AN: And it's done! OMG I can't believe it~ I'm actually quite proud of this, which is odd because I hardly ever like my endings. Haha. Anyway, I won't bore you guys. Read on, my friends. :)

Thank-you's for the last chapter:

Carcar: Thank you so much. I'm so glad you think so because I'm very proud of my writing. I'm sorry that Kazuma is an idiot but lots of men are, aren't they? XD There's still the last of this story so I'll let you read and find out what happens. I hope you find the end suitable. And thank you! :DDD

Sleeping beauty: Thank you! I love it when silent readers say something, anything at all. Makes me feel very proud. Haha. I hope real life is going better for you. :( Take care and enjoy the chapter~

Guest: As do I. Haha. I hope you enjoy the chapter and thank you so much!

Summary: Restart. Part Four of the sequel to Bedtime. After years of unrequited love, Ayano doesn't want romance or promises of forever, not like most women. All she wants is comfortable companionship, but one person doesn't care about what she wants but what she needs.

Warnings: I got a little carried away and wrote a lot. Haha.

Part Four: Restart

The last leg of her trip passed without event, as Ayano prepared her things so she could leave for the airport within the hour. The sense of accomplishment didn't diminish even as she zipped up her luggage, though the reality of the situation was beginning to set it. When she got home she'd be moving onto a new chapter in her life, one that considered her role as the next leader of the Kannagi clan, returning to training full-time and the daunting task of looking for a husband.

That last one made her especially nervous, as she recalled the conversation she had with her father only moments ago. Although sounding a little reluctant, the old man had already set up a omiai for her, most likely an eligible man with impressive magical abilities and a fairly pleasant disposition. She knew how much he wanted her to marry for love, but such a luxury wouldn't be hers. Maybe she'd fall in love during the courtship or in the middle of marriage. Or maybe she was being dramatic and this whole thing was as bad an idea as it sounded.

But at the thought of giving up on the plan she'd worked so hard to formulate, the pink-haired fire-user shook her head and absolved herself of blame. This might not be the greatest idea but it certainly wasn't the worst. She could be single forever, content in her life but lonely and without a successor. And while she wouldn't mind if Ren's offspring took over for her one day, she knew that that wouldn't be fair to her future niece or nephew. No one knew better about the strife of being a clan heiress and it wasn't something she'd wish on someone as kind-hearted as Ren.

Deciding there would be more than enough time to ponder all the possibilities, Ayano gathered her things and went straight to the airport. In spite of the long lines and crush of other travelers, she was happy to note she'd mellowed considerably with age, as she waited without any major happenings. Impatience had always gotten her in trouble so it was nice to not feel so angry and anxious all the time, she thought as she boarded the plan after a one-hour delay.

Taking a seat by the window, she looked at the empty one next to her, curious if she'd have a partner for the flight. It would be nice to have a little extra elbow room and a place to put her things, but the amount of people in the terminal pretty much destroyed any hope she had for it.

Settling into the seat, she flipped open a magazine as the rest of the passengers boarded, musing about lunch and browsing the Duty Free catalogue. Maybe her father would like something, though she'd bought him enough things over the year that she knew he'd never use or need. It was that thought that was occupying her head when another person sat down beside her, as she tried to decide between a bottle of liquor and expensive cologne.

"Not even engaged yet and you're already looking for presents?"

The squeal of surprise fell from her lips too fast for her to catch, as Ayano whipped her head up to an old face she thought she'd put behind her in China. But Kazuma was looking extremely well for someone who had only recently broken her heart and popping up much more often than was comfortable. It was a little disconcerting.

"What the hell are you doing here?" As far as she was concerned, greetings were overrated.

He shrugged, as he sunk into his own recliner. "I had a job here and now I'm finished. I live in Japan too, you know."

I wish I could forget. "I see."

Actively ignoring the newcomer, Ayano took a deep breath and went back to whatever she was doing. So she'd have to sit next to Kazuma for a few hours and make small talk while dodging his teasing and careless manners? Fine, she could do that.

But Ayano soon found that she didn't have to even do that much. Only one hour in and Kazuma was charming the flight attendants with nothing but a sultry smile and a few easy words. And they came like mice to a pied piper, leaning against his chair and twirling their hair between their fingers. Ayano was surprised she was more embarrassed for them than anything else, as she snuck a glance from the corner of her gaze.

