Kazuma's POV:-
I sat by the bed where Misao lay unconscious . We were in the district hospital . She had some minor burns and bruising on her ankle where the rocks held her.

'Say hello to the princess for me . Bet that Ayano's a real beauty now'

He knew Ayano .
That black-haired kid Knew Ayano.
It could just be a tactic to piss me off ,...he does seem to be that type. Also he mentioned it After the fight was over. He was careful , escaping when he sensed me coming means he could calculate my high power level . He was an powerful Kannagi en-jutsu artist , his flames burned Misao , a girl born with natural invulnerability to fire , meaning he used his true flame and he didn't even seem tired in the least . To use the true flame to that extent would mean highly increased training . Considering their reaction to their boss , it's not surprising . But that kid was around Ayano's age and according to Kirika , there aren't any missing or dead kids at that particular timeline . The other kid was skilled but ...he wasn't completely focused , he was forced into ...whatever's going on.
"Kazuma?..."
I quickly shifted my attention to the now awakening girl next to me.
"How're you feeling?"
"Fine...what happened?"
"They escaped...my turn , what happened?"
She blinked a bit and concentrated.
"I was getting water ...and this kid ..."
"The black-haired one?"
"...yeah. He chatted with me a bit ...I didn't tell him anything specific ...and then I was surrounded ,but..."
"But what?"
"The other kid , the one with silver hair ,said that I wouldn't be harmed ...and just had to go with them for him..."
My eyes narrowed.
"Your kidnapping was just a message...question is ...for whom?"
Misao looked confused for a bit.
"The black-haired guy knew you were coming . He said that they should hurry cause someone they couldn't handle was coming."
So he did sense me.
"Was he ...scared ?anxious ? ...any kind of..."
"No, he was completely calm. He...he was like you."
My eyes widened a bit. I did not like the comparison, ...mainly because that meant he was very dangerous ...and I was not bragging .
"Wait ! You talked with him , so you saw his face?..."
She flinched and looked at me with wary as if worried of my reaction .
"Yeah ..."
I waited for a continuation . For normal people , this type of urging should wait until they were in better mental condition , but Misao was not normal , she was a ex-kannagi . So , that meant that it wasn't shock that was making her hesitate . For some reason , I felt like I wouldn't like the answer.
"...he looked like a younger version of you."
"What?"
She took a deep breath.
"He looked a lot like you ...minus the hair . His was black and more messy but the same pointing-to-one-side style . Not just that , but the way he flirted , he smirked , he walked ...it all reminded me ...of you."
Speechless once again . I do not like being speechless , but what the heck am I supposed to say ...or even think .
"Maybe it was a trick to gain your trust more easily..."
"That's definitely a possibility ."
*knock,knock*
The doctor walked in with a cell in his hand .
"It's for you , your friend's ...um...really concerned."
I raised my eyebrows at her but she seemed surprised as well. I asked for her.
"Who is it ?"
The doctor looked a bit sheepish.
"She...I don't know ...she just asked ...or well, told me to give the...actually forget it. Whoever it is can just..."
*ring,ring*
I took my phone and looked at the caller ID. Why was Ayano calling me ? I pressed accept and place the phone near my ear ignoring the indignant doctor complaining at the phone despite refusing to actually place the phone near his ear and reply to the caller.
"Hello , princess. To what do I owe the honour?"
"Shut up , Kazuma . Is Misao with you? And tell the doctor he can stop talking , I already kept the phone."
"I can't really answer and keep shut at the same time , you know?"
"Well , since you clearly haven't shut up ,Just.ANSWER."
I let out a chuckle as I moved the phone a distance from my ear . Well, she's still loud.
"Fair enough..."
I said turning to the doc .
"...Hey doc, seems like the mysterious , impolite caller's really her friend . She already kept the phone..."
The doctor looked the phone to see that the call had indeed ended ,...before mumbling a goodbye and making a hasty retreat. I returned to the call. I put her on speaker.
" ...Yeah,she's here. She's fine minus a few minor bruises and burns."
"Burns? A true-flame user attacked her?"
I thought for a moment before guessing that she would probably remember any cousins in her age group . It was worth a shot.
"Two . one was an kannagi en-jutsu artist . Around your age . Male .Ring any bells?"
" No, not really. Unless it was one of the guys killed by the fuuga-clan . Even then...no, nothing. Did either of you get a good look at him?...that ...'kannagi'-guy?"
I looked at Misao straight in the eye and replied.
"Nope, he was too fast ...and his back was facing me when the dust settled . All we know is that it Seemed like he had spiky ,black hair in a similar style to mine"
"...I see..you sure he was a kannagi?"
I don't know how ? But I knew it . Something was wrong , off with her voice when she said that. The chance that he really knew Ayano was becoming more and more possible .

