Hi there all! This is my first piece of published fan fiction! :D I am so excited, about it and I hope everyone enjoys it :) If not, please let me know and I'll make sure I don't make the same mistakes again. Well now, time to bring out my inner writer! But before that I'd like to thank AznAnimeFreak4life for inspiring me to write my own stories. And if you haven't read her stories already, I encourage you to do so. So yeah, thanks for inspiring me. I defiantly support you and hope I do as good a job as portraying the characters correctly. Well, here it goes.
Actually, before I start… I'd like to mention that I had a hard time trying to portray Kazuma in the right way. His personality was quite hard for me to capture. If there are any weaknesses in his personality that I have written, please, please tell me so I can change it. THANKS! Also, I think I may have tried to add a little too much detail into the story which took away from comedic feel of the series. Ehh... I'm not used to writing like this Dx I suppose I'll learn as I go along. I plan to make this a pretty long series, 24-30 chapters. Depends how many ideas I come up with. So expect new content soon. (Hopefully once or more a week.)
DISCLAIMER: Seems like everyone is doing it so I probably should too: P! I do own Kaze neither Stigma, nor claim to own it.
Chapter 1: Old Acquaintances
"He's late…"Ayano thought to herself as she waited outside of the fancy restaurant.
"Honestly… what's with this guy? Ask a girl out to dinner and be late? Who does that?"She sighed and looked down at her clothes.
"I even dressed up and everything! Grrrh… That bastard! Who the hell does he think he is?"
She was wearing a long pink dress that stretched all the way down to her ankles. It wasn't as nice as the one she had ruined while fighting Catherine in the same restaurant a few months before. Since then, the building had been almost completely rebuilt and the restaurant had reopened.
Ayano crossed her arms and gnashed her teeth.
"The next time I see him, he's dead!"
A familiar hand laid on her shoulder.
"Am I late?" Kazuma whispered into her ear.
Ayano broke free of Kazuma's grasp and turned around to face him. Kazuma was wearing a black suit and tie. He smiled wryly at the furious Ayano.
"Are you late? Do you know how long I've been waiting here for? You jerk!" Ayano spouted into his face. Kazuma's expression became more serious.
"Look… about that. I'm real sorry, but I had some business to attend to."
"Hah! Business my ass! Do you really expect me to believe that?" Ayano growled angrily.
"I do." Kazuma said plainly. "Is there a problem?"
Ayano looked slightly to the left, avoiding Kazuma's crimson eyes. She could feel her ears getting hot.
"It's just that… this was supposed to be my special night out with you…" Ayano's cheeks flushed a scarlet red color. "Uhh, I mean uhh…"
Kazuma smiled and put a hand on Ayano's head and caressed her hair.
"Wha-What are you doing?" Ayano demanded, her cheeks still red.
"Nothing. Lead the way princess."
Kazuma took his hand off Ayano's head and shoved both of his hands into his suit pockets. Ayano turned towards the restaurant entrance and started to walk towards it. Kazuma followed close behind.
"Hmm… I-I wonder why he asked me to come here with him tonight." She turned her head slightly to look at Kazuma. He had his eyes closed. Ayano blushed. "Wow, he looks handsome tonight. His hair is combed and everything… He also showered… and I can smell his cologne." She quickly turned her head away when Kazuma opened his eyes and looked up at her.
Kazuma smiled to himself, knowing she was looking at him.
They reached the entrance to the restaurant, and a doorman held the (well…) door open for them. "Did he really invite me out just to have a good time with me?"
A man standing behind a small desk just inside the lobby greeted them. "Welcome to El Casa de Blanco, renamed in honor of our new owner. Do you have a reservation?"
"Yes, Yagami, table for one." Kazuma said with a smirk on his face.
"What? Table for one? Just what the hell what are you trying to pull, Kazuma?" Ayano yelled. Other guests looked at her with puzzled expressions on their faces. Ayano felt embarrassed for yelling out so loudly.
"Relax, I was only joking. Yagami, table for two." Kazuma's amused smile grew slightly larger.
Steam blew out of Ayano's ears (not real steam…) and she crossed her arms and looked away. "Hmmph. No surprise coming from a jerk like you."
