Into the Fire
Ayano has uprooted her life, battled demons across the world, and found her true powers. But what will happen when she returns to her family, mission, and Kazuma? How do you move forward, living in the past?
Not based on my previous fics. Will be mature in later chapters.
Chapter 1
Return
When she arrived in front of the gates of her girl-hood home, she had a nagging feeling like she forgot to do something.
Ayano knew that her last residence was squared away: a small apartment in London that she'd paid off, friends that she had informed of her leaving, stove that she had turned off. She had even forwarded her mail to arrive here, at the Kanagi address. No, the feeling didn't seem to be connected with her time in London, rather the building that stood in front of her now.
She didn't know what it could be, as she'd packed most of her humble possessions when she left three years ago, and had parted with everyone on cordial terms. Well, make that almost everyone.
Ayano looked at the building in front of her and wondered if she was doing the right thing, if she was ready to face everyone and be a part of the family again. I wonder what they'll think of me. She looked down at her dusty shoes, worn down shorts and tee shirt and knew she looked worse for wear. New clothes hadn't really been a priority in her study or work the last few years, and she knew she'd have to pick some things up if she wanted to present a respectable image of a Kanagi leader, as her father always said.
It'll take more than new clothes to do that. Ayano sighed and felt her fire magic spark in her chest. It's time to see and find out.
She picked up her suitcase and duffle and entered the yard.
.
o-o-o-o-o
.
Ren was not expecting the form that greeted him that afternoon.
While he knew that Ayano, his headstrong cousin, was coming to the compound in the near future, no official date had ever been set. He was practicing his defenses near the pond, sweaty and exhausted, when he heard a cough behind him.
Ren turned and almost fell down. The woman in front of him was nothing like the Ayano he knew. At first, he thought it was merely her clothes, loose and faded, but then he saw her face, thinner and older, mouth set in a wry smile, hair pulled back behind her shoulders. But it was her eyes that really startled him, older and sharper than he remembered, large and intense beneath her crimson bangs.
"Ayano?" was all he could say as he stepped towards her.
"Hey, Ren," she said, smiling and pulling him into her arms. He was as tall as she was and breathing into her neck he found himself glad that at least she still smelled the same, like flowers and wood smoke.
"I can't believe how tall you've gotten," she said with a laugh, holding his shoulders and looking at him.
He blushed slightly, "I know. Growth spurt". His voice cracked slightly and Ayano grinned wider.
"I can see that. It's great to see you".
He hugged her again, "You too…I've missed you". Ayano nodded against his shoulder before pulling away.
"You look different," he said, because it felt strange not to say something.
Ayano shrugged, "Age. I'm still me though".
"Yeah," was all he could say, hoping that it was true. "Have you seen father yet? When did you arrive?"
She shook her head, "Not yet…I just got here". She looked at him, "I'm actually not sure where I'll be staying". Her tone was wry, but Ren thought he noticed some anxiety.
"Near your old room, I think," Ren said, "You'll be right in front of the big cherry tree". That made her smile and Ren remembered how they had played there when they were younger, and the time Ayano accidentally set it on fire while practicing.
"Let me help you," Ren motioned to the bags and Ayano handed him the duffle, walking towards her new room.
"It doesn't look like much has changed," she observed lightly.
Ren shrugged, "Some things have". She glanced at him but kept walking. "We added some members, retired some others. Haruhi is doing fire magic now".
"Is she?" Ayano said with mild interest, "She's only four".
"Seven, now," Ren corrected and looked away. "You'll have to tell me about some of your adventures out there," Ren said, "You stopped writing much".
Ayano felt a pang of guilt, "I know, I'm sorry. I didn't know what to say". She paused and Ren waited, re-adjusting her luggage in his hand. "But we'll catch up, I promise," she added.
He smiled and motioned in front of them. "Well, here we are," he said, opening the door to the room. Ayano wanted to say something more, but didn't know where to begin.
"It's okay," Ren gave her a smile and put down the bag. "I'll see you at diner; I have to go clean up".
Ayano nodded and watched him walk away, amazed at how much he'd grown. His build was lanky like his brother's and his hair almost as messy, though pale and gold in the fading sunlight. She wondered how it would be between all of them now. One thing at a time.
