A/N: This chapter did take longer and not just due to my busy week. And it is rated M, to be safe.

A special thanks to you wonderful reviewers: you mean so much to me (there's no other reward in this, other than personal satisfaction which is really like chasing a ghost). A shout out to guest reviewer Rose-your comments are very thoughtful, and thank you for your continued support. You guys are fantastic! And now...

Chapter 13

Touch

...

Ayano wondered if there would ever be a time she felt completely adult and like she knew what she was doing. Somehow, she seriously doubted it.

She had spent the better part of three years training with fijitsu leaders, battling spirits and evil the likes she never thought she'd encounter. And before that, though she'd always had her friends and relatively normal life, there was still another part of her that was, and always would be, an heiress to a powerful magic user clan that fought to protect others.

Even so, it was not the fighting that made one an adult, not the responsibility. Really, she thought, being and feeling adult were completely different things and, right now, I feel like a girl. A girl with very little practical knowledge in normal dating, or relationships, or…

"So how are you enjoying your meal?"

Ayano was startled out of her thoughts and looked at Kazuma, sitting across the table from her. She then looked down at her plate, barely touched. "Oh, it's great!" she said, shoveling large bites into her mouth. They'd already been at the restaurant for a while, had had some drinks and talked, and the whole time Ayano was thinking nervously about being close to him. It was a wonder that she'd managed to be as attentive as she was.

Kazuma gave her an amused and skeptical look, "Huh. You just seem…distracted."

Of course he was right. She was very distracted. He was…well, he was Kazuma. He was oddly charming, and infuriatingly cocky, and very, very handsome…

Ayano had found herself on more than a thousand different occasions getting caught up in the particulars of that trait. His smirking lips, his strong arms and chest, his distant and deep eyes she always sought to look at her, really look at her, and nothing else.

As she thought of how to respond, she suddenly realized that he was, indeed, looking at her just liked she'd always wanted him to. The realization made her heart skip. "I'm just thinking of…how strange it is to be having a date…for real."

He considered that, "Dinners with you were always better than regular dates."

How did he do that? How could simple, nice words from him make her feel this happy…and why didn't he do it more often?

Blushing she said, "I always thought you considered me…like a kid. You know, before." The before was the shorthand for "before our fight three years ago, before I left, and you didn't stop me or contact me".

Kazuma shrugged, "Sometimes, but so was I, on occasion…"

Ayano remembered the vengeance he sought against Bernheart, looking for Pandemonium and glanced away. He continued, "…I've always liked being near you. Even when I knew I shouldn't have been…maybe because I knew I shouldn't have been."

"Shouldn't have?" She was confused.

"Yeah," he said, "Because you were young, and I was still hung up about Tsui-Ling, and because liking you would mean being part of that family, which I swore I'd never get involved with."

Ayano's eyes were wide as she took in his meaning, "Did…were you so hard on me because I was a Kannagi?"

Of course, as soon as she asked it, she knew the answer. She'd always thought he would not hold a grudge against every family member: not Ren, or Jugo…not her. She didn't know quite why it made her hurt, but she felt a twinge in her chest. Even after everything?

Kazuma just looked at her, "I mean…I had a very difficult relationship with the family."

"With your father," Ayano corrected, unhappy with his dismissiveness.

The wind user sighed, "With the family. Being a part of a clan that considered itself so high and mighty…"

Ayano felt her defensiveness rise, "Every clan is like that. I'm not excusing what your father did…but you can't put this on all of us."

"Why?" Kazuma said, irritated, "The whole practice of what it means to be a fujitsu clan is entirely based on power and control and undermining those weaker than themselves."

His voice was cold, "It's arrogance and intolerance and falling in line, and it brainwashes all of its members."

There was a silence and they just looked at it each; finally Ayano glanced away. Then, she said quietly, "If that's what you think of the clans, then you can't think much of the people who are a part of them. She lifted her eyes, feeling pain curse through her body, "You can't think much of the people who chose to lead in them."

She was standing before she knew it, but felt a certainty in her body. Kazuma's face was conflicted and he seemed unable to speak. Ayano felt, in that instant, that this was a defining moment. Seeing his resistance, she felt unspeakable heat and anger that he wasn't fighting. It was that day three years ago all over again.

