Author's Note/Disclaimer: References to the American restaurant look-alike, not named, are akin to Chucky Cheese/ the possoum tavern in A Goofy Movie. Song lyrics by Florence and the Machine's song, "Leave My Body".

I own nothing but the errors.

*Rated T for adult themes/sexuality!

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Chapter 17

From Dreams

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Moving up to higher ground...
but history keeps pulling me down.

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With no news on Karo, the days seemed to stretch themselves around worry, anxiety, and battle practice. The tension in the air was practically palpable, with the entire Kannagi family constantly waiting for something to strike, for the other shoe to drop—for everything to go dark.

Eve had been largely missing from their group, something they all found unnerving, knowing that she was supposed to be Karo's ally. Ren seemed particularly depressed and spent most of his time casting fire by himself, though Ayano worked with him every day in training. The crimson-haired heiress felt helpless at this, though the younger man insisted that the practice kept him occupied.

Everything was bleak, and Ayano herself was fairly gloomy, as she'd had barely had any time with Kazuma since Karo's last attack. Both Jugo and Genma kept the Contractor busy with mutual contacts that he might use for information—contacts that were apparently everywhere except in their near vicinity. It made spending time together nearly impossible and, for Ayano, this seemed particularly unacceptable since they were all waiting to fight, get beat, or get killed.

It all gave a certain gravity to even the most mundane tasks, including cleaning the floors of the meeting room as she was doing today (in order to relieve stress). All of it felt increasingly like a pointless endeavor.

Ayano sighed and pulled her hair back into a messy updo, wondering if she should go get dinner somewhere—somehow, she just wasn't in the mood to cook. She looked down at herself and saw old shorts and a torn t-shirt and knew she'd have to change if she wanted to go out. It made her sigh again, both at that thought and at her own lethargy.

As she went outside to dump out her cleaning bucket, she noticed how chilly the air was and had the sudden realization that it was fall. Somehow, with everything going on, she hadn't seen it coming. The leaves were slowly turning, the breeze picked up petals and sent them into the air and something about the movement reminded Ayano of the dreams she's had for the last several nights. Dreams that involved increasing amounts of ash.

She paused on the porch and thought about what it was, exactly, that was so familiar. Unlike Kazuma and Ren, Ayano had kept having dreams night after night since her attack. In every one, she watched Kazuma die, sometimes burning, sometimes bled to death, like a sacrifice. Each time she ran to him, only to find Bernheardt standing there, instead, mouthing something she couldn't understand. It wasn't the first time Ayano had nightmares about Kazuma dying, but the excruciating vividness of it made her feel like it wasn't a dream, but a memory. The thought was so unnerving that she hadn't brought it up to anyone.

The cold wind brought her out of her reverie and she watched the sky of the early afternoon, trying to enjoy the day, trying to remember that not everything was as doom and gloom as Karo had made it feel recently.

As if on cue, she saw a speck in the distant clouds and felt her heart constrict. She walked out into the yard, anticipating his approach, happy he was home early.

Kazuma greeted her with a smile as he swooped in, walked up to her, and picked her up around the waist. He drew her to him and groaned into her hair, "Damn you look good."

She laughed out loud, almost surprised that she still could, and clung to him. "Compliments will get you everywhere."

"Oh yeah?"

His look was coy until he interrupted it by catching her mouth. Ayano's stomach did summersaults as his lips moved over hers. His stubble brushed her cheeks and chin and she realized that she hadn't seen him since yesterday morning, and only briefly at that. The thought was thoroughly depressing.

"I'm glad you're back," she mumbled and Kazuma sighed, taking a step away from her.

"You and me both."

Ayano thought he looked particularly tired and took his hand, drawing him with her, "Let me make you some tea. Father wants to have a meeting when we're all back." His arm pulled her back and Ayano saw that he was rooted to the spot. He had an intense look in his eyes.

"Actually, I was hoping to take you away for a while."

She raised her eyebrows, "Away? Where to?"

Kazuma sighed again, giving her a smirk, "To grandour and dinner…and a night out."

