A little story plot thingy I came up with while bored and having too much spare time on my hands. Something that should be avoided at all costs. Thank you and have a wonderful read +.+

Chapter One

At the sound of hooves approaching, Ayano quickly sheathed Enraiha. It wouldn't do if anyone were to see her messing around with her flame sword. She exhaled when she noticed it was only Ren, her second cousin. It'd been careless of her to practice out in the open without her usual disguise. The redhead waited for Ren to dismount before she began scolding him.

"You should know better than to sneak up on me like that," she admonished. "You know how paranoid I get."

"Sorry, Ayano." It was then she saw the troubled look on her blonde cousin's face.

"Never mind. Is something wrong?" Ayano asked as she drew Enraiha. "Did something follow you here?"

Ren looked in alarm at the flaming sword in her hands. "Oh no, it's not that kind of trouble."

Ayano frowned, once again putting Enraiha away. "Then what is it?"

She wished Ren would just get to the point. Perhaps, her father had invited that awful foreigner, Catherine. Just the thought of her made Ayano angry. "Is it Catherine?"

Ren shook his head, looking as if he were having a hard time getting the words out. Realizing he looked like he was a step away from crying, Ayano immediately softened her tone. "Ren, you can tell me anything. Did Cousin Genma say something?"

"No, it's . . . Kazuma's back," he managed in a choked voice.

"Who?" asked Ayano, clueless. She wracked her brain for any memory regarding someone named Kazuma. "Is that the suitor that tried to make a move on you?"

"What? No!" Ren widened his eyes. "You don't know who Kazuma is?"

"Can't say I do," Ayano stated slowly. She knew the name was familiar, but she had yet to associate it with a face.

"That's so mean," Ren stated. "I can't believe you don't remember my older brother."

"Older brother?" Ren didn't have an older brother. Or did he? "Wait, is that the guy I beat to the throne? Yeah, I think it is. I kicked his ass! Though I have to admit, he didn't put up much of a fight."

The light in Ren's eyes dimmed at the bashing of his older brother. "You don't have to be so mean, Ayano."

Ayano ruffled the boy's blonde hair. "Hey, don't worry. I wasn't doing it to be mean."

Ren failed to what help that was; she had just stated indirectly that his older brother was weak. Although, Ren had yet to see his older brother, he was just happy he was back. It'd been four years since Kazuma had been banished, Ren felt as if it'd just been yesterday. And Kazuma hadn't even said goodbye-he'd just left. Well, Ren was going to find him, and when he did, he'd question his older brother on his disappearance.

"So where is he?" Ayano asked, gazing around. As if, perhaps, Ren's older brother would appear out of thin air.

"He's in Japan, but he's not in the fire kingdom," whispered Ren, glancing around at the rolling hills as if searching for eavesdroppers.

"Where'd you hear that?" asked Ayano, with a trace of doubt. Perhaps, Ren had heard wrong. After all why would Kazuma suddenly come back? The last she'd heard of him, which was several years ago, he was somewhere abroad. 'Finding his own path' as she'd heard her father, Jugo Kannagi say.

"I overheard my father talking to yours." Ren looked slightly worried. "It didn't sound good. They think Kazuma's the new wind magic user the other kingdoms have been talking about-"

"But that's crazy!" interrupted Ayano. "How could he suddenly become a wind user? He couldn't even control fire. But then wind is a less strong form."

Ren looked saddened at Ayano's words. His redheaded cousin sighed, "Alright. I'm guessing you want to find your older brother, right?"

Suddenly, the blonde bishonen smiled brightly. "Yeah."

"Well that settles it," declared Ayano. She had a bad feeling about this. But like the many other times she had, she ignored it. After all, there was no fun if she listened to everything her father said. If it was up to him, being the head of the Kannagi clan and ruler of the fire kingdom, he'd have her locked inside the palace at all times. "So do you have a lead?"

