Well hello there! Sorry this took so long :( I had a lot of things going with midterms and reports due etc. It's been over 3 weeks now whoops. So yes, chapter 3 chapter 3. I was reading some other KnS stories and reviews of other KsN stories and it seems like everyone likes it when Lapis plays a major role in the plot :) well that's exactly what this chapter is about. Hope you like! It also seems as if people like the idea of a Lapis x Kazuma stories so there may be a little of that. And again, thanks for your favoriting(not a word) and subscribing to my story :D it means a lot to me.
NOTE: PLZ READ:I am actually publishing this before my beta reader reads and corrects it so there may be a few weirdly worded sentences and some bad grammar here and there :( I'll update it will corrections sometime in the coming days.
Chapter 2 Summary: After Ayano and Kazuma return from their dinner gone wrong, Jugo debriefs Kazuma. They learn the Suijutsu using clan, the Suiji can, is implanting artifacts called Dakura into their members to boost their power. The motive isn't crystal clear but the Suiji clan may be trying to find the Rōtasu no Shōhin, which are probably parts of a larger artifact called the Yōso no Shūryō which may or may not hold the power to destroy an element :D. A lot of buts. Kazuma is hired by Jugo to investigate further into the matter and Ayano is forced along with him. On their way to the Shinkansen, Kazuma and Ayano are ambushed by Yōma. Ayano defeats one and is then encountered by Hayashi.
(and of course…) DISCLAIMER: I do not own Kaze no Stigma, nor do I claim to own it!
Chapter 3: The Prick of a Rose's Thorn
Lapis awoke suddenly. She sat up in her bed and straitened her sleeves; she always slept in her clothes. More dreams about him… When she thought about Kazuma, it brought her a feeling she could not explain. Ever since the day Bernhardt had attempted to summon Belial she had begun having strange feelings that she couldn't explain, as if something was growing inside of her.
"Is it possible that Tsui-Ling's old memories of him have caused me to feel this way?" Lapis got out of bed and examined he cylindrical room; dark glass windows, multicolored paint, no furniture.
"I'll ask Bernhardt." She turned toward her room's doorway. She walked toward the door and exited the room and came into a long dark hallway with a purple rug that ran all the way down it. Vases stood on pedestals and art was hanging everywhere, as was Bernhardt's style. Lapis made her way down the long hallway and into the villa's main hall where Bernhardt's throne was located. She turned towards her left, a very large and long staircase led up to where Bernhardt sat.
Lapis hesitated, "I wonder, will he be mad if I ask?" She walked up the stairway and found Bernhardt slouched down in his throne. He was playing with a Rubik's Cube. He said nothing as Lapis approached him.
She stopped in front of him and shifted uneasily, "Master, is it possible for me to love something?" Lapis asked.
Without taking his eyes of his Rubik's Cube, Bernhardt replied, "I suppose so. Why? Is there something bothering you?"
"No. Nothing at all, master." Lapis turned towards the stairway.
Bernhardt scoffed in frustration and dropped the Rubik's Cube on the marble floor. He gave Lapis a scrupulous look, "Preparations for my plan are almost complete. I don't want you leaving the villa until I say otherwise. Am I clear?"
Lapis thought about Bernhardt's plans. Ever since Kazuma had stopped the summoning Belial he had become more and more obsessed with thinking of ways to take revenge on Kazuma. Now he had found one he was positive wouldn't fail. "I understand." Lapis replied.
Bernhardt sat back into his throne and leaned on his elbow, "Jun should be back soon… when he does return, please send him to me immediately. I have some things which I need to discuss with him."
Lapis bowed, "I will, master."
Bernhardt picked up the Rubik's Cube and began solving it again, "Good. Now run along, it's time for your daily combat exercises."
Lapis had been looking forward to some time out of the Villa. She had been cooped up in the place for weeks now. She had to get out, "But one thing master… I was hoping I could go out and-"
"And do what?" Bernhardt interrupted, "What could you possibly have to do that is more important than your training? Now go." he sighed and sat back into his chair.
