Kaze no Stigma

Chapter 1 – Meeting underneath the moonlightPart 1

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Chapter 1 – Meeting underneath the moonlightPart 1

In the beginning of the New Year, a few days after the start of the new semester...

In the cla.s.sroom of the sixth year, cla.s.s two of the Metropolitan Cosei Elementary School, an event that already became the established afterschool practice, began.

“Ren-kun!”

“Ren!”

A short girl and a boy with an outstanding build each grab a hand of a boy, so cute you could mistake him for a girl. The girl and the large built boy exchange a sublime threatening glance for a second and right away avert their eyes, as if to say: “I saw something dirty.”

“Ren-kun, let’s go have tea on the way home.”

“Let’s go play games, Ren!”

The invitations were issued perfectly simultaneously.

“Ah...well...” The bewildered cute boy – Kannagi Ren, twelve years old – inserts himself where these two’s glances scatter sparks. The clash was inevitable.

“Which one do you think wins today?”

“That would be Kannon, right? Up until today she holds complete victory.”

“That girl, she doesn’t have leniency.”

“No, anytime now, Serisawa is going to get angry for real, don’t you think? Up until now, he was going easy on her, right?”

Although abnormal, their struggle is extreme. The boy and the girl trying to gain Kannagi Ren’s favor and his heart, neither can be called a standard primary school student.

Serisawa Tatsuya – 180 centimeters tall and a physique matching that height, the boy is endowed with physical strength.

Suzuhara Kannon – the girl has both cute looks suitable for a flower and a cruel, wicked personality appropriate for her artillery name.

The struggle between these two completely exceeds the primary school level. Fighting each other with a raging power, almost like a windstorm, and a devil-like heartless craft, cla.s.s 6-2 is changed into a battlefield. Towards the overwhelming heroicness, the pupils that happened to be present caused uproar but got used to it after three days. As for this ordinary one part thing nowadays, they are enjoying this pleasant exhibition.

“Serisawa! Don’t lose today!”

“No! If such a gorilla is his company, Ren-kun will amount to nothing!”

“Whether she likes it or not...Kannon’s opponent is pretty determined, huh?”

In the center of the pupils quarreling to their heart’s content, Kannon and Serisawa are only staring at each other. Not to overlook even the most trivial behavior, they are watching for an unguarded moment without even blinking. The cla.s.s is overflowing with this tense atmosphere. The noisy pupils were engulfed in it and gradually lowered their tone.

“.......ts!”

Destroying the equilibrium, Serisawa ran, but not towards Kannon. His destination was the noisy boys –

“..........eh?”

Ren, completely left outside the event, stared in amazement at Serisawa rushing towards him almost like a bull. It seems that he abandoned the fight with Kannon, having the intention to withdraw from the battlefield after seizing Ren. Serisawa thought this through! – if the students were to compare these two’s combat abilities, Serisawa overwhelms Kannon. And yet, in spite of this, until today why did his defeats keep piling up?

Kannon is weaker than Serisawa. At the very least, the teachers and parents don’t have a particle of doubt about that obvious fact. That recognition places great restraints on Serisawa. If a young man, towards a delicate girl – and with a construction like Serisawa’s – were to exert violence, it’s been decided that the young man will be blamed, no matter the reason. To say nothing of the fact that the opponent is that Kannon. If she were to make a fuss, she is quite capable of obliterating Serisawa’s social status. Because he knew this, Serisawa can’t win without moderating at any cost his offence – contrastive to Kannon’s challenging, no-mercy attack – this is why he can only continue to repel it.

Therefore, he considered this. To be able to accomplish his goal, he cannot knock Kannon down. Before the girl’s intention of acquiring Ren, there aren’t many obstacles to block his way. There is no need to fight directly. It’s okay to ignore her. Because, the person he is wishing for is right in front of his eyes.

“Ren!”

Serisawa faced the petrified boy and extended his big hand with all his heart.

“Fuuuuu....you can use your head a little, can’t you?”

On the other hand, Kannon was persistently calm. To begin with, something even Serisawa would think of, it would be impossible for her not to notice it first. Again, this time’s conduct was within her expectation. Without being disconcerted, she started running. She was faster than Serisawa. The way things are now, she can be shaken off. But, Serisawa’s aim is not just flight. It’s a withdrawal from the battlefield by taking back Ren. That’s why, at least the moment when he captures Ren, his speed will decline. Then, the capture.

This is not the result of luck of wishful thinking. After mutually understanding the motion, an adjustment of the relation between the locations of the three parties can be made – When Serisawa moves, Kannon responds to that – all the pupils think so. But only Kannon knew. She was the only one perfectly grasping this setting.

“S-Serisawa-kun....”

Being pulled up against his will, as one would expect, Ren is resisting. From the impatient Serisawa’s awareness, Kannon’s existence vanished.

“I got you!”

Facing Serisawa’s turned back, using the hind foot, she takes the last step. And then –

Zudan!

Breaking into a rush by kicking the floor, a roar-like explosion can be heard. Simultaneously, Serisawa’s figure disappears from Ren’s field of vision. In the place Serisawa should have been a moment before, is now Kannon’s appearance from behind. Something previously seen on TV, billiard techniques come to mind. This is stop shot. The cue ball hit by the player hands over all the kinetic energy by clashing into the target ball and at the position where the target ball was, it suddenly stops.