O~O~O

"Dad is so going to kill me if he finds out," moaned Ayano. She sat next to Ren in the carriage. Across from them sat her two best friends Nanase Kudo and Yukari Shinomiya.

"I didn't say you had to come along," Ren pointed out. "If you were so worried you should have stayed back."

Ayano frowned. "As if! I couldn't miss out on this. And thanks guys. You don't know how much this means to Ren and me." When Ren had mentioned his plan, Ayano had been more than certain her father would never agree to it. That was until she remembered Nanase and Yukari were going to Chusei Okoku for the autumn celebration, otherwise known to Ayano as the Neutral Zone. As far as she knew, Nanase and Yukari were only the handful of people in the fire kingdom that knew about element users and the purpose of the four kingdoms-three now, since the collapse of the wind kingdom several hundred years ago.

"Oh, it's no big deal," Nanase waved it off. She wore an expensive silk kimono her parents had gifted her on her seventeenth birthday last year. As a merchant in troubled times, it was quite a feat for her father to purchase such finery. But then the Kudo family was quite well off, compared to other merchant families.

Yukari was, as usual, dressed in another splendid pink kimono. Both her parents were nobles, so Yukari was able to indulge in as many luxuries as the rich could afford.

However, Ayano was dressed in a plain kimono. She realized her drab garment when she first climbed into the carriage with Ren after bidding her father and Cousin Genma farewell. They'd be away for a week, at the very least. When Ayano had confided in Nanase and Yukari about Ren's dilemma, they'd immediately offered to help them leave the kingdom. The two girls were on their way to the Neutral Zone; the timing couldn't have been more perfect. It was moments like these, Ayano truly realized how lucky she was to have her friends.

Once again, Ayano was struck by the strange friendship the three shared. The trio came from different backgrounds and each had a different upbringing as was evident in their personalities. But still they remained the best of friends.

"So what's your brother like?" asked Yukari. She glanced at Ren who had been staring out the carriage at the passing scenery.

Ren screwed up his face in concentration. He was so young when his brother left without a word. Although Ren knew it wasn't Kazuma's fault he'd had to leave, his older brother could have at least said goodbye to him. Perhaps when they finally came face to face, Ren could convince Kazuma to come back to the fire kingdom, back to the Kannagis. "I don't remember much of my brother. He left when I was little."

Nanase glanced at Ren with a sad look in her eyes. Ayano knew her blue-haired friend was thinking of her own older brother who had perished in a war. "I'm sure he'll be happy to see you, Ren," smiled Nanase.

"You think so?" asked Ren. At Nanase's nod, his face broke out into a smile befitting his naturally cheerful demeanor.

As time passed by, Ayano grew bored, fidgeting in her seat often. It got the point that Ren pressed himself closer to the opposite side. But Ayano couldn't help herself; the carriage ride was taking too long. She was almost begging for the carriage to stop for whatever reason. Five minutes later her pleading was answered.

"I wonder what happened," murmured Nanase as she stepped down from the carriage. Ayano decided to follow suit so she could stretch her aching legs. They were on a travel-worn path through a small forest. There were trees on either side of the road. The redhead peered into the trees; it was almost nightfall and darkness was rapidly approaching. She shivered as she sensed someone watching them. Peering into the woods, Ayano could see nothing.

"Must have been my imagination," she muttered to herself. Before she climbed back into the carriage she cast one last glance over her shoulder. Still nothing.

Nanase joined them a few seconds later. "Reisuke just had to fix the wheel. Apparently it was coming loose."

Just then the carriage lurched forwards, nearly making Ayano bump her head on the roof. It was nightfall by the time they reached a travelling inn. Finally, Ayano sighed. She'd been thinking they would never reach the inn. The redhead was the last to exit from the vehicle. She took a closer look at the place they'd be staying for the night. At least it wasn't too shabby.

Yukari took the lead and purchased two rooms for the night. Feeling sticky from the humidity, Ayano decided to take a bath. She was irritated when the owner informed her that the bathhouse was located outside. It was already too dark outside, but Ayano couldn't bear to sleep in sweat. Maybe Ren would be willing to wait with her; Nanase and Yukari were already asleep in the room across from them.

