Chapter 14: The mind, the soul

A/N: Well at last! Finally! Exams are over and I bet you guys want this to be updated that's why you want to continue to read this, RIGHT? 8D Well anyway here's chapter 14, I thank you all for your support -bows-. BUT I WANT MOAR REVIEWS! 8U

DISCLAIMER: I forgot that I don't own Kaze no Stigma for the past few chapters LOL.

Ayano's POV

Now okay, that was a weird dream. I dreamt of Kazuma like communicating with my thoughts, it felt so real, and he looked like he needed help. But whatever, just a dream anyway. I felt better actually, like right after Kazuma appeared in my dreams, immediately I recovered. So that meant I can go for the field trip together with my friends!

It was Thursday, a day before the field trip starts. I'm sort of guessing the field trip was quite a distance from our town, and also staying for nights also meant that maybe it's something like camping, which I'm so hyped up for!

Decided to take a bath and wash up before I got late for school, I felt that this whole new day was gonna be refreshing! Staying at bed was hell boring and I felt like some ridiculous person there. I decided to check my phone, none of them were from Kazuma. But it's not that I care about him or anything, right?

But I know, deep in my heart I'm really afraid that he's in trouble. What am I saying? Stupid wind contractor who's so arrogant and never lost in a battle can never be in trouble, right? I miss him so much, that now I have regained my energy, I think I should go search for him!

Once I thought of searching for him, I saw him at my door, with his school uniform and a sandwich inside his mouth. I gaped open at once.

"Yo," He winked at me while chewing his bread. HOW CAN HE STILL BE SO FRIENDLY AFTER MAKING EVERYONE WORRIED?

"Hey, I have heard about your disappearance. Care to fill me on that?" I glared, controlling my temper.

"Well, it's not that I cared about that, I'm sorry that I didn't reply your messages, but I know I was nowhere to be found. Why, are you worried about me for the first time?" He smirked, as he got closer to me.

"You bet I am worried about you," I rolled my eyes, hoping that he caught my sarcasm.

"If you are, why not give me a kiss and tell me not to go missing again?" His smirk got wider.

"..." I didn't know how to reply, I mean I just got better, and this shit is coming to me.

Immediately he stuffed his bitten sandwich into my mouth and walked off. "Come on, let's head to school and give everyone a surprise."

"What's with you!" I stomped and followed him out, the sandwich was sort of nice though.

"So, how're you feeling? Better today?" He asked and took a glance over just to check if I'm fine.

"Yeah if I'm not, I wouldn't have the energy to talk to you," I rolled my eyes.

He smirked again. It was like we're walking faster everytime we got silent, probably it's a little awkward for us not to say anything.

But just as the awkwardness began to fade of, we reached our classroom; once again everyone gaped at us.

End of Ayano's POV

"Ayano! Welcome back! And Kazuma, where were you?" Yukari exclaimed, hugging Ayano.

"Merely just disappeared for a while, look, let's talk after class?" Kazuma replied and went to his own seat.

"Good morning, sensei!"

"Good morning students. Please take a seat. It's wonderful that we have full attendance today! And there's a briefing for tomorrow's trip as well! It's another wonderful thing where all of us are attending the trip as well! With the new students here in our class, it's our duty to guide them along, making sure that they aren't lost," The teacher said, she's really happy like it's her first field trip.

Right after the last period where they had was contact time. You either stay in class and wait for your teacher to come in and brief you on admin matters, or you go assemble as a level and a teacher will brief you on something else; as a level.

It was confirmed that they were going for a camp, and they needed to group themselves up into groups of 8, and right after they paired themselves up with the equal number of people in their group, they were dismissed right on the spot.

"Finally! About time where the last group managed to get their own group names," Yukari said as she stretched her arms, sitting down for a hour wasn't really healthy at all.

"Yeah, well since everyone's present today, why not let's head over to the amusement park and try out the job?" Chiyo suggested.

"Yeah sure!"

Since it was a Thursday weekday, there wasn't a lot of people in the amusement park, so it was a little peaceful. Most of them were tourist and such, so during the weekends are more crowded, and they would need more people.

Chiyo opened the cafe door and got in, greeting her boss. It was a pretty small cafe, not much help needed there though.

"Hey Chiyo! What's up? I thought you were busy today at school," Her boss said. Her name tag read Midori.

"Hello Midori, you told me that this cafe needed help right? So I brought friends, hoping that they could work with me. There's around like 4 of them who's willing to work," Chiyo smiled and introduced the rest to them.

"Welcome there, well, we just need like around 2 workers here. Like maybe 2 waitresses and 1 cook. Of course the cook will need to have some good cooking skills in order to work here," Midori said.

"Only 2 waitresses, huh. So that means one of us must be out, maybe even two," Nanase said, a little disappointed.

