Kaze no Stigma Vol 3 Chapter 5

Chapter 5 - Dreams and reality Part 1

After changing the train at Kawaguchiko[1], one of the lake belonging to the Five Lakes of Mt. Fuji, Ayano and Ren took a taxi to the Tsuwabuki residence. Before the private road that led to the residence they got off and forcibly climbed over the iron fence with a clearly written ``NO TRESPa.s.sING`` sign. After that was supposed to be a straight path.

Staring quite anxious at Ayano going forward, planing in a rude entrance, Ren asked.

"Still, is this OK? Approaching so boldly?"

"Then, do you want to try sneaking in? Climbing over the wall and slipping through the defense system and try to finally arrive at Ayumi-chan without the Chijutsus.h.i.+ noticing, do you have that confidence?"

"...........no"

That was impossible. The opponents are Chijutsus.h.i.+. If they step on the ground of the premisses they will be noticed without mistake that instant.

"Right? That's what you call unsuitable orientation. For a Enjutsus.h.i.+ to take covert action is the same as telling the sun >."

"ha........"

They kept walking without change ten odd minutes. The sun faded out and around the time the world became engulfed in darkness the Tsuwabuki residence made an appearance before those two. Both of them looked up at the magnificent manor.

"First of all, we made it in time, huh?"

"Yeah."

Gazing at the majestic style entrance, Ren replied.

"So, how do we get in?"

Ayano was still looking at the gate. An inter phone was not found. It did not seen likely the sound of a knock would reach.

".......shall I burn it?"

".......Nee-sama......"

At Ayano's bold words, Ren murmured in a lamenting voice.

"How can you make up your mind to go that far?"

"How, you ask........my disposition, I guess?"

"Please don't be so proud of it.......even if we don't do such an excessive thing, it's not that high we can't climb over, right?"

Leaving the gate aside, the height of the wall that followed it on both sides was, at best, approximately 3 meters. Certainly it wasn't a height that couldn't be climbed over.

"Well, I hope that's safe."

Ayano nodded and bent over in order to jump over the wall. At exactly the same time.

Raising a dull creak, the thick doors slowly opened.

"..............."

Ayano and Ren exchanged glances and both shrugged their shoulders.

"We are being let in."

"How thoughtful."

Exchanging a sarcastic smile both stepped inside the grounds.

And then - they met the receptionist.

Approximately twenty minutes before

In the large underground gave, Yuuji looked up at the crystal pillar encasing Mayumi. Guiding the above moonlight the crystal produced a faint radiance s.h.i.+ning in the darkness.

In the surroundings other Chijutsus.h.i.+ were hastening the preparation for the ceremony. But, he completely disregarded that clatter, turning his glance on Mayumi - and only her.

"You're really earnest, aren't you?"

A whisper shook his ear. Unaware of Kureha's presence standing right behind, Yuuji was not surprised anymore. Managing that level of presence was a matter of course. He knew it first hand.

"What?" he asked without turning around.

Kureha did not blame him for it. She informed him of what he had to do.

"We have a guest."

"Who is it?"

"Two fire presences. I still don't feel the wind. But if it's that man, he is quite capable of following us around without anyone noticing."

Talking serious words with a smiling face Kureha gave an order again.

"Go meet them. I'm leaving the rest to you."

"I will return before long."

Including a quiet self confidence, Yuuji consented. Without change, he started walking to the gateway but after going forward several steps he turned around.

"Can you answer me one thing?"

"Say it", Kureha generously nodded.

"Why did you seek so much power and violate the taboo? Your ability was supposed to be the most powerful in the entire family."

"Why?"

For a moment Kureha had a blank facial expression, as if taken by surprise. Nevertheless she immediately raised her even lips, expressing a somewhat otherworldly archaic smile.

"Why? Isn't that obvious? Because I didn't have you."

".....ha?"

Yuuji frowned in doubt. But, Kureha did not permit further questioning.

"Go."

With a quiet and yet resolute tone she ordered. Yuuji had no right to oppose her.

".......yes"

With a small nod, Yuuji started walking once more. After looking hard at that retreating figure until it disappeared from her field of vision, Kureha looked up at the younger sister sealed in the crystal.

The shape of the girl sleeping inside the s.h.i.+ning crystal was a fantastic spectacle that gave one the impression of a scene from a fairy-tale. Placing her hand on the crystal, Kureha looked up at Mayumi with a gaze full of affection.

"You didn't notice, did you? How blessed you were. How loved you were. I too, love you so very much. That's why - that's why I will let you go while being so blessed."

Visibly pouring out the peak of her emotion, Kureha pushed her forehead against the crystal pillar. After savoring the icy texture for a few seconds, she turned to the Chijutsus.h.i.+ underneath and informed the most high-ranking pract.i.tioner among them:

"I will temporarily excuse myself. Continue the preparation."

"Yes"

The pract.i.tioners nodded without showing surprise. Kureha could be said to be the one supervising but she couldn't directly partic.i.p.ate in the ceremony. Therefore, if no unforeseen situation happened, the fact that she was not there was not a particular impediment.

Throwing a glance at the pract.i.tioners continuing to work, Kureha went towards the cave's interior. Arriving at the deepest part, where not even the light from the crystal pillar reached, she softly began to float.

It didn't have the sense of speed similar to Fuutsus.h.i.+ flying by wearing wind. It was a gentle float as if the body would be slightly lighter than the atmosphere, giving the impression of a balloon or a blimp.

Going beyond the ceiling of the cave, Kureha continued ascending. She quietly penetrated a shaft that opened in the ceiling, far from any light source, a gap unnoticed by anyone. Rising about four or five meters in the pit, Kureha chanted a small incantation.

"Light"

After frequent twinkling, the soft light born in the air illuminated the pit's appearance.

The pit had a diameter of roughly ten meters and a clean, bowling round shape. It seems it doesn't connect with the above ground but it is fairly long. No matter how you think about it, it wasn't made by nature. And in the center of it, there was a rock.

A cl.u.s.ter of rocks arranged in a rough elliptical shape.

If you consider this is a huge cave underground, it's not something especially unusual. That is, if you consider the fact that it is floating in the air without any kind of support.

"Fu fu"

Expressing a light smile, Kureha is approaching the rock lump. And then she motionlessly stares at that surface. Because it was flowing in the air, it was clear that was more than a lump of rocks.