A flash of brown met hers, making her flinch as she straightened her stare. She didn't miss the glint of amusement in them, but nor did she rise to it. If he wanted to play around, then that was fine with her. Still, that didn't mean she had to sit there silently and take it.

"Excuse me, miss," the Enjutsushi interrupted sweetly, ignoring the harsh glare the buxom brunette was aiming at her, "You wouldn't happen to know if there are any empty seats, would you? I'm afraid I'm not quite comfortable here."

"Well, I can check the computer—"

"That's not necessary." Two female faces swiveled towards the middle, where Kazuma was leaning back languidly. He spared a look at Ayano's confused visage but only for a moment. "She's with me, and she certainly won't be going anywhere."

"I see." The nonplussed frown on the stewardess's face flicked over to Ayano, sizing her up as the young woman sighed irritably to herself. After all the things that'd happened, Ayano refused to go along with his bullying just so he could enjoy tormenting her. "But it seems your female companion isn't interested in staying. Perhaps I could offer my company instead."

The blatant proposition almost made Ayano snort, the laughter fighting into her eyes. Of course she knew the kind of effect Kazuma had on women, but she'd forgotten how ridiculous they became once they were under his spell. Perhaps the years between them had helped her build up some small amount of immunity.

"I'm afraid I'll pass," the Contractor spoke, voice still seductively silky but without the heat he usually used when he flirted. Grabbing Ayano's hand, he twined their fingers and looked up at the brown-haired beauty with a small smile. "As you can see, she's someone very special to me."

Not quite halting the blush, she untangled her hand as quickly as she could before glaring up at the equally annoyed-looking attendant. "We're cousins."

"Oh," the other woman replied, looking much more inviting, pleased even, as she smiled down at the handsome man next to her and attempted to steer the conversation back to their previous one. "Well I'm certain I can find her another chair, perhaps even an upgraded one, and then we can get back to getting to know each other better…"

"Do you mean something like business class?" Ayano jumped in, leaning over the sorcerer to get closer to the other woman. The excitement in her eyes was only too apparent. "I will tie him up and put him in your carry-on if you can get me into business class."

Striking a deal, the clack of the woman's heels as she stalked off disappeared, as Ayano fell back into her seat with a contented huff. Beside her, her older cousin sulked darkly, frowning with narrowed eyes and an aura of disdain.

"I can't believe you just sold me out to upgrade your seat."

"I can't believe that you can't believe I just sold you out to upgrade my seat," she shrugged, tossing her short hair behind her as she settled back in. "Besides, you got what you wanted out of it too, right? You get to hang out with a pretty girl while I chill in business class. Everyone wins."

"That's not what I wanted," he growled, turning to stare down at her resting face. Cracking an eye open, the Kannagi heir contorted her face into mild disbelief.

"Please, spare me. You always hit on girls—regardless if I'm around or not—and then you spend the night with them before moving onto the next. If anything, I've just sped up the process. You should thank me."

Not that she wanted him to, of course. She'd just handed the only man she'd ever been in love with to another woman as if she hadn't cared at all, even though it was tearing her up inside. But it was better that he thought she didn't care rather than let herself be led on. These were their boundaries and she'd finally established them, regardless if she had his consent or not. As she waited for the news regarding her seat promotion, Ayano just had to keep convincing herself that this was all for the best.

"Why're you still following me?"

Coming up the long, stone steps to her front gate, the woman turned on her companion, who merely acknowledged her with a bland look. The duffel bag thrown across his back and insipid smile told her exactly what she wanted to know, as soundless as it was.

"You're not welcome in my home, Kazuma, not anymore." The finality was strange on her tongue, as she gave him her most defying frown. All it did was make him beam, causing her traitorous heart to rejoice.

"Then perhaps you should've told your father before you made that little decision. He's hired me for another job," he responded, an eager shine falling across his face. Immediately she knew she was going to regret asking her next question.

"What kind of job?"

And then he smiled, large and genuine as if he was delivering the greatest news in the world. "Why, as your bodyguard, of course."

