Kaze no Stigma: The Elementalist

by D.M.Ash

Alkan Simure Hosenkou is one of the few special people to wield the power of all four elements, known as an Elementalist. How will things change when he runs into his old friend Kazuma Yagami in Kazuma's hometown while on a job?

12. Showtime

Chapter 12 – Showtime

Alkan was walking around Tokyo for the better part of the afternoon, wondering where Kazuma had disappeared to. When Alkan had gotten up somewhere around eleven, he decided to go to him, much to his disbelief, and ask him for help.

Now he was getting fed up and decided to look for him using the wind. He flew to the highest building in the city and when Alkan was on the roof, he called upon the spirits of the wind to look for Kazuma. He had his eyes closed and did this for a few minutes, until he heard a voice say, "You called Al?"

"I was wondering where you went." Alkan said with a smirk and he opened his eyes and turned around, seeing Kazuma standing there behind him. He saw Tiana beside him which made Alkan raise his eyebrows but he said, "I need your help with something Kazuma."

"Oh, the great Alkan Hosenkou asking for help? That's new." Kazuma teased. Alkan gave him a cold look and said, "Kazuma, I'm being serious here. It involves the Tsuwabuki."

This caught Kazuma's attention and that's when Alkan said, "But first, I think you I should tell you what happened last night." As Alkan told Kazuma the events that happened last night, he watched as Kazuma's reactions went from curious to quite angry, especially at the part where Alkan told him how Mayumi had attacked him mentally. He left out a few parts though, mostly about Ayumi, since he decided to not mention her. Kazuma hissed, "Just one more reason for me to go over there and obliterated them."

Alkan caught his attention saying, "Since you said that, I'm sure you have no problem what I'm about to ask you."

"Oh, and what that might be?" Kazuma asked him. Alkan casually replied, "I need you to keep the Tsuwabuki occupied tonight." Again, Kazuma's curiosity came up, since he knew that what revolved around Alkan was pretty much less than boring. Kazuma asked, "Not that I don't mind, since it was something I was planning anyway, but why would you need the Tsuwabuki occupied?"

"Because, Alkan-sama's going to kill the beast that's sealed under Mt. Fuji. " Tierria said, suddenly popping out from behind Alkan. This surprised both Alkan and Kazuma as Alkan said, "Tierria, where the heck did you come from?!"

"I saw you going around town, so I decided to drop by to see how you were doing. The Elders are getting quite anxious you know." Tierria said to him. Asche replied, "I was just working out the finer details with my friend her before you decided to interrupt."

Kazuma was about to ask Alkan who Tierria was and about what she just said, when Tiana flew out shouting, "Aaaahhh! What the heck is that Fairy Gnome doing here?!"

Tierria turned to Tiana and raised an eyebrow saying, "Oh? It's a Pixie. Wonder what one of them is doing out here." For some reason Tiana took that as a grave insult and said, "I can say the same thing to you Fairy Gnome. I thought you would be underground hibernating or something."

Apparently Tierria was expecting something like that as she said, "Oh, and I thought you would be running all over town pulling pranks on humans all day long. At least we Fairy Gnomes take things more seriously than you Pixies."

"What was that?!" Tiana shouted in anger. She was about to rush over to Tierria and vice-versa when Kazuma grabbed Tiana, while Alkan grabbed Tierria. Both men looked a bit agitated as Kazuma said, "Okay that's enough out of you." Alkan did the same with Tierria but he gave her a glare that silenced her completely. Both guys tossed the two spirits aside as Kazuma said, "A Fairy Gnome huh? When did you meet up with her?"

"I can ask the same about her too." Alkan pointed out, nodding to Tiana. Kazuma just shrugged and decided to change the subject asking, "What's this I hear about you killing the beast of Mt. Fuji?"

Alkan sighed and said, "Long story short, I agreed to something before thinking it through properly." At that Kazuma said, "From what that little Gnome said, you agreed to slay the beast of Mt. Fuji. I'm curious, what are they offering you in return?"

That question Tierria answered saying, "The elders said that Alkan-sama was getting our clan's most prized treasure, the four emerald flowers that were crafted by our tribe. They also said that depending on circumstances, they might add to it since he is risking our lives for our tribe. 'It's a small price to pay if it means ridding the mountain of that beast.' The elders said."