On the surface the full length portrait of an elderly man was thrown into relief.

Enjoyed from the bottom of her heart, she gazed at the man's carving - it's hardened closed eyes, its expression warped with anguish. And then, she spoke:

"Greetings, Father."

For a while there was no reaction. Still, gradually, little by little, the rock lump began to s.h.i.+ver slightly.

Visibly moaning in agony, visibly twisting his humiliated body, the rock lump continued its frail oscillation. And then -

"O.......oo.....ooooo......you......yoooooouuuuuu......"

The man's eyes, engraved in stone opened. That eye, glares at Kureha floating in front and from the inorganic throat, curses spun out.

"You......Kurehaaaaaa.......haw dare......how dare you........to your father......"

That thing was once referred to as Tsuwabuki Iwao.

Kureha and Mayumi's father, the man praised as the strongest pract.i.tioner of the family - the man who, it was reported a week before, was recuperating in his own room because of illness - right now was reduced to a lump of rocks.

"Ah, that felt good."

That look full of hatred made Kureha's lips curve with contemptuous ease.

"If you have no answer, I believe it's time for you to die."

"d.a.m.n you....you....betrayer....."

Iwao groaned his words as if spitting blood, but he couldn't do anything more than that. No matted how much power he possessed once, now he can't move a finger and was nothing but a pitiful prisoner who had no choice but to spit out his grudge.

Kureha sneered at that unsightly appearance.

"Having said you are the strongest Chijutsus.h.i.+, how silly of you unable to separate from the ground. Ignoring the poison that desecrated the body, you had no choice but to a.s.similate rocks within reach to save your life. That is truly unsightly."

She ridiculed him, enjoying herself from the bottom of her heart.

It happened a week ago.

Iwao and Kureha - the parent and child mutually hating each other, finally crossed swords in the big cave that was the sacred ground of the family. Without a particle of leniency, both let out certain kill blows.

Thus Kureha's > was superior to Iwao's >. With the help of that invisible power, Kureha fixated the half-dead Iwao in the air. Even with the near invulnerability and resilience of an Chijutsus.h.i.+, if he is not touching the ground - when all connection with the ground's > was cut, Iwao was degraded to an average human and had no means of healing his wounds.

"Is that all it takes?" asked Kureha, visibly disappointed.

"Known as the strongest, Father's might, is it really only this amount?"

"You.....fool...."

His lungs becoming useless, together with the vividly red blood, Iwao spit out curses.

"The Tsuwabuki Family's.........disgrace......."

"..........."

Kureha's reaction, regarding the abuse she got used to hearing was the throwing of a small knife, dripping in poison, with one uninterested long breath.

"Kuuuu........guh.....ahhhhhh"

Towards the suffering Iwao, Kureha sneered cheaply, merely saying over her shoulder.

"I was thinking you will let me hear a somewhat fresh utterance - but enough. Please die."

Kureha prepared the poisoned blade for the sake of this day. The fact that the strongest Chijutsus.h.i.+ was killed by poison - when thinking of so much disgrace, her body was trembling in a dark joy, but now it didn't even matter.

But, before Kureha's eyes, preparing to deliver the final blow, something she didn't antic.i.p.ated happened.

A huge stone pillar rose from the ground, connecting Iwao to the solid earth.

"........eh?"

Kureha promptly smashed the stone pillar. Immediately suppressing any kind of link with the ground, only the spearhead of the stone pillar was sized by Iwao and taken in, floating in the air.

Calculating the quant.i.ty of > taken from the large rock, lightly, Kureha took a breath of relief. To neutralize the poison, it's entirely insufficient.

"I was somewhat surprised. That you were left with such power - did he die?"

Iwao's vigor was only supposed to restrain the poison's progress with all his might. So, when he revealed such a bold move, it wouldn't be unusual for him to die the moment it was put in operation.

Still, just to be sure, ready to smash the ma.s.s of rock floating in the air, Kureha frowned truly in doubt.

"Oh - "

Softly dancing in midair, she is drawing near the ma.s.s of rock. And then she saw that, sticking on the surface.

".........pfuu....ahahahahahahahahahaha!!"

After becoming speechless for several seconds, Kureha's body was convulsed with laughter to the point of breaking. In the corners of her eyes, even tears were floating.

"Oh.....oh Father.....what a....what a...."

The lump of rock suspended in the air. On that surface was clinging Iwao, changing into stone.

Kureha ridiculed that miserable shape to her heart's content. The aim of her Father, she was seeing through it now for sure. Mustering the remaining strength for one resuscitation move.

But at the time it was defeated, Iwao took extreme means for the sake of surviving and changed himself to rock. Poison doesn't run in rocks. Rocks do not die. By means of changing into an inorganic substance one second before his death, Iwao suspended his own time.

"Good grief, what a filthy way of living or perhaps not knowing when to give up, apparently not killing you instantly was the correct decision. You have shown me such a pleasant performance."

No matter how much he was being ridiculed, Iwao could do nothing anymore. Already without energy to even turn back but even a.s.suming he could turn back, immediately the poison would be taking his life.

Unless Kureha doesn't take down the ma.s.s of rock, he has no choice but to carry on living changed to rock for eternity.

"I understand. In deference to the hatefulness of that resignation, I will let you live a little longer. That is, until the moment I fulfill my longstanding desire."

Despising her father's anguished face, Kureha laughed loudly one more time.

Thus, Iwao managed to survive one more week. If, in this state, it's accurate to say he is living.

"You.......do you understand what are you guilty of?"

Including an endless curse, Iwao muttered. Surely, that voice didn't hold a simple personal grudge but was pregnant with the sense of duty, as head of the family.

Keeping the beast's force in the bodies of the family who sealed it at the cost of it's members' life.

The union with the sealed demon beast - that was the source of Kureha's power - that was the reason that made Iwao decide on his daughter's conviction.

For the Tsuwabuki Clan, who have been sealing the demon beast for more than three hundred years, that may be called the most serious taboo, above all else.

But, at Iwao's outcry, almost vomiting blood, Kureha laughed lightly.

"But, wouldn't it have been wasteful? Although the long awaited power is just in front of me, to just put it back to sleep......."

"You......you.....fool......!"

