Chapter 1

"That's how it is"

They were sitting in awkward silence. His eyes never leaving the Suzerain's, he noticed something stirring beneath. Incredulity? Disappointment? Probably both. But yet he didn't question his calibre, which Yagami Kazuma considered to be a relief. Apart from the Suzerain, everyone believed him to be some sneaky murderer. As if he didn't have better things to do.

But another fact of consideration was that if were indeed a murderer, he wouldn't be in the Kannagi household, in front of the Suzerain, sharing his reminiscences of his time outside the country but were the Kannagis sane enough to notice that? No they weren't. They never were.

"I have been willing to ask you this, Kazuma" said Juugo, the Suzerain. "Why did you leave?" Kazuma could tell that he had waited to ask this all along.

"Both Otou-san and Okaa-san said there was no other way around it but to kick me out"

"And you didn't think of telling me about this? Have I become that unreliable?" he didn't want to discuss this or rather he didn't take all the pain to come here just for Juugo to reason him for his actions four years ago.

"Ren's in trouble" he repeated, "Now if we can talk business, it would be really nice of you" he mocked. Juugo sensed the finality in his voice and nodded.

"Of course, bring it in" he announced and a there was sudden shifting of the door by a man carrying stack of papers. "There are a number of wind-users matching your description, Kazuma" Juugo said, "Here" and he handed a certain bunch of papers. Kazuma flipped lazily through them, "This guy" he said and shoved the paper on the floor. Juugo tilted his head deep in thought, his expression turning to apprehension.

Name- Ryuuya Kazamaki

"I suspected so," began the Suzerain, "he had been ill for too long"

"The enemy is the Fuuga Clan" he said.

"Finally revolting, aren't they?" As far as Kazuma knew, Fuuga were what they called the 'subordinates' of the Kannagis but 'subordinates' was just naming it fancy. Fuuga were slaves. They must have been planning this for years. To rebel for freedom.

"Perhaps you're right. This was bound to happen sooner or later" There was slight regret in his voice. They had always taken the Fuugas as granted and this was only the consequence. On a different note, it was entirely different issue for Kazuma. His focus was only rescuing Ren. Kannagis live or they die, it didn't matter to him.

"Why they have taken Ren?" Ren, even though being from the head family, didn't pose as much importance as the Suzerain or Genma. Misaki too would have been another story but Ren's kidnap was not making sense.

"He's being held hostage," Juugo replied "for using his body as a sacrifice"

An old pain resurfaced within Kazuma as if he had felt it only yesterday.

'I wasn't born to be eaten by a devil'

He clenched his fist hard and the pushed the thought away. Now wasn't the time.

Juugo was about to continue but he looked at the door and Kazuma did the same. He felt a presence and very powerful one. It wasn't of a Kannagi but the person was a fire-user. The door shifted open, revealing a tall, fair girl with brown hair tied up in a braid. She was wearing a blue sleeveless top with white shrug and casual black pant.

"Oji-san! I am back!" she said, and Kazuma noticed that her one arm was bleeding but a layer of cloth suggested that she had tried to hide it.

"Ayano" Juugo's features relaxed and he smiled.

Ayano? The name sounded familiar but he couldn't quite place it in his memory. "Kazuma. I don't think you would be remembering her, she's Ayano," Juugo told him and the girl slightly bowed, "Ayano, this is Kazuma" but Kazuma didn't bother to return the gesture.

"You two would be working together for a while" he said. Ayano threw him a quizzical look. "Ayano, my child, listen to this and listen well" she looked surprised but only nodded, "Red had been kidnapped last night by the Fuuga Clan" her eyes grew wide but she didn't interrupt, "To your earlier question, Kazuma, Ren is a member of the head family. Maybe telling you a part of history would clarify matters. Around 300 years ago, Kannagis and Fuugas had absolutely no relation."

That was kind of obvious. Wind and fire don't go along that well.

" Fuugas had indulged themselves in too many criminal activities. At that time, they were the only wind-users so perhaps out of pride; they let the darkness claim them. But then we crossed paths and we came out to be victorious. We managed that only because we sealed their Deity, a Youma"

"Youma?" interrupted Ayano, unable to bear her curiosity. Juugo nodded.

"Yes, Youma" Ayano blinked, "Youma is not something to be afraid of, Uncle" she said. Juugo sighed heavily. "Ayano, you have to work on your flaw or it's going to be fatal for you, one day" Kazuma frowned and Ayano looked at the floor, clearly embarrassed. "What flaw?" he asked. "The flaw of underestimating her enemies" answered Juugo and Ayano's blush deepened. "As I was saying, we did seal the Youma and in order to keep an eye on the Fuugas, we forced them to serve us. But before we knew it, generations have passed with them serving us. They have developed a grudge against us. A grudge with a very good reason."

"It is unforgivable" Ayano said quietly. "Whatever reasons they might have, abducting Ren doesn't solve anything!"

"They didn't abduct Ren just to show their power. If I am not wrong, Ren is being used as a sacrifice for reviving their deity" Kazuma struggled with his emotions.

An image of a sorrowful past flashed in his mind. The godly beauty bleeding all over...her eyes which never showed sadness before were shedding tears now...

'Can you protect me, Kazuma?'

He clenched his fist and gritted his teeth.

Ayano gasped. "S-Sacrifice?" Juugo's silence said more than his words. He cleared his throat.

"Anyhow, it would be better, if you two head out now. Time is ticking away" she got up instantly and bowed.

"Leave it to us" said he, "but do ready my payment" Ayano's mouth opened idiotically.

"Name the price and you'll get it" Now her mouth was big enough to stuff mice in it. But maybe she wasn't allowed to question because she kept her shock to herself.

"Let's go, we have a brother to save"