-Note: Shorter chapter, but since there's some pretty important information in it, I figured the less you have to swallow, the easier it will be to understand. So please enjoy this scintillating chapter! -
The pain in Kazuma's body from Ayano's surprisingly strong kick barely registered. 'It's spreading... that bruise is spreading.' What did it mean? When he'd first rescued Ayano, the mark had been on her forearm and calf, small. Just dark smudges that looked like something had grabbed her hard while she struggled, nothing to be too upset about despite their strange color. But now it was stretching up and down her arm and leg, seeming to grow larger and darker as more time passed. Did it have something to do with what happened to her energy?
Kazuma's hands curled into fists as he remained on the floor of the inn. The area around him crackled with energy, some sparks of electricity appearing in the air. How dare someone mark Ayano's skin like that? The sight of the hideous mark creeping up her beautiful white arm and leg made him want to punch and maim someone. It had felt like dead flesh under his fingers, even though he could feel the rush of blood and oxygen underneath. It was not the soft warm flesh he was used to stealing caresses from, because no spirit energy had inhabited the areas covered by the mark. And for a magic user, that was tantamount to death anyway.
"Dammit!" Kazuma punched the floor and stood, staring at his palm. Ayano... her skin had been silk under his hands. The sensation still lingered, as it always did whenever he touched her bare skin. That was why he tried to minimize skin on skin contact with her. When he had ripped her uniform off, he'd only wanted to see the progression of the mark on her body and hadn't cared about maintaining his distance. Along with the bruises, though, he'd also seen Ayano's body.
For a teenage girl, she was rather well built. She wasn't stacked with much fat despite her penchant for sweets, just carrying a slight softness around her chest and hips. Her bust was the perfect size for her slight frame; any larger and she would not be able to fight as well as she does, and Kazuma loved watching her sleek motions when she swung the Enraiha at her enemies or him. Ayano was slender and strong from her martial arts training. She had the type of body he loved the most, the kind that could hold him close for comfort, yet also challenge him physically. Sometimes, he provoked her on purpose just to see those long legs of her kick at him.
'She's sixteen, Kazuma; don't do anything illegal.' Shaking his head, Kazuma walked over to the window to stare out at the garden stretching around the inn. He shouldn't even be thinking about that! Until she's saved, fantasies can wait, but he was finding it harder and harder to control himself around her. Something about Ayano always drew him, but now it appeared as though his ability to resist the girl was gone. Was it because she was hurt so badly?
Twice he's slipped up already, once when he flew her to this inn and admitted he thought her beautiful - though, thankfully, the naive girl hadn't noticed. Maybe it was because this was the first time he's had so much contact with Ayano, uninterrupted by missions or fighting, or even Ren. Never before has he been allowed to hold her close for so long, until that unique firewood and cake scent of her was imprinted onto his clothing.
His hands clenched by his sides. He didn't deserve her at all. "I made her cry." He muttered, hating himself. It had been driven by concern, his actions, but even he could see that they were boorish. She was trying to forget about what had happened to her, had been doing a pretty good job of it, and then he'd gone and dragged her attention to the evidence of her loss again. She's right. He is a totally cad.
"I need to find that flaky Spirit King as soon as possible." Kazuma said, opening the sliding door separating the room from the garden and stepping out onto the small sitting area right outside their room. The air was clean and fresh, the type which normally calmed him down, but he barely noticed it tonight.
Right now, all his senses were locked on the sound of the water running in the bathroom. Automatically, he reached out with his senses to try and gauge how she was doing by the activity level in her spirits, but touched only emptiness. It scared him. Normally Ayano was overflowing with so much power and energy that she was a constant hum on the edge of his mind, but now, unless she was right in front of him, he couldn't feel her at all. Almost like she was gone.
His heart stuttered. 'No!' Shoving his hands into his pockets, Kazuma turned his back on the room and stared up at the stars. She is alive and with him right now. He wasn't going to rest until he'd found out how to keep her that way. Thinking anything else wasn't an option. He wouldn't survive any other outcome.