In response to Iwao's wrath, the rock cracked here and there and broken pieces scattered.

A deed similar with sc.r.a.ping his body, but even so, his anger didn't subside.

"What do you plan to do by locking me up in such a place? Don't tell me, you want to release the demon beast?"

"Of course not."

The angry roar that once made the entire family yield was let go past, like a gentle breeze. Kureha shrugged her shoulders.

"We are carrying out the ceremony smoothly. That is correct, with the power of two sacrifices, I will show you a seal stronger than ever."

"...two......?two, you said......!?"

"Yes, two. Ayumi and Mayumi. The only daughter you love, I have decided to use her on this occasion."

The other daughter, the one who was not loved, raised words of cruelty, together with a cynical smile.

The man's face, carved in stone, was warped with fury.

"I don't allow it! That alone I won't allow! I won't let Mayumi become a sacrifice!"

"Then, what will you do? Can you do something with that body locked in stone? Are you some acquittance of Sanzouhous.h.i.+[2]?"

"Guh.....mee....."

At Kureha's mockery, confident in her overwhelming superiority, Iwao groaned.

"Why?" he asked, his voice carrying the sound of supplication.

"Even if it's only Ayumi, she ought to be feasible for a satisfactory seal. To even use Mayumi, what is your purpose? If.. if you wish for the family's hegemony, then - "

"I don't."

Kureha coldly discarded Iwao's proposal.

"I have no use for such a thing. My goal is consistent with what I said earlier - the effective practical use of resources."

"Wh..at....?"

Frowning, Iwao asked back, in doubt. But midway he perceived something and his body - or perhaps the ma.s.s of rock trembled as if stuck by lightning. Opening his narrow eyes to the utmost limit, he stared at Kureha's thin smile. As his doubt turned into conviction, that look was painted with nothing but pure horror.

"Y - you....you....never - !"

Abstaining from that light smile, Kureha indifferently starred at her father, trembling with fear.

"Fu, fufufufu - "

That irrepressible chuckle reverberated in the gloomy prison.

Part 2

"As I thought, you came, huh?"

Ren didn't show any surprise, seeing that Yuuji was expecting him very matter of course.

It was very simple.

If it happens someone would stand up in front of him and block his way, that would be no one else but Yuuji.

However, having come this far, Ren had no intention of prolonging the fight. This boy that dislikes conflict opened his mouth in order to somehow settle this peacefully.

"Good evening."

"..............."

Yuuji's severely strained face, relaxed for a moment, visibly tired. He asked in a somewhat reluctant manner.

"You....why did you come here?"

"Well..."

What does he want to do, the answer he finally arrived at after thinking about it, Ren spoke it slowly as if trying to ascertain its value by putting it into words.

"I want to meet Ayumi-chan once more. I have no intention of getting in the way of the ceremony this time so, won't you please let us pa.s.s?"

It was a proposal full of candor. However it's not always true that tractability is a necessary virtue at any age.

"...huh"

Yuuji gave up as hopeless Ren's childish bulls.h.i.+t and instead focused on Ayano who was looking at both of them from a little distance.

"And you?"

Ayano waved her hands, appearing to say >.

"Ah, I am Ren's escort. Think of me like nothing but air."

"As if!"

Yuuji became exasperated faced with these two whose remarks made it seem they didn't understand the situation.

"Get out, both of you! We're kind of busy, you know!!"

"...I'm afraid that is impossible."

Finally gave up on this pointless conversation, Ren reversed his submissive att.i.tude. Obviously, with a battle att.i.tude.

"I'll meet Ayumi-chan once more. I decided so. If you get in the way-"

"What a talkative chap."

Yuuji coldly interrupted Ren's statement.

"If you can't win a theoretical argument, only then are you ready to dirty your hands? That degree of resolution is pointless. Just go back home before you hurt yourself."

Those words were so full of confidence you wouldn't even consider he lost just yesterday. Taking that slight as a personal offense, Ayano raised her eyebrows with a twitch.

"Hey, why is this guy so proud?"

She came forth with loud footsteps. Enraiha has yet to be drawn but it's clear from her att.i.tude she's asking for a fight.

Her scarlet gold aura gus.h.i.+ng out, Ayano declares proudly.

"Do you want me to teach you in detail what happens when you let your big mouth run about in front of two direct descendants of Kannagi?"

But, she couldn't advance any further. Raising his hand, Ren obstructed Ayano's way.

"Please wait."

"Wait a minute, do you still want to..."

Ren shook his head at the scowling Ayano.

"No, it's not like that- "

And then, he faced Yuuji.

"I'll do it. Onee-sama please stand back."

"............"

In silence, Ayano alternatively looked at both Ren and Yuuji. They seemed to be locked on each other.

To force one's way through in that atmosphere requires a great deal of nerve, courage and insensibility.

Letting out a bored sight Ayano gave up on intervening.

"...Well, we still have a bit of time."

Besides, the opponent already lost once. There's no problem, even if she were to remain a spectator.

"Be careful."

And with that, she took her distance from the two.

She was prepared to jump in at any moment but, for the time being, she is entrusting Ren.

"Do your best."

Even if she knew he couldn't hear it, still, Ayano cheers for Ren a little.

"Could you please step aside ~ you do know you can't win against me?"

Even if he thought it was pointless Ren tried to persuade him just once more. To say it plainly, it became nothing more than a provocation and Yuuji, without moving a single muscle, rejected that proposal.

"Enough of that repet.i.tious talk!"

Placing killing intent on his frozen voice, Yuuji loudly roared.

"Just try to kill this me if you can!"

" -!!"

Feeling Yuuji's >'s explosive rise, Ren immediately melted the ground beneath his feet. But, the offensive came from the front.

"Using that cheap trick?"

Together with an angry roar, a huge amount of pebbles - enough to fill his vision - approached Ren. Because each and every one was fired with bullet-like speed, receiving that attack, the human body would become more than just covered in holes but crushed like minced meat and the corpse impossible to identify.

"Yaaa!!!"

Raising a high, clear soprano yell Ren swung down his right hand. The golden flame that gushed out burned the countless stones to nothing.

However -

"Am I being pressed down?"

In Ren's pupil both surprise and shudder dwell. Those pebbles are really forcing back the fire torrent. Although he's not yet using his whole power, he included enough of it to thoroughly defeat someone like Yuuji from last night.

