The next morning, the birds were singing , the old people were drinking their lifesaver(coffee ) , the wind-contractor was travelling to meet an ex-kannagi and the ex-kannagi heiress was mutilating a number of youmas. Ah, the peaceful morning.
"DIE , YOU TRASH."
Ayano shouted as she sent a blast of fire toward the last youma . It was agile and kept dodging her attacks. Normally, that wouldn't be a problem for her but this time ...
"NEE-SAN, WATCH OUT!"
...she had company. The youma launched itself up and over her landing behind her. Ayano wasn't being serious , she was actually trying to give Ren the most possible training and Ren , being who he is ...
"NEE-SAN!...ENRIHA MATERIALISE!"
...always learns better with field practice. Ayano stood still allowing the youma an opening. It was too focused on her to notice the current heir launch himself behind it and bring enriha down on it cutting it right down the middle. Ren stood up straight ...
"Wow, good job Ren ."
...and glared at Ayano . That caught her off guard .
"Good job,GOOD JOB. That was a complete fluke . It was too concentrated on you because YOU LET IT GET TOO CLOSE. What if I was too slow to react , you would've ..."
"But you weren't .."
"But if I was.."
"But you weren't . You know Ren , you need to stop putting yourself down. Trust me, you dad and the elders will cover that part for you."
Ren knew that Ayano was putting herself in danger to give him openings . This mission was too difficult for just him but since Ayano became fully capable of handling high-end missions , they send him with her for field-practice. He hated how she left the kill-shots and major hits for him while leaving herself vulnerable . If he was too late in his reactions , then...
Ren felt a hand on his shoulder and looked up to see Ayano looking at him with understanding and simply say.
"You pulled through , Ren ...every time ."
He simply smiled and placed his left hand over hers, the other one still holding enriha .
"Yeah,...thanks nee-sama."

.
Back at the mansion:-
"We're back."
Jugo looked up from his place in the meeting room .
"So, how was your mission?"
"Okay, I guess."
"Piece of cake...great , now I want cake"
Jugo looked over them. Ren was panting slightly , covered in small bruises and parts of his clothes were ripped while Ayano was , though also wounded , had significantly less number of injuries and her clothes were intact though crumbled. A proud smile graced his lips. He had always known Ayano to be holding back her true potential because of her hatred for her title, but now that the title of heir is no longer hers , everyone is beginning to realise just how much there really is to his daughter .
"Breakfast is at the table . Go eat and get ready."
"Yes, Jugo-sama."
Said Ren bowing and then making his way to the dining room before turning around to see Ayano standing on the spot . She made a motion with her hands , telling him to go. Ren was curious but his hunger was more dominant with his decision-making and he went on his way.
Ayano looked at his departing figure and smiled marvelling at how much he's grown , and not just physically.
"I presume that you have something to say to me ...Ayano"
Ayano turned to face her dad, the smile turning weary . She realised that her father , though old ,still had many years ahead of him...she wonders Howe he'll spend those years.
"Yes...father."
Ayano went inside and closed the door . She stood there for a while , not knowing how to tell him what he deserves to know and still keep the details away. Kazuma's return means that privacy would be scarce from now , so she had to say it ,tell him ,now,...somehow , but how?
"Ayano..."
Ayano turned to face her father , confusion etched into her features with turned to surprise at the sight of that calm, understanding, caring smile that she hasn't seen for so long . It was a smile of a father ,...not a clan-head . He patted the place next to him and Ayano went . She knelt down and wrapped her arms around him and he responded in kind.
"...just say it, sweetheart . I won't demand any reasoning."
A small laugh escaped her lips.
"You're talking like you know what's going on.."
He removed his arms and brushed her face with his hand .
"I'm your father ,...and even though I haven't acted like it . I know you. I know that you always hated the being forced to become someone you're not . I hated it too...but"
Ayano looked at him , her eyes were not as open to the world as usual but a secret was held and Jugo knew that it was a big one.
"...I always believed in you and loved you. Always have , always will."