"Dad!" she yelled, charging through the gates and nearly tearing them off their hinges. Completely ignoring the chorus of 'welcome home!' and the delighted grins everyone shot her, Ayano was rushing into the main house and barreling into the meeting room where she knew he'd be. What she didn't expect was the pop of a confetti cone going off and showering her in paper, as a distinctly grown-up Ren held the party favor in his hands.

"Welcome home, Nee-sama!" the matured boy greeted, standing up to envelope her with his much larger frame. And somehow he managed to drain out all her frustration in a moment, as she dropped her things to the floor and held him too. Somehow she'd forgotten what it was like to be hugged by a person who loved you and you them. It almost made all the loneliness she'd experienced worth it.

"Welcome back, Ayano," a deep voice invited, the sound no longer muttered through wires and mouth pieces. Tearing herself away from her younger cousin, the sorceress rushed toward her father and fell into his arms. Someone on her trip had told her that the greatest part of leaving and going on an adventure was the feeling of coming home to people who cared. From the tears that were streaming down her face, it was evident that the wisdom wasn't just a handful of words tossed in the wind but the deepest kind of truth.

When she pulled away, Ayano tilted her head up, looking at the etched lines in her father's skin and the lightening of his already gray hair. It was funny how she'd never realized just how old he was, how much bigger he was, how much he loved her when he gazed down with all the affection only a father could have for his daughter. And immediately the guilt came back, as she finally understood just how difficult it must've been for him to agree to her demands to find a man she would never love.

"Nii-sama!" The surprised twill of Ren's voice and the charging of his steps towards the opened doorway pulled her back from her thoughts, as she stepped away from the comfort of Kannagi Juugo's arms. In the end, as much as she hated to hurt him, this was business. Her life and future were on the line because she put them there. She was tired of being powerless, especially in the face of Kazuma's indifference.

As soon as greetings were exchanged, Juugo settled them all on the floor, Ayano looking especially serious and Ren the most confused. On the other hand, Kazuma was as patient as ever, quiet but confident in his silence.

"Your first marriage interview is scheduled for tomorrow, if you're up for it," the soushu spoke easily, testing the waters and observing for any hesitation in his daughter's face. Unfortunately for him, she'd gotten much better at guarding her heart, as she nodded with bravado he hadn't known she was capable of.

"Wait, what?" Ren sputtered, looking between his cousin and uncle with wide, surprised eyes. And then he stared outright at Kazuma, as if questioning if he was going to let this happen. "What do you mean 'marriage interview'? Aren't you a little too young to be considering something like that, Nee-sama? I always thought you'd get married for love…"

Although she didn't miss the flicker of his eyes between her and his older brother, Ayano made no motion to acknowledge what he was implying. "It would've been nice, yes, but I doubt it'll happen. I've decided that this would be best for everyone in the family if I find a way to make an alliance with another clan, or someone strong and influential in our line of work."

"With you as collateral? That's insane!" the blonde beauty snorted, throwing his hands up and rolling his eyes. This was his family, the woman who had become his sister when Kazuma disappeared and who'd raised him when his mother had passed on. He wouldn't watch her ruin her life like this. Twisting his head towards his older brother, his glower was harsher than Ayano had ever seen it before. "Aren't you going to talk her out of it, Nii-sama? You have to tell her she's wrong."

"She and I have already discussed the matter and Ayano's made up her mind. What else can I do?" Love me was what her subconscious whispered, but she fought down the remnants of her broken heart. He couldn't and she respected him for it. She also respected the fact that he wasn't going to insult her intelligence by making her think otherwise.

"He's right, Ren. We've talked about it and this is where my decision has led me," she said with a smile, trying to calm the stricken expression that'd overtaken his face. And yet everyone in the room understood what she met.

She'd confessed her feelings and he'd let her down gently, just as Ayano knew he would. Because they were family and he loved her in all the ways except the one kind she wanted. As more protests fell from Ren's lips, Ayano turned her mind off to them, as she picked herself up and made her way to the door.

She hadn't meant to hear them arguing.

Sliding against the wall of the open-air corridor, one tempered voice answered the angrier one's question, a monotone she was too used to hearing. Not quite helping herself, Ayano leaned against the building and unabashedly eavesdropped, but what she didn't expect was that she'd be the topic of their heated discussion.

"… Won't let you hurt her." Definitely Ren, if the way the bass inflected upward was anything to go by. Her heart shook at the tenderness her young friend inspired, a small smile falling to her lips at the sound.

