Editing Kaze no Stigma:Volume3 Chapter 6

== 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 took 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% percent."

"Do- don't screw arou- kyaa!"

The man could't finish those courageous words of resistance. The atmosphere turned rigid hit the man's face 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 Ayumi'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 easier way.", Kazuma stated calmly without showing a particle of introspection.

"Let's get out already. There's no more fun to be had 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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