Kaze no Stigma:Volume3 Chapter 6
Confession underneath the moonlight
Part 1
"......oh"
Suddenly Kureha looked up at the sky. Before her eyes there was nothing but interminable rough stone. But, seeing something there, her lips raised faintly and she murmured slowly.
"He was unexpectedly fragile. I wanted him to at least deal with that child called Ren."
Advancing at most ten steps, Ren looked over his shoulder. With an awkward face he wanted to ask those two behind him a question.
".........................so where are we supposed to go?"
"...supposed to?"
Without giving it any thought Ayano discarded Kazuma's question.
Together with a heavy sigh Kazuma asked them.
"...........you two, what the heck you came here for?"
"Well you see, we came here on the spur of the moment. We didn't have time to investigate."
"That's no reason, stupid", Kazuma said in a cold manner.
And then he started to walk in front.
"Do you know where to?"
"More or less"
Last night he confirmed Ayumi's silhouette. It wasn't difficult to follow that presence.
After walking a few minutes, guided by the voice of the wind, the trio came to the deepest part of the mansion, in font of the cave shrine.
"Welcome to our family's greatest sanctuary."
A soft alto welcomed them. A single beautiful woman, who could only be called bewitching, stood there and behind here five subordinate Chijutsushi.
"Hi. Thanks for yesterday."
Kazuma greeted her in a relaxed manner and returned the Chijutsushi's gaze, full of hatred.
But to the last Kureha was full of courtesy - or maybe rudely courteous - when asking about their business.
"Can I ask you what business do you have here?"
"So she said"
Kazuma looked at Ren. Ren took a step forward, faced the group of Chijutsushi and boldly declared.
"I came to save Ayumi-chan"
"....and instead of her to let Mayumi become a sacrifice?"
"No. We won't allow the ceremony to happen. The three of us will defeat the demon beast sleeping inside Mt. Fuji"
"........................."
As expected that was surprising enough for Kureha's eyes to become round. But she straightened her attitude in a second and admonished Ren like an adult would a helpless child.
"Boy - you would be better learning how to look at reality more closely."
"I am looking. At the very least more than you", retorted Ren with no hesitation.
"Letting the sacrificing continue for three hundred years and labeling it as <It can't be helped> it seems much more strange to me.I won't let you do it any further. I won't allow it! Absolutely!"
Pressed down by Ren's vigor and strong declaration, the Chijutsushi backed off. But, Kureha - the one that didn't move an inch from that place looked down on the boy and fearlessly laughed.
"I see - that's like saying there's no more room for discussion - well then - let's start shall we?"
As if encouraged by Kureha's composure, the Chijutsushi started to prepare or battle. In response to it, so did Kazuma's side.
Unsheathing Enraiha, Ayano shouted:
"Ren, ignore the small fry! Match me!"
"Yes!"
Ayano and Ren let out fireballs simultaneously aiming at Kureha. Even though it was far inferior to their real power, the people who could oppose it were a very select category.
But even when faced with such a calorific value, Kureha didn't loose her smile.
"Fu fu........"
Without moving even a finger, it was clear she didn't use her power. But, the fireballs aiming at her described an arc, as if avoiding her and parted left and right. shrinking as if crushed, they split open.
"Wha.....?"
Kureha started taunting Ayano in mute amazement.
"Is this the famous Kannagi flame from the stories? How very lukewarm huh?"
A cold sweat followed the muscles along the spine. it was entirely impossible to tell what happened. She had no counter-plan for it. She could elevate the calorific value further but will that work?
"I saw it yesterday too - you have a very curious technique. You, are you really a Chijutsushi?"
From Ayano's back, feeling disturbed, a voice that kept it's cool reached. Always calm and steady in all respects, a low voice that she grew accustomed to hear.
"Kazuma!? What did just happened?"
Casually controlling Ayano's question, Kazuma started walking.
"That ability, did you receive it together with your power?"
"......................."
Easily divulging her most important secret, for one moment, Kureha opened her eyes wide. But she immediately regained her composure and expressed a suspicious and somewhat transcendental smile.
"True, if you saw Yuuji's shape, it's no wonder you saw through me. But that was wrong. Because I was born with it, you see"
Stopping without changing her posture, Kureha talked indifferently.
"Without being able to manipulate even a grain of sand, the one who can't hear the voice of spirits, I can on the contrary use this. A unique power. Because of it, Father hated me very much. All the more because it was so strong."
"Even when that strong, did you desire even more power?"
"For someone who plans on becoming a sorcerer, don't you think that's a natural desire?"
"...........I think that depends on the power."
Ayano was unable to follow those two's indifferent exchange. She couldn't understand the omitted parts from their own self-evident truth.
"Hey!"
Finally loosing her patience Ayano pulled the hem of Kazuma's jacket.
"Explain. What is Kureha's power?"
Requesting it in a tentatively small voice, in her own way she tried to pay attention not to spoil the mood. But it wasn't effective.
Kazuma had a truthfully annoyed face, that only changed when seeing Ren's expression, standing next to Ayano, asking the same question.
