Birthdays were typically looked towards with excitement, especially for the younger generations. However, Kazuma Yagami had made it painfully aware to everyone that he was not interested in even acknowledging his birthday that year. Ren tried to plead with his beloved brother to show some sort of enthusiasm for the event, but it was shrugged off. Ayano watched cautiously from a distance and grinned wickedly to herself. She would find some way to orchestrate a whole extravaganza for the big drama queen. That way he would be stuck in a painfully awkward situation and have to deal with it for the whole night. She chuckled as she walked into the store. The thought bubble appeared in mist and she could see it now. A rosy-faced Kazuma decked in a party hat covered in streamers and surrounded by people. He'd be furious! The store manager waved her down and excitedly told her that her order was ready. She went to thank him when a scream tore through the plaza. Ayano wasted no time in bursting from the shop, leaving the shopkeeper shouting after her.
There was a young girl, no older than eight years old being dragged into the alley by some creature with tentacles that appeared to be coated in green slime.
"Enraiha come forth! " Ayano commanded and grasped the handle of the ancient blade tightly. Her eyes flicked back and forth quickly from the monster to the screaming girl. The little girl looked to her pleadingly with bright blue eyes. It was a manner of moments and Ayano was slicing away at the beast. An arm uncurled around the girl's mouth and upper body and she began to wiggle furiously. The elder fire mage worked on the Yoma, desperately dancing around it to lure it's attention away from its current pray. The slimy beast gurgled at her and she smirked at it.
"Come on, you slimy bastard show me what you really can do" She taunted and launched a fireball at it. It screeched and release the little girl that scampered away screaming for her mother. A quick sigh of relief from Ayano, now she didn't have to hold back. She screamed and launched forward and slashed furiously at the beast. She panting and actually breaking a sweat at the fight the creature gave her and to her horror, the beast seemed to multiply with each pass of Enraiha and although the fire made it mad it didn't seem too effective. A wrong step and Ayano was sent tumbling against a wall of boxes and knocking over several buckets of water onto herself and splashing across the alley floor. The beast screeched in agony as if it had been burned and it recoiled away from her. Ayano narrowed her eyes and focused beyond her dripping hair. The water causes it pain! She gasped in realization. She stood and caught aflame. The slime-coated beast followed her motions. She grinned and took off down the alleyway with the beast quick at her heels. It was a beacon to flame and couldn't resist her. It would follow her blindly to consume her fire. Even off a building and into a large fountain.
It was a long shot but he was fast and she trusted him no matter how much she told him she didn't. It was that faith that sent Ayano climbing up steps three at a time till she reached the top floor of a building. She was huffing healthy at this point and causing enough of a scandal that people screeched to try to avoid her. It was just what she needed, the silhouette of the fountain/pond several flights bellow was in view. It's now or never. And then there was a crash.
She broke through the window just as she felt the tentacles coil around her.
"Kazuma!" she screamed. Panic rose to her chest as the surface of the shallow water became more clear.
"Oh no…" She said and squealed at the smack of the flat surface of the still water. The beast gave one last howl before disintegrating into green mist. She groaned and turned to be face up in the water. Her bones ached and she was incredibly tired. I was so stupid to think he'd always be there to catch me… she thought before slipping into unconsciousness.
…
Ayano sighed awake and slowly blinked before taking in the surroundings. Soft satin sheets splayed around her. She recognized the walls and the clutter.
"You do realize I am the only wind mage in this room right?" A deep-voiced asked from a corner of the room. Ayano angled her head towards the sound and locked eyes with the bemused expression of the contractor. She glared at him.
"Where were you?" She growled and winced as she sat up. Kazuma eyes her and cocked his head in confusion.
"Does it matter? You defeated the Yoma all on your own, recklessly and dramatically, but I'm beginning to sense that is just your sense of style." He teased. Ayano grit her teeth and impulsively lunged at him but her legs gave out from underneath her. She swallowed a whimper.
Kazuma had her in an instant. Her knees gently kissed the carpet and her arms hung limply at her sides but she let her head rest against his chest as he circled his arms around her.