Sighing, she entered her new room and looked around. It was not much different than her old one, though the space was bigger. It had a nicely sized dresser and bed. Approaching the full length window Ayano was surprised to find that it was actually a glass door, leading to a small, isolated courtyard. She'd grown fond of her tiny balcony in England and was glad she would have somewhere to just step out to.
Some time later, Ayano left her room in search of her father, dressed in a tidier top and skirt. She found him sitting in the meeting room, his eyes closed when she entered.
"Father…"
"Hello, Ayano," his voice was so warm and deep Ayano found her eyes stinging slightly. She hadn't realized she missed him so much. He looked at her and Ayano lowered herself in front of him, taking his hands. He gave her a smile, the wrinkles at the corners of his eyes deepening and Ayano bowed her head so he wouldn't see her tears.
"I'm glad you've returned, my daughter". He put a hand on her shoulder and Ayano settled her emotions.
"You look well," she said and meant it. Though his hair was whiter and lines deeper, he still looked like the wise, impassive figure she had always known.
Juga's eyes were on her face and Ayano tinted mildly at his scrutiny. He smiled again, "I see that you have more control of your emotions".
"Yes," she said.
"But you still have the fire. It's stronger".
Ayana tilted her head in wonder, "How can you tell?" Usually, a magic user would have to see power displayed to know such things.
"I can sense it," was all he said, "And it is fortunate as well." He looked into the distance before speaking again, "There is a strong force that has been made known to us. I'm sorry to have to ask you this so soon after you've arrived, but I need you to hunt one of its servants down".
Agano merely nodded, "Of course". She stood, "Tell me where to go".
Her father took another long look at her face. "I'm glad you've come back".
.
o-o-o-o-o
.
Ayano was running as fast as she could and the beast was hot on her tail.
She saw a large pile of boulders some distance away and veered towards them. If I can just get there and launch myself, I should have no problem cutting it down with Enriaha.
Right before the stones she launched herself and used the momentum to make it up the incline. The enormous Youma reached out a limb, barely missing her foot, but Ayano used the moment to position her sword, flipping it and catching it with her other hand. She jumped, letting out a yell and bringing the fire into the very center of the beast.
"TO HELL WITH YOU!"
It let out something between a screech and an explosion and tumbled to the ground, and Ayano landed several feet away before gracefully straightening, even though her leg gave a painful twinge. She kept the fire blade by her side and stared at where the Youma had fallen. She felt that familiar pain in her legs and shoulders, the pain of battle, and relished the feeling.
Battle was something she could do. Battle made sense and battle was in her nature, the only thing that ultimately curbed the passion and violence she used to unleash at every moment. When your whole world became battle, became fire and kill, and then had somewhere to go, it could finally give you piece of mind. Now she knew the time when her fire was needed and it was pleasure, pure instinct, to let her heart and body and spirit form fire shape where emotion had been only moments before.
The Youma was still moving, yellow eyes coming open and Ayano wasted no time. Letting her magic surge into the hilt of her sword, hotter and hotter, she lifted Enriaha to the sky. From above and below an enormous red blade shot out, and she pushed her energy until the blade was a wall, a giant guillotine of fire that split the monster in half, then ash.
Ayano's chest heaved, her breaths coming out in gasps. She whisked the sword away and looked to the sky where a giant column of smoke was now rising. Satisfied, she stretched her arms above her head and made to leave the clearing, when a strong wind propelled her a step forward. Kazuma.
Sure enough, the wind repeated in a different direction and Ayano knew it was him, somewhere here.
"Guess you're still stalking me?" she said loudly. She continued walking and felt a stronger wind to her left. She looked and there he was, arms crossed, wearing his usual dark clothes and infuriating smirk. Even after all this time, her heart involuntarily skipped a beat and Ayano felt her well-organized emotions flare to the surface. God damn it, Ayano, you need to stop this.
"Always," he said easily, stepping closer to her and putting his hands in his pockets. They stood in silence for a long moment and Ayano swore under hear breath. There's no way he'll get me to speak first.
Kazuma raised an eyebrow. "Nice flames".
Could have guessed, she thought. "Thanks," was all she replied. She kept walking past him, able to see, upon closer inspection, that something about him had changed. For one, his face was older, more rugged, his eyes as deep as ever. Still, there was something sad in them, almost wistful, but she chose not to dwell on that.
"I notice you didn't come help," she said instead.
He kept up easily with her pace, "Didn't seem to need it. That was some fire".
