Disclaimer: I do not own Kaze no Stigma. Nor the characters. Nor the story which I wish was still continued...

But enjoy!

Kazuma stared at the Kannagi residence no longer with disgust - although it was still there, bubbling inside - but with a growing fondness. He couldn't wait to see the others again. Ren, Juugo...Ayano. It'd been too long. Like always, as soon as he took one foot onto the grounds, a group of fire wielders didn't waste a second to surround him. Ha. Even after all the help he'd offered them, the family were still as pretentious and arrogant as before, assuming anyone with a different gift was weak. Easily crushed.

That's what made their defeat so satisfactory.

Kazuma let out a small laugh as six men dropped to the floor, pressing against their stomach as if they had a fever. He'd receive the scolding for that later on. Now it was time to see them again. See Ren's smile, Ayano's outraged expression and Juugo's abnormal calmness. He opened the door slowly, catching the surprise off Ren's face at the perfect moment. There was not even enough time to greet as Ren's arms and legs wrapped around Kazuma's neck and waist tightly. Weird, Kazuma didn't remember Ren being so light. Too light.

"Brother, you're back!" He giggled. "I haven't seen you since forever - how long are you staying here for?"

He was so excited he wasn't giving himself enough time to finish speaking. Or breathe. Kazuma slowly let his brother go, ruffling his hair when it seemed like he was still at a loss for words. Kazuma missed this. Outside life was quite boring without them. Surprising, even for missed the eccentrics of the house, his brother's squeals, Ayano's burst of anger. Speaking of which...

"Where's Ayano?"

Ren's face fell. He looked up at Kazuma as if he'd been slapped, as if he'd met the worst of demons. Whatever that expression was, Kazuma didn't like it. He was close to asking if something happened when Ayano appeared from the judo room. There was no need to ask. It was obvious there was something wrong, something different about her. She saw him standing in the middle of the room, managed a small impression of surprise, bowed then sat down. She'd changed. Even with the way she'd walked, it carried a more dangerous manner. Her hair (which was now down to her upper thigh rather than her waist) had darkened to a blood red. Her eyes too. She carried herself with pride but there was no aura around her.

No bubbling rage.

"So, Ayano, how are you?"

"I'm perfectly well, Kazuma Yagami." She turned her head towards him. Despite the creepiness, Kazuma was surprised to see how beautiful she'd grown to be in just a couple of months. "And you?"

"I'm - I'm fine."

At that, she turned away. He leaned close to Ren, keeping close eye in case she eavesdropped. Ren almost seemed scared to talk with her in the room. "What's up with redhead?"

"It's been a long time since you've left."

Kazuma calculated the time in his head, "What're you talking about? It's only been six months."

"Time doesn't pass quickly when you've..." He stopped, stepping closer and lowering his tone. "...when you've been imprisoned by a demon."

They looked at each other. Ren to see if Kazuma would laugh, and Kazuma to see whether Ren was being serious or not. Not a flinch in his eyes. Ren was being deadpanned serious.

"Ayano was imprisoned by a demon? For how long?"

"It was two months after you'd left." Ren glanced cautiously at her. "We'd only managed to get her back four weeks ago."

She'd been taken hostage by a demon for four months. No wonder she looked so stiff, why her face looked practically emotionless. She'd probably been tortured, haunted, even worse -
Kazuma shook his head. No. He wasn't going to think about what happened, he would ask himself on what he could do to help. He took a seat beside her, taking deep breaths and watching the way she simply stared at the empty space where Juugo normally sat. When she spoke, it was said with no humour.

"You're unusually chipper today."

Kazuma looked to see whether she was talking to him. Her eyes hadn't moved from that same empty spot in front of her. He cleared his throat in an attempt to both catch her attention and stop the chills from running down his back. Ayano glanced at him for only a second.

"Don't worry, I'm not talking to you." She sensed the obvious question hanging in the air. She simply pointed to the cushion, narrowing her eyes as a gust of wind rushed past them. This wind was dirty, carrying the small remnants of shattered demon no doubt, a disgusting scent want over him. Kazuma called the Spirits of the Wind quickly - something he'd been practising while away - and saw the screaming thing, lounging in Juugo's corner.

"And you're unusually grotesque." Its voice was chipped and rough. A mixture of both men and women, of all the innocent souls it'd devoured in its lifetime. "What happened to the murderous Ayano we all know and love?"

Kazuma noticed the cautious peek his way, but pretended not to care as he eyed the moulding demon.

"That person was not me."

It craned its neck, spreading its ghastly smell onto the floorboards and walls, "Oh? She sure did look like you." Ayano froze, clenching her hands together as if that would make it go away. It smiled."Oh, darling, you are so very broken and yet no one seems to notice. Why don't you come back? I'm sure Bernhardt will welcome you with open arms. He won't be mad that you escaped."

Bernhardt. So he was the mind behind her kidnapping. Kazuma tried his best to stay focused, but Bernhardt's face kept appearing. He always seemed to be lurking one step behind. Taking Tsui Ling, trying to create Pandemonium and now this...using Ayano as a toy, a message that he wasn't finished.

"Do you know what the difference is between you and me, Night?" Ayano whispered.

It craned its head.

"You have given up. I still have one more goal to do."

"Oh? And what is that, fire princess?"

At the name, Ayano twitched. Sheets of tears covered her sight and streamed down her cheeks.

"Kill Bernhardt Rhodes and destroy the Armagest."