"Ayano," he said, "I can't agree with what the family is doing. They've done too much to me…they shut me out and sent me away."

Ayano was calm, "You talk about arrogance and falling in line, but you act no different. You are a clan all on your own, and no one can compete with your power. Everyone is inferior to a Contractor."

Her smile was bitter and her voice hard, "And I'm not the one shutting you out."

Kazuma's look was angry and distant and Ayano knew that he didn't like her words, and she knew she was hurting it…hurting their date and their relationship, but she also knew that she had to stand up for her family, for her part in that family—a part that was not responsible for his exile.

She nodded, "Alright. I think I'll head home." Kazuma was still looking away and didn't stop her when she finally turned and walked out of the restaurant.

She was met with a very hot and humid night, the air heavy with impending rain. Still, she felt chilled as she made her way to the compound, alone. Ayano wondered if this is what adulthood felt like.

.

o-o-o-o-o

.

It was getting dark and Ren knew that his family would be wondering where he was. Yet, for some reason, he couldn't make himself get up from the bench he was sitting on. Eve sat next to him, eating noodles with wild abandon and there was something so pleasant about the way she seemed to be enjoying it so thoroughly.

He smiled, "So I take it that you like that."

Her brown head nodded and she barely glanced up, "Very good."

Ren watched as she sat the container aside and have a happy smile, "Humans have so much…taste."

"Huh," Ren said, never thinking of that.

She was looking over the water, "Everything is invigorating…so present on the senses." She turned to him, "I feel and respond to so much…sometimes it's difficult to take in."

The blonde thought he understood her meaning, though he could not recall if he often thought of things in that way. "What is it like to be…a spirit?"

Eve tilted her head to the side and looked at him. After a moment, she spoke, "It is…more certain. As if—as if everything has a specific purpose and you know what yours is and you just…do. You just be."

She shrugged, the wind off the water casting her hair behind her, "It is just power, just magic…it is simple."

Ren watched her, "If it's so simple, then why do you want to be human?"

Her eyes were dark as she looked at him and Ren thought her face looked pinker. "I…I wanted to feel more," she said, "Aiko's thoughts and memories gave me a glimpse into the depth that things could be and I wanted it for myself."

She seemed wistful, "I think it makes me a traitor. Even though I am still only in possession of a body and have much of my power."

"Much?" Ren asked, confused.

"Human emotion has…" she looked away, "weakened me."

He didn't say anything and merely had to agree with that. Ren felt oddly like he was in a day-dream. The fact that he had found her, was helping her and not informing Kazuma or Ayano of his discovery gave an unreal quality to his time here. Sitting with her, he felt so content; he had to wonder again if it was real. Truly, he'd felt dizzy for hours now.

Ren had always been a good kid, never really broken rules or gotten in trouble, and he did not know what he was doing now. He should have been fighting her and here he was, giving her advice and buying her food. Nothing seemed the same anymore.

"Eve," he said, because it had been bothering him, "Why didn't you hurt me? Why did you…kiss…me?"

Her eyes were fathomless and blue and Ren thought he could detect fear in them. There was a long silence before she finally spoke, "Your magic was so pure…you were so pure."

He waited for her to continue but she didn't. Ren reached out a hand and placed it on her arm. She felt nothing like Aiko in the hospital earlier. She was incredibly warm and her skin almost shocked him with electricity. His dizziness went away. Her voice was quiet when she spoke, "When I touched your powers I felt…your goodness. I do not know what else to call it. You made me feel—like I was purer. Like I was good."

The wind was blowing again and it was much darker, the sun long having set. Still, he could see the light reflected in her eyes, "And I kissed you because I needed to know."

"Needed to know what?" Ren's voice was low and his brain was firing several messages to his body at once. Get out. Run. Stay. Kiss her. Go.

"I needed to know if it was just the magic..."

"And?"

But even as he said the word he was moving toward her, and even a foot away he could feel the power surging around her and his own reacting against it. When he brought his mouth to hers, however, everything of the sort disappeared and instead it was just their bodies close, and a happy thudding in his chest. It was exactly right, exactly how he thought it would be.

