Yoshida Kazumi was walking down the street with the schoolbag securely in her small, white fists, right before her hips, as she was heading towards school. It was a particularly warm and shiny morning. Winter seemed to be coming to an end however Yoshida's eyes were sad as if it was the grayest morning she had ever lived.

"Sakai-kun…" she thought

It has been months already since the day the Reiji Maigo Mystes, Sakai Yuji, her classmate and the boy she loved so deeply had mysteriously disappeared and no one seemed to be remembering his existence. It was as if the boy named Sakai Yuji had never lived in Misaki City, as if he had never been born. However Yoshida Kazumi remembered. There was no way she would forget! She had caught herself many times waking up in the morning, almost wishing that Sakai Yuji's silhouette would appear before her eyes to greet her. She immediately, mentally always cursed herself for that and her stupidity. Sakai Yuji had left Misaki City, left for good, and he had taken care of erasing his Existence along with it.

That was because Sakai Yuji was a Torch, a replacement of the real Sakai Yuji who was dead long time now, no, eaten by those monsters called Crimson Denizens, creatures from another world that fed upon human Existence. If a human got eaten, he was immediately replaced with a Torch, a replacement of person that had a tiny, blue flame inside their bodies but once that flame was burned out, the Torch would disappear, and no one would remember that person, as if the person had never been born. Every single clue he or she had left behind, such as photos and notes would immediately erase from the world as well. Was this what had happened to Yuji? No. That couldn't be, because Sakai Yuji was special.

Sakai Yuji was a Mystes, a Torch with a special Treasure inside. And Yuji had Reiji Maigo, the Midnight Lost Child inside him, a particularly rare Treasure that would restore the Torch's Power of Existence exactly at midnight every night. So it was impossible for Yuji's flame have burned out. Right?

These sad thoughts were rushing through Yoshida's head as she was walking down the well-known path to school. In reality there were many other things bothering her aside from Yuji's disappearance. It bothered her that he had gone to her…Yukari Hirai, no, Shana. They had both sent Yuji a note that he had to choose one of them. They waited for him in different spots of the city so he would come to one of them. The last person he met with was her…Shana. Not Yoshida, but Shana. It pained her because this was another proof for her that Yuji loved Shana instead of her. He shared a lot in common with her rival after all. Shana was a Flame Haze, a person with special powers that had a contract with a Lord from Crimson World (Guze) in order to kill Denizens and protect the balance of the world. Her rival knew from the very beginning Yuji's nature. She was even training him how to control his Existence, planning to skip town together one day. How could Yoshida compete such a strong bond between them? However she had tried. She had tried with all her might, with all her love, to claim him. However it was now all over…

Sakai Yuji had left them both behind…

The school bell brought her back to reality, just at the entrance of the schoolyard. She increased the pace of her footsteps to enter her class.

"Good morning!" she heard a girly greeting

"Ogata-san…" Yoshida blinked.

Matake Ogata was a small-sized yet athletic girl with short-cut chestnut-red hair and bright green eyes. She was always smiling no matter what the situation. Yoshida always admired her cheerfulness and her strong nature.

"You seemed down!" Ogata continued, "Cheer up, will you?" and winked

"Mm!" Yoshida nodded, "Thanks, Ogata-san. I'll be fine."

She walked by an empty desk.

"Yukari-chan didn't come to school today either…" she thought.

Shana had skipped town a few days now. Apparently there was some mission she had to take care of. Of course no one at school seemed to notice her absence. Exactly like no one remembered Yuji Sakai. That very moment a tall boy that wore glasses entered the classroom. Their eyes met for a second. The boy immediately looked elsewhere and hurried taking his seat. Yoshida remained still for a second. She knew him. He was Ike Hayato. Her classmate and close friend had recently confessed his feelings for her (the very same day she and Shana had waited for Yuji's decision). She felt sorry she couldn't give him a straight answer yet and for now she couldn't return his feelings. She was feeling so confused right now! Apparently Ike was showing understanding once more and he was avoiding her to give her space. Perhaps this would be the best for them both. It still saddened her but she had no better choice for now.

Suddenly a single friendly greeting drew her attention; Strange, indeed since there was nothing unusual to that. The greeting was:

"Thank you for your notes, Teiichi-kun!"