Ayano bit her lip, "That does sound good…but father…"

Kazuma rolled his eyes, "You've been cooped up here for days. And there's no sense in waiting for bad news."

She thought about for another long minute before relenting, "But I get to choose dinner."

His smile was infections, "Deal."

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o-o-o-o-o

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Ayano had to admit, he was taking this very well.

Jolly cartoon characters waddled around them as she took a big bite of her pizza and looked at Kazuma, across from her. He had one eyebrow raised but showed no other sign that he was appalled by her choice of restaurant.

"This is delicious," she said happily, sipping on her soda. She looked at the bright colored walls and laughing children around them and thought Kazuma looked particularly odd contrasted against the scene, with his dark jacked and cool and handsome features.

"Are you enjoying your food?" she prompted, noting that he'd only eaten a little of his meal.

"Quite," he said and have her a smirk. She figured that it might be harder to annoy his sensibilities when he hadn't been out with her in a bit, and fondness was winning over judgmental looks.

"This used to be my favorite place as a kid," she said, taking another bite, "Dad hated it."

Kazuma smiled, "That sounds about right."

Ayano grinned, "Sorry they don't serve alcohol here."

He shrugged, "We can gave a drink later."

She looked at him curiously, "So what do you have planned there, Mr. Contractor?"

Kazuma didn't reply, hiding his smile with a bite of pizza.

Ayano couldn't deny her curiosity—Kazuma was acting entirely bizarre, and though she was used to a certain amount of coyness and mystery from him, this was fairly new to the red-head.

After dinner they made their way down the street, walking through a part of town she'd never been before. At least, a part of town that seemed to have become developed while she'd been away. They turned down several unfamiliar streets until they were in a neighborhood straight out of the travel books she'd leafed through before her departure three years ago. The buildings were varying colors and shone in the fading light, some green, some red, all with little signs in front of their doors. Most had plants and flowers spilling over their small window boxes.

Ayano grabbed Kazuma's hand, delighted, "This is incredible. How did you find this place?"

He seemed surprised to be holding hands, but just gave a small shrug, "I have areal views. I saw it a few times...it looked like you."

Ayano grinned at him and kept walking, "Definitely. I didn't know this part of town existed."

"Come on," Kazuma said, and led them down as Ayano took in the sights. There was a building that was bright blue with a purple door that reminded her of drawings she'd made as a kid, and one in a shocking yellow with the sign "Magnolia" in front.

"Where are we going?"

"Here."

Ayano saw that they'd stepped in front of a plain white building with ivy and gave Kazuma a questioning look. A plain sign out front read "Rose of Sharon". Why was he taking her down a residential road? Why all the mystery? Kazuma looked slightly sheepish, which was very unlike him, and Ayano opened her mouth…

…and then realization set in. "You mean…"

"Only if you want to. I mean, you said you wanted to move out, and I saw this place, and it would be great to not have to worry about seeing your father when I…visit…"

Ayano swore that if he could, Kazuma would be blushing. She closed her mouth abruptly, realizing she'd been gaping at him. The Contractor fussed with his brown hair, looking at her expectantly.

"You found me a place?"

Kazuma sighed and pushed his hands in his pockets, "Well, let me show you the rest. I know it's not much from the outside, but here..." He led her inside the building and up a few flights of stairs, talking non-stop.

"It's pretty small, but this area's still underdeveloped so the rent's pretty good. I guess most people want to stay with their families but you seem to want your independence. The landlord said the move in date was in few days. Oh yeah. And they have a sandwich shop right down the street and they sell a bunch of desert but yeah, here, this is what really gave me the idea. I saw it while I was flying…"

Kazuma brought her out into the cooling air of the rooftop and Ayano sucked in a breath. The entire space was covered in plants and flowers, like an enormous garden in the middle of the sky. She looked around and found areas—sections, really—with individual gardens with plants and herbs and vegetables. She looked at Kazuma in astonishment and he brought her over to a corner of the building where the sun was setting on varying shades of blue and white flowers, and bright red roses.