Ren didn't have much experience in this regard, but his want more than made up for it. Eve, for her part, seemed mesmerized and cautious against him. When they broke apart Ren felt even more confused and he did not think, by the way she was looking at him, that Eve would be much help in that department.

She gave him a small smile, "I was right about you, wasn't I?"

"I don't know," Ren said.

But she was nodding her pale face in the darkness, "I knew right away. You are more than simple magic."

In the blue dark as he made his way to the train, Ren had to wonder at her meaning, and what kind of person he was, keeping her a secret from everyone.

.

o-o-o-o-o

.

The wind barged and howled and the Contractor was in the center, flying in the heart of it. He felt unhinged, desperate to forget himself and yet, no matter the force he brought around him, a single thought remained which he careened against.

Ayano.

He cursed himself for this mouth and his pride and how utterly he'd screwed all of it up. Even as he'd been saying what he was saying in the restaurant he knew he was being unfair, knew what a jerk he sounded like, dismissing her like that. And yet…

He'd been alone and bitter for so long and in that moment he hadn't wanted to give in, not to his father. But of course Ayano was right: this was not about his father. This was about them and he didn't know…couldn't think…of what to do now. Kazuma had already raided his apartment's stash of wine and it hadn't helped, merely sent him to the roof where'd he'd been upset and trying to unleash some of it to the night sky. And it was still not doing him any good and he had hurt her, and himself and he needed to try…

He was speeding toward the estate in minutes. He ignored the rain that was starting again and just concentrated on feeling, on what he would tell her. How he would say everything he needed to. It was raining full stop when he arrived at the family grounds. Kazuma saw that all of the lights where off and knew it must be very late. But he was a man on a mission, knocking against Ayano's door and realizing, as he stepped on the wet ground, that he was fairly buzzed.

Great, now I'll look like an idiot and a drunk.

He didn't have time to change his mind, because an instant later her door opened. From the light on inside and her slightly red eyes and nose, Kazuma made out that she must have been up already and, by the looks of it, crying. All of his grand plans about what he would say melted away, seeing her looking so sad and tired.

She looked at him and the rain coming down behind his shoulders and stepped aside. Kazuma gave a nod of thanks and came in, noting that the room was extremely messy. There were clothes everywhere and what appeared to be a giant burn mark on the wall by the dresser.

"What is that?" The words were out before he could even think to say something apologetic, or nice, or beg her forgiveness.

She seemed too tired to be embarrassed, "I tried to curl my hair for our date." Her mouth quirked slightly at the corners, "Using fire magic. After my iron fried."

Kazuma was smiling despite himself. Ayano glanced at him and tried to keep her face straight.

"You didn't need to go through all that trouble," he said softly.

She shrugged, pulling her still slightly curled hair behind her shoulders.

Kazuma felt a pang in his chest, "Ayano…" the words stopped in his throat.

She looked at him and gave a sad little smile. The fact that she wasn't angry or frustrated that he wasn't saying anything, that he was there in the middle of the night not saying anything, made Kazuma realize just how little she was expecting of him. He closed his eyes and took a breath.

"You know," he said, "I've disappointed a lot of people in my life. You know very well to what extent, too. And I've really disappointed myself." He licked his lips, as they felt very dry, "But I never felt it was really my fault, until you."

He looked at her and saw her face, pale in the light, "Ayano, you've made me own up to things I've gotten to excuse for a long time. My isolation, my coldness, and pride. And, it's hard to hear it sometimes." He felt his heart beat mercilessly in his chest, "But it's what you do when you love somebody."

Her eyes were immense and Kazuma felt exposed and honest and, for the first time, it was not unpleasant, "I love you. And I'll continue to do it, even when you're loving me back in ways I don't fully like." He came close to her and touched her face. He felt immensely relieved when she let him. "I'm sorry," he said.

"I think you're wrong about the family," she said it quietly but there was force in her voice and eyes, "You've just never had the chance to experience it."

She brought her own hands to his face. Her calmness and touch made him feel lightheaded. "The clan has magic, but it's powerful because we're together. At least that's what I think." Her eyes were full of feeling, "I used to think I needed to fight on my own to prove myself…but what—who—do I have left at the end of it?"

Ayano's looked at him, considering, "But you came back."

Kazuma didn't know what she meant at first but realized it was him, being here now. "I had to."