"I don't think it's any of your business, Ren," the other responded, defensive and closed-off. Typical Kazuma, she mused darkly, her frown biting into her soft features. But as much as the words hit home, they were true. It wasn't Ren's business, nor was it Kazuma's anymore. This was about what she wanted.

"She's doing all this because of you! I won't let her walk blindly into some engagement just because you won't get your head outta your ass and man up!" Ouch, that first line stung her a little, but it was nothing compared to the second. When they were younger, she couldn't imagine the beautiful little boy saying those words, despite how passionate he was for his cause. But at twenty years of age, Kannagi Ren was more commanding than most men had the right to be. It was a distinct characteristic the two brothers shared.

"What would you know about 'manning up,' little bro?" The mocking didn't escape her, though it did set a fire beneath the young heiress, indignant on the other's behalf. "In the end, it's Ayano's decision and this is what she's chosen. I'm just here to make a quick buck while she picks her poison and seals her fate."

With a strain in his voice, Ren began to plead, not nearly as proud as his kin to ask for answers. "Don't you care about what happens to her at all? I mean, you guys used to be partners."

"That was a long time ago." And it was. Over the years, she'd almost forgotten that was how they'd grown close. How sad that this was what they'd boiled down to, a man looking for his next meal ticket by chasing after the same girl who'd driven him away in the first place. Irony had never tasted so bittersweet.

The shuffling of steps turning away could be heard, but not before Ren stopped his sibling dead in his tracks. "If you won't protect Nee-sama, then I will."

"Oh?" Somehow Ayano could tell Kazuma was smirking then, as he turned back to the only other person he loved more than himself. "From what?"

"From those guys who don't see just how special she is, who want her because she's rich and powerful and not because she's smart and beautiful and would make someone really happy." With each word, the gratefulness soared into her chest, nearly spilling over as she realized just how lucky she was. And it was almost enough to know she was loved so earnestly by another man that wasn't her father. She barely held in the sob as she heard him whisper that last line, a threat she never believed Ren would've ever been able to make as a child. "I'm going to protect her from men like you, Nii-sama."

"Don't speak to me as if you understand everything between Ayano and me."

"And don't speak to me as if you have a claim on her. You've had ten years to act on it. If you're going to break her heart, leave now. Take the money and let her move on because she won't if you're around. It's the reason why Uncle even hired you, to make her unsure, and you know it."

After that, there was silence. Not the stifling, uncertain kind that choked one's senses, but one of clarity and understanding. She'd thought it was strange that Kazuma had come home with her, accepted a job that she was sure he'd have turned down a year ago. He was sitting on a fortune and yet he chose this one out of all the offers he'd been given. As her father's betrayal settled in, the bile rose to crash against her stomach.

And then Kazuma spoke, flaming her fear. "I know."

"Then why, Nii-sama? Why would you hurt her again? Doesn't she deserve better than this?"

"Ayano doesn't know what's good for her." And again she felt the fury bubble up, as she bit back a harsh laugh. The man that irreparably damaged her was telling her what she already knew herself, even going so far as to announce it to the rest of the world. As if she needed another insult from him. "That's why I'm here. I'm going to make sure she figures it out."

"Then what is it? What does she need?" But Kazuma didn't answer, only leveled his younger brother a scowl as he disappeared in a soft whirlwind. Creeping back in the direction that she came, Ayano wondered what he meant by that. Because it was getting harder to pretend that everything would go as planned while he remained by her side, so determined to watch her fail.

The night before her first arranged meeting left Ayano restless, as she laid in her old bed and tried to remember why she was doing all this. There was no obligation when seeing a man through this sort of thing, after all. And yet she still felt the tumultuous tumble of emotions, as she sat up and put on a light jacket. There wouldn't be sleep tonight, not just yet at least, so she didn't force herself. Instead, she decided some night air to clear her mind would help her more than anything else.

As she took a seat along the edge of a deserted hallway, her feet dangled restlessly over the edge. The cool autumn wind had the bite of winter on its edges, nipping playfully at her skin. Deep down, a part of her finally felt as if she'd really come home.