"Kuuuu- "

In a panic, Ren raised the heating power. But, faster than that, Yuuji made his move. Drawing nearer while concealing himself in the stream of throwing stones, he suddenly appeared before Ren's eyes.

" -!!"

He was completely taken by surprise. Without wasting time on interception, he was forced into close combat.

Barely managing to avoid a straight hit from right overhead, he wasn't able to avoid a left middle kick that was sent from the opposite angle.

"Kuuuu!!"

Although just barely managing to defend himself, Ren, shorter and younger, couldn't stop the kick of a highly trained adult. His arms sustained the damage but were blown off, and he was thrown in the fence.

"Ren!"

"I'm...fine..."

While shaking his head, Ren stood up. It didn't seem Yuuji would pursue. Taking a short distance, he calmly observed the degree of damage he inflicted.

Is this what it comes down to?

Voiceless, Ren groaned.

For a spirit pract.i.tioner, from the power they are manipulating - for an Enjutsus.h.i.+ fire, for a Chijutsus.h.i.+ earth and rocks they don't receive any damage.

For this reason, they can jump right into the Jutsu they created and be able to use it as camouflage or protective wall.

It's not really an original move. You could say it's one of the basics.

And yet, up until now Yuuji didn't try to use it, in spite of the fact that when thinking about the physique difference, close combat is advantageous.

Before, he had an aim. Not just to defeat Ren but to verify that "when facing an Enjutsus.h.i.+ a Chijutsus.h.i.+ is superior."

He was being conceited.

But Yuuji right now held no arrogance. Not as a Jutsus.h.i.+ but as a single human being, he used all his power to defeat the enemy - that's all he was thinking.

In general, rather than the fact that he had become more powerful, his stubbornness in paying no attention to his behavior was far more dangerous to Ren.

Agreement or no agreement, he was being taught a lesson about the strength of a person ready for death.

"But even I cannot yield on this - I'm not going to lose!"

"Shut it, brat!"

Both their will powers turned to force and clashed. The devastating fire storm swallowed all the cracks produced one after another. Weaving their way in the explosion made by the red hot plasma and gigantic rocks cras.h.i.+ng into each other, their fists met.

It seems it was a negligence. In regards to the result of the hand to hand fight, without even thinking about it, it will remain the same. It was obvious.

A twelve years old child versus an adult male. If it comes down to who has a more trained body, Yuuji's is superior. It was impossible to lose.

Therefore, he must have been negligent.

So, at the time his thrust, powerful enough to pulverize the brain and splat spinal fluid everywhere was beautifully evaded, Yuuji lost sight of Ren's figure completely.

One moment later, when he spotted him again, Ren slipped his extended arm in Yuuji's blind spot and his elbow hit him in the pit of the stomach.

That kinetic energy resulted from a rush similar to teleportation was all poured in one blow. That shock, stronger than his drilled abs crushed Yuuji's stomach and escaped trough his back.

His heavy built body lightly danced in mid air. Beside the fact that Yuuji would have fallen down eventually Ren concentrated his consciousness and power.

"Gooooooo!!"

Four thin refined heat rays accurately shot out the joints of his legs and shoulders. Yuuji's body fell like a puppet and rolled down in one of the craters one of them made. There, Ren delivered the final blow.

The giant fireball he brought down from overhead completely covered the crater like a lid. And then - one instance later it exploded.

Ayano, overcome with surprise for a little while, finally spoke with a stunned expression.

".......even without the direct hit, don't you think this is overkill?"

The last blow Ren fired avoided to directly hit like last time and only gave the shock wave damage. But even so, if a normal human were to receive so much shock he would have died ten times already. It was that degree of detonation.

"No, but it should be powerful enough to beat a Chijutsus.h.i.+."

"I think that at that level you won't have that problem..."

While answering, Ayano peered into the bottom of the crater. Starring inside the dust, she saw a shadow that for some reason did not seem human.

"Wow this is amazing. All his limbs are still connected."

"............Nee-sama, if you have something to say, how about you say it clearly?", Ren replied with a sulky voice at Ayano's heavy sarcasm.

While saying that, the dust cleared and the state at the bottom could be seen much easier. Yuuji's face could be clearly seen.

"Oh, unexpected but he's still human-shaped."

"........Nee-sama......"

Ren took offense but like Ayano said, Yuuji's body retained it's shape well enough. Without becoming flat and crushed by the pressure he was firmly and roughly left behind. It seems that one way or another he survived.

"Well, I wonder if I should say you crushed him just right. To heal it all maybe one or two months will do the trick I guess."

"Yes."

While it seemed his broken bones cured unexpectedly easy, the four holes that opened at the base of his limbs evaporated both his bones and flesh. As one would expect it was impossible to immediately regenerate those.

"Well then, let's go forward."

"Yes."

Deciding that Yuuji became powerless, those two head towards the interior of the mansion. But, as if choosing the moment the pair turned its back to the crater, a voice stopped them from the back.

"Wait..."

".............eh?"

Hearing the chilly, dry voice Ayano's facial expression changed. In a strained voice, she asked Ren.

"The voice right now, who was it?"

"...................."

Without replying Ren pointed his gaze at the bottom of the crater. Ayano too understood. That was Yuuji's voice. But, that voice was too calm. As if the person uttering it had no injuries.

Raising his head from the bottom of the crater Yuuji stared at Ren. His hip joints had holes in them so it should have been impossible for him to get up. His fighting strength was supposed to be zero. And yet...

"How about you stop? From here on it's a matter of life and death."

Yuuji ignored Ayano's pointless proposal. His eyes were firmly set on only Ren.

"As I thought, I can reach you , the way I am right now."

With a serene facial expression, unbecoming of a severely wounded person, Yuuji murmured so. Sensing a certain something from those words, Ayano ordered Ren with a sharpness different from before.

"Ren, give him the finis.h.i.+ng blow. Enough to obliterate his very cells."

"Killing him would be useless."

While being just as vigilant, Ren rejected Ayano's order. Although understanding that something will happen if he was left unattended, he still couldn't do it.

Even if I kill in order to meet her, Ayumi-chan won't be pleased.

No matter how much he himself wanted to do it, that was insignificant when compared with making her sad.