Just like this.

Kannon lowered herself greatly extending her leg and pushing forward her elbow. That appearance, not really fitting with her one piece uniform, looked amazingly good.

“Th – the top back gate elbow move...”, someone muttered, almost groaning. The Eight Extremities Fists – a form of martial arts that became well known because of a certain beat’-them-up game, among these, this is a technique especially well known. The Shin leg movement was effective, naturally being a certain kill hit. The blown-away Serisawa, was for a second time buried between the desks. Unlike the previous time, there is no sign of movement.

This was a stupefying, perfect KO.

“........fuah,” Kannon let out a breath and straightened her pose. She tucked the hair on her cheeks back and slowly turned around.

“So, let’s go, Ren-kun.”

The atmosphere of violence from several days minutes ago left no traces. A glittery smiling face was there. Kannon gently took Ren’s arm, in fact with a vigor that doesn’t allow resistance – and forcibly dragged him along. A reckless enough person to obstruct it was already nowhere to be found.

Part 2

When Ren was eventually released from Kannon it was already past 7 p.m. As a matter of course, during this time they didn’t just drink tea. Having been made to accompany her endlessly at shopping and karaoke and the like, Ren couldn’t run from Kannon’s devil paw (Serisawa joke) pressing closer with no regard for the public gaze, without concentrating all his power.

“.........I’m worn-out.”

The sun already set. While walking alone on the street at night, Ren let out a mutter packed with many thoughts.

It’s not like he hates Kannon. Rather, he harbors friendly feelings towards her. And in addition to that, if he were pushed to say it in less ambiguous terms, he can clearly declare those feelings as “like”.

However.

Ren’s like and Kannon’s like are completely different. Because he knows that, he can’t help but be troubled by it. He didn’t experience the emotion called “love” until now.

First on the list, among the members of the family there are a lot of people he likes. But, using an extreme argument, the emotion felt for them all is the same. The emotion is strong. There is also a priority. However, there is decidedly no contradiction between the affection felt for those countless people.

That hot emotion for that around the world one-irreplaceable person’s existence, he doesn’t know it. For this reason, towards that girl trying to force that feeling onto him, he can’t help but feel perplexed.

Actually, why is it me..........?

Ren never thought he possesses that manly appeal. The girly features and a personality weak under pressure, he cannot think of nothing but “minus” ingredients for a man.

If it’s about a “fine man”, it must be a man undoubtedly similar to big brother. Lately, he frequently compares himself with his big brother.

Yagami Kazuma.

A well trained body. A shaped mind. Owning the unshakeable t.i.tle of the absolute strongest man – Ren is considerably glorifying him. Nevertheless, the brother he met after four years, he seemed exactly like the ideal embodiment of the boy.

Someday, I want to become like big brother...

With a child-like innocence, Ren is yearning after Kazuma. Towards the inanimate nature of cutting everything down, without concerning oneself about it, for the sake of one’s important person, toward the man who thinks one’s gentleness is nothing but naiveté, a merit that ought to be learned can be felt. The weight of the chosen act, the significance of cutting down everything, Ren didn’t understand it yet.

“.........huh?”

On the way returning home, it happened when approaching the entrance of a public park. Having a faint, uncomfortable feeling, Ren peered inside the park.

“...................a singing voice?”

It was a children’s park, established in a quiet, residential area. The place had a clandestine character because of a few people with rude conduct and after dark the place was completely empty. However, it seems there is an exception tonight. The singing audible voice coming from inside the shade of the trees was unmistakably human and, in addition to that, belonged to a young girl.

Being charmed by the firm, crystal-like soprano, Ren walked into the park. There was no need to search for it. At the moment he entered the park, an extremely violent compelling force bound Ren’s consciousness.

The jungle-gym’s highest step. The slender body standing on tip-toes on the pole, the figure of a girl sonorously singing. In this cold weather she is wearing one white, thin dress. The wind is playing with her soft, wavy black hair stretching below her back, the girl is innocently singing.

In the sky is the close, slightly chipped circle of the moon. The descending white light shines on the young lady.

“....................”

From Ren’s awareness, the entire world lost its meaning. Reflected in his eyes are the sparkling moon and the maiden’s shape blessed by the moon.

Throb.

The heart starts beating very loudly. A conspicuously great pulsation. Even without proof, Ren firmly believes he heard that sound. He can sense the blood running through the blood vessels.

Throb, throb.

The all too excited blood flow makes his limbs vibrate. The heartbeats resound deafeningly in his ears. And yet the girl’s voice naturally penetrates into his hearing. Is she offering her song to the moon or is she praying? That shape, sincere like a shrine maiden serving G.o.d is too pure, too n.o.ble.

“I....what am I looking at?”

A guilty feeling as if peaking at a miracle swept over his heart. Nevertheless, he couldn’t take his eyes off it. Even to think about separation is unbearable. The things reflected in his eyes are the glittery moonlight and the figure of a maiden blessed by it...

“.........eh.......”

