Hello!

This is the third installment of the Rocky Waters series but if you're interested you can read this without reading the others…I'm still debating on a T or M rating…honestly M (for now) would make things more interesting so if any of the readers of the series has an opinion I'm open to it…
This one is staying a bit more true to the original anime plot line and the fighting, with a mix of KxA new found relationship , so its bound to be a fun one to write ;) I'm working on a Cat Returns fic as well so if I'm not 100% quick with these believe me their coming; its Summer and I'm in a writing mood ! There will be a lot more drama with new and old enemies emerging, and more drastic turn of events then the last two...
Anywho, let me know what you think with reviews! I'm really trying to get this AxK thing up to the next level with this ! Thanks !

Rocky Waters 3:

Tides Churn, An Old Enemy Returns

Chapter 1: Can Water Douce A Flame, Or Does A Flame Steam Up the Water?

"You know, I really like having you around as my girlfriend and all Ayano, but can you at least try to stop the demon from getting away if you're gonna be my girlfriend and the head of the family?"

"I did! This thing can move really quick!"

"Well that would be because it's like the old Ubagabi's were. Clearly she wasn't a virtuous girl and became haunted for it so yea; she's going to be a fastball of light. Seems like some strange hybrid, if you didn't already figure that out"

"Don't talk to me like I'm dumb!"

"I'm not, I'm just saying, next time you-" Kazuma paused. A flash of blue whipped past them.

"What the heck was that?!" Ayano stopped for a moment too.

"Spiritual Energy." Kazuma's face got serious. He squinted at it ahead.

"Another demon?" Ayano's eyes went wide.

"No. I mean water spiritual. I think that was from an water affinity power…but the Water Tribe never shows up near Fire tribe territory…"

"Are you telling me someone's trying to steal this kill from us? No way! Not after all we did to lure it out!" Ayano began running again.

"Wait, Ayano!" Kazuma followed using his wind powers to push him ahead of her again. It was strange. Why would someone who was from the Water clan be this close to the Fire Clan's turf? It didn't make any sense; they had always been rivals and opposites... if a Fire Clan was one a Water Clan's turf, they'd be better off keeping the low down and vice versa. They'd never got along in the history of clans- ever.

Water was considered one of the weaker clans and they long tried to change that. Water and Wind had long been affiliated until the Wind Clan died out, according to lore. Sure people have used wind powers before, but like that Tanaki tribe that clearly had tried to gain power over them using Demon means, never did. They chose to appease a demon instead of a god, and no contractor was every born out of that. Anyway, back when the wind clan fizzled out Water Clans stopped being able to use their ice powers.

That's when he saw her.

A girl, maybe a year younger than him, with short light blue hair that curled around her face was standing in front of the spirit. She didn't look like she was going to give up the fight. Demon fire surrounding that spirit would actually succumb easier to the Water's powers. Still he doubted Ayano would give up so easily.

"What are you doing?!" Ayano finally caught up.

"Killing the demon. Obviously." She retorted equally as quickly, and called out some long looking trident that almost seemed like Ayano's Enraiha. "Nerhu!" She called and with a quick motion of swirling water coming out of what looked like a trident-like weapon, the demon was gone.

"Who are you?" Kazuma landed next to Ayano.

"You were here already and you didn't stop her?" Ayano asked surprised he seems so nonchalant about the whole situation.

"Well you didn't either." He shrugged.

She turned to face them. "The name is Umiko." She brushed her hair back out of her eyes, as it flounced a bit in the wind. "Daughter and heiress future Head of the Water Clan from the Mifune Tribe. I've returned here because there's been an increase in demons around, and I'm on a mission to prove my worthiness. Speaking of I can tell you got a serious aura about you…but no way does it stink like fire…"

"Stink? Since when do aura's stink?!" Ayano looked peeved.

"You can tell that I have my wind powers that easily?" Kazuma questioned this.

"Well I am the heir to the family name, so I do pride myself in my ability to sniff out the spiritual, but honestly I kind of recognize you."

"Recognize me?"

"Kazuma what's going on? You know her?" Ayano felt a twinge that she was missing something. A subtle tinge of jealousy came with it.

"Yea, if Kazumas the name, well, I used to live here when I was young. My father and mother were both of tribes of the water bloodline so basically I had a hard time keeping my powers in. Popped a lot of pipes in my day."

"That powerful huh?" Kazuma put a thoughtful hand to his mouth. Was she bragging? Or lying?

"Point is, before we moved out of here, because yea, I couldn't keep my powers under control and the Fire clan was around, I remember seeing that you around. I'm only a year younger than you I'd say so I remember hearing a bit about the Fire Clan having some family issues. Shame you've gone back."

"It's not a shame! He's welcome!" Ayano butted in.

"But I'm not a fire adept anymore." Kazuma raised a brow.

"No I thought you seemed different." Umiko shook her head. She wore a pale purple no sleeved turtleneck shirt and a black skirt, her large blue eyes tinged with some kind of appearance of confidence. "Anyway I'm here to prove that I can control my powers. My father said if I could kill more youmas and demons then he did in his youth without causing chaos I'd be game to return home. Just so happens it's a hot spot here."

"And how many have you killed?" Ayano asked daringly.

"5."

"Five?" She asked, again. "Really?"

