall we?"
[[Image:Kaze no Stigma vol 03 261.jpg|thumb]]

As if encouraged by Kureha's composure, the Chijutsushi started to prepare for battle. In response to it, so did Kazuma's side.

Unsheathing Enraiha, Ayano shouted:

"Ren, ignore the small fry! Match me!"

"Yes!"

Ayano and Ren let out fireballs simultaneously aiming at Kureha. Even though it was far inferior to their real power, the people who could oppose it were a very select category.

But even when faced with such a calorific value, Kureha didn't loose her smile.

"Fu fu........"

Without moving even a finger, it was clear she didn't use her power. But, the fireballs aiming at her described an arc, as if avoiding her and parted left and right. Shrinking as if crushed, they split open.

"Wha.....?"

Kureha started taunting Ayano in mute amazement.

"Is this the famous Kannagi flame from the stories? How very lukewarm, huh?"

A cold sweat followed the muscles along the spine. It was entirely impossible to tell what happened. She had no counter-plan for it. She could elevate the calorific value further but will that work?

"I saw it yesterday too - you have a very curious technique. You, are you really a Chijutsushi?"

From Ayano's back, feeling disturbed, a voice that kept it's cool reached. Always calm and steady in all respects, a low voice that she grew accustomed to hear.

"Kazuma!? What did just happen?"

Casually controlling Ayano's question, Kazuma started walking.

"That ability, did you receive it together with your power?"

"......................."

Easily divulging her most important secret, for one moment, Kureha opened her eyes wide. But she immediately regained her composure and expressed a suspicious and somewhat transcendental smile.

"True, if you saw Yuuji's shape, it's no wonder you saw through me. But that was wrong. Because I was born with it, you see."

Stopping without changing her posture, Kureha talked indifferently.

"Without being able to manipulate even a grain of sand, the one who can't hear the voice of spirits, I can on the contrary use this. A unique power. Because of it, Father hated me very much. All the more because it was so strong."

"Even when that strong, did you desire even more power?"

"For someone who plans on becoming a sorcerer, don't you think that's a natural desire?"

"...........I think that depends on the power."

Ayano was unable to follow those two's indifferent exchange. She couldn't understand the omitted parts from their own self-evident truth.

"Hey!"

Finally loosing her patience Ayano pulled the hem of Kazuma's jacket.

"Explain. What is Kureha's power?"

Requesting it in a tentatively small voice, in her own way she tried to pay attention not to spoil the mood. But it wasn't effective.

Kazuma had a truthfully annoyed face, that only changed when seeing Ren's expression, standing next to Ayano, asking the same question.

"It's the control of gravity."

".........the control.........of gravity........", Ayano repeated once more, amazed.

It's not like she didn't understand the meaning of the words. But -

"Why is a Chijutsushi able to do that?"

The phenomena caused by the Spirit Magic were exceedingly pragmatic. For a Enjuthushi flame, for a Chijutsushi soil and stone - they are able to manipulate such things.

Surely, if one presumed gravity was an adaptation of the four elements, it would be a symbol of the <<Earth>> attribute but the Spirit magic doesn't handle such general concept like symbols.

While it may be true that the flame is the symbol of destruction and regeneration, an Enjutsushi that is able to manifest a <<Healing Flame>> has yet to appear.

Although it wasn't unreasonable for Ayano to be surprised, Kazuma completely discarded such considerations.

"It can't be helped if you thought so before this. But accept the reality in front of you."

"Well, you could say that..........", Ayano mumbled insecure.

Being the opponent of gravity, an invisible power, she didn't have the slightest idea on how to fight it.

"You must start by recognizing the distortions in space. Don't see it with your eyes and don't think about it. Just feel it."

"Don't say such even-before-the-first-generation-of-battle-manga lines..............."

Ayano was sulking but Kazuma didn't really pay attention to her. Shifting his focus on Kureha, he said:

"We don't have time to carefully work over the battle plan, you know right? Because the other side is trying to waste time."

Ayano too observed Kureha. In all this time they were conversing, no matter how much opportunities she had for attacking she didn't and only stood in front of the shrine. As if she doesn't proactively want to fight.

Is she buying time? For the Tsuwabuki people to do so, there can only be one reason.

"Then, the ceremony is already.........."

"Correct, it's about time for it to begin."

"Is- isn't this really bad? I need to hurry!", Ren shouted, completely changing his facial expression.

Lightly knocking his head to calm down, Kazuma laughed.

"That's true. You must hurry. That's why, a little unreasonableness can't be helped, right?"

Faced with Kazuma's smile, that no matter how you look at it was scheming, Ren unintentionally backed off. Unwilling to break his commitment, he chose some prudent words.

"Killing is absolutely no good."

No one will become a sacrifice - if he couldn't keep that promise, saving Ayumi will have lost its meaning. It's not a question of finishing it with <<It can't be helped>>.

"That's fine, the one to experience hardships is only you."

"Ehh.........me?"

Without answering back, Kazuma lifted Ren by grabbing him by the collar. He held him aloft with all his power.

"Ni- Nii-sama!?"

"Gooooooooooooo!!"

He threw him violently. The small body wrapped in wind, instantly reached a speed of two hundred kilometers and before any of the Chijutsushi had time to react, reached the small shrine and disappeared inside the cave.

"Uuuuaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!!"

From inside the cave, the boy's shrieks, reverberating over and over could be heard.

"................................"

Friend or foe regardless, they all stared dumbfounded at the interior of the shrine and only Kazuma threw his chest out with pride.

"Excellent, it turned out well."

"Wait a secooooooond!", shouted Ayano after coming to her senses.

"What is it?"

"Don't you <<What is it?>> me!! Why are you being so reckless!?"

As Ayano's hands grabbed him by the collar and shook him with an almost magical skill, Kazuma laughed with an endlessly superficial smile.

"Ah! Isn't it fine? I made sure to harden the defenses."

"Even so, with that unreasonable speed!?"

"It can't be helped right? If he was any slower, he might have been shot down. I'm telling you not to worry, he may feel faint but I made it so he won't get hurt."

"........really? In that case it's fine.........."

But if Ren were to hear those words, no matter how gentle a child he is, he would have complained in a big voice.

"Where is the part I ''may feel fainttttttttttt''...................?"

=== Part 2 ===

"Uwaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!!!"

Together with that scream, Ren landed right in the center of that ceremonial place. That is, he crashed there.

The Chijutsushi that were just about to start the ceremony watched in a daze how a boy was suspended right before the technique's focal point and then he fell over with a grumbling sound.

Lying face down as if prostrating, Ren didn't even twitch.

Is he dead? At the time the Chijutsushi started to think so, his fingertips began moving as if convulsing and then, while weakly shaking his head, he got up.

"....ugh."

''Nii-sama............this was a bit overdone............''

The scream that was turned against the entire world, because of the crash's intensity, couldn't come out. Adjusting his breathing, he firmly held to his consciousness in order for it not to fly away.

From all of Ren's personal experience it wasn't something that could be easily be brushed off as ''It made me somewhat dizzy''. Only comparing it with ten times the speed of a roller-coaster gives maybe a similar feel..

The barrier of wind flawlessly protected the body from wounds but did nothing to improve the riding experience. In the middle of the ride while rebounding from wall to wall and ground to ceiling, rotating vertically, rotating horizontally, spinning, he was entirely exhausted by the complex 3D maneuver.

"No......no more..............I'll vomit...."

While his semicircular canals had yet to recover, his brain gave him a shaking feeling, as if the earth was undulating. His stomach was convulsing and from inside his mouth, a regurgitating movement was trying to start.

It was at that time when that voice made his ears shook.

"...................Ren?"

".........!"

An impossible to confuse, soft voice. More precious than anyone or anything, remembering her elegantly simple smiling face, Ren stood up despite the pain. In front of her, it's impossible to be more disgraceful than this. Controlling his nausea with desperate effort, he slowly raised his face.

Only a few centimeters away - literally in front of him, she was there. It seems she was fully dressed for the sacrifice, wearing a red hakama and a white coat, the typical costume of a shrine maiden. Her hair was loose, naturally overflowing.

"Aaaah - how beautiful......."

Forgetting his situation, Ren became fascinated with her. For him there was the one and only - Tsuwabuki Ayumi's figure.

"Why......are you here?"

Towards Ayumi inquiring so in bewilderment, Ren extended a hand, smiling. He naturally informed her of the natural conclusion.

"I came to save you."

"Ren..."

With a bitter facial expression, Ayumi slowly shook her head. She turned away, as if refusing the extended hand.

"No. I must carry on my mission. It's impossible to run away."

A clear refusal. But even so, Ren didn't withdraw his hand.

"Yes, I know. But that's been solved. Because I'll defeat the demon beast myself."

".........eh?"

Almost as if she didn't comprehend what he said, Ayumi opened her eyes wide. After a few seconds, when her eyes were full of understanding, she promptly doubt it and then she switched to negation.

"That sort of thing.....it's impossible."

"I can do it."

With a quiet self-confidence, Ren declared so.

"For me alone it would be impossible to do but Nii-sama and Nee-sama are lending me their power. If it's those two, no matter what they deal with, they won't loose. They will surely win."

"But - but - !!"

For some reason having the attitude of a cornered person, Ayumi searched for words of rejection.

"What will it happen if you loose? Mt. Fuji will erupt, you know! I would rather die than see that! Because you see, from the beginning I was made for that purpose!"

"That sort of thing is not worth worrying about."

"............eh?"

"You see, this is something Nee-sama told me but........"

With that introduction, Ren asked the big question.

"What do ''you'' want to do?"

"..............!!"

"Whether it's for the sake of everyone else, or duty, or the reason of your existence, you shouldn't concern yourself with such things. What do ''you'' want to do? What do ''you'' desire? Tell me your wish."

"Eehh, I - I want............"

Decide by yourself the path you want to follow - that kind of thinking was a foreign concept for Ayumi.

From the moment she was made, a fixed road with no place for divergence was pointed out for her. She never thought of getting off it.

The self that will become a sacrifice no matter what. Imagining that, Ayumi remembered she was reminded of an uneasy feeling close to horror. A dread that shook the very root of the meaning of her existence. Comparing it to the fear of loosing her life in the ceremony, that's not even close. Because the concept called death is nothing more than the proof of accomplishing the task bestowed upon her.

"Before coming here I met Yuuji-san."

"For the sake of protecting Mayumi-san, Yuuji-san shed away his humanity. Literally throwing everything away, all for the sake of holding me back. A fighter throwing away his life is certainly strong. But. "

Remembering the strength of Yuuji's grotesque form, Ren shuddered. When thinking of the power difference it seems right to say that winning was nothing short of a miracle.

"Frankly, I was overwhelmed. I thought that such a human prepared to go that far for the sake of protecting a precious person was really amazing. But - that was wrong."

That was maybe one of the possible answers. Rather than throwing away one's ideals and loosing everything, maybe that was the better choice. But, even so.

"The happiness made of someone else's sacrifice is turned to sorrow. You can't feel delight only by yourself. At the very least, I do not wish for that. I want to choose another path."

Not to sacrifice everything else for the sake of the important, not to throw away the self -

Without loosing anything, for everyone to become happy - he definitely thinks such a dream-like path exists.

"I will protect you. I will protect you and all that you want to protect. So please, don't give up."

"Ren - "

As if the held out hand was inviting her, Ayumi took a step forward. But -

"We won't let you!"

Together with unrefined voices, stone spears appeared in the space in between as if to separate them.

With eyes that held no emotion Ren turned in the direction of the voice.

"How long do you think we would listen to your foolish jokes? We won't let a brat like you get in the way of our family's holiest ceremony. While we lament the foolishness of challenging Chijutsushi so deep underground we will destroy you even if you don't resist."

The practitioners possible representative, the oldest one, gave the execution order in an antique speaking-style.

In response to that voice, the Chijutsushi prepared their attack. Ren starred at the offensive approaching from every direction with bored looking eyes.

One moment. The downpour of stones from overhead, the fangs rapidly growing from the ground, were instantly all burned to nothing.

"Wh - wha.........."

"Hey - "

Facing the Chijutsushi prepared to flee after the failure of the one-kill attack, Ren informed them full of irritation.

"I'm sorry but right now I'm in the middle of a once in a lifetime confession. Can't you please not get in the way?"

"..........................."

That was equivalent with ''I think nothing of you'' but no one complained. To the point of foolishness, the overwhelming difference in power sealed all objection.

"Well then, let's start again."

Comfortably accepting the following silence, Ren extended his hand a second time.

"Will you trust in me?"

".........................."

Maybe because she didn't really have time to think about it, Ayumi didn't instantly take Ren's hand.

"Why?"

She asked in a somewhat blaming, tough tone.

"Why do you go to such lengths? Even without the ceremony I will still die, you know?"

"But that doesn't mean you want to die right now, no?", Ren replied instantly.

"If there's not much time left anyway, then you should live fully all the more. No matter what you wish for, I will make it happen. I will take you wherever you want to go. That's why...that's why - "

Mustering all his strength, Ren took the final step. He took Ayumi's hand and then told her:

"Even if it's just one month, even if it's just one week, will you live together with me?"

Ayumi's eyes became round, and the next second her face was dyed bright red. A few seconds later Ren also realized the meaning of his words.

''A- awkward''

He was too forward. This was almost like a proposal. It left a love confession far behind.

"W- wro- this is, well........."

Ren's hand that in confusion tried to move away, Ayumi grasped it firmly and didn't let go.

Her eyes were full of tears like she couldn't suppress her happiness and she teasingly asked, smiling while crying.

"Is that wrong?"

Ren immediately tried to suppress his struggling heart. Returning the grip to the hand that held his, he looked straight into Ayumi's eyes.

"No it's not.", he declared.

"We will be together all the time. Until the absolute last second, we will never part ways."

Moved to tears, Ayumi nodded too.

"Yes. I want to live. I want to live together with Ren."

"Ayumi-chan."

Ren firmly hugged the girl's body. The skin's temperature transmitted by their touching skin gave them a unity, of becoming one.

Never to part again - they swore a second time.

But there is no time to stay embraced for as long as they like. A few minutes after, although reluctant Ren ended the hug and smiled at Ayumi.

"Well then, let's go. Onii-sama and Onee-sama are waiting."

"That's right."

He heard the answer from the back. In front of Ren's eyes, turning back in horror, the shadow of a person that couldn't possibly be there appeared.

"Ni- Nii-sama!? Why are you here?"

"...onii-san?"

Ignoring Ren's shout, Kazuma lightly greeted Ayumi.

"I'm this guy's brother Kazuma. Nice meeting you. If you like I don't mind you calling me brother in law."

"Onii-sama!"

"Ah, my name is Tsuwabuki Ayumi. Even though I may be inexperienced, please treat me well."

"Ayumi-chan!"

Ren shouted with a bright red face, but Ayumi bowed her head with a serious expression.

"In such occasions, isn't this the proper greeting?"

"True but it's not like that - enough of this!"

While scratching his head, Ren glared at Kazuma.

"............since when have you been watching?"

"From the <<What do ''you'' want to do?>> part."

That's almost since the beginning. Understanding he heard all about his embarrassing confession, Ren's face was full of shame.

''Huh?''

Suddenly feeling a sense of discomfort, he looked around. There's nothing else. There's ''no one'' else. Except for Kazuma.

"Where is Nee-sama?"

"Ah, because she's so heroic she's detaining Kureha by herself."

Ren was not such a foolish boy as to take those words seriously. Changing the distrustful glance to one of blame, he stared at his brother.

"Did you use her as bait ''again''?"

He stressed the word again with all his power but of course Kazuma is impervious to that degree of cynicism.

"Oi, oi,''again'' is not right. If you say it like that, it's it almost as if I'm using Ayano."

"......is that wrong?"

"Of course it's wrong.", Kazuma declared while puffing out his chest.

It was a magnificent attitude as if saying ''There's nothing I need to be ashamed of''.

Although definitely not agreeing with this, Ren gave up investigating. He said in a resigned tone.

"Let's return quickly. I'm worried about Nee-sama."

"Certainly, I agree leaving this gloomy stinking place."

Answering in a subtle different focus, Kazuma had the same opinion. But before they began running, Ayumi pulled away her hand from Ren's.

"Please wait! We need to save Mayumi-sama!"

"What do you mean?", asked Ren without understanding the meaning.

"Yesterday suddenly Kureha-sama suggested that Mayumi-sama should participate in the ceremony too. That with two people, a much stronger seal can be performed."

"....what's that?"

It was a strange story. From the start, Ayumi was the sacrifice made so that Mayumi will live. Even if it was for the sake of a stronger seal, this was like putting the cart before the horse.

"I too thought it was strange, but right now, there is no one who can go against Kureha-sama."

The Head, Iwao, fell to bed due to illness, Kureha sized all authority, Ayumi roughly explained.

But, Kazuma totally ignored the circumstance of the Tsuwabuki family and only asked what's necessary.

"Well, that sort of thing is inconsequential. So, where is that Mayumi?"

"Right there."

Ayumi pointed at the faintly sparkling crystal pillar. Ren and Kazuma stared with wonder at Mayumi sealed inside it.

"What a beautiful thing."

"I don't think that relevant....so, how are we getting it out of there?"

"Well, because Kureha-sama doesn't have the ability, I think someone else did it....."

"I see."

Kazuma nodded, turned his eyes on one the Chijutsushi standing there petrified and arrogantly commanded him.

"Do it. If you obey I won't 80% kill you, I'll drop it to 50%."

"Do- don't screw arou- kyaa!"

The man could't finish those courageous words of resistance. The atmosphere turned rigid as the man's face was hit and his nose sunk ten centimeters into his cranium.

"........is this an 80% kill?"

"Don't be stupid. That was just because he talked back to me."

Kazuma replied to Ren's question, in a stunned expression, lightly shrugging his shoulders.

"It can't be helped. It's troublesome asking each and everyone of them so I'll do it."

''Please?''

Before one realized he unbelievably said such a thing, dangerous even from a layman's point of view.

"Can you do it?"

"Leave it to me. The likes of a crystal is trivial."

"Eh....wait, that is- "

Ayumi tried to say something but without minding her Kazuma released the wind blades.

Above Mayumi's head and underneath her feet, two wind blades smoothly cut through the crystal as if it were glass.

The crystal mass slipped off in accordance with the diagonal cross-section. Furthermore, Kazuma cut that too.

Without injuring the body inside, the wind blades scrapped off only the crystal. By the time she fell to the ground, there wasn't even a fragment of crystal sticking to Mayumi's body.

"As expected of Nii-sama! This was amazing, righ- "

Ren was cheering in a loud voice but when watching Ayumi's paper-white face, his words were interrupted.

While having an extremely bad premonition, he asked.

"What's the matter?"

"......that crystal pillar was the pillar supporting this cave."

For some reason, Ren turned his head around and looked at the crystal pillar. At the now completely-cut-in-the-center pillar.

Because of what happened, it's impossible for it to function like a pillar anymore.

"We...el, that means- "

Feeling her lungs with air, Ayumi screamed.

"It's collapsing!!"

As if starting with her shout, the ceiling cave started shaking with an ominous rumble. Rocks of various sizes started raining down from the ceiling, and cracks appeared on the walls.

Ren shouted with a changed expression.

"Ni- Nii-sama! Quickly let's run.......!"

"Hmm...,what to do?", Kazuma murmured totally calm.

"That cave was really long. I don't doubt that if we run we'll be buried long before reaching the ground."

"Then what do you suppose we should do?"

"That's right, first of all - it's noisy!"

He looked up annoyed and only that, the falling rocks stopped. The earth tremor too grew remarkably quiet.

Looking up at the ceiling, Ayumi's eyes ogled in shock.

"Did you stop the cave-in with wind? No way, we're a hundred meters underground!"

"It's not like my powers stop working a hundred meters underground, you know?"

Kiiiiiiiiiiii!

"Waaaah?"

"Kyaaa!"

Together with Kazuma's words, a violent buzzing in the ear reached Ren and Ayumi.

Seeing them press their ears in anguish, Kazuma somewhat beckoned them.

"Come a little bit closer. It's bothersome spreading two more barriers."

Standing next to Kazuma, the buzzing incredibly calmed down. Ren asked in wonder.

"What did you do?"

"There's not enough volume of air, so I'm increasing it"

"You're increasing it?"

Thinking about how could one increase the atmosphere in an enclosed space, there's no way to do it but increase the atmospheric pressure.It means that the buzzing from some time ago was the result of the eardrum being pressed. All the Chijutsushi collapsed.

"Hey....doesn't it seem there are people fainting in agony with blood poring from their ears?"

"That's because if you suddenly increase the atmospheric pressure ten times, at least the eardrums will be torn."

As he thought, Kazuma didn't care about the health of the Chijutsushi. He respected Ren's request and was careful not to kill them but except for that he really didn't care.

''It's fine as long as the heart keeps beating.'', that kind of feeling.

Experiencing a much more ominous feeling than the one when the cave-in happened, Ren asked.

" -So, what are you going to do now?"

"It's settled. We're going above ground. By taking the shortest distance!"

''the shortest distance?''

Ren looked up at the ceiling. Understanding what he wanted to do with all the build-up atmospheric pressure, his ominous feelings changed to certainty.

With no hesitation, Kazuma released wind. To the shortest distance, right above their head.

Like a rushing stream the atmosphere pierced the hundred meter thick bedrock almost like paper.

Pulverized and minced, the fragments of rock under pressure were blown by he wind.

Ren looked up at the skies. Already without ceiling he could see the twinkling stars high in the sky.

He looked down. He didn't see the shadows nor the bodies of the Chijutsushi that were supposed to tumble on the ground. Being swallowed in Kazuma's wind, they were flying here and there in space.

Maybe they became man-made-satellites. Leaving the joke aside, Ren seriously thought so.

"......was there a need to go so far?"

"I wonder. First of all, this was the quickest and easiest way.", Kazuma stated calmly without showing a particle of introspection.

"Let's get out already. There's no more fun to be here."

"......that so?"

Leaving out the pointless complaints, Ren agreed in a worn-out voice.

By riding on the wind they appeared right in the mist of the sea of trees. Although it goes without saying what was the reason for the mowed down trees around them, the view was still nice.

"We came out quite a long way off. Well then, Ayano is- "

Just when Kazuma was saying that, a pillar of fire rose approximately a kilometer away from them. Kazuma and Ren exchanged glances difficult to express.

"...well, at least she's easy to find huh?"

"........right."

Exchanging a dry smile, they avoided sour criticism beyond that.

"Well then, let's meet up first."

"That's fine and all, but did you think about a proper explanation? I'm sure she's really angry."

"You worry too much. You'll go bald in the future."

"And who do you thing is adding up to my worries?", Ren screamed with so much grief, he didn't seem an elementary school student at all.

Seeming to enjoy herself, Ayumi watched close that charming exchange.

"........kuu......it...huurts......."

In a place a little separated from the trio that, at the same time, were harmoniously smiling at each other, with a pain assailing her entire body, Mayumi finally regained her consciousness.

Having been swallowed up by the violent air current and raised at once from a hundred meters in the ground to a hundred meters above surface, at last, she was thrown as a result into the ground because of gravity.

No matter how much protection she received from the Ground Spirits, they couldn't nullify this kind of damage.

Although a normal human's body would have been scattered in pieces, but she didn't even fracture her bones showed that a direct descendant of Tsuwabuki was a different kind of thing altogether.

"I wonder, is Yuuji safe?....and Onee-sama, what is she planning..."

The time she was sealed into the crystal was almost like a long dream but she was generally conscious. She somewhat understood what happened.

But even so, she didn't grasp Kureha's real intentions.