Is this real? Is she human? Or an angel or a fairy ... or else a devil?

“...........Hey..........”

I don’t understand....I don’t understand anything!

“I said hey!”

“Waah!?”

Because of the large voice shouted from overhead, Ren finally calmed down. Looking up, almost right overhead is the above mentioned girl. The jungle-gym was supposed to be more then ten meters away, it seemed he was stepping up to it from within his consciousness.

This, this is bad...

While fascinated by the seemingly puzzled young girl overlooking him, Ren was stunned from the bottom of his heart. The suspicious girl singing at night in an uninhabited park cannot be compared with his questionable self that was staring at her with an ecstatic expression.

Furthermore, the relation between both their locations was very risky. That angle, almost like looking up from right under...it was clearly perverted.

I must say something... from the mouth of the impatient boy, some very ordinary and regarding this situation, unsuitable words came out:

“Ah, err.......good evening.”

What the h.e.l.l am I saying!!!

Ren reb.u.t.ted himself loudly in his heart. But instead of screaming, the trusting girl returned the greeting with a smile.

“Good evening. It’s a lovely night, isn’t it?”

“...huh? Ah, yes, that’s right.”

“Could you please step aside just a little?”

“...........ugh, I’m – I’m sorry!”

With a bright red face, Ren jumped aside with force as if he was struck by a car. Watching that excessive response, the girl tilted her head on the side appearing curious and without hesitation jumped from the jungle-gym.

“Ah...”

Although the playground equipment was intended for children, from the top of it to the ground there are more than two meters. The landing’s impact was supposed to be considerable but without bending her knees, the girl got down lightly and easily. As though the ground gently caught her.

“What’s the matter?”

“Ah, no, that is ...”

In front of the smiling girl, Ren mumbles. He doesn’t understand why but he is frozen solid. When looking at the girl’s face his mind becomes blank and he can think of nothing else.

On the other side, the girl doesn’t pay attention to Ren’s strangeness, looking up to the sky.

“The night sky is really fair........ I didn’t know the moon could be so large........”

Fair.......?

Ren looked up in doubt. Even if it was clear, this is Tokyo’s sky after all. With countless stars showing, the sky cut up by inelegant skysc.r.a.pers was narrow at best. The girl gazed innocently at that sky. Escaping the gravity’s binding she is longing to reach that place. But at the same time, it seem she understands that such a thing can never come true.

So beautiful........

For a second time, from Ren’s consciousness everything except the girl disappeared. He wanted wings – he strongly thought so. If he could fly into the sky, he would take her beyond the stars.

“Hey.” Abruptly she shifted her attention to Ren.

“W-what?” To a Ren responding while being perplexed, she extended her hand quite naturally.

“Let’s play.”

That penetrating expression that sensed even G.o.d, present when looking at the sky, already disappeared. The one standing in front of his eyes was a charming but ordinary girl. She seemed to be approximately the same age as Ren. When he saw he was a bit taller, Ren faintly felt relief.

“...........”

Being too fascinated by her, he forgot to answer. Taking that for a refusal she made a completely lonely face.

“.........no?”

“No no. Of course not, let’s play.”

“Hooray!”

Showing a smile that bloomed openly on her whole face, the girl seized Ren’s arms with both her hands. Feeling the warm hands, Ren turned red up to his ears.

...............warm?

Ren suddenly felt the problem. In this cold weather she wore a thin dress....

“It’s not good being so lightly dressed in this weather. You’ll catch a cold!”

Rushing, he took his own coat and put it on the girl.

"I’m fine.”

“No! Wear it.”

Unusually forceful, Ren pa.s.sed her arm through the sleeve of the coat. After b.u.t.toning it precisely with his own hands, he let out a long, relieved breath.

“Now it’s good.”

“...............”

With a bewildered appearance she stared fixedly at the coat forced on her. But, it didn’t seem she felt annoyed, moving her small body, checking the feel of the coat. Expressing a gentle and soft smile, she hugged her own body.

“So warm......”

“...........................ah”

When the girl smiled so happily, Ren felt a crash as if his head was. .h.i.t. Just by thinking that smile was intended for him was enough to envelop him in a feeling of bliss that made him dizzy. Wanting to greet her, Ren realized he forgot a very important thing.

“S-say.......”

“Eh?”

“Can I ask for your name?”

“.........................”

Just like that her expression clouded. a.s.saulted by an unbelievable feeling of guilt, panicking, Ren took his question back.

“Ah, actually it’s fine if you don’t want to, but...”

The girl shook her head in silence and murmured, sighing:

“..............Ayumi.”

“Oh, it’s Ayumi-chan? How do you write it?”

“With hiragana.”

Her voice sank even deeper. The impatient Ren, trying to somehow enliven the situation, with a deliberate cheerful voice told her his name.

“Eh, my name is Ren. The Ren from Purgatory. Do you know it?”

“Yes, it’s a very cool name,” Ayumi nodded, slightly recovering her smile.

With just that, Ren foolishly lost his head, blushing.

“A-ha-ha – somehow I have a feeling I don’t live up to my name.”

“That’s not true. It suits you.”

“Is that so?”

“Of course.”