Uehara Teiichi was just a classmate, so where was the problem someone thanking him for his notes? Well there would be none if…if Uehara Teiichi wasn't supposed to be in a trip for a baseball match! She turned her head sharply and her eye-pupils dilated in absolute surprise. There, on Uehara Teiichi's desk was sitting a completely different person but not an unknown person to her. It was a boy, a boy that looked younger than she was, perhaps at the age of ten, with chocolate-tanned skin and his body was full of scars. His hair was long and braided in a single, dark brown braid that reached down his back. His eyes were dark reddish-brown and piercing like two pieces of sharp glass that looked the world with the experience of no other person on earth would ever attain. On his back there was a long object covered in white cloth and to his left wrist there was an exotic piece of jewellery. He as dressed in a school uniform but there was no doubt who he was.

"Khamsin-san!" Yoshida Kazumi blurted out

Khamsin Nbh'w was a Flame Haze, and a very strong one that is. He was the person that had changed her life forever, the one who showed her the truth behind the world's mask; the truth about Guze and Torches and Flame Hazes. What was his title again? Oh, yes. He had introduced himself as Mobilizer of Ceremonial Equipment. He also said he was a Tuner (no matter what that thing was).

Hearing his name being called Khamsin (who had his arms crossed over his chest so far) blinked once and looked at her, calmly as always, without showing the tiny bit clue of emotion.

"Aaa" he said in his rich yet childish voice, "You are Kazumi Yoshida-san, right? It is a pleasure to see you once more"

He was always speaking with proper words, typical and clean.

"What…what are you doing here, Khamsin-san?" she asked once more

"We are just doing some research" the Middle-Eastern boy answered commonly

"Research?" Yoshida echoed in disbelief, "Why…Uehara-san's…"

"Aaa, I just used the Existence of the Torch named Uehara Teiichi, taking his place"

"Uehara-san…a Torch…?" Yoshida thought

And right after she said.

"How?"

"Aaa, it is just a common practice for Flame Hazes." Khamsin answered patiently, "We take a sample of the Torch's flame, permeating into its Existence. So in other words, I am Uehara Teiichi in everyone's eyes"

Yoshida was still confused, and a little terrified.

"But…you don't look alike at all…"

"It doesn't matter" the perennial Flame Haze answered, "It is all part of their minds"

"Hm, think of it like this, young lady" his contractor's voice answered through the bracelet, "When a Flame Haze gets into the Existence of a Torch then immediately creates a cloud around him, making others see their previous Torch friend"

"In other words" Khamsin said again, "When I engulfed the Power of Existence of that Torch, everyone believes this is how Uehara Teiichi originally looked like"

As if fate wanted to prove him right a student came in and greeted Khamsin as he passed by:

"Uehara-san, good morning!"

Yoshida Kazumi was at loss of words.

"So that is why Yukari-chan leaves town and no one seems to notice. If they are treated like Torches, when they leave…it is like they never existed…"

"So…" said she once more, "What are you researching on?"

Khamsin looked at her for a second before answering.

"We are searching of a particular Crimson Denizen" said he

"Apparently it was sensed here in Misaki City" his contractor, Behemoth, added

"Since we felt not the presence of Flaming-Haired-Blazing-Eyed Hunter or Chanter of Elegies, we decided to do some research ourselves"

"Hm, besides it was a Denizen we were after for some time now" Behemoth added

Yoshida didn't know what to think of it; whether she should be sad for Uehara's Existence being erased or for the fact that the person who did it was now here, sitting in his desk, commonly talking about it. She had tons of questions to make, but that moment the teacher came in.

"Sit down everyone" history teacher spoke strictly

Everyone sat down and the teacher started reading their names.

"Kirishiki"

"Here"

"Tanaka"

"Here"

"Kazumi"

"Here" Yoshida said.

And the teacher read more and more names till…

"Uehara"

She instinctively turned to look at Khamsin who hasn't spoken a word to respond.

"Uehara Teiichi-kun" the teacher repeated, glaring towards the desk Khamsin was sitting.

Khamsin barely raised his head and absolutely calmly, solemnly and with the greatest of formality he said.

"Is here"

"Hmm" the teacher mumbled as if he didn't expect such an answer and closed the book with the names, "Alright everyone open your books!"