"A two people seal, what will that accomplish? If Father were to know of such a thing- "

In front of Mayumi, raising up her upper body, a huge piece of rock tumbled. Although it was a commonplace rock, for some reason it weighted on her mind so she looked at it carefully.

Perceiving her reason for her sense of discomfort, Mayumi grimaced. On the surface of the rock, the face of an anguished man was carved. Plus-

"What's this, what bad taste.......wait, is this Father's? Who sculpted this?"

Raising an indignant shout, Mayumi was about to smash the sculpture, letting anger take its course.

But a small voice stopped her.

"......yumi....Mayumi..."

"Eh?"

Being called out by the rock sculpture, that was a rare experience even for a Chijutsushi so unintentionally she froze.

"F...ath..er, no way....no way....is that really you Father....?"

As if answering that call, the sculpture opened its eyes. He glared at Mayumi with a distorted and cracked face.

"Mayumi...stop, Kureha...."

"Onee-sama? What do you mean Father? Father, is that really you? Why are you like th- "

"Stop Kureha...! To maintain the family's pride, you must..."

In a state he couldn't even hear his beloved daughter's voice, Iwao tried to get up. With a sublime expression, as if he was seeing death, Mayumi could do nothing but look at him in a daze.

===Part 3===

"Haaa!"

With Enraiha, Ayano split apart the gravitational field drawing near her. And simultaneously she ''burned'' the stretched out distorted space that was enveloping her.

"Good grief.", Kureha murmured as if amazed.

"To burn a gravitational field, no, the space itself, what a lack of common sense!"

"I don't want to hear that from a Chijutsushi that can manipulate gravitation.", Ayano retorted in a cool manner.

"I won't let you go further!"

Their standpoints became their exact opposite. To protect the cave's entrance, the place where Ren and the annoying Kazuma sneaked in, was now Ayano's duty.

Kureha's five companions, the Chijutsushi went after them but Ayano was not really concerned about that. Rather she thought it was better if she can only concentrate on Kureha.

Thanks to that she was now becoming fairly accustomed to burning space.

Without being able to use her vision she used her sensitivity to grasp the signs around her and to hold out until those two came back.

"Just come back already stupid!"

While boos replaced her fighting spirit, Ayano released fireballs. In order to match that Kureha shot gravitational fields.

That was the exact moment Kazuma came back.

Both the gravitation field able to compress a human to the size of a fist and the red-hot blaze that burns humans to nothingness turned into a fatal blow, attacking Kazuma from the front and back.

"Yo- you idiot!", screamed Ayano.

But in front of her-

A wind blade cut down both attacks in one go.

"Yo. Did you wait?", asked Kazuma as if nothing happened.

While holding with both hands Ren and Ayumi.

''.....you monster.'',Ayano said voicelessly.

Even though it was for an instant, feeling worried for him seemed foolish.

"First of all, why don't you let those kids down?"

"Hmm? Ah, that's right."

Kazuma bent over a little and dropped down those two he was holding under his arms.

That small moment his glance strayed, Ayano quickly filled the space between.

"N-- Nii-sama!"

"...Oh?"

Receiving Ren's warning he raised his face. Right before his eyes Ayano was holding Enraiha aloft.

Kazuma moved his body to the left evading the attack and grasped Ayano's wrist, trying to swing downward.

Catching Ayano's gaze, burning in anger from the front, he said.

"That's a pretty dangerous welcome. Instead of saying <<Welcome back!>> is Kannagi-san's home proper etiquette to hit someone in the head?"

"You're always always always always- "

Without responding to Kazuma's persiflage, Ayano squeezed out words from the gap between her teeth.

"You're always pushing out the troublesome stuff to me! Just die already!"

Her jumping right foot described a sharp arc. Kazuma lightly bent backwards and dodged the rotating kick that was about to hit his jaw.

"You should stop doing high kicks in a skirt. You're a woman from the biological point of view, right?"

"How fussy! Just let me hit you once!"

"Even though ''you'' tried to hit me!"

"Ahem- o(-"-;)"

Unnaturally someone cleared his throat restraining these two were caught up in their usual mood. That was Ren.

"I'm sorry to interrupt your enjoyment but please leave it at that for today. You're frightening Ayumi-chan and above all, this is not over!"

At once they turned to the same spot together. To where Tsuwabuki Kureha was starring back with a stunned expression.

"You're lacking too much tension. Do you still believe you can win?"

"Something like that.", Kazuma replied matter of course.

"I released both would-be sacrifices. If you're goal was to execute the ceremony, that already became impossible."

"Is that so? It they were snatched away all I have to do is take them back. That's all."

"Do you plan on defeating all three of us? I think that in this country the only ''human'' capable is someone of Kannagi Juugo's level."

At Kazuma's weird speaking style, Ayano asked from the back.

"Hey, you found something out while pursuing Ren, right? If you did, just say it already!"

"Oh, is that true?"

Ren thought he didn't simply come just to spy on him. Kureha too waited with great interest for Kazuma's reply.

"There's nothing to be found out."

Acting all important, Kazuma folded his arms.

"About Kureha's aim, I don't know it even now. But I know what is the source of supply for her power."

"Source of supply?"

"That's right. From where did she get her hands on it, how did she hand it out to Yuuji. The existence that is the origin of the unusual talent improper for a Chijutsushi- "

At those last words Kureha visibly frowned.

"I believe I told I had this power since I had been born."

"Since you were born?"

At Kureha's words, Kazuma laughed scornfully.

"And you didn't try to explain it? What can alter a Chijutsushi so that she is able to control gravity? You're not a Chijutsushi. On the contrary, I think you're not human!"

"............"

Kureha glared at Kazuma with a grim face. Even an outsider could see she's disturbed. All the composure she's shown so far seemed to have disappeared somewhere.

Even so, when she showed a forced smile she urged Kazuma to keep on going.

"Isn't that interesting? Then by all means tell me what you think. My own secret I don't even know."

"That is- "

At the time when everyone was getting ready to hear Kazuma's words-

Countless stone spears raised from the ground. They interrupted Kazuma's speech but didn't reach them. Their aim was only one and that was Kureha.

"....!!"

Nimbly chasing Kureha who escaped into the air, while writhing like snakes the stone spears reached for the sky. But, the attack that let the chance of certain-kill escape didn't have power to destroy Kureha. The gravity's hand caught the spears and crushed them all at once.

"What are you trying to do?"

Lightly dancing in space, Kureha asked quietly. There's no disturbance about her. Without even asking, she understands everything - that's the kind of face she's making.

"Aren't you attacking the wrong side Mayumi?"

While talking as if gossiping, Kureha smashed one of the closer trees.

From the shade of the ruined trees caught up in the attack, a single girl appeared.

If one were to remove the age difference, its facial features were identical to Ayumi. But that pupil burned with the fire of hatred, something Ayumi is not capable of.

It was the eldest child of the Tsuwabuki family, Ayumi's blueprint, Tsuwabuki Mayumi.

"Ma- Mayumi-sama....?", Ayumi murmured in a daze, without understanding the situation.

Did she just become their ally?

"Look, Ayumi is right there. Catch her quickly and resume the ceremony."

"Shut up, you betrayer!"

As if instigated by her sister's words, Mayumi interrupted her with a refusal. Her eyes beyond anger she said in a crushed to death tone.

"Father is dead."

"Really?"

Silent for just one moment, Kureha bowed her hand dully.

"''Really?'' Is that all? Is that all you have to say for the father you raised your hand against?"

"He challenged me so I defeated him. That's all there is to it.", said Kureha over her shoulder, thoroughly indifferent.

"You're only blaming me but you don't think anything about the father trying to kill his daughter?"

"What shameless things are you saying? If I consider all your schemes, I won't complain about killing you a hundred times over!"

"Is that so? If you were the one scheming, do you think Father would have killed you?"

".....what are you trying to say?"

"Nothing much. It's just tedious talk. It doesn't mean anything. -So, what will you do?", Kureha inquired as if asking what does her sister want for lunch.

Excessively serene, so unconcerned she didn't seem to ask about a life or death choice.

"What, you ask."

"Dying meaninglessly if you attack me or accomplish the family's duty with me, I'm asking you to choose one."

"Wha- "

For a moment Mayumi was at a loss of words but she became so angry her body trembled.

"The family's duty? Are you, are ''you'' really saying those words?"

"I'm not asking for your opinion. I'm asking for your answer. Hurry up and choose."

"Don't........joke with me!"

Together with an angry roar, the stone spears from underground are stretching and attacking Kureha. Without even looking, Kureha crushed them but Mayumi couldn't understand the simple-mindedness of her attack.

"For the honor of the Tsuwabuki family! Kureha! I'm bringing judgement upon you! Prepare yourself!"

"....what an idiotic child."

Letting out a dry murmur, Kureha locked her sister in a gravity barrier.

Although worried about the aftermath, the spherical barrier with a two meter diameter was contracted one centimeter. There's no way to escape.

But just before that, a wind gale destroyed the gravity barrier and blew up the insides.

"Kyaaa!?"

Mayumi mercilessly got blown by the wind and landed face first on the ground.

"Wh- what....?"

Stepping up in front of the surprised Mayumi, he looked down on her as if he was coercing her.

"You can kill yourself if you want to, but before that I need some answers. What is Kureha's purpose?"

"Why would I tell- "

Kazuma stepped on the ground with all his strength right next to Mayumi's head. His shoe sole pulverized the hard rock-bed, his shoe print engraved one centimeter deep.

He said unconcerned to Mayumi's stiff face.

"Is protecting that information valuable enough for me to step on your head and break your skull?"

Now that he said it, there was no merit to hold on the information. Her rejection was nothing more but her disposition.

"Kureha's purpose is- ", she said in a sulky tone, already without calling her sister.

"To make all of the Demon Beast's power her own."

" -!!"

Ayano, Ren, Ayumi all opened their eyes in shock. But Kazuma, at least on the surface, didn't show a particle of disturbance.

"......the two-layer seal, the power divided three-way - I see, so that's how it is?"

He murmured something, nodded his head in understanding but Mayumi, the one who told him, was the one looking up at Kazuma astonished.

"Did- did you figured it out just by hearing that?"

"Not really, I don't think I understood everything. I have no interest in something like the circumstance of your family. But I understood pretty much all I wanted to."

"I don't understand.", Ayano interrupted the conversation drawing close to Kazuma.

"What is it? Explain yourself."

"Just this and that- "

Shrugging his shoulders Kazuma started a broad explanation.

"Kureha's aim is to obtain the huge power of the Demon Beast sealed by the Tsuwabuki Family. What's the problem?"

"That's not something possible to achieve, right?", Ayano said frankly.

"The Demon Beast is the embodying of Mt. Fuji's life energy right? That's not something compatible with a human container. Instead of taking the power isn't it true that the power would take her?"

"Well, while I certainly do believe that it's reckless, it's not something really unusual, right? People that tried to get their hands on godly powers, demon beasts et cetera you can find a dime at a dozen."

Even if it seems Ayano doesn't understand, Kazuma continues only in his mind. Just like Kureha said, for a magician it was only natural to wish for an even bigger power. The only ones who didn't think like that were those like the Kannagis and that was because they were already possessing a mighty power.

The quest for an even greater power. For a deeper knowledge. That desire has no bounds, it doesn't need reason or purpose.

To completely fall to the desire to enhance oneself, that is the honest disposition of a magician.

"But, how will she accomplish that?"

"What will you do if you know?", Kazuma repelled Ayano's question point-blank.

"Even without knowing the theory behind it, if we finish off this woman so does the story, right?"

"While that may be true..."

"I too want to know.", interposed Kureha as is backing up the hesitating Ayano.

"How much do you understand, I'm really interested in that. Besides, I've yet to listen to my secret."

".....Well, that's fine."

Finally, Kazuma agreed. Except for time buying there's no other loss.

"I think you noticed already but the power Kureha and Yuuji obtained belongs to the sealed Monster Beast."

"Yes."

Ayano nodded. As one would expect, her senses aren't so dull no to notice such a thing.

"What I mean, at this point the Demon Beasts power is already divided into three parts. The Demon Beast's <<Ki>> itself was absorbed so that means the demon's himself was divided into three parts. And then, when that is integrated again, the biggest part will take the initiative."

"But, if it's like that....", Ayano said in a doubtful voice.

She understood the theory but even so it's impossible for Kureha to win.

"Of course, at the present time its real form it's extremely big. Even Kureha and Yuuji put together probably doesn't even reach 1% of the main body. But that's where the sealing ceremony comes in."

All present turned their eyes on Ayumi. And then, on Mayumi.

"You see, the seal basically holds down and compresses not only Mt. Fuji just before the explosion but also the life force of the Demon Beast. Doubling such a powerful seal that can go on for thirty years, Kureha's power will exceed the beast's I think. So, was I right?"

"Well done!"

Kureha responded to the half-hearted question with an apathetic applause.

"You receive an A+. Gee, even though this was a plan cautiously advancing for the last five years, I wonder why there's nothing but unexpected intrusions just before it's completed?"

"Because it's only human.", said Kazuma chilly over his shoulder.

From the start, he was the kind of man that without a few exceptions is heartless towards all humanity.

He didn't happen to have any kindness for his enemy.

"Well..."

Sorting out the newly received information, Ayano looks at Ayumi and Mayumi. It seems none want to cooperate with Kureha.

"In short, that woman's plan failed right? At this point she doesn't have the power to defeat all three of us."

"Yes."

"I wonder about that."

At the same time, Kazuma and Kureha said the exact opposite words. All looks converged on the Kureha that even now still didn't loose her composure.

"Surely I don't have enough confidence to defeat all three of you and to take back the sacrifices. But, I'm pretty confident I can escape."

"What will running achieve?"

"I'll prepare a new sacrifice", Kureha declared naturally.

"You half asleep? Where will you find such a- "

Pausing his words in the middle, Kazuma turned a severe look to Mayumi.

"Oi, girl."

"Wh- what...?"

Mayumi tried to make herself as small as possible as if she lost in the mental battle.

"What happened to the institute that made your clone?"

"....I don't know. Perhaps, Father was controlling- "

Understanding its significance, Mayumi opened her eyes wide in terror and looked up at Kureha high in the sky.

Kureha's lips lifted.

"I'm the one managing it now. Of course, I also store your cells."

"Yoooooooouuuuuuuuuuu!!!", Mayumi screamed in fury.

She couldn't allow it. For the sake of despicable lust for Kureha to play with her cells and mass-produce imitations that looked exactly like her - the disgrace of having her very existence insulted burned through her consciousness.

"I won't allow it! I won't allow it! I won't allow it! Even if it's only you I will- "

Really angry, Mayumi released her power. From the underground stone spears grew and the blowing up pebbles coiled incessantly raining stones from the heaven.

But-

"It's useless. "

Even straining all her power, she couldn't even scratch Kureha.

Grinding her teeth in pain, Mayumi looked up at Kureha and from her eyes burning with hatred, tears fell down.

"I'll kill you...I'll definitely kill you..."

"No. You'll die here."

For the sister caught in a violent emotion, with no sign of being moved Kureha declared so, coldly.

"..........."

Kazuma viewed the extreme quarrel between sisters unfolding in front of him with sober eyes. As if remembering, he searched his pocket and took out tobacco.

"Hmm?"

His lighter doesn't work. Throwing away the 100 yen lighter out of gas, he said to Ren.

"Fire."

"Ye- yes!"

Ren looked at the cigarette's pointed end. Without really doing anything, just by that the cigarette tip was ignited. Kazuma inhaled the fumes silently.

"Why are you acting like you have all the time in the world, you!?"

There, Ayano swung downward Enraiha. Easily evading it, Kazuma laughed with a carefree face.

"Calm down."

"Calm down!?", Ayano replied instantly.

"We need to hurry! To be in a rush - no matter how you look at it, that woman is already broken! If we don't deal with it now- "

"Hmm- but..."

With an attitude that had no vitality, Kazuma observed Kureha.

"To make a clone takes time right? Won't the seal get torn in the meantime?"

"That's fine.", Kureha guaranteed it.

"If I disperse mine and Yuuji's power, the mountain's <<Ki>> will stabilize. If I were to do that, even without the ceremony the current seal will last for at least ten years."

"......Ah, is that so?"

Observing Kazuma's appearance opening his eyes wide seeming really surprised, Ayano felt a great sense of foreboding. This is not just an off prediction.

Something else, a much more absurd situation is happening.

"Kazuma....you, what did you do?"

"........"

Ayano drew near and even including an intent to kill she gripped Kazuma's collar, trying to look away.

"Don't try to deceive me with that distant expression! Spill it out! What did you do?"

"Well....it was troublesome when we were trying to get out from the underground so I just blew up the ceiling."

"Ah, something like that happened. For an instant I thought that Mt. Fuji erupted. And then?"

"Then this worlds law of action and reaction happened. When I turned my power upwards, the same amount of power was turned downwards."

"...!"

At those words Ayumi, Mayumi and Kureha held their breath. They stared at Kazuma in a pale, ashen face.

"What happened?", Ren asked Ayumi.

But instead of Ayumi that lost her voice due to terror, Mayumi answered in a cracked voice.

"....That ceremonial place is located on top of the dragon pulse emitted from Mt. Fuji. That's why we held the ceremony there, because from there we can directly reach Mt. Fuji's power."

"Wh-what! That is..."

Anticipating the conclusion, Ren changed his expression. Without concerning herself with him, Mayumi continued - as he expected.

"Just try to hit that hundred meter bedrock found there with your indecent power! The weakened seal will flip open and the demon beast will jump to his feet you know! Like, right now!"

"............."

All the people present, except for Kureha looked at Kazuma with the same intent. But, Kazuma shrugged his shoulders as if he didn't feel all the pressure gathered around him and showed a somewhat bitter smile.

"No, if you were to stop the ceremony I think the seal would be broken immediately. That's why I have a better timing. Kureha, you're the one to blame. You should have said such a thing sooner!"

All of a sudden his tone became overly familiar. But of course, just by that it's impossible to deceive them.

"You idio- "

''"What have you done!?"''

With enough volume to completely overtake Ayano's insult, Kureha screamed. She had the expression of an ogre.

Although her features were voluptuous, her face with eyes that became bloodshot and teeth bared became considerably frightening.

"Isn't she kind of angry?"

"......isn't it obvious?"

Intimidated by the intensity of Kureha's anger, Ayano replied in a frail manner. She felt something similar to pity for Kureha, whose ambition was thwarted by this kind of man.

"But still, her ''real desire'' will come true so I think she could be happy."

"Eh?", asked Ayano in return unintentionally.

High in the sky, crushing her anger, Kureha looked down on Kazuma really pissed.

"You only talk in such a round-about way - If you have something to say, say it clearly!"

"That's right! That's right!", interrupted Ayano.

Glaring at Ayano with a look of light reprimand, Kazuma continued the conversation annoyed.

"First, you said you invested five years in this plan but that's a mistake."

"What- "

"Hear me out first. For a human being the Demon Beast's power is a foreign substance. If you were to take in something like that, a sense of discomfort will appear. Actually Yuuji couldn't manifest the power he received but like an appendix in an irregular form. But you have no sense of discomfort. You are perfectly integrated."

No matter how much you investigate it, the result is the same. For a human being to grow accustomed to a demon beast's <<ki>> - no, at that time only the beast's <<ki>> can be felt.

"Just by five years - no, what's important here is the period of twenty something years you lived as a human. A human's way of being established in all those years and months can't all disappear in just five years."

".........."

Kureha said nothing. No, maybe she could't. That face, biting on her lips, looked as if she felt resentment towards her own self that couldn't object.

"Thinking about it there's just one answer. From the time you were born but not later than two or three years old you carried the demon beast's power in your body. Maybe you only looked at the Demon Beast for the last five years but long before that, for the sake of escaping the seal the beast had you under his control."

"Ho- how stupid! That's wrong! I- "

"I have even more proof."

Kazuma callously pressed even more the confused Kureha.

"Your power. If you lack the divine protection of the Spirits, what kind of power are you borrowing? Isn't it natural not to hear the Spirit's voices? Instead of senseless spirits an existence with a far stronger will and power, endlessly shouting inside your head ''Release me!'' ?"

"Wro- Wrong!", Kureha raised scream full of bitterness and covered her ears.

"I decided on it by my own will! I'm not being manipulated! That's impossible!"

"If that's the case I can check right?"

Informed by Kazuma's cold words, Kureha opened her eyes wide.

"....what did you say?"

"Let's make sure. Let's ask the demon itself. All it's clear except this. Don't be reserved, I'll take care of it myself - so you can die relived!"

A wind blade vertically bisected Kureha's body, standing there in a daze.

Unable to defend, unable to resist, Kureha could't do anything. No, without even trying, she just ''looked''.

A blade that invited death. The body to be killed. And - the killed body.

"..........Ah?"

Split in two, Kureha was still alive. Or at the very least, she didn't die.

The body cleaved in two equal parts, with a gap of a few centimeters in between, that for some reason didn't fall but kept its balance and stood erect. Not even a drop of blood was flowing.

"Ah......aha........ahahahahahaha....."

Looking with her right eye at the left half of the body, with her left eye at the right half of the body Kureha revealed an empty laughter. There was no place for objection. Right now - no, from some long gone day she stopped being human.

Intending to manipulate everything, she was always manipulated. Only having the illusion of free will, everything stood on top of the demon beast's palm.

"This is...is this the punishment for killing Father.......? Are you saying this is the appropriate punishment for my sin?", Kureha murmured smiling in a broken way.

"But there was no helping it, was there. My Father didn't love me, you know? He didn't even scold me. At that time, my father was laughing. Without even listening to the reason why I broke the taboo, he was so happy he had the reason to get rid of the burden I was for him ''he was laughing''!!"

"Onee-sama...."

"Aren't you fine? Loved by all, protected by all. Then, if no one loved me, if no one protected me, I had no choice but to become stronger. To become stronger than anyone else! Is that what you call a sin? Are you, the one that stole ''everything'' from me trying to blame me!?"

Kureha screaming in bitterness - without being able to look at her, Mayumi cast her eyes down.

That Kureha was Father's enemy doesn't change. But, after knowing everything Mayumi was not heartless enough to blame her.

On the other hand, when listening to Kureha violent confession, Ayano felt a different unpleasantness from Mayumi's.

''This feels like a familiar story....''

She stealthy peeked at Kazuma's appearance. Hiding his face, Kazuma smoked in silence. Perceiving irritation from that silhouette seemed like some sort of optical illusion.

Suddenly, Kazuma threw away his tobacco. And then.

"Shut the fuck up. Just fucking die already!"

Together with merciless words, he hit her with wind blades. This time, from her back, he cut her up horizontally.

"Wh- wait- "

Ignoring the others wincing at his excessive cruelty, he grinds the fallen tobacco.

"Nobody loved you, huh? Isn't that natural? Did you think wishes come true just by waiting for them to!? If you have something you want then work for it!"

High in the sky, there was Kureha's body divided cross-wise. As expected, holding herself together was difficult - she was shaking unsteady.

"Don't make it someone else's fault. It was all your decision. Closing yourself in because you were too afraid to deal with other people, choosing isolation once and again, wasn't it all your choice?", Kazuma shouted unable to control his words.

Does he himself realize? That Kureha is nothing else but his own twisted mirror?

Ignored by Genma, shunned by all his clan - Kannagi Kazuma and Kureha, they are terribly alike.

If he didn't became disinherited by Genma, maybe he wouldn't have found the determination to leave the home. And then - maybe he would have become something like this.

Because he could clearly imagine himself that way he felt discomfort when looking at this woman. He felt bitterness. He couldn't put up with it. He could't stand up hearing such pitiable complaints.