Forgetting the awkwardness from just before, both their smiles harmoniously met.

“Let me see, let’s play. What do you want to play with?”

“The swings!”

Without wavering, Ayumi immediately replied at Ren’s question, pulling himself together.

“I tried it just a little bit but I couldn’t swing very well. As I thought, it has no meaning, only knowing the way to do it.”

“Then I’ll push you.”

While bewildered by her queer expression, Ren proposed that. But –

“That’s useless! I want to do it by myself!” Ayumi obstinately insisted.

Appearing full of surprising independence, she sat on the swing and started to push awkwardly by herself.

“That’s not good.”

Because the rhythm was completely off, the swing’s movement was instantly stopped. From the swing next to her, he showed a sample and lectured her carefully about the way of swinging.

“Like that, and now kick your legs.”

Appearing a quick learner, Ayumi instantly grasped the skill. The swing’s movement gradually became smooth and the swinging much larger. Ren judged there is no more need to show her the way and began swinging standing up. He hadn"t rode in swings for the last four, five years and swinging after a long time was pretty pleasant.

Wanting to show off to the girl next to him, his feelings also a part of it, Ren kicked out the swing inserting much more power.

“..................”

Staring at Ren’s posing back, Ayumi, bearing an antagonistic feeling, boldly challenged him by swinging standing.

“Eh, wait........”

When Ren tried to restrain her, the focused Ayumi didn’t notice. Uncertainly getting up on the board she sat down on until now, she swung by imitating what she saw. Becoming the victim of the height of her own learning ability, the swing Ayumi rode, instantly began inclining at an angle dangerous for a beginner.

"Ayumi-chan! Stop!” Ren cried in a big voice. But one pace too late.

Ayumi’s hand slipped and with force, as if shot from a catapult, was thrown diagonally into the upper air.

“Kyaa –”

“ – uh.”

Faster than thinking, Ren’s body moved. Kicking the swing’s board with all his strength, he jumps at an angle close to horizontal. He seized Ayumi in the air just before she crashed into the ground. Without change, making sure that he embraced that small body, he landed on his back. Although he rolled on the ground to disperse the shock, because wanting to protect Ayumi was more important, he practically didn’t make any defense.

Although his back and head hit the ground bitterly, Ren held onto his consciousness with his fighting spirit and willpower. After finally rolling on the ground for five times, Ren finally set free the shock of the fall. Ignoring the many stars twinkling in his field of vision, before everything else he confirmed Ayumi’s condition.

“Are you all right?”

“Ah, yes...”

Because he covered her very skillfully Ayumi didn’t feel any pain, not to mention injuries. In her pupils opened blankly, nothing but surprise at facing an unexpected situation floated.

“I’m glad...............”

Confirming Ayumi’s safety Ren stretched out on the ground exhausted. The crash caused by the fall thoroughly hurt his body, but because he didn’t budge, the feeling of being able to protect her well satisfied him.

“Ren? Does it hurt?”

Seeing Ayumi looking at him with unease, Ren shook his head laughing.

“I’m fine. But....” he continued including a slight rebuke in his tone:

“Because swinging standing can be dangerous, please stop it.”

“................Yes.”

Although nodding meekly, she immediately smiled pulling Ren’s sleeve.

“Hey, hey, next I want to ride that.”

She pointed at a simply made seesaw. Without being discouraged by the splendid blunder, staring with a bitter smile at the girl itching to play, Ren stood up and led her by the hand.

“Yes, yes. As the young lady commands.”

Joining hands cordially both of them ran up to the seesaw. Forgetting about the pa.s.sing time they continued playing together. They rode in the seesaw, glided in the slide, played with sand in the sand-pit. Although it was clear Ayumi had burning aspirations of “completing” all the park’s playground equipment, Ren stubbornly didn’t gave permission for the horizontal bar. A beginner with a skirt shouldn’t be allowed to pull herself onto the bar.

Part 3

And now –

“Huh, .............it was fun.”

Sitting down on an ornamental animal with no purpose, Ayumi shows a blissful smile.

“This is the first time I played like this!”

“If you’re fine with me I can keep you company whenever you want.”

As nonchalant as possible but in fact including a once in a lifetime courage, Ren proposed like this. But in the act of it, Ayumi’s face clouded.

“Ah........yeah...........thanks, but.......”

“But?”

It happened when Ren was asking back.

“Eh?”

With a loud skid sound, a black station wagon came to the entrance of the park. The door opened before the car fully stopped and of course, men in black, rushed into the playground.

”W-what is........uaa!?”

Thrusting away a dumbfounded Ren, the black suits rushed to Ayumi.

“.....................”

Ayumi stared at them in silence. It does not mean she wasn’t able to react to the sudden situation. After understanding their true colors and their objective, she calmly received their actions.

“Ayumi-chan!”

In front of the shouting Ren, the black suits’s hands seized Ayumi. Without changing the force of the rush, they dragged and knocked down the girl with no mercy.

“.................kuu.”

Because two people roughly applied torsion on her arms, Ayumi let out a small cry of pain. But even so, the black suits didn’t slow down.

“We captured the target. Yes. We’ll transport it immediately.”

