Chapter 11: The Day After

Ayano woke to the morning sun spilling into her room as neither her nor Kazuma had closed the curtains the previous night.

She couldn't believe what had actually happened. She expected to see Kazuma's face beside her when she awoke. Instead she nearly had a heart attack when he entered back into her room from the door to the hallway.

"Where were you?"

"Quick trip. Had to get some things. Everyone's still asleep for now." He said. "Good sleep?"

Suddenly she saw the cocky gaze that she'd expected to wake up to.

"Fine, thank you." She said, trying to look away before she blushed.

He smiled and slunk into bed with her. "So what do you think Jugo is going to say?"

"My father?" She said surprised.

"You don't know huh…"

"What?"

"Nothing…" He turned his head away with a smile.

"Kazuma tell me!"

"Your father's been trying to get me to date you for a while. Remember that trip to the Amusement park? No, ghost, no youma, just him setting us up on a date."

"No? No way! I don't believe you!" She sat straight up on the bed.

He dragged her back down again. "I had a suspicion for a while. Even Ren was in on it."

"I'm going to kill him!"

"Hands off my brother. You can do what you want to Jugo though. He's your dad." He looked at her from the corner of his eye.

"This wasn't a whole ruse was it? And you just happened to-" Her eyes opened.

"No. Just coincidence. But I do think it's about time we make an appearance around the others again. Ill sneak out back into my room. No worries." He kissed her nose quickly and left through the balcony just as fast.

She stretched. She needed to put on some actual clothes. Actually she needed to shower.

She came back from the bathroom without anyone seeing her. They' d probably end up at the beach today, so she threw on her black, slightly ruffled bikini under a tank top and shorts. She looked at her hair. No down today.

She left her room just before Nanase and Yukari left their rooms. Kazuma's door was already open as if he'd left it already.

"Hey! Were you okay last night Ayano? We couldn't find you!" Nanase said as they walked into the living room.

"Yea, well I – uh-" She said.

"I dragged her back here. I forgot her birthday gift at the house." Kazuma piped up already on the couch with Kenta.

"He got you a gift!" Yukari exclaimed. "What was it?"

"It was way too much." Ayano shook her head.

"I got her this." Kazuma let it fall out of his hand.

"Why do you have it?" Ayano asked. "You just wanted to show it off."

"Actually, I knew you wouldn't wear it today. Plus you almost lost it last night." Kazuma raised his brow. She furrowed hers.

"Woah, trying to out do me and those pearls huh?" Kenta gave Kazuma a sideways look, a bit wide eyed.

"Pearls don't work for Ayano." He shrugged and put it on the table in front of them. "So how'd it go for you?"

Kenta nodded. "Good. Trista liked the pearls. Thanks for that Nanase."

"Oh no problem." She gleamed.

"So how about the crowning of you guys as winners? I'm sorry I missed it." Ayano said.

"Oh I don't mind. It was your birthday anyway. You could do what you wanted." Nanase said. "And, I'll tell you more- back at the beach! Come on let's go! It's our last day!" She dragged Ayano out of the room towards the door. Yukari followed.

"So you actually forgot the gift here?" Kenta asked. "After everything you said the night before."

Kazuma looked to him. "No. But I didn't want to say otherwise."

"Huh." Kenta said.

"By the way, I have something for you." Kazuma handed him a bag.

"What?" Kenta took it and looked in it. Inside he found a gift card to a local scuba shop and then a restaurant. There was a package at the bottom too.

"I've brought Ayano there before. I had no clue about the scuba stuff so I figured it was best for you and Trista." Kazuma shrugged.

Kenta looked at the amount on the cards. "Woah, Kazuma you sure?"

"Not a problem. I owe you for all you did back then."

"But-uh, what about these sheets?" He opened up the package to a pair of bed sheets. Kenta's face went into a stunned form, wondering if Kazuma was suggesting some kind of innuendo for him and Trista….or some strange joke.

"I figured you needed them more than me." Kazuma stood up. "Might want to burn the ones in Ayano's room." He smirked and walked out, intending to leave for the beach.

Kenta's eyes widened, and then shook his head, giving a small, awkward laugh. Kazuma sure didn't need him anymore. He had a wit about him still, and definitely the defiance that would get him in trouble, but at least he could handle himself now. Plus, at least he had a girl like Ayano to support him, he wouldn't feel so foreign in his family.

