Editing Kaze no Stigma:Volume3 Chapter 5 (section)

=== 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."