Ayano closed her eyes , relishing in the warmth of her father's hand . She took a breath and sat down in front of him , placing her hand upon hers. She opened her eyes and looked at him with full seriousness.
"Father...I want to,...no...I am going to leave the clan, permanently."
Jugo's eyes widened . He prepared himself for the worst but this ...the finality in her voice added to the desperation for his understanding.
"May I ask ...why?"
Ayano turned her head away...and Jugo understood.
"Please tell me one thing Ayano ,...and know that whatever your answer may be , I approve in your decision provided it is yours alone..."
"It is."
There was no hesitation in her reply and Jugo let out a sigh of relief. The finality in her voice indicated that she was never coming back ...but he still had to ask.
"Is there any chance of any of us Ever seeing you Anywhere after that?"
Ayano's eyes widened as she realised what he was implying . She thought she could just leave him with the illusion that she was somewhere but she couldn't . He knew ...and she had to confirm it for him.
"No."
Jugo leaned forward and kissed her forehead. Tears sprung to her eyes at the action. The love of a father was one she always had but could never be shown because of their duties . Ayano launched herself to her dad wrapping her arms around him and silent sobs shook her body.
"When?"
"I don't know...daddy. I don't know... Please.."
Jugo patted her hair.
"Don't worry . I won't say a thing."
"Daddy..."
"Yeah.."
"...I love you."
He kissed her head .
"I know. I love you too..."
They parted and he looked at her with pride and care.
"..you are a wonderful girl . Your mother would have been proud."
She smiled and wiped away the tears . The joy and relief in her eyes from telling him was obvious and Jugo smiled. She was always an open book when she let her gaurd a knock was heard.
"Jugo?.."
"Come in , Genma ."
Ayano got up and left as Genma entered . He knew his daughter . He always saw through her false smiles but he was never in a position to help her. She was the girl who would take his place and he had to be stern and strict. He always knew that as a young girl, she was involved in some sort of double-life. He could sense her spiritual energy grow but her progress remain small. No one else noticed since it was a unique energy , one he learnt of from her wife who also possessed it. He knew she was holding back her true strength . But two years before kazuma returned , she became agitated , lashing out at even the kannagi elders and screaming at night. He knew that something had happened , something that had wounded her heart . one year later , her special spiritual energy went to practically zero and she began to seriously exert herself during training and missions. And two months before Kazuma's arrival...she changed. It was like she was an innocent , reckless child. The hate, anger and secrets within her ...they vanished and she was cheerful , loud and full of life like she had nothing to hide and no problem in the world . It was a good change but too drastic for it to be normal. She no longer left in the middle of the night or secretly snuck into her room in the random hours of the day with other people, taking something and leaving without letting any one know of her presence. He knew , he always knew .
When kazuma came, the changes were a bit more obvious but he knew and interfered as much as a silent person could. He didn't only see his daughter but also the young buy chased away from his family. He saw the light in their eyes and he knew that they were good for each other.
4 years ago, he noticed some changes . Glimpses of her old nature resurfacing and after a while , the happiness in her eyes came back , as pure as usual. When Kazuma left, she handled it quite well but she went back to sneaking around though that started a while before he left too. He never pried , the head having knowledge would compel him to take action and he wanted her to have her freedom .He knew that the change had been undone but he never thought of how much until that day at the meeting , she renounced her title and he knew , something was going to happen . He was prepared . When she suddenly achieved the level to take missions single-handedly, when she began to publicly hang out with someone no one in the clan could find out about, the same boy (the aura and energy signature were the same) who would sneak into the kannagi compound and her room when they were younger , he was happy but expecting ...now he knows the secret. Not all of it but the only one that would have broken his heart if anyone else had told him. One Ayano felt he deserved to know ...and he did. His daughter was...'departing' for good. Jugo had to see to his duties as head but now, no matter what happens , the words have been spoken . It was clear between them. They're goodbyes had been spoken , now all that was left was the departure.

The problem with knowing was that you couldn't do anything about it.