Kenta looked to the restaurant card. He might have to use that tonight.

"So what happened last night Ayano?"

"Yea, I mean that ruby necklace is so nice!" Yukari gleamed.

"Nothing…I mean, well-" She said trying not to look at them. She couldn't blow up now. I mean they were official now weren't they? She was waded into the water up to her hips, and had no way to dive under the water yet to escape her friends.

"Well what?" Nanase smirked.

"Hey Nanase!"

They turned to see Kenji and Nori.

"Hey Kenji!" Nanase smiled. "Your other friend still gone?"

Ayano sighed a breath of relief.

"Good to see your better Ayano. Didn't see you last night !" Kenji said. "And yea, he's not into it. I did tell him about your fire powers like you said to Ayano." He laughed a bit.

"Yea…well just got kind of hung up last night." She said. "So why don't you two spend some time before Kenta comes out?"

"My brother won't care about Kenji. He met him. Said he likes him." Nanase said, as Kenji's face eased.

"Actually I was going to ask if you wanted to play some volleyball? Theres a game going to start on the beach in a bit?"

"Sure!" Nanase walked over to the beach, where Kenta and Kazuma were standing.

"Wanna watch?" Nori asked, pushing up his glasses.

"Of course!" Yukari motioned for Ayano to follow.

"With Kenji again?" Kenta raised a brow as they approached.

"Where's Trista?" Nanase countered.

Kazuma left and walked out to the water towards Ayano who lingered behind.

He went up to her with a smirk and slapped her butt, to see what she'd do. She jumped in the air and arched her back as if to strike.

"Uhm…did Kazuma just…?" Kenji asked.

"Oh no, wait! Knowing Ayano she'll get so angry at him! She totally hates Kazuma's advances like that." Nanase said as she looked to Yukari who nodded. Kenta stayed mute along wit Nori, staring in awe himself.

Ayano turned to Kazuma and surprisingly he found her kissing him.

She stopped and took a step towards the beach again.

"I thought for sure you'd go after me to avenge that." Kazuma smirked.

"I did." She smirked back and walked briskly back to the sand.

Kazuma's face dropped. He felt his swim trunks suddenly lower then they should have been.

"Did she just – did he just moon-uh-?" Nori asked stuttering.

"Uhm…yep..." Yukari said.

"That's not normally Ayano?!" Nanase added stunned. "That's like passive aggressive Ayano…"

They all stood with their eyes wide.

Kenta couldn't help but laugh.

Kazuma turned around and pulled up his shorts. He ran up behind her instead, and dragged her down into the water again, surprising her.

"You're so lucky I have a nice ass." He said into her ear as she fell back into the deeper water.

She blushed. "That's what you get for doing that in public!"

"So I can do that in private?" He said.

"That's- that's not what I said… would you rather I get out the Enraiha?" She said.

"No, but I don't know which one is meaner…" He raised his brow.

"Well then don't." She said nearly steaming the water around her from her red blush.

"Fine. But I mean the kiss was nice, you could do that more often." He said biting her ear.

"Kazuma!" She said, as she got out of the water. He followed behind.

"What was that Ayano?" Nanase asked.

Ayano sighed.

"Didn't she tell you? She's my girlfriend now." Kazuma put his arm around her shoulder.

"Why didn't you tell us!?" Yukari looked wide-eyed and enthused.

"I didn't know how to." She gave in.

"We called it." Nanase said proud.

Kazuma looked to Kenta. "So why don't you invite Trista over for that bonfire your having tonight?"

"A bonfire?" Kenta asked.

Kazuma smiled. "Or out to dinner. One of the three gifts."

Kenta's face dropped and went running after Kazuma.

"You know if I could save you back then, I could sure as hell beat you now kid!" He said laughing with a tinge of playful vengeance.

"I'm no kid anymore, and I'd like to see you try." Kazuma said as they ran off onto the beach.

"Am I missing something?" Nanase asked.

"No clue. " Ayano sighed. She was happy though. Although Kazuma was a little too p.d.a for her liking, it was really starting to feel like it would be a really good summer now.

And for a change, she didn't have to chase after him this time.