"If you decided to live by yourself then quietly die by yourself! After all this time don't start whining like a spoiled child!"

Countless wind blades chopped Kureha's body to shreds. As expected, unable to maintain a human shape, Tsuwabuki Kureha died.

For Kureha, annihilated without any closing words, Kazuma saw her off without offering tribute for the departed. But immediately following that, he faintly frowned.

"Shit - did it escape?"

Ayano opened her eyes wide.

"Eh? Is that thing still alive?"

"No, as expected Kureha died but I didn't get rid of that Demon Beast's <<Ki>> inside her. I wanted to decrease it even by a few percents! Well it can't be helped - "

Feeling the same thing as the Demon Beast's <<Ki>> passing through the dragon pulse and returning to Mt. Fuji - it was seized by Kazuma's sharp perception.

That doesn't only means the enemy became stronger. Although small, the <<Ki>> activated - without mistake, that was the stimulation that became the last push that made the Demon Beast open his eyes.

The time for the decisive battle was drawing closer.

"But thinking on it, she was a really pitiable person. Without being loved by anyone and trying to become stronger for this reason, just to be manipulated.", Ren murmured earnestly.

Maybe because he already saved Ayumi he now had the composure to commiserate his enemy.

Looking at that Ren with an expressionless gaze, Kazuma said.

"You, did you believe that nonsense story?"

".................................yes?"

"Can I take that as an affirmation?"

After an even longer,heavier silence Ren asked blankly.

"J- just wait a second! No way, was it all just random bullshit!?"

"No, that wasn't random bullshit but I have no proof. Just pilling up one hypothesis after another, a reasoning that can't be verified by proof is the same as trash. If you gulp it down so easily you'll be seen as an idiot."

"Then, why did you say all those things?"

To Ren's timid questioning Kazuma answered exasperated holding his head.

"That woman was strong enough for it to become a hard fight if I were to fight her directly. Not to become tired before the main performance, I tried my best to bluff but I didn't believe it would be that effective. Your Onii-chan was so surprised!"

".............."

He brought the conversation to a finish very sweetly but that didn't soften the shock even a little bit.

Not a cruel voice can be heard. Even Mayumi who hated Kureha the most couldn't suppress her pity.

"......how cowardly.....", murmured Ayano.

They were just two words but others that would express Kazuma's behavior more accurately don't exist in this world.

All the party, except Kazuma, nodded showing their deep agreement.

"''All for the winner'' - isn't that a fine expression?"

Of course, Kazuma didn't pay attention to their reaction.

=== Part 4 ===

"Well then isn't it about time?"

At Kazuma's words, standing alone, everyone's body shivered.

Even without having to say it they all noticed. That the earth was vibrating slightly but continuously.

The activity of the ground spirits already reached a state of wild excitement.

A great existence was in the process of waking up. The earth was being scared of that omen.

"It- it's coming!"

Suddenly Ayumi shouted. Immediately-

The sky was dyed red.

"!!"

The light source that removed the darkness was a pillar of flame gushing out from Mt. Fuji's crater. The red hot magma running up as if aiming at the heavens was glittering in a vivid red.

"....This means the eruption comes first, huh? This is quite a surprise."

"Why are you so calm about the situation?"

Expressionless, Ren drew closer to Kazuma taking his time to admire at leisure the magnificence of the scenery.

"There wasn't supposed to be any damage."

"Well, calm down. It's no use arguing about spilled milk. Besides, just one eruption shot won't do too much damage. If it's that degree it will basically cool down by the time it reaches the foot of the mountain - Ooh?"

Kazuma, trying to comfort Ren and soothe him, forgot his words at the scene in front of his eyes. When Ren turned his head in confusion he had the same reaction.

The lava, unable to reach the heavens fell down and returned to the crater describing a clearly unnatural arc.

As if the mountain didn't want to let loose even a drop of its own heat. Taking back all it spit out with the same opening Mt. Fuji became apparently dull.

But -

"It's - not over."

Without a need for warning they all understood. That this is the beginning.

It's coming out. Something, extremely unbelievable.

"So, what will come out?"

With an expression used when tearing open a present's wrapping paper but with a facial expression that goes beyond dangerous, Kazuma said so.

The seal already lost its effect. Following the caldera, from the depths of earth an enormous power was crawling out. The footsteps that made the earth tremor, they had the feeling they could hear them.

"Eh?"

Before noticing it, that ''thing'' showed on the summit of the mountain. Omitting all the process.

"Just now, how did it appear?"

"As if I know. Maybe it teleported."

Kazuma casually answered Ayano's question. It seems that even by using his power of perception this man couldn't capture its movement process. The question on how it really crossed over the space was recurrent.

"Please stop it.......making that stupid appearance....."

" - It doesn't particularly feel slow-witted."

"But isn't that a turtle!?"

"Well......it's a turtle."

It seems they both agree on this. Certainly, of all the living things it resembles a turtle the most.

Two short feet, protruding from a shell, a head and a tail. But that thing lacked all that made a turtle lovely.

Almost like it was made of rock, the acute-angled body was composed of only planes and straight lines. From its mouth many atrocious fangs stood up in line. And then, among that boorish body that seemed made of inorganic substance, almost like a different creature only the tail, like a living thing, took the shape on a large snake.

And then, more dreadful than anything else, that appearance was ''understanding''.

The Demon Beast was at the top of the mountain, they were at the base of it. The distance between them was approximately ten kilometers. But - even so ''it was looking''.

The fangs that were fully visible, sheet after sheet of snake scales, they could perceive it all as if it were in front of their eyes.

It wasn't just big. The excessively overwhelming power, its own being was etched in detail in their consciousness not permitting a vague recognition.

"Is this.........Genbu (trad: The Black Tortoise)? But, that was supposed to be the Sacred Beast of water..."

"Well, it's impossible to be that thing right? Folklore about a mountain sustaining turtle exists in China but this has no association with it.", answered Kazuma without positive proof.

And then, Ayumi explained.

"That thing shape was decided by us."

"By the Tsuwabuki Family?"

"No, by humans."

Contemplating on it for a while, Kazuma reached an answer.

"Its shape was given by the power of the collective unconscious?"

"It's not something that grand. If we were to consult the records from those days, at first it had an indefinite shape but took one while fighting and finally became that. It's called Zenon."

" - Who the heck named it like that three hundred years ago?"

Achilles and the tortoise?[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zeno%27s_paradoxes#Achilles_and_the_tortoise]

Unintentionally Kazuma laughed at an inappropriate time.

The practitioners that fought ''Zenon'' and the people that saw it happen imagined it various ways.

''What is this thing'' or something. They saw the sturdy turtle they couldn't suppress no matter how much they attacked and maybe they remembered the same Chinese legend like Kazuma did.

Or maybe, unable to catch up with it no matter how long they chased, they found out the transcendent nature resembling a philosophical contradiction.

That kind of deed gave the course of action - the shape for that confusing power.

The fact that they fought with the intent to throw it down but on the contrary they couldn't kill the enemy can only be called ironic.

"That's why, the Tsuwabuki concealed Zenon's existence even after the sealing. For the sake of not giving it an even clearer form. If at a different time the seal is solved, they prayed it would revert to the original disorderly power."

"It seems that's a wasted effort."

"That's true. Maybe it already stabilized like this."

The two exchanged a dry smile.

Ren viewed the situation somewhat displeased but he couldn't really complain.

"Hey - ", Ayano pulled the hem of Kazuma's jacket.

"Isn't it kind of looking at us?"

"Aah. As if it were a loaded gun.", Kazuma nodded.

The Demon Beast - Zenon, was starring here with a look full of hatred. That pressure could be felt on the skin.

Thinking what happened since the beginning, the manifestation of Zenon's crude <<Ki>> - he's a cluster of destructive impulses. It's impossible to turn its hatred on a particular somebody.

"And yet, why?"

"It's just a conjecture but will you listen?"

"Say it."

"It's Kureha.", Kazuma frankly answered.

"The plan failed but a part of the demon beast was mingled with her. Although impossible to capture, the emotion that occupied most of her consciousness - like her hate towards us is influencing it, maybe."

"Don't use ''us''. The only one Kureha hated was you. You're the one who fucked her up, made her despair and finally massacred her!"

"The same thing.", Kazuma eluded the riposte calmly, shrugging his shoulders.

"It seems we can omit the time needed to climb up to the top! It's coming!"

Simultaneously with his words, Zenon vanished. And one instant later, he reappeared.

Right in front of Ayano.

" - !!"

The head that opened its mouth in a big way, descended from right overhead. Time to react, there was none.

" - RAAAAAAAAH!!"

But Kazuma, jumping out in front of Ayano with a powerful gale, knocked the rock head with a fist clad in wind.

The demon beast's cranium was instantly pulverized and that huge build flew in midair.

"What the heck was that? Can it seriously teleport!?"

"No, that's wrong. That was reconstruction."

"What's that?"

"It temporarily reduced its body to <<Ki>> went through the dragon pulse and then reconstructed. It really helps that there is a time lag before reorganizing its body."

Saying that, Kazuma focused on Zenon. The head that was supposed to be pulverized was regenerated for the most part.

"Wow it's really not working - Ayumi!"

"Y- yes!"

"Run away. As far as your body can hold."

She drew out her chin. Maybe she became self-conscious of her own uselessness. Ayumi nodded deeply and started running without saying anything.

Around the time that silhouette disappeared Zenon finished regenerating and got up. Looking at him from the front he is really huge. Including his tail, his length measures more than a hundred meters. A majestic appearance certainly appropriate for the mountain's avatar.

"Hmm!"

Even so, without hesitating, Kazuma showed a fearless smile and looked up at that large build.

"Come, let's go! Hey vanguard, just knock him off already like we previously discussed. Isn't that your only redeeming feature?"

"Shut up baka!"

With a retort that was already close to a conditional reflex, Ayano began to run straight ahead.

Zenon overlooked the petty living thing that didn't know its place from a higher position looking bored.

"KYAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHH!!"

"Don't shout stupid turtle!!"

While backing up the advancing Ayano, the rear guard made up of two people starting attacking. Wind and flame - that power that would obliterate a dozen demon beasts in one go, how effective will it be against this opponent -

Setting up Enraiha while running wind and flame passed her from both sides.

Using long distance attacks as a faint and using Enraiha for the finishing blow - that was their most basic tactic.

"GYAAAAAAAAAAAHH!!"

Once again the Demon Beast howled. As if invited by that scream, rock snakes appeared from the underground - an infinite number of them.

Each was a serpent with two meters in diameter and they all blocked the way to Zenon. And then, using their bodies to stop the wind and flame, they gulped it down and were crushed.

''I can still go!!''

Ayano didn't stop from running. Forcibly breaking through the diminished snake barrier, she was aiming at Zenon's body.

A turbulent presence was generated high in the sky. The presence she grew accustomed to when fighting Kureha. She instantly understood.

A gravitation field.

And in addition to that, a different order of magnitude than Kureha's. An extravagant gravitation field was formed that right now was changing to something like a black hole. It's not like she can't oppose it but -

"Kazuma!", she shouted without turning her face around.

Believing she could be understood only by that, Ayano ignored the gravitational field and went even further.

Zenon's foot that was soaring right in front of her, she cut it in one stroke. Simultaneously a wind blade split open the gravitational field.

That was an extremely exquisite combination - if it was successful, but -

"......wa!?"

Reverberating with a hard sound Enraiha bounced back without being able to scratch the surface. The wind blade that tried to cut the gravitational field was crushed and vanished instead.

"Che!"

"Nee-sama!"

Ren hit with all his power the gravitational field that tried to crush Ayano. And a new wind blade swung downward and this time managed to slice and tear up the warped space.

"Fall back!"

Obeying Kazuma's direction, Ayano speedily retreated. There was no pursuit.

"Wait a second, that's absurdly hard! How did you manage to smash its head?"

"No, it would turn bad if I would attempt it a second time."

Sidestepping Ayano that drew closer agitated, Kazuma casually shook his head.

"Eh? That means - "

"Yes, it hardened since then."

Ayano looked up at Kazuma with a pale complexion.

"Does that mean it's evolving?"

"Instead of evolving maybe adapting oneself would be more appropriate - well, it's the same no matter what we call it....this is bad."

Receiving damage and then enhancing itself so that it can withstand that degree of damage. Furthermore its energy reaches almost infinite levels so it can more or less immediately recover from that damage.

"How- how are we supposed to fight that kind of opponent?"

At Ayano's question Kazuma showed his open hands as if saying ''give up hope''.

"What to do?"

"''What to do?'' you say - "

Before the unintentionally speechless found a retort, the situation changed.

A group of remaining rock snakes opened their mouths simultaneously. From inside, darkness was peeking out.

" - Run!"

Coincident with the shout, Kazuma grabbed Ren and jumped with all his strength. Ayano too, left that place with all her energy.

Immediately following that, something invisible ran through the place the trio stood. That something drilled the thick sea of trees opening a straight road in it.

The Tsuwabuki mansion placed up ahead in a straight line was annihilated without trace. Without using an explosion or blaze - literally annihilated.

Descending on the ground surface with a new outlook on life, Kazuma murmured.

"Is this......what you call a gravity rifle........? This is turning more and more into a SF..."

"Now it's not the time for side comments! Just hurry up and get serious already!!"

Kazuma made a contract with the Spirit Lord and is holding a power that exceeds the human container.

Ayano is telling him to let it out but -

"I don't really care but if I were to do that but after five minutes I'm out. Do you take responsibility for what happens after?"

It's not like Kazuma is suppressing his power on a whim or to show off. Using a power that rises above humanity in a human body, first of all that sort of thing is impossible.

If he were to overcome that impossibility a back lash will always appear.

He didn't test the limit but it's around five minutes. Anything more than that will fry his brain. Since they have yet to find a breach it would be reckless to use their only trump card.

"Ugh - you're useless!"

"Say that after you did something!"

Ren looked at these two, exchanging a bloodthirsty conversation, with anxiety. Becoming aware of that gaze, Kazuma softened his facial expression.

"It's fine. I fought a much stronger opponent than myself on countless occasions."

''Even I said that - ''

Silently, Kazuma continued.

''It's the first time I oppose such overwhelming odds. Can we do this?''

But before Kazuma had time to think of a counter plan, the situation deteriorated even more.

Raising a howl Zenon summoned a large quantity of new rock snakes from underground.

The rock snakes whose numbers suddenly doubled simultaneously oppened their mouths.

"Wait a seeeeecond!!"

On the battlefield where the gravity guns were flying wildly about the trio could do nothing but run.

And then -

Disobeying Kazuma's command Ayumi was watching over the battlefield from a short distance.

Even for her untrained eyes it was clear that Ren's group was cornered.

''Wha- what to do.....''

"How unsightly."

"!?"

From the trembling Ayumi's back a voice full of scorn was suddenly raised. When turning around, in Ayumi's eyes war reflected the same face.

"Ma- Mayumi-sama - "

Without answering, Mayumi eyes were full of glee watching Kazuma and the rest being driven to the wall.

"After all that talking it eventually became such a sad sight, huh? It's impossible for humans to destroy that thing. Are they stupid?"

Openly expressing her scorn she overlooked her imitation, whose eyes were like those of a frightened puppy.

"Well then, let's go."

"Eh? Wh- where?"

"Withdrawing for the moment, reorganizing our force and then resuming the ceremony. Because both these guys and Kureha were acting stupid the command line was torn.........so for now, we're leaving this place."

Mayumi took Ayumi's hand and tried to pull her but Ayumi resisted firmly planting her feet on the ground.

"Such a thing! Please wait! We can't abandon Ren - "

"I don't care about those guys! There're fighting Zenon by their own will so they can die for all I care!"

''by their own will''

Mayumi's words had the opposite effect - that exact phrase made Ayumi decide. Including force, she shook off Mayumi's hand.

"It's not yet decided that they are going to loose!"

"They can't possibly win!"

"They'll win! I - I will- "

Mayumi opened her eyes wide in shock watching the pathetic determination hardening on that face. What was Ayumi trying to do - she understood it.

"Y- you - "

"Mayumi-sama."

With a pale face but watching Mayumi steady the girl implored in a trembling voice.

"Lend me your strength! Not enough to perfectly seal it but if we could weaken it, Ren will definitely defeat Zenon."

"Don't- Don't mess around! Why would I have to - "

"Think about it calmly!"

Ayumi drew near, completely overturning the power relationship.

"If you were to go now and gather the remaining Chijutsushi do you think that this newly set free Zenon will let you do it? If you want to do it, now is the time! If there's the two of us surely - "

"No! I don't want to die!"

As if trying to deny Ayumi's words, Mayumi covered her ears. In those eyes, looking down on her own replica pure terror was floating.

"You don't have to do it until that point! Only to reduce Zenon's power - "

"No! Definitely no!", screamed Mayumi blocking her ears. Closing her eyes firmly as if to shut away reality, she shook her head and crouched down like a helpless child.
[[Image:Kaze no Stigma vol 03 333.jpg|thumb]]

Overlooking Mayumi refusing to listen to anything, Ayumi let out a sigh.

"I understand. Well then."

She lowered her head, accepting what she shouldn't have seen and started walking towards the battlefield.

Understanding that Ayumi intends on sealing Zenon by herself, Mayumi unintentionally asked.

"You...Do you feel like killing yourself?"

Ayumi quietly looked over her shoulder. Overawed by her determined gaze, Mayumi slightly looked away.

"Wrong.", Ayumi declared with no hesitation.

"I want to live. I want to live together with Ren!"

Bowing her head once again in front of the speechless Mayumi, Ayumi started running.

".............I'm beaten..........there's no end to this........"

With a voice blurred with weariness, Kazuma coughed. Ayano and Ren were panting, lightly injured on different parts of their bodies.

They were not done yet. Chopping down rock snakes, they even managed to injure Zenon. But that was immediately healed.

It was as if swinging their fists at the ground. Because the opponent was too large, there wasn't a meaning in attacking it. Even with a meaning there was no result from attacking it.

They didn't even had a match. The current status doesn't allow for a competition. One-sidedly scraping off their physical strength, it's only waiting for a chance to annihilate them - they were in the midst of such a hopeless situation. When Ayumi started participating in the war.

"Ayumi-chan?"

Suddenly recognizing Ayumi's appearance rushing in at the last minute, Ren changed his expression.

"Don't- don't to that! Run away quickly - "

Without answering, positioning herself at the same distance from Ren and Zenon, at the top of an equilateral triangle, she adjusted her breathing.

And then, slowly kneeling she joined hands taking a posture of prayer.

"Ayumi-chan...?"

After a few seconds, from Ayumi's body an enormous power was released. On earth light ripples ware running, and little by little they converged to where Zenon was.

What was she doing, Ren immediately understood.

"Ayumi-chan! No!"

Ren began to run trying to stop her. But from his back Kazuma asked a question on a low tone.

"Where are you going, brat?"

"What are you asking, Ayumi-chan is - "

Not concerned about Ren's agitation, indifferently, Kazuma asked again.

"What did you say to Ayumi?"

"Eh? That...that is..."

''What do you want to do?''

" - But!"

"Ayumi answered your question. What will you do?"

"..........."

Biting his lip, Ren turned his back to Ayumi. He looked up at Zenon. Surely, its power was weakened.

If it's like that - they can win.

"I'll butcher it. Nii-sama get serious!"

"Ok."

Nodding deeply, Kazuma closed his eyes. Several seconds after - the pair of eyes that showed a second time were dyed in a transparent blue. That was the carved seal engraved by the spirit Lord of the Wind. The wind spirits playing in the sky were the evidence that he was allowed to control everything.

Holding a power that tremendously magnified in his hands, the supreme ruler of the sky fearlessly laughed.

"So, let's go - the spirit of reincarnation from just one mountain, smash it to pieces until there's nothing left!"

=== Part 5 ===

Ayumi felt the fast approaching <<Death>> closing in with each second. As if she were a drained water tank, the power was flowing out of her at an alarming rate.

Even though she understood that she will die the moment this power will have run out, she didn't try to ''save'' it.

It wasn't out of despair. She didn't plan on risking her life. For the sake of living with Ren, it was necessarily to do so, so she did it.

''Just a bit more, just a bit more.''

But that wasn't an infinite power. Enduring it with great effort, compensating for it with fighting spirit, she did it to the limit. Her breathing was severed, she couldn't help but to inhale.

''Just.... a bit....more......''

As if she was turned off, she suddenly lost all her senses. The consciousness that sunk into the darkness, no matter how much she called out to it, her body already doesn't have enough force to respond to it. She slowly collapsed forward -

"What are you doing?"

On the verge of collapsing front-faced on the ground a stretched out hand from the back sized the nape of her neck and pulled back Ayumi's body. Her awaken consciousness recognized the silhouette of her savior.

"Mayumi.......sama......?"

"You talk big but is this it? If you, the one that should be protected dies first what will happen?"

Folding her arms arrogantly, Mayumi sneered at the foolish doll.

"Though you're my imperfect clone I don't want you to loose from such a thing."

"..........."

In blank amazement Ayumi looked up at Mayumi. In other words, this is -

" - Hmm."

Making an entirely arrogant facial expression Mayumi raised Ayumi's chin.

"I don't want to be told that by Mayumi-sama who deserted under the enemy's fire."

Making such a provocative declaration with all her strength, a huge vein popped on Mayumi's temple.

"....you can talk back now, huh?"

"Of course. That's because I'm nothing but Mayumi-sama's duplicate. Besides, no matter who it is, the performance of the one that is born after is obviously excellent."

"......very good......"

While her temples were violently convulsing, Mayumi murmured in a low voice.

"Should I teach you what the original's power is like? Prostrate yourself in front of the overwhelming power difference Ayumi!"

Together with a sonorous shout, Mayumi released her power. The ripple that paused when Ayumi used all her strength started binding the demon beast for a second time.

''Mayumi-sama, thank you very much.''

Expressing words of gratitude inside her heart, she bowed deeply at Mayumi's back. And once again she adjusted her breathing and gave her own power to Mayumi. The doubled effort tied Zenon much more powerfully.

''With this we can win - No, we <<will>> win. And then, together - ''

While mustering all her strength, Ayumi addressed Ren.

'' - we will become happy, right?''

"Woooooooohhh!!"

The wind blade released by Kazuma cut all four of Zenon's legs. Not letting the moment it was disconected from the earth escape, he pushed up the limbless body into the sky.

As long as Zenon comes in contact with the ground it has an infinite amount of power. So, in order to defeat it, all its links with the earth must be severed, attack it with the greatest amount of power while in that state, and before it can regenerate destroy it so that not even a fragment of its existence is left behind.

That chance, doesn't appear very often. There was only this moment.

"We finish it off right now!", Kazuma shouted, while forcibly throwing away Ren body, found near-by.

Surprised for just one moment he quickly understood Kazuma's plan and he converged all his power at one point.

"Match it from below!"

"Ok!"

In accordance with Kazuma's instruction, Ayano slipped right under Zenon. While in the Hassō-no-kamae stance, she put all her remaining power on the single stroke and swung it with all her strength.

The plasma whose caloric value rivaled that of the sun sank inside Zenon's shell. And then, from overhead, the descending Ren released all his power.

"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHH!!!"

The calorific value Ren emitted at that time may have exceeded Ayano's holding Enraiha. The gushing out golden plasma simply went through the impenetrable shell, broke it and burned it to nothing.

Broken pieces of Zenon were scattering and exploding in all directions - but Kazuma didn't permit the existence of such delicate splinters.

"Vanish!!"

A hard wind exceeding the speed of sound - no, the intent to kill carried by the wind annihilated the countless fragments until none remained.