Alkan looked at Tiana and said, "See, at least they're generous." Tiana argued, "But they are two totally different circumstances."

Kazuma shook his head and asked, "So what are you offering for my help Al?" Alkan rolled his eyes saying, "I knew you were going to ask that. Okay, I'll give you whatever the Fairy Gnomes give me, and I'm sure they will, but the emerald flowers stay with me. That alright with you?"

Alkan watched as Kazuma looked at him for a bit seeing him think it over. 'Honestly, I'd think it would be a no brainer here.' Alkan thought to himself. That's when Kazuma looked up at him and said, "Alright, you got yourself a deal. Just make sure you hold up your end."

"Oh I'm sure, right Tierria?" Alkan asked his little friend. Tierria looked like she just sweat-dropped as she said, "Uh, yeah, I'll see what I can do."

"Well then, that's that." Alkan took off saying, "I just need to check on a few things first. I'll see you later Kazuma." Then Alkan flew into the air and promptly vanished, along with Tierria. That's when Tiana said, "Good riddance, she was starting to make things feel stuffy around here."

Kazuma turned to Tiana and asked, "From that little display earlier, I'm guessing that Pixies and Fairy Gnomes don't get along?"

That's when Tiana went on a rant replying, "Those Fairy Gnomes think they're all that, being sophisticated and all. They honestly think we Pixies can't take anything seriously, and that all we do for a living is pull pranks on humans whenever we feel like it."

"…You know, that does sound a lot like a Pixie's nature you know." Kazuma told her. Tiana pouted and said, "We really can be serious when we need to you know."

"Sure…" Kazuma said before he flew off into the sky. Tiana followed him saying, "Hey wait up." That's when the two also vanished into the sky.

* * *

A bit later, Alkan had decided to drop by the Kannagi household to check on Ren secretly. While he was still invisible, Alkan took a look around the premises, until he found Ren looking out at the pond, depressed. He shook his head thinking, 'Man, all that must've messed with his mind a lot more than I thought. Then again, who wouldn't after hearing something like that.'

That's when he saw Ayano come out and approach Ren. He backed a way a bit as Ayano tried to get Ren to snap out of it. When Ren was unresponsive, Ayano shoved Ren into the pond, getting him all wet, and making Alkan stifle a laugh, so he wouldn't get caught. That's when he quietly flew away thinking, 'I think Ayano's got that situation under control, now I need to check up on something.'

Alkan few in the direction of Mt. Fuji and when he got to the mountain, he flew down low and checked the area. Sure enough, there was a number of youma in the area, along with a faint, yet horrid aura that seemed to be changing the earth a bit. He slew the youma that came after him and thought, 'Similar, yet different, huh? It's not that surprising I guess…'

Another youma came after him and Alkan sliced it in half with a wind slash. He quickly flew into the air before any other youma came after him. In the air Alkan looked towards the Tsuwabuki mansion and didn't see any sign of Kazuma, or even Ayano or Ren. He thought, 'I might as well lay low for a while.'

Alkan flew over to a nearby cluster of trees that was close to the Tsuwabuki mansion and watched the place for a bit. That's when Tierria popped up and said, "Why are you just standing around Alkan-sama?"

"I'm waiting for a chance to strike." Alkan replied curtly. He continued to watch the mansion for a while, with only a few earthquakes happening during his wait.

Later on, Alkan sensed someone approaching the mansion and he smiled as he recognized who was heading towards the mansion: Ayano and Ren. He was glad to see that Ren was back to his old self and watched as the two busted through the main gate and fought off the guards, until a golem appeared and blocked their way.

As Alkan watched the battle he had an odd feeling about the golem, and he pondered about it until Tierria said, "Isn't this the opening you've been waiting for Alkan-sama?"

"…Shoot, you're right." Alkan turned to Tierria and said, "You wait here, I need to go inside to check something." Tierria gave a salute and said, "As you command Alkan-sama!" As Alkan used the wind to become invisible and he flew off, he thought, 'Now that was odd.'

As Alkan flew over the mansion he saw that that the golem was sliced apart by wind slashes, and sighed as Kazuma flew down onto the scene. When Alkan flew down into the courtyard he saw the golem start to regenerate itself and thought, 'Better head inside before that thing gets back on it's feet.'

That's when Kazuma decided to expose him by looking at him and shouting, "And where do you think you're going Al?"