"But I…" Lapis continued.
Bernhardt frowned, "Need I tell you again? Off with you!"
Lapis bowed and silently walked away; leaving Bernhardt alone in the baronial hall.
More feelings that Lapis could not make sense of flooded in and out of her as she walked down the carpeted hall towards the manor's training room. "Why must he be indifferent about everything concerning me?" she started to shake. "Is this what they call anger? Fear…? Or is it both?"
Lapis pushed open the training room doors and walked into the well lit room. The combat room was the only room in the mansion with a dirt floor. Target dummies with pictures of Kazuma's face on their stray heads were neatly set up in rows all across the room. Lapis closed the door behind her and continued to think as she walked towards a stand in the middle of the training hall which held her sword. The sharp blade glinted under the electric lights; reflecting streaks of light which danced all across the room. Lapis looked at her reflecting in the blade. "Am I really a person?" She picked up the massive sword and balanced it with one hand.
"I don't want to train today." Lapis put her sword back on the rack and turned around. She shifted her feet a bit before clasping her hands together. She murmured a few inaudible words and swung her hands out in front of her. Lapis lowered her arms to her side and a purple portal spiraled out of thin air. Lapis entered the portal and disappeared in the purple mist within it, and the portal vanished, taking her along with it to the Human World.
Bernhardt scowled contemptuously. He had felt Lapis open the gate to the Human World, "Curse her and her disobedience… But yes it just as I predicted… Lapis is becoming more and more human by each passing day... As for what she has done; she knows the consequences for disobeying me and she will face them once she returns from her spontaneous act of free will..." Bernhardt said out loud. He flicked the metal mask on his face and listened to the district and high pitched sound it made. Amused with himself, Bernhardt continued to make a variety of notes by tapping certain parts of his metal face.
Lapis slowly walked through the black expanse of nothingness that existed between the dimensions. She couldn't see or hear anything. The portal exit opened with a flash of light a yew yards in front of her revealing an image of where it lead into the Human World; a forest on the outskirts of Tokyo. She went through the opening and out into the cold night air. It was dark, but the moon illuminated the forest just enough for her to see. The portal closed after her. In the distance, the glow and rumble of the city and its streets could be seen and heard. "I… I suppose I have been sleeping while it is daytime in the human world. Isn't that odd?" Lapis began moving in the general direction of the city lights' glow.
It was peaceful in the woods at night. The feeling of the wind beating softly on her body and the quite rustling sound it made as it blew through the leaves of the surrounding vegetation gave Lapis a warm and familiar feeling. It also reminded her of someone, but she could not think of whom. It felt like someone from a past existence… or a past life. The lights grew brighter and the whizzing of cars and the honking of horns could be heard more clearly. As more minutes of walking went by, the noises got louder and bits of light shone through the treetops. Finally, after about another five minutes of walking, Lapis came to the edge of the forest and stepped inside the city limits. There was a low chain-link fence that ran up and down the perimeter of the city as far as she could see. With one graceful leap, Lapis cleared the fence completely and landed feet first onto the sidewalk on the other side. She observed her surroundings. "What should I do now?" She thought to herself. An overhead freeway pass leading to center of Tokyo stood on giant concrete pillars fifty feet above her. She decided to follow it.
Lapis had never been to a large city such as Tokyo at night. It was much better than during the day; peaceful, quite, (mostly) abandoned, and beautiful-even if it most of it was made of concrete. Only a few people walked the streets at that time. She loved the way the street lights shone dimly and small bugs gathered around them. Lapis gave the sky a large smell, taking in the damp night air into her lungs. She relished the free feeling. Then something else caught her nose… it smelled good, VERY good and above all, tasty. She followed her nose around a street corner and saw what looked like a little trailer with the words 'EAT GOOD!' painted on a poster that was stuck to its rear. The trailer was completely open on one side and a light shined brightly out of it as if to attract something or someone. Steam gently rose out of vents on top of it. "The smell seems to be coming from that little trailer."