"I'll be out then," Ayano said, waving her hands.

"I thought you needed this job or something..." Yukari said, staring at her.

"Well, I can take up other jobs, like maybe nearby or something, I'm sure that'll be fine!"

"Ah well, then thanks Ayano," Nanase smiled.

Right after they registered themselves, with Jun as the chef, they headed outside the cafe trying to search for another suitable job for Ayano. Kazuma was literally yawning all the way, but he had nothing to do, so he didn't mind anyway.

"How about a job as a clown?" Kazuma said in his tiring voice.

"Clown? Hey that's not that bad, right Ayano?" Yukari said, almost laughing.

"Shut up, no one's gonna be a clown!" Ayano blushed, while imagining herself looking like a clown where everyone was laughing at her.

"Why, I'll dress up together with you, Ayano," Kazuma whispered into her ears, loudly, so that everyone could hear.

Ayano blushed even more once he came up to her so closely. He's such a damn flirter, liking to make her blush.

Immediately she turned around, her hair slapped his face for going so closely and gave him a hit on his back. "Dress up yourself!"

"I should cut your hair when you're sleeping," Kazuma said as he rubbed his face with one hand.

Yukari and Nanase giggled, Jun and Chiyo was just smiling; but you could tell that they're really jealous.

"I HEARD THAT! IF YOU DO THAT, I'LL SHAVE YOUR HAIR BALD!" Ayano shouted and jumped up to Kazuma and pulled his hair.

"Hey watch it you violent girl," Kazuma said, trying to balance Ayano so that she wouldn't fall off.

Yukari and Nanase giggled even more. "You guys are so cute! You will be perfect clowns!" Yukari said and Nanase laughed even more.

Ayano blushed again, jumped off Kazuma and pointed a finger at them. "N-No way!"

"Well, shall we go then?" Jun asked all of a sudden. He was already in front, smiling at them.

Ayano nodded her head while she tried to clear her mind. That scene was really chaotic and she didn't really want to attract more kids like the other time.

They didn't know what type of job they wanted to take, like maybe another cafe or a restaurant. But it will be so boring without Ayano's friends.

"I really want a job but... it'll be so boring without you all," Ayano said.

"Don't tell me you want to whine like that when you get older and work when we go our seperate ways," Nanase said.

"Mmm... But I'm still young, I ain't gonna get older!" Ayano said, her voice raising.

"You're still our young playful, cheerful Ayano," Jun chuckled and patted her head.

Ayano blushed a little at his touch. She took a glance and tried to look at Kazuma, he was with Chiyo, talking again in their own world. Ayano felt a sunk deep in her heart, although she tried not to get affected by it. Love is love, love sucks, never rules at once.

"So, are you still gonna get a job?" Yukari suddenly asked Ayano. She was probably talking to Nanase all along.

"I don't know, I haven't made up my mind, besides, it's so hard to make a decision..." Ayano said as she thought about it.

"I suggest another maid cafe," Chiyo suddenly said. She's smiling again.

"There was another maid cafe?" The rest said, in surprise.

"Yeah, but that one needs to dress up occasionally in some costumes that I'm not really comfortable in it..." Chiyo said. "That's why I didn't chose that one."

Ayano stared at her. Some costumes? More like weird costumes, did she meant that? Is she trying to set her up or something?

"We'll see about that then," Ayano said and turned around, leading the rest although she had no idea where would she be going.

Once they reached, it looked a little too... How do we say it? Kawaii? For guys, it would be blinding their eyes off.

"Welcome to Nya-nya Cat Cafe~!" One of the waitress said, giving some cute face as she winked at us.

"Uhh thanks but, we're not here as customers," Yukari said as she pointed at the sign which said "Help needed at Nya-nya Cat Cafe!"

"Oh, you want to work here? So many of you?" She asked.

"No only one actually," Ayano said as she went in front just to let her look at her.

"Hmm... Well you are fine for the job. When can you work?" She asked, smiling brightly.

"Well, maybe during the weekends, like on Saturdays."

"This Saturday is fine for you?"

"N-no... Sadly to say this but I'm schooling, and there's a school field trip for us to attend and it would end on next Tuesday instead," Ayano said, hoping that she would really get the job.

"That's fine! You can start the job on the following Saturday then! Nice to have you on board!" She smiled and took out her hands.

"Uhh... Thanks," Ayano said and she shook her hands, the boss is really kind and cute. She smiled at her, hoping that she would get a good impression.

Right after they agreed everything, they decided not to stay for long as they have yet to pack for their field trip tomorrow. So once they stayed at one of the maid cafe, each of them went their own ways.

Ayano's POV

"I'll walk home with you, besides, I'm so bored," Kazuma went up to me, but I noticed the look on Chiyo's face. She seemed pretty sad.