"It's the control of gravity."
".........the control.........of gravity........", Ayano repeated once more, amazed.
It's not like she didn't understand the meaning of the words. But -
"Why is a Chijutsushi able to do that?"
The phenomena caused by the Spirit Magic were exceedingly pragmatic. For a Enjuthushi flame, for a Chijutsushi soil and stone - they are able to manipulate such things.
Surely, if one presumed gravity was an adaptation of the four elements, it would be a symbol of the <Earth> attribute but the Spirit magic doesn't handle such general concept like symbols.
While it may be true that the flame is the symbol of destruction and regeneration, a Enjutsushi that is able to manifest a <Healing Flame> has yet to appear.
Although it wasn't unreasonable for Ayano to be surprised, Kazuma completely discarded such considerations.
"it can't be helped it you thought so before this. But accept the reality in front of you."
"Well, you could say that..........", Ayano mumbled insecure.
Being the opponent of gravity, an invisible power, she didn't have the slightest idea on how to fight it.
"You must start by recognizing the distortions in space. Don't see it with your eyes and don't think about it. Just feel it."
"Don't say such even-before-the-first-generation-of-battle-manga lines..............."
Ayano was sulking but Kazuma didn't really pay attention to her. Shifting his focus on Kureha, he said:
"We don't have time to carefully work over the battle plan, you know right? Because the other side is trying to waste time."
Ayano too observed Kureha. In all this time they were conversing, no matter how much opportunities she had for attacking she didn't and only stood in front of the shrine. As if she doesn't proactively wants to fight.
Is she buying time? For the Tsuwabuki people to do st, there can only be one reason.
"Then, the ceremony is already.........."
"Correct, it's about time for it to begin."
"Is- isn't this really bad? I need to hurry!", Ren shouted, completely changing his facial expression.
Lightly knocking his head to calm down, Kazuma laughed.
"That's true. You must hurry. That's why, a little unreasonableness can't be helped, right?"
Faced with Kazuma's smile, that no matter how you look at it was scheming, Ren unintentionally backed off. Unwilling to break his commitment, he chose some prudent words.
"Killing it's absolutely no good."
No one will become a sacrifice - if he couldn't keep that promise, saving Ayumi will have lost its meaning. It's not a question of finishing it with <it can't be helped>.
"That's fine, the one to experience hardships it's only you."
"Ehh.........me?"
Without answering back, Kazuma lifted Ren by grabbing him by the collar. He held him aloft with all his power.
"Ni- Nii-sama!?"
"Gooooooooooooo!!"
He threw him violently. The small body wrapped in wind, instantly reached a speed of two hundred kilometers and before any of the Chijutsushi had time to react, reached the small shrine and disappeared inside the cave.
"Uuuuaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!!"
From inside the cave, the boy's shrieks, reverberating over and over could be heard.
"................................"
Friend or foe regardless, they all stared dumbfounded at the interior of the shrine and only Kazuma threw his chest out with pride.
"Excellent, it turned out well"
"Wait a secooooooond!", shouted Ayano after coming to her senses.
"What is it?"
"Don't you <What is it?> me!! Why are you being so reckless!?"
As Ayano's hands grabbed him by the collar and shook him with an almost magical skill, Kazuma laughed with an endlessly superficial smile.
"Ah! Isn't it fine? I made sure to harden the defenses"
"Even so, with that unreasonable speed!?"
"It can't be helped right? If he was any slower, he might have been shot down. I'm telling you not to worry, he may feel faint but I made it so he won't get hurt."
"........really? In that case it's fine.........."
But if Ren were to hear those words, no matter how gentle a child he is, he would have complained in a big voice.
"Where is the part I may feel fainttttttttttt...................?"
Part 2
"Uwaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!!!"
Together with that scream, Ren landed right in the center of that ceremonial place. That is, he crashed there.
The Chijutsushi that were just about to start the ceremony watched in a daze how a boy was suspended right before the technique's focal point and then he fell over with a grumbling sound.
Lying face down as if prostrating, Ren didn't even twitch.
Is he dead? At the time the Chijutsushi started to think so, his fingertips began moving as if convulsing and then, while weakly shaking his head, he got up.
"....ugh"
Nii-sama............this was a bit overdone............
The screamed that was turned against the entire world, because of the crash's intensity, couldn't come out. Adjusting his breathing, he firmly held to his consciousness in order for it not to fly away.
From all of Ren's personal experience it wasn't something that could be easily be brushed off as <It made me somewhat dizzy>. Only comparing it with ten times the speed of a roller-coaster gives maybe a similar feel..
The barrier of wind flawlessly protected the body from wounds but did nothing to improve the riding experience. In the middle of the ride while rebounding from wall to wall and ground to ceiling, rotating vertically, rotating horizontally, spinning, he was entirely exhausted by the complex 3D maneuver.
"No......no more..............I'll vomit...."
While his semicircular canals had yet to recover, his brain gave him a shaking feeling, as if the earth was undulating. His stomach was convulsing and from inside his mouth, a regurgitating movement was trying to start.