Ren and Ayano were confused by what Kazuma said, and Alkan just fumed. He couldn't believe that Kazuma just exposed him just like that. Alkan threw off the wind veil and just appeared in front of them, and he took Kazuma by the coat and said, "What the hell Kazuma?! Didn't you see that I was trying to sneak in?!"

As Alkan let go of Kazuma, he just smirked and said, "Really? I didn't know that…" Alkan just slapped his head while Ren and Ayano just watched, wondering what was going on. That's when Alkan saw Ren and said, "So Ren, you back to normal?"

Ren nodded and said, "Yes, after Nee-sama talked to me." Ayano looked a bit sheepish while Alkan said, "Yes, I'm sure being pushed into the pond was a good wake up call."

"Eh? How do you know about-?" Ren started to say, when suddenly the golem got up to it's feet and said, "You can't defeat me! I will not let you through here!" Alkan raised an eyebrow and thought, 'Isn't that…?' He shook that thought and said, "You know, as much as I like to be here listening to you're bull, I have something I need to do inside that mansion."

The golem just noticed his presence and said, "Oh, so the esteemed Elementalist has showed his face here. No matter, none of you are going to pass here!"

"How arrogant…" Alkan said. Then he heard Ren call out to Kazuma and asked him, "Do you think you wouldn't mind dying if it were to protect me?"

"Ren, how can you ask something like that at a time like this?" Ayano asked him, a bit bewildered. Alkan knew what Kazuma's answer to that would be and predictably, he said, "I don't even have to think what that answer should be!"

Alkan had a grin on his face as Kazuma replied, "Even if I could protect you, it'd be meaningless if I died!" Kazuma turned to Ren and asked, "We all should be happy together, right?"

Ren nodded and said, "Right!" Kazuma noticed a certain look in Ren's eyes and Alkan wondered what Ren was up to when he said, "Nee-sama, let me handle this."

Ayano was shocked and she tried to stop him shouting, "W-wait a minute, Ren!" That's when Alkan put his hand on her shoulder which made her ask, "Alkan?" Alkan just said, "Just trust Ren, if something goes wrong we'll jump in to save him."

What Alkan said made Ayano relax a bit, while Kazuma asked, "Did something happen to him?" Ayano looked at him and shouted, "You're way too late for that conversation!"

"Well, it's not my fault that I don't know what happened." Kazuma told her, "Alkan only told me a vague story of what happened to Ren you know." Ayano turned to Alkan and asked, "Didn't you tell Kazuma about Ayumi?"

Before Alkan could reply, Kazuma asked, "Ayumi? Who's Ayumi?" Ayano couldn't believe what Kazuma just said and shouted, "You didn't tell him?"

Alkan replied, "Hey, I didn't think he needed to know. I mean, talking about Ren's love life isn't something I should be saying to his big brother now, should I?"

That got Kazuma curious and Alkan said, "Look, here's the simple version. Ren's in love with a girl named Ayumi, who's going to be the sacrifice for the Taisai ceremony." Kazuma had an 'oh' on his face while Ayano just rolled her eyes. Suddenly they heard the golem shout, "Enough of this idle talk!"

The three of them turned to see the golem create a mud wave from the ground which was heading towards Ren. He retaliated by firing a blast of fire which pierced through the mud wave and engulfed the golem. However Ren didn't have time to get out of the way of the mud wave, but it wasn't necessary as Kazuma blocked the wave with a wind barrier, while Alkan went forward and pulled Ren back.

As the wind died Alkan asked, "You okay Ren?" Ren nodded and said, "I'm fine, thanks to you and nii-san."

Alkan just smirked as the flame engulfed the golem, and Alkan recognized it as a purification flame. They watched as the golem started to crumble under the flames, and a moment later, the entire body crumbled into dust as the flames died. Alkan heard Ayano say, "How? I couldn't even scratch him with Enraiha!"

"It's because you tried to cut the rock like an idiot." Kazuma replied. Ayano got angry while Alkan and Ren walked up to the golem, which turned back in who Alkan recognized as Yuji, Mayumi's butler. Alkan said, "So, it was him huh?"