"Alright."

Suddenly, Yuuji murmured in a low voice. The pair of eyes that were supposed to stare at Ren, before one knows were looking up at the sky overhead. For some reason that gaze reminded Ren once more of Ayumi's, the first time he met her. As if that was the last opportunity, the earnest pupil looking up to the moon.

"Alright. I'll join your scheme. Whether it's my life or my soul, take whatever you need. So - so, in exchange - "

The hand that was supposed to be paralyzed was grasped tightly. Bearing up in tragedy, opening his eyes, literally throwing everything away Yuuji shouts:

"Give me power!!"

"Shall I give you power?"

In front of Mayumi sealed in the crystal pillar, Kureha whispered so. But, obviously there is no way to earn power free of charge. Compensation must be given.

If you choose to loose your humanity...

Thus, Kureha didn't hide even that. For the first time he understood.

That no matter what compensation she wanted, Yuuji had no right to refuse.

In fact, Yuuji didn't hesitate. About fusing with a demon beast and becoming one being with Kureha. Violating the family's greatest taboo and becoming a criminal that could never be permitted.

But that was not the only danger. The power that exceeds the vessel becomes an excessive burden for the body. Different from the way Kureha did it, spending time on getting accustomed to it little by little, if he were to receive a large amount of power at once, the power will force the body to change.

"If you so wish, the Majyu (trad: demon beast) will give you an infinite amount of power."

Kureha warned him carefully. That point at least was honest.

'"But a power that becomes too great will s.n.a.t.c.h away your human form. And eventually, even your human heart. Try to be careful. Fall back before recovery becomes impossible."'

But simultaneously, Yuuji was convinced that Kureha wished him to go beyond recovery. For his power to rampage and to be turned into a monster that was her real purpose, or at least a part of it.

But that's fine.

He will protect Mayumi. That was his one absolute mission. If it's for that reason, he doesn't regret throwing away everything else.

That's what he decided. On that day, five years before -

Ojou-sama......if it's you.......certainly.........

The last moment as a human, when he decided his fate, he thought back that moment.

Gachin!

That kiss tasted like blood.

The grand vigor made their teeth clash and the lips in-between cut. The crash and pain made them see sparks.

"Hyaaa...."

He was trying to complain but the stiff lips couldn't successfully p.r.o.nounce it. When holding his hand to his lips, his palm became wet with a lukewarm liquid.

While quipping the blood from his soiled clothes with a handkerchief he overlooked the small attacker.

That side deemed to have received considerable damage, squatting down and moaning.

Trying to get rid of his clumsy voice, Yuuji talked with caution.

"What are you trying to do so suddenly, Ojou-sama?"

Thereupon, Mayumi boldly stood up and stared at Yuuji with eyes wet from tears.

"That was my first kiss. Take responsibility."

"Wha......."

That was absurd. That was excessively pushy. But the bewildered Yuuji was relentlessly driven into a corner by Mayumi.

"What's this, this is not manly at all. If you say such mushy words I'll tell Father Yuuji forcibly kissed me."

"Ha - have mercy!"

Reminded of Iwao's face doting on his daughter, the muscles on Yuuji's back trembled. If she were to say such a thing, there is no doubt about it, he would get the capital punishment.

"It's not like my responsibility came off, right? What are you telling me to do?"

"Stay close to me."

At Yuuji's distracted shout, Mayumi answered in a frighteningly quiet voice.

".......eh?"

"Always stay close to me. Don't leave even for a second. Don't think about anything else and look only at me."

That was a strange way of talking. Considering only her words, they seemed full of pa.s.sionate courting but her tone had no particle of sweetness.

They were like the urgent words of a seriously ill person that held its last wish on death's door.

Yuuji turned a pained expression upon Mayumi.

"........Did you find out?"

"That this year thirty years will have past?"

Mayumi answered the question with another question. But the question itself became a clear response to Yuuji's.

From the last ceremony thirty years pa.s.sed. The mountain's spirit, although calmed down at the moment could activate at any moment. In a not too far future, the ceremony will invariably take place. And just like before the Chijutsus.h.i.+'s life will be sacrificed.

"Do you know what the Head is trying to do?"

"It's impossible.", Mayumi answered bluntly.

I would rather not harbor such half hearted hopes - from her tone the murmur of her true heart could be heard.

"It's something that was never possible before. It's almost certainly impossible now. Someday I will loose my life to calm the mountain. The same way as until now, right?"

"Ojou-sama........."

"It doesn't mean I don't want to. After all, that is our mission. This is what we exist for. However."

Completely changing from her crushed to death tone, Mayumi talked on and on bursting out.

"But it's still frightening! It's not like I'm not afraid of death. I cannot help but feel like running away. Why does it have to be me? Why do I have to die no matter what? WHY?"

"O- Ojou-sama......."

Taking a sidelong glance at the nervous Yuuji, troubled because of it, Mayumi promptly regained her calm. Weeping off her tears she said in a broken tone.

"I feel so refreshed after letting it out."

"....eh?"

"After all, I wished for someone I can be with this way. I cannot entrust it to a loose-tongued servant, nor can I worry my father even more."

"...........because of that, it was me?"

Mayumi nodded at Yuuji's disappointed tone.

"That's right. I picked you. For the years until I die, I will be given your life. Look only at me, worry only about me, live only for me. I already gave your remuneration, so you don't have a say in this."

".........is the remuneration the earlier head b.u.t.t?"

"A kiss, it's a kiss!"

Mayumi answered back very seriously.

"The sacrifice of my purity should obligate you, so I won't do it ever again. That was my first and last kiss. It was something extremely rare so be grateful!"

"................."

Yuuji didn't answer.

From his standpoint he couldn't refuse but an almost adult man being glad because a thirteen years old girl kissed him would be problematic from another point of view.

Mayumi's glance, when looking up at the bitter Yuuji, gradually became uneasy. Looking hard at him with upturned eyes, she said in a sulky tone.

"It's not that long a period. No matter how much Father will delay it, it's at the most five or six years. If it's only that much selfishness, can't you put up with it?"

".................."

With a sigh, Yuuji accepted the girl's persuasion.

It can't be helped. It's also the responsibility of adults to listen to children's whim. In the near future, Mayumi will become the sacrifice and she is certainly a pitiful child.