The lesson seemed to be flowing like every other day. The teacher would explain and the students would put notes down to their notebooks. Occasionally Yoshida would look towards Khamsin with the corner of her eye, without even noticing she was doing it. He looked so different in the black school uniform instead of the orange hooded jumper he usually wore! However the grand object behind his back was making him stand too much, but he didn't seem to care. Khamsin Nbh'w had his eyes straight to the blackboard, without unfolding his arms from his chest, without taking any notes down, without even seem to pay attention to the sayings of the teacher. More likely he seemed like lost in his thoughts…or long memories. For a brief second, perhaps he felt her gaze upon him for he slightly tilted his head towards her, and their eyes met for the briefest moment when:

"Uehara Teiichi-kun!" the teacher said strictly "Why haven't you opened your books yet? And why aren't you taking any notes?"

Yoshida was getting worried, worried of how Khamsin would react to this. Usually, when Shana got scolded by teachers, was causing quite a fuss about it.

"Perhaps" the teacher continued, "you know the subject we're talking about way too well! Could you please, then, explain to us about the floods of the Nile?"

Yoshida was waiting, almost holding her breath.

"Yes, sir" Khamsin said calmly, almost obediently as he rose from his chair and stood strict and still like an actual student would.

And Khamsin started to talk, in a calm voice, as if telling a story he knew way too well.

"Once every year, when Sirius appears in the sky announcing the New Year, the snows on the South mountains would melt, causing the waters of the Nile to overflow from their banks, covering Egypt's land and once they withdraw, after four days, they would leave a layer of black mud behind, the mud that gave Egypt its ancient name. Khemet meant 'Black Land', the land of gods. People would offer the river sacrifices, offerings made of gold and amber, they would pray for Black Land's well being, so the flood wouldn't be either too small or too much, being beneficial and not catastrophic… Praying that god Seth's anger, for that year, would subside"

Everyone was blinking in confusion, as if taken by his narration to another era and time, cause indeed he had narrated this part in such a reassuring voice, as if telling a good bedtime fairy tale instead of historical facts. Yoshida wasn't an exception and neither was the teacher. He remained in his place, blinking a couple of times before finding his voice again he said:

"Er…well done Uehara-kun. You can take your seat"

And Khamsin did so, without saying a single word more.

The school bell rang announcing the school break. Khamsin suddenly stood from his chair, creaking it in the process (and causing many –if not all- of the students to look at im) and with his previous long tool still attached to his back, he walked out of the room. Yoshida was familiar with this kind of acting. Shana too preferred loneliness and isolation during her first days at school. Perhaps Khamsin wanted that too.

"Hm…it is unusual for you, show that much of emotion, is it not?" Behemoth said in his old voice to his contractor who was standing on the roof.

"Aaa…perhaps" Khamsin agreed solemnly while letting the wind caress his hair

"Why, I wonder?"

"Who knows?" Khamsin said softly, looking at the sky, "Perhaps…I felt a nostalgic feeling inside me…"

"Hm…nostalgia, eh?" Behemoth said

"Perhaps" Khamsin answered enigmatically once more, "But whatever the reason, it is already a long time ago"

"Hm…that's true…"

"Above everything, for the time being I haven't sensed any Denizen yet…everything seems calm so far"

"Hm…indeed it seems that way"

"And also…Kazumi Yoshida-san is also here…"

"Indeed…the map of this city she so kindly gave us was really useful this time"

"Aaa" Khamsin said in approval, "The images, this person, gave to us were clear, warm and full of passion. It was exactly what we needed in order for us to find our way in Misaki City once more"

"Hm…and you are worried about her?" Behemoth was making an observation, in spite that he was forming it as a question.

"Perhaps I am" Khamsin admitted thoughtfully, "We already involved her too much, it would be trouble for the balance of the world if yet another human got lost in this battle with Guze no Tomogara (Crimson Denizens) and so we would need to make yet another Torch"

"Hm" Behemoth murmured but it was unclear whether he fully agreed with his contractor's entire statement or not

Maybe he just didn't wanted to pressure him. For countless of years they had travelled together, having outmost respect for each other, coming to know each other's heart very well so both of them knew when to talk to each other and when to be silent. Behemoth saw this was one of the second cases so he changed the subject.

"Hm…do you believe she can sense us up here?"

"Aaa…it is a possibility but…" Khamsin seemed thoughtful, "But I am not sure she can feel our pulse yet. She is still a human after all, so it might be difficult for her to understand the pulse of the Power of Existence"

"Perhaps…"

No sooner had the Crimson Lord finished his sentence and Yoshida Kazumi appeared walking to the roof. She saw them and smiled.

"You were here, after all" she said

Khamsin seemed genuinely surprised, well as surprised his calm face would look.