A cold voice. Turning around, the man seeming to be the leader of the troupe, reported Ayumi’s capture holding his telephone in one hand. Thoroughly disregarding Ren’s existence, the leader jerked his jaw at the man who sized Ayumi.

“Do it”

The man on his left took out a rectangular something from his breast pocket. Pushing a switch, sparks scattered at its tip. After several people seized a non-resistant girl, will they go as far as using a stun gun, changing into total incompetents? Even using such a method that surpa.s.ses cruelty, in regard for the black suits’ performance, there was no hesitation there. With a movement with no uncertainty, the stun gun was pressed to her back. And then...

While the black suits restrained each of Ayumi’s arms, Ren made his appearance with the speed of a thunderclap. Leaving an after print he pushed up his knee smashing most of the jaw and teeth belonging to the man trying to use the stun gun. Pushing up his right foot, Ren launched his left foot even more. Changing his body’s twist in a turning motion he spun using his right foot as an axis.

The back roundhouse kick’s unmatched accuracy shot the lights out of the man seizing Ayumi’s right hand. His head shaken with enough force to break his backbone, the man swooned silently.

“R...Ren?”

Returning a nod to Ayumi, staring at him in wonder, he stood in a position where he could protect Ayumi.

“Kid......who are you?”

Ignoring the black suits trying to overpower him, he pulled out a mobile phone from his breast pocket. Without hesitation he pressed down the b.u.t.tons: one zero zero.

“h.e.l.lo, this is the police. Do you have an emergency?”

From the high volume speaker a business like voice came through. The black suits caught their breath in silence.

“h.e.l.lo? h.e.l.lo!? What happened? Are you all right?” sensing an incident in the telephone’s silence the operator spoke with a serious tone.

“Well then...what are you going to do?”

At Ren’s question or maybe provocation, the leader took action. Inserting his hand in his breast pocket he took something out. The object that came out as a result of such spontaneous, breathing-like action was a boorish, black handgun. Aiming the gun point at a dumbfounded Ren, he pulled the gunlock without delay. The gunshot resounded over the silencer. The bullet shot at subsonic speed smashed the telephone.

“..................ku!?” Ren muttered at the impact knocking his right arm with all his strength.

Does he usually just shoot?

As one would expect such a direct response was strange. At the cruelty of shooting at children without hesitation, Ren was horrified. The man kept the gun up, pointing it towards Ren’s forehead. The flagrant murder intent made him feel an imaginary pain on his forehead.

“You’re an impressive kid,” the man murmured in admiration.

“Very skillful for your age. Your sharp reaction is also excellent. But we didn’t come here to play. We can’t just report we were repelled by a child so we’re running back home!”

“Ren! Please run away! These men are serious”

“Ah, yeah – it looks that way.”

Responding to Ayumi’s scream-like manner of speaking Ren gave her a small nod.

“Mercilessly shooting at women and children, huh? If that’s the case, going easy on you does not seem necessary.”

“Bulls.h.i.t!” sneered the man, hearing Ren’s words.

“Stop your hero pretension, if possible. In reality it doesn’t go as smoothly as in the movies.”

“That’s true. Still, in this world there is a reality that exceeds any movie. That, is what I’ll teach you.”

Responding to Ren’s will the fire spirits raised their voice in joy. The golden flame, blowing up, pushing away the darkness – being able to recognize that radiance eyes alone cannot capture, among the black suits there wasn’t even one.

“R-Ren....?”

Roughly at the same time Ayumi muttered his name, the fire spirits changed their embodiment. Without previous notice, the manifested blaze burned the point end of the man’s gun.

“What.....”

The special steel of the gun’s barrel helplessly melted. The silencer installed at the pointed end fell to the ground with a dull sound.

“Y-you – ”

Receiving the man’s hair-raising glance, Ren informed him in a low voice:

“It would have been better to melt somewhat closer to the center.”

What would have happened if the flame that melted the special steel heated the gun powder, there is no longer any need to explain it.

“I’m not particularly well acquainted with weapons but what would have happened to the hand holding that particular spontaneously discharged gun, huh? Only the hand would be blown off? Or.....would the head blow up as well, I wonder?”

“E-Enjutsushi............” among the black suits only one whispered so, with a hollow voice.

“My name is Kannagi Ren. If you know the meaning of that name, quickly withdraw. Otherwise – I won’t show any mercy.”

“K-Kannagi.....”

The black suits’ voices were already close to screams.

Kannagi – among the flame manipulating Enjutsushi they are known as the strongest clan. All professional mercenaries have a common knowledge about that name. As the one existence you unconditionally must not oppose.

It is of course, only natural.

For beings that can turn humans to ash just by thinking of it, one would be hesitant to put them in the same category as humans. Being hostile to them meant a waste of time and a loss of life. Moreover, the power yielded by a direct descendant, someone who calls oneself by Kannagi’s name is in a different dimension – they were told they have by far surpa.s.sed the human level. The opponent wasn’t someone you could cross swords with, with only several armed men. The black suits prepared to flee at once.

They obviously stepped back. If the withdrawal sign comes down, they would leave the scene as fast as possible.