"So dramatic. Although, in your case, that might very well be true. You are rather attached to her." Kazuma jerked, surprised, when a deep and suave voice came out of nowhere. He hadn't sensed anyone. Turning, he looked for the speaking. Sitting in the chair by the desk in the room was a familiar white haired man, buffing his nails with a file. "Yo. Long time no see, my Contractor." The Spirit King of Wind smiled at the wind mage.
Kazuma sighed and shook his head. "I want to be shocked, I really do, but I just can't summon the energy." He said, walking back into the room. "How'd you know I needed you?" He asked. The spirit snorted and vanished his file, standing and walking over to the smaller man.
"Please. I'm the Spirit King of Wind, Kazuma. I can use the wind in ways you can't even imagine. And I also happen to keep a close eye on my Contractor." The man reached out and brushed his hand against Kazuma's chest, the touch sending electricity jolting through him. Like the last time, his ears felt like they were being pushed against and the Spirit King's voice came from a vast distance and very close at the same time. The very air buzzed with such energy that the hair on his arms stood up. Shaking himself, Kazuma stepped back.
The Spirit King smiled. "So I am aware of your need. I would have come to you sooner, but I needed to check on something else first. But I'm here now. And so..." Voice trailing off ominously, the spirit turned and walked over to the bathroom. Before Kazuma could react, the man had opened the door and stepped inside.
"Kazuma, what the - WHO THE HECK ARE YOU?! Get OUT, Pervert!" Ayano's yell was loud enough to be heard outside. The Spirit King of Wind fell back out of the bathroom, a foot imprint on his face and a volley of bottles coming after him. A loofa landed on his head before the door slammed shut with enough force to shake the walls. Plucking the sponge off his head, the Spirit King started to laugh.
"Oh, I like her." He said, looking back over his shoulder as Kazuma walked over to him. "Can I ha-" The man's voice cut off as Kazuma's foot slammed down into his gut, sending the breath gusting out of the spirit.
"What the hell!? Ayano is female despite her actions sometimes! Even I know better than to walk in on a woman's bath!" He yelled, kicking the laughing spirit again while trying to convince himself that he was incensed because Ayano had been peeked on, not because he hadn't been the one to see her. He was marginally successful.
"I needed to see what had been done to her. She isn't going to strip if I tell her to, so I peeked instead." The Spirit King rubbed where he'd been kicked and stood. Kazuma glared at him but stepped away.
The bathroom door flew open and Ayano stormed out in a robe. Seeing Kazuma, she stomped over and grabbed his collar, pulling him down so she could glare directly into his eyes.
"What the heck kind of useless bodyguard are you, Kazuma?! Some white haired creep just ogled me in the shower!" She snapped, face flushed with hear that probably wasn't from the water. Letting out a sigh, Kazuma reached up and unhooked the girl's hands from his clothes, turning her around so she could see the Spirit King standing behind her.
"Meet the Spirit King of Wind, princess." He said, gritting his teeth as the taller man winked at the girl. "He's apparently come here to help us out."
Ayano blinked at the Spirit King, then turned to Kazuma, pointing at the controller of winds. "That's the Spirit King of Wind? A pervert? No wonder you're his Contractor..." She trailed off and cast a dubious look over the spirit again, walking over and looking him up and down. The vain man practically preened. "Are you sure he can help?" She finished, crossing her arms under her breasts and cocking out one hip as she watched the two wind users.
The Spirit King whistled and danced away from Kazuma's punch to sit in the chair he'd occupied upon first arriving. "I'm a Spirit King. There are very few things I can't do. But this will be difficult."
"What? Why? Can't you just wave a hand and return my flames to me?" Ayano burst out, clutching at the neck of her robe. Kazuma noted the tremor shaking her frame. Was she cold, or were her emotions getting the better of her? If he were to guess, it was both.
