NOW BEFORE PEOPLE START COMMENTING ABOUT WATER TRIBES AND STUFF, I HAVE ONLY WATCHED THE ANIME OF KAZE NO STIGMA, AND THERE IS NO MENTION OF A WATER TRIBE, SO THIS IS ALL MY OWN IDEAS
I walked cautiously through the gates, suddenly being surrounded by multiple men. I glanced around, fearful.
"What can we help you with?" one of them sneered at me. I took a step back in fear.
"U-Um… I'm looking for the head of the Kannagi clan… I was wondering if I could speak with them?" I asked in a whisper. They smirked, sneering at me.
"And who might you be?" another of them asked, taking a step forward as I stepped back. This was scary, I never should have come! Wait, this was my idea! I can't just run away because something scares me! I was about to take a step towards them and talk to them when suddenly a female voice yelled out. I jumped, backing away and hiding behind one of the poles of the gate as I heard the men yell in pain.
"Are you alright?" asked a female voice and I peeked out from behind the pole to see a girl with long, bright red hair and golden brown eyes standing there as the men lay unconscious on the ground.
"U-Um… yes…" I stated, stepping out cautiously. She smirked triumphantly, stepping to me and grabbing my hand. I gasped silently, not used to everything.
"So, you're here to see the head of the Kannagi's?" she asked, pulling me along behind her. I nodded, and then spoke my answer due to her not seeing it.
"Well, you're in luck! He's right in here! I'll talk to him first, wait here please" she stated, opening a traditional Japanese style door and closing it. I could hear them talking inside.
"Father, there's a girl here to see you. I didn't get her name, but I sense great magical power in her. Please see her and hear her out" the girl stated and my eyes widened. She must be the next in line to inherit the Kannagi head title then! Ayano Kannagi.
"Very well, show her in. Shall we finish our conversation later?" replied an elderly sounding man. I heard another voice as well.
"Sure, suits me fine" replied a younger male voice. The door opened and Ayano stood there, offering for me to go inside. I stepped in hesitantly and stopped in my tracks when I recognised one of them. The younger male had short, spiky brown hair and golden brown eyes, wore dark clothing and looked like he had a cocky attitude. He instantly recognised me as well. He stood there, staring at me in shock.
"Kazuma? Do you know this young woman?" asked the elderly man. Ayano looked between the two of us as well.
"Well, it's been a while Misuzu, how've you been?" Kazuma asked and I smiled, bowing in respect.
"It's been too long Kazuma Yagami. I believe it's been 4 years. You were 16 at the time and I was 12" I replied, standing back up straight and smiling at him. He smiled back at me, folding his hands in his pockets.
"So, the Hiragi family finally let you out of quarantine?" he asked sarcastically. I giggled in response, smiling brightly.
"Actually, that's the reason I'm here. I'm here to see the head of the family, so sir, I apologise for not getting the matter immediately" I replied, kneeling and bowing in front of the elderly man. He smiled.
"Raise your head child… So you're of the Hiragi family?" he asked, looking at me cautiously. Ayano looked at him in confusion.
"Hiragi? Aren't they a neighbouring water tribe that have troubled relations with the Kannagi's?" Ayano asked and I winced.
"Yes, we have had some conflict with the Hiragi's, but that's just due to us always not seeing eye to eye. So what matters you child?" he asked, and I smiled shyly.
"I'm the next head of the Hiragi tribe, and I've been offering an idea to my father. He finally accepted the idea and let me come here. I wish to build good relations with the next of the Kannagi tribe and hopefully build good ties with the Kannagi tribe itself" I answered and Kazuma looked confused.
"Your father, the man who never let you out the compound, gave you permission to leave the security of home and come all the way here on your own, to build a good relationship with a tribe he hates? Did your old man crack or something?" Kazuma asked, squatting down and pointing at my forehead. I chuckled in response.
"Well, I did nag him for a few good years, and kinda tried hypnotising him in his sleep a few times" I replied, making Kazuma burst out into laughter.
"Atta girl! You DO still remember some of the stuff I taught you back then!" Kazuma stated, sitting down, crossing his legs and ruffling my hair in his hand.
