Episode Four

The Mission From Recovery

Part One: Assigned From Return

Ayano crossed her arms and stared out the window. This car trip, she had managed to get into the front seat away from Kazuma. This would avoid any unesscesary incedents. She smiled, leaning her head against the back of her seat. They were heading back from the hide out, because Ayano had a miracle recovery. This went by faster than expected.. I wonder how I healed so fast? Must have been the rehab.. after all, I was training with Kazuma. I can't believe he never answered me though.. She shook her head, clearing her thoughts. It was best not to think of him.

When the car had finally reached the Kannagi Compound, Ayano had fallen asleep. Kazuma opened the back door, stood up, and stretched. He opened the trunk and pulled out his bags, then walked into the front gate.

Ayano slowly opened her eyes, and stretched out.

"Thanks for the ride!" She said, smiling. She waved to the driver then stood up out of the car. She went to the already open trunk, and pulled out her many bags. Ugh.. Why did I pack so much? She thought annoyed. She heaved the bags out of the trunk and trudged up the walkway into the front gate. She closed them behind her with her feet, and then walked up to the meeting room.

"We're back, Father!" She called out, setting her bags down at the sliding door. She pulled open the door, and peered inside. Nobody was there. Ayano's eyes narrowed, and she took a step in. Thats when she saw the note.

Ayano walked up to the seat where her father usually sat, and pulled out a note on the swords behind on the wall. What's this? She thought.

Ayano -

If you're reading this, that means you have made it home and I am not there.. I trust you have made a full recovery. If you have not, then stop reading.

Ayano checked herself, and made sure she was alright. She then continued reading.

I am currently at a meeting, so I will not be here to give you the details for a mission I would like you to go on. You can ask Kiraka for more information:

A youma has appeared in your school. Yes, another mystery in your school.. But this one is much more dangerous. It captures young teens and hides them in a currently unknown place that is concealed inside a barrier. Once it has captured them, it replaces the girls and boys with exact duplicates who help him lure the teens into his trap. Once he has the teens, he sucks up there life force and energy and uses it to make himself more powerful.

"Sounds like a dangerous youma." Said a familiar voice. Ayano looked up with angry eyes, only to see Kazuma yet again leaning over her and reading the note. She took a step away from him, and pulled the note closer to her.

"Let me finish! You can't just barge in like that and scare me." She said, with a frown.

"Oh, so I scared you? I thought you weren't afraid of me." Kazuma said, making Ayano realize what she had said.

"I mean.. I didn't.. Ugh! I'm not afraid of you! Now shut up and let me read!" Ayano said, blushing. Kazuma put his hands in the air, and smiled.

I want you to stop this youma and get back all of the teenagers missing. Until you find them, you can't trust any of the people that go to your school. Even Yukari and Nanase. Now, if Kazuma is with you, please hand him this note to read the last part. I'm sorry, but you must not read it. It is for him only.

"Are you kidding me? What could he have to say to you that I can't know?! Thats not fair!" Ayano said, crossing her arms. However much she didn't want to listen to her father, she knew she had to do what he said. She crumbled up the note and threw it at Kazuma. Then, she stormed out of the room.

Part Two: Kazuma's Message

Kazuma stood in the middle of the room, reading Jugo's note.

Kazuma -

I want you to go on this mission with Ayano. I am afraid that if she goes alone, that she will be targeted by the youma. I also fear that she will not take my adivce, and she will not realize that her friends may be a fake, leading her into the trap. I will pay you when I return, so please be safe and protect her.

- Jugo

"I see.. So Jugo thinks Ayano will fall into the trap of the youma. Alright then." Kazuma said to himself. He smirked, when he sensed Ayano nearby. That ought to get her mad.. He thought to himself.

How could father think that? Does he not believe that I can protect myself? I'm plently strong! I'll just have to show him that I can do this mission alone. Then he'll see that I don't need Kazuma to back me up all the time! Ayano thought, angrily. She had stayed by the door, and heard Kazuma reading the note. She narrowed her eyes, then ran off into her bedroom. Time to get ready for the mission.

Kazuma slowly opened the door out of the meeting room after he heard Ayano run off. He peered out, and looked both ways. Once he was sure it was clear, he flew off to Ayano's school. I'll get there early, and watch what she does.. He thought to himself on the way there.

Back in Ayano's room, she was sitting at her desk mapping out what her plan would be. She tapped the pencil against her head, straining to find the right idea. Think Ayano! You need to think of a way to kill this youma without Kazuma's ideas! And then, it hit her. She remembered the time that Kazuma used her as bait for the youma to find HER. That's it! I can trick Kazuma! Ayano thought. She hurridly wrote down her idea, grabbed her paper and backpack, then ran off to her school.