"Because I'm the Spirit King of Wind, Kannagi Heir. If Kazuma had lost his wind, I could return it easily, but fire is outside my domain." The Spirit King pointed out. It made logical sense. One element is always weak to another and so the Spirit Kings were probably not able to control the other elements, especially those which are anthesis to their own. Fire and wind were complementary powers, though.
"Then... do we need to ask the Spirit King of Fire to restore my flames?" Ayano asked, face lighting up. The white haired man sighed.
"In a perfect world, yes, but unfortunately, the Spirit King of Fire is not awake or aware of herself at this moment." A stunned silence met his words, so he just waved a hand, sending a gust of air through the room that, when it calmed, left two more chairs sitting across from him. Ayano collapsed into the nearest one, hands rising to clutch at her chest. Kazuma remained standing; he was too tense to sit.
"If the Spirit King of Fire is dead, then what are we supposed to do to save Ayano?" Kazuma burst out, his anger making the air start to stirr up.
Shooting him an angry glance, the Spirit King of Wind calmed the air spirits with a wave of his hand and leaned back, rubbing his palms against his thighs. "I didn't say she was dead of anything. Of all of us, she's probably the hardest to kill. And if you'd stop interrupting me, I'd explain. But first... Kannagi Heir, you need to hold Enraiha."
Kazuma looked over at Ayano and felt his heart stop. She was hunched over in the chair, clutching at her chest tightly and breathing in painful, shallow gasps. Her fingers were beginning to look blue at the tips and her naturally pale skin was taking on a frosty white hue. He rushed over to her side and grabbed her hands. The bruise on her left hand was larger, stretching across three fingers now and licking at her palm.
Where was Enraiha? Kazuma turned and saw the sword laying beside the shopping bag from earlier. He dashed over and grabbed it, ignoring the flame that flared up at his touch, and carried it to Ayano. She snatched it from his hands and held it to her chest. After a long moment, Ayano's breathing evened out and the pain started to leech from her expression. The flames along the sword flickered out and she finally straightened. Her eyes were frightened but she drew in a deep breath and pushed her hair back, sending a small smile Kazuma's way.
"I'm sorry about that. Sometimes when my emotions flare, I feel a spark of power but then the cold gets worse and worse .Holding Enraiha does help, though." She said, a frown touching her face. "I don't know why, though."
Kazuma was confused. Though all magic responded to emotions, and especially among the Kannagi Clan, there was no way Ayano should have any power left. He couldn't sense any. Yet her emotions called some up from somewhere, which triggered the pain response he'd just witnessed. And why would holding Enraiha ease that pain? His eyes widened. Jugo... he must know! The Kannagi head had said that Ayano being with Enraiha was dangerous.
The Spirit King of Wind laughed. "Don't think too hard; it might damage your mortal brain." He said, snark flowing from his lips as easily as it did from Kazuma's. He did not, however, appreciate being on the receiving end of it from the spirit. Still smiling, the white haired man crossed his legs. "There is an interesting legend among the Kannagi family." He started.
"One thousand years ago, there was a young fire magic user who traveled all over Japan purifying the spirits of yoma. He grew in acclaim and power, but was not satisfied. He wanted to meet the Spirit King of Fire, and thus gain the true power of his element. So he embarked upon a perilous journey to find the mighty spirit. Yadda yadda, things happened, and he met her. She was impressed with him and, once he got over being stunned that the Spirit King of Fire was a babe, they formed a contract, making the Kannagi Clan carriers of the powers of a Contractor. But they also fell in love. In order to be with the man she longed for, the Spirit King of Fire gave up her spirit form and powers and became a mortal woman. But, because of her contract, her very essence lived on inside the Kannagi line, so the fire spirits didn't die. That is why the Kannagi Clan is unmatched in the area of fire magic. However, the world cannot survive without the Spirit King for long, so every five hundred years, the spirit inside the Kannagi coalesces into one and she is effectively reborn again. Asleep, she lies dormant inside the soul of one of her descendants, until the carrier dies or trauma awakens her. Once she is awoken, the contract is renewed through the reformation of a Contractor in the Kannagi family, and she once again lives for a short time in the world of spirits. Then, once again, she will inevitably fall in love with the Kannagi soul and give herself up to them again. This has happened twice now. The last incident was five hundred and sixteen years ago, give or take a few months."