Literally annihilated. Without even leaving dust, all traces of Zenon's existence disappeared.

"Aahh - shit!", spit out Kazuma, tired.

That was the limit. His brain was about to start burning off. With the last of his power making Ren, about to crash, land softly, right away the seal placed on his eyes was resumed. He couldn't move, not even a step. If he were to release his consciousness he would continue sleeping for at least three days.

''But.....I can't do that.''

He had the obligation to see the end with his own eyes. Because although he knew he did everything he could he didn't stop it.

''We can't save can we? Me and you too....''

''We.........we woooooooooooooonn!!''

While flying down on the wind, Ren was overjoyed inside.

He quickly wanted to meet Ayumi. He wanted to see Ayumi's delighted face. That thought was overflowing his consciousness.

A few more meters remained before reaching the ground but he hurriedly destroyed the wind barrier and jumped out.

Coincident with his landing, he started running. Aiming for the girl he loved more than anyone else.

"Ayumi-chan!"

To Ren waving his hand with a fully smiling face Ayumi returned a blank smile,and then - she collapsed.

"Ayumi-chan?"

Ren stood still opening his eyes wide in surprise but when he calmed down he immediately ran to her.

He held the senseless girl in his arms and shouted.

"Ayumi-chan! Ayumi-chan......!?"

"What happened......!?"

Ayano too tried to run over when she realized the disaster that befallen Ayumi. But, Kazuma's hand restrained her.

Gripping her hand firmly, Kazuma said:

"You're not needed."

"What are you saying? She needs treatment quickly - "

"I said it's not needed", Kazuma repeated, not looking her in the eyes.

Just hearing that serious tone, Ayano's face, elated from victory became stiff.

"What the heck...is that?"

Standing in front of Kazuma, Ayano asked with a cracked voice.

"What are you trying to say? Answer me! Look into my eyes!"

".........."

With a sigh turned to the sky, he pointed an emotionless glance to Ayano. And then - he suddenly started a story that apparently didn't have any connection to this one.

"..........Ayumi, Mayumi's clone, said she grew up this much in just one month, right?"

"Yeah, that's what I heard."

"You can't do such a thing."

".....eh?"

At Ayano's involuntary question, Kazuma repeated plainly.

"With the contemporary science human clones can be made but you can't accelerate their growth. If you want to create a twelve years old clone you need twelve years."

"Just- just wait a second."

Not really understanding, Ayano hastily interrupted Kazuma's words.

"But, isn't Ayumi actually here? Are you trying to say Ayumi is not really a clone?"

".......wouldn't that be nice?"

At the convenient guess, Kazuma was really cynical. He showed a wasted smile.

"Mayumi's father managed to accomplish something that the science can't. What I mean - "

''"Jya jya jya jyan!"''

Interrupting Kazuma's explanation, with a sky-rocketing high tension, without understanding the situation, blurting out her thoughts.

''"They used something that for us fairies is more important that anything else, the egg from which the next Patriarch will be born!"''

At those two's blank stare, Tiana stuck out her chest with an <<ahem>>.

".......egg?"

Noticing Kazuma's isolated murmur, Tiana pressed her mouth noticing the verbal slip. But, she immediately started talking non-stop.

''"Actually - that is right. Ah, that doesn't necessarily mean we reproduce by eggs you know! Is this what you call a <<metaphorical expression>>?"''

"You, where have you been until now?", Ayano interrupted the stream of words with a indistinct expression and cross-examined the fairy that appeared out of nowhere.

"Eh? It was scary so I took refuge. But it seems everything's over so I thought to come back to carry out the request. Hey, hey, can you hurry up? So you must wait until that kid dies? At any rate that's two or three minutes more - Ugyaaa?"

Without saying anything, mercilessly, Kazuma grabbed Tiana tightly.

"You...You can't talk until I say so."

There was no need to continue with ''or else...''. Coerced by the overflowing, naked thirst for blood, Tiana voicelessly fainted.

"Well, that's how it is. That way Ayumi was forcibly grown to the age where she can endure the ceremony."

Throwing away the fainted fairy, Kazuma continued as if he didn't do anything.

"Using such a excessive method will naturally burden the body. That's why her life span was so short. Yesterday, her cells already began to crumble. And she squeezed out that much power with her body in such a state. There's nothing to be done."

"No way......."

Ayano murmured in a daze and - unexpectedly scowled at Kazuma with angry eyes.

"Why....if you knew such a thing, why didn't you stop Ayumi?"

"And then what would have happened?", Kazuma asked back coldly.

"Stop her and then we all die together - would that have been better?"

"That's....."

Becoming speechless, Ayano hanged her head heartbroken.

"Then, what did we fight for? Wanting to save her, didn't we just shorten that girl's life span!?"

"........"

Kazuma looked up at the sky for a second time. And then, while on that posture, standing alone, he muttered.

" - I'm sorry for being so weak."

"!!"

''That's wrong...''

She understood. This was not Kazuma's fault. It's not only Kazuma's fault. She doesn't deserve to condemn others.

Not meeting his eyes, hanging her hand in shame, Ayano apologized.

"Sorry...I took it out on you......"

"That's right."

Although blunt Kazuma embraced Ayano tenderly. While brushing her head gently the way as if comforting a child, he said close to her ears.

"You can do at least that much. Because this time I really couldn't do anything."

"I was even more....."

"Aaah. Let's get stronger. So that we can protect next time."

"Fuuu......"

Pressing her head on Kazuma's chest, Ayano cried.

While feeling unbearably comfortable. The warmth of the wide chest, the feeling of Kazuma gently brushing her head.

"Ayumi-chan! Ayumi-chan! Pull yourself together!"

Holding Ayumi's completely limp body, Ren called out to her with a frantic expression.

Maybe because that feeling was transmitted, Ayumi's closed eyelids slowly opened.

"......Ren?"

"Ayumi....chan....."

"I'm so glad - I meet you again..."

Softly and tenderly, Ayumi smiled. Just by watching that clear facial expression, Ren realized.

That she was beyond his help. Unable to bear it, tears were flooding.

"....Ayumi-chan...."

".......I used too much power.....I'm already......no good......"

I couldn't protect - At that regretful thought scorching Ren's body Ayumi showed an absurd smile, as if she lost something petty.

"I'm sorry.....I....I wanted more......"

Ayumi slowly shook her head. As if saying ''it's not Ren's fault''.

"Listen, Ren......in the end, I have only one wish........"

"In the end....!"

Beginning to speak, Ren opened and closed his mouth soundlessly. At this point, words of consolation have no meaning.

"......what is is?"

''No matter what wish, I'll grant it'', Ren decided strongly in his heart. It doesn't matter if it takes him all his life.

If she will say she wants both to leave together, he will gladly die.

Ren brought hie ear closer to listen to Ayumi's faint murmur.

"Don't.....pity me....."

"!!"

Unintentionally Ren opened his eyes and watched Ayumi.

Without regret or attachment, there it was the pupil that calmly accepted death.

Different from the same way she was when he first met her, she doesn't think it's fine to die because she has no reason to live. Having finished what she had to do, dying with that satisfaction, her eyes were full of that pride.

"I....don't regret it.....you see, I decided it by myself. Just like Ren said, by my own will, I chose what to do. That's why.....that's why.....understand. I'm not a ''pitiable child''. I can stick out my chest against anyone, I lived, that kind of life...."

"Yes....yes."

While endlessly shedding tears, Ren nodded many times over.

"That's true...Ayumi-chan was, splendid.....so much stronger, than I am....."

"Really....? If you really think so, I'm happy......"

Ayumi laughed gently. Feeling as if that silhouette was growing hazy, Ren blinked.

"!!"

It wasn't an optical illusion.

She collapsed like trash. Her hair, her hands, her feet. From the extremities of her body, like sand, Ayumi's body mercilessly started crumbling and the life made of trash turned to trash, incapable of leaving a corpse.

"A....yumi.....chan......"

His face crumbled by the overflowing tears, Ren called out the girl's name. Ayumi's face pouted, looking up at Ren.

"No, Ren. Smile - "

"Ayumi-chan....."

"The last time I see Ren's face I don't want it to be a crying face. I want you to see me off smiling. That's why, please?"

"Ayumi-chan - "

The face distorted by grief, Ren forcibly turned it into a smiling one. One that no matter how you look at it strangely smiles while crying but Ayumi, looking happy, returned a content smile.

That perfectly clear smiling face was showing that the end is near. A human being cannot smile in such a pure way.

That was an angel or maybe the smile of martyrdom from a holy woman.

''Not yet!''

He could not yet believe that it was over. Ren has yet to say the most important thing. He came all this way for the sake of telling her that important thing.

"Ayumi-chan!"

There have been only two days since they met. But even so, inside Ren's heart the girl's existence became more important than anyone else's.

He couldn't protect her.

He couldn't save her.

They couldn't be together.

More important than anyone and anything, Ren's only one. Even if she changed to rubbish, that thought doesn't change.

"I love Ayumi-chan!"

It was obvious even without the words but he never said it before.

He just wanted to say this. He had to say this. Not out of compassion, not out of a sense of obligation, he had to convey the feeling that got him this far.

"I love Ayumi-chan more than anyone else in the world!"

Opening her eyes, her pupils were clouded with tears. Her face was tinged with red, and the transcendent, heavenly smile returned to one appropriate to a girl her age.

"..........., ...................."

Looking up at Ren, Ayumi quietly murmured. But that whisper already couldn't make the atmosphere vibrate and disappeared inside her mouth.

"Eh? What - ", Ren asked back, but at that moment -

''Zaaaaahh''

with a dry sound, Ayumi's full body changed to trash.

From the gaps between his arms, the substance that was Ayumi spilled and dissipated.

The shrine maiden costume that lost its master was strongly, strongly embraced by the boy.

"................."

The only proof that the girl existed was the lingering warmth that has yet to disappear from the clothes.

Swept away by the wind, Ayumi disappeared from this world.

"What are you doing? Do you have a miko fetish at such a young age?"

Ren, frantically clinging to the white robe, teeth bared, heard such a sober voice.

Ren raised his face as if flipping.

"......nii-sama......."

" - Aaah"

"......couldn't protect......I couldn't protect......"

"It's not like that."

" - eh?"

To Ren's blank face, Kazuma trivially replied.

"She had a short life but she died well. She died while smiling. She'll have no regrets."

"But........"

"No buts. Do you want to look down on her last request? Don't pity her. That's insulting."

"But.....but....."

Grasping his hands tightly, shedding tears for his own powerlessness, Ren forced the words out.

"I couldn't be together with her.......I couldn't make her happy....."

"......I think she was happy enough as it was......"

Overlooking Ren with a troubled face, Kazuma murmured.

"If not for you, Ayumi would have died in ignorance, without understanding the meaning of happiness or that of despair. You rescued her from that. Isn't that enough?"

Without saying anything he shook his completely crumpled, tear-stained face. Many, many times over.

Kazuma gave up on persuading him and let out a small breath.

" - Well a man who would take the death of the woman he fell in love in a very rational way would be very eerie. If you want to cry then cry. You don't have hold back."

He beckoned him as if saying ''come!'' and Ren jumped into his brother's chest with force enough for a body blow. And then, he started crying in a large voice.

"UWAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!"

Hardly grasping his fists, he hit Kazuma's chest many times over. Without even moving his body an inch, taking it all in, Kazuma gently brushed Ren's head.

"Ayumi-chan! Ayumi-chan! Ayumi-chaaaaaaaaaaaaaann!"

The boy's sobs resounded over and over again at night in the sea of trees.

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Kaze no Stigma:Volume3 Chapter 5

2013-12-26T14:05:37Z

86.20.14.91: /* Part 2 */

== Chapter 5 - Dreams and reality ==

===Part 1===

After changing the train at Kawaguchiko[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kawaguchiko_Station], one of the lake belonging to the Five Lakes of Mt. Fuji, Ayano and Ren took a taxi to the Tsuwabuki residence. Before the private road that led to the residence they got off and forcibly climbed over the iron fence with a clearly written ``NO TRESPASSING`` sign. After that was supposed to be a straight path.

Staring quite anxious at Ayano going forward, planing in a rude entrance, Ren asked.

"Still, is this OK? Approaching so boldly?"

"Then, do you want to try sneaking in? Climbing over the wall and slipping through the defense system and try to finally arrive at Ayumi-chan without the Chijutsushi noticing, do you have that confidence?"

"...........no"

That was impossible. The opponents are Chijutsushi. If they step on the ground of the premisses they will be noticed without mistake that instant.

"Right? That's what you call unsuitable orientation. For a Enjutsushi to take covert action is the same as telling the sun <<shine in a more humble manner>>."

"ha........"

They kept walking without change ten odd minutes. The sun faded out and around the time the world became engulfed in darkness the Tsuwabuki residence made an appearance before those two. Both of them looked up at the magnificent manor.

"First of all, we made it in time, huh?"

"Yeah."

Gazing at the majestic style entrance, Ren replied.

"So, how do we get in?"

Ayano was still looking at the gate. An inter phone was not found. It did not seen likely the sound of a knock would reach.

".......shall I burn it?"

".......Nee-sama......"

At Ayano's bold words, Ren murmured in a lamenting voice.

"How can you make up your mind to go that far?"

"How, you ask........my disposition, I guess?"

"Please don't be so proud of it.......even if we don't do such an excessive thing, it's not that high we can't climb over, right?"

Leaving the gate aside, the height of the wall that followed it on both sides was, at best, approximately 3 meters. Certainly it wasn't a height that couldn't be climbed over.

"Well, I hope that's safe."

Ayano nodded and bent over in order to jump over the wall. At exactly the same time.

Raising a dull creak, the thick doors slowly opened.

"..............."

Ayano and Ren exchanged glances and both shrugged their shoulders.

"We are being let in."

"How thoughtful."

Exchanging a sarcastic smile both stepped inside the grounds.

And then - they met the receptionist.

Approximately twenty minutes before

In the large underground gave, Yuuji looked up at the crystal pillar encasing Mayumi. Guiding the above moonlight the crystal produced a faint radiance shining in the darkness.

In the surroundings other Chijutsushi were hastening the preparation for the ceremony. But, he completely disregarded that clatter, turning his glance on Mayumi - and only her.

"You're really earnest, aren't you?"

A whisper shook his ear. Unaware of Kureha's presence standing right behind, Yuuji was not surprised anymore. Managing that level of presence was a matter of course. He knew it first hand.

"What?" he asked without turning around.

Kureha did not blame him for it. She informed him of what he had to do.

"We have a guest."

"Who is it?"

"Two fire presences. I still don't feel the wind. But if it's that man, he is quite capable of following us around without anyone noticing."

Talking serious words with a smiling face Kureha gave an order again.

"Go meet them. I'm leaving the rest to you."

"I will return before long."

Including a quiet self confidence, Yuuji consented. Without change, he started walking to the gateway but after going forward several steps he turned around.

"Can you answer me one thing?"

"Say it", Kureha generously nodded.

"Why did you seek so much power and violate the taboo? Your ability was supposed to be the most powerful in the entire family."

"Why?"

For a moment Kureha had a blank facial expression, as if taken by surprise. Nevertheless she immediately raised her even lips, expressing a somewhat otherworldly archaic smile.

"Why? Isn't that obvious? ''Because I didn't have you.''"

".....ha?"

Yuuji frowned in doubt. But, Kureha did not permit further questioning.

"Go."

With a quiet and yet resolute tone she ordered. Yuuji had no right to oppose her.

".......yes"

With a small nod, Yuuji started walking once more. After looking hard at that retreating figure until it disappeared from her field of vision, Kureha looked up at the younger sister sealed in the crystal.

The shape of the girl sleeping inside the shining crystal was a fantastic spectacle that gave one the impression of a scene from a fairy-tale. Placing her hand on the crystal, Kureha looked up at Mayumi with a gaze full of affection.

"You didn't notice, did you? How blessed you were. How loved you were. I too, love you so very much. That's why - that's why I will let you go while being so blessed."

Visibly pouring out the peak of her emotion, Kureha pushed her forehead against the crystal pillar. After savoring the icy texture for a few seconds, she turned to the Chijutsushi underneath and informed the most high-ranking practitioner among them:

"I will temporarily excuse myself. Continue the preparation."

"Yes"

The practitioners nodded without showing surprise. Kureha could be said to be the one supervising but she couldn't directly participate in the ceremony. Therefore, if no unforeseen situation happened, the fact that she was not there was not a particular impediment.

Throwing a glance at the practitioners continuing to work, Kureha went towards the cave's interior. Arriving at the deepest part, where not even the light from the crystal pillar reached, she softly began to float.

It didn't have the sense of speed similar to Fuutsushi flying by ''wearing'' wind. It was a gentle float as if the body would be slightly lighter than the atmosphere, giving the impression of a balloon or a blimp.

Going beyond the ceiling of the cave, Kureha continued ascending. She quietly penetrated a shaft that opened in the ceiling, far from any light source, a gap unnoticed by anyone. Rising about four or five meters in the pit, Kureha chanted a small incantation.

"''Light''"

After frequent twinkling, the soft light born in the air illuminated the pit's appearance.

The pit had a diameter of roughly ten meters and a clean, bowling round shape. It seems it doesn't connect with the above ground but it is fairly long. No matter how you think about it, it wasn't made by nature. And in the center of it, there was a rock.

A cluster of rocks arranged in a rough elliptical shape.

If you consider this is a huge cave underground, it's not something especially unusual. That is, if you consider the fact that it is floating in the air without any kind of support.

"Fu fu"

Expressing a light smile, Kureha is approaching the rock lump. And then she motionlessly stares at that surface. Because it was flowing in the air, it was clear that was more than a lump of rocks.

On the surface the full length portrait of an elderly man was thrown into relief.

Enjoyed from the bottom of her heart, she gazed at the man's carving - it's hardened closed eyes, its expression warped with anguish. And then, she spoke:

"Greetings, Father."

For a while there was no reaction. Still, gradually, little by little, the rock lump began to shiver slightly.

Visibly moaning in agony, visibly twisting his humiliated body, the rock lump continued its frail oscillation. And then -

"O.......oo.....ooooo......you......yoooooouuuuuu......"

The man's eyes, engraved in stone opened. That eye, glares at Kureha floating in front and from the inorganic throat, curses spun out.

"You......Kurehaaaaaa.......haw dare......how dare you........to your father......"

That ''thing'' was once referred to as Tsuwabuki Iwao.

Kureha and Mayumi's father, the man praised as the strongest practitioner of the family - the man who, it was reported a week before, was recuperating in his own room because of illness - right now was reduced to a lump of rocks.

"Ah, that felt good."

That look full of hatred made Kureha's lips curve with contemptuous ease.

"If you have no answer, I believe it's time for you to die."

"Damn you....you....betrayer....."

Iwao groaned his words as if spitting blood, but he couldn't do anything more than that. No matted how much power he possessed once, now he can't move a finger and was nothing but a pitiful prisoner who had no choice but to spit out his grudge.

Kureha sneered at that unsightly appearance.

"Having said you are the strongest Chijutsushi, how silly of you unable to separate from the ground. Ignoring the poison that desecrated the body, you had no choice but to assimilate rocks within reach to save your life. That is truly unsightly."

She ridiculed him, enjoying herself from the bottom of her heart.

It happened a week ago.

Iwao and Kureha - the parent and child mutually hating each other, finally crossed swords in the big cave that was the sacred ground of the family. Without a particle of leniency, both let out certain kill blows.

Thus Kureha's <<superpower>> was superior to Iwao's <<strongest>>. With the help of that invisible power, Kureha fixated the half-dead Iwao in the air. Even with the near invulnerability and resilience of an Chijutsushi, if he is not touching the ground - when all connection with the ground's <<Ki>> was cut, Iwao was degraded to an average human and had no means of healing his wounds.

"Is that all it takes?" asked Kureha, visibly disappointed.

"Known as the strongest, Father's might, is it really only this amount?"

"You.....fool...."

His lungs becoming useless, together with the vividly red blood, Iwao spit out curses.

"The Tsuwabuki Family's.........disgrace......."

"..........."

Kureha's reaction, regarding the abuse she got used to hearing was the throwing of a small knife, dripping in poison, with one uninterested long breath.

"Kuuuu........guh.....ahhhhhh"

Towards the suffering Iwao, Kureha sneered cheaply, merely saying over her shoulder.

"I was thinking you will let me hear a somewhat fresh utterance - but enough. Please die."

Kureha prepared the poisoned blade for the sake of this day. The fact that the strongest Chijutsushi was killed by poison - when thinking of so much disgrace, her body was trembling in a dark joy, but now it didn't even matter.

But, before Kureha's eyes, preparing to deliver the final blow, something she didn't anticipated happened.

A huge stone pillar rose from the ground, connecting Iwao to the solid earth.

"........eh?"

Kureha promptly smashed the stone pillar. Immediately suppressing any kind of link with the ground, only the spearhead of the stone pillar was sized by Iwao and taken in, floating in the air.

Calculating the quantity of <<Ki>> taken from the large rock, lightly, Kureha took a breath of relief. To neutralize the poison, it's entirely insufficient.

"I was somewhat surprised. That you were left with such power - did he die?"

Iwao's vigor was only supposed to restrain the poison's progress with all his might. So, when he revealed such a bold move, it wouldn't be unusual for him to die the moment it was put in operation.

Still, just to be sure, ready to smash the mass of rock floating in the air, Kureha frowned truly in doubt.

"Oh - "

Softly dancing in midair, she is drawing near the mass of rock. And then she saw that, sticking on the surface.

".........pfuu....ahahahahahahahahahaha!!"

After becoming speechless for several seconds, Kureha's body was convulsed with laughter to the point of breaking. In the corners of her eyes, even tears were floating.

"Oh.....oh Father.....what a....what a...."

The lump of rock suspended in the air. On that surface was clinging Iwao, changing into stone.

Kureha ridiculed that miserable shape to her heart's content. The aim of her Father, she was seeing through it now for sure. Mustering the remaining strength for one resuscitation move.

But at the time it was defeated, Iwao took extreme means for the sake of surviving and changed himself to rock. Poison doesn't run in rocks. Rocks do not die. By means of changing into an inorganic substance one second before his death, Iwao suspended his own time.

"Good grief, what a filthy way of living or perhaps not knowing when to give up, apparently not killing you instantly was the correct decision. You have shown me such a pleasant performance."

No matter how much he was being ridiculed, Iwao could do nothing anymore. Already without energy to even turn back but even assuming he could turn back, immediately the poison would be taking his life.

Unless Kureha doesn't take down the mass of rock, he has no choice but to carry on living changed to rock for eternity.

"I understand. In deference to the hatefulness of that resignation, I will let you live a little longer. That is, until the moment I fulfill my longstanding desire."

Despising her father's anguished face, Kureha laughed loudly one more time.

Thus, Iwao managed to survive one more week. If, in this state, it's accurate to say he is living.

"You.......do you understand what are you guilty of?"

Including an endless curse, Iwao muttered. Surely, that voice didn't hold a simple personal grudge but was pregnant with the sense of duty, as head of the family.

Keeping the beast's force in the bodies of the family who sealed it at the cost of it's members' life.

The union with the sealed demon beast - that was the source of Kureha's power - that was the reason that made Iwao decide on his daughter's conviction.

For the Tsuwabuki Clan, who have been sealing the demon beast for more than three hundred years, that may be called the most serious taboo, above all else.

But, at Iwao's outcry, almost vomiting blood, Kureha laughed lightly.

"But, wouldn't it have been wasteful? Although the long awaited power is just in front of me, to just put it back to sleep......."

"You......you.....fool......!"