She seemed unable to say anything, her eyes suddenly overflowing.

"What is it?" He was unsure how he'd messed up now, but then saw that she was smiling.

"You came back," this time it was a whisper and Kazuma couldn't stand waiting anymore, capturing her lips with his own the moment after she spoke. She made a muffled happy sound against him and he felt the wetness of her cheeks and the heat of her face against his. Ayano kissed him back and was suddenly insistent, her hands clutching his back and Kazuma moaned, his brain going into overdrive.

It was too much. The thought flashed through his head but he made no move to dwell on it, instead concentrating on the spirited and warm redhead in his arms. Without really realizing when or how, they had moved to the bed and Ayano was half straddling him, still kissing, her hands moving over his chest. His heart pounded and blood rushed and it was impossible to get enough. She smelled like flowers and wood-smoke and she was incredibly soft everywhere he touched. And the way she responded…well, suffice it to say that Kazuma had never felt his brain more useless than right then.

He realized he could feel more of her than usual and broke away long enough to see that she was no longer wearing a shirt. When did that happen? But it hardly mattered as Kazuma took in her pale skin, covered in a simple bra. He barely dared touch her but when he brought his palm to cup a breast she moved against him again, sighing into his mouth and he lost all shyness. Her skin felt hot against him and he could barely think straight as she began unbuttoning his shirt, though she seemed to have trouble with the mechanism.

Kazuma broke away from her long enough to pull the shirt over his head. The instant it was gone he was forced on his back, Ayano above him, kissing him with an intensity that he tried to match, that made heat pool in his abdomen. It was electricity: her hands against his chest and stomach, her lower body pressing against his, her soft hair on him as she kissed his mouth and face and neck in quick succession. Kazuma kept stroking her back and bare chest, the bra having been lost a while before.

When she began kissing his cheek and throat Kazuma felt electric shocks go down his spine. He had to close his eyes and remember to think. "Ayano…" he tried, but she kept kissing him.

"Ayano," he said, slightly louder and she moved to look at him. Her face was flushed and eyes glazed and Kazuma knew that he couldn't do this for much longer. "We…need to stop. Or slow down. Or something." There, he said it, and though it was difficult, at least it was out there.

Her eyes were unreadable though, to be fair, his brain was fairly useless right now. "Do you want to stop?" The question came with a slight shift of her body, which really wasn't very fair, he concluded.

Kazuma have her a look, "Does it seem like it?"

Ayano smiled and he felt his heart skip, "I want this."

He didn't know what to do. Of course, the idea of her naked, of them together was too incredible for words, but Ayano wasn't just a regular girl. He had to be sure. He opened his mouth but she shook her head, her face earnest, "Please, Kazuma, I want you."

And that was the last of it. Kazuma was on top of her in moments, trying his best to revel in every feeling of kissing her, removing her clothes, but it was too much to take in at once. She unzipped his pants and gave a small laugh when he tried to, ungracefully, pull them off. And then she was sighing as he was on top of her again, moving his hands over her body. Nothing quite compared to having Ayano responding to him like this: her eyes a dark fire that had nothing to do with their arguments, her mouth persuasive in a different way as it kissed and nibbled his skin.

And her warmth and passion was completely different when it was enveloping him, her arms, her body so right Kazuma knew it would never be the same after this, not for them. Not after the way he knew her and (he gave a moan) she knew him, her fingers entirely too good at touching and grasping and moving him out of his mind.

At some point she'd reached to get protection (her face pink) and at another he was still before he brought them together with a gasp, his world sliding out of focus, her head thrown back. Then there was nothing between Kazuma and Ayano at all; no words or thought just feeling and sound, until even that subsided into a world between both of them, where nothing else could enter, where nothing else mattered.

.

-o-o-o-o-o

.

The spirit stood above the bodies and the magic sparked around it in a white sphere.

Everyone in the room was dead and the spirit could feel their power inside its own, could see that it took only a few to feel stronger, but why waste? The rest would be surplus, and, they deserved it for bringing the spirit forth into this wretched world, calling it here like a lowly creature. It left the building of the clan and made its way down the road, feeling satisfied.

Now to find her.

...

A/N: Let me know what you think. This...is my first time writing anything of the sort. :) Please leave me a review!