Ch.4 Reminiscence

Three days later Ayano is released from the hospital fully recovered from her injuries and returns to the Kannagi house ready to hear what Saiga has to say about Alister. At the house inside Jugo's room Kazuma, Ayano, Genma, Ren, and Jugo himself prepare for Saiga's tale from his time away.

"Eight years ago when I left the house to become stronger I went to Europe, and it was there that I met Alister and a woman named Sophia who was a beauty beyond compare. At first both Alister and I were both infatuated with her but ultimately he won her heart. At that time Alister was a kind gentle soul who only wanted to have family of his own because he was orphaned at six years old. For three years we were all happy and they were planning on getting married and having children, and then they showed up. They took her away, and Alister followed them I tried to find them but failed, and when Alister showed up again he was a broken man….Sophia was sacrificed to a demon. Not long after Alister left Europe and I stayed for another year that's when I got my sword Flamberge. Then two years ago I met Alister again this time in China, but he changed I saw him perform a ritual using one of their members and it was beyond imagination what he did to that poor soul. Astaroth doesn't just eat his victims he makes them suffer unspeakable pain and he only eats hell bound souls. Alister said he was going to bring Sophia back from the dead, I tried to explain it was impossible but refused to listen and then when denied his offer to join he cut my arm off. I went back to Europe after that and tried to make a contract with the spirit king of earth, I pleaded and pleaded but it never happened. Then a holy man approached me, restored my arm, and told me about the azure dragon under the holy capital and you know the rest."

After listening to the story Kazuma can't help but empathize with Alister since he himself knew the same loss but then asks.

"Wait if this Sophia was sacrificed to a demon how's he going to bring her back?"

"Alister told me that demons actually take year to digest souls completely so there's still time left to save her maybe even your lover"

Kazuma stands up and leaves out the door with a determined look on his face.

"Kazuma wait you can't listen to Alister he might not be telling the truth" Ayano comments

"Maybe not but I have to know for myself"

Kazuma leaves the house aside from Ayano everyone doesn't speak about it, and then someone enter the house area detective Tachibana who is looking for Kazuma. She explains to the Kannagi's about some disturbing news about a recent event.

"You guys know about the Tsuwabuki family"

Everyone nods since they are a distinguished family of earth magic users while Ren reminisces about Ayumi his first love who died helping them fight a powerful demon.

"Well there's no easy way to say this but last night someone broke into the main house and killed Mayumi Tsuwabuki along with her bodyguard Yuji, and well just look at this"

Tachibana shows everyone a picture of the scene, Mayumi's body is crushed all of her bones broken and Yuji's body is damaged beyond recognition. The detective explains that the wound were most likely done by a powerful earth magic user and asks if anyone comes to mind at all. After a minute of thinking no one comes up with an answer until a guest arrives at the door in formal fashion a woman who shocks Ayano and Ren it Kureha Tsuwabuki the deceased older sister of Mayumi. She looked exactly the same except her outfit was white.

"You! it can't be your supposed to be dead" Ayano calls out

"That's not nice to say to your guest anyway I'm here to deliver a message from master Astaroth"

"How… you were killed by that monster" Ren asks

"Astaroth gave me life again and all I had to do was kill my sister but Yuji got in my way so I killed him as well"

"You killed your own sister why would you do that she was your family" Ayano declares

"Yes she was but the time I was dead, I was in hell and it's better to be here as murderer than there as a damned soul anyway lord Astaroth wants the Kannagi's to know they are welcomed to join our cause but this will be one of two warnings"

With her business done Kureha leaves the house with her head held high up as she casually walks into a limo parked outside the gate; While Ayano and Ren still shocked by her reappearance can't speak while Jugo and Genma don't react that much. Meanwhile Kazuma decides to look for Alister and ask him about what Saiga said. After hours of searching Kazuma finally finds Alister sitting on a bench in the park feeding birds. Alister notices and greets him, Kazuma not wanting to cause a scene sits next to him and starts feeding the birds as well.

"So Saiga told you didn't he"

"Yeah so is it true can you really bring Sophia back"

"Yes and if you want I'd be willingly to bring back Tsui-Ling immediately if you want"

Kazuma seriously considers Alisters words and nods his head.

"Please would I'll do anything you want name it"

"Okay asking you to join would be improper of me so here's the deal you get me some of Ayano's DNA and I'll bring back your lover as payment"

"Really, but why do you need me to get it?

"I can't touch her my hands are tainted I could never get close to her without damaging the body"

"Fine that's all I need to know

The two shake hands and Kazuma leaves the park determined to get anything from her. Back at the house Ayano continues to talk with Saiga about Alister's powers

"Can't you beat him you were doing pretty well the other night?"

"No he was holding back when he fought us"

"Seriously and what was up with those two swords of his?"

"The ice blade Celsius and the water blade Varuna his two magic blades and Celsius has Astaroth's summon circle on it allowing him to sacrifice his victims on the spot"

"Isn't there anything we could do?"