In response to Iwao's wrath, the rock cracked here and there and broken pieces scattered.

A deed similar with scraping his body, but even so, his anger didn't subside.

"What do you plan to do by locking me up in such a place? Don't tell me, you want to release the demon beast?"

"Of course not."

The angry roar that once made the entire family yield was let go past, like a gentle breeze. Kureha shrugged her shoulders.

"We are carrying out the ceremony smoothly. That is correct, with the power of two sacrifices, I will show you a seal stronger than ever."

"...two......?two, you said......!?"

"Yes, two. Ayumi and Mayumi. The only daughter you love, I have decided to use her on this occasion."

The other daughter, the one who was not loved, raised words of cruelty, together with a cynical smile.

The man's face, carved in stone, was warped with fury.

"I don't allow it! That alone I won't allow! I won't let Mayumi become a sacrifice!"

"Then, what ''will'' you do? Can you do something with that body locked in stone? Are you some acquittance of Sanzouhoushi[http://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E4%B8%89%E8%94%B5%E6%B3%95%E5%B8%AB]?"

"Guh.....mee....."

At Kureha's mockery, confident in her overwhelming superiority, Iwao groaned.

"Why?" he asked, his voice carrying the sound of supplication.

"Even if it's only Ayumi, she ought to be feasible for a satisfactory seal. To even use Mayumi, what is your purpose? If.. if you wish for the family's hegemony, then - "

"I don't."

Kureha coldly discarded Iwao's proposal.

"I have no use for such a thing. My goal is consistent with what I said earlier - the effective practical use of resources."

"Wh..at....?"

Frowning, Iwao asked back, in doubt. But midway he perceived something and his body - or perhaps the mass of rock trembled as if stuck by lightning. Opening his narrow eyes to the utmost limit, he stared at Kureha's thin smile. As his doubt turned into conviction, that look was painted with nothing but pure horror.

"Y - you....you....never - !"

Abstaining from that light smile, Kureha indifferently starred at her father, trembling with fear.

"Fu, fufufufu - "

That irrepressible chuckle reverberated in the gloomy prison.

===Part 2===

"As I thought, you came, huh?"

Ren didn't show any surprise, seeing that Yuuji was expecting him very matter of course.

It was very simple.

If it happens someone would stand up in front of him and block his way, that would be no one else but Yuuji.

However, having come this far, Ren had no intention of prolonging the fight. This boy that dislikes conflict opened his mouth in order to somehow settle this peacefully.

"Good evening."

"..............."

Yuuji's severely strained face, relaxed for a moment, visibly tired. He asked in a somewhat reluctant manner.

"You....why did you come here?"

"Well..."

What does he want to do, the answer he finally arrived at after thinking about it, Ren spoke it slowly as if trying to ascertain its value by putting it into words.

"I want to meet Ayumi-chan once more. I have no intention of getting in the way of the ceremony this time so, won't you please let us pass?"

It was a proposal full of candor. However it's not always true that tractability is a necessary virtue at any age.

"...huh"

Yuuji gave up as hopeless Ren's childish bullshit and instead focused on Ayano who was looking at both of them from a little distance.

"And you?"

Ayano waved her hands, appearing to say <<Don't mind me>>.

"Ah, I am Ren's escort. Think of me like nothing but air."

"As if!"

Yuuji became exasperated faced with these two whose remarks made it seem they didn't understand the situation.

"Get out, both of you! We're kind of busy, you know!!"

"...I'm afraid that is impossible."

Finally gave up on this pointless conversation, Ren reversed his submissive attitude. Obviously, with a battle attitude.

"I'll meet Ayumi-chan once more. I decided so. If you get in the way-"

"What a talkative chap."

Yuuji coldly interrupted Ren's statement.

"If you can't win a theoretical argument, only then are you ready to dirty your hands? That degree of resolution is pointless. Just go back home before you hurt yourself."

Those words were so full of confidence you wouldn't even consider he lost just yesterday. Taking that slight as a personal offense, Ayano raised her eyebrows with a twitch.

"Hey, why is this guy so proud?"

She came forth with loud footsteps. Enraiha has yet to be drawn but it's clear from her attitude she's asking for a fight.

Her scarlet gold aura gushing out, Ayano declares proudly.

"Do you want me to teach you in detail what happens when you let your big mouth run about in front of two direct descendants of Kannagi?"

But, she couldn't advance any further. Raising his hand, Ren obstructed Ayano's way.

"Please wait."

"Wait a minute, do you still want to..."

Ren shook his head at the scowling Ayano.

"No, it's not like that- "

And then, he faced Yuuji.

"I'll do it. Onee-sama please stand back."

"............"

In silence, Ayano alternatively looked at both Ren and Yuuji. They seemed to be locked on each other.

To force one's way through in that atmosphere requires a great deal of nerve, courage and insensibility.

Letting out a bored sight Ayano gave up on intervening.

"...Well, we still have a bit of time."

Besides, the opponent already lost once. There's no problem, even if she were to remain a spectator.

"Be careful."

And with that, she took her distance from the two.

She was prepared to jump in at any moment but, for the time being, she is entrusting Ren.

"Do your best."

Even if she knew he couldn't hear it, still, Ayano cheers for Ren a little.

"Could you please step aside ~ you do know you can't win against me?"

Even if he thought it was pointless Ren tried to persuade him just once more. To say it plainly, it became nothing more than a provocation and Yuuji, without moving a single muscle, rejected that proposal.

"Enough of that repetitious talk!"

Placing killing intent on his frozen voice, Yuuji loudly roared.

"Just try to kill this ''me'' if you can!"

" -!!"

Feeling Yuuji's <<Ki>>'s explosive rise, Ren immediately melted the ground beneath his feet. But, the offensive came from the front.

"Using that cheap trick?"

Together with an angry roar, a huge amount of pebbles - enough to fill his vision - approached Ren. Because each and every one was fired with bullet-like speed, receiving that attack, the human body would become more than just covered in holes but crushed like minced meat and the corpse impossible to identify.

"Yaaa!!!"

Raising a high, clear soprano yell Ren swung down his right hand. The golden flame that gushed out burned the countless stones to nothing.

However -

"Am I being pressed down?"

In Ren's pupil both surprise and shudder dwell. Those pebbles are really forcing back the fire torrent. Although he's not yet using his whole power, he included enough of it to thoroughly defeat someone like Yuuji from last night.

"Kuuuu- "

In a panic, Ren raised the heating power. But, faster than that, Yuuji made his move. Drawing nearer while concealing himself in the stream of throwing stones, he suddenly appeared before Ren's eyes.

" -!!"

He was completely taken by surprise. Without wasting time on interception, he was forced into close combat.

Barely managing to avoid a straight hit from right overhead, he wasn't able to avoid a left middle kick that was sent from the opposite angle.

"Kuuuu!!"

Although just barely managing to defend himself, Ren, shorter and younger, couldn't stop the kick of a highly trained adult. His arms sustained the damage but were blown off, and he was thrown in the fence.

"Ren!"

"I'm...fine..."

While shaking his head, Ren stood up. It didn't seem Yuuji would pursue. Taking a short distance, he calmly observed the degree of damage he inflicted.

''Is this what it comes down to?''

Voiceless, Ren groaned.

For a spirit practitioner, from the power they are manipulating - for an Enjutsushi fire, for a Chijutsushi earth and rocks they don't receive any damage.

For this reason, they can jump right into the Jutsu they created and be able to use it as camouflage or protective wall.

It's not really an original move. You could say it's one of the basics.

And yet, up until now Yuuji didn't try to use it, in spite of the fact that when thinking about the physique difference, close combat is advantageous.

Before, he had an aim. Not just to defeat Ren but to verify that "when facing an Enjutsushi a Chijutsushi is superior."

He was being conceited.

But Yuuji right now held no arrogance. Not as a Jutsushi but as a single human being, he used all his power to defeat the enemy - that's all he was thinking.

In general, rather than the fact that he had become more powerful, his stubbornness in paying no attention to his behavior was far more dangerous to Ren.

Agreement or no agreement, he was being taught a lesson about the strength of a person ready for death.

"But even I cannot yield on this - I'm not going to lose!"

"Shut it, brat!"

Both their will powers turned to force and clashed. The devastating fire storm swallowed all the cracks produced one after another. Weaving their way in the explosion made by the red hot plasma and gigantic rocks crashing into each other, their fists met.

It seems it was a negligence. In regards to the result of the hand to hand fight, without even thinking about it, it will remain the same. It was obvious.

A twelve years old child versus an adult male. If it comes down to who has a more trained body, Yuuji's is superior. It was impossible to lose.

Therefore, he must have been negligent.

So, at the time his thrust, powerful enough to pulverize the brain and splat spinal fluid everywhere was beautifully evaded, Yuuji lost sight of Ren's figure completely.

One moment later, when he spotted him again, Ren slipped his extended arm in Yuuji's blind spot and his elbow hit him in the pit of the stomach.

That kinetic energy resulted from a rush similar to teleportation was all poured in one blow. That shock, stronger than his drilled abs crushed Yuuji's stomach and escaped trough his back.

His heavy built body lightly danced in mid air. Beside the fact that Yuuji would have fallen down eventually Ren concentrated his consciousness and power.

"Gooooooo!!"

Four thin refined heat rays accurately shot out the joints of his legs and shoulders. Yuuji's body fell like a puppet and rolled down in one of the craters one of them made. There, Ren delivered the final blow.

The giant fireball he brought down from overhead completely covered the crater like a lid. And then - one instance later it exploded.

Ayano, overcome with surprise for a little while, finally spoke with a stunned expression.

".......even without the direct hit, don't you think this is overkill?"

The last blow Ren fired avoided to directly hit like last time and only gave the shock wave damage. But even so, if a normal human were to receive so much shock he would have died ten times already. It was that degree of detonation.

"No, but it should be powerful enough to beat a Chijutsushi."

"I think that at that level you won't have that problem..."

While answering, Ayano peered into the bottom of the crater. Starring inside the dust, she saw a shadow that for some reason did not seem human.

"Wow this is amazing. All his limbs are still connected."

"............Nee-sama, if you have something to say, how about you say it clearly?", Ren replied with a sulky voice at Ayano's heavy sarcasm.

While saying that, the dust cleared and the state at the bottom could be seen much easier. Yuuji's face could be clearly seen.

"Oh, unexpected but he's still human-shaped."

"........Nee-sama......"

Ren took offense but like Ayano said, Yuuji's body retained it's shape well enough. Without becoming flat and crushed by the pressure he was firmly and roughly left behind. It seems that one way or another he survived.

"Well, I wonder if I should say you crushed him just right. To heal it all maybe one or two months will do the trick I guess."

"Yes."

While it seemed his broken bones cured unexpectedly easy, the four holes that opened at the base of his limbs evaporated both his bones and flesh. As one would expect it was impossible to immediately regenerate those.

"Well then, let's go forward."

"Yes."

Deciding that Yuuji became powerless, those two head towards the interior of the mansion. But, as if choosing the moment the pair turned its back to the crater, a voice stopped them from the back.

"Wait..."

".............eh?"

Hearing the chilly, dry voice Ayano's facial expression changed. In a strained voice, she asked Ren.

"The voice right now, who was it?"

"...................."

Without replying Ren pointed his gaze at the bottom of the crater. Ayano too understood. That was Yuuji's voice. But, that voice was too calm. As if the person uttering it had no injuries.

Raising his head from the bottom of the crater Yuuji stared at Ren. His hip joints had holes in them so it should have been impossible for him to get up. His fighting strength was supposed to be zero. And yet...

"How about you stop? From here on it's a matter of life and death."

Yuuji ignored Ayano's pointless proposal. His eyes were firmly set on only Ren.

"As I thought, I can reach you , the way I am right now."

With a serene facial expression, unbecoming of a severely wounded person, Yuuji murmured so. Sensing a certain something from those words, Ayano ordered Ren with a sharpness different from before.

"Ren, give him the finishing blow. Enough to obliterate his very cells."

"Killing him would be useless."

While being just as vigilant, Ren rejected Ayano's order. Although understanding that something will happen if he was left unattended, he still couldn't do it.

''Even if I kill in order to meet her, Ayumi-chan won't be pleased.''

No matter how much he himself wanted to do it, that was insignificant when compared with making her sad.

"Alright."

Suddenly, Yuuji murmured in a low voice. The pair of eyes that were supposed to stare at Ren, before one knows were looking up at the sky overhead. For some reason that gaze reminded Ren once more of Ayumi's, the first time he met her. As if that was the last opportunity, the earnest pupil looking up to the moon.

"Alright. I'll join your scheme. Whether it's my life or my soul, take whatever you need. So - so, in exchange - "

The hand that was supposed to be paralyzed was grasped tightly. Bearing up in tragedy, opening his eyes, literally throwing everything away Yuuji shouts:

"Give me power!!"

"Shall I give you power?"

In front of Mayumi sealed in the crystal pillar, Kureha whispered so. But, obviously there is no way to earn power free of charge. Compensation must be given.

''If you choose to loose your humanity...''

Thus, Kureha didn't hide even that. For the first time he understood.

That no matter what compensation she wanted, Yuuji had no right to refuse.

In fact, Yuuji didn't hesitated. About fusing with a demon beast and becoming one being with Kureha. Violating the family's greatest taboo and becoming a criminal that could never be permitted.

But that was not the only danger. The power that exceeds the vessel becomes an excessive burden for the body. Different from the way Kureha did it, spending time on getting accustomed to it little by little, if he were to receive a large amount of power at once, the power will force the body to change.

''"If you so wish, the Majyu (trad: demon beast) will give you an infinite amount of power."''

Kureha warned him carefully. That point at least was honest.

'"But a power that becomes too great will snatch away your human form. And eventually, even your human heart. Try to be careful. Fall back before recovery becomes impossible."'

But simultaneously, Yuuji was convinced that Kureha wished him to go beyond recovery. For his power to rampage and to be turned into a monster that was her real purpose, or at least a part of it.

''But that's fine.''

He will protect Mayumi. That was his one absolute mission. If it's for that reason, he doesn't regret throwing away everything else.

That's what he decided. On that day, five years before -

''Ojou-sama......if it's you.......certainly.........''

The last moment as a human, when he decided his fate, he thought back that moment.

Gachin!

That kiss tasted like blood.

The grand vigor made their teeth clash and the lips in-between cut. The crash and pain made them see sparks.

"Hyaaa...."

He was trying to complain but the stiff lips couldn't successfully pronounce it. When holding his hand to his lips, his palm became wet with a lukewarm liquid.

While quipping the blood from his soiled clothes with a handkerchief he overlooked the small attacker.

That side deemed to have received considerable damage, squatting down and moaning.

Trying to get rid of his clumsy voice, Yuuji talked with caution.

"What are you trying to do so suddenly, Ojou-sama?"

Thereupon, Mayumi boldly stood up and stared at Yuuji with eyes wet from tears.
[[Image:Kaze no Stigma vol 03 225.jpg|thumb]]

"That was my first kiss. Take responsibility."

"Wha......."

That was absurd. That was excessively pushy. But the bewildered Yuuji was relentlessly driven into a corner by Mayumi.

"What's this, this is not manly at all. If you say such mushy words I'll tell Father ''Yuuji forcibly kissed me.''"

"Ha - have mercy!"

Reminded of Iwao's face doting on his daughter, the muscles on Yuuji's back trembled. If she were to say such a thing, there is no doubt about it, he would get the capital punishment.

"It's not like my responsibility came off, right? What are you telling me to do?"

"Stay close to me."

At Yuuji's distracted shout, Mayumi answered in a frighteningly quiet voice.

".......eh?"

"Always stay close to me. Don't leave even for a second. Don't think about anything else and look only at me."

That was a strange way of talking. Considering only her words, they seemed full of passionate courting but her tone had no particle of sweetness.

They were like the urgent words of a seriously ill person that held its last wish on death's door.

Yuuji turned a pained expression upon Mayumi.

"........Did you find out?"

"That this year thirty years will have past?"

Mayumi answered the question with another question. But the question itself became a clear response to Yuuji's.

From the last ceremony thirty years passed. The mountain's spirit, although calmed down at the moment could activate at any moment. In a not too far future, the ceremony will invariably take place. And just like before the Chijutsushi's life will be sacrificed.

"Do you know what the Head is trying to do?"

"It's impossible.", Mayumi answered bluntly.

''I would rather not harbor such half hearted hopes'' - from her tone the murmur of her true heart could be heard.

"It's something that was never possible before. It's almost certainly impossible now. Someday I will loose my life to calm the mountain. The same way as until now, right?"

"Ojou-sama........."

"It doesn't mean I don't want to. After all, that is our mission. This is what we exist for. However."

Completely changing from her crushed to death tone, Mayumi talked on and on bursting out.

"But it's still frightening! It's not like I'm not afraid of death. I cannot help but feel like running away. Why does it have to be me? Why do I have to die no matter what? WHY?"

"O- Ojou-sama......."

Taking a sidelong glance at the nervous Yuuji, troubled because of it, Mayumi promptly regained her calm. Weeping off her tears she said in a broken tone.

"I feel so refreshed after letting it out."

"....eh?"

"After all, I wished for someone I can be with this way. I cannot entrust it to a loose-tongued servant, nor can I worry my father even more."

"...........because of that, it was me?"

Mayumi nodded at Yuuji's disappointed tone.

"That's right. I picked you. For the years until I die, I will be given your life. Look only at me, worry only about me, live only for me. I already gave your remuneration, so you don't have a say in this."

".........is the remuneration the earlier head butt?"

"A kiss, it's a kiss!"

Mayumi answered back very seriously.

"The sacrifice of my purity should obligate you, so I won't do it ever again. That was my first and last kiss. It was something extremely rare so be grateful!"

"................."

Yuuji didn't answer.

From his standpoint he couldn't refuse but an almost adult man being glad because a thirteen years old girl kissed him would be problematic from another point of view.

Mayumi's glance, when looking up at the bitter Yuuji, gradually became uneasy. Looking hard at him with upturned eyes, she said in a sulky tone.

"It's not that long a period. No matter how much Father will delay it, it's at the most five or six years. If it's only that much selfishness, can't you put up with it?"

".................."

With a sigh, Yuuji accepted the girl's persuasion.

It can't be helped. It's also the responsibility of adults to listen to children's whim. In the near future, Mayumi will become the sacrifice and she is certainly a pitiful child.

"I understand. It's fine if I become Ojou-sama's sandbag right?"

That was a very irresponsible response but even so Mayumi bowed her head, eyes sparkling.

"Yes, that's right! You will listen to everything I say! And, if I ever try to run away - "

Hearing that unpardonable speech, Yuuji's alertness strengthened. If she were to say <<Let's run away together!>>, by no means would he agree. Because when comparing a child's self-indulgence with the fate of the family, it amounts to nothing.

But Mayumi said so:

"If it comes to that, you have to catch me no matter what. Don't you ever let me escape."

"..............!!"

Yuuji stared hard at Mayumi catching his breath. He backed off, pressed down in front of those direct eyes that didn't have a particle of a child's dependance.

Arriving at this moment, he finally noticed his own misunderstanding.

Mayumi didn't seek a target for her childish egotistic anger. Accepting the family's real responsibility, she searched for someone who could support her weak self that could be crushed at any moment.

Feeling ashamed of his own ignorance, Yuuji knelt in a formal posture.

"Mayumi-sama, from this day on I offer you all of my loyalty."

"..........Thank you. It will be relied on."

Mayumi too, accepted it in a ceremonious tone. But, suddenly her attitude changed.

"Hey, Yuuji."

"........what?"

With a smile meant to tease Yuuji's upturned face, Mayumi whispered.

"If it turns out I don't have to become a sacrifice - at that time let's continue that kiss, shall we?"

At Mayumi's words said with a little shyness appropriate for her age, Yuuji replied smiling.

"Yes - With pleasure."

In the five years that followed, Mayumi didn't speak of that day once. By any chance, perhaps she forgot. Perhaps that was a meaningless promise, something that suddenly came into a child's mind.

But even so that was the day Yuuji decided. Even if it's all the family, even if it's the head standing at the peak of it, he dedicates all his loyalty to Mayumi only.

Whether it is the relationship between a man and a woman, the contract between a master and servant, the pledge of a knight to protect the noble lady or if it was something different altogether, Yuuji didn't think about the nature of their relationship, not even once. Because such things didn't matter.

There was only one valuable thing. To protect Mayumi and Mayumi only. Only that decision, sacred above all else.

No matter what he has to throw away, even if he were to sacrifice all else.

''I will definitely protect you!!''

Due to the influx of power, both his heart and body changed. But that most important emotion could never disappear from inside him.

No matter who tried to, only that couldn't be snatched away.

=== Part 3 ===

The ground was violently rumbling. Even if it's Ayano or Ren, unrelated to the Spirits of the earth, they understood the show of high density power, the activation of the earth pulse to the extent of seeing its radiation.

"Wait a second........this is......."

Seeing the endlessly congregation of enormous power gathering at one point, Ayano's face became stiff.

"Ren! Without delay - "

"I told you that's no good!"

While answering in that manner, Ren's complexion was bad nevertheless.

At the bottom of the crater shrouded in dust, a power like that of a volcano on the verge of erupting was coming together. The focal point of it it's probably Yuuji.

However -

''Can he control this kind of power?''

The aggregate amount of the converging power clearly reached tenfold of Yuuji's original strength. It doesn't seem he can control it very well.

He took a defensive stance against a probable spontaneous discharge but no matter how much time passes, the fearful shock doesn't come. Rather, the ground's vibration and the influx of power are in the process of being stilled.

" Which means....."

Timidly shifting his attention, the dust acting like a screen vanished in an instant. At once the field of vision cleared and the bottom of the crater became visible.

"...........uaaa!"

He let out an exclamation unintentionally. A three meter tall giant was standing there.

It's surface was thoroughly covered in hard stone. Or perhaps it was made of stone to the core.

Its hands and legs, its head, the basic components were human-like but all its separate parts were angular. Its extremities were very thick and its fists much bigger than its head.

Although resembling, that silhouette had delicate deviations from the human form, and if a similarity must be found, maybe a robot appearing in an anime would be closest.

"................it feels like something really amazing appeared, right?"

While throwing a sidelong glance at the dumbfounded Ren, who murmured so, Ayano asked for confirmation.

"Do you still want to go at it alone?"

Ren nodded with no hesitation.

"Well, I'll see how far I can go. If it becomes dangerous please save me, OK?"

Ayano responded at Ren's joke-like smile, deadly serious.

"That's what I was planning to do but...do try not to instantly die."

"...........I'll be careful."

While overlooking the rock giant standing in the crater, Ren thought so.

''That must be Yuuji's former self but...did it retain any consciousness?''

The answer appeared instantly. The giant that up until now stood still, started to move as if inspecting its body.

Holding his hand before its face, gripping his fist and relaxing it. Doing it all over again with the other hand, lowering his gaze and inspecting his body and feet.

And then circling his head, it made a complete rotation. He carefully observes his back.

"...............I see."

From the giant's mouth a dry murmur escaped. Although somewhat lowered and cracked, that was definitely Yuuji's voice.

"Is this......power......?"

The face made of rocks showed a self derisive smile. Without knowing why, Ren clearly understood that.

The rock giant - Yuuji lifted his head and seized Ren. And then he said:

"Are you laughing at me, reduced to this appearance, brat?"

"..................."

"But I don't regret it. If this will protect Ojou-sama, I don't care about being degraded to a monster. This is my resolution! Do you think you can break it!?"

"........................"

Ren didn't say a word. For the sake of that one important thing to throw away everything else, not looking back at the fact that he himself would become a victim, he had no choice but be overwhelmed by that sort of firm determination.