Gazing up at the large moon hanging overhead, the memory of a night long ago came to the front of her mind. She'd left a party in a fit of jealousy and angst, angry at Kazuma for being no one but himself and angry at her own selfishness that she didn't think she'd ever fully outgrow. But when she'd woken up the next morning, her heart had mysteriously been put back together, as she gazed at Kazuma's unguarded face from beneath the edge of her covers.

And it was moments like those that kept her so faithfully in love with him, reenergizing her tired soul as she waited for something she knew she'd never have. He'd cared enough to let her go but was cruel enough to follow her around for the right price. Maybe she didn't mean nearly as much to him as he had to her. Maybe she was kidding herself whenever she reasoned that there would be a day when he wouldn't be the last thing she thought of before she went to sleep. Maybe there were too many maybes in her life.

"Can't sleep?" And maybe she'd finally learned that loving Kazuma was never a maybe but an always.

"Nope. You?" As he settled down beside her, she kept her eyes focused on the shadowy corners of the garden. Ayano was surprised to find the steadiness of her heart and the easiness in her chest stayed in spite of his appearance.

"It's being back here. Still makes me uncomfortable."

The smile that quirked her mouth was half-amusement, half-exasperation. "You can visit for hours but you can't sleep here at night? I thought you'd outgrown that by now."

"The past is a hard thing to escape." She understood that well enough, and somehow Ayano knew he wasn't just talking about his own either. But if he was going to try and do what even her own father couldn't, she was leaving.

"Yeah, but it's worth a shot to try, right?" she asked quietly, the question more for herself than him. While Kazuma was content to live in his, Ayano was more than willing to break out of hers. Because memories couldn't keep one warm at night, no matter how good they were, and she wanted more from her life than a few experiences that she'd never be able to physically hold onto.

Looking down at her hands in her lap, the sorceress continued in a smaller but soothing voice. "I don't expect you to understand, Kazuma, nor do I expect you to support my decision. But that's the nice thing about having free will, that it's my choice to make, regardless if it's a mistake or not."

"And is this a mistake, Ayano?" She could feel his heavy gaze on her, the one that could unlock her very soul if she met it. Out of self-preservation she kept herself turned away.

"It could be, but it could also not be," she shrugged, vague in her transparency. "But I have to look at it like this: if falling in love with you was a mistake, then it was the greatest mistake I ever made." And as the emotions flooded her, a genuine smile slipped over her peaceful features, liking the honesty she'd once tried so hard to keep inside. "And if choosing to not love you anymore is a mistake as well, then it's one that I want to make for myself. I don't regret loving you, but I won't regret trying to love someone else either."

And then there was silence between them, as Ayano let herself relax into her own realization. There was nothing in her past that she'd change, but her future had always been so bleak because she lacked commitment to it. Because she unconsciously understood that it was one where Kazuma wasn't at her side, making her laugh and blush and fume over him. So, by doing all of this, she was hoping to bring back that part of their relationship, rewind to a time when she didn't need to demand his attention just because she wanted it. Having someone love her wouldn't stop the hurt, but it just might fill the void he'd left in her heart.

"I was right," he broke in out of nowhere, a soft, thoughtful chuckle falling from his lips. The sound made her frown, as she turned to face him for the first time that night, outwardly confused.

"About what?"

"You," he laughed again, reaching a hand up to scrub at his face, as if in disbelief. It only made her bemusement shift to fury, as she realized that he was making fun of her while she bared her feelings to him. It lit a fire under her, as she glared at his smirking face.

"And what the hell is that supposed to mean, Kazuma? I'm here trying to have a serious conversation and what do you do? You laugh like I'm making a joke when all I've done is try and be truthful for once! Well, y'know what, you can shove it—mmph!"

The feeling of a hand at her nape had her spine stiffening, golden irises contrasting with the silver moonlight up above. And lips she never thought she'd taste again were pressed against hers, soft and coaxing, so much so that she nearly cried out against them. If this was a joke, then Kazuma was so much crueler than she'd ever imagined.

Pushing him away with more strength than she thought she had, Ayano cupped her lips with her right hand, eyes as wide as saucers. And although she opened her mouth to say something, anything really, all she could do was watch him with pained shock written across her features.

Facing his brown gaze away, Kazuma looked unrepentant as he gazed up at the dusty sky above. "I was right about you from the start, Ayano." As her expression melted into confusion, he grinned wryly to himself before shooting her a teasing look. "I always knew you were going to be a great woman one day. But somehow I'd managed to miss the fact that you'd been one for a long time now."