She was stiff at first but eased into him once he began to stroke her wild hair. Her body was painted in green and purple bruises from the impact. But she was strong and healing fast because her being a mage, this fact didn't settle the sinking feeling in his chest when he looked at her. He moved his lips to the shell of her ear.
"I know you don't want me to feel like I have to protect you, but next time you decide to jump off a building can you at least make sure I'm within range to catch you?" He asked. She sighed and leaned in deeper into the cook of his neck. Kazuma felt the hairs on his arms stand on end at her breath on his skin.
Sure they knew how each other felt but Kazuma was taking it slow for her sake. She was young and still so innocent. He would let her come to him. But the feel of her, the smell of vanilla and cherry blossoms in her hair and now her warm lips against his neck were maddening.
"Well I did call out for you" She grumbled against his neck before leaning back to look at him. She gave him a small smile.
"Happy Birthday, Kazuma" She said and he grimaced immediately.
"I told you that-" He began but was caught off guard by the soft lips against his own. He couldn't move for a moment. Ayano was red faced but gave him another small smile. Come on just a breath for courage. She told herself.
"Stop talking" She commanded and leaned in and this time Kazuma was ready for it and cupped her face. His movements were slow and his tongue encouraging along the seam of her mouth. She opened hesitantly and let her tongue tangle with his. There was a rush of confidence and excitement and she circled her arms around her neck. Kazuma's arm that was not cupping Ayano's face curled around her waist and then pressed on her lower back to bring her closer to him. She arched into him and took a moment to gasp a breath.
Kazuma just moved his attention to her neck and kissed her there, his arms stroking up and down her sides. Ayano almost chuckled, he had warned her that he was greedy and selfish. Selfish indeed. She thought as she felt his fingers grip her thighs and bring her into his lap. It was as if her body instinctively knew what to do as she ground her hips into his. She found his mouth again and moaned into his lips when his hands went from her thighs to her behind to squeeze.
They both became very aware of the stiffening in Kazuma's pants and the dampness of Ayano's underwear. It was escalating so quickly and neither had any intention of stopping but one false movement of Ayano's back and she yelped. Kazuma stopped and Ayano tried to hide her wince.
"I'm sorry" She apologized but he shook his head and scooped her up in his arms and carried her to the bathroom.
"I'll set up a bath for you. Epsom salts and warmth will help with the pain." He said as he deposited her on top of the closed-lidded toilet seat. He kissed her forehead and went in search of the needed supplies in the linen closet. Ayano made sure he was out of sight before fishing out her phone and typed some quick instructions to Nanase and Yukari before clicking her phone shut and setting it aside on the bathroom countertop.
She stood and walked back into the bedroom to look at herself in the standing mirror. She was covered in bruises and frowned at their appearance on her normally creamy white skin. She narrowed her eyes to one in particular on her neck. It was more red than purple and fresh. She smiled at Kazuma's work, she wouldn't mind that bruise too much.
"Ayano" Kazuma called from the bathroom. She peeked in and saw the bath already made. The calming smell of lavender and chamomile wafted through the bathroom. He stepped back and let her walk to the tub. It was one of the sweetest things he had ever done for her. Ayano's heart warmed until Kazuma made a snide comment.
"Call for me when you're ready for me to join you." He chuckled and easily dodged the candlestick that aimed for his head. He closed the door to give her some privacy. He chewed on the inside of his cheek, he knew he falling for the little she-devil more and more each day. But he would still keep to the promise he had made himself, to keep it slow. She is still untouched, don't need to scare her away from you now. He would like to think that they had all the time in the world, however, nearly every major event in his life proved otherwise. One never really knew how much time they had. There was a knock on the door. Odd? Kazuma didn't sense Ren although there was the distinct sound of light footsteps scurrying down the hall. He opened the door and noticed a small box that was wrapped in blue striped paper. To Kazuma was written in Ayano's messy script. He sighed, she was insufferable. He didn't want his birthday to be celebrated. It was just another hassle and would bring up the past. In the four years away from his family, Kazuma had never celebrated a single birthday.