But although he was speechless, somewhere in his heart, he thought about denying such a thing.

''Is <<to protect>> something like that? Is it impossible to protect without sacrificing it all, without throwing everything else away?''

So far, Ren was mostly in the place of the one being protected. Protected by Kazuma, protected by Ayano, by a lot of other people, always being protected.

This uncomfortable feeling he didn't feel from them, he felt it now from Yuuji. Especially Kazuma. For that brother of his to say ''Even in exchange of my life, I will definitely protect you!'', he just couldn't imagine it.

''Is it because he's strong? No. It's not just that. Between this man and Onii-sama something at a fundamental level is different......''

He had the feeling he understood something. <<Something>> that could break this state of affair, already reaching it's limit.

And that was -

"Let's go!"

But, the answer he finally grasped, was washed away in a torrent of earth and sand. Sensing a terrific force, Ren released the flame with all its power.

"Kuuuu!"

The backlash that almost blew him away was firmly withstood by his legs. He was being pressed down.

Experiencing for the first time in his life loosing by misusing his powers, Ren felt horror.

The moment he tried to concentrate his mind on straining his power even more, Ayano's voice shouted in his ears.

"Behind you!"

"!!"

Reflexively, Ren jumped forward. Simultaneously he expended a flame barrier at the back. However, breaking through even that barrier the rock fist hit Ren's back.

Chasing Ren, that flew like a shell, the rocky build was changed into a hurricane. Catching up with Ren flying in the air in the twinkling of an eye, the giant's leg that wasn't by no means inferior to his hands, flung Ren up, right overhead.

"Kuuuu......"

The only thing that Ren could do in the space between Yuuji's leg and his own body was to interpose a small fireball.

The detonation of the fireball slightly decreased the kick's power, but Ren's body soared even higher in the sky.

"Guuu...haaa...."

Even higher than his body, his consciousness that flew beyond the clouds was restored by the wave motion of a mighty power. The ground's ominous howl could be heard.

Something with an unbelievable amount of attack power is coming.

''This is bad....if I don't counter-attack it........''

Although thinking that, his muddy consciousness can't concentrate to the level of invoking the Juutsu. At his wits end, he had no choice but to wait for the fatal attack.

But -

"Gobaah!"

The one blew away was Yuuji. A sharpened wind blade cut through the rock on both his arms and diagonally slashed deeply in torso, from the shoulder downwards.

".....eh? Wh - what......"

At the excessively convenient development, for a second Ren's brain failed to understand. Continuing to fall down in a daze, he doesn't notice the earth is rapidly closing.

But a soft wind stopped Ren gently. A strong arm caught his body fluttering like a feather, embracing it.

The sensation of that arm, Ren recognized it as something very familiar. Without having to look at his face, he understood.

"You guys, what are you doing at this place?"

A composed voice with no feeling of tension whatsoever. A presence always firm. There is no mistake. And yet, fearful of the one in a million chance, Ren nervously looked up to the man's face.

The usual cynical smile was right there.

"Onii-sama!"

"Yo. First of all, it's good you're alive. Don't be so reckless."

With the usual mood, Yagami Kazuma smiled.

"So, what are you guys doing?"

Once again, Kazuma asked in wonder. But at that point, Ayano was drawing near with a changed expression.

"Kazumaaaaaaaa!!"

"Hey, what's up? You seem kind of angry for some reason."

"That's because I am angry!", Ayano retaliated as if trying to hit him.

"Where have you been until now? You don't even answer your phone!"

"Where you ask, because of my job I was here all this time. Now that you say it, I did close my phone."

He took the phone from his pocket and turned it on. Both the incoming log and the answering machine were buried with phones from Ayano.

"You.........this is quite a breach of manners........."

"Then answer it already! Leaving that aside, whose job is it?"

"This things."

Kazuma pointed at a place on his left, obliquely upwards. Following the line of that finger Ayano recognized it for the first time.

"Long time no see!"

A small fairy waved her hand. Remembering the large turmoil that thing created Ayano instantly flipped out.

"Ahhh! Yooouuuuu!"

"Kyaaa - so scary. Help me Kazuma ♥."

As expected Tiana hid behind Kazuma. But suddenly Kazuma's hand reached out and grabbed her body and carelessly flung her aside.

"I don't remember being requested to be your bodyguard."

"Eh! Such a thing - . If I die the compensation will......."

"You're not the one who will pay the compensation. I will claim it directly from the fairy's patriarch."

"Auuuuu...such a thing.....Uhyaaa!?"

Tiana barely managed to avoid the flame sword swung from the back with no hesitation. Looking over her shoulder, she saw Ayano, Enraiha set up, aiming at her. Her eyes were serious.

"Don't you move, you evil fairy!"

"Kyaaa!"

The pair that started playing tag was strangely watched by Kazuma and Ren.

"She's so easy-going, really."

"Errr....Onii-sama, that is........."

"Ah, you were fortunate enough not to see it before. That's called a Pixie, a sinful living thing whose tiny body is loaded with cunning. If you get involved with it you will meet misfortune like a certain idiot, so be careful."

Kazuma's irresponsible explanation raised voices of protest full of anger. Two, to be exact.

"What are you saying!"

'"What are you saying!"'

At the complete harmony of voice and thought, Ren unintentionally sniggered. Controlling both of them trying to complain about it, Kazuma pointed forward.

"Well, the comical story ends here. That thing is still alive."

There, a Yuuji turned to stone tumbled. There was no indication of him starting to move but it seems he wasn't dead yet. The evidence for it were both his cut off arms that already connected and the wound from the diagonal slash was rapidly being closed. Ayano snorted her nose in dissatisfaction.

"Why did you fail killing him? Were you going easy on him?"

"It was unexpectedly tough. But that's not particularly troublesome."

Kazuma lightly shrugged his shoulders and molded a wind blade that will certainly kill him this time.

"Please wait. I am that person's opponent."

"You are? By yourself?"

Ren nodded twice.

For a short while Kazuma compared Ren and Yuuji, looking sullen, but as if being pushed back by Ren's determined face, he accepted that proposal.

Letting Ren down from his arms, Kazuma informed him shortly.

"Do your best."

"Yes!"

Ren vigorously replied and started walking towards Yuuji, whose body was still creaking, but after advancing a few steps he looked over his shoulder.

"Can I ask you something?"

"Say it.", Kazuma coolly nodded.

"Onii-sama, do you think you could die for the sake of protecting me?"

"No."

"Why is that?"

"Because my life is mine and mine alone. I wouldn't do it for anyone and burdening someone with it is unthinkable."

Without a speck of hesitation, Kazuma declared so.

"Beside, if I were to die while protecting you, that would be boring. Everyone might as well become happy."

"....................."

After a few seconds of silence, Ren nodded expressing a really gentle smile.

"That's right. That's so right."

"I know right?"

"Yes! I'll be going now."

"All right."

Kazuma waved his hand at the running Ren, and focused his gaze on Ayano standing beside him.

"What.....?"

Looking at Kazuma with a gaze full of meaning, Ayano asked with an even stronger doubtful look.

"No way - have you heard it all since the beginning?"

"What exactly?"

"...................."

Of course, she understood that couldn't possibly be true. No matter what reason, Kazuma wouldn't overlook Ren when in danger.

Clearly Kazuma didn't know anything, and despite that, it seems he saw through everything and with merely a few words he disentangled Ren's bewilderment.

The moments you can sense the greatness of this man's capacity are always like this. In spite of his usual devil-may-care attitude, when it's important he's more reliable that anyone else.

''If he were normally like this I.....''

She suddenly realized that Kazuma was still focusing on her. With a gaze full of wonder, as if seeing a new species.

While she herself was agitated to this extent, Kazuma seemed calmed in all respects. Finding that difference really irritating Ayano turned away in annoyance.

"How shitty."

=== Part 4 ===

"I thought something was weird - "

In response to the tsunami-like torrent of earth and sand that closed it, Ren used a high-density barrier that will protect only his circumference.

"I thought something was weird - "

The earth spears that tried to grow almost like snakes underneath his feet, he dodged with light back-steps. Just as he thought. Even if his brute strength was in a different league, his aim was off. He didn't control the vast power newly obtained. If he were to use that gap, this was an opponent he could defeat.

"The uncomfortable feeling I couldn't put into words. What was the meaning of it, I understand it now. Accepting to become the sacrifice is not strength. Throwing away your own self is not kindness. Your words are only trying to justify your own weakness!"

"Wh....at....!"

The stone face was warped in anger. The angry roar changed to shock wave, the ground and the atmosphere trembled.

"You're saying this is weakness in front of me!? Without the resolution to dirty your hands, without being able to decide what you should do, a brat whose only loitering around!?"

"If so, what are ''you'' doing? Do you think Mayumi-san will be glad to see you in this ugly shape?", Ren vehemently retorted.

"To protect someone is not to let them live. It is to not make them sad. It's to make them happy! Only for them to live, that's pointless!"

Let's all become happy - as a matter of course, Kazuma said so.

That's right, it was something obvious. Very ordinary, unsurprisingly mundane - because it was the most valuable, he made efforts to protect it.

"Is Mayumi-san the kind of person to survive as long as you become a sacrifice? Is she the king of human being fine with being the only one to survive? If that's not true, if your existence has even a bit of value to her, than you can't die! You can't let her be burdened with your life!"

"Th- that's only whitewashing prattle!", Yuuji shouted entrusting it to anger but -

"A man who lost his sense of reality has no right to get in my way!", Ren retorted on the spot.

"<<There is no other method so it can't be helped.>> After all, that's what you are trying to say. Because there's no way out without a sacrifice I'm deceiving myself that not being afraid to become the sacrifice is strength. But - even so, I'm not OK with that!"

Right now, Ren is perfectly overpowering Yuuji. The Ren who embraces his ideal persistently and Yuuji who lost to reality trying to reach his goal to the utmost limit - the judgement on which one is correct we leave it to the individual but, as far as empty theory goes, Ren's side has more force.

"I - I won't let anyone become a sacrifice. Without loosing anything, I will protect everything - and then I will save Ayumi-chan!"

No matter how you look at it, the reckless discourse that doesn't seem at all practical but for some reason Yuuji felt like he lost the mental battle.

"Ohh - "

While viewing the battle between those two, whose eyes became strangely subdued, Kazuma quietly clapped his hands. And then, turned his attention on Ayano.

"So, Ayano - "

"What?"

"I demand an explanation of the situation. Why is our Ren-kun fighting the rock doll at this kind of place and it's forcing the grassy-smelling <<opinion of the young>> on it?"

"Rock doll you say............that's kind of a human.........."

Kazuma unnaturally forced his eyes wide.

"That thing? That's an excellent shark skin you can see right there. Please teach him at least some skin care tricks."

"......................."

Seeing Kazuma acting too much like he always does, spontaneously Ayano crouched down, greatly perplexed.

".............how should I say this, you're very good at spoiling such a serious atmosphere?"

"Flattery won't get you anywhere ♬."

"I'm not flattering you!"

The retort at full power was obviously ignored by Kazuma. Playing innocent in front of the previous conversation, he asked a second time.

" - so? ♬"

"...............to put it simply, Ren fell in love at first sight with the girl who will become the sacrifice. And now, he apparently decided he wants to save her."

Ayano roughly explained all that happened until now.

"Hmmm - did Ren reach such an age?"

Without thinking deeply enough Kazuma nodded but when he finally noticed his complexion changed.

"Which means...hey!? That thing - "

"He knows."

Ayano coldly controlled Kazuma's words.

"Both me and Ren, we know it all."

"Is that so?"

"That's right. That's why don't you ever say ''that thing''. At least not in front of the kid."

"........................."

Kazuma didn't reply.

A heavy silence was flowing.

The rock asked.

"Do you understand what are you saying?"

"I think so.", the boy replied.

"Do you think you can do it?"

"I have no choice but to do it."

The rock was silent. The boy too, had nothing more to say.

No, just one more thing.

"Please move aside.", he told him quietly.

"I already lost my reason to fight with you anymore. Leave the rest to me."

"That's impossible.", Yuuji coldly declared.

"The reason to fight didn't change. To protect Ojou-sama I will kill you. No, I will kill all of you. That is my responsibility."

"Why - "

"You're noisy."

Ren understood it was meaningless to repeat his words. It was impossible to change Yuuji's will. For the sake of going forward he has no choice but to bring him down.

Resolving himself, Ren changed his stance. Yuuji too, polished his power for the sake of his strongest attack.

"If you are serious, defeat the likes of me with one blow. If you can't do it, it means all you said are thoughtless words."

Ren was quiet. He was concentrating on the enemy in front of him.

He must win. But just winning is not enough. To make his ideal reality, he need a superior power from the one until now.

''Power - I want power.''

At the same time, both thought the same thing. Because even their goal was the same, to reach a conclusion ordinary methods were mutually exclusive.

"!!"

"Oooaaaaaaa!!"

There was no need for a signal. As if mutually arranging it, both of them squeezed out the maximum level of power. A surging sea of earth and sand covered the field of vision. That was an overwhelming mass. The most steady <<power>> of this world.

The mountain is only one - it was something that descended all at once. It couldn't be opposed with a half-hearted flame.

As for Ren -

From the palms he pushed out, a flame of pale golden was released. Different from the usual dazzling radiance. It's color very pale, the flame was hazy as if the movement of the atmosphere could erase it.

The flame met the earth and almost like an illusion slipped through it.

The flickering flame definitely burned something inside Yuuji and came out through his back. And then, as a matter of course the stream of earth drew near Ren.

Gooouuuu!!

The wind knocked it all down.

"Good grief - ", Kazuma said with a bitter smile

"If you want to do such a thing say it first."

"It's because I was sure you will save me..."

Ren was furiously panting because of weariness but even so he showed a bright smile.

And then, only one person who had yet to understand the situation remained.

"Wa - wait - what happened just now?"

"........................."

Staring at Ayano with a gaze full of eloquence, he ostentatiously sighted.

"Wh- what........?"

"You see, Ren changed that man and only purified the foreign element. Without affecting anything else."

"..............eeh?"

"See for yourself."

Kazuma pointed at the fallen, unmoving Yuuji.

"He's still alive."

Looking at him, Yuuji's rock shell crumbled and from inside his human skin started to show.

Without a single damage to his body he was purified by something that only burned the negative influence, something that even Ayano couldn't use, the highest class of craft.

"Ren......did that?"

Looking at Ren full of wonder, at the kid she treated as her brother, the one she thought of as not yet half a man, she was embarrassed but still smiled proudly.

Kazuma looked down on Ayano with a smile carved from sarcasm.

"You, even if you succeeded Enraiha if you're slacking off Ren will take the position of the next Head from you. Or rather - if you were without Enraiha right now wouldn't Ren be the stronger one?"

"Th- that not true!!"

Ayano reflexively retorted but truthfully her self-confidence was pretty much shaken.

''Before one knows........I can't be negligent around him...''

She looked hard at Ren with half-opened eyes. Noticing that look, in a panic, Ren showed a forced smile.

"Ah....that's not true. I'm still no match for Onee-sama, yes."

"You're such a good kid."

While grinning, Kazuma gently patted Ren's hair. Ayano's eyes became dangerous once again.

"Ni- Nii-sama please don't provoke her!"

"Provoke her? I only said my honest impression but whatever. More importantly- "

Once again brushing Ren's head, Kazuma praised his brother with a serious look. Saying only this:

"You did well."

"Y- yes!"

Ren nodded with a delight shining in his sparkling eyes. But, his facial expression immediately tightened.

"But, this is not over, Nii-sama, Nee-sama!"

Including a firm determination, Ren looked at both of them. In silence both of them waited for the continuation.

"As I thought, I can't tolerate Ayumi-chan becoming a sacrifice. But using another sacrifice to appease Mt. Fuji is also unacceptable. That's why, I am thinking of defeating the origin of it all, the demon beast. So please lend me your power."

"Yeah."

Kazuma agreed very naturally. It almost seemed as if he didn't understand the situation, it was that kind of careless response.

Ayano starred into Ren's eyes and asked just to make sure.

"Do you understand what you're saying? To pick a fight with that?"

She pointed out ahead, where obviously there was a mountain. In a sense, the highest authority of Japan. 3776 meters above the sea level. Tall above all else in this country, an existence larger than anything else.

Having come this far, that greatness, mass, the existence itself was one power.

When looking up, everyone would think so. It's impossible to rival it - no. It's even impossible to fight it.

Climbing to the top of the mountain, people that pretend to have overcome it, there are plenty. But, that's just a big lie. No matter how many time humans tried to investigate the peak, stomping on it, kick at it, they moved back after only five centimeters of ascending and the mountain didn't move. It remained unchanged.

It's unthinkable to challenge it.

Very big, eternally rising above, the mountain stood there majestically. However -

"That's right. Do you have any questions?"

Even knowing that reality, Ren's decision didn't change. Ayano looked at Ren, looked at the mountain for a second time, and shook her head as if resigned.

"There's no helping it. I'll keep you company. I'll teach the mountain's spirit the fact that Enraiha burns through everything."

"I'm so glad you brought something good."

"Just shut up already!"

At Kazuma's sobering response, Ayano unsheathed Enraiha and tried to hit him with a horizontal mow.

With a bitter smile, Ren started giving directions to his brother and sister who like always started their comic duo.

"Well, let's continue. If we don't hurry the ceremony will begin."

''Ayumi-chan, wait for me. Because I am coming to rescue you.''

Shouldering a solid determination Ren stepped forward to the center of the mansion.

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| Forward to [[Kaze_no_Stigma:Volume3_Chapter_6|Chapter 6]]
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Kaze no Stigma:Volume3 Chapter 5

2013-12-26T14:01:17Z

86.20.14.91: /* Part 2 */

== Chapter 5 - Dreams and reality ==

===Part 1===

After changing the train at Kawaguchiko[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kawaguchiko_Station], one of the lake belonging to the Five Lakes of Mt. Fuji, Ayano and Ren took a taxi to the Tsuwabuki residence. Before the private road that led to the residence they got off and forcibly climbed over the iron fence with a clearly written ``NO TRESPASSING`` sign. After that was supposed to be a straight path.

Staring quite anxious at Ayano going forward, planing in a rude entrance, Ren asked.

"Still, is this OK? Approaching so boldly?"

"Then, do you want to try sneaking in? Climbing over the wall and slipping through the defense system and try to finally arrive at Ayumi-chan without the Chijutsushi noticing, do you have that confidence?"

"...........no"

That was impossible. The opponents are Chijutsushi. If they step on the ground of the premisses they will be noticed without mistake that instant.

"Right? That's what you call unsuitable orientation. For a Enjutsushi to take covert action is the same as telling the sun <<shine in a more humble manner>>."

"ha........"

They kept walking without change ten odd minutes. The sun faded out and around the time the world became engulfed in darkness the Tsuwabuki residence made an appearance before those two. Both of them looked up at the magnificent manor.

"First of all, we made it in time, huh?"

"Yeah."

Gazing at the majestic style entrance, Ren replied.

"So, how do we get in?"

Ayano was still looking at the gate. An inter phone was not found. It did not seen likely the sound of a knock would reach.

".......shall I burn it?"

".......Nee-sama......"

At Ayano's bold words, Ren murmured in a lamenting voice.

"How can you make up your mind to go that far?"

"How, you ask........my disposition, I guess?"

"Please don't be so proud of it.......even if we don't do such an excessive thing, it's not that high we can't climb over, right?"

Leaving the gate aside, the height of the wall that followed it on both sides was, at best, approximately 3 meters. Certainly it wasn't a height that couldn't be climbed over.

"Well, I hope that's safe."

Ayano nodded and bent over in order to jump over the wall. At exactly the same time.

Raising a dull creak, the thick doors slowly opened.

"..............."

Ayano and Ren exchanged glances and both shrugged their shoulders.

"We are being let in."

"How thoughtful."

Exchanging a sarcastic smile both stepped inside the grounds.

And then - they met the receptionist.

Approximately twenty minutes before

In the large underground gave, Yuuji looked up at the crystal pillar encasing Mayumi. Guiding the above moonlight the crystal produced a faint radiance shining in the darkness.

In the surroundings other Chijutsushi were hastening the preparation for the ceremony. But, he completely disregarded that clatter, turning his glance on Mayumi - and only her.

"You're really earnest, aren't you?"

A whisper shook his ear. Unaware of Kureha's presence standing right behind, Yuuji was not surprised anymore. Managing that level of presence was a matter of course. He knew it first hand.

"What?" he asked without turning around.

Kureha did not blame him for it. She informed him of what he had to do.

"We have a guest."

"Who is it?"

"Two fire presences. I still don't feel the wind. But if it's that man, he is quite capable of following us around without anyone noticing."

Talking serious words with a smiling face Kureha gave an order again.

"Go meet them. I'm leaving the rest to you."

"I will return before long."

Including a quiet self confidence, Yuuji consented. Without change, he started walking to the gateway but after going forward several steps he turned around.

"Can you answer me one thing?"

"Say it", Kureha generously nodded.

"Why did you seek so much power and violate the taboo? Your ability was supposed to be the most powerful in the entire family."

"Why?"

For a moment Kureha had a blank facial expression, as if taken by surprise. Nevertheless she immediately raised her even lips, expressing a somewhat otherworldly archaic smile.

"Why? Isn't that obvious? ''Because I didn't have you.''"

".....ha?"

Yuuji frowned in doubt. But, Kureha did not permit further questioning.

"Go."

With a quiet and yet resolute tone she ordered. Yuuji had no right to oppose her.

".......yes"

With a small nod, Yuuji started walking once more. After looking hard at that retreating figure until it disappeared from her field of vision, Kureha looked up at the younger sister sealed in the crystal.

The shape of the girl sleeping inside the shining crystal was a fantastic spectacle that gave one the impression of a scene from a fairy-tale. Placing her hand on the crystal, Kureha looked up at Mayumi with a gaze full of affection.

"You didn't notice, did you? How blessed you were. How loved you were. I too, love you so very much. That's why - that's why I will let you go while being so blessed."

Visibly pouring out the peak of her emotion, Kureha pushed her forehead against the crystal pillar. After savoring the icy texture for a few seconds, she turned to the Chijutsushi underneath and informed the most high-ranking practitioner among them:

"I will temporarily excuse myself. Continue the preparation."

"Yes"

The practitioners nodded without showing surprise. Kureha could be said to be the one supervising but she couldn't directly participate in the ceremony. Therefore, if no unforeseen situation happened, the fact that she was not there was not a particular impediment.

Throwing a glance at the practitioners continuing to work, Kureha went towards the cave's interior. Arriving at the deepest part, where not even the light from the crystal pillar reached, she softly began to float.

It didn't have the sense of speed similar to Fuutsushi flying by ''wearing'' wind. It was a gentle float as if the body would be slightly lighter than the atmosphere, giving the impression of a balloon or a blimp.

Going beyond the ceiling of the cave, Kureha continued ascending. She quietly penetrated a shaft that opened in the ceiling, far from any light source, a gap unnoticed by anyone. Rising about four or five meters in the pit, Kureha chanted a small incantation.

"''Light''"

After frequent twinkling, the soft light born in the air illuminated the pit's appearance.

The pit had a diameter of roughly ten meters and a clean, bowling round shape. It seems it doesn't connect with the above ground but it is fairly long. No matter how you think about it, it wasn't made by nature. And in the center of it, there was a rock.

A cluster of rocks arranged in a rough elliptical shape.

If you consider this is a huge cave underground, it's not something especially unusual. That is, if you consider the fact that it is floating in the air without any kind of support.