But among them, just one – the party’s leader didn’t lose his presence of mind. Casually throwing away the melted gun barrel, he faced Ren with a bold smile.

“By no means did I imagine I will have the honor to meet the young Kannagi prince in such a place. If that’s the case, the etiquette dictates we should also name ourselves” said the man proudly, in one beat.

“We are protégé of the Tsuwabuki. My name is Kayano. I serve as the leader of this force.”

“................Tch!”

Now it was Ren’s turn to be disturbed. The Tsuwabuki household, that is, a family of Chijutsushi, manipulating the spirits of the earth. If Kannagi are the strongest Enjutsushi, Tsuwabuki are the strongest Chijutsushi. Their influence is not inferior to the Kannagi clan.

“It appears to be some sort of misunderstanding but that thing originally belongs to the Tsuwabuki household. If Kannagi’s eldest son would steal it, the consequence of such a foolish act I cannot imagine.”

“Kuu................”

Because he named himself Kannagi, Ren is no longer able to settle this business privately. Regardless of its authenticity, this would be played as if the Kannagi clan committed hostile acts towards the Tsuwabuki household.

What am I supposed to do...?

Although this was just a conversational exchange so far, for Ren the last ten minutes became a mental burden. His original character being gentle and weak to pressure, he is a boy with an unsuitable disposition to argue with others. However, obediently handing Ayumi over was out of the question. From the black suits’ entrance until now, that option was never considered in his mind.

“That”.......? “thing” you said? ............don’t screw around!

Ren was angry. Deeply. Quietly.

Among the Kannagi clan’s natural color, the elitism, the idea of being part of a chosen people, he is one of those few exceptions maintaining a normal, healthy spirit. The arrogant ideology of confusing one’s abilities merits with the merits of the human nature, he doesn’t have it.

The person possessing a stronger ability than humans cannot help but judge oneself more strictly. His father’s, Genma’s teachings, certainly came to fruition inside Ren.

Therefore, as far as he is concerned, a person regarding others as objects, there is no use in arguing about it, he recognizes it as the lowest of trash. It was unthinkable of handing Ayumi over to those kind of people.

Think...if this would be my big brother, at this time...

The reason that Ren, who hated conflict, was able to banter easily with the black suits was because he kept in mind, "What would Kazuma do?" and based his actions off that.

The provocative speech and conduct that taunts people, the precise timing for striking the opponent’s weak spot, it went smoothly so far, but because he took unsuitable actions for his disposition, he’s under a lot of stress. But...

I’m almost there. I’ll pull it through...

Ren instinctively sensed this is the critical moment. If he can get through this, the enemy will step aside.

The perfect imitation of Kazuma – wholesale slaughter to avoid future trouble – if he could do that, it is the very best policy to make them withdraw without being hurt. With relaxed shoulders, he faced the black suits with an innocent smile.

“If it’s like that, it can’t be helped.”

“I’m happy you understand,” Kayano replied superficially polite but rude in intent.

Sending a sign to his subordinates, he tried to continue Ayumi’s capture.

“Aaargh!?”

“Fireeeee!”

But the black suits instantly stopped their movements. Because the moment they started walking a golden flame appeared before their eyes.

“..................What is this behavior? I thought we reached an agreement?” Kayano asked, with an expression more polite than necessary. Of course, it was but an attempt to intimidate.

“That’s right, we reached an agreement. That is, there is no room for negotiation.”

“............Do you really understand? Our role as the Tsuwabuki household representatives – ”

“There is no need to repeat it. My hearing is not particularly poor,” Ren coldly interrupted Kayano’s words. In account of making double sure, he called out the flames.

At the dozens of golden will’-o’-the-wisp shining in the dead of the night, the black suits raised voices, trembling with fear.

“Well, now that the self-introductions are out of the way, we should start using force anytime now, right?”

The person standing there was by no means just a twelve year old boy. The golden radiance basking that body in light was the fire of a demon, clearly laughing. Only armed humans had no means of resistance.

“Th-this is not the end.”

“You people have two options,”

Completely disregarding the man’s words Ren announced.

“You will disappear from my face with your own legs or I will annihilate you. You have three seconds. Choose whatever you like.”

“d.a.m.n.”

After two seconds of indecision, the leader almost spit out the order:

“Return to the base.”

Of course n.o.body objected to that.

“........Sigh”

Seeing off the car leaving in a hurry, Ren finally relaxed his body. Turning around he confirmed Ayumi’s situation:

“Ayumi-chan are you all right?”

“Ah, yes.............” Still somewhat dumbfounded, Ayumi nodded vaguely.

“You are part of Kannagi..............”

“Surprised?”

“Yes, very”

Closing her eyes partly, intoxicated, almost entranced she was staring at the flames.

“The golden, purification flame – how beautiful...........”

“............................”

Ayumi’s face gazing at the flames, Ren was silently watching it in fascination. The way in which the golden flames shined in her large, black pupils was beautiful to the extent he involuntarily forgot how to breathe.

The first to calm down was Ayumi. Standing up while brushing the dirt off her clothes, she bowed very deeply to Ren.

“Thank you, you helped me – but was that all right?”

“Well, I hope so.....”

