Kazuma's POV:-

As I read the files ,I felt my anger rise with every files were a part of a special kannagi program called 'M.M-Mental Manipulation' .Basically , it involves mentally scaring a person so much that the very thought of going against them would cause a terrifying amount of fear .For this ,children , whose dreams and personal connections with others have yet to be formed , are much more loyal. Many kannagi's who have undergone this kind of training find it impossible to go against the kannagi clan.

'...that was not what the the kannagi elders wanted,they wanted a weapon and Ayano's inner talent and high perseverance made her seem like a wish come true...'

'What are you saying? That Ayano was targeted by the clan elders?'

That was exactly what he was saying.

'Being taught at a very young age that one must always keep they're word ,Ayano was secretly taken from the gathering during her 8th birthday and was told to give an oath to forever be loyal only to the kannagis. They had waited till she had officially become the heir which was two days before her birthday (when she defeated me).Things didn't go according to plan as Ayano refused to make the oath without asking her father first. Knowing that Jugo would be suspicious , they tried to convince her that he wouldn't mind. When she still wouldn't listen,(stubborn even then ,huh)...they began to use force .Knowing her love for her father and her cousin ,who was to be the next in line for the position of heir, they blackmailed her into keeping the occurrences from her father as he would not be able to do anything and this would only cause him pain and from resigning from the position of heir ,as that would force her cousin ,Ren kannagi to go through everything instead'.

There were pictures ,dozens of pictures , they're quality clearly showing that they were extracted from a video footage, pictures of her being beaten , stabbed ,choked ...and burned, terribly ,Terribly burned .Even though normal fire can't hurt her ,the true flame of powerful en-jutsu artists still can. That's why a simple en-jutsu artist can never defeat a kannagi .

'There are reports saying that after about one year of randomly trying to hurt her into submission , making sure to hold back enough for it to pass as an accident or severe training . She had gone missing for a day and when she was found , she was covered in deep cuts and wounds which were hardly even visible through the mud that coated her body .Next to her, there was a youma who's head was missing and neck was charred at the cut end. Noting the injuries , they had begun to wound her more severely , more painfully and claiming that it was youma attack, they had also kept her father busy enough that he could not notice any differences in her behaviour , nor could he comfort her. The goal was primarily to make her feel alone , unwanted and wishing for the pain to end .But in the end ,she never gave in despite her cousins being against her, her father not having time for her and her being kept from having friends .There was a time when they thought she would break ,but for some reason , she found a reason to keep fighting. Gradually ,she grew too strong for them to control and was left alone and marked as a failure.'

One thing I couldn't get was that if 'they' had kannagis who could use their true flame then how did she 'become too strong for them'. That was the only thing I could think of to keep myself from remembering those pictures. Each was them was focused at a point of immense pain and tears. I could imagines the screams she must have let out .

'but she still didn't give in '.That made me smile with pride ,even after everything , she still didn't complain to her father for fear of hurting him, still didn't give up her freedom and loyalty . I looked at the photo that I held in my hand .In this particular picture is a small clue which was quite easy to miss .It showed 8,9 or 10 year old Ayano being dragged mercilessly by her hair by an middle-aged man with a well-built body dressed like a was grabbing her hair and her mouth was open in what looked like a scream ,her feet were kicking by the looks of it and her body was covered in bruises and burns . Her face was engulfed in a ash flame as she was being pulled into some old video obviously being taken from inside the shack . The clue was not in the shack but outside the open door , where grass and trees burned to ash at some places could be seen . There , a girl could be seen hiding behind a tree ,her hands covering her mouth and if you scan and enhance the picture you can see tears running down her face. Normally , one might think that any girl frolicking through the woods would react this way if she saw something like that. But I know this girl and so does Ayano ...and she knows us as well .After all ,there aren't many dark-purple haired girls around this place. I put hands behind my head and rested against the couch 'So I know why Ayano never told anyone , but why would you keep quiet...Misao?'

Ayano's POV:-

Me and the others arrived at the canyon ...about fifty feet above ground level.

"AAAHHHHHHHH..."

(That was not me , just Joe and Stef ,I'M NOT LYING)

Taichi grabbed Stef and suspended me and Joe in midair long enough for Joe to create a rock platform to form under our and Joe jumped on top of it and then he lowered it to the regular ground-level. Taichi let Stef down next us us and landed as well.

"Why is it that these portals have to open up in MID AIR?"Steff complained as Joe was setting the platform down.

"Who knows ?But it suurree is handy having a wind-user around , isn't it?"Taichi stated with a smug smile.

"Yeah right, As useful as nothing ,I would have been just fine without your help"

"Really, How?With your awesome platform powers?"

"DON'T IGNORE ME, YOU STUPID BOYS"

While they were chatting and Joe was making stupid jokes because he felt Stef was starting to loose it (Poor Taichi , you should never ignore a woman, especially en-jutsu artists ),I started spreading my energy and increasing my range so that I could track those youma. Normally ,I'd be arguing with them as well but a part of my just kept getting distracted .'Kazuma'. What does he think ?How will he react? Should I have checked the files before letting him read it?.What's going to happen?Will he even care? Stop that ,I don't want him to care.I let out a sigh as I found the youma nest , Dang, those youma are definitely powerful .Oh ,well ,helps in taking my mind of things ,Besides , when it comes to Kazuma, usually some unexpected worst case sinerio is what happens .But for now , I just have to concentrate on killing some youma. What better relaxant is there?.

"Hey guys ,I found the ne..."

"...JUST MEANT I'M HELPFUL TO HAVE AR..."

"WELL, IF YOU THINK IT'S THAT IMPORTANT WE COULD JUST ASK KAZUMA TO HELP US OUT . HE'S STRONGER THAN YO..."Realising the suggestion that was just clamped her mouth shut.

"..."

No one spoke, no one dared to, all eyes turned towards me.

"In my nightmares..."I whispered

"Sorry,Ayano-chan"She had turned into stone while Taichi was looking at me with concern.

I looked at them with a blank face .

"I'm serious ..."

Puzzled looks crossed everyone's face .

"A mission where he comes along with us has happened in my nightmares .It was one of the most horrifying directions my life could take.I beg you, I BEG YOU, PLEASE DON'T DO THIS TO ME ."

I wailed at the sky , begging the fates to show mercy for once.

Sweatdrops formed on their foreheads anime style

"You don't have to worry Ayano-chan, I wasn't serious ."

I didn't turn to face her.

"Really.."My voice sounded broken ,hurt , and in pain. Stef being the girl she is immediately felt guilty ,Joe was confused while Taichi , the guy who knows me best was having a hard time .not. laughing.(I did say he knows me best.)

"Really Ayano-chan ,I'm so sorry for saying for that .If there's anything I can do to make it up to you, just name it" Hook, line and sinker.

"Alrighty then ,Just shut up and lets go kill some youma" I said facing her with a huge smile on my face .Stef was shocked to silence. Taichi was covering his mouth with his hands to muffle his laughter while Joe ,who finally put the pieces together had only a small smile on his face because of fear of Stef's retaliation...but she just let out a relieved sigh and walked past me before turning around and saying

"Well , let's get going"

"Wait..."

All eyes turned towards me .

"...The nest is that way "I said pointing to her right.

She quickly changed her direction and speed and launched herself forward with a small "I knew that".

The rest of us just followed with a laugh as we headed towards a nest of the most powerful breed of youma that exists .Me and Stef running, Taichi flying and Joe by encasing his feet in rock and using the ground like a high-speed moving platform.

Just another normal mission for us.