Before Kazuma could speak - or Ayano could ask for clarification - the Spirit King held up a finger. "Enraiha is the weapon of the Spirit King, and deeply connected to her soul. The person who wields it is the one with the most spirit in that generation. If I am not mistaken, Kannagi Heir, your father and mother were both the strongest fire magic users in the family, correct? Do you see?"
Kazuma did see. He wasn't blind. Ayano, at sixteen, could already, sometimes, summon the Crimson Flame. It was third in power, below only the Blue Flame of the old man and the Purple Flames of the Kannagi Head. For such a young woman to be able to control such power was unheard of, yet she did. Even Ren was unusual, with his Golden Purifying Flames, but... Ren didn't have Enraiha. Ren didn't burn with so much spirit magic energy that he could be used to draw out monsters as bait when incensed. Ren wasn't as strong as Ayano.
But there was no way what the Spirit King was saying could possibly be true. It just... wasn't possible. Ayano was Ayano, his princess. His.
Ayano frowned. "I know that story, but what has that got to do with why I need Enraiha, or even fixing me?" She asked, truly looking confused. Kazuma just shook his head. She's too naive and stupid to be anything but Ayano.
The Spirit King of Wind blinked, apparently stunned, then barked out a blast of laughter that blew Ayano's hair straight back. "Thinking is not your power, Kannagi Heir. I shall spell it out for you. The legend is not legend, but truth. The Spirit King of Fire lives on inside your family, and once every five hundred years, she is reborn through it. And her current incarnation is the current heir. In case that is still too vague for your feeble mind, princess, that means you have the soul of the Spirit King of Fire sleeping inside of yourself."
Ayano's mouth fell open and she stared at the spirit, eyes wide. Turning, she looked at Kazuma. "Me? Spirit King?" She asked, voice starting to rise as her hysteria grew. "But...but I'm a stupid little girl, and a clutz, and an idiot, and and and... there's no way that's possible! It would be someone like Cousin Akari, or Ren, or even Kazuma, not me!" She exclaimed, throwing her arms wide. "I'm just me!"
The spirit nodded. "Yes, you are. You are Ayano Kannagi, the daughter of Jugo, and heir to Enraiha. If you had not been attacked so viciously, you would have lived your life that way. She only awakens with the death of the carrier soul, after all. Enriaha works to keep the power of the spirit dormant, an inhibitor of sorts. You would have been an extraordinarily powerful Kannagi and died a legend, but you would have remained yourself the entire time. Like a Phoenix she rises from death. But now you are in danger; if that bruise on your arm and leg reaches your heart, 'Ayano' will die and the Spirit King of Fire will awaken and take over the life that was 'Ayano's.' However, while still in a mortal body, the She can be killed. With the amount of power that She holds, the one's who did this to the Kannagi Heir must be planning to use the death of a Spirit King for some nefarious is dangerous. She is, after all, the strongest of us all." He said, standing and looking at Kazuma.
"To heal Ayano, you need to keep her from calling up the power which resides in the souls sleeping inside her. The more she uses the power, the faster the corruption placed upon her will spread, decaying her body. The only possible way to save her now is to completely purify her body from the inside out." His words were matter of fact and calm, but in his pupiless azure eyes, Kazuma thought he read worry.
It was a dire situation. If he believed the Spirit King's words - and he was still debating that - then all fire magic users in the world were in peril. The death of a Spirit King would end the lives of all that spirits magic users around the world. And without the fire magic users, the strongest purifiers in the world, the yoma would gain a huge advantage over everyone.