"Aaa" he said as an answer, "How did you know we would be here? Did you sense us?"

"Well…" Yoshida blushed, "It is just…Yukari-chan always came here…so…I thought…"

"I see" Khamsin saved her the trouble explaining

"I see" he repeated in his head, "So she found us with pure logic…"

"A-Ano…" she started, getting him look at her

"What is it?" he asked politely

Yoshida didn't know why she had thought about it, but now she had started and there was no going back. She had so many questions to ask. Khamsin jumped airily from the spot he was standing before and came closer.

"You have questions to ask, do you not?" asked as if he read her thoughts, "Ask them away. It is the very least I can do after the help you offered me in the past"

"Come on…say it!" she pressured herself mentally.

"Ano…" she started once more, "You…you said you have been travelling around a lot…recently right?"

"Yes. That is what I said" Khamsin replied

"Th-Then…have you heard anything of…of…S-Sakai-kun…?"

"Hm, that Reiji Maigo Mystes, is it not?" Behemoth said

"Aaa, indeed…Sakai Yuji…" he turned to her and said, "I am sorry but we haven't heard anything of him during our travels."

"I…I see…" she said lowering her head

She had seen that coming. She didn't have many hopes he would answer positively, but no matter how much she was expecting the blow, it was a blow anyway.

"Please do not despair" Khamsin said softly and kindly, "I am sure we soon will have news of him. After all Reiji Maigo is a precious objective for many Denizens"

Khamsin seemed almost…comforting her? The all-powerful, ancient Flame Haze was now comforting her? It was hard to believe. Her lips formed a faint smile. She felt the need to…please him somehow, to thank him properly for his comforting words. It was crazy and she knew it but.

"Ano…" she hesitated, "I was th-thinking…if…you would like to…come…to my home after school for…for lunch or something. I will…I will cook…that's why…"

The Middle-Eastern boy remained to his place, as if taking in the invitation, the first real invitation he had for centuries. After a moment of hesitation he nodded his head.

"Sure" he said, "I would be honoured to test Kazumi Yoshida-san's cooking"

All Yoshida could do right now was to smile.

Later they found themselves into her house. She knew she would be alone that day, for her parents were out of town for a couple of days for work. Her little brother wouldn't come home either (for he was sleeping over to a friend) so it was nice to have company, she supposed, even if that company was a completely controlled and kind of scary Flame Haze. Right now Khamsin was seated to the table, with his large Hougu right next to him, waiting patiently. The smell of food was inviting indeed. Soon Yoshida arrived with the disc of food.

"I'm sorry to keep you waiting" she said

"Not at all" Khamsin replied kindly

"It is still hot so…be care-…"

Khamsin had already taken a piece of fish with his hand and placed it to his mouth, chewing. Yoshida remained looking at him. Feeling her eyes on him once more, Khamsin opened his closed eyes and looked at her.

"Something the matter, Yoshida-san?" he asked

Yoshida snapped out of it.

"N-No" she stammered, "It is just…won't you use the hashi, Khamsin-san?"

"Oh?" Khamsin blinked and looked down to his plate. In front of it, the two small wooden objects were ready to be use.

"Hm…aren't those objects Japanese people use to eat?" Behemoth questioned

"Aaa, indeed…I had forgotten about it" Khamsin seemed as if he was apologizing, "In my country we do not use such things. We preferred to use our hands instead… I never really learnt have learnt how to use them"

Yoshida would feel the need to laugh if she wasn't so surprised. The all-powerful Flame Haze didn't know how to use the Hashi?

"Th-then…fork and knife suit you better?" asked politely

"Well…even if hands are fine to me…" Khamsin said, "…if it is not too much trouble for you…"

"N-Not at all. I'll be right back"

"I apologize for the trouble"

Yoshida left to get to the kitchen to search to the drawers. It felt as if talking to a person of importance…this was how formal Khamsin always was… It felt kind of weird to her but at the same time it had an unusual charm. She shook her head, coming to the conclusion it would be meaningless to analyse it any further, since Flame Hazes were so different than humans, she grabbed a fork and rushed back to join Khamsin.

"I am sorry for the wait" she repeated placing the fork to the table next to him

"Not at all" Khamsin replied once more

Yoshida took her seat right opposite him and clasped her hands together.

"Itadakimasu" she said the normal thanking for the food.