"Ayano?"

The stunned woman looked at him again, realizing she hadn't said anything yet and he was looking at her with concern. His dark brows were furrowed.

"This is incredible," she whispered.

He gave her a rare and genuine smile, "Really…?"

She pushed her bangs away, "Are you joking? You…you went through all this trouble…you found me a home…" Her arms were around him in an instant and Kazuma stumbled slightly in surprise, "I love it."

The wind user seemed to release a breath, "I thought maybe it was too…I don't know…something."

Ayano stepped away from him questioningly. She tilted her head, suddenly blushing, "Do you mean…for us to live here…together?"

Kazuma's eyes widened, "No. I mean," he looked uncomfortable which, for him, was very alien. "I don't know what your father would think."

Ayano blushed to the roots of her hair, but her temper rose slightly, "It's not up to him or anything. I—I wouldn't mind." She closed her mouth abruptly, feeling very embarrassed, and not entirely sure why she was embarrassed, considering that they were, well, seeing each other. She fidgeted with the hem of her shirt, "But that's big…right?"

There was a silence and when she looked up she found Kazuma looking at her seriously, "Yeah, it is."

Ayano nodded and moved her fingers quickly through her hair, trying to seem nonchalant, "I really do think this is amazing. It's really perfect." She felt like a child all of a sudden, unsure of how to act and she wondered how to make him feel like what he'd done was more than enough. That she didn't need that kind of commitment from him. Kazuma grabbed her fingers, stopping her ministrations.

"I can do big."

"What?" She sucked in a breath, feeling wind in her hair and suddenly realizing that it had been stirring harder for some time.

"With you," Kazuma continued, his eyes warm and deep, "I—I love…no, I'm in love with you. And that's not changing."

Ayano found a sharp object in her throat and her eyes stung. It annoyed her and made her vision blur and—she just knew she looked stupid, standing there like that, gaping like an idiot. His words brought pure heat through her gut and brain and she was out of words. Suddenly, nothing felt gloomy—her life was full of possibility. And love. And Kazuma.

So Ayano did the best thing she could think of. She flung herself at him.

It must have been the last thing Kazuma was prepared for because, suddenly, they were on the ground and there were plants and weeds and soil around them and Ayano was moving her lips over his so intensely, trying to remove her embarrassment, and her feelings, and just thank him for being, well, Kazuma and loving her and why did he, again? Because she was pretty sure she was crazy, doing this right now in the middle of a roof garden, but she didn't think he really minded, if his groans were any indication. And she knew what she felt for him. Their time apart had proved that much to her.

Kazuma, for his part, was having a really hard time coming to terms with what was happening. It was unlike him to not be in charge of the situation, but that was the thing with being someone like Ayano. She was not mild mannered or sweet. She wasn't very innocent either, he decided, as her tongue danced around his collarbone, and Kazuma thanked the spirits that the building was still under negotiation and no residents would be there until next week. Because this? This was just too goddamn much for him to handle.

He grabbed her hips with his long fingers and he wasn't sure if the sound he heard was hers or his, but Kazuma could have cared less. The most wonderful, spirited, maddening, red-haired girl wanted to have her way with him, and he was not about to second guess it. In a fluid motion, Kazuma was sitting up, dragging a panting Ayano with him, pressed to his chest.

Her hair hung around them and her mouth was busy on his shoulder as Kazuma slipped his hands under the soft material of her shirt. She let out a hiss as their skin made contact and Kazuma—worldly and in control as he was—had to take a moment and still her movements above him, pressing their foreheads together. "Ayano, let's…"

"No," she breathed, her hands already making quick work of his shirt. Her fingers were shaking and she wasn't sure why. It occurred to her that this moment felt very important, somehow. After all, neither made agreements or promises lightly—not in the business they were both in. Considering this was…well, it meant something, didn't it?

Kazuma took her hands in his and forced her to look at him. Red eyes battled red, their gazes intense until Kazuma saw that this was not Ayano as he'd thought he'd known her in the past: argumentative, flustered, uncontrollable.