"That sounds like an interesting request. Very well, if Ayano wants to try and be friends with you, I'm willing to let her. I look forward to our families being friends. But Kazuma, I think you have a better story to tell us now. How do you two know each other?" Ayano's father asked, looking at Kazuma as Ayano sat on the opposite side of me from Kazuma.
"You wanna know the story? It's not really much of a story anyway… Well, it was back when I was with Tsui Ling. She noticed that a young girl was always inside the compound, which was right next to our restaurant. She then noticed one day when Misuzu here was crying on the bridge on their little pond, and told me to sneak in there and check on her. Being the respectable man I am, I did as I was told" Kazuma replied, earning a glare from Ayano at him referring to himself as a respectable man.
"I was very surprised to see Kazuma here try and climb over the brick fence. He fell flat on his ass. I completely forgot why I was upset in the first place. We sat and talked for a bit once he'd explained why he attempted to climb our fence, and then he told me about how he'd been looking for work for a while. I introduced him to my father and told him about Kazuma, then he was hired to do chores inside the house" I continued to explain.
"So he worked for your family for a while?" Ayano's father asked and I nodded.
"Yeah, working for her father, who was like a drill sergeant, and then working at the restaurant with Tsui Ling, it was like being at a military camp. Anyway, I cleaned the floor, swept the pavements and dirt, cleaned out the pond, all that jazz, while little miss princess here, stayed inside the family lands all day, every day, watching me and laughing and talking with me. I asked her why she never left the family home and she told me she'd never been out, not even once. Everything was bought for her or made for her. Her father said it was 'protection', from what, I have no idea…" Kazuma continued.
"So Misuzu, he used to clean your house?" Ayano asked and I nodded in reply.
"Yeah, he even used to teach me little tricks every now and then, and even taught me to climb trees! I've never had so much fun until Kazuma came; he taught me how to be a kid my age, and to have a little more confidence in myself. I used to be so shy that when he first started working, I'd watch him from the corner of the room" I stated, laughing at my old self.
"I don't mean to sound rude… but you don't seem all that confident now, so how shy were you back then?" Ayano asked, refraining from laughing.
"It's alright. I used to be so timid I'd jump at my own shadow… but thanks to Kazuma, I've grown a back bone, even if it's just small, at least it's something… but then he suddenly stopped coming round… the restaurant they owned became deserted, and both him and Tsui Ling disappeared, until I heard word about Kazuma appearing around the world, causing havoc and being known as the Grim Reaper… I couldn't believe it was him, so I shut my eyes to the truth, ignoring what was said to me" I finished just as Kazuma suddenly ruffled my hair again.
"And that's the end of the story boys and girls! Hope you enjoyed it and have pleasant dreams tonight!" Kazuma joked, making Ayano pout at him in annoyance.
"Anyway, Ayano? Will you accept my offer?" I asked, turning around to look at her. She smiled back at me, nodding.
"Of course! I'll show you around the town! Maybe introduce you to my friends as well! You'll love it here!" Ayano stated standing and pulling me to my feet as we headed to the door.
"Hey, Ayano! Misuzu here's never her home, so be gentle with her, okay? She's never seen the city or anything, so make sure you take good care of her, it'll be like looking after a toddler, it's all so new to them" Kazuma stated, and Ayano turned to look at me in curiosity. I bowed to her in respect.
"I leave myself in your capable hands" I stated, standing back up straight as I heard Kazuma snort in laughter.
"Her? Capable? The only thing she's capable of is making a mess and starting a fight" he sneered, chuckling to himself. Ayano growled under her breath and I felt sweat form on the back of my neck.
"Ka-zu-ma! When we get back, you are so dead!" she growled, opening the door and pulling me behind her, slamming the door behind her. Maybe this wasn't such a good idea after all? She's a little head strong, even for me… but then again, maybe this was due to her element being fire? Isn't fire ferocious and quick to anger? Compared to water, my element, it's rather timid and likes to keep to itself most of the time. I guess it wasn't just our hair colour that represented our element; it was also our personalities too.