"Fu fu"

Expressing a light smile, Kureha is approaching the rock lump. And then she motionlessly stares at that surface. Because it was flowing in the air, it was clear that was more than a lump of rocks.

On the surface the full length portrait of an elderly man was thrown into relief.

Enjoyed from the bottom of her heart, she gazed at the man's carving - it's hardened closed eyes, its expression warped with anguish. And then, she spoke:

"Greetings, Father."

For a while there was no reaction. Still, gradually, little by little, the rock lump began to shiver slightly.

Visibly moaning in agony, visibly twisting his humiliated body, the rock lump continued its frail oscillation. And then -

"O.......oo.....ooooo......you......yoooooouuuuuu......"

The man's eyes, engraved in stone opened. That eye, glares at Kureha floating in front and from the inorganic throat, curses spun out.

"You......Kurehaaaaaa.......haw dare......how dare you........to your father......"

That ''thing'' was once referred to as Tsuwabuki Iwao.

Kureha and Mayumi's father, the man praised as the strongest practitioner of the family - the man who, it was reported a week before, was recuperating in his own room because of illness - right now was reduced to a lump of rocks.

"Ah, that felt good."

That look full of hatred made Kureha's lips curve with contemptuous ease.

"If you have no answer, I believe it's time for you to die."

"Damn you....you....betrayer....."

Iwao groaned his words as if spitting blood, but he couldn't do anything more than that. No matted how much power he possessed once, now he can't move a finger and was nothing but a pitiful prisoner who had no choice but to spit out his grudge.

Kureha sneered at that unsightly appearance.

"Having said you are the strongest Chijutsushi, how silly of you unable to separate from the ground. Ignoring the poison that desecrated the body, you had no choice but to assimilate rocks within reach to save your life. That is truly unsightly."

She ridiculed him, enjoying herself from the bottom of her heart.

It happened a week ago.

Iwao and Kureha - the parent and child mutually hating each other, finally crossed swords in the big cave that was the sacred ground of the family. Without a particle of leniency, both let out certain kill blows.

Thus Kureha's <<superpower>> was superior to Iwao's <<strongest>>. With the help of that invisible power, Kureha fixated the half-dead Iwao in the air. Even with the near invulnerability and resilience of an Chijutsushi, if he is not touching the ground - when all connection with the ground's <<Ki>> was cut, Iwao was degraded to an average human and had no means of healing his wounds.

"Is that all it takes?" asked Kureha, visibly disappointed.

"Known as the strongest, Father's might, is it really only this amount?"

"You.....fool...."

His lungs becoming useless, together with the vividly red blood, Iwao spit out curses.

"The Tsuwabuki Family's.........disgrace......."

"..........."

Kureha's reaction, regarding the abuse she got used to hearing was the throwing of a small knife, dripping in poison, with one uninterested long breath.

"Kuuuu........guh.....ahhhhhh"

Towards the suffering Iwao, Kureha sneered cheaply, merely saying over her shoulder.

"I was thinking you will let me hear a somewhat fresh utterance - but enough. Please die."

Kureha prepared the poisoned blade for the sake of this day. The fact that the strongest Chijutsushi was killed by poison - when thinking of so much disgrace, her body was trembling in a dark joy, but now it didn't even matter.

But, before Kureha's eyes, preparing to deliver the final blow, something she didn't anticipated happened.

A huge stone pillar rose from the ground, connecting Iwao to the solid earth.

"........eh?"

Kureha promptly smashed the stone pillar. Immediately suppressing any kind of link with the ground, only the spearhead of the stone pillar was sized by Iwao and taken in, floating in the air.

Calculating the quantity of <<Ki>> taken from the large rock, lightly, Kureha took a breath of relief. To neutralize the poison, it's entirely insufficient.

"I was somewhat surprised. That you were left with such power - did he die?"

Iwao's vigor was only supposed to restrain the poison's progress with all his might. So, when he revealed such a bold move, it wouldn't be unusual for him to die the moment it was put in operation.

Still, just to be sure, ready to smash the mass of rock floating in the air, Kureha frowned truly in doubt.

"Oh - "

Softly dancing in midair, she is drawing near the mass of rock. And then she saw that, sticking on the surface.

".........pfuu....ahahahahahahahahahaha!!"

After becoming speechless for several seconds, Kureha's body was convulsed with laughter to the point of breaking. In the corners of her eyes, even tears were floating.

"Oh.....oh Father.....what a....what a...."

The lump of rock suspended in the air. On that surface was clinging Iwao, changing into stone.

Kureha ridiculed that miserable shape to her heart's content. The aim of her Father, she was seeing through it now for sure. Mustering the remaining strength for one resuscitation move.

But at the time it was defeated, Iwao took extreme means for the sake of surviving and changed himself to rock. Poison doesn't run in rocks. Rocks do not die. By means of changing into an inorganic substance one second before his death, Iwao suspended his own time.

"Good grief, what a filthy way of living or perhaps not knowing when to give up, apparently not killing you instantly was the correct decision. You have shown me such a pleasant performance."

No matter how much he was being ridiculed, Iwao could do nothing anymore. Already without energy to even turn back but even assuming he could turn back, immediately the poison would be taking his life.

Unless Kureha doesn't take down the mass of rock, he has no choice but to carry on living changed to rock for eternity.

"I understand. In deference to the hatefulness of that resignation, I will let you live a little longer. That is, until the moment I fulfill my longstanding desire."

Despising her father's anguished face, Kureha laughed loudly one more time.

Thus, Iwao managed to survive one more week. If, in this state, it's accurate to say he is living.

"You.......do you understand what are you guilty of?"

Including an endless curse, Iwao muttered. Surely, that voice didn't hold a simple personal grudge but was pregnant with the sense of duty, as head of the family.

Keeping the beast's force in the bodies of the family who sealed it at the cost of it's members' life.

The union with the sealed demon beast - that was the source of Kureha's power - that was the reason that made Iwao decide on his daughter's conviction.

For the Tsuwabuki Clan, who have been sealing the demon beast for more than three hundred years, that may be called the most serious taboo, above all else.

But, at Iwao's outcry, almost vomiting blood, Kureha laughed lightly.

"But, wouldn't it have been wasteful? Although the long awaited power is just in front of me, to just put it back to sleep......."

"You......you.....fool......!"

In response to Iwao's wrath, the rock cracked here and there and broken pieces scattered.

A deed similar with scraping his body, but even so, his anger didn't subside.

"What do you plan to do by locking me up in such a place? Don't tell me, you want to release the demon beast?"

"Of course not."

The angry roar that once made the entire family yield was let go past, like a gentle breeze. Kureha shrugged her shoulders.

"We are carrying out the ceremony smoothly. That is correct, with the power of two sacrifices, I will show you a seal stronger than ever."

"...two......?two, you said......!?"

"Yes, two. Ayumi and Mayumi. The only daughter you love, I have decided to use her on this occasion."

The other daughter, the one who was not loved, raised words of cruelty, together with a cynical smile.

The man's face, carved in stone, was warped with fury.

"I don't allow it! That alone I won't allow! I won't let Mayumi become a sacrifice!"

"Then, what ''will'' you do? Can you do something with that body locked in stone? Are you some acquittance of Sanzouhoushi[http://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E4%B8%89%E8%94%B5%E6%B3%95%E5%B8%AB]?"

"Guh.....mee....."

At Kureha's mockery, confident in her overwhelming superiority, Iwao groaned.

"Why?" he asked, his voice carrying the sound of supplication.

"Even if it's only Ayumi, she ought to be feasible for a satisfactory seal. To even use Mayumi, what is your purpose? If.. if you wish for the family's hegemony, then - "

"I don't."

Kureha coldly discarded Iwao's proposal.

"I have no use for such a thing. My goal is consistent with what I said earlier - the effective practical use of resources."

"Wh..at....?"

Frowning, Iwao asked back, in doubt. But midway he perceived something and his body - or perhaps the mass of rock trembled as if stuck by lightning. Opening his narrow eyes to the utmost limit, he stared at Kureha's thin smile. As his doubt turned into conviction, that look was painted with nothing but pure horror.

"Y - you....you....never - !"

Abstaining from that light smile, Kureha indifferently starred at her father, trembling with fear.

"Fu, fufufufu - "

That irrepressible chuckle reverberated in the gloomy prison.

===Part 2===

"As I thought, you came, huh?"

Ren didn't show any surprise, seeing that Yuuji was expecting him very matter of course.

It was very simple.

If it happens someone would stand up in front of him and block his way, that would be no one else but Yuuji.

However, having come this far, Ren had no intention of prolonging the fight. This boy that dislikes conflict opened his mouth in order to somehow settle this peacefully.

"Good evening."

"..............."

Yuuji's severely strained face, relaxed for a moment, visibly tired. He asked in a somewhat reluctant manner.

"You....why did you come here?"

"Well..."

What does he want to do, the answer he finally arrived at after thinking about it, Ren spoke it slowly as if trying to ascertain its value by putting it into words.

"I want to meet Ayumi-chan once more. I have no intention of getting in the way of the ceremony this time so, won't you please let us pass?"

It was a proposal full of candor. However it's not always true that tractability is a necessary virtue at any age.

"...huh"

Yuuji gave up as hopeless Ren's childish bullshit and instead focused on Ayano who was looking at both of them from a little distance.

"And you?"

Ayano waved her hands, appearing to say <<Don't mind me>>.

"Ah, I am Ren's escort. Think of me like nothing but air."

"As if!"

Yuuji became exasperated faced with these two whose remarks made it seem they didn't understand the situation.

"Get out, both of you! We're kind of busy, you know!!"

"...I'm afraid that is impossible."

Finally gave up on this pointless conversation, Ren reversed his submissive attitude. Obviously, with a battle attitude.

"I'll meet Ayumi-chan once more. I decided so. If you get in the way-"

"What a talkative chap."

Yuuji coldly interrupted Ren's statement.

"If you can't win a theoretical argument, only then are you ready to dirty your hands? That degree of resolution is pointless. Just go back home before you hurt yourself."

Those words were so full of confidence you wouldn't even consider he lost just yesterday. Taking that slight as a personal offense, Ayano raised her eyebrows with a twitch.

"Hey, why is this guy so proud?"

She came forth with loud footsteps. Enraiha has yet to be drawn but it's clear from her attitude she's asking for a fight.

Her scarlet gold aura gushing out, Ayano declares proudly.

"Do you want me to teach you in detail what happens when you let your big mouth run about in front of two direct descendants of Kannagi?"

But, she couldn't advance any further. Raising his hand, Ren obstructed Ayano's way.

"Please wait."

"Wait a minute, do you still want to..."

Ren shook his head at the scowling Ayano.

"No, it's not like that- "

And then, he faced Yuuji.

"I'll do it. Onee-sama please stand back."

"............"

In silence, Ayano alternatively looked at both Ren and Yuuji. They seemed to be locked on each other.

To force one's way through in that atmosphere requires a great deal of nerve, courage and insensibility.

Letting out a bored sight Ayano gave up on intervening.

"...Well, we still have a bit of time."

Besides, the opponent already lost once. There's no problem, even if she were to remain a spectator.

"Be careful."

And with that, she took her distance from the two.

She was prepared to jump in at any moment but, for the time being, she is entrusting Ren.

"Do your best."

Even if she knew he couldn't hear it, still, Ayano cheers for Ren a little.

"Could you please step aside ~ you do know you can't win against me?"

Even if he thought it was pointless Ren tried to persuade him just once more. To say it plainly, it became nothing more than a provocation and Yuuji, without moving a single muscle, rejected that proposal.

"Enough of that repetitious talk!"

Placing killing intent on his frozen voice, Yuuji loudly roared.

"Just try to kill this ''me'' if you can!"

" -!!"

Feeling Yuuji's <<Ki>>'s explosive rise, Ren immediately melted the ground beneath his feet. But, the offensive came from the front.

"Using that cheap trick?"

Together with an angry roar, a huge amount of pebbles - enough to fill his vision - approached Ren. Because each and every one was fired with bullet-like speed, receiving that attack, the human body would become more than just covered in holes but crushed like minced meat and the corpse impossible to identify.

"Yaaa!!!"

Raising a high, clear soprano yell Ren swung down his right hand. The golden flame that gushed out burned the countless stones to nothing.

However -

"Am I being pressed down?"

In Ren's pupil both surprise and shudder dwell. Those pebbles are really forcing back the fire torrent. Although he's not yet using his whole power, he included enough of it to thoroughly defeat someone like Yuuji from last night.

"Kuuuu- "

In a panic, Ren raised the heating power. But, faster than that, Yuuji made his move. Drawing nearer while concealing himself in the stream of throwing stones, he suddenly appeared before Ren's eyes.

" -!!"

He was completely taken by surprise. Without wasting time on interception, he was forced into close combat.

Barely managing to avoid a straight hit from right overhead, he wasn't able to avoid a left middle kick that was sent from the opposite angle.

"Kuuuu!!"

Although just barely managing to defend himself, Ren, shorter and younger, couldn't stop the kick of a highly trained adult. His arms sustained the damage but were blown off, and he was thrown in the fence.

"Ren!"

"I'm...fine..."

While shaking his head, Ren stood up. It didn't seem Yuuji would pursue. Taking a short distance, he calmly observed the degree of damage he inflicted.

''Is this what it comes down to?''

Voiceless, Ren groaned.

For a spirit practitioner, from the power they are manipulating - for an Enjutsushi fire, for a Chijutsushi earth and rocks they don't receive any damage.

For this reason, they can jump right into the Jutsu they created and be able to use it as camouflage or protective wall.

It's not really an original move. You could say it's one of the basics.

And yet, up until now Yuuji didn't try to use it, in spite of the fact that when thinking about the physique difference, close combat is advantageous.

Before, he had an aim. Not just to defeat Ren but to verify that "when facing an Enjutsushi a Chijutsushi is superior."

He was being conceited.

But Yuuji right now held no arrogance. Not as a Jutsushi but as a single human being, he used all his power to defeat the enemy - that's all he was thinking.

In general, rather than the fact that he had become more powerful, his stubbornness in paying no attention to his behavior was far more dangerous to Ren.

Agreement or no agreement, he was being taught a lesson about the strength of a person ready for death.

"But even I cannot yield on this - I'm not going to lose!"

"Shut it, brat!"

Both their will powers turned to force and clashed. The devastating fire storm swallowed all the cracks produced one after another. Weaving their way in the explosion made by the red hot plasma and gigantic rocks crashing into each other, their fists met.

It seems it was a negligence. In regards to the result of the hand to hand fight, without even thinking about it, it will remain the same. It was obvious.

A twelve years old child versus an adult male. If it comes down to who has a more trained body, Yuuji's is superior. It was impossible to lose.

Therefore, he must have been negligent.

So, at the time his thrust, powerful enough to pulverize the brain and splat spinal fluid everywhere was beautifully evaded, Yuuji lost sight of Ren's figure completely.

One moment later, when he spotted him again, Ren slipped his extended arm in Yuuji's blind spot and his elbow hit him in the pit of the stomach.

That kinetic energy resulted from a rush similar to teleportation was all poured in one blow. That shock, stronger than his drilled abs crushed Yuuji's stomach and escaped trough his back.

His heavy built body lightly danced in mid air. Beside the fact that Yuuji would have fallen down eventually Ren concentrated his consciousness and power.

"Gooooooo!!"

Four thin refined heat rays accurately shot out the joints of his legs and shoulders. Yuuji's body fell like a puppet and rolled down in one of the craters one of them made. There, Ren delivered the final blow.

The giant fireball he brought down from overhead completely covered the crater like a lid. And then - one instance later it exploded.

Ayano, overcome with surprise for a little while, finally spoke with a stunned expression.

".......even without the direct hit, don't you think this is overkill?"

The last blow Ren fired avoided to directly hit like last time and only gave the shock wave damage. But even so, if a normal human were to receive so much shock he would have died ten times already. It was that degree of detonation.

"No, but it should be powerful enough to beat a Chijutsushi."

"I think that at that level you won't have that problem..."

While answering, Ayano peered into the bottom of the crater. Starring inside the dust, she saw a shadow that for some reason did not seem human.

"Wow this is amazing. All his limbs are still connected."

"............Nee-sama, if you have something to say, how about you say it clearly?", Ren replied with a sulky voice at Ayano's heavy sarcasm.

While saying that, the dust cleared and the state at the bottom could be seen much easier. Yuuji's face could be clearly seen.

"Oh, unexpected but he's still human-shaped."

"........Nee-sama......"

Ren took offense but like Ayano said, Yuuji's body retained it's shape well enough. Without becoming flat and crushed by the pressure he was firmly and roughly left behind. It seems that one way or another he survived.

"Well, I wonder if I should say you crushed him just right. To heal it all maybe one or two months will do the trick I guess."

"Yes."

While it seemed his broken bones cured unexpectedly easy, the four holes that opened at the base of his limbs evaporated both his bones and flesh. As one would expect it was impossible to immediately regenerate those.

"Well then, let's go forward."

"Yes."

Deciding that Yuuji became powerless, those two head towards the interior of the mansion. But, as if choosing the moment the pair turned its back to the crater, a voice stopped them from the back.

"Wait..."

".............eh?"

Hearing the chilly, dry voice Ayano's facial expression changed. In a strained voice, she asked Ren.

"The voice right now, who was it?"

"...................."

Without replying Ren pointed his gaze at the bottom of the crater. Ayano too understood. That was Yuuji's voice. But, that voice was too calm. As if the person uttering it had no injuries.

Raising his head from the bottom of the crater Yuuji stared at Ren. His hip joints had holes in them so it should have been impossible for him to get up. His fighting strength was supposed to be zero. And yet...

"How about you stop? From here on it's a matter of life and death."

Yuuji ignored Ayano's pointless proposal. His eyes were firmly set on only Ren.

"As I thought, I can reach you , the way I am right now."

With a serene facial expression, unbecoming of a severely wounded person, Yuuji murmured so. Sensing a certain something from those words, Ayano ordered Ren with a sharpness different from before.

"Ren, give him the finishing blow. Enough to obliterate his very cells."

"Killing him would be useless."

While being just as vigilant, Ren rejected Ayano's order. Although understanding that something will happen if he was left unattended, he still couldn't do it.

''Even if I kill in order to meet her, Ayumi-chan won't be pleased.''

No matter how much he himself wanted to do it, that was insignificant when compared with making her sad.

"Alright."

Suddenly, Yuuji murmured in a low voice. The pair of eyes that were supposed to stare at Ren, before one knows were looking up at the sky overhead. For some reason that gaze reminded Ren once more of Ayumi's, the first time he met her. As if that was the last opportunity, the earnest pupil looking up to the moon.

"Alright. I'll join your scheme. Whether it's my life or my soul, take whatever you need. So - so, in exchange - "

The hand that was supposed to be paralyzed was grasped tightly. Bearing up in tragedy, opening his eyes, literally throwing everything away Yuuji shouts:

"Give me power!!"

"Shall I give you power?"

In front of Mayumi sealed in the crystal pillar, Kureha whispered so. But, obviously there is no way to earn power free of charge. Compensation must be given.

''If you choose to loose your humanity...''

Thus, Kureha didn't hide even that. For the first time he understood.

That no matter what compensation she wanted, Yuuji had no right to refuse.

In fact, Yuuji didn't hesitated. About fusing with a demon beast and becoming one being with Kureha. Violating the family's greatest taboo and becoming a criminal that could never be permitted.

But that was not the only danger. The power that exceeds the vessel becomes an excessive burden for the body. Different from the way Kureha did it, spending time on getting accustomed to it little by little, if he were to receive a large amount of power at once, the power will force the body to change.

''"If you so wish, the Majyu (trad: demon beast) will give you an infinite amount of power."''

Kureha warned him carefully. That point at least was honest.

'"But a power that becomes too great will snatch away your human form. And eventually, even your human heart. Try to be careful. Fall back before recovery becomes impossible."'

But simultaneously, Yuuji was convinced that Kureha wished him to go beyond recovery. For his power to rampage and to be turned into a monster that was her real purpose, or at least a part of it.

''But that's fine.''

He will protect Mayumi. That was his one absolute mission. If it's for that reason, he doesn't regret throwing away everything else.

That's what he decided. On that day, five years before -

''Ojou-sama......if it's you.......certainly.........''

The last moment as a human, when he decided his fate, he thought back that moment.

Gachin!

That kiss tasted like blood.

The grand vigor made their teeth clash and the lips in-between cut. The crash and pain made them see sparks.

"Hyaaa...."

He was trying to complain but the stiff lips couldn't successfully pronounce it. When holding his hand to his lips, his palm became wet with a lukewarm liquid.

While quipping the blood from his soiled clothes with a handkerchief he overlooked the small attacker.

That side deemed to have received considerable damage, squatting down and moaning.

Trying to get rid of his clumsy voice, Yuuji talked with caution.

"What are you trying to do so suddenly, Ojou-sama?"

Thereupon, Mayumi boldly stood up and stared at Yuuji with eyes wet from tears.
[[Image:Kaze no Stigma vol 03 225.jpg|thumb]]

"That was my first kiss. Take responsibility."

"Wha......."

That was absurd. That was excessively pushy. But the bewildered Yuuji was relentlessly driven into a corner by Mayumi.

"What's this, this is not manly at all. If you say such mushy words I'll tell Father ''Yuuji forcibly kissed me.''"

"Ha - have mercy!"

Reminded of Iwao's face doting on his daughter, the muscles on Yuuji's back trembled. If she were to say such a thing, there is no doubt about it, he would get the capital punishment.

"It's not like my responsibility came off, right? What are you telling me to do?"

"Stay close to me."

At Yuuji's distracted shout, Mayumi answered in a frighteningly quiet voice.

".......eh?"

"Always stay close to me. Don't leave even for a second. Don't think about anything else and look only at me."

That was a strange way of talking. Considering only her words, they seemed full of passionate courting but her tone had no particle of sweetness.

They were like the urgent words of a seriously ill person that held its last wish on death's door.

Yuuji turned a pained expression upon Mayumi.

"........Did you find out?"

"That this year thirty years will have past?"

Mayumi answered the question with another question. But the question itself became a clear response to Yuuji's.

From the last ceremony thirty years passed. The mountain's spirit, although calmed down at the moment could activate at any moment. In a not too far future, the ceremony will invariably take place. And just like before the Chijutsushi's life will be sacrificed.

"Do you know what the Head is trying to do?"

"It's impossible.", Mayumi answered bluntly.

''I would rather not harbor such half hearted hopes'' - from her tone the murmur of her true heart could be heard.

"It's something that was never possible before. It's almost certainly impossible now. Someday I will loose my life to calm the mountain. The same way as until now, right?"

"Ojou-sama........."

"It doesn't mean I don't want to. After all, that is our mission. This is what we exist for. However."

Completely changing from her crushed to death tone, Mazumi talked on and on bursting out.

"But it's still frightening! It's not like I'm not afraid of death. I cannot help but feel like running away. Why does it have to be me? Why do I have to die no matter what? WHY?"

"O- Ojou-sama......."

Taking a sidelong glance at the nervous Yuuji, troubled because of it, Mayumi promptly regained her calm. Weeping off her tears she said in a broken tone.

"I feel so refreshed after letting it out."

"....eh?"

"After all, I wished for someone I can be with this way. I cannot entrust it to a loose-tongued servant, nor can I worry my father even more."

"...........because of that, it was me?"

Mayumi nodded at Yuuji's disappointed tone.

"That's right. I picked you. For the years until I die, I will be given your life. Look only at me, worry only about me, live only for me. I already gave your remuneration, so you don't have a say in this."

".........is the remuneration the earlier head butt?"

"A kiss, it's a kiss!"