"I understand. It's fine if I become Ojou-sama's sandbag right?"

That was a very irresponsible response but even so Mayumi bowed her head, eyes sparkling.

"Yes, that's right! You will listen to everything I say! And, if I ever try to run away - "

Hearing that unpardonable speech, Yuuji's alertness strengthened. If she were to say >, by no means would he agree. Because when comparing a child's self-indulgence with the fate of the family, it amounts to nothing.

But Mayumi said so:

"If it comes to that, you have to catch me no matter what. Don't you ever let me escape."

"..............!!"

Yuuji stared hard at Mayumi catching his breath. He backed off, pressed down in front of those direct eyes that didn't have a particle of a child's dependance.

Arriving at this moment, he finally noticed his own misunderstanding.

Mayumi didn't seek a target for her childish egotistic anger. Accepting the family's real responsibility, she searched for someone who could support her weak self that could be crushed at any moment.

Feeling ashamed of his own ignorance, Yuuji knelt in a formal posture.

"Mayumi-sama, from this day on I offer you all of my loyalty."

"..........Thank you. It will be relied on."

Mayumi too, accepted it in a ceremonious tone. But, suddenly her att.i.tude changed.

"Hey, Yuuji."

"........what?"

With a smile meant to tease Yuuji's upturned face, Mayumi whispered.

"If it turns out I don't have to become a sacrifice - at that time let's continue that kiss, shall we?"

At Mayumi's words said with a little shyness appropriate for her age, Yuuji replied smiling.

"Yes - With pleasure."

In the five years that followed, Mayumi didn't speak of that day once. By any chance, perhaps she forgot. Perhaps that was a meaningless promise, something that suddenly came into a child's mind.

But even so that was the day Yuuji decided. Even if it's all the family, even if it's the head standing at the peak of it, he dedicates all his loyalty to Mayumi only.

Whether it is the relations.h.i.+p between a man and a woman, the contract between a master and servant, the pledge of a knight to protect the n.o.ble lady or if it was something different altogether, Yuuji didn't think about the nature of their relations.h.i.+p, not even once. Because such things didn't matter.

There was only one valuable thing. To protect Mayumi and Mayumi only. Only that decision, sacred above all else.

No matter what he has to throw away, even if he were to sacrifice all else.

I will definitely protect you!!

Due to the influx of power, both his heart and body changed. But that most important emotion could never disappear from inside him.

No matter who tried to, only that couldn't be s.n.a.t.c.hed away.

Part 3

The ground was violently rumbling. Even if it's Ayano or Ren, unrelated to the Spirits of the earth, they understood the show of high density power, the activation of the earth pulse to the extent of seeing its radiation.

"Wait a second........this is......."

Seeing the endlessly congregation of enormous power gathering at one point, Ayano's face became stiff.

"Ren! Without delay - "

"I told you that's no good!"

While answering in that manner, Ren's complexion was bad nevertheless.

At the bottom of the crater shrouded in dust, a power like that of a volcano on the verge of erupting was coming together. The focal point of it it's probably Yuuji.

However -

Can he control this kind of power?

The aggregate amount of the converging power clearly reached tenfold of Yuuji's original strength. It doesn't seem he can control it very well.

He took a defensive stance against a probable spontaneous discharge but no matter how much time pa.s.ses, the fearful shock doesn't come. Rather, the ground's vibration and the influx of power are in the process of being stilled.

" Which means....."

Timidly s.h.i.+fting his attention, the dust acting like a screen vanished in an instant. At once the field of vision cleared and the bottom of the crater became visible.

"...........uaaa!"

He let out an exclamation unintentionally. A three meter tall giant was standing there.

It's surface was thoroughly covered in hard stone. Or perhaps it was made of stone to the core.

Its hands and legs, its head, the basic components were human-like but all its separate parts were angular. Its extremities were very thick and its fists much bigger than its head.

Although resembling, that silhouette had delicate deviations from the human form, and if a similarity must be found, maybe a robot appearing in an anime would be closest.

"................it feels like something really amazing appeared, right?"

While throwing a sidelong glance at the dumbfounded Ren, who murmured so, Ayano asked for confirmation.

"Do you still want to go at it alone?"

Ren nodded with no hesitation.

"Well, I'll see how far I can go. If it becomes dangerous please save me, OK?"

Ayano responded at Ren's joke-like smile, deadly serious.

"That's what I was planning to do but...do try not to instantly die."

"...........I'll be careful."

While overlooking the rock giant standing in the crater, Ren thought so.

That must be Yuuji's former self but...did it retain any consciousness?

The answer appeared instantly. The giant that up until now stood still, started to move as if inspecting its body.

Holding his hand before its face, gripping his fist and relaxing it. Doing it all over again with the other hand, lowering his gaze and inspecting his body and feet.

And then circling his head, it made a complete rotation. He carefully observes his back.

"...............I see."

From the giant's mouth a dry murmur escaped. Although somewhat lowered and cracked, that was definitely Yuuji's voice.

"Is this......power......?"

The face made of rocks showed a self derisive smile. Without knowing why, Ren clearly understood that.

The rock giant - Yuuji lifted his head and seized Ren. And then he said:

"Are you laughing at me, reduced to this appearance, brat?"

"..................."

"But I don't regret it. If this will protect Ojou-sama, I don't care about being degraded to a monster. This is my resolution! Do you think you can break it!?"

"........................"

Ren didn't say a word. For the sake of that one important thing to throw away everything else, not looking back at the fact that he himself would become a victim, he had no choice but be overwhelmed by that sort of firm determination.

But although he was speechless, somewhere in his heart, he thought about denying such a thing.

Is > something like that? Is it impossible to protect without sacrificing it all, without throwing everything else away?

So far, Ren was mostly in the place of the one being protected. Protected by Kazuma, protected by Ayano, by a lot of other people, always being protected.

This uncomfortable feeling he didn't feel from them, he felt it now from Yuuji. Especially Kazuma. For that brother of his to say Even in exchange of my life, I will definitely protect you!, he just couldn't imagine it.

Is it because he's strong? No. It's not just that. Between this man and Onii-sama something at a fundamental level is different......

He had the feeling he understood something. > that could break this state of affair, already reaching it's limit.

And that was -

"Let's go!"