Lapis cautiously approached the strange little box and poked her head around the corner of the trailer. Inside was a man in an apron. He his back turned to her and was cooking something that smelled quite wonderful. Lapis looked around the trailer; there were bar stools in front of it for guests and cups with chopsticks in them were sitting across the counter. Inside where the man was, there were ingredients and stoves everywhere. A large sign that said 'RAMEN' stood on top of the trailer. It was a Ramen Booth.
Lapis walked to the front of the shop to observe what was going on more closely. She had never seen a ramen booth before and she had most certainly never seen ramen before. Sample dishes of the soup were also laid across different parts of the counter. They were steaming hot and also the source of the good smells. Lapis didn't really know what the soup was, but she knew it was food. Her stomach rumbled. Slightly embarrassed by herself she put one hand over mid-section. She had not eaten anything before she had left Bernhardt's manor. Giving the air one last sniff, Lapis brushed off her clothes with her hands and stepped up to the counter .
The ramen shop owner noticed her and paused his cooking of vegetables and meat. Turning and facing the young woman he said "Evening Miss," he spoke in an unfamiliar accent, "Late at night is the best time for eating ramen. Only ¥ 410."
Lapis shifted her feet, "I don't have any money."
The booth owner sighed and shrugged his shoulders, "I'm sorry but I can't just give it to you for free… I'm trying to run a business here."
"In that case, I it's on Me." came a voice from Lapis's right. A handsome young man with light colored eyes and dark medium length hair walked up next to her. He was wearing a white dress shirt, pants and carried a coat over his shoulder. The young man smiled friendlily at her and turned towards the ramen man, "I couldn't help but notice this young lady standing here all by herself without any ramen," he reached into his pocket and pulled out a small wad of Yen and threw it onto the booth counter, "I think that should be enough."
The ramen trailer owner bowed his head and accepted the money, "One bowl of ramen, coming right up."
As the man prepared the soup for her, Lapis looked curiously at the handsome young stranger who had just purchased her dinner.
After a minute or two, the booth owner laid a bowl of ramen down in front of the nearest stool, "Alright then, Miss, your food is ready."
The young man sat down on the bar stool closest to the ramen bowl and beckoned for Lapis to join him. Although still a bit confused, Lapis accepted the stranger's offer to sit. As she sat down, the young man handed her a pair of chopsticks; something Lapis knew how to use. She bowed her head to kind stranger and began to eat.
After a few moments, the young man broke the silence, "You don't say much, do you?" he laughed. Lapis continued to eat without saying a word. He smiled warmly again, "My name is Isoa, nice to meet you." Lapis still said nothing. (Eye-sow-wa)
Isoa leaned on his elbow, "So tell me, what you are doing all the way out here? I know everyone in this neighborhood, and I've never seen you here before... and it wouldn't be right to say you're new in town."
In-between mouthfuls of noodles, "I'm… not sure what I am doing here…" Lapis answered in a slightly sad tone of voice.
Isoa blinked, "Well, you finally said something. Anyway, do you have a name?"
Lapis slurped up a few more noodles, "Lapis." She answered flatly.
Isoa's eyebrows rose, "Lapis eh? Like Lapis Lazuli, the pretty blue rock?" he sat up straight, "Well I'll tell ya, the only thing blue about you is your mood." He said in a more serious tone of voice.
Lapis was surprised by what the young man had just said. Was that what she was feeling was called? Feeling…blue? She stopped eating and faced Isoa, "How can you tell?"
Isoa smiled, "I've always been able to tell what people are thinking. Sorta like a… special ability I guess?"
Lapis was confused by this strange man, could ordinary people have special abilities? Maybe he used magic? "Where am I?" She asked.
Isoa raised an eyebrow and gave her a strange look, "…You're in Tokyo. You know… the capital of Japan?"
"Oh. So that's where I am. Tokyo." Lapis said.
"Yep, Tokyo… Best city in the world." He continued to give her a strange look, "Ever been here before?" Isoa asked as he checked his watch. It read 10:46 PM.
Lapis resumed eating, "A few times."
"Is that so? So anyway let me return to this subject; what are you doing here all alone? It looked like you were lost and didn't have a clue where you were going."
