'Entered my room with a carefree air around me and an ice cream cone, licking it with full fervor and enjoying it to every core when suddenly, a bucket filled with water drops on me and I am too shocked to even scrutinize what happened before something hits me straight on my face and that thing makes me lose my balance. I slump into the chair but that act turns out to be too acrobatic because the next thing that happens is that the stupid chair loses its stupid balance and I fall down, dumping the ice cream cone on my favorite jeans… I look up angrily and see hundreds of people holding eggs, tomatoes and what not; ready to throw them on me! All I can say is, "Sorry people! I really was very busy… I promise I'll post the next chapter as soon as I can!"
I would like to thank all my supporters and reviewers by encouraging me to continue writing this story and especially, Kazenostigmafan4ever and Priya! Priya thanks for reading and reviewing my story even though you are an engineering student...Hope you secure a seat in IIT and as for medical, my sister just gave her entrances… Anyway, Kazenostigmafan4ever, no words can ever describe my love and faith in and for you. Very special thanks and hi to Casey Chan, who has always been close to my heart! She really is a great writer and an awesome friend!
DISCLAIMER: Did I tell you that I recently bought all the rights to the manga- 'Kaze No Stigma.' So, I am this story's rightful owner… Alright, fine I was kidding! You all can breathe again!
Chapter 6: Who is the Cheat?
APOV:
Joseph and I sat on the swings at the park as he told me more about his past and all the expectations that his parents have from him.
"You know, Ayano… Someday… Someday, I'll do something so great, that it will give my parents a sense of immense pride!" Joseph said with a serious expression
"You know, Joseph, I think you already are a great man! Your parents already must be very proud of you… But I guess I should be the one saying your words." I said with a sigh
"Why do you say so?"
"Jo, I think my dad ain't very proud of me." I said with a sigh
"What do you mean, Ayano? I can't think of a single person who won't be proud of you!"
"Yeah and I can count them all on my finger." I replied with frustration
"No, Ayano… It's not like that. Listen there must be a reason that makes such a blurry and sadistic picture of yours in your mind, right? So let's start by you telling me what you think about yourself and then we will discuss that what you think others think about you, okay?" Joseph asked with a smile
"You look like a salesman who is trying to charm beautiful woman such as me into buying one of your products!" I exclaimed
"I am sure I sound like one but I bet that I am far more handsome and charming than a regular salesman or in fact a regular guy…"
"Geez! Don't get so defensive! I was just kidding…" I said with a smile
"I know. Anyway, I feel sorry to break this moment but you have some questions to answer."
"Yeah, guess you won't allow me to run away, would you?" I asked with a sigh
"Ayano Kannagi wants to run away?" he asked teasingly
"Of course not!"
"Ok, fine… C'mon I am ready. You can start telling me about the image you have about yourselves in your mind." He asked coaxingly. I looked into his crystal blue eyes for a moment and my mind told me that it was okay to trust him. After all I was with him in a deserted park, breaking the Kannagi curfew rules. If that wasn't trust, then what was?
"Ok-kay… I think I am weak and not an enough worthy person to bear the responsibility of Enraiha and especially the thing about being the future head of the Kannagi clan. I am useless and can't even bring down a youma without Kazuma's help!"
"Kazuma who?" He asked with a surprised look
"Oh! I didn't tell you about him? Well, actually he is no one important, just one of my bodyguards. Really a very big pervert and womanizer but I guess that's not the point right?" I wanted to tell him that he is the man I loved with all my heart and soul but something inside me nagged me to keep my mouth shut on that stake. He nodded his head and gestured me to complete my story.
"Okay, so where was I? Oh yeah, so I really am a spoiled brat and don't even care about people's feelings and I really am a pain in the ass most of the times!" I stated
"Hey, listen you're not weak, okay? It's just that you need a little motivation and a lot of practice and then you will be able to take down the most feared man on earth… Besides practice and motivation, you need to believe in yourselves. You need to believe that you are the most powerful person and everything will be as you want. Just don't feel that you are weak because the most powerful of person's can be taken down when he starts feeling weak or starts thinking that he is weak! Got it? To your other problem I think you are a very caring person and not some spoiled brat or a cold hearted person… I have seen real spoiled brats, very common in America, (A/N: No offense, Americans!) and you are nothing as compared to them, so cheer up and now what about the image you think people close to you have?"
"Well… I think my dad thinks I am not very powerful as discussed and that I need to stop chomping down cakes and pull up my socks. Besides that, I don't know!"
"Okay, that power thing is already discussed but for record I would like you to know Ayano that you have a lot of energy in you and I can literally feel it, radiating off you in form of big energy waves; try concentrating them on a single point and you would be able to use your powers more effectively… Also, Ayano, you know where the real source of great and unbeatable power comes from?"
"No…"
"Well, the source of great power comes from the fact, when you know that it is you and only you who can protect the person who holds your heart or a piece of it!"
"I don't understand!"
"In simple words, you will have maximum power when you know that you have to protect the person you love with all your energy or he is a dead meat… Got it?"
"I guess, I did." I replied with a serious expression
"Hey, don't look so serious! We were just having a friendly chat."
"Yeah, right! Friendly! I feel like a depressed girl whose mom drags her to a counselor for sorting out her life's mess."
"So I guess I am the counselor?"
"Duh!"
"Tsk… Tsk… Too bad, you are not happy that you are getting counseling from such a handsome and charming man like me! If there would have been some other girl then I am sure…"
"I am sure she would have already thrown herself at you, right? But I am not some other girl, get it?" I screamed as I cut him midway
"Hey… Hey… What happened, Ayano? One minute we were having a peaceful discussion on your insecurities and the very next moment you explode! What happened, girl?" Joseph asked. I could feel the tears forming in my eyes and I just begged that they won't fall.