But, the answer he finally grasped, was washed away in a torrent of earth and sand. Sensing a terrific force, Ren released the flame with all its power.

"Kuuuu!"

The backlash that almost blew him away was firmly withstood by his legs. He was being pressed down.

Experiencing for the first time in his life loosing by misusing his powers, Ren felt horror.

The moment he tried to concentrate his mind on straining his power even more, Ayano's voice shouted in his ears.

"Behind you!"

"!!"

Reflexively, Ren jumped forward. Simultaneously he expended a flame barrier at the back. However, breaking through even that barrier the rock fist hit Ren's back.

Chasing Ren, that flew like a sh.e.l.l, the rocky build was changed into a hurricane. Catching up with Ren flying in the air in the twinkling of an eye, the giant's leg that wasn't by no means inferior to his hands, flung Ren up, right overhead.

"Kuuuu......"

The only thing that Ren could do in the s.p.a.ce between Yuuji's leg and his own body was to interpose a small fireball.

The detonation of the fireball slightly decreased the kick's power, but Ren's body soared even higher in the sky.

"Guuu...haaa...."

Even higher than his body, his consciousness that flew beyond the clouds was restored by the wave motion of a mighty power. The ground's ominous howl could be heard.

Something with an unbelievable amount of attack power is coming.

This is bad....if I don't counter-attack it........

Although thinking that, his muddy consciousness can't concentrate to the level of invoking the Juutsu. At his wits end, he had no choice but to wait for the fatal attack.

But -

"Gobaah!"

The one blew away was Yuuji. A sharpened wind blade cut through the rock on both his arms and diagonally slashed deeply in torso, from the shoulder downwards.

".....eh? Wh - what......"

At the excessively convenient development, for a second Ren's brain failed to understand. Continuing to fall down in a daze, he doesn't notice the earth is rapidly closing.

But a soft wind stopped Ren gently. A strong arm caught his body fluttering like a feather, embracing it.

The sensation of that arm, Ren recognized it as something very familiar. Without having to look at his face, he understood.

"You guys, what are you doing at this place?"

A composed voice with no feeling of tension whatsoever. A presence always firm. There is no mistake. And yet, fearful of the one in a million chance, Ren nervously looked up to the man's face.

The usual cynical smile was right there.

"Onii-sama!"

"Yo. First of all, it's good you're alive. Don't be so reckless."

With the usual mood, Yagami Kazuma smiled.

"So, what are you guys doing?"

Once again, Kazuma asked in wonder. But at that point, Ayano was drawing near with a changed expression.

"Kazumaaaaaaaa!!"

"Hey, what's up? You seem kind of angry for some reason."

"That's because I am angry!", Ayano retaliated as if trying to hit him.

"Where have you been until now? You don't even answer your phone!"

"Where you ask, because of my job I was here all this time. Now that you say it, I did close my phone."

He took the phone from his pocket and turned it on. Both the incoming log and the answering machine were buried with phones from Ayano.

"You.........this is quite a breach of manners........."

"Then answer it already! Leaving that aside, whose job is it?"

"This things."

Kazuma pointed at a place on his left, obliquely upwards. Following the line of that finger Ayano recognized it for the first time.

"Long time no see!"

A small fairy waved her hand. Remembering the large turmoil that thing created Ayano instantly flipped out.

"Ahhh! Yooouuuuu!"

"Kyaaa - so scary. Help me Kazuma ♥."

As expected Tiana hid behind Kazuma. But suddenly Kazuma's hand reached out and grabbed her body and carelessly flung her aside.

"I don't remember being requested to be your bodyguard."

"Eh! Such a thing - . If I die the compensation will......."

"You're not the one who will pay the compensation. I will claim it directly from the fairy's patriarch."

"Auuuuu...such a thing.....Uhyaaa!?"

Tiana barely managed to avoid the flame sword swung from the back with no hesitation. Looking over her shoulder, she saw Ayano, Enraiha set up, aiming at her. Her eyes were serious.

"Don't you move, you evil fairy!"

"Kyaaa!"

The pair that started playing tag was strangely watched by Kazuma and Ren.

"She's so easy-going, really."

"Errr....Onii-sama, that is........."

"Ah, you were fortunate enough not to see it before. That's called a Pixie, a sinful living thing whose tiny body is loaded with cunning. If you get involved with it you will meet misfortune like a certain idiot, so be careful."

Kazuma's irresponsible explanation raised voices of protest full of anger. Two, to be exact.

"What are you saying!"

'"What are you saying!"'

At the complete harmony of voice and thought, Ren unintentionally sn.i.g.g.e.red. Controlling both of them trying to complain about it, Kazuma pointed forward.

"Well, the comical story ends here. That thing is still alive."

There, a Yuuji turned to stone tumbled. There was no indication of him starting to move but it seems he wasn't dead yet. The evidence for it were both his cut off arms that already connected and the wound from the diagonal slash was rapidly being closed. Ayano snorted her nose in dissatisfaction.

"Why did you fail killing him? Were you going easy on him?"

"It was unexpectedly tough. But that's not particularly troublesome."

Kazuma lightly shrugged his shoulders and molded a wind blade that will certainly kill him this time.

"Please wait. I am that person's opponent."

"You are? By yourself?"

Ren nodded twice.

For a short while Kazuma compared Ren and Yuuji, looking sullen, but as if being pushed back by Ren's determined face, he accepted that proposal.

Letting Ren down from his arms, Kazuma informed him shortly.

"Do your best."

"Yes!"

Ren vigorously replied and started walking towards Yuuji, whose body was still creaking, but after advancing a few steps he looked over his shoulder.

"Can I ask you something?"

"Say it.", Kazuma coolly nodded.

"Onii-sama, do you think you could die for the sake of protecting me?"

"No."

"Why is that?"

"Because my life is mine and mine alone. I wouldn't do it for anyone and burdening someone with it is unthinkable."

Without a speck of hesitation, Kazuma declared so.

"Beside, if I were to die while protecting you, that would be boring. Everyone might as well become happy."

"....................."

After a few seconds of silence, Ren nodded expressing a really gentle smile.

"That's right. That's so right."

"I know right?"

"Yes! I'll be going now."

"All right."

Kazuma waved his hand at the running Ren, and focused his gaze on Ayano standing beside him.

