Updates, updates. Sorry, I've been busy so it's been a few days. The new chapter is here! Yay! :) This chapter is dedicated to BookRaven24, a singularly awesome person indeed. Special thanks go to Sakurahigh, Violet in Wonderland, and 5 Guests. Thank you, guys! I love getting your reviews and they make my days sparkly and pretty! So, for the rest of you who are reading but not reviewing – say something! I wanna hear it, even if it's just, "I like your story." The more reviews/favorites/follows, the sparklier my days will be and the sooner I will update! Oh, by the way, if any of you guys are Fairy Tail fans, check out my brother's brand-spanking-new account, ThatGuyYouMetOnce! He's writing a spectacular fic that I really like! Read it! It's recommended by the best, after all ;) Haha sarcasm. But seriously check him out.
My breath, inexplicably, caught in my throat at that small sentence. She didn't even raise her voice. Don't touch me. "Ayano," I said. My voice sounded strangled – the result of not having enough air. "Let's talk about this, okay? I–" She swung around to face me once more, eyes blazing. The very air surrounding her caught fire with the force of her fury, but I didn't flinch. I'd gotten worse injuries, after all.
"You what, Kazuma? You want to explain that when you do things like hug me or lick my cheek, you're only fooling around and that those things mean nothing? Well, don't bother. I just said it for you." She took a step away from the ramen stand and stood there in the empty cold night, looking back at me. She seemed very lonely, a high school girl bathing in swirling flames as the darkness gnawed all around her. "I'll see you later."
"Ayano, wait!" I lunged for her and grabbed her wrist, ignoring the flames the licked at my skin. She twisted to look at me, shock plastered all over her silly face.
"What do you think you're doing, Kazuma? You're not even protecting yourself!" she exclaimed, frantically trying to remove my fingers from her arm. "Let go before you lose your hand!" I held her tighter.
"I don't care. You're not listening to me. You're just going ahead assuming things on your own that aren't remotely true, Ayano!" She blinked at me, her hands slipping from mine. The fire went out, and the skin on my hand began to feel pinched and tight. That's funny, I thought vaguely. I didn't feel anything before.
"Wh- What are you talking about, Kazuma?" I pulled her closer and tucked her head under my chin, caging her in my arms so she could never escape.
"I'm not teasing, I promise. I'm serious," I whispered, staring at the stars. Stars reminded me of Tsui-Ling – we used to watch them together for hours, just holding hands. Until she was killed, and she too disappeared from my life. My arms tightened, pressing Ayano even closer to me. She only sighed and held me tighter too.
"Miss, your ramen's ready," the stand's owner called. Ayano ignored him and so did I. He chuckled and went back to doing something that made loud clanking noises.
"Hey, Ayano?" I said eventually, stroking her hair absentmindedly.
"W-What is it?" she stammered. I could feel her cheeks heating up through my shirt.
"No, never mind. It's nothing," I murmured back. "As reluctant as I am to end this, do you want to go back soon? It's getting late." Instead of leaping away and acting incredibly scandalized, as I expected her to, she simply nodded, still holding me.
"Yeah." I removed my chin from the top of her head and bent down so my mouth was on level with her ear.
"Do you want me to take you home? Or... Do you want to come back to my room?" At that, she did extricate herself, a hand over her mouth and her cheeks red for the millionth time. Really, it was too easy to push Ayano's buttons.
"You–" she grumbled. I laughed and grabbed her hand, leading her down the road.
"In case you were wondering, I was only serious if you wanted me to be." I moved in to kiss her cheek, but she was already turning her head to laugh and smile and say something–
And my lips landed right on hers.
"KAZUMA!" she shouted, summoning Enraiha. "WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU DOING, BASTARD?" I let go of her hand and backed up a step, raising my hands in a placating gesture.
"Hey, hey, calm down, it was an accident–" I was ignored. She charged me, swinging her sword like a crazy person and cutting swaths of light through the darkness. Even while running for my life, I couldn't help but admire Ayano in full battle mode. She was like a vengeful minion of the devil, sent to bring me to her master, dead or alive. It was incredible.
"Don't kiss me by accident, stupid Kazuma!" she yelled at me.
"You say that, but you're grinning from ear-to-ear," I pointed out. She didn't like that.
"Just die already!" She swept the ancient blade towards me, amazingly fast, and nearly cut me in half. She would have if I hadn't summoned a helpful wind to carry me out of reach at the last second. "Get back down here, coward!" she called, glaring up at me.
"Ayano, I'm sorry I kissed you on the lips. I won't do it again, okay? Can we call a truce?" Ayano frowned. She looked upset, and mumbled something under her breath, but I couldn't hear over the sound of rushing wind. I brought myself a little closer to the ground.
"Fine," Ayano said finally, letting Enraiha disappear and holding out a hand. "Shake on it?" My wind lowered me all the way and I accepted her hand.
"Truce," I said firmly, shaking her hand once. She grinned evilly at me, and then squeezed my hand. Hard.
Any other day, it would have hurt. But this wasn't any other day.
I groaned and collapsed onto my knees, biting back tears. A volcano was in the process of exploding underneath my skin – a million tiny fire ants were crawling all over my skin, biting me – I'd gotten the world's worst sunburn, times a thousand. I didn't know, and I didn't care. The pain was consuming my being. Someone was shouting, but my eyes were sliding closed and my brain was shutting down. I slipped out of consciousness and my body slumped onto the pavement.
"KAZUMA!"
Love you guys! There will be Ayano-Kazuma caretaking next chapter (I was practically exploding with joy that episode where Ayano was cleaning Kazuma's wounds after he and his dad were fighting at the hot springs, so I'm bringing it back. Geehee. :D) Review! You know I love it!