"Yes, he said that he turned into that thing for Mayumi-san." Ren told him. Alkan shook his head as he touched the sand that Yuji was lying on. He felt some of the behemoth's power still in the sand and he thought, 'That's weird…'

Then Ayano and Kazuma walked up to Ren and Alkan as Alkan got up. Kazuma said, "Ren, I heard what happened." Ren, still looking at Yuji said, "Nii-sama, I realized what the real enemy is…" He looked towards Mt. Fuji and said, "I realized what it is that I really must defeat!"

Ayano and Kazuma looked towards Mt. Fuji while Alkan had a smug look on his face and thought, 'So Ren figured it out huh?' Then Ayano turned to Ren with a look of shock on her face as she said, "R-Ren? Don't tell me you're-!"

Kazuma turned to Ren also and said, "Now that is interesting! Ren sure comes up with the craziest ideas. You can sure tell he's my younger brother." Alkan sniggered at that before he said to Ren, "I hope that you know what you're doing Ren. Taking on the Behemoth isn't an easy task…"

The three turned to Alkan while Ren said, "The Behemoth?" Suddenly a huge boulder came at them, and the four of them jumped out of the way before the boulder landed. Ayano instantly went on the offensive and fired off a fireball shouting, "Right there!"

The fireball flew towards a woman floating in the air and it suddenly stopped right in front of her, before falling down to the ground like a brick. Alkan raised an eyebrow at that as the woman lowered herself closer to them. She looked at Yuji's fallen form and said, "How pathetic, and after I gave you the same power that I have…"

Kazuma said, "So that explains it." The woman looked at Kazuma and said, "You must be the Fuujutsushi from the other day. Kazuma Yagami." Kazuma shouted back, "I've heard quite the rumors about you, Kureha Tsuwabuki!"

Alkan whispered, "So that's Kureha Tsuwabuki huh?" That's when Kureha noticed Alkan too and said, "My, if it isn't the Elementalist Alkan Hosenkou. It's quite the pleasure to meet one such as yourself."

"I wish I could say the same here, but circumstances say otherwise." Alkan said, "By the way, we noticed that you just used a gravity-controlling technique. I wonder, where did you learn how to do that? Chijutsushi don't have abilities like that…"

Kazuma decided to reply to that and said, "That power belongs to the beast doesn't it?" Kureha smirked and replied, "That's correct. It's in fact, the power of the beast that we've sealed inside Mt. Fuji."

Ren's eyes widened as he said, "Then the reason why Yuji-san's body was transformed into such a form is-!" Kureha told him, "That's right. His body was fused with part of the beast's power." His eyes narrow as his suspicions were confirmed, knowing that the root of all this is the Behemoth.

That's when Kureha taunted them and said, "Now come at me. But I won't be as easy to defeat as Yuji." Alkan couldn't help but say, "She sure is full of herself, isn't she?" He wondered on what to do now as he heard Kazuma ask, "So, what do we do now Ayano?"

Ayano brandished Enraiha in front of her and replied, "You know the answer to that. Let's go and kick her ass!" Kazuma looked at Alkan and Alkan pointed his head towards the mansion. Kazuma nodded and said, "All right, now everything's been decided."

Kazuma turned to Ren and said, "Ren, you go on ahead." Ren was surprised at that, but didn't have any say in it as the wind picked up, and it whisked Ren away with him shouting. Ayano asked, "Where did you send him?"

"To his girlfriend." Kazuma simply replied. Ayano asked again, "You mean, to where Ayumi-chan is?" Kazuma nodded and said, "I already found her thanks to my wind." Alkan watched as the doors flew open and sent Ren flying inside. He couldn't help but say, "You enjoyed doing that, didn't you Kazuma?"

"And if I did?" Kazuma asked in a sly voice. Alkan just shook his head and said, "I'll go after him and make sure he's alright." Alkan flew towards the mansion but Kureha tried to stop him by raising a boulder and flinging it at him shouting, "Stop right there."

Alkan whipped around and used a wind slash to slice the boulder right in half. Kureha was shocked as Alkan taunted, "You need to do better that that Kureha-chan! Ahahaha!" With that he flew inside the mansion after Ren.

Inside Alkan was flying through the halls and said to himself, "I would use the wind to locate Ayumi, but following Ren's screams is so much easier. It's like he's on a roller coaster or something."