He never told them why. It was just too much to handle especially with the recent events with Lapis and Berndtheart. Tsui- Ling died on his birthday. They were celebrating, going out to dinner as usual when Erwin, a man Kazuma had worked with and had thought he'd known as a friend, stopped them on the street.
He asked the young couple to come to his place for a drink. Kazuma declined quickly and almost rudely, he had wanted to spend the night with Tsui-Ling all to himself. However, she was a good woman was too polite and insisted they go to cover Kazuma's previous rudeness. The rest was known. His lover murdered before his eyes for the sake of the feeding off Kazuma's anguish and fear.
He knew Ayano suspected something and was desperately trying to build a path towards a better future with new memories not filled with regret. Kazuma sighed he'd humor her. He sat on the bed and began to unwrap the small box A mahogany box lay beneath, he pulled back the top and stared curiously at the smooth, gold face of the pocket watch. Practical. Kazuma thought. He never had a pocket watch because phones had always been a good enough source to tell the time, but he admired the classic regality of the timepiece. He opened the watch and took a quick intake of breath. There was a picture or Ayano, Ren and himself, all smiling at the amusement park after another successful case.
Whatsmore, there was an engraving on the back. To begin again.
Kazuma felt his chest grow heavy. Gods he loved her.
Back in the bathroom, Ayano was nearly asleep in the water. She was vaguely aware of the opening and closing of the door. What took her completely by surprise was the introduction of another body in the water. She screeched behind gritted teeth but the sound melted away with the introduction of Kazuma's mouth. He pulled her close. Ayano's face grew red and hot at the feel of his bare skin but she soon revealed in the felling. Especially when his fingers danced across her body.
He worshipped her neck with his mouth and grazed his thumbs over her nipples. She gasped and braced her hands against his shoulders.
"Kazuma…" She breathed and let her head fall back over the lip of the tub. His lips moved the pink nipples that were beading against the cool air above the water. His hand that wasn't supporting her back ghosted below her navel to a small thatch of curls. Ayano's reflexively went to squeeze together but Kazuma's hips kept them apart. Her heart was hammering in her chest as his fingers slipped in and out of her without mercy. Her fingers pressed against his neck and up his scalp to bury in his dark shaggy hair.
"Please" She whispered but she didn't know what she was begging for. For his to stop? Dear gods, no. For him to go faster and grant her release? She was more inclined to the latter. So much delicious tension and she gave a silent scream as she came. The water of the tub began to bubble with the heat Ayano was giving off. Kazuma winced slightly at the heat but still his panting lover in his arms. She touched his cheek with a damp and shaky hand. She grazed her thumb over his cheek. His eyes were dark with want. He must have gotten the gift. She smiled internally and Kazuma rested his forehead against hers.
She inclined her head up to the man and kissed him once more. The kiss was soft and tender. Even with closed eyes, Kazuma managed to scoop her up out of the water and onto the bed. Neither of them caring that they were soaking the sheets. Kazuma was hovering over her and rubbing his member at her entrance. Ayano moaned before looking up into his warm brown eyes. They searched her face for any hesitation, instead, they found her smile.
"I love you, Kazuma" She whispered. For a second she could have sworn she noted a sheen over his eyes but they closed and captured her lips. Kazuma slowly inched his member inside. Ayano stiffened at the pressure to which Kazuma kissed at her temple and slowly sheathed himself completely inside. It wasn't terribly uncomfortable but she definitely needed a second to adjust. It was no matter to her lover that continued his ministrations at her breasts and clit. She moaned again and with that Kazuma began to move. She was like a vice around him, Kazuma could barely keep it together, especially when she began to move her hips in time with his.
Always one for a challenge. He chuckled and flipped their positions so that she could ride him as hard and as fast as she wanted. She braced her hands on his chest and panted as she bounced her hips up and down.
They groaned each other's names until climax in which Ayano collapsed on top of Kazuma. He stroked her hair.
"Thank you, Ayano." He said. Ayano rolled her head to his shoulder.
"For what?" She asked. She'd make him say it. He smiled at the ceiling.
"For letting me love you" He said with a kiss to her brow. She grinned against the skin of his shoulder. This would be their life and it would be one that the would spend without wasting a minute all because they had the chance to begin again.