"What am I, when you're bored you come up to me and find more excitement?" I glared. "Look, accompany Chiyo for once?" I said, regretting on it.

"Are you sure about that? What if you get jealous and hate me forever? Oh and you would even kill Chiyo because she's too clingy on me?" He smirked. It's like he had a plan to provoke me whenever he could!

I flushed and turned my back, knowing that he's joking. "T-that didn't make sense. Who in the right mind would be clingy to you, brainless idiot."

"Suit yourself, I'll make your wish come true since you wanted me to do that. Like I said, I'll do anything for you," Kazuma said as he walked off. "Come on Chiyo, let's fulfill Ayano's wish."

Chiyo nodded her head, she was really happy, you could somewhat see flowers around her being excited. I guess that was... Fine for me. Like he would do anything for me. I glared at my last thought, hoping no one caught that.

"What's wrong Ayano? I'm pretty sure you didn't want Kazuma to go home with Chiyo," Yukari said, poking my cheeks and giving the you-are-so-stubborn look.

"You didn't confirm that, I'll confirm it for you, NO!" I snapped and I could feel the heat rising on my cheeks.

"Look at you, your face's all red already," Nanase grinned and I felt like hitting my head millions of times on some wall.

"Whatever! See you tomorrow, I'll be heading home now!" I said and stormed off, I could tell that I'm radiating heat! Kazuma and Chiyo walking back home... Especially when Kazuma's such a big pervert. WHO CARES. I'm not gonna care about that big stupid idiot pervert! I kicked a rock on the ground as I walked.

"Ayano, can I walk you home instead?" Jun suddenly came up to me from the back.

I looked at him, and nodded my head. Since it'll be so boring walking home alone, might as well agree.

"You really do like Kazuma, don't you?" Jun suddenly asked, with a light smile on his face.

I blinked twice, "Don't tell me you've been possessed by them as well!"

Jun chuckled. "That's what I thought, but I'm not giving up as usual. No matter what, I'll fight for you, and I've planned it all."

Planned it all? What did he meant by that? I started to walk faster, suddenly remembering I still have to pack for my field trip!

After the long silence between us, I finally reached my house and I thought it wouldn't be that quiet.

Bidding goodbyes, I rushed in my packing and then plopped and relaxed on my bed, didn't bother to think about anything.

End of Ayano's POV

Meanwhile...

"Guess you can walk home all by yourself here," Kazuma said as he turned his back. He merely just wanted to make Ayano jealous, of course he accomplished it.

"Wait! Aren't you gonna walk me back home?" Chiyo asked, a little disappointed.

"That was just for show, I'm sorry but I must say your house is pretty far from mine, and more importantly I haven't packed for the field trip," Kazuma said, turning his head a bit so that he could take a glance at Chiyo.

"Why... are you that mean?"

"If you want me to walk you home, then you can start by paying me," Kazuma said.

Chiyo said nothing, but continued to stare at him.

"What? So are you gonna go or what?" He obviously couldn't leave her alone all by herself here. Ayano's gonna be so mad.

"Yes I am, well... Goodbye Kazuma. See you tomorrow then," Chiyo said as she gave a small smile, which was so obvious that she's hurt.

Kazuma gave a silent groan, making a girl hurt and crying the next day wasn't what he wanted. "Fine. I'll walk you home just for today."

"Are you sure about that?" Chiyo blinked a few times. You can tell her expression changed.

"Yeah. I, guess?" Kazuma said, a little reluctant.

"But it's okay if you don't. Like you said, your house is far away from mine and... You haven't packed for the field trip yet..." Chiyo said, tears filling up her eyes. It was obvious that Kazuma didn't really want to walk home with her.

"Yes I am sure about that, now hurry let's go before I couldn't even get home and pack my stuff." Kazuma sighed as he begun to walk first.

Chiyo nodded and followed him behind. "So..."

"So...?" Kazuma asked, with no expression.

"Well... Nothing I guess. I'm so glad you decided to walk home with me," Chiyo said and smiled at him. Hell, he's so freaking tall.

"You're welcome."

While admiring Kazuma for a short period of time although her house was pretty far, they didn't talk much though. Just asking a few random questions and bidding farewell at the end, it was like a fairy tale to Chiyo. Just a dream that she could ever imagined.

Kazuma didn't enjoyed it at all with Chiyo staring at him all the way. It would feel weird if Ayano did that as well. That's totally not her personality and they were so different from each other. I wonder how's the field trip gonna turn out... Maybe I should plan something as well...

A/N: OH YUS! FINALLY DONE! Next up, field trip ;D Then again, I thank you for supporting me all the way~! And also please review! 8D I'll appreciate all your reviews okay ;~; So it's a must to review! And support me of course would help me keep going ;O~ Arigatou ne! 8D