Lapis finished her bowl of ramen before answering, "I'm not sure why I'm here, yet here I am."
"Hmm. You are a strange one aren't you?" Isoa laughed, "You mentioned having no money… do you have a hotel to stay at?"
Lapis cocked her head, "A hotel?"
"I'll take that as a no," Isoa shrugged, "Lucky for you my partner and I own a bed and breakfast down the just down the street. I'd be happy to put you up for the night, free of charge."
The ramen man retrieved Lapis's bowl and thanked them for their business.
Isoa stood up and turned towards Lapis. He held out his free hand, "Come."
Lapis was very confused. "Who is this man and why is he being so nice to me even though we do not know each other? Is this part of being 'Human?'" she wondered.
After a few seconds Lapis reached out and took hold of Isoa's hand. He helped her up and they both let go. "Follow me, right this way!" signaled for her to follow him and began walking down the street. "This… this must be part of being human." She followed close behind.
Isoa slowed down until he was alongside with Lapis, "So, where do you come from?"
Lapis turned and looked at Isoa, "I am from Japan."
Isoa scratched his chin and began walking backwards alongside her, "Well… that was an easy answer. Got any family? Friends...Pets?"
"None at all." Lapis answered.
Isoa made a say face, "How sad… it's hard to imagine a pretty girl such as yourself would have no one in the world to care for you." He said in a concerned voice. Isoa smiled and whipped his thumb under his nose, "I know something that will help you improve your mood!" Lapis gave him a puzzled look. "Well, I know a few things… but one is simple; lighten up! You don't have to be so proper all the time. It takes the emotion out of things!" Isoa said in a cheerful voice.
"Emotions…"
Lapis sniffed the air once again, "You smell strange."
The young man smiled, "Oh, you're probably smelling my cologne. Do you like it?"
Lapis tilted her head, "What's cologne?"
Isoa closed his eyes and shook his head, "Never mind… you really are strange, aren't you?" he chuckled. They continued to walk in silence.
"We're here." Isoa opened the house door with a key and motion for Lapis to go in. She stepped forward and lifted herself through the doorway. Isoa followed and closed the door behind him. The inside of the house was dark but Lapis could see nice furniture, a kitchen, stairs and several branching hallways. It was a nice little home.
"Come this way, this is where the guests stay." Without turning on the lights, Isoa lead Lapis into a little bedroom with purple wallpaper. There wasn't much furniture besides the twin bed and a dresser but it was a nice cozy little room with a heater. Lapis felt right at home. She put a hand on her chest as more unknown feelings flooded into her. "Is this what it's like to feel content?...Or…" It felt exactly like the feeling she got when she thought of Kazuma.
"Here you are, all set." Isoa smiled
Lapis looked at her young host, "You like to smile a lot."
He nodded silently, "Yes, that I do."
"I hope I can learn to like to smile someday."
"So do I." he nodded again, "Now try and get some sleep. You need it to feel your best. Just remember, whatever troubles you may be going through you can also talk to me about. You're an individual with rights and deserve the best. No one should be able to take that away from you. Goodnight Lapis." Isoa saluted and stepped out the door, closing it behind him.
Even though she had only been awake for a few hours, Lapis felt exhausted, more so than when she had spent an entire day training. "Maybe being a regular human isn't as bad as Bernhardt says it is." She lay down onto the bed and sighed. A few moments later, she fell asleep.
End of Chapter 3
Notez: Well, there's not much to say here :\ I covered most everything in the intro. I had fun writing this chapter, it was nice to write from the perspective of Lapis. I think I may have used their names a little too much but whatever :P I hope you liked it. I also didn't describe Isoa as much as some people may have liked, but I want the reader to imagine what these characters look like. One other thing Isoa is just me miss spelling Isao and making the best of it xD
If I did something poorly, please let me know! Feel free to comment on what you liked and didn't. I'd really like to hear the feedback :) thanks.
Credits:
Writing/Ideas: Me ()
Beta Reader: blondie-moyashi