"I'm sure that the used a kannagi-flame..."

She hesitated . She knows him ...well,she knows something.

"...So, .he managed to get away from you...huh...getting sloppy , heh?"

"I was a bit busy saving Misao from falling to her death."

There was a slight pause . She seemed to want to ask me how but decided against it and settled with ...
"Sure,sure...can you give Misao the phone? Is she awake?"
"I'm fine , Ayano-chan."
"Misao ! *phew* you sound okay. Wait ! How..."
"You're on speaker , princess . Didn't I mention that?"
"No.You. must. be. getting. old. since. your. memory. is already. starting. to. fail.Ka. Zu. Ma..."
Ah , even with more control over her temper , she's still the same . Well, nice to see somethings haven't completely changed.
"Don't worry about me , Ayano-chan . You just focus on...whatever it is you're doing ."
"I am . I am finding out who attacked you and then , I am going to hunt them down and tear them to shreds ...slowly"
Misao let out a nervous chuckle.
"They weren't trying to hurt me . I was bait for someone...they wanted to use me to send a message to someone."
"...probably me."
I added. Ayano was quiet for a bit.
"...not everything is about you ..."
She mumbled . Her tone was dark...knowing.
"What do you know, Ayano ?"
She let out a sigh.
"Did he give you anything , Misao?"
"Kazuma?...no he..."
"NOT KAZUMA. THE GUY THAT ATTACKED YOU."
"And that is why I put you on speaker . My ears wouldn't have ever been the same if I didn't "
"SHUT UP , I'M NOT TALKING TO YOU"
"The silent treatment , huh. More appropriate name would be the bleeding-ear treatment ."
"I SAID SHUT UP"
"I'm curious . Doesn't your throat ever hurt?"
"YOU BLOODY , F*... ."
"Were you seriously going to say the F-word ? Wow..."
"OKAY, Misao . Attacked . Back to that...please."
"Well, since you said 'please'..."
"MISAO!..."
I looked to Misao to see her looking at me with an amused smile . Can't blame her , who wouldn't be amused? I sure am. Man, I missed this.
"No, Ayano-chan , he didn't give me anything."
"...you sure? Maybe they really did give a message . Check your pockets."
That wasn't Ayano . That was a boy.
"Before any of you freak , that was a friend of mine . He's fine . Trust me. Misao , you've met."
I looked to Misao and she seemed fine . But I was confused by 'his' insistence , so was Misao . But when she looked at me , I nodded and she looked through the pockets of the gown she had been wearing during the fight that was on a table next to her. Suddenly her eyes widened as she took out a crumbled piece of paper. How did that not burn?
"What did you find?"
"A...a ...a piece of paper...but how is it not burnt?..."
"Is it blank?"
Again it was the guy . Who was he? How could Ayano let him listen to all this? How close were they?...focus , that can wait till later. Misao opened it slowly.
"Yeah.."
"Did you have it with you before?"
"No , I don't think so."
"Where'd Ayano go?"
"I'm right here...you're not the only one with speaker."
"Somebody's edgy."

" ..."

"Ummm...Ayano , we gotta go ."
That was the guy again . Ayano was silent for a sec before she began rambling.
"Shoot ! It's time already , I gotta go . Glad you're okay , Misao , bye ...and Kazuma ...you should watch over her for a while , you know...incase they come back...bye."
*click*
"Misao?..."
She gave a small sound in reply , her eyes narrowed and focused on the bit of paper .
"...who was that guy?"
She smiled at me knowingly . I didn't make a move since I didn't really have a reason to anyway .
"An old childhood friend of Ayano's . A very Close friend..."
"How close?"
She giggled .
"...Very close ...buuuuuttttt ...don't worry , pretty sure he has a girlfriend."
I am so glad that I have an awesome poker-face . It really is very helpful.
"I see."