Although his face became somewhat stiff, Ren showed a smile to give her peace of mind.

“If I can’t help a troubled girl, there is no meaning in having this power.”

“..........Thank you.”

Again speaking words of grat.i.tude, Ayumi smiled softly. Just by looking at that smiling face Ren had a feeling that all the troubles so far and all the troubles that would come after this have been compensated for.

“And so.........errr.....”

Apologetically looking up at Ren, who was full of happiness, Ayumi boldly spoke:

“Maybe you will think I am shameless but....can I request of you just one more thing............?”

Apologetic but at the same time including seriousness in her wish the girl looked hard at Ren. To be able to refuse that gaze, it was impossible for him.Part 4

“You still haven’t found that, Yuuji?”

Tsuwabuki Mayumi lost her temper at the man kneeling in front of her. The man – Yuuji lowered his head even more, letting the tyrant’s anger go past.

“Until now, that thing has not once put up resistance! What the heck is Kayano doing, unable to catch it?”

“I’m very sorry, my lady. It seems that thing made a Kannagi pract.i.tioner ally – ”

“Kannagi? Why are the Kannagi intruding on us?”

“No, it doesn’t seem the family consensus. The pract.i.tioner was involved by chance, without knowing its circ.u.mstance.” While Mayumi folded her arms in irritation, she listened carefully to Yuuji’s report.

“Kannagi Ren? Although a child, he’s not the head of the family. He was properly seduced by that thing, huh?”

“That only speaks of my lady’s beauty.”

Yuuji’s words, intended to emulate, helped only to bring Mayumi’s wrath upon him.

“Don’t put me together with that thing!”

“P-Pardon me, it was inexcusable!”

Flattening under the abuse thrown at him, Yuuji deeply prostrated himself before her. The man, in the middle of his twenties deprecated in front of a girl, who was heads shorter. Maybe funny, also unsightly but the man himself was extremely serious.

Mayumi ordered in a rough tone:

“Try putting me in the same cla.s.s as that thing, one more time! I will never ever exchange words with you again!”

“P-Please, permit me at least that much!”

While rubbing his forehead against the tatami mat, Yuuji begged for forgiveness in an exaggerated tone.

“I will, without fail capture that thing myself! Therefore please, please – ”

“...................”

Mayumi placed her foot oh Yuuji’s head. She mercilessly pressed her body weight against it.

“I wonder if you really understand. If we lose that thing, I will....”

“I won’t allow it!”

While his head was trampled down by Mayumi, Yuuji strongly pledged.

“I – I will protect my lady! I swear I won’t let anything hurt you.”

“..............humph?”

Bestowing upon Yuuji the same smile she would have given to a faithful dog, Mayumi removed her foot from his head.

“However imposing your determination, can you win? Although young, your opponent is a direct descendant of Kannagi – the top ranking Enjutsushi, you know?”

Yuuji quietly raised his face. Those eyes, looking up at his master, carrying an absolute self-confidence, replied to that.

“To those conceited fools thinking Enjutsushi are the strongest, let’s instruct them about reality.”

“Live up to my expectations.”

Lightly bowing her head, Mayumi’s wavy black hair softly flickered.

“ – Fuun”

Approximately at the same time Juugo hung up the receiver, from the other side of the sliding door Ayano"s voice got through.

“Father?”

“Enter.”

Without introduction, Juugo asked his daughter upon entering the room:

“Did Ren return home?”

“Not yet,” Ayano immediately replied.

“Even though it’s already past nine o’clock; I wonder what is he doing? Aunt Miyuki is worried. She said his phone is turned off and she can’t call him.”

“.........I see”

“But I can’t understand aunt Miyuki. When Kazuma left home, she didn’t show any sign of being worried.”

“........well, it’s because Ren is still very young.”

Vaguely dodging the question, Juugo returned to the real issue at hand.

“I was contacted by the Tsuwabuki, you know.”

“Tsuwabuki, you say? Those Chijutsushi?”

With a grave nod, he informed her point blank of the shocking truth.

“It seems Ren plundered the Tsuwabuki household’s treasure and escaped.”

“Ha!? What is this!?”

“I don’t know the details but the other party says so.”

“.........................”

After a few seconds of silence, Ayano slowly opened her mouth:

“...................were the Tsuwabuki deceived or are the Tsuwabuki trying to deceive us – that ascertainment is essential.”

“We have too little information. It’s too early for a judgment.”

Although his response was reserved, Juugo didn’t reject Ayano"s thoughts. For both of them, who knew Ren’s character very well, the report received from the Tsuwabuki didn’t appear to have any value, only nonsense.

For all that, in a certain way, the truth was just like that.

“So, what about those guys? They told you to take responsibility and that we should search for him too?”

“No, it seems they didn’t want us to get involved. Worst case, if Ren gets killed, we should consent to it, or so I was told.” Upon hearing those remarks serving their own convenience, Ayano raised her eyebrows.

"What is that? Don’t tell me you accepted this?”

“Don’t be absurd!” Juugo promptly denied.

“Because I didn’t understand the circ.u.mstance with that alone, when I pressed them for a more detailed explanation they became evasive and cut the conversation.”