"Maybe if I, Kazuma, and cousin Genma went at him together we could beat him"

"Uh and that'll never happen"

Kazuma returns to the house and asks Ayano to come with him to the park which she agrees. On the way Ayano asks Kazuma what he did but he doesn't answer almost on the way Kazuma begins to have seconds thoughts on what he's about to do.

"(Why does Alister want DNA from Ayano…. Doesn't matter all I care about is getting Tsui-Ling back)"

Meanwhile at his hideout Alister awakens a summoning circle with a sacrifice ready another member of the society he kept alive for his rituals as he kept a few members alive. He closes his eyes and recites an incantation seeing the memories of which demon it was through his victim's eyes.

"(Oh so it was this one no matter in the name of the fallen angel Astaroth demonic being of the pit hear my call and accept this offering of mortal flesh)"

As the demonic portal begins to open and the demon creeps out to accept the sacrifice Alister quickly opens his eyes. He then holds out his hands stopping the demon from moving he then forces the demon out of the portal and begins to torture it with his weapons.

"Damn creature, know the pain of your victims and cease to exist hahahahahha!"

After the demon succumbs to the damage inflicted its body disperses and red particles fill the room. Alister begins to concentrate and pull in as many particles from the room. At the house Kazuma arrives at the entrance and is ready to get what he was asked for he quietly sneaks into Ayano's room to steal anything that might have her DNA on it, and he picks up a brush with a lock of red hair stuck in it.

"(This'll do now to meet with Alister)"

Before he can leave Ayano enters her room

"Kazuma what do you think you're doing in my room..You pervert!"

Ayano draws her sword and strikes, but Kazuma dodges without any effort.

"Sorry but I've gotta deal to finish"

Kazuma quickly leaves with Ayano chasing after him. Saiga notices and follows them to the park where Alister is waiting. This time he had two people with him a woman wearing a mask and a long dark coat with a katana at her side, the other was another woman wearing bandages from head to wearing a trench coat, with only a single eye exposed and a few brown strands of hair.

"Very good as promised here is your lover the one in the bandages"

"How do I know it's her?"

"Kazuma it is me can't you recognize my voice"

Kazuma is blown back by this and slowly approaches.

"Kazuma first my request"

Kazuma tosses the brush to Alister who hands it to the woman wearing the mask.

"She's missing some memories namely her last ones and her body needs time to regenerate but she'll be normal in a week and keep the doll away from her"

Ayano and Saiga arrive and see Kazuma holding the bandaged woman in his arms crying. Saiga sees Alister and immediately unleashes his power.

"Quid tibi nunc, Alister!"

"Reuniting a pair of tragic lovers soon I will wear that expression but first let introduce you to someone"

The masked woman slides her mask partway and proceeds to eat the hair on the brush.

"Okay what was that about" Ayano comments

"This is my fire user Kagutsuchi but to be specific she's an artificial life made without an image until now"

Kagutsuchi removes her mask revealing a face which looks like Ayano only the hair is darker and her eyes glow purple.

"She needed DNA to be complete everything Ayano is she is not"

Kagutsuchi unsheathes her katana and takes Ayano's pose.

"I'm not going to lose to a fake me!"

Ayano charges at the replica, who simply guards and gives a smug smile and chuckles.

"What's so funny fake!?"

"You"

The fake knocks Ayano away with ease and gets ready for her own attack charging her sword with dark flame. Saiga picks Ayano up and stands next to her.

"ET in conspectu senum extemplo abire"

"I have no idea what you just said but I think I get the gist"

The two begin their dual assault on the replica who manages to dodge most of their attacks. This continues until Ayano manages to get a good strike on her replicas leg, and Saiga charges his own attack

"iterum atque iterum ignis gustar…Azure Nova!

Saiga's attack began with him charging his sword with blue flame, then he rapidly slashes the opponent finishing with his leaping into the air and lunges one more time creating and explosion of fire in his wake. The attack did knock Kagutsuchi on the ground however she quickly recovers and she wipes some blood from her lip.

"Impressive however…."

Kagutsuchi charges even more dark flame into her sword and slams into the ground causing a large wall of dark flame to engulf Saiga and Ayano knocking them out.

"Writhe in the flames hell! Kuroi hakai No ken!

Alister laughs with glee seeing his creation defeat Ayano and his former best friend.

"Kazuma by the way I won't hold it against you if you choose to fight me just know I have a wind user now, but I will always have an invitation ready for you for now enjoy yourself"

Alister leaves with Kagustuchi while Kazuma leaves with Tsui-Ling. Ayano and Saiga are carried back the Kannagi house by Genma who saw the black fire. At the house Saiga and Ayano now wearing bandages themselves are meeting with Jugo and Genma.

"So he has four elemental users now correct?" Jugo asks

"Yeah he himself the water user, Kagutsuchi his fire user, Kureha his earth user, and I don't know who his wind user could be"

"I see well then I can't allow this to continue, Genma you are now to assist them even if it means working with Kazuma"

"Understood lord Jugo I will see to the end of this punks plan"

Now Genma the most powerful fire magic user was with them, but how can the four defeat all of Alisters powerful allies as well as the dark knight who hasn't appeared in a while, and will Kazuma be willing to fight the person who resurrected his love.