Chapter 9: A Friend's Pain Part 2

Chapter 9 is up and kicking! ^^ Re-edited version!

Not much to say, except read and enjoy!

Disclaimer: Dark-Flame Alchemist does not own Kaze no Stigma.


Karai's Point of View

We walked about ten minutes in silence, before I decided to ask her something, "So what kind of guy are you going on a date with?" I asked her. We were almost at the train station.

"He's cool," she said. 'That kind of sounds like Kazuma to me. Since he is a wind magic user after all,' I thought. We continued walking and entered the train when we got there.

It took about twenty to twenty-five minutes before we stopped at the city. We got off the train and walked on.

On the way, I sensed some presences that were following us. They were surrounding us from different distances. They were hit men though, not magic users. Two were even on the roofs of different buildings just waiting there, but they were far away from where we were. I couldn't sense who they were targeting so I decided to try something. I noticed the café Ichiru and I were supposed to go to.

I turned to Misao, "Hey Misao, I'm going to stop here. My cousin wanted me to get him a snack so you go on and have fun on your date."

"Ok then Karai-sama. I'll see you later," She smiled and bowed at me before walking on. I went inside the café, but just stood at the door. I felt the presences still following Misao.

'So they are just following her… I should go watch them from the roof. I wonder why though… She didn't do anything wrong.' My eyes widened as a possibility came to mind, 'No way… She couldn't have.' I though angrily as I clenched my fists. 'Let's hope that it isn't true.'

Sensing that they weren't near me anymore, I calmed myself before I went outside the café and into the alleyway. Flames shot out my boots as I jet streamed to the roof of the building.

The two hit men on the roofs were not in my sight which was a good thing. I leapt from building to building, jet streaming through the air in search of Misao. I finally caught sight of her and followed after her from above.

I saw the building of Star Box Coffee, jumped on the top and landed. I walked towards the front of the building and looked down, waiting for Misao to go inside.

When she went in, the hit men stopped and hid in different spots, mainly in alleyways, but close to the building. I stood on top of the building, with crossed arms, looking down on the building, waiting for Misao to leave. I wanted to see what she was up to.

I was surprised, though, that the hit men were able to walk around without being thought as suspicious. I guess that people just assumed they were just business people or something as they walked by them.

"Ayano, (pant) can (pant) we (pant) please (pant) take a break. Where are we going to find him in a busy neighborhood like this? (pant) We don't have tracking skills like wind magic users or like the Uchiha clan… (pant) Why didn't you ask Karai Nee-sama for help?"

"It sounds like the only skill you have is whining Ren. Besides, I did and she was busy."

I was so deep in thought that I almost didn't recognize that Ayano and Ren were arguing as they were standing on the sidewalk in front of the building next to the one I was at, and heading towards the one that I was at. Ren had his hands on his knees, looking exhausted and Ayano was a few feet from Ren, with her hands on her hips.

The reason I that I finally figured out it was them was because Ayano was being her loud self… even though I was on top of a building

"So that's why Ayano needed my help… but who are they looking for?" I asked myself, wondering what the two are doing here and then remembered when Ayano called me and it clicked, causing me to frown and sigh, "Kazuma…"

"Now that I think about it… instead of dragging me all over the city to find Kazuma, why didn't you just call him on his cell phone?" Ren asked. I felt so sorry that Ren had to deal with Ayano right now.

"Why would I have that guy's cell number? And besides," she said as she turned around, "I don't want to talk to him."

"It's a good thing that Onee-san was busy so that she wouldn't have seen that idiot with some woman. I shouldn't have called her in the first place," she muttered to herself while Ren was too busy catching his breath before she continued walking forward, now in front of the building where I was.

A sweat drop appeared on my head, 'So that's what this was all about? Kazuma is with a woman?' I thought as I began chuckling, "Aww, she's trying to protect her big sister." Ayano and I used to not even like each other, but we've become closer. Ever since we found out we were related.

'The funny thing is… it was just yesterday that we were told of our blood ties,' I thought smiling, but then became sad, "Kazuma and another woman eh...?" I shook my head, trying not to think about it as I continued watching Ayano and Ren. It was probably just a friend.

"Ayano! Can we just rest for a little while? I'm begging you! I'm so thirsty─," he then paused.