Kazuma was sitting on the roof of her school half asleep. She sure is taking a while.. He thought, staring at the sky. Then, he sensed her. She was running up the street. School had just started, and she had barely made it. She trotted up to her friends, and fell in line with them. There she goes already.. She can be so naive. Talking with her friends who may be a fake.. Kazuma thought amusingly to himself. He watched her smiling and talking with her friends on the way to class. I'll wait just a little longer, until I can figure out if they're fake or not.

Ayano sensed Kazuma up on top of the roof. Her plan was working perfectly. She already figured out by the way Nanase and Yukari acted that they were not the real ones. That ment that they were probably taken by the youma, so she needed to hurry. She glanced at them, hoping they would attempt to take her to the trap. As if on que, Yukari turned to Ayano with a smile.

"Hey Ayano, do you mind if you come with me to the storage room to grab some stuff for my teacher?" The fake Yukari said, with solid eyes.

"Sure! Lets hurry and go before class starts. See you later, Nanase!" Ayano called, smirking inwardly to herself. She watched as the fake Nanase waved then walked into a group of other girls. She needed to hurry, or all these people would soon die. She followed Yukari into the storage room, and got the expected.

As soon as she walked in, the door shut behind her. Webs shot out from the shadows, binding Ayano.

"Yukari! What's going on?!" Ayano said, still playing along. Yukari stood still in front of her, looking ahead.

"Master, we have captured another human. I will begin the ceremoney to teleport her." The fake Yukari said, emotionlessly.

Alright.. This is where it should start getting intresting. I was hoping I would be able to break the webs, so I guess I'm going to have to count on my optional plan B. Kazuma should sense the creature by now, therefore coming to it and killing it before it can teleport me. He should be here any mintue.. Ayano thought to herself. Little did she know, Kazuma was not coming for her.

Back on the rooftop, Kazuma had fallen asleep. He had been waiting to sense something out of the ordinary, and when he didn't, he decided to take a break.

Where is he? He should be here by now.. If I don't get out of this soon enough, I'll be teleported to the holding area this youma created! Kazuma! Where are you when I need you?! Ayano thought to herself. She looked around franticly, hoping to find any trace of him coming towards her. She wriggled around in the webs, panicking. No! KAZUMA! Then, a bright light flashed. Ayano was gone.

Part Three: The Fake Ayano

Out of the bright light came a young girl. She had firey red hair, brown - red eyes, and pale skin. She narrowed her eyes, and smiled. The fake Ayano stretched her arms. She turned to her master, the youma, and bowed.

"Go, puppet! Bring me more humans!" The youma boomed.

"As you wish, my master." The fake Ayano turned and walked down the hallway.

"Ayano." The fake Ayano turned, and saw a man who was a little to old to be in high school. He had shaggy brown hair, and dark brown eyes. Perfect.. It's Kazuma. The fake Ayano thought.

"Kazuma? What are you doing here?" The fake Ayano said.

"Well I wasn't about to let you mess up this mission. This is one that we can't afford to lose. So, I figured I might as well step in." Kazuma said, putting his hands in his pockets. He shrugged his shoulders expecting an angry reply from her. Instead, he got a smile.

"Oh, thanks!" The fake Ayano said cheerily. So this girl must be Kazuma's partner. I wonder what he thinks of her.. And what he'll do when he finds out what we've done to her. Kazuma narrowed his eyes at this. That's not a typical thing for Ayano to say.. Best to play it off as normal.

"Don't thank me yet. We still have to find the youma." Kazuma said, walking down the empty hallway.

"Oh, but first I have to grab something from my classroom." The fake Ayano smirked with a dark smile. She stood behind Kazuma facing his back. He turned and looked at her. This isn't a good feeling.. Better stay on my toes.

"Then what are you waiting for?" He said.

"Sorry." She turned and walked the opposite way. "Do you mind helping me carry some books?" She said, pulling open the door.

"Fine but you owe me." Kazuma said, playing along. He cautiously walked down the hall to the classroom. He peered in, got a shock. Webs shot out from the shadows, too fast for Kazuma to stop. He stood in the door way binded by webs. The door slammed shut behind him.

"You really are naive, Kazuma." The fake Ayano said, walking around the storage room. She sat down on an abandoned desk, and looked him in the eyes.

"Where is Ayano?" Kazuma said calmly.

"Where do you think?" The fake Ayano said smiling. Kazuma smirked. She really let herself get caught? That was quick. Kazuma shook his head. Time to focous.

"Well I think she's somewhere with your master. And I also think it's time you give her back." With that, Kazuma let out a burst of wind. The webs turned to dust and sat in small piles around him. The fake Ayano stood up in shock as Kazuma walked towards her.

"I don't think you want to hurt me." She said, regaining her composure.

"And why is that?" Kazuma said, stopping.