Alkan followed Ren's screams until he came across an open entrance into an underground cave. He heard an echoing thud and figured, "Ren must've reached the place where Ayumi is…"

Entering the cave's entrance, he walked forward until he heard Ren's voice speaking. Alkan decided to hide and see what was happening. He peeked around a corner and saw what was happening; Ayumi was guarded by two men in suits while Ren was facing them and was talking about something. He leaned a bit closer, just in time to hear Ren say, "I want to rescue you, Ayumi-chan!"

Alkan smiled at that as Ren went on, "And that's not all! I want to rescue Mayumi-san too! I'm not going to let anyone be sacrificed!" He looked up at Mayumi incased in the giant crystal that was in the center of the cavern and said, "We're all going to be happy together!"

Alkan couldn't help but admire Ren's courage but thought, 'As much as how good this sounds, defeating the Behemoth won't be easy.' That's when he heard Ren say, "That's right. The true enemy that must be defeated is the Behemoth!"

One of the guards argued, "There's no way you can do such a ridiculous thing like that!" The other guard shouted, "We're going to force you out of here!" Ren didn't seem fazed in the least as he stated, "I defeated Yuji-san before I came here."

The two guards became hesitant as Ren asked, "Do you think you can beat me?" Alkan walked a bit backwards as the guards didn't have much of a choice and ran for it. Before Ren moved he and Ayumi heard one of the guards say, "What? Who the heck are you?"

A second later there was a couple of sounds that sounded like someone being beaten up and a swish of wind soon after. Ren called out, "Nii-sama?"

Alkan sighed as he walked into the cavern saying, "Jeez, maybe I should start using a different element, 'cause I seem to be mistaken for Kazuma one too many times…"

"Alkan-san!" Both Ren and Ayumi shouted. Alkan walked over to Ren and said, "Don't worry about the Behemoth. That's the reason I'm here, since I accepted a job to kill the beast. So you can definitely count on my support Ren." Ren and Ayumi's eyes widened at that as Alkan felt something from above, and saw a hole in the ceiling. He said, "Hmm, I'm going to check out something, so you two can have your alone time." Alkan winked at them and flew through the hole in the ceiling, leaving a slightly embarrassed Ren and Ayumi.

Alkan wound up in another cavern but found it was quite dark inside. He said, "There's something in here, but what?"

That's when a voice came out saying, "W-Who is it?" Alkan nearly freaked out and used a fireball to light up the cavern and saw a stone with a man's face on it, chained to the walls by four chains. He looked at it and asked, "Who are you, and what happened to you?"

"My name is Iwao Tsuwabuki, and Kureha sealed me inside this stone." Iwao told him. Alkan thought about it before he said, "So you're the Soushu for the Tsuwabuki right? The name's Alkan Hosenkou. I'll get you out of here in a minute."

"Wait…you're the Elementalist…" Iwao said. Alkan was silent as he touched the stone with his hands and prayed, "Earth Spirit Princess, grant me the strength to unseal this accursed seal!" The earth spirits gathered to his hands and the stone started to crack, and a moment later the stone shattered, revealing an old man with wild grey hair and a beard, wearing Japanese robes. Alkan caught him before he fell, and hoisted him on his back asking, "Hey, are you alright?"

Iwao started to regain his senses and said, "Ugh…I-I'm free from that rock. Thank you very much Hosenkou-dono."

"Uh, don't mention it. It's what I do…" Alkan replied, feeling a bit awkward at the sudden formality. Then Iwao said, "Hosenkou-dono, please stop Kureha, before it's too late…"

"Too late? What do you mean by that?" Alkan asked him.

"Kureha's up to something, I'm not sure what, but it has something to do with the Behemoth…" Iwao replied. Alkan narrowed his eyes and thought, 'I wonder, does it have to do with Kureha having a portion of the Behemoth's power?'

That's when Cui-Ling's voice asked, 'Alkan, what are you going to do?'

A sigh came from Alkan and he thought, 'I'm not sure, this whole situation just got a lot more complicated than I thought. I don't have much of a choice but to see what happens next…'

'Okay then…' Cui-Ling said, falling silent. Alkan then turned to Iwao and said, "We're going to head down to the cavern with the large crystal okay?" Iwao nodded before he suddenly collapsed and fainted. Alkan thought, 'Not surprising really, he just came out of being sealed in a rock…'

Alkan let the fireball go and floated it in front him so he could see. He spotted the hole which he came from and went down it thinking, 'Why do I have a bad feeling something's going to go wrong?' He shook his head as he floated down to the main cavern.