"Then we need to get her back to Jugo and the old man; fire magic possesses the strongest purifying flames." He muttered, not taking his eyes off Ayano. She still seemed to be struggling with what she'd just been told. He was having a hard time accepting it himself, but at this point he was willing to believe anything if it would return his princess to the way she normally was.
But the Spirit King shook his head. "No, don't do that. While the Kannagi Girl is without her own flames, the spirit sleeping within her will absorb all fire to protect the body, just like it did the fire from Enraiha. Once the corruption has been cleansed from the body, then those absorbed flames will be used to restore her power. You will have to use your wind instead, Kazuma."
Kazuma blinked. His wind purification wasn't near as strong as Ren's flames, but it could still, theoretically work. If applied multiple times and continuously, then the darkness from the yoma would be cleansed. Just one problem.
"Wind magic hurts Ayano, just like fire magic hurts me. I can't send my purifying wind inside her; it'll kill her!" He snapped, the very thought of causing Ayano any pain outside of what he could do to her in bed abhorrent to him.
To his amazement, the Spirit King laughed. "Oh, that is easily circumnavigated. Put a little Kazuma inside Ayano, and your wind magic will recognize her as part of you, and not harm her. A pain free and enjoyable way to save the day. Especially for you, Contractor. While I do enjoy being a voyeur, solo activities don't titillate me near as much as they do you." Kazuma's glared at the spirit, making the man step back. "Just trying to help. But truthfully, that is your only option. It will take at least three tries for you to stop and negate the yoma corruption, and that is only if she does not have any more episodes which expedite the process. I suggest you hurry. Powerful forces are searching for you two and are following your trail. Though you hid it well, they will eventually find you. Now then... since I have delivered the help I was called for, I am returning home. Kazuma, remember what I told you when I contracted with you; I do not care how you use my power, as long as you use it to change the trajectory of the world. You can chose. Save Ayano, or awaken the Spirit King of Fire. She would gift you with fire for saving her. You could show your family what a double Contractor could do. The choice is yours. Until I decide to drop in again, farewell!"
The room was suddenly the center of a vortex, the sheer power of the wind overwhelming Kazuma and Ayano. As suddenly as it had come, the swirling mass of wind spirits vanished, leaving just the two of them alone in the room. Kazuma shoved his hands into his pockets and watched Ayano as she muttered to herself, obviously trying to put the pieces together.
Jugo must have known. That was why he was worried about Enraiha being away from Ayano. He did not want to lose his daughter to the destiny which she was born to fulfill. 'I don't want to lose her either.'
The girl on his mind stood and looked at her hands. "When I was trapped, that yoma tried to kill me. I... I got so angry and frustrated and upset... These flames, white fire with a black core, burst out of me and destroyed the yoma completely. It was the most terrifying power I have ever seen in my entire life. Can that have been...?" She turned her golden flame eyes to him, the trembling of her limbs becoming more pronounced.
Poor Ayano. His princess was at her limit. She had lost her fire, the power that made her who she was. Her family was dismissing her, and her father, in trying to protect her, had driven her to the edge. She was alone with him when he knew she was uncomfortable around him, and now she had learned that inside of her slept a dangerous power that would take over her life if the darkness inside of her wasn't cured. The tears shimmering in her eyes had every right to be there, and it was her shining stubborn will that was keeping them from falling. He... likes that about her.
Kazuma's legs moved before his mind. Her form stiffened when he wrapped his arms around her, but he just pressed her face against his chest and held her close, breathing deeply her scent. After a long moment, she relaxed and pressed her palms against his chest, holding his jacket lightly as she leaned against him.
"I'm scared, Kazuma. I... I don't want to stop being me." She whispered against his chest. He rested his hand on top of her head.