"Because if you hurt me, you hurt her." She said, smirking. Kazuma sighed. But the fake Ayano did something unexpected. Her hands started glowing, and she punched herself in the stomach. Kazuma stepped forward, not knowing what to do.

"That ought to keep her busy, don't you think Kazuma?" She said, wincing. "And you can stop this, too. Just let me teleport you to our master. You would make him very powerful."

Kazuma thought for a moment. "Alright. I'll go."

Part Four: That's Unexpected

A bright light flashed, and Kazuma felt himself being pushed forward. He closed his eyes so that the light wouldn't blind him. Soon the light died down. He slowly opened his eyes.

"Kazuma?"

Kazuma blinked.

"Ayano?"

Ayano looked down and shook her head. "What took you so long?" She said. Kazuma looked around and gathered in his surroundings. They where in an old, abandoned building. Ayano was sitting on the ground, looking up at him. He looked beside her, and saw Enriha on the ground. Looks like I don't need to worry about that youma..

"Hey! I asked you a question! Aren't you going to answer? No, of course not. You're just going to stand there completely ignoring me." She sighed and stood up, hands on hips. She raised an eyebrow at him, waiting for a reply.

"I think I should be asking you. What took you so long? I mean, you couldn't defeat that youma before I woke up from my nap? I swear.. If it wasn't for me, you would still be stuck in this place." Kazuma said.

Ayano's eyes narrowed. "You're such a creep. Sleeping on top of a school.." She muttered.

"Well are we just gonna sit here and chat or are you gonna let me go collect my pay from your dad?" Kazuma said.

"You didn't do a thing!" Ayano said, shocked. "Excuse me Princess, but how exactly did you plan on getting out of here? In case you haven't noticed, we're in the middle of no where. "

"Jerk.." Ayano mummbled. She took a step forwards, and stumbled. That's right.. The fake Ayano hit her leg. Kazuma thought, watching her. He thought for a moment, then walked towards Ayano. She blushed and backed up. "Wh-what are you doing? Kazuma?" Ayano studdered. Kazuma picked her up bridal style.

"Eek! Put me down! I'm fine!" Ayano screamed, as Kazuma blast a hole through the roof and barrier. "Kazuma!" Kazuma jumped and flew out of the building.

As they were flying back home, Kazuma looked down at Ayano. Her eyes were shut tight. Does she always do this? I've never noticed. She doesn't know what she's missing. Kazuma thought. He nudged her with his free hand.

"Ayano. Flying's not as bad as you think." He said smirking.

"Kazuma, we're flying at the height of helicopters and probably going at LEAST eighty miles per hour. I think I'd rather walk." Ayano said, squeezing her eyes shut even harder. This gave Kazuma an idea. "You're wish is my command, Princess." Kazuma opened his arms, and let her fall.

"KAZUMA!" Ayano's eyes burst open, and she started flailing. She watched as the ground grew larger. He's going to catch me, right?! I mean I'm awfully close to the ground! Ayano thought. She looked around frantically, but Kazuma was no where in sight. She looked below her, and saw the ground. She sqeezed her eyes shut, then felt arms wrap around her.

"You JERK!" Ayano yelled, flailing her arms at Kazuma. "Unless you want to fall again, I suggest you stop trying to hit me." Ayano frowned and crossed her arms. This time however, she didn't close her eyes. She watched the ground as they passed by everything. She bit her lip as she saw a young couple sitting at the park. She smiled. She looked at Kazuma's arms around her, and blushed.

Part Five: Reunion

Ayano sighed a breath of relief when Kazuma finally landed in the front lawn of the Kannagi compound. Jugo, Nanase, Ren, and Yukari greeted them there. Everyone but Jugo ran up to her and hugged her. Jugo however, smiled at Kazuma. He nodded back.

"Ayano! I can't believe you beat that youma up so easily! When you gave it a final slash with your sword, it was like, the most amazing thing ever! And when you hurt your leg and fell, Nanase almost passed out! But I knew you where ok. Right, Nanase?" Yukari babbled.

"Thanks guys. I'm glad your safe." Ayano said, smiling.

"And I guess a thanks to me is out of the question?" Kazuma said, walking up to Ayano. Yukari and Nanase got a sly look on their faces.

"Now you're catching along!" Ayano said, smirking.

"Come on, Ayano. Don't be so mean to him! I mean, he did carry you here all the way from that warehouse. And you weigh a lot from all that cake you eat!" Yukari said smiling.

"What's that supposed to mean?!" Ayano said furiously. Kazuma smirked and shook his head. "Don't you start!" Ayano said to Kazuma. Yukari and Nanase each grabbed onto Ayano and pulled her over.

"Lets go, Ayano." They said, giggiling.

Ayano took one last hateful glance at Kazuma before she was dragged away.

"See you later, Princess!" He waved.