"What happened, Ayano?" Joseph softened his voice for reconciliation
"Nothing!" I said and quickly turned my head the other way as hot tears started flowing down my eyes.
"Ayano, why are you crying? Let me guess? You regret trusting me with your weaknesses and insecurities, right?" He guessed with a hesitant voice. I didn't say anything and my shoulders started shaking violently as more tears fell down my eyes and my vision became seriously blurred. Suddenly I was pulled in a bear hug by two strong hands. I looked up and my eyes met the crystal blue color of Joseph's eyes. We both remained in such a position until he started to speak.
"Ayano, listen… I assure you that these secrets of yours will always remain safe with me. I know that you barely know me but just know that you can trust me with all your heart and soul and I understand you… You already know that I hold feelings for you and considering the time period we have spent together, I guess the feelings have blossomed too early but trust me, I, Joseph Drew, am truly in love with you and would wait forever on you until you realize that even you hold feelings for me… So, whatever happens never leave your trust in me. I will never use your secrets to ridicule you, okay?"
"O-okay…" I replied with a blush.
He ran his thumb over my blushing cheeks and murmured, "How can someone possess both inner and outer beauty!"
With this he leaned down his face to kiss me. My eyes automatically closed themselves up and I could feel his breath upon my lips. I raised my head a little and by the increasing tingling on my lips, I could tell his lips were getting closer. The distance decreased and my heartbeat was increasing until neither of us could take it any longer and we both pulled each other's head closer to ourselves to completely close the distance… As our lips touched, I swear I felt only a moment of pleasure before Joseph was forcefully pulled away from me and he went flying backwards. Then, that person or should I say intruder, picked me up bridal style and we flew off in the night sky… Even though I was struggling with all my power and energy to get out from the kidnapper's arms; I could still not miss the sense of security that I felt, the same which I felt when Kazuma was somewhere near me. Anyway, so I continued struggling until the maniac kidnapper landed on a very familiar balcony. I looked around totally puzzled and when my eyes met the guys brown eyes, I instantly recognized Kazuma…
"Kazuma! You bastard! Why the hell did you kidnap me? Why did you punch Joseph, eh?"
"Why were you kissing that bastard, huh?"
"How dare you call him a bastard?! You are the bastard here and don't you dare deny that!" I screamed
"Ayano, I just asked why you were letting that guy take advantage of you?" Kazuma asked as he pinched his nose
"Kazuma, Joseph was not taking my advantage, get it?"
"Joseph is his name, huh?"
"Don't try to divert the subject, Kazuma… You are a crazy freakster! Get it?" I screamed
"Ayano, Joseph is not good. He was going to take your advantage, Ayano! But of course how were you supposed to know since you were in such a vulnerable state…"
"How do you know that I was in a vulnerable state? You were stalking me! What happened to your intense make out with Kirika? You ditched her so soon? Or wait she must be sleeping somewhere here and you wanted some more pleasure so you came to find me, right Kazuma Yagami!"
Kazuma didn't reply, he closed the distance between the two of us and smashed his lips with mine. The kiss was gentle at first and after a few seconds it became harder and more excruciating. It looked like a kiss which one shared when he was held away from the person for a time too long or was going to be separated from the person for a long time. Anyway, I kissed him back with full fervor and then we separated only when we both were badly out of breath.
"What the hell! Why did you do that, you freaking womanizer!"
"You are too blind for your own good, Ayano!"
"Who are you to call me blind, huh, Kazuma? You are the blind one because you can't see how much I love you and care for you! You take everything for granted and the worst part is that you took me evn for granted! I hate you… Do you hear me? I HATE YOU, Kazuma!" With that I turned around and left Kazuma staring at me but I swear I saw a tear roll down his eye but of course Kazuma Yagami won't cry for an average girl like me, right or would he? Why would he?
I and my tears continued running till I reached that same park. I was shocked to see Joseph patiently seated on the bench. He looked up and our eyes met. I don't know what took over me but I ran straight into his arms and burst out crying. He held me without any word and when I finally looked up, my eyes met with his crystal blue ones and I was shocked to see them full of worry, misery, pain and guilt… Guilt? Why, guilt? I was about to ask him when suddenly darkness took over me and the last thing I heard was Joseph whispering an apology to me…
I know that I am the big-bad guy right now but trust me when I say that neither am I a guy nor am I really that tall. I am just 5'5" which really is average! Okay, anyway, I really was bored out of my mind so I decided to continue this story but guess what? My mind ran out of ideas and all I was left with was a piece of bread and butter in my empty mind and yeah, add lots and lots of scientific terms and chemical equations!
Does anyone hate physics out there? Cause I definitely do and I even dislike my physics teacher for the subject she teaches… I know that's me getting really judgmental but guess what? I don't care!
So, I'll just let you guys be and before I bid adieu, I just wanted to say that there is no Romeo Juliet play coming up! I am bored of Shakespeare. He is good and all that stuff but I just don't like his writing style… It's soooooo complex! I am not a good writer either! I have so many grammatical errors… That's why I begged for a beta reader but guess no one out there heard my plea. Selfish world! (mumbles) Anyway, till then, Adieu my faithful and dearest readers!
Pray that I pass my exams and tests too! Also, confession time: I messed up my biology test and the teacher is going to send my report back home and I am sure the music is going to be pretty loud! (sigh) I am up for adoption! Just kidding about the adoption thing! You never know what could happen if I didn't write 'Just kidding.' Imagine, I open my front door one fine day and find a group of people fighting behind adopting me! My mom would literally kill me!
Anyway, wishful thinking! (sigh) Till then Adieu, readers!
- Sunshine satin