No, this Ayano was a firm fire—a direct, steady heat—as she met his gaze. Their eyes were calm, focus unwavering as she touched her lips to his again, this time slowly, consciously and focused. Neither blinked.

Kazuma understood.

He pressed her into the ground in seconds, his arms lifting him above her. Ayano's own had already unbuttoned his shirt and were moving over his skin, sending blinding signals to his head, his heart, his groin. He moaned and felt under her own shirt—her heated skin and hard nipples straining as he caressed her. Kazuma dipped his head again, reaching to remove the rest of their clothes: first his pants, then her shorts and panties. When they were mostly bare to each other, he spared one last look at her face. Her expression was one of contentment, her eyes shining and lips red from his bites.

Ayano noticed his gaze and moved her hand to his check, cupping the side of it. She opened her mouth and Kazuma sighed, smirking confidently, "I know," he said, beating her to the punch.

Ayano scowled, but it was playful, "Don't play."

Kazuma sobered, centimeters from her warm entrance, "Never."

Their bodies and blood and heat met and Kazuma could barely linger on the sensation before, as always, her body encouraged him. It was like battling nature to refuse. So he gave in, his motions and thrusts less than graceful but she didn't seem to care about that. Ayano was special like that—she just wanted him. The thought was another spark to his arousal and Kazuma was biting his lip, then his tongue, then the inside of his mouth to keep from rushing, from stopping all of this.

Her eyes glowed in the coming evening like burning coals. Her bright hair, spread around her, her pale skin, collecting sweat despite the chill of the night, where entrancing and Kazuma didn't know how he could have resisted for so long—how he could have pretended there was any other conclusion to the two of them than…this. Ayano Kanagi would always be his.

Ayano angled her chin and let out a breathy sound, enough so that Kazuma swooped down and claimed her mouth before moving on to the breasts—her pulse quickening under his attention.

"Kazu—"

He growled and drove in deeper, the image of her pliant and wanting and panting driving him insane. This was everything. This was Ayano and nothing could feel as good as she did right now, for as long as he could imagine it…

He breathed her name and was rewarded with her arms and kisses over his skin as he came, her hips guiding him. No rational thought was left, but even in his blissful state Kazuma moved his hands over hear, finding her warmth and continuing his ministrations, watching her own face as it passed through all the emotions he had. Her sighs were better than any alcohol he could ever drink, intoxicating him.

In the stillness afterwards, Ayano heard some crickets, but mostly just the wind blowing. It almost sounded, with all of its different movements, like a song playing around them. She thought that maybe Kazuma was singing to her, in his own way. She thought she understood that, feeling much like singing herself. She raised her body temperature to keep them warm in the cool darkness and the damp greenery they were laying on.

"Kazuma?"

The wind user moved at the sound of his name, his head from its position on top of hers stirring, "Yeah?"

She let out a quivering sigh, "Do you think we stand a chance?"

Kazuma's eyes were drawn from looking at the sky to her face. He found her eyes far more transfixing, set as they were in both contentment and worry. Her ability to help so much emotion in at once was staggering…and humbling, to someone as direct as him.

He sighed, but answered honestly, "I hope so." Ayano accepted his words without comment, moving to be wrapped closer against his chest.

Naked under the dark night sky, Ayano felt small and insignificant. Despite Kazuma's warm body, their best intentions, and plans, and love, the world felt too large to control.

With her head snugly on his chest, his pale body spread out beneath her, chilled and still, Ayano had the sinking realization that this felt too familiar.

It was how she always found him in her nightmares.

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A/N: This is very K/A centric, I know. I hope this wasn't too long of a wait-I just don't have the same amount of time as I usually do anymore. I hope to have the next chapter relatively soon, though I'm going to continue with more one-shots and my new obsession with Soul Eater. If you haven't checked it out-I highly recommend it.

Please leave me a comment if you enjoy what I do, or if you have thoughts/concerns about the story. You are literally the only thing that keeps me going! So please leave me a review.

-Dear