Khamsin, of course, said nothing and food started. Occasionally she would watch him eat. He enjoyed his food but at the same time he was watching his manners. He must have sensed her once more cause he looked up from his plate and fastened his dark eyes on her.

"Something the matter?"

Yoshida realized she was spacing out again.

"N-No…I was just wondering… Khamsin-san said…" she decided to keep the third person out of respect, "that in your country you have other habits so…I was wondering…what country is that…?"

Khamsin's hands stopped moving and looked at his plate as if noticing it just now. Yoshida found out it was impossible to read him and his reaction. She wasn't sure if she had displeased him with her question.

"N-No…you…don't have to…answer that…" she said to cover that

Idiot! She scolded herself, idiot! Making questions like that.

"Egypt…" Khamsin's voice dragged her back to reality

"Eh?" she asked

"Long time ago…my country was Egypt…"

Egypt… That would explain why he had spoken with so much passion about it before but how was it possible to speak like that? It was as if he knew his country from another era… Well that WAS possible since he was a Flame Haze but…how long exactly has it been since the last time he had been there?

"E-Excuse me the…rude question…but…how old are you…exactly…?"

Khamsin looked at her. It was the first time someone asked for his age. Most Flame Hazes already had heard of him and knew he had travelled for thousands of years so no one ever had asked him. Sometimes he forgot about it himself.

"Aaa…" he mumbled placing his empty plate down, "How long has it been, Behemoth? Was it not been around 3000 years ago?"

"Hm…indeed that was it"

Yoshida's eyes opened as wide as it could be.

"Th-Three thousand?!" she exclaimed a little louder than she expected.

The person before her didn't look above ten years of age. She knew he was old as a Flame Haze but…THIS exceeded her expectation…far too much.

"Aaa" he confirmed, "Flame Hazes do not age so…it is the only natural show on the outside the age they had once they made their contract. In my case that was more or less 3000 years ago"

'Their contract'…there was the word again. There were so many questions she had to ask! About the contract or what it meant to be a Flame Haze and so many others but she believed she had already asked too much and that it would be rude if she proceeded. Therefore she only said:

"I see. Sounds like a long life, huh?"

"It is" Khamsin said calmly as though they were talking about someone else, "However I had Behemoth. We travelled together for so many years. We have seen and learnt so many things in our travels…"

And he fell silent. After a couple of seconds Yoshida couldn't bare this silence.

"Ano…Khamsin-san…what do you think if…if I taught you how to use the hashi?"

Khamsin blinked in surprise but he was a person who always learnt so he nodded his head.

"Sure…I…I would be grateful"

Yoshida wasn't sure if he absolutely meant it or not but she smiled anyway and nodded. She showed them to him and how to hold them and he was following her instructions step by step. However once he was about to hold something in his plate with them it slipped from his clumsy grasp.

"Oh…" he barely got out a small sound of surprise at his failed attempt and tried again but with the same result.

This time Yoshida giggled softly, with her hand hiding her mouth and continued showing him. Time passed before they knew it.

"Hm…why have you accepted her invitation, I wonder" Behemoth asked as the two of them were walking down the park street.

It was night already but Khamsin didn't need as much rest as humans did. Besides he liked the loneliness of the night. The moon was bright that night, painting everything in silver.

"Who knows…?" he answered truthfully to his contractor's question

A light breeze was blowing, making his dark, brown braid, slightly move in the night…

"It is also unusual for you to open up like this to anyone. I am not complaining about it though…" Behemoth also pointed out

Khamsin listened to his old partner and respectful contractor without speaking for a second. He raised his eyes to the moon as if lost in his thoughts and memories once more. He then lowered his gaze and looked over his shoulder towards the direction Yoshida's house was supposed to be even if it was out of his range by now. A rare, faint smile appeared to his lips.

"Perhaps…it is a nice change to relax once in a while…" he answered enigmatically

He then turned around once more, placed his hands in the pockets and continued walking in the night…

Okay I had promised to QiaKing and Symmetrical-neko (two friends from Deviantart) a Yoshida x Khamsin story.
I wasn't planning on posting it now but I had a sudden inspiration so...here comes nothing

"Uehara" is indeed a name that appears to Shakugan no Shana wikia and I used it here. The fact of him being a Torch is my idea to work for the plot. Plus I chose the name "Teiichi" for him (inspired by Tasogare Otome x Amnesia)

I hope you liked it. Should I continue or should I leave it this way? Your choice