Ayano felt a small bit of pride at that. She looked at him from the corner of her eye and noticed that he was staring.
"What?" she asked, wondering exactly how grimy she was now. Her arms, and probably face, were covered with dirt and ash.
"Just you," he said, though it was so low she might have miss-heard. She stopped walking and turned to face him, head on. He stayed back a little but gave her a winning smile, "It's good to see you, Ayono".
She nodded, but couldn't bring herself to say it back. Because of course it was, but damn it if she could do this, again. She sighed and bent down to reach one of her legs, which was a little sore. She wondered if she landed on it badly.
Kazuma moved toward her immediately, "Are you hurt?"
The concern in his voice made her look up and she realized how close their faces were. She looked back at her leg, "It's fine, just tender".
Kazuma cleared his throat, "I can give you lift".
"No!" Ayano said quickly and then caught herself, "I mean, I can make it".
"Don't be stupid," he said, rolling his eyes and taking hold of her waist before she had time to protest. And really, she should have tried harder but it was Kazuma and she did not remember him being so tall and firm underneath her fingers. And then they were in the air and she felt like a girl again, in his arms and safe and blushing. It made her want to bury her head in his chest, but she realized that would be sending him signals that she did not want to back up.
"Where are you staying?" His words broke her out of her thoughts and she was grateful.
"On the compound".
"I thought you'd have maybe gotten a place of your own".
She paused, "Well, I don't know how long I'll be staying".
Ayano thought she felt his body tense, but his tone was calm, "I see".
She needed their conversation to keep going, "What about you?"
"I have a place downtown". She wondered what had changed for him, if he was living with someone, but didn't think she had a right to ask. She kept her mouth shut and just looked as he flew them past parks and town squares and finally her home, filled with so many conflicting emotions.
He landed in the yard and let her go gently.
Ayano straightened and looked up at him, "Thank you Kazuma".
He smirked at her, "I guess I'll be seeing you". She nodded, but before she could say anything further he had shot up into the air, leaving her with the sinking sensation that this would be much harder than she'd hoped.
She got to her room and noted that she'd long missed dinner. Ren will be upset with me. But somehow, she couldn't make herself go join the rest of the family right now.
She walked into the bathroom and was startled at her reflection. In front of her stood a person she'd thought she'd grown out of, pink cheeked and starry-eyed, her hair coming out of her pony-tail in a wild mass. You look like you're in love. The thought made her go to her bed and stuff her face in her pillow, groaning.
Without bothering to wash up or turn the lights off, Ayano fell into a deep and dreaming sleep.
.
o-o-o-o-o
.
The last time Ayano had seen Kazuma was one of the most painful nights of her life.
After weeks of the silent treatment and occasional outbursts, it all came to head near the compound pond, months after Ayano's infamous speech after Pandemonium had occurred there.
"I don't care what you say, Kazuma. I'm taking this training. It's going to help me be a better fighter, to be strong".
He gave her an angry look, "You're already strong. What's trapezing all over the world going to do? Get you killed?"
Ayano fumed, "Not if I get more powerful! You're such a hypocrite! You disappear whenever it suits you. Didn't you just get back from another mission where we didn't see you for three months?"
Kazuma gave her a dark look, "That was different."
Ayano scoffed, "Why? Because you got paid? I don't need that".
"No," he said, "Because I always planned to return".
She couldn't help the flush of anger that came over her face. She jabbed a finger at his chest, "And I don't?"
Kasuma shrugged and suddenly seemed distant, "Not when you see the world".
Ayano pursed her lips at that. She crossed her arms and gave him a scathing look, "You don't have the right to tell me what to do. You're not my father, or my boyfriend-you're barely nice to me. And I'm tired of being treated like a child!"
She had never seen his eyes go as cold as they did right then. He gave her a bitter smile and Ayano felt her fury melt away, "Kazuma…"
He slid his hands in his pockets and looked past her, "You're absolutely right, princess". The word made her flinch. "You have to do this on your own".
He began walking away from her and she couldn't help call after him, "It's only for a year!"
He didn't turn around, "We'll see".
Ayano had waited for days to see him again and at the train station she scanned the faces in the crowd. She wanted to say good-bye and be close just one more time.
But he never came.
...
In Chapter 2: The Storm- A mission, a conflict, and a beginning.
Author's Note: This is my first chapter fic, and I'm excited to know what you think. Your support is very important to me, and I sincerely thank you for it!