The man checked his clip board. "Thank you for waiting. Yagami, party of two, please follow me." The man stretched out his arm toward the inner part of the restaurant and turned and walked ahead. Ayano and Kazuma followed. The host led them into an elevator and pressed the button to the 5th floor. The elevator was small, so Ayano had to huddle up against Kazuma.
"Ahh! I'm so close to him!" She blushed. "I wonder if… he would mind." Ayano hesitated a little before linking her arm with Kazuma's. He said nothing.
The elevator came to a stop and the door opened, revealing the restaurant part of the building. The interior design was almost the same as before, except for the fountain... which was spouting chocolate instead of water.
"Huh? I wonder what that is all about." Ayano wondered to herself.
The host showed them to a small table with a window view of the street below.
"Thanks." Kazuma said as he sat down in one of the two seats. He handed the host a note when he had settled into his chair. The host examined it as Ayano sat down opposite to Kazuma.
"I understand," the man mumbled. He put the note into his pocket and walked away.
"Huh? What was that about? Kazuma! Explain. What was written on that note?" Ayano asked in a moderately loud tone.
Kazuma leaned on his elbow and looked at Ayano with a bored expression on his face."You'll understand soon enough. What's important right now is that you don't make a scene. Or is that too much to ask?"
"Hmmph... okay then. I'm ordering the most expensive thing on the menu!" Ayano crossed her arms.
"Are you deaf? I said keep your voice down. I don't want to attract any unnecessary attention." Kazuma sighed.
"Jeez... you really make me mad sometimes, you know?" Ayano looked out the window, and down at the traffic below. "Fine... I'll try to be quieter."
"Atta girl." Kazuma said with his eyes closed. He seemed to be dozing off.
Ayano ran her fingers through her hair. "So, uhh... Kazuma. How have you been lately?"
Kazuma opened his eyes and looked at her. Ayano started a little and her cheeks flushed.
Kazuma closed his eyes again. "I've been well."
"Oh uh, that's good." Ayano placed her arms on the table. "Jeez, what's with him tonight. He's a little gloomier than usual... He isn't even talking to me. Aww... there go my hopes that he invited me out on a date so we could spend time together..."
A waiter approached with two menus. "Hello and welcome to our fine restaurant. Can I start you off with some drinks?" The waiter bowed.
"Wow, everyone is so polite here. Not like Kazuma… That jerk." Ayano thought to herself.
"I'll have a bottle of Chateau Margaux, 1999." Kazuma yawned.
The waiter's eyebrows raised a bit and turned to Ayano. "And for you young lady?"
"Oh uh, I'll have uh… water." Ayano sputtered.
The waiter wrote down the orders on a note pad and walked off toward the kitchen.
Ayano sighed, "This is turning out to be a boring night… "
Kazuma opened his eyes and lifted his head and frowned slightly. He started cautiously looking around.
"You're not going crazy on me, are you, Kazuma?" Ayano teased.
He said nothing.
"Kazuma? Hey, Kazuma! I'm talking to you."
After a little while, Kazuma stopped and resumed his usual position.
"Kazuma, what was that all about? You looked really worried." Ayano said in a concerned voice.
Kazuma opened his eyes and looked at her.
Ayano waved her arms in front of her, "N-not that I care or anything!"
Kazuma yawned and ran his hand through his hair and closed his eyes again.
"What's with you today," questioned Ayano.
"Let's just say I didn't sleep well last night and leave it at that."
Ayano sighed, "You're doing it again…"
"Doing what?" Kazuma answered.
"Not telling me what's going on… y-you can trust me, right? So why won't you just tell me?" Ayano could feel tears welling up at her eyes. Kazuma looked at her, and Ayano crossed her arms and looked to the right to hide her expression. "I… I don't understand why he can't just tell me… is there something wrong with me..?"
Kazuma's ears twitched and he sat up straight, "Something tells me you'll find out soon enough."
His eyes widened. "We're leaving, now." He quickly got up and motioned towards Ayano, "Come on, we need to leave, NOW."