"I don't want you to stop being an idiot princess either." His words made a weak laugh bubble out of her. "Don't worry. We can fix this."
She shoved him away so hard that if he were anyone other than his magnificent self, he would have fallen flat on his ass. Her eyes sparkled at him. "You mean, I can get my fire back? I think the pervy Spirit King said something like that, but I really wasn't listening at that point, so... what do we do?"
Kazuma shoved his hands in his pockets and looked away. How was he supposed to tell Ayano, the queen of naive innocence, that the Spirit King of Wind had basically told him to sleep with her and use that connection to use his purifying winds on her? There was no way she would agree to something like that in the first place, not even to save her life; she's that stubborn. But truly, he didn't see any other option. If he tried to directly use his purifying wind on her, it would kill her since she had no powers of her own but what the yoma had forced into her.
Ayano stomped over and grabbed his jacket, yanking him down to her level again. Then she pushed her face closer to his, a truly magnificent glower coming over her beautiful face. "Ka-zu-ma!" She drew out his name in warning. He sighed and impulsively licked the tip of her noise.
She made a sound like a kettle and scrambled away from him to the other side other room, Enraiha pointed in his direction as he straightened. If he were completely honest with himself... he wasn't opposed to claiming her as his own here and now. It just rankled that he was being asked to do something he wanted to do before he was ready for it. The whole scenario in his mind of how he claimed Ayano didn't include laying with her to save her from a yoma's darkness. But... there may be a way to pencil that in.
A dangerous smile started to creep across his face as he stalked towards the shaking Ayano. Sure, it wasn't the way he'd planned it but... Ayano belonged to him anyway. Claiming her now rather than later meant he wouldn't have to put up with Jugo's stupid matchmaking plots anymore. Or Ren's pointed looks, and Ayano's friend's attempts to set the two of them up. He could monopolize the red head all he wanted. And he wanted, badly, to keep her to himself. He nodded. There may be merit to this plan after all... He sent a small thank you to the Spirit King.
"KA-ZU-MA!" Ayano's yell only made him smile wider as he stopped just outside of her strike range. Even without her power, he knew Ayano wasn't weak. She'd kicked the Spirit King of Wind right in the face and hadn't batted an eye about it, after all. His woman was tough as they come.
"Well, princess, according to the Spirit King, I get to make good on my words during Pandemonium. About my strong appetites." he said, rocking back on his heels as her face blanked, the flushed as she recalled their conversation - and his nip to her neck - after she'd used her Crimson Fire to knock some sense into his black-wind self.
"Wh...what? W-w-what does that mean, you pervert?" She stammered, not lowering the sword she had a death grip on. Kazuma's smirk grew, and he knew it was downright evil by this point.
"That means I get to kill two birds with one stone. In other words, to purify the darkness inside your body, you need to let me have my way with you." He said, biting the inside of his lip to keep from laughing as Ayano's mouth went slack and the hand holding Enraiha fell limply to her side.
She sputtered for a long moment, then, face growing red, threw her head back and yelled at the top of her lungs, "KAZUMA, YOU PERVERTED IDIOT!" He started laughing, then froze when white flames with a blacker than night center burst into life on the blade of Enraiha.
Ayano lifted the sword and stared at it, then dropped the blade altogether, the fire instantly going out. Staring at her hands, she fell to the ground and started shaking so hard Kazuma was afraid she'd hurt herself. Then, her breath catching on a gasp, she fell over onto her side and let out the most chilling scream Kazuma had ever heard in his life before all her sound just cut off, silenced like her lungs were frozen solid.
Heart thudding in his throat, Kazuma dashed to her side and grabbed her shoulders, wincing at the chill emanating from her skin. Her eyes were wide but sightless, all her focus inward. "Ayano! Ayano, snap out of it! Wake up, princess!" He shouted, shaking her. The black marks on her arm and leg slowly snaked further up her body, moving closer and closer to that precious heart he wanted to protect.
"AYANO!"
