Thanks to the constant threat against the Kannagi bloodline, Ayano's curfew had been strictly enforced and moved forward by an hour. Nanase and Yukari took this to be more of a suggestion than a rule, however, when they dragged her shopping. Nanase needed new running shoes, Yukari wanted to look at hair accessories, and Ayano, well she just wanted to get home before her father grounded her for life.

"Guys, I seriously have to go." She insisted when they came up on either side of her, each taking an arm to propel her into a store. The front had been deceptively innocent with its elegant white writing on the window and pink awning. The dimly lit interior and posters inside though, made it clear it was…

"Lingerie." Ayano whimpered, not entirely sure she had said it out loud as heat flooded her cheeks. Her friends giggled a bit, splitting up to search through different racks.

"Come on, Ayano. These are the basic necessities of a girl's closet when she's dating a guy like Kazuma." Yukari informed her.

"We are not dating!" Ayano rushed to correct her. They were just…friending? Yeah, that sounded like a real thing. "And there is no way I am buying that!" She yelled when Yukari turned around with some sort of red lace in her hands.

"Fine." Yukari sighed, turning back to continue her search while Ayano stood fuming beside the door.

"What are you doing here?" A feminine voice suddenly said, the very sound grating against Ayano's already tense nerves. She glanced over only to feel her jaw drop in shock.

Catherine McDonald had turned away from Ayano and was now fiddling with her long blonde curls, admiring her form in the mirror. Barely covering her skin was a tight black silk confection and tights with little blue bows. Glancing down at herself, Ayano took a moment to compare and well, Catherine just had so much that top never stood a chance of containing those…those…

"Do you think Kazuma will like it?" Catherine asked, flipping her hair over one shoulder. "After all, men like Kazuma had such discerning tastes. He needs a real woman." With a wink for her reflection in the mirror, Catherine disappeared back into the dressing room.

Closing her mouth with a snap, Ayano shoved Yukari aside to sort through the variety on the hangers before them. Catherine had no idea who she was messing with. Ayano was a Kannagi woman.

Not long after, her purchase safely tucked into her school bag in case her father caught her sneaking in, Ayano raced home. She'd barely made it half way when a breeze, too warm for a simply evening wind, brushed by her cheek and through the loose strands of her hair. Coming to a full stop in the small circle of a street light, she turned in a circle and pulled her school back close to her chest as if to protect it.

"Kazuma?" She said softly.

"Aren't you out a little late, princess?" His voice carried on the breeze as he stepped from the shadows, though judging from the winds she'd say he had just caught some air by stepping off the nearest roof.

"You're one to talk, pervert. What are you even doing out here?" She retorted. He looked at her a moment, then at the moon with a little sliver of it still in the dark. His hands in his pockets, he strolled by her without a word. Confused she watched him go.

"You coming?" He called from a distance and she raced to keep up. For some reason, his stride was slow and measured, ambling without purpose.

"Where are we going?" She asked after a few minutes of silence. He grinned, the natural wind causing his unkept hair to blow and tangling hers.

"You don't have to know everything." He told her in that teasing voice that warned her that he was just trying to get a rise out of her. Another few moments of silence.

"I should be getting home. My father-"

"Come on, Ayano." A few steps and he was in front of her, walking backwards with that smirk still playing on his thin lips. "Do you do everything the old man tells you?"

"No!" She argued immediately, feeling like he was making fun of her, calling her a goody little girl. "I am my own woman." She announced. His gaze swept down her body from the roots of her bright hair, down the fitted top of her uniform, passed the flirting pleated skirt at her thighs.

"I'm sure you are." He replied, turning back around to walk normally. She was left to stare at his straight back, heat climbing to her cheeks.

By now they'd reached a lake. Lining the opposite shore were a cluster of tall, green trees. The moon, a glimmering reflection in the calm waters, seemed to balance precariously on the black horizon.

"Oh." She sighed, coming to a stop shoulder to shoulder with Kazuma.

"Yeah." Was all he replied. A small step to his right and he was behind her, his jaw resting on top of her head while he breathed in her scent, cherry blossoms and vanilla and flames. Her attention long since drawn from the scene before her, Ayano kept her wide eyes staring straight ahead. She could've sworn she felt the heat of his palm pass over her back, ghosting over the indent of her waist but coming up to settle over her shoulders. One of Ayano's hands crept up to her heart, which was racing, hopefully too quiet for him to notice as his thumbs dug in an impromptu massage. Then for a moment all motion ceased and they stood together in the quiet night.

"I'll take you home." He murmured against her glorious hair. Wordlessly, she allowed him to gather her closer to him and lift them into the air. The flight to the Kannagi estate was quick and peaceful even though Ayano's emotions were anything but, a raging storm really. Jugo was waiting outside the entrance, his hands clasped behind his back. Kazuma lowered them to the ground just a few feet away. Rather than lecture her or ask where she had been, Jugo barely glanced at her before focusing on Kazuma, who stood at her side with one arm still around her waist from when he'd held her to fly. His brows lifted in a silent question Ayano didn't understand, yet Kazuma tensed as if reminded of something bitter by the implication of a little eye raise.

"Come along inside, Ayano." Jugo then said, turning back inside calmly. Out of the corner of her eye, Ayano watched Kazuma, waiting for him to say or do something. Turning his head, he just looked at her until she finally moved to follow her father. Kazuma stayed just long enough for her to make it through the gate and a gust of wind informed her of his subsequent departure.

Since arriving with Kazuma had apparently excused her breaking of curfew, Ayano was able to go straight to her room, where she threw herself on the bed. Rolling over to stare at the ceiling, she replayed the evening in her mind. Why hadn't Kazuma kissed her? Unless she was completely misreading the situation, he had been making it pretty clear there was something between them if only he'd act upon it.

Catherine's words came back to her. That Kazuma was a man and he needed a woman, not just some innocent girl. Maybe Ayano wasn't playing the game right, and that's why he wasn't making the move. With this in mind, Ayano pushed herself back to her feet and knelt beside her book bag on the floor. Feeling shy although she was alone, she carefully withdrew the scandalous shopping bag and set it on her desk where she would see it first thing when she woke up the next morning.