A/N : This is my first attempt at fanfictions. Please do review and rate. I am not that familiar with Japanese honorifics, so I have used the names of the characters.

Disclaimer : I do not own Kaze no Stigma or any of its characters.

Chapter 1

A month had passed after the destruction of Pandemonium. Since then, the Kannagi Clan had slowly begun to grow from the fear that had spread among its members when Pandemonium was at its peak. While the head family had welcomed the Contractor of Wind with open arms, the remaining branch families refused to let go of their notion of looking down upon Wind Magic, in spite of the threat of war. While some branch family members had witnessed the abilities of the contractor first hand, the others remained sceptical of his prowess. But all these speculations hardly fazed the Fujutsushi, as he stood watch over the Kannagi house compound, unseen to the inhabitants of the house. Eyes glowing an azure blue, he casually swept his senses over the compound and the nearby areas for any intruders or spiritual distortions. Kazuma Kannagi – No, Kazuma Yagami; He still had no interest to come back into the family after his banishment – sighed in boredom, wondering how he had become the bodyguard of the very family that cast him out, the family he swore never to see again, much less save. But all that had changed during a few months, destroying years of apathy that he had developed towards the Fire Magic Users in his family. While his invisibility might have fooled the lesser members of the family, he had no chance of hiding away from his accursed father, Genma Kannagi and the relatively much better head of the family, Jugo Kannagi. This fact was soon confirmed as the pair walked out of Jugo's room and waited for him near the pond. Breaking away from his ruminations, he slowly glided down to them, and dispelled the air barrier that rendered him invisible.

Jugo had a soft smile on his face as always, while his father stared at him as though he were a stranger – some things never changed. Looking at them, Kazuma wondered if his life would have turned out differently had Jugo been his father, not Genma. As he let the power stored in his body disperse away as a gust of wind spirits, Jugo's smile widened and he said, "Looks like even the Contractor of Wind is improving constantly. How long were you able to maintain that state of yours this time, Kazuma?" Kazuma shrugged, "No big deal. I prefer to keep in touch with my abilities time to time. Wouldn't do to become rusty, considering you entrusted your dear daughter's safety to me. I'd like to do my job, at least for the fortune you pay me, you know." And the peaceful morning atmosphere was destroyed by the snappy reply from the hot-headed heir of the Kannagi Clan, wielder of the legendary Enraiha, Ayano Kannagi. Walking swiftly towards them, she carried the flaming Enraiha in her hand. After bowing to her father and uncle, she said, "Well, that's about the only thing you are useful for right now. What happened to the Youma that we were hunting down last week, huh?" Crossing her arms in a huff, she continued, "While you may be fooling Father and the rest of the family, let me make this clear – I think you aren't letting any of us know the true extent of your abilities. As much as my father trusts you, I don't – especially not after you pushed me into the pond." Kazuma sighed, running a hand through his brown locks. She still hadn't dropped that little incident. He hadn't really meant to annoy her back then, he was just caught a little off hand, when she had nearly slapped him and said he could rely on her too, depend on her too. The fiery princess was unlike any girl he had ever seen before. Without realising, he had already started falling for her, which just made it even more difficult for him to stand and watch as she battled Youma after Youma, risking her life. He wanted nothing more than to seal within one of his air barriers and keep her safe, but he knew the girl would hate him forever if he did so. But none of these feelings meant that he would forget Tsui Ling – the girl who had changed him when he had lost his way, far away from home in a strange land.

He realised he must have been staring the girl for a while, because a steady blush had crept onto her cheeks, and she stuttered, "Wh-what the hell are you staring at?" He gave a lop-sided grin, and replied, "Nothing in particular. Although you don't seem to have made much of an improvement yet, you still have all the time in the world to worry about my skills, don't you?" Ayano blushed an intense red, before snapping back, "Like I care! Go to hell, I don't care!" Having delivered her part, she spun around to walk away, only to bump into her blond cousin, Ren. The little boy had grown, both physically and mentally since the time his banished elder brother had returned, and had decided that his brother was as much a role model as Ayano, Jugo and Genma. On seeing his angry sister walk away muttering about how useless Kazuma was, he immediately concluded that his brother had once again managed to annoy Ayano. Sighing he bowed to his father, Jugo, and Kazuma, and said, "Can't you really give her a break brother? You both are supposed to be partners, yet you end up angering her the most." Genma finally spoke, "We have an actual crisis at hand, and you are arguing like immature children. We have lives to protect here; do you understand the seriousness of the situation at all?" Kazuma, irritated, replied, "I can tell when the situation is serious, old man, and I don't really need your help. Have you forgotten how I whipped you a few months back?" Rising to the bait, the stoic man replied, "I never fought you with my full abilities till now, punk. In fact, I could give you a sample right now." In response to his flaring anger, fire spirits gathered around him, heating their surroundings. Not taking the threat lightly, Kazuma drew his powers as well, and the air crackled as their auras clashed against each other. Ren looked at Jugo, silently pleading him to put an end to their argument. Jugo cleared his throat and said, "While it is established that both of you are exceptional Jutsushis, I'd prefer that your abilities were used against our enemies. If we fight among ourselves, then we have already lost. Come, there are matters of grave importance to be discussed. Ren." he turned to the boy and continued, "Tell Ayano that she is to participate as well. Your presence is required too."

An hour later, the meeting room was set; The participants were seated on the floor and were waiting for the discussions to begin. Well, most of them at least. The heir to the Clan was still missing, and so was the boy sent to call her. Kazuma sniggered; So much for being the responsible heir. Jugo kept glancing at the sliding paper door, no doubt waiting for his daughter and nephew. As their wait, prolonged, the room's inhabitants decided something was up. Jugo looked at Genma, silently asking him to go find out; Years of working together had let their understanding grow to such a great level, that if anything were to happen to Ayano, God forbid, he would gladly hand over the ancestral Enraiha to his brother in blood and arms, Genma. As Genma stood up, the door was wrenched open, the entrant hardly minding that the motion had apart torn the paper. It was Ren; and his face confirmed their suspicions. Ren gasped out: "Ayano…taken…captive…message…blood…". And all hell broke loose.