Mayumi answered back very seriously.

"The sacrifice of my purity should obligate you, so I won't do it ever again. That was my first and last kiss. It was something extremely rare so be grateful!"

"................."

Yuuji didn't answer.

From his standpoint he couldn't refuse but an almost adult man being glad because a thirteen years old girl kissed him would be problematic from another point of view.

Mayumi's glance, when looking up at the bitter Yuuji, gradually became uneasy. Looking hard at him with upturned eyes, she said in a sulky tone.

"It's not that long a period. No matter how much Father will delay it, it's at the most five or six years. If it's only that much selfishness, can't you put up with it?"

".................."

With a sigh, Yuuji accepted the girl's persuasion.

It can't be helped. It's also the responsibility of adults to listen to children's whim. In the near future, Mayumi will become the sacrifice and she is certainly a pitiful child.

"I understand. It's fine if I become Ojou-sama's sandbag right?"

That was a very irresponsible response but even so Mayumi bowed her head, eyes sparkling.

"Yes, that's right! You will listen to everything I say! And, if I ever try to run away - "

Hearing that unpardonable speech, Yuuji's alertness strengthened. If she were to say <<Let's run away together!>>, by no means would he agree. Because when comparing a child's self-indulgence with the fate of the family, it amounts to nothing.

But Mayumi said so:

"If it comes to that, you have to catch me no matter what. Don't you ever let me escape."

"..............!!"

Yuuji stared hard at Mayumi catching his breath. He backed off, pressed down in front of those direct eyes that didn't have a particle of a child's dependance.

Arriving at this moment, he finally noticed his own misunderstanding.

Ayumi didn't seek a target for her childish egotistic anger. Accepting the family's real responsibility, she searched for someone who could support her weak self that could be crushed at any moment.

Feeling ashamed of his own ignorance, Yuuji knelt in a formal posture.

"Mayumi-sama, from this day on I offer you all of my loyalty."

"..........Thank you. It will be relied on."

Mayumi too, accepted it in a ceremonious tone. But, suddenly her attitude changed.

"Hey, Yuuji."

"........what?"

With a smile meant to tease Yuuji's upturned face, Mayumi whispered.

"If it turns out I don't have to become a sacrifice - at that time let's continue that kiss, shall we?"

At Mayumi's words said with a little shyness appropriate for her age, Yuuji replied smiling.

"Yes - With pleasure."

In the five years that followed, Mayumi didn't speak of that day once. By any chance, perhaps she forgot. Perhaps that was a meaningless promise, something that suddenly came into a child's mind.

But even so that was the day Yuuji decided. Even if it's all the family, even if it's the head standing at the peak of it, he dedicates all his loyalty to Mayumi only.

Whether it is the relationship between a man and a woman, the contract between a master and servant, the pledge of a knight to protect the noble lady or if it was something different altogether, Yuuji didn't think about the nature of their relationship, not even once. Because such things didn't matter.

There was only one valuable thing. To protect Mayumi and Mayumi only. Only that decision, sacred above all else.

No matter what he has to throw away, even if he were to sacrifice all else.

''I will definitely protect you!!''

Due to the influx of power, both his heart and body changed. But that most important emotion could never disappear from inside him.

No matter who tried to, only that couldn't be snatched away.

=== Part 3 ===

The ground was violently rumbling. Even if it's Ayano or Ren, unrelated to the Spirits of the earth, they understood the show of high density power, the activation of the earth pulse to the extent of seeing its radiation.

"Wait a second........this is......."

Seeing the endlessly congregation of enormous power gathering at one point, Ayano's face became stiff.

"Ren! Without delay - "

"I told you that's no good!"

While answering in that manner, Ren's complexion was bad nevertheless.

At the bottom of the crater shrouded in dust, a power like that of a volcano on the verge of erupting was coming together. The focal point of it it's probably Yuuji.

However -

''Can he control this kind of power?''

The aggregate amount of the converging power clearly reached tenfold of Yuuji's original strength. It doesn't seem he can control it very well.

He took a defensive stance against a probable spontaneous discharge but no matter how much time passes, the fearful shock doesn't come. Rather, the ground's vibration and the influx of power are in the process of being stilled.

" Which means....."

Timidly shifting his attention, the dust acting like a screen vanished in an instant. At once the field of vision cleared and the bottom of the crater became visible.

"...........uaaa!"

He let out an exclamation unintentionally. A three meter tall giant was standing there.

It's surface was thoroughly covered in hard stone. Or perhaps it was made of stone to the core.

Its hands and legs, its head, the basic components were human-like but all its separate parts were angular. Its extremities were very thick and its fists much bigger than its head.

Although resembling, that silhouette had delicate deviations from the human form, and if a similarity must be found, maybe a robot appearing in an anime would be closest.

"................it feels like something really amazing appeared, right?"

While throwing a sidelong glance at the dumbfounded Ren, who murmured so, Ayano asked for confirmation.

"Do you still want to go at it alone?"

Ren nodded with no hesitation.

"Well, I'll see how far I can go. If it becomes dangerous please save me, OK?"

Ayano responded at Ren's joke-like smile, deadly serious.

"That's what I was planning to do but...do try not to instantly die."

"...........I'll be careful."

While overlooking the rock giant standing in the crater, Ren thought so.

''That must be Yuuji's former self but...did it retain any consciousness?''

The answer appeared instantly. The giant that up until now stood still, started to move as if inspecting its body.

Holding his hand before its face, gripping his fist and relaxing it. Doing it all over again with the other hand, lowering his gaze and inspecting his body and feet.

And then circling his head, it made a complete rotation. He carefully observes his back.

"...............I see."

From the giant's mouth a dry murmur escaped. Although somewhat lowered and cracked, that was definitely Yuuji's voice.

"Is this......power......?"

The face made of rocks showed a self derisive smile. Without knowing why, Ren clearly understood that.

The rock giant - Yuuji lifted his head and seized Ren. And then he said:

"Are you laughing at me, reduced to this appearance, brat?"

"..................."

"But I don't regret it. If this will protect Ojou-sama, I don't care about being degraded to a monster. This is my resolution! Do you think you can break it!?"

"........................"

Ren didn't say a word. For the sake of that one important thing to throw away everything else, not looking back at the fact that he himself would become a victim, he had no choice but be overwhelmed by that sort of firm determination.

But although he was speechless, somewhere in his heart, he thought about denying such a thing.

''Is <<to protect>> something like that? Is it impossible to protect without sacrificing it all, without throwing everything else away?''

So far, Ren was mostly in the place of the one being protected. Protected by Kazuma, protected by Ayano, by a lot of other people, always being protected.

This uncomfortable feeling he didn't feel from them, he felt it now from Yuuji. Especially Kazuma. For that brother of his to say ''Even in exchange of my life, I will definitely protect you!'', he just couldn't imagine it.

''Is it because he's strong? No. It's not just that. Between this man and Onii-sama something at a fundamental level is different......''

He had the feeling he understood something. <<Something>> that could break this state of affair, already reaching it's limit.

And that was -

"Let's go!"

But, the answer he finally grasped, was washed away in a torrent of earth and sand. Sensing a terrific force, Ren released the flame with all its power.

"Kuuuu!"

The backlash that almost blew him away was firmly withstood by his legs. He was being pressed down.

Experiencing for the first time in his life loosing by misusing his powers, Ren felt horror.

The moment he tried to concentrate his mind on straining his power even more, Ayano's voice shouted in his ears.

"Behind you!"

"!!"

Reflexively, Ren jumped forward. Simultaneously he expended a flame barrier at the back. However, breaking through even that barrier the rock fist hit Ren's back.

Chasing Ren, that flew like a shell, the rocky build was changed into a hurricane. Catching up with Ren flying in the air in the twinkling of an eye, the giant's leg that wasn't by no means inferior to his hands, flung Ren up, right overhead.

"Kuuuu......"

The only thing that Ren could do in the space between Yuuji's leg and his own body was to interpose a small fireball.

The detonation of the fireball slightly decreased the kick's power, but Ren's body soared even higher in the sky.

"Guuu...haaa...."

Even higher than his body, his consciousness that flew beyond the clouds was restored by the wave motion of a mighty power. The ground's ominous howl could be heard.

Something with an unbelievable amount of attack power is coming.

''This is bad....if I don't counter-attack it........''

Although thinking that, his muddy consciousness can't concentrate to the level of invoking the Juutsu. At his wits end, he had no choice but to wait for the fatal attack.

But -

"Gobaah!"

The one blew away was Yuuji. A sharpened wind blade cut through the rock on both his arms and diagonally slashed deeply in torso, from the shoulder downwards.

".....eh? Wh - what......"

At the excessively convenient development, for a second Ren's brain failed to understand. Continuing to fall down in a daze, he doesn't notice the earth is rapidly closing.

But a soft wind stopped Ren gently. A strong arm caught his body fluttering like a feather, embracing it.

The sensation of that arm, Ren recognized it as something very familiar. Without having to look at his face, he understood.

"You guys, what are you doing at this place?"

A composed voice with no feeling of tension whatsoever. A presence always firm. There is no mistake. And yet, fearful of the one in a million chance, Ren nervously looked up to the man's face.

The usual cynical smile was right there.

"Onii-sama!"

"Yo. First of all, it's good you're alive. Don't be so reckless."

With the usual mood, Yagami Kazuma smiled.

"So, what are you guys doing?"

Once again, Kazuma asked in wonder. But at that point, Ayano was drawing near with a changed expression.

"Kazumaaaaaaaa!!"

"Hey, what's up? You seem kind of angry for some reason."

"That's because I am angry!", Ayano retaliated as if trying to hit him.

"Where have you been until now? You don't even answer your phone!"

"Where you ask, because of my job I was here all this time. Now that you say it, I did close my phone."

He took the phone from his pocket and turned it on. Both the incoming log and the answering machine were buried with phones from Ayano.

"You.........this is quite a breach of manners........."

"Then answer it already! Leaving that aside, whose job is it?"

"This things."

Kazuma pointed at a place on his left, obliquely upwards. Following the line of that finger Ayano recognized it for the first time.

"Long time no see!"

A small fairy waved her hand. Remembering the large turmoil that thing created Ayano instantly flipped out.

"Ahhh! Yooouuuuu!"

"Kyaaa - so scary. Help me Kazuma ♥."

As expected Tiana hid behind Kazuma. But suddenly Kazuma's hand reached out and grabbed her body and carelessly flung her aside.

"I don't remember being requested to be your bodyguard."

"Eh! Such a thing - . If I die the compensation will......."

"You're not the one who will pay the compensation. I will claim it directly from the fairy's patriarch."

"Auuuuu...such a thing.....Uhyaaa!?"

Tiana barely managed to avoid the flame sword swung from the back with no hesitation. Looking over her shoulder, she saw Ayano, Enraiha set up, aiming at her. Her eyes were serious.

"Don't you move, you evil fairy!"

"Kyaaa!"

The pair that started playing tag was strangely watched by Kazuma and Ren.

"She's so easy-going, really."

"Errr....Onii-sama, that is........."

"Ah, you were fortunate enough not to see it before. That's called a Pixie, a sinful living thing whose tiny body is loaded with cunning. If you get involved with it you will meet misfortune like a certain idiot, so be careful."

Kazuma's irresponsible explanation raised voices of protest full of anger. Two, to be exact.

"What are you saying!"

'"What are you saying!"'

At the complete harmony of voice and thought, Ren unintentionally sniggered. Controlling both of them trying to complain about it, Kazuma pointed forward.

"Well, the comical story ends here. That thing is still alive."

There, a Yuuji turned to stone tumbled. There was no indication of him starting to move but it seems he wasn't dead yet. The evidence for it were both his cut off arms that already connected and the wound from the diagonal slash was rapidly being closed. Ayano snorted her nose in dissatisfaction.

"Why did you fail killing him? Were you going easy on him?"

"It was unexpectedly tough. But that's not particularly troublesome."

Kazuma lightly shrugged his shoulders and molded a wind blade that will certainly kill him this time.

"Please wait. I am that person's opponent."

"You are? By yourself?"

Ren nodded twice.

For a short while Kazuma compared Ren and Yuuji, looking sullen, but as if being pushed back by Ren's determined face, he accepted that proposal.

Letting Ren down from his arms, Kazuma informed him shortly.

"Do your best."

"Yes!"

Ren vigorously replied and started walking towards Yuuji, whose body was still creaking, but after advancing a few steps he looked over his shoulder.

"Can I ask you something?"

"Say it.", Kazuma coolly nodded.

"Onii-sama, do you think you could die for the sake of protecting me?"

"No."

"Why is that?"

"Because my life is mine and mine alone. I wouldn't do it for anyone and burdening someone with it is unthinkable."

Without a speck of hesitation, Kazuma declared so.

"Beside, if I were to die while protecting you, that would be boring. Everyone might as well become happy."

"....................."

After a few seconds of silence, Ren nodded expressing a really gentle smile.

"That's right. That's so right."

"I know right?"

"Yes! I'll be going now."

"All right."

Kazuma waved his hand at the running Ren, and focused his gaze on Ayano standing beside him.

"What.....?"

Looking at Kazuma with a gaze full of meaning, Ayano asked with an even stronger doubtful look.

"No way - have you heard it all since the beginning?"

"What exactly?"

"...................."

Of course, she understood that couldn't possibly be true. No matter what reason, Kazuma wouldn't overlook Ren when in danger.

Clearly Kazuma didn't know anything, and despite that, it seems he saw through everything and with merely a few words he disentangled Ren's bewilderment.

The moments you can sense the greatness of this man's capacity are always like this. In spite of his usual devil-may-care attitude, when it's important he's more reliable that anyone else.

''If he were normally like this I.....''

She suddenly realized that Kazuma was still focusing on her. With a gaze full of wonder, as if seeing a new species.

While she herself was agitated to this extent, Kazuma seemed calmed in all respects. Finding that difference really irritating Ayano turned away in annoyance.

"How shitty."

=== Part 4 ===

"I thought something was weird - "

In response to the tsunami-like torrent of earth and sand that closed it, Ren used a high-density barrier that will protect only his circumference.

"I thought something was weird - "

The earth spears that tried to grow almost like snakes underneath his feet, he dodged with light back-steps. Just as he thought. Even if his brute strength was in a different league, his aim was off. He didn't control the vast power newly obtained. If he were to use that gap, this was an opponent he could defeat.

"The uncomfortable feeling I couldn't put into words. What was the meaning of it, I understand it now. Accepting to become the sacrifice is not strength. Throwing away your own self is not kindness. Your words are only trying to justify your own weakness!"

"Wh....at....!"

The stone face was warped in anger. The angry roar changed to shock wave, the ground and the atmosphere trembled.

"You're saying this is weakness in front of me!? Without the resolution to dirty your hands, without being able to decide what you should do, a brat whose only loitering around!?"

"If so, what are ''you'' doing? Do you think Mayumi-san will be glad to see you in this ugly shape?", Ren vehemently retorted.

"To protect someone is not to let them live. It is to not make them sad. It's to make them happy! Only for them to live, that's pointless!"

Let's all become happy - as a matter of course, Kazuma said so.

That's right, it was something obvious. Very ordinary, unsurprisingly mundane - because it was the most valuable, he made efforts to protect it.

"Is Mayumi-san the kind of person to survive as long as you become a sacrifice? Is she the king of human being fine with being the only one to survive? If that's not true, if your existence has even a bit of value to her, than you can't die! You can't let her be burdened with your life!"

"Th- that's only whitewashing prattle!", Yuuji shouted entrusting it to anger but -

"A man who lost his sense of reality has no right to get in my way!", Ren retorted on the spot.

"<<There is no other method so it can't be helped.>> After all, that's what you are trying to say. Because there's no way out without a sacrifice I'm deceiving myself that not being afraid to become the sacrifice is strength. But - even so, I'm not OK with that!"

Right now, Ren is perfectly overpowering Yuuji. The Ren who embraces his ideal persistently and Yuuji who lost to reality trying to reach his goal to the utmost limit - the judgement on which one is correct we leave it to the individual but, as far as empty theory goes, Ren's side has more force.

"I - I won't let anyone become a sacrifice. Without loosing anything, I will protect everything - and then I will save Ayumi-chan!"

No matter how you look at it, the reckless discourse that doesn't seem at all practical but for some reason Yuuji felt like he lost the mental battle.

"Ohh - "

While viewing the battle between those two, whose eyes became strangely subdued, Kazuma quietly clapped his hands. And then, turned his attention on Ayano.

"So, Ayano - "

"What?"

"I demand an explanation of the situation. Why is our Ren-kun fighting the rock doll at this kind of place and it's forcing the grassy-smelling <<opinion of the young>> on it?"

"Rock doll you say............that's kind of a human.........."

Kazuma unnaturally forced his eyes wide.

"That thing? That's an excellent shark skin you can see right there. Please teach him at least some skin care tricks."

"......................."

Seeing Kazuma acting too much like he always does, spontaneously Ayano crouched down, greatly perplexed.

".............how should I say this, you're very good at spoiling such a serious atmosphere?"

"Flattery won't get you anywhere ♬."

"I'm not flattering you!"

The retort at full power was obviously ignored by Kazuma. Playing innocent in front of the previous conversation, he asked a second time.

" - so? ♬"

"...............to put it simply, Ren fell in love at first sight with the girl who will become the sacrifice. And now, he apparently decided he wants to save her."

Ayano roughly explained all that happened until now.

"Hmmm - did Ren reach such an age?"

Without thinking deeply enough Kazuma nodded but when he finally noticed his complexion changed.

"Which means...hey!? That thing - "

"He knows."

Ayano coldly controlled Kazuma's words.

"Both me and Ren, we know it all."

"Is that so?"

"That's right. That's why don't you ever say ''that thing''. At least not in front of the kid."

"........................."

Kazuma didn't reply.

A heavy silence was flowing.

The rock asked.

"Do you understand what are you saying?"

"I think so.", the boy replied.

"Do you think you can do it?"

"I have no choice but to do it."

The rock was silent. The boy too, had nothing more to say.

No, just one more thing.

"Please move aside.", he told him quietly.

"I already lost my reason to fight with you anymore. Leave the rest to me."

"That's impossible.", Yuuji coldly declared.

"The reason to fight didn't change. To protect Ojou-sama I will kill you. No, I will kill all of you. That is my responsibility."

"Why - "

"You're noisy."

Ren understood it was meaningless to repeat his words. It was impossible to change Yuuji's will. For the sake of going forward he has no choice but to bring him down.

Resolving himself, Ren changed his stance. Yuuji too, polished his power for the sake of his strongest attack.

"If you are serious, defeat the likes of me with one blow. If you can't do it, it means all you said are thoughtless words."

Ren was quiet. He was concentrating on the enemy in front of him.

He must win. But just winning is not enough. To make his ideal reality, he need a superior power from the one until now.

''Power - I want power.''

At the same time, both thought the same thing. Because even their goal was the same, to reach a conclusion ordinary methods were mutually exclusive.

"!!"

"Oooaaaaaaa!!"

There was no need for a signal. As if mutually arranging it, both of them squeezed out the maximum level of power. A surging sea of earth and sand covered the field of vision. That was an overwhelming mass. The most steady <<power>> of this world.

The mountain is only one - it was something that descended all at once. It couldn't be opposed with a half-hearted flame.

As for Ren -

From the palms he pushed out, a flame of pale golden was released. Different from the usual dazzling radiance. It's color very pale, the flame was hazy as if the movement of the atmosphere could erase it.

The flame met the earth and almost like an illusion slipped through it.

The flickering flame definitely burned something inside Yuuji and came out through his back. And then, as a matter of course the stream of earth drew near Ren.

Gooouuuu!!

The wind knocked it all down.

"Good grief - ", Kazuma said with a bitter smile

"If you want to do such a thing say it first."

"It's because I was sure you will save me..."

Ren was furiously panting because of weariness but even so he showed a bright smile.

And then, only one person who had yet to understand the situation remained.

"Wa - wait - what happened just now?"

"........................."

Staring at Ayano with a gaze full of eloquence, he ostentatiously sighted.

"Wh- what........?"

"You see, Ren changed that man and only purified the foreign element. Without affecting anything else."

"..............eeh?"

"See for yourself."

Kazuma pointed at the fallen, unmoving Yuuji.

"He's still alive."

Looking at him, Yuuji's rock shell crumbled and from inside his human skin started to show.

Without a single damage to his body he was purified by something that only burned the negative influence, something that even Ayano couldn't use, the highest class of craft.

"Ren......did that?"

Looking at Ren full of wonder, at the kid she treated as her brother, the one she thought of as not yet half a man, she was embarrassed but still smiled proudly.

Kazuma looked down on Ayano with a smile carved from sarcasm.

"You, even if you succeeded Enraiha if you're slacking off Ren will take the position of the next Head from you. Or rather - if you were without Enraiha right now wouldn't Ren be the stronger one?"

"Th- that not true!!"

Ayano reflexively retorted but truthfully her self-confidence was pretty much shaken.

''Before one knows........I can't be negligent around him...''

She looked hard at Ren with half-opened eyes. Noticing that look, in a panic, Ren showed a forced smile.

"Ah....that's not true. I'm still no match for Onee-sama, yes."

"You're such a good kid."

While grinning, Kazuma gently patted Ren's hair. Ayano's eyes became dangerous once again.

"Ni- Nii-sama please don't provoke her!"

"Provoke her? I only said my honest impression but whatever. More importantly- "

Once again brushing Ren's head, Kazuma praised his brother with a serious look. Saying only this:

"You did well."

"Y- yes!"

Ren nodded with a delight shining in his sparkling eyes. But, his facial expression immediately tightened.

"But, this is not over, Nii-sama, Nee-sama!"

Including a firm determination, Ren looked at both of them. In silence both of them waited for the continuation.

"As I thought, I can't tolerate Ayumi-chan becoming a sacrifice. But using another sacrifice to appease Mt. Fuji is also unacceptable. That's why, I am thinking of defeating the origin of it all, the demon beast. So please lend me your power."

"Yeah."

Kazuma agreed very naturally. It almost seemed as if he didn't understand the situation, it was that kind of careless response.

Ayano starred into Ren's eyes and asked just to make sure.

"Do you understand what you're saying? To pick a fight with that?"

She pointed out ahead, where obviously there was a mountain. In a sense, the highest authority of Japan. 3776 meters above the sea level. Tall above all else in this country, an existence larger than anything else.

Having come this far, that greatness, mass, the existence itself was one power.

When looking up, everyone would think so. It's impossible to rival it - no. It's even impossible to fight it.

Climbing to the top of the mountain, people that pretend to have overcome it, there are plenty. But, that's just a big lie. No matter how many time humans tried to investigate the peak, stomping on it, kick at it, they moved back after only five centimeters of ascending and the mountain didn't move. It remained unchanged.

It's unthinkable to challenge it.

Very big, eternally rising above, the mountain stood there majestically. However -

"That's right. Do you have any questions?"

Even knowing that reality, Ren's decision didn't change. Ayano looked at Ren, looked at the mountain for a second time, and shook her head as if resigned.

"There's no helping it. I'll keep you company. I'll teach the mountain's spirit the fact that Enraiha burns through everything."

"I'm so glad you brought something good."

"Just shut up already!"

At Kazuma's sobering response, Ayano unsheathed Enraiha and tried to hit him with a horizontal mow.

With a bitter smile, Ren started giving directions to his brother and sister who like always started their comic duo.

"Well, let's continue. If we don't hurry the ceremony will begin."

''Ayumi-chan, wait for me. Because I am coming to rescue you.''

Shouldering a solid determination Ren stepped forward to the center of the mansion.

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