"What.....?"

Looking at Kazuma with a gaze full of meaning, Ayano asked with an even stronger doubtful look.

"No way - have you heard it all since the beginning?"

"What exactly?"

"...................."

Of course, she understood that couldn't possibly be true. No matter what reason, Kazuma wouldn't overlook Ren when in danger.

Clearly Kazuma didn't know anything, and despite that, it seems he saw through everything and with merely a few words he disentangled Ren's bewilderment.

The moments you can sense the greatness of this man's capacity are always like this. In spite of his usual devil-may-care att.i.tude, when it's important he's more reliable that anyone else.

If he were normally like this I.....

She suddenly realized that Kazuma was still focusing on her. With a gaze full of wonder, as if seeing a new species.

While she herself was agitated to this extent, Kazuma seemed calmed in all respects. Finding that difference really irritating Ayano turned away in annoyance.

"How s.h.i.+tty."

Part 4

"I thought something was weird - "

In response to the tsunami-like torrent of earth and sand that closed it, Ren used a high-density barrier that will protect only his circ.u.mference.

"I thought something was weird - "

The earth spears that tried to grow almost like snakes underneath his feet, he dodged with light back-steps. Just as he thought. Even if his brute strength was in a different league, his aim was off. He didn't control the vast power newly obtained. If he were to use that gap, this was an opponent he could defeat.

"The uncomfortable feeling I couldn't put into words. What was the meaning of it, I understand it now. Accepting to become the sacrifice is not strength. Throwing away your own self is not kindness. Your words are only trying to justify your own weakness!"

"Wh....at....!"

The stone face was warped in anger. The angry roar changed to shock wave, the ground and the atmosphere trembled.

"You're saying this is weakness in front of me!? Without the resolution to dirty your hands, without being able to decide what you should do, a brat whose only loitering around!?"

"If so, what are you doing? Do you think Mayumi-san will be glad to see you in this ugly shape?", Ren vehemently retorted.

"To protect someone is not to let them live. It is to not make them sad. It's to make them happy! Only for them to live, that's pointless!"

Let's all become happy - as a matter of course, Kazuma said so.

That's right, it was something obvious. Very ordinary, unsurprisingly mundane - because it was the most valuable, he made efforts to protect it.

"Is Mayumi-san the kind of person to survive as long as you become a sacrifice? Is she the kind of human being fine with being the only one to survive? If that's not true, if your existence has even a bit of value to her, than you can't die! You can't let her be burdened with your life!"

"Th- that's only whitewas.h.i.+ng prattle!", Yuuji shouted entrusting it to anger but -

"A man who lost his sense of reality has no right to get in my way!", Ren retorted on the spot.

"> After all, that's what you are trying to say. Because there's no way out without a sacrifice I'm deceiving myself that not being afraid to become the sacrifice is strength. But - even so, I'm not OK with that!"

Right now, Ren is perfectly overpowering Yuuji. The Ren who embraces his ideal persistently and Yuuji who lost to reality trying to reach his goal to the utmost limit - the judgement on which one is correct we leave it to the individual but, as far as empty theory goes, Ren's side has more force.

"I - I won't let anyone become a sacrifice. Without loosing anything, I will protect everything - and then I will save Ayumi-chan!"

No matter how you look at it, the reckless discourse that doesn't seem at all practical but for some reason Yuuji felt like he lost the mental battle.

"Ohh - "

While viewing the battle between those two, whose eyes became strangely subdued, Kazuma quietly clapped his hands. And then, turned his attention on Ayano.

"So, Ayano - "

"What?"

"I demand an explanation of the situation. Why is our Ren-kun fighting the rock doll at this kind of place and it's forcing the gra.s.sy-smelling > on it?"

"Rock doll you say............that's kind of a human.........."

Kazuma unnaturally forced his eyes wide.

"That thing? That's an excellent shark skin you can see right there. Please teach him at least some skin care tricks."

"......................."

Seeing Kazuma acting too much like he always does, spontaneously Ayano crouched down, greatly perplexed.

".............how should I say this, you're very good at spoiling such a serious atmosphere?"

"Flattery won't get you anywhere ♬."

"I'm not flattering you!"

The retort at full power was obviously ignored by Kazuma. Playing innocent in front of the previous conversation, he asked a second time.

" - so? ♬"

"...............to put it simply, Ren fell in love at first sight with the girl who will become the sacrifice. And now, he apparently decided he wants to save her."

Ayano roughly explained all that happened until now.

"Hmmm - did Ren reach such an age?"

Without thinking deeply enough Kazuma nodded but when he finally noticed his complexion changed.

"Which means...hey!? That thing - "

"He knows."

Ayano coldly controlled Kazuma's words.

"Both me and Ren, we know it all."

"Is that so?"

"That's right. That's why don't you ever say that thing. At least not in front of the kid."

"........................."

Kazuma didn't reply.

A heavy silence was flowing.

The rock asked.

"Do you understand what are you saying?"

"I think so.", the boy replied.

"Do you think you can do it?"

"I have no choice but to do it."

The rock was silent. The boy too, had nothing more to say.

No, just one more thing.

"Please move aside.", he told him quietly.

"I already lost my reason to fight with you anymore. Leave the rest to me."

"That's impossible.", Yuuji coldly declared.

"The reason to fight didn't change. To protect Ojou-sama I will kill you. No, I will kill all of you. That is my responsibility."

"Why - "

"You're noisy."

Ren understood it was meaningless to repeat his words. It was impossible to change Yuuji's will. For the sake of going forward he has no choice but to bring him down.

Resolving himself, Ren changed his stance. Yuuji too, polished his power for the sake of his strongest attack.

"If you are serious, defeat the likes of me with one blow. If you can't do it, it means all you said are thoughtless words."

Ren was quiet. He was concentrating on the enemy in front of him.

He must win. But just winning is not enough. To make his ideal reality, he need a superior power from the one until now.

Power - I want power.

At the same time, both thought the same thing. Because even their goal was the same, to reach a conclusion ordinary methods were mutually exclusive.

"!!"

"Oooaaaaaaa!!"

There was no need for a signal. As if mutually arranging it, both of them squeezed out the maximum level of power. A surging sea of earth and sand covered the field of vision. That was an overwhelming ma.s.s. The most steady > of this world.

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