“What the heck is that!?”

Toward the exceedingly rude behavior, Ayano too revealed her anger.

“Generally, they were always a meaninglessly self-important bunch. Because they shoulder the protection of Mt. Fuji, I can’t believe they have the nerve to imagine themselves more excellent than other people.”

Mt. Fuji, by nature is an active volcano that didn’t erupt in the last three hundred years, being suppressed by the Tsuwabuki household. If the steamy mountain would have erupted – the capital and consequently j.a.pan’s political and economic loss would have been extensive.

If you think about it this way, the achievements of the Tsuwabuki family are great.

However, using that as a foundation for looking down on people, the att.i.tude with which they demand respect and admiration, Ayano cannot help but be irritated by it.

The power of the spirit technique users is only lent to them by the spirits. Thus, the spirits are a.s.sisting, expecting the pract.i.tioners to work in cooperation and the people granted a greater power, it’s only natural they must shoulder bigger responsibilities.

“One by one they became condescending of that fact – they completely fell out of rhythm.”

“Well, the fact that their mission is significant is the truth.”

“Something like that. At least significant enough to sacrifice a member of their own family each and every time,” Ayano declared bitterly from the bottom of her heart.

“In what way can you boast about offering human sacrifices for three hundred years? They had no intention of becoming a pagan group?”

“It’s because there was no other way.”

“Even so...” That prompt objection, Ayano kept it back with a tedious expression. Right now, that’s not what we ought to discuss.

“Anyway, it’s absolutely necessary to find Ren before those Tsuwabuki get to him. Did you get in touch with Kazuma?”

About the object being sought, there aren’t many superior Enjutsushi. To say nothing of the situation, Kazuma will unconditionally find Ren faster than the Tsuwabuki. Ayano had confidence in that fact.

“I can’t get in touch with him,” Juugo’s answer was ruthless.

“He doesn’t answer his phone, he doesn’t seem to be home. I have people searching for them as we speak.”

With a meaningful gaze, Juugo fleetingly looked at Ayano.

“You worked together with Kazuma today. Do you know where he went afterwards?”

“No, I, don’t”

With a rusty tone, as if steel frames rubbed together, Ayano let out the answer, inserting power in each and every word.

Although faltering underneath that strange intensity, Juugo asked again:

“Ugh.........are you sure?”

“The moment work ended we separated immediately. That is correct, without delay.”

“.................is that so?”

The strength of her tone, not permitting any objection, made Juugo give up on the investigation. Putting the Kazuma issue aside, he promotes the conversation.

“If it’s like that, I have to request a search from the Special Data Arrangement.”

“From that woman?”

Seeing Ayano arching her eyebrows in dissatisfaction, Juugo was surprised.

“You don’t like Police Superintendent Tachibana? I thought such an independent woman would have gained your good will.”

“...........Well......I think she is splendid in that respect,” Ayano said with a bitter voice.

Tachibana Kirika. Leading the only public domestic demon repelling organization – the Special Data Arrangement belonging to the Metropolitan Police Department, a woman recognized by everyone as very capable.

Without flattery, Ayano thought it was a big deal. But, their first meeting was the worst.

Of all things, that woman, intimately linking her arm with Kazuma’s appeared from a love hotel (actually from the love hotel district).

From that moment, for Ayano, Kirika became the foe that cannot be allowed to live under the same canopy of heaven. She doesn’t really understand why, but anyway she dislikes that woman. Kirika’s figure, over-familiarly, coquettishly leaning against Kazuma and each time she thinks of Kazuma"s stretched upper lip, she is furiously angry.

Why that is she doesn’t know but she can’t help but feel irritated.

“Nevertheless, just because you dislike her, don’t cut the connection with the Reference Room.”

“I know that.”

In reply to Juugo"s pointing out, Ayano puffed her cheeks.

After the collapse of the Fuuga-Shu the Kannagi clan’s information network remained pretty much destroyed. Therefore Juugo had his eye on replacing the Fuuga-Shu with Metropolitan Police Department’s Special Data Arrangement.

The S.D.A had almost no pract.i.tioners with combat abilities but in exchange has a substantial sightseer system. Moreover, if you include the investigation ability of the normal police, their intelligence gathering faculty is without mistake the largest in j.a.pan.

“I don’t mix personal feelings with work. Have you already made the request?”

“Uh. Make your preparations. You leave the moment you receive the information.”

“Understood.”

“Ah, and then – ”

To Ayano, leaving the room, Juugo added a secondary task.

“If it’s possible, get in touch with Kazuma.”

“........................Don’t ask for the impossible, Father.”

Turning her head around Ayano showed her father an amazed expression.

“If it’s impossible for father, it’s also for me. Did you forget? His phone number I got from you, Father, not him.”

“That may be true, but...how many times have you worked together with Kazuma? Haven’t you decided on some manner of contact during emergencies?”

“No.”

Hearing that plain declaration, Juugo was visibly disappointed.

“................Is that so?”

Pretending not to see her father’s drooped shoulders, Ayano left the room. Closing the sliding door from behind, she said in a sulky voice:

“.............I don’t get him, that guy.”

The vanishing whisper reached n.o.body’s ears.

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