A/N : First up, thanks a lot for your reviews guest viewers! Also, one of you suggested I use Ren's POV as well in the middle. While that might not happen right away, Ren will definitely play an important role as the story progresses. Now my early update is because I might not be able to update during the last week of the month, since I have exams coming up. Now this chapter is going to be a treat for Kazuma fans since it centers mostly on his thoughts. Hope to see more reviews for this chapter than the last. So here we have chapter 3 for you to enjoy!

Disclaimer : I do not own Kaze no Stigma or any of its characters.

Chapter 3

Kazuma flew across the sky, the agitated wind spirits around him betraying a growing sense of dread and foreboding within him. If something worried Jugo of all people, then it was serious. A few moments, and then he saw the mansion of the Kannagi clan. Quickly descending, he ignored the looks of suspicion and disgust the branch family members gave him. No panicking members, he decided. Seemed like Jugo hadn't made the news official yet. He walked quickly to the meeting room where he had left Jugo, Genma and Ren, and entered the room, only to find Jugo leaning against the window. Kazuma said, "I'm here, what do you know about the jerk who kidnapped her?" Jugo turned around, and Kazuma recoiled from the look in his eyes; it was a look that he had never imagined on Jugo's face. The purple flame user's eyes screamed murder, and the bloodshot eyes and ragged breathing only served to stress on the bloodlust filling him. More than the bloodlust, however, was a heart-wrenching pain that threatened to crumple even Kazuma's iron hard emotionless barrier. Kazuma whispered, "What the… what happened? What… why are you like this?" Kazuma looked around, no sign of Ren or Genma. "Where are Ren and the old man? Why... why the hell aren't you saying anything?!" His voice rose as he spoke. Jugo raised a hand and spoke in an eerily calm voice, "They are safe. However, Ayano might be dead before we make our move."

It didn't register in his head first, he just stupidly gaped at Jugo. But once Jugo's words finally permeated into his numbing head, he felt himself freeze from within; No, no, no not her, not her of all people. Not the stupid, reckless, annoying heir of the Kannagis. Not Ayano, the girl whom he'd sworn to protect with his life. Kazuma shook his head, trying to stifle his growing rage and panic before saying through gritted teeth, "I'll be the one deciding whether she'll come back alive or dead. Just tell me, where the hell is she? If that idiot has gone and put herself in more trouble, I swear I'll make sure she pays for it." Jugo said, "Come with me. Maybe then you will understand why I have given up saving my own daughter."

Kazuma followed Jugo in silence, slightly abashed at his outburst. He hadn't really considered Jugo's feelings in his own rage. Jugo then stopped in front of a room and signalled him to wait outside. Obliging to his request, Kazuma stood outside impatiently, wondering what was so secretive that Jugo couldn't even take him inside. Then he stilled. Something, something wasn't right. Instinct taking over, he ignored Jugo's earlier request and walked into the room, only to find out Jugo kneeling before a richly woven tapestry. It seemed ancient, but unlike the usual tapestries that lose colour and sheen with time, this one seemed to be as good as new. Kazuma frowned, the tapestry surely had some importance to the Kannagi family, for it to be stored with such secrecy.

Without turning around, Jugo said, "Kazuma, how much do you remember of the childhood lessons that you got on the history of the Kannagi Clan? Do you recognize this tapestry at all?" Kazuma replied, "A little, all right a major chunk at least. Why, what does that have to do with Ayano?" Jugo took a deep breath and continued, "Listen carefully, this can determine how many more lives that we will lose in this bloodshed." Kazuma's stomach clenched; The man was talking as though his daughter was already dead. "When the first Enjutsushi made the contract with the Spirit King of Fire, all the fire magic users were bound under his single rule. All followed one common head, and peace reigned over the land. The contractor of fire had three children, all of whom inherited his ability of wielding fire. Of the three, the second brother was the weakest. The eldest brother was a great ruler, and proved to be a potential successor for his aging father. The youngest brother, however, was the most special one. He was born with an greater ability to wield fire, that far rivalled that of his elder siblings. Naturally, this led to great jealousy between the elder brothers and the youngest one. Unable to witness bloodshed amongst those of his own blood, the aging contractor gave up his life. Now that the Spirit King of Fire was free to choose a new contractor, she sought the three brothers to decide who among them was worthy enough to wield her powers. When she chose the younger brother to take her powers, the second brother could not accept the fact that his brother was more powerful and favoured by the Spirit King herself. He and a few of his loyalists plotted the new contractor's death, but their plot was foiled quite easily by the brother, who chose to spare his elder brother's life after exposing him. Unable to bear the shame, the second brother removed himself from the family, and left along with his loyalists, but not before swearing that he and his line would forever be the clan's enemies from then. The elder brother wisely accepted his youngest sibling's powers and chose to take up the throne peacefully. The youngest brother remained the most powerful fire magic user, and remained independent. Thus, the Kannagi line was born from the youngest brother, and since then no fire magic user had been deemed worthy to renew the contract with the Spirit King."