"Ren," Ayano whispered. He stirred, groaning in his sleep. "Ren." This time she whispered louder. Again he didn't wake. "Ren!" Startled, Ren quickly spun in his small bed and toppled to the ground.

"Ayano," he whined, rubbing his head.

She hoped Ren would understand her dilemma and take pity on her. When Ayano had finished telling him how she couldn't bathe without anyone to hold a lantern out in the dark, he flushed a deep red. However, the sweet nature of Ren's did not allow him to refuse Ayano's plea for help. "Alright. But you have to make it fast."

The two tiptoed downstairs, careful not to wake the other occupants of the house. Near the fireplace, drinking a big mug of ale was the owner of the inn, a giant of a man with dark hair and coloring. He glanced up when he heard someone descending. "Is there anything you need?" he asked politely when Ayano and Ren stepped into view.

"Actually we were looking for a lantern," answered Ren. "We'd be much obliged if you could help us."

"Sure," the man stood. He towered over Ayano, making her feel as if she was a little child. The owner went behind the desk and retrieved a lit lantern and a matchbox. "Here you go."

"Thanks," Ayano smiled.

The owner frowned at her, concentrating on her face. "You look slightly familiar. Have we met before?"

"Uh, no, you must be mistaken. This is the first time I've stepped outside Chusei Okoku," Ayano blatantly lied.

The man stroked his beard, "Oh, really. Then I must have been mistaken. I apologize."

When they exited the warmth and familiarity of the inn, Ren questioned her about her lie. "I don't see why you had to lie to him about where we came from."

"Oh, don't worry," Ayano stated flippantly. "What he doesn't know won't hurt him."

She glanced around the back of the inn. Surely that little shed couldn't be the bathhouse. It was so small. Ayano pushed open the wooden door; at least the bath provided some form of privacy. She looked up; there was a gaping hole in the roof. "Oh well," she grunted. Peeking outside to make sure Ren's back was against flimsy wooden door, Ayano stripped out of her kimono and placed it carefully on a wooden stool that carried several dirty washrags and a small bar of soap. She glanced distastefully at the bath supplies. The wooden tub was empty. Ayano sighed; maybe she should have filled the tub before taking her clothing off. Only in her bare undergarments, Ayano gratefully gathered water in a bucket from a water pump inside the bath. She dipped a finger into the freezing cold water, shivering. Once the bath was filled, Ayano dipped a finger in the water warming it. Being a fire user had its perks.

Ayano's bath time was cut short when she heard Ren's cry of distress. Shooting out of the bath, Ayano quickly drew on her kimono shouting for Ren. She didn't care that her kimono was wet and her undergarments were now lying on the dirty ground. Banging open the door, with a summoned Enraiha she looked like a person not to be trifled with. "Where is it Ren?" she asked, slashing in a random direction. Whatever it was had extinguished the light of the lantern.

However the glow of fire surrounding Enraiha gave her some light to move around in. Ayano heard her name being called by Ren, followed by the striking of a match. A few seconds later, the lantern was lit. Ren was standing a few feet away.

"What's wrong?" Ayano asked, whipping around in all directions, barefoot.

Ren looked completely bewildered. "Should something be wrong?"

"Weren't you crying out for help?" There didn't seem to be anything amiss in the surrounding area. Well as far as Ayano could see.

"Oh, that." Ren looked slightly sheepish and a bit ashamed. "The light from the lantern went out."

"What?" asked Ayano, dumbfounded. "So I-your scream-aren't you a fire user?"

The blonde bishonen looked down at the ground. "Uh, yes. But I was surprised at how fast the light went out that I didn't have time to think. And it was dark."

Ayano sighed.

Find out what the next chapter holds in store for Ren and Ayano. Will they find Kazuma? Maybe, maybe not. Let me know how this chapter went; review. That is a command, soldier +.+