"Ah walk it off! We don't have time to rest." "Umm," Ren said as Ayano turned her head to see what Ren was "umming" at.

Ren pointed at the building that I was on, "I think I just found him." Ayano looked where Ren was pointing at. Too bad I wasn't able to see him myself.

I tried sensing him and I did indeed felt his presence. I became surprised since Misao was in the building as well and it clicked, "Oh no, are you serious…," I was too busy making sure the hit men were still around that I didn't realize that Kazuma was here as well.

I saw Ayano drag Ren behind a tree to spy on Kazuma, even though I couldn't see him myself. I kept on listening to what they were saying, even if they weren't talking as loud as before.

"So Ayano, why are we hiding behind a tree? We just spent an hour looking for him?"

"Don't worry about it. It doesn't look like he is with anyone."

"Why? Was he with somebody else earlier?"

"Uh no, I was just making an observation," Ayano told Ren.

"Liar…," I said bluntly.

"It does kind of look like he's waiting for somebody."

"Here she comes!" Ren said as Ayano gasped a little. I became more anxious as I waited to hear who they said is with Kazuma, although I had a pretty good idea who it was.

Ayano looked a little bummed, "Hmm. Wow, she's kind of pretty. Is that…? Wait, that's Misao!"

I sighed, wishing that I wasn't right, "She didn't listen to me…" I was disappointed with her, knowing what she was trying to do.

I looked down below, and saw that Misao and Kazuma, with arms entwined, leaving the building. They started walking in the direction that Ayano and Ren came from before.

"Yep, that's her," Ren said as he got a better glimpse at her, "Do you think they are on a date?" He noticed that Ayano looked pissed and gets a little scared, "Umm, Ayano are you ok?"

"Let's go!" She said hastily, not answering his question and dragging him with her.

Ayano and Ren followed after them, very, VERY badly. It was so bad that Kazuma definitely noticed them by now since they were making themselves look like they were obviously following them. "She absolutely doesn't have any stealth," I said, shaking my head, "That's another thing that she has to work on."

The hit men started moving as well and so did I. I slowly jet streamed through the air instead of leaping from building to building like I previously did. I didn't know where they were going, so I had to go in the pace that they were walking. I stayed close to the buildings as I followed them.

Kazuma and Misao finally went through an alleyway where the love hotels were, but went past them. They got out of the alley, turned left on a street and right through the entrance of another love hotel, but they just stood in the medium-sized lawn.

I noticed the two snipers on the buildings that they were on. I landed on a building next to the sniper that was in front of the hotel, trying not to let either one see me as they were concentrated to where Misao and Kazuma were.

I made a serious face, 'So Misao lured Kazuma here so that she can have these guys kill him… I can't believe she would go this far,' I thought with sorrow, 'Too bad she doesn't know that he won't get killed that easily.'

I saw all the hit men on the ground form themselves in a single line on the side hotel that Misao and Kazuma went to, waiting for their signal and hidden from Ayano or Ren's sight. Those two were near the pole of the entrance, spying on Misao and Kazuma. Ayano became pissed because they were at a hotel and began melting the pole in anger. Ren became scared once again.

"This is… unforgiveable!" Ayano yelled as she started walking towards the entrance. Ren tried pulling her back to keep them from being seen. I just sighed.

Suddenly, I realized that the other sniper on top of the building on the right side of the hotel was looking straight at me as he got his weapon facing me instead of Kazuma.

Shit…

I reacted quickly. Flames bursted from my boots as I hovered high so that nobody would notice me. I then landed on the building where the sniper was and knocked him out before he could shoot me.

I was relieved and glanced at the other sniper. He still didn't notice me. He was waiting to shoot Kazuma, the main target. 'That was close…'

I looked at Misao and Kazuma. I was just in time to see Misao leave Kazuma' side and walk a few steps back from him. She said something to him before bowing.

I was too late. The sniper shot at him a few times. The force caused him to hit his back on the wall of the hotel.

The hit men went in front of Kazuma in their line and shot at him several times. After that, they stopped, pulled the pins from the grenades that they were holding and threw them at him.

I closed my eyes for a bit, not wanting to see what they were doing, even though I knew that it would take a lot more guns and grenades to kill him. I waited for the right time to show myself.