A silence ensued. Kazuma finally broke it and said, "So… while I really appreciate your lesson about the clan's origins, what does this have to do with Ayano getting kidnapped?" Jugo replied, "The second brother who left created his own clan, the Black Flames clan, since they depended on Youma from the Underworld to enhance their strength." Kazuma started, "Somewhat like the Fuga Clan?" Jugo continued, "Yes, exactly. When Ren took me to the place where he saw the intruder, I found a piece of cloth, marked with the emblem of the Black Flames clan. And I think that's a reason good enough for us to believe that Ayano is as good as dead now because of this feud between the two clans."

Kazuma stood stunned. He hadn't heard expected his childhood stories to come true in this crazy way. For a frightening moment, he thought of Ayano. History of her clan was never a strong suit, she preferred to slash her blade at every problem she encountered. He then truly understood the danger to the Crimson Flame's wielder, his princess. He clenched his fists in fury and whispered, "If any of them even touch her, I'll make them suffer, suffer so much that they'll be begging for death. I don't care who stands in my way, nothing matters right now." Jugo turned to him, eyes beseeching him silently to save his daughter, whom even he had given up on. Kazuma said, "I'll be searching again. Call your Kannagi members to search as well. Any hints, call me right away, I'll be there." Jugo nodded and watched as Kazuma walked out of the room.

Jugo watched the wind mage leave the main house, riding away on the winds. Finally, burning unshed tears flowed down his aging face. Ayano, his daughter, the only reminder of his wife, the focus of all his affections and love. What had she ever done to have such a fate? While he openly reprimanded her for hasty actions and decisions, deep down he knew he couldn't have had a better daughter. His affection for her ran deeper than most assumed, especially those who simply saw him as a man raising the clan's next heir. But the ones more in touch with emotions, like Ren and Kazuma, perhaps even Genma, knew how much he cared for her. He knew he couldn't participate in the search, his body wouldn't let him. His hopes were now pinned on the banished wind mage, whom he had seen grow closer to his daughter, and had happily accepted him once again as a part of the family and as the man who would walk with Ayano all through her life. Within the confines of his mind, he whispered, "Forgive me Ayano, I have failed you."

Kazuma flew across the sky, straining his senses to their limits, desperately seeking out Ayano. He had circled around the city repeatedly, vainly searching for a certain flame haired girl with blazing eyes. He ran his hand through his hair in frustration, what the hell was he supposed to do now? From afar, he had seen the Kannagi family burst into panic when they realised that their heiress was missing. But that didn't bother him. What bothered him was the fact, that no one, absolutely no one could catch the culprit responsible for this. Then he stopped mid-air, and his breath caught. Something flickered at the edge of his senses, a faint flicker of power. Quickly he turned that way, flying as fast he could to reach the source of that flicker. As he flew, he recognized the flicker. It was Ayano, definitely Ayano. For a moment, he felt himself fill with relief and joy at finding her, but then something dampened the mood. For an explosive fire mage like Ayano, the flicker of power was faint, too faint. More than anything, the realisation confirmed his suspicions that the captors were highly skilled and experienced to have suppressed the powers of the wielder of a Divine Flame. As he flew closer to his destination, he tried not to think about how much Ayano would have been hurt in the time he had not found her…