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

But enjoy! Please review!


Ayano should've been at home. Juugo assumed she'd barricaded herself inside her room, huddling in the darkest corner like all madmen did apparently. Instead, she was sitting on one of a dozen trees surrounding a mansion in the middle of the mountains. A mansion which belonged to the Eisen family. Her body was almost weightless on the tree's arm, hovering over a window cautiously as she waited for the maid in the room to leave. A room which belonged to Kubo.

Her appointment was two weeks from now. The Kannagi family was meant to be with her, along with Kazuma, as they entered through the entrance of the mansion with Eisen's family closely watching. She was supposed to speak with Kubo with twenty pairs of eyes monitoring their every move. Ayano didn't want that. Blood boiled when she imagined it. So here she was.

Her own personal appointment.

She knocked on the window, certain he was alone. Once. Twice. Two long minutes passed before he opened it.

They noticed each other's demons almost immediately. He had only one. An ugly, broken spirit which curled over his shoulder like an old woman. Its sockets took up almost half of its face, a black chasm meant to lure you in and steal your soul. Its mouth hung open, a nasty replacement of a tongue drooping out of it. Kubo analysed her demons as much as she did, finally narrowing his eyes on her once finished. No surprise on his pale face. Not an ounce of fear.

"What do you want?" His voice was frail and cracked.

Just like hers when she was rescued.

"Bernhardt's head in my hands." She said, "And I need you to help me."

He studied her for a moment before letting her in. His demon coiled around his torso to settled by his leg, and although it was nothing but black, its eyes followed her. Ayano spotted a photo by his bed: a picture of Kubo most likely before he was taken. His brown hair cut short, skin a youthful tan, eyes filled with so much life and spark. Now, his hair touched his collarbones, dull and haggard. His skin as pale as hers was. No spark in his eyes except the desire to see something burn.

"You want to kill Bernhardt." He sneered, "How'd you plan to do that?"

"I have a lead." That's all she was willing to give. Until she was sure he was on her side.

Kubo raised a brow, eyeing the two demons curled around her with interest, "How long were you in there?"

It felt as if she'd never left, "Four months."

He stopped. The first expression of surprise on his face, "F-Four?"

"You?"

"One. I couldn't handle one month. How did you -?"

"Not even I know the answer to that." She turned, "I plan to destroy the Armagest. Will you help me?"

Help us.

Kubo started at the voice, "Who was that?"

Not a who. A what.

"My demons."

We're not yours, fire princess.

"While you're attached to my body, you are." She snapped.

"Mine - Mine doesn't speak."

Maybe because she doesn't know how. Some demons aren't bred for communication.

The boy reached for the chair, shoving his head in his hands. Ayano knew the expression too well. Memories were resurfacing. The pain of the procedure, how her screams filled the entire hall, how Bernhardt simply watched from a distance, smirking at the blood pouring from her eyes. When Kiyohime bonded with her, she felt cold. As if all warmth was being stripped from her mind and soul. Her limbs frozen. Night brought utter darkness to her life. A darkness that made her feel alone. Unloved. Completely useless.

It was a feeling she'd never forget.

"I'll help you." He mumbled, "I want nothing more than to see him - all of them - writhe in pain."


"She's gained an ally."

Bernhardt glanced at his assistant, Lapis, with amusement. Ayano Kannagi was definitely an interesting specimen. Even after her 'escape', she continued to intrigue him. Surprise him. Being able to withstand two high-ranked demons when few survived through one. She'd survived longer out there then Bernhardt would've expected. He'd thought she would've been eaten by now, by the demons forced to follow her.

She was just too interesting.

"Preparations are done." Lapis continued, "Everything is in place."

"Good. Let's make this easy for them, shall we? We can't have them missing the grand finale."

And how wonderful it will be.