It was at that time when that voice made his ears shook.
"...................Ren?"
".........!"
An impossible to confuse, soft voice. More precious than anyone or anything, remembering her elegantly simple smiling face, Ren stood up the pain. In front of her, it's impossible to be more disgraceful than this. Controlling his nausea with desperate effort, he slowly raised his face.
Only a few centimeters away - literally in front of him, she was there. It seems she was fully dressed for the sacrifice, wearing a red hakama and a white coat, the typical costume of a shrine maiden. Her hair was loose, naturally overflowing.
"Aaaah - how beautiful......."
Forgetting his situation, Ren became fascinated with her. For him there was the one and only - Tsuwabuki Ayumi's figure.
"Why......are you here?"
Towards Ayumi inquiring so in bewilderment, Ren extended a hand, smiling. He naturally informed her of the natural conclusion.
"I came to save you"
"Ren"
With a bitter facial expression, Ayumi slowly shook her head. She turned away, as if refusing the extended hand.
"No. I must carry on my mission. it's impossible to run away."
A clear refusal. But even so, Ren didn't withdraw his hand.
"Yes, I know. But that's been solved. Because I'll defeat the demon beast myself."
".........eh?"
Almost as if she didn't comprehend what he said, Ayumi opened her eyes wide. After a few seconds, when her eyes were full of understanding, she promptly doubt it and then she switched to negation.
"That sort of thing.....it's impossible"
"I can do it"
With a quiet self-confidence, Ren declared so.
"For me alone it would be impossible to do but Nii-sama and Nee-sama are lending me their power. If it's those two, no matter what they deal with, they won't loose. They will surely win."
"But - but - !!"
For some reason having the attitude of a cornered person, Ayumi searched for words of rejection.
"What will it happen if you loose? Mt. Fuji will erupt, you know! I would rather die than see that! Because you see, from the beginning I was made for that purpose!"
"That sort of thing it's not worth worrying about."
"............eh?"
"You see, this is something Nee-sama told me but........"
With that introduction, Ren asked the big question.
"What do you want to do?"
"..............!!"
"Whether it's for the sake of averyone else, or duty, or the reason of your existence, you shouldn't concern yourself with such things. What do you want to do? What do you desire? Tell me your wish."
"Eehh, I - I want............"
Decide by yourself the path you want to follow - that kind of thinking was a foreign concept for Ayumi.
From the moment she was made, a fixed road with no place for divergence was pointed out for her.She never thought of getting off it.
The self that will become a sacrifice no matter what. Imagining that, Ayumi remembered she was reminded of an uneasy feeling close to horror. A dread that shook the very root of the meaning of her existence. Comparing it to the fear of loosing her life in the ceremony, that's not even close. Because the concept called death is nothing more than the proof of accomplishing the task bestowed upon her.
"Before coming here I met Yuuji-san"
"For the sake of protecting Mayumi-san Yuuji-san shed away his humanity. Literally throwing everything away, all for the sake of holding me back. A fighter throwing away his life is certainly strong. But. "
Remembering the strength of Yuuji's grotesque form, Ren shuddered. When thinking of the power difference it seems right to say that winning was nothing short of a miracle.
"Frankly, I was overwhelmed. I thought that such a human prepared to go that far the sake of protecting a precious person was really amazing. But - that was wrong."
That was maybe one of the possible answers. Rather than throwing away one's ideals and loosing everything, maybe that was the better choice. But, even so.
"The happiness made of someone else's sacrifice it's turned to sorrow. You can't feel delight only by yourself. At the very least, I do not wish for that. I want to choose another path."
Not to sacrifice everything else for the sake of the important, not to throw away the self -
Without loosing anything, for everyone to become happy - he definitely thinks such a dream-like path exists.
"I will protect you. I will protect you and all that you want to protect. So please, don't give up."
"Ren - "
As if the held out hand was inviting her, Ayumi took a step forward. But -
"We won't let you!"
Together with unrefined voices, stone spears appeared in the space in between as if to separate them.
With eyes that held no emotion Ren turned in the direction of the voice.
"How long do you think we would listen to your foolish jokes? We won't let a brat like you get in the way of our family's holiest ceremony. While we lament the foolishness of challenging Chijutsushi so deep underground we will destroy you even if you don't resist."
The practitioners possible representative, the oldest one, gave the execution order in an antique speaking-style.
In response to that voice, the Chijutsushi prepared their attack. Ren starred at the offensive approaching from every direction with bored looking eyes.
One moment. The downpour of stones from overhead, the fangs rapidly growing from the ground, were instantly all burned to nothing.
"Wh - wha.........."
"Hey - "
Facing the Chijutsushi prepared to flee after the failure of the one-kill attack, Ren informed them full of irritation.
"I'm sorry but right now I'm in the middle of a once in a lifetime confession. Can't you please not get in the way?"
"..........................."
That was equivalent with but no one complained. To the point of foolishness, the overwhelming difference in power sealed all objection.
"Well then, let's start again."
Comfortably accepting the following silence, Ren extended his hand a second time.
"Will you trust in me?"