I felt a small breeze. I opened my eyes and saw Kazuma, okay and unharmed. He had appeared behind the sniper in the building and knocked him out. He saw me and gave me a thumb's up for taking down the other one. I smiled and did the same before he disappeared.

I leapt on top of the love hotel and looked down as Ayano and Ren appeared in the entrance of the gate, surprising Misao.

Ayano was talking seriously to Misao. Misao then said she was confident that Kazuma was dead and that it was a good thing that Ayano and Ren were they to collect his remains. Ayano knew though that Kazuma couldn't die that easily.

Misao gasped as she looked to see that Kazuma wasn't where he should have been once the smoke cleared.

A big gust of wind came out of nowhere, taking in all the hit men, as Kazuma appeared without a scratch. Once the wind disappeared, the hit men fell from the sky and each of them landed hard onto the ground. They were all unconscious.

Misao grabbed her phone and was dialing. She was probably calling one of the snipers.

"Don't bother. I already had a talk with your rooftop sniper," Kazuma said. Misao cringed, but smirked as she was about to dial the other one, "Don't bother with the other one either," I yelled as Misao, Ayano and Ren looked around to see who said that and finally saw me on the roof.

They were all surprised except for Kazuma. I jumped off the building and hovered slowly down the ground before landing safely. I stood in between Kazuma and Misao. One hand was on my hip, "I took him out before Kazuma did the same with the other sniper…"

"What? How could you-?" Misao started to angrily say before I cut her off, "I sensed them following us when we were walking, which is why I decided to leave you to see who they were actually following… and it was you. I've been waiting on top of the buildings to see what they were going to do and once I saw you with Kazuma, I knew," I paused for a bit as nobody said anything, particularly Misao. I shook my head before looking at her and continuing, "I am very disappointed with the way you've been acting… I even told you not to do anything that you'll regret."

Misao spoke with no remorse, "I know. I don't regret what I did because he has to pay. That plan was supposed to work!"

"Don't feel too bad. It was a good idea in theory. I was almost surprised, although you didn't fool Karai apparently," Kazuma said, walking right next to me. He spoke to Misao, "And weapons are more effective than your magic. Only thing is, you'll need more guns."

It became quiet, until Kazuma spoke again, "You've changed, huh? Did I make you this way?" I was confused as to why he would say this, but I remembered what happened years ago, 'Oh yeah, I can't believe I forgot.'

"Are you serious? You haven't seen me in ten years. You really think you'd know me enough to even ask that?" Misao replied.

"Good point," Kazuma said.

"All right, that's enough with the chatter," Ayano said seriously as she and Ren started approaching her, "Misao, you're coming home with me. You're going to explain everything you've done to my father."

Misao turned around and threw her purse at Ayano, who deflected it with her school bag, as Misao ran out of the entrance. "Hey! Get back here!" Ayano yelled as she and Ren went after her.

Kazuma and I remained behind. He stared at the purse and picked it up, "She's right… ten years."

"Yup," I replied as I placed my right hand on his shoulder.

He turned his head to look at me, "So you remember then?"

I smiled, "Of course. Now don't you think we should go after them?"

He smiled back at me, "Yeah, let's go," He held out a hand, "Want a ride? You must be exhausted from jet streaming all afternoon."

"I'm not, but I'll accept your offer. Thank you," I put my hand in his. He surprised me though. He grabbed my other hand as well and placed both of them on his neck. He then placed his own hands around my waist. "Hang on," he said as we flew off to where Misao, Ayano and Ren were. Kazuma's type of flying didn't bother me since it was almost the same as my jet streaming.

When we finally got to them, Ayano had Enraiha out while Misao produced a flame in her hands. Both of them were ready to fight until Kazuma and I stepped in.

"That's enough. You girls are going to get hurt playing that way," he said as he landed us on top of the roof of a part of the building where the door was, higher than where all three of them were. He let go of me as I stood next to him.

"Look its Kazuma Nii-san and Karai Nee-san!" Ren yelled.

"Oh great… Don't worry Onee-san, I got this under control," Ayano said. I didn't respond to her as I decided to let Kazuma handle this situation for now.

"Look I'm just returning your purse," he said, holding up Misao's purse.

"That's got to be the worst excuse I've ever heard!" Ayano yelled.