Her retort was fast, piercing. "Why did you do that?"

"Because I wanted to."

"You don't have the right, Kazuma! You never did!" she yelled, sounding more like a plea than she would've liked. As she stood up, she glared down at him with as much nerve as she could muster. "I have an omiai tomorrow. You're my bodyguard. For god's sake, we can't keep doing this anymore! I can't keep doing this!"

And she couldn't, not if he was going to turn around the next minute and leave her pining for him again. She'd be lying if she said that her core didn't ache for him, didn't rejoice for that one moment of unadulterated pleasure they'd shared. After all, it was the only thing she'd ever wanted from him, affection that wasn't calculated or forced. She just didn't expect it to burn so much either.

But when she spun away, determined to make her exit and retreat into the sanctity of her own world, Kazuma was a split second too quick. Grabbing her around the waist, he hauled her petite form to his own, using his towering height to entangle their limbs and bury his nose in her hair. And it was all too much for Ayano, as she fought him and her own tears pooling behind her eyes. What she didn't expect were the words he whispered, so soft and understated that she wondered if she had been dreaming from the start.

"Don't leave. Stay, be with me."

"I can't," she cried, a helpless murmur that slipped from her lips. "I can't anymore, Kazuma. Because you can't."

"The only reason I'm even here right now is because of you, Ayano," he growled, tightening his hold and refusing to let her walk away again. He'd done it too many times before and each one had been his fault, a blunder he couldn't stop making. "You were right when you said that Tsui Ling wouldn't want me to be lonely. So I lived to avenge her and I did. But the reason I'm still alive right now, the reason I can even be in this damned place, is because I'm here for you. I was always meant for you."

"You don't mean it." And she didn't believe he did. A few months apart and he discovered his newfound feelings when he'd had years to notice them before? It was too perfect, even for a romantic like her.

"I mean everything I say and you know it."

"You can't. It's too soon."

"Ten years is too soon? Then we've got very different definitions, Ayano," Kazuma chuckled with mirth, as he pulled back just enough to look her in the eye. But the distrust in her expression, the way it reeked of suspicion at his sincerity, made him serious again. "I won't let you run away, not when I've finally figured it out. If you try and leave, be prepared for the consequences. I'm not letting go this time."

"You're insane," she whispered, the awe breaking through her breathlessness. If Kazuma was saying all these things, then he must be going crazy. And she might be doing the same because a part of her was starting to believe him beneath her hardened exterior. Ayano was getting swept up in his confession and it was as terrifying as it was exhilarating.

"Then I guess you'll just have to wait and see how much," Kazuma bargained with a smile, extracting his limbs and pulling away so she could think better and breathe a little deeper. When he began strutting away, the habit of his hands shoved deep in his pockets just as she remembered, she called out to him with caution in her voice.

"I'm still going tomorrow, Kazuma. I'm still meeting the man my father set up for me." And she wasn't sure if it was a test for him or herself, but she could feel her pulse bound as she waited for his response. However, the mischievous smile he shot her wasn't what she was expecting, nor were the words he unwittingly delivered with that characteristic easiness of his.

"Of course you will. After all, I'm the one that contacted your father in the first place." And then Kazuma smirked widely, so handsomely roguish and unbelievably arrogant. "Don't be late, Ayano, or I'll hunt you down myself."

As he disappeared down the hallway, the rush of her emotions were just as turbulent as before, maybe even more so than all the previous years combined. And, really, she should've been angry at him for playing the games she still didn't know the rules to, upset that he'd led her right where he wanted her to be. But instead of all the things she should've been doing, Ayano did the one thing that felt right in that instant.

She smiled for a future she'd never thought was possible.

THE END

AN: So, verdict? LOL I hope to hear all your guys' thoughts so please drop a line if you enjoyed. ;D Not much else to say, I guess. I'll be reverting this back to a one-shot archive so we'll see if I write anything new for these two sometime soon. Right now I have two multi-chapters in different fandoms that are eating my brain so they'll be my main focuses for now. Sorry guys. :/

Anyway, thank you all soooo much for going through this mini-story with me! Hopefully you all liked it as much as I enjoyed writing it. =D

Until next time~