"Oh I thought 5 thousand was a good number. I only have another 5 hundred to go...well less now since i arrived. I plan to return by a year.."

"How long have you been hunting?"

"Since my brother died. Which was when I was ten was when my mother and father got me into it. Back then it was hell, now it's been easy…I've learned to control it with the Nerhu. I've scavenged places everywhere. I don't care about the expenses either."

"I can see that. If that's true." Kazuma challenged.

"Why wouldn't it be?" Umiko asked.

"Because the water tribe is supposed to be the weakest. Water has good cleansing powers, but the problem with cleansing is it never lasts. Kind of like taking a shower; Got to keep doing it over and over to stay clean. I also hear it depends on the moon's cycle; the water tribe is most powerful according to the tide. But purifying powers were a lot easier when water could be frozen or increased with the powers of wind; attacks were more powerful, but that consisted of a wind and water tribe co-existing or well-"

"Well what?" Ayano asked.

"Producing a kid together." Kazuma finished. "That kid had better control. Rarely happened though. Blood lines don't mix."

"And you're now a wind contractor huh?" Umiko looked up at him thoughtfully.

"Hey, back off." Ayano said. Kazuma smiled at Ayano's possessiveness. She'd gotten bolder in some ways in accepting their relationship since the summer.

Umiko seemed to ignore her. "But you're not a fire clan member anymore huh? Those wind powers would go awesome with my water-powers? The whirlpools would be out of this world. I've always wanted to see a demon freeze."

"I've rejoined the family to an extent. I think Ayano here cleared that up."

"That's a shame. I mean pretty crappy you've gone back."

"You're trying to make up for your mistakes…I'm sure you know the feeling. I went back because I'm proved my self worth the same way you are trying to." Kazuma defended his decision.

"Well it's not my fault my powers are crazy. And it's not yours either that yours weren't. Frankly, if they rejected you that easily, I'm sure I could make a better offer to you."

"A year ago I might have accepted." Kazuma said bluntly.

"Hmm. Well if I see you around, I'll take the help, because I bet you're powers with mine would do a lot better than fire. On the other hand, if I see you…" She turns to Ayano. "I can't promise you won't get wiped out again. I'm going to kill the demons around here before you do so I can get my count up."

"Oh was that a threat? And why are you okay to Kazuma helping you? He's going to help me before you. I am his girlfriend." Ayano stepped forward.

"Oh really?" She said. "That's too bad. You seem to only be dragging him down." She suddenly left.

"This is great." Ayano groaned.

"What? Can't handle some competition?" Kazuma turned to her with a smirk.

"Are you kidding me? I'm not going to let her kill all the demons herself! This is our turf."

"Well if you're too busy killing demons she might hit on me again... I was referring to the fact that you two might have to fight over me…" Kazuma gave a flirtatious grin.

"Oh aren't you cocky? Well if you're going to chase every tail that comes wagging I guess I need a new boyfriend…" She turned away.

"I never said that. Don't get so worked up." He raised a brow. He was surprised how quick she was. Normally he'd just back off and let her get angry, but he knew well how their defense mechanisms worked now.

"Plus, what does she have that I don't? Water powers? Hah, she had a lucky shot there…all because of the element of surprise…" Ayano shook her head. She waited to hear Kazuma's response. She turned around to notice he wasn't there. "Kazuma?"

"UMPH!"

Suddenly he was behind her pulling her down onto the grass of the park as they tumbled, and rolled to the ground.

"What was that?!"

"The element of surprise…Thought I'd try it for myself." He had her pinned down. Her red hair spilled into the grass.

"Well I'd say it worked." She said, trying not to blush.

"Did I stop you from getting angry at me?" He whispered into her ear.

"Well I-uh-"

"Good. Because you don't have competition," He started as he kissed her. "Well…I guess unless she ends up being a better kisser than you. She did kind of hint towards wanting to have my children."

"KAZUMA!" She pushed him off of her.

"I was joking." He laughed.

"Good, then I'm only joking that I when I went shopping with the girls, we happened to go into an undergarment store…now I know you're birthday is coming up but frankly I don't see any point in keeping it anymore… I mean who knows…maybe I'll just have to return it…"

"Wait, did you say undergarment? You meant Lingerie right? And what? Who taught you to use sex against me? That's just cruel." He was a bit shocked.

"You know I talk to Kirika more than you think...she's the only adult female I have in my life. But I'm not lying either. I do think about these things…plus I thought some leverage would be good. She was right."

"So if I act like a good boy do you think I could get a peak tonight? My birthdays not for another month or so."

"If you're lucky. Good luck crawling out of that hole you just dug." She crossed her arms and closed her eyes dismissively raising her nose in the air.

"How does fancy dinner and a new bracelet sound?"

"Is that really all you think I care about Kazuma?"

"No, of course not. I get it you want respect. But if you don't want either one of those things, I don't have to sweeten the pot."

"Well it would help the case." She opened her eye from her pout. "Only if you stop pretending to care about that blue haired bimbo…"

"Nah, you're red hair's a lot prettier, especially when it's spilled on a bed…"

"Ahem!" She started to turn away.

"Or done up in a nice dress for dinner?" He took her by the waist and lifted them into the air.

"Nice save." She said reluctantly.

"So is it a date?" He asked, as he pressed her closer to him.

She reluctantly gave in, blushing with the pressure of his chest on hers.

"It's a date."