"Ayano, you're taking this a little too far," Kazuma said and continued, "Misao didn't do anything to the Kannagi family. She tried to kill me. I don't see how it's any of your business."

"You're missing the point," Ayano said as she de-materialized Enraiha, "Misao is a member of the Kannagi family and her actions reflect on all of us. Don't you get that?"

"No, I guess I don't," he said before jumping in front of Misao. I jumped and hovered in between Ayano and Misao, in case they were about to fight again.

"I mean it. Whatever happened is between Misao and me. So just leave me alone," Kazuma said.

"What? You can't be serious Kazuma! You're talking about a girl who just tried to kill you! And if you don't do anything to stop her, she's going to try again!" Ayano yelled as he grabbed Misao's hand and placed her purse in it.

"And I don't care," Kazuma said to Ayano as she yelled once again, "What?"

"Ayano, just respect his wishes," I said to her as I watched Kazuma and Misao.

"Onee-sama! Why would you allow such a thing to be?" She yelled at me, "You're a head (not literally the body part)! You should see this from my side!"

"Sometimes when you are the head, you have to respect a person's decision even though it's not in your favor," I lectured her, "But if I see things go too far, then I will step in myself. As head of your sister clan."

Ayano looked like she disagreed with my decision, but didn't say anything. She then turned to Kazuma and yelled at him, "Why not? Why don't you care?"

"Because it doesn't matter; she can't even put a scratch on me," Kazuma answered as he looked at Misao.

Misao became angry. She threw her purse to the side and held out her hand, producing a flame. She pushed the same hand onto his chest, but his wind deflected it.

"It's pointless Misao. Can't you see that? Just let it go!" Ren begged her.

"He's too strong for you! You are nowhere near the same level of magic as he does!" Ayano yelled at her.

"How could you?" Misao said, "It's not fair!" She yelled as she continued trying to throw flames onto him, "You killed my brother! You killed him! It's all your fault! You took him from me! You killed my precious Takeya! He was the only person in my family that cared about me! And you killed him! He was the only one that I loved! Why did you kill him? Why did you have to take him away from me?" She kept attacking Kazuma as he kept deflecting it.

I felt sorry for Misao. I don't see how I was an idol to her if I didn't help her as much as I should have or could have. No, I gave her advice… and she didn't take it. It was her own decision on whether she would take it or not. Still…

It started to rain. She sobbed and seeing as how her magic didn't work anymore, she tried to keep punching him. Finally, she stopped and fell on her knees, with her hands on the ground. She screamed in pain from the loss of her brother.

Kazuma took off his jacket and tried putting it on her, but she just shoved it away. It fell to the ground as she continued crying.

She looked up at the kneeling Kazuma with hated in her eyes, "I'll never forgive you for what you've done. Never. And I will do anything it takes to make you suffer like he did," she said coldly.

Kazuma got up and grabbed his jacket, throwing it over his shoulder, "Do what you have to do." He turned around, looked at me for a second to give me a nod of thanks and walked past me.

"Are you ok?" Ren asked Kazuma as he was walking towards him and Ayano. He didn't say anything and just passed by them. Ayano yelled after him, "Hey! Wait! Kazuma!" They followed him down the stairs.

I remained in the same spot I was, staring at Misao. After watching them leave, she looked up at me.

"Do you hate me… for what I tried to do?" She said quietly.

I looked down as I spoke to her, "No, Just disappointed. I thought you were better than that." I walked towards her and kneeled down in front of her as I gave her a hug, "I hope that you'll be able to do what is right this time before you do something that will change your life… for the worse." She doesn't respond.

I released her and stood up. Before I left, I took off my coat and placed it on her, with the hood on her head. She didn't take mine off like she did with Kazuma's, "I'm sorry that I can't help you anymore than I did. I hope what I said helped, though. The rest is up to you. Take care of yourself Misao," That was the last thing I said before I turned around and walked away, leaving her to make her own decision when to leave. She needed time to think. Hopefully things will work out fine. If it doesn't, then I will definitely step in.

I wish I had noticed the evil that was going to influence Misao that would indeed change her life forever.


End of chapter! Hope you liked it! As always! X) (Well the ending kind of sucked… but you knew what was going to happen already… x.x)

Also, as always, reviews would be awesome!