"But why? We haven't eaten yet and I'm hungry! This was supposed to be your way making up with me, now you've changed your mind?" Ayano shouted.
Kazuma shook his head, "You don't understand. You're in danger here. We need to leave!"
"What's going on? I'm not leaving until you tell me!" Ayano said defiantly.
Kazuma's ears twitched again. "There's no time." He swept Ayano up off her feet and took several steps backwards.
"Hey! What the hell are you doing?" Ayano struggled.
Kazuma sprinted forward and jumped shoulder first through the nearest glass window and into the night sky. Water exploded out from every window on the 8th floor, raining water and furniture down on the streets below. Kazuma flew to the nearest building top and set Ayano down on her feet.
Ayano brushed herself off, "What the hell just happened? Kazuma, explain!"
Kazuma landed in front of Ayano. "Well?" Ayano demanded.
"You heard the lady, yes… tell her what's going on, Kazuma," said a voice from behind them.
"Huh? Who said that?" Ayano spun around, but it was too dark to see anything.
Kazuma gritted his teeth, "Who's there? Come out where I can see you!"
The voice snickered and footsteps could be heard. A man in a long black coat stepped out from the shadows and into the fait city light, smiled wickedly, showing pointed teeth. "It's been a while, Kazuma… how have you been?" The man was very tall and handsome, and looked as if he was in his late twenties. His left eye was a deep blue color, just like Kazuma's contractor eyes, but his right eye was a light gray color. He wore his long silver hair down to his waist.
Kazuma's hands tightened into fists, "Hayashi… so you are here…"
Hayashi spread his arms out to his sides, "Kazuma… I'm hurt. We haven't seen each other in two years, and that's all you have to say to me?" he said in a fake voice.
Ayano looked at Hayashi and back to Kazuma, "Hey, who's he, an old friend?"
"Well, you could say that, little princes. You see I used to be, well… how do I put this…" Hayashi answered. He scratched his chin, "I used to be Kazuma's partner."
Ayano's eyes widened in surprise, "What? Kazuma, you never told me you had a partner!" Ayano crossed her arms. "Shows how much you trust me…"
"He was never my partner… we only worked together on occasion…" Kazuma replied angrily. He looked up at Hayashi, "Why don't you tell me why you're here, Hayashi?"
Hayashi cocked his head slightly, "Oh? So it isn't obvious? I've come take back what you've stolen from the Suiji Clan."
Ayano turned to Kazuma, "Huh? The Suiji clan? Who are they?" Ayano inquired.
Kazuma took a few steps forward, "They are a clan of powerful Sui-Jutsu (Water Magic) users from Western Japan."
Ayano crossed her arms and raised an eyebrow, "And… you stole something from them…" Ayano said plainly. Kazuma didn't answer. Ayano sighed and turned towards Hayashi. "So… I guess you were the one who flooded the building with water then?"
Hayashi grinned gingerly, "Yep that was me! Pretty cool, huh?"
"But you may have hurt or killed the other guests by doing that!" Ayano shouted indignantly.
Hayashi laughed loudly, "Why the hell should I care? They didn't even deserve to live in the first place! I say I'd have done them a favor in ending their mediocre lives prematurely!" He grinned from ear to ear, "You understand, right?"
Ayano was horrified. This man seemed truly evil. His aura of power was intoxicating. "How can a person like this even exist?" She shook her head. "I have to put an end to this." She looked around and observed her surroundings, "There's no water around, I can take him!"
Ayano held out her hand, "Enraiha, come forth!" Flames whirled around her and the sacred Kannagi sword materialized in her hand.
Kazuma grabbed her shoulder, "Ayano, no. He's too powerful for you to handle."
She shrugged of Kazuma's hand, "Hmmph! You watch me beat this guy!" Ayano turned towards Hayashi, "Hey you! You're going down!"
Hayashi smiled, "So that's the fabled sword Enraiha, eh? It's smaller than I thought. Oh well, it will still make a good trophy." He licked his thumb and exhaled loudly.
Ayano shook with anger, "Shut up you! Take this!" Ayano swung Enraiha sideways towards Hayashi and sent a large fireball flying towards him. It was about to make contact with its target when the fireball suddenly exploded into a huge cloud of steam with a loud *SSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS!* The whole area was covered in a fog.
"Did I get him?" Ayano shifted her stance slightly.
Kazuma frowned angrily and blew air through his teeth. As the fog cleared, Hayashi was standing behind a huge wall of water. He laughed loudly, "Nice shot! That almost hit me!"
Ayano staggered back. "Wh-what? How did he? There's no water around here!"
"He can control the water in the air around him. You won't be able to touch him with such a weak attack." Kazuma took a step back.
Ayano shot him a dirty look, "You could have told me that BEFORE I pissed him off!"
"You wouldn't listen anyway!" Kazuma shouted at her. Ayano was taken back in surprise by Kazuma's outburst.
Hayashi's barrier dropped and the water fell to the ground, "Aww, fighting amongst ourselves, are we? You really should pay more attention." He shook his head.
Ayano turned around, "What?" Ayano yelled. A huge stream of water smashed into Ayano with devastating force and pummeled her against the ground. She didn't move.
"Hayashi! You bastard!" Kazuma yelled furiously and flung two wind blades at his enemy. Hayashi tilted slightly to the side and dodged both of them without a scratch.
"Now now Kazuma, I only came here to take back what belongs to the Suiji Clan, not to kill her… she should be alive… I was given orders not to kill any of the Kannagi so as not to start an unwanted feud…" he smiled wickedly, "…but they didn't say I couldn't kill you!"
Kazuma took a defensive stance. Hayashi formed a water spike in the air and froze it. Kazuma's eyes widened.
"Hah… bet you didn't know I could do this," laughed Hayashi. He pointed a finger towards Kazuma and the spike flew towards him at a tremendous speed. Kazuma was caught off guard and jumped to the right a little too late. The spike rammed itself into his waist and sent him flying back and onto the ground. The shock set into his body and he could hardly move. Crimson blood bathed his shirt and hands as he clutched at his wound.
Hayashi walked over to where Kazuma lay and crouched down to his level, "It would be a shame if I killed you when you hadn't even put up a fight… so I am going to spare you this time… but I will defeat in the near future, and when that happens, I won't let you walk away with your life… old friend." Hayashi snickered and put his hands in his coat pockets. He stood up and walked to the edge of the roof, "Until we meet again." Then he jumped.
Kazuma breathed heavily and sat up. He fit his hands around the pike and slowly pulled it out. As he did, his vision flashed red and yellow. When he had managed to dislodge the object from his waist, Kazuma called upon his wind magic to heal himself. "Ugh… that bastard… I never thought he'd go this far."
It was morning when Ayano slowly came to. She sleepily sat up and the sleep out of her eyes. As her vision began to focus she realized she was in her room and her dress was folded neatly on the foot of her bed. Ayano gasped and memories of the previous night came flooding back, "That's right! I was defeated so easily… how could I have been so weak?"
Then, something else caught her attention. She heard the sound of faint breathing to her left. The turned her head slightly to see what was making the noise. It was Kazuma, he asleep on a chair next to her bed.
"Morning Ayano," said her father Jūgo's voice. He was standing in the doorway to her room smiling down upon her. "Thank goodness you're okay. When Kazuma brought you here you were unconscious and suffering from a slight concussion. We dried you off and undressed you. Kazuma put you into your bed and was content to watch over you until you woke up. It seems he's been here all night."
Ayano looked at the soundly sleeping Kazuma. His chest slowly rose and fell and there were dark circles under his eyes. "Was he really that worried about me?" Ayano blushed slightly at the thought of Kazuma caring for her.
"I'll send for a maid to fetch you your breakfast. After you're done eating, come see me in the main hall. There is much we need to discuss." Jūgo exited the room.
Ayano turned towards Kazuma and looked over him once more. His shirt and jacket were bloody at the waist, "That idiot… he should have been looking after himself, not me." Ayano could feel her ears becoming hot. "Maybe he's not so bad after all." Then, another thought crossed her mind, "Wait... does that mean he saw me in my… underwear?" …
End of Chapter 1
Credits:
Idea/Writing: Me,
Beta Reader: blodie-moyashi