Kaze no Stigma

Volume 3, Chapter 4 - Each and everyone's determination

Part 1

".....!"

"Fugyaa!?"

Kazuma, peacefully breathing in his sleep on the upper side of the tree, suddenly - avoiding Tiana's wings, who just happened to fly on top of him - jumped to his feet.

"W- what?"

On the verge of falling, reorganizing her attitude, Tiana groaned. Completely ignoring those complaints, Kazuma said:

"It came back."

".......really?"

Tiana forgot her resentment on the spot. While it may be true she felt it, it does not mean she can do something about it.

"Where, where?"

To the now rushing out fairy, Kazuma jerked his jaw, pointing to the car trying to pass through the gate. Both their glances have been rooted on the spot.

From the car stopped in front of the entrance, several men and women made their appearance. Among those people, from inside the body of one small girl at the beginning of her teens, the wave motion felt from the center of her chest was, without a doubt, belonging to the treasure stolen from the fairy village.

"Even so, that is....."

The girl emitted an awfully unnatural presence. And then, when comparing her with the girl with an identical face, five or six years her senior, Kazuma muttered in a bitter voice.

He grasped the family structure of the Tsuwabuki head house. A girl that was not supposed to exist and an older identical girl.

And then - the fairy's treasure carried inside her body. From his perspective everything was clear.

"What a vulgar copy cat...."

On the other hand, Tiana was unrelated to those strong feelings.

"Ah, I found it....."

Murmuring with a voice overcome with emotion, both hands before her chest, looking up at the Heaven with wet pupils, as if saying "Thank you, God".

"Inside that, it's inside that! Come now - Kazuma please carry out the request! Gouge that girl's heart and retrieve the bloody treasureeee!!"

Because of too much excitement, Tiana screamed the bloody speech. How to say this, it was a scene meant to break any dreams and aspiration regarding the so called fairies.

That Tiana, shouting with blood shot eyes, Kazuma lightly disregarded, as if it was a matter of course. Brushing off the leaves and bark sticking to his clothes, he lightly muttered one thing.

"Well then, should I go back to sleep?"

"Just wait a secoooooooond!"

Tiana pulled with all her might the nape of Kazuma's neck, trying to descend from the tree that was their kip. Casually grabbing the fairy's body, following about, and plucking it of, he asked tiresomely.

"What?"

"It's not what, right? The treasure we searched for it's just there!? Quickly get it baaack!!"

"Tiana"

Kazuma called out the fairy with the propensity for derangement in a terribly quiet voice.

As if cold water was poured on her heated head, Tiana promptly returned to her true character.

"W- wh- what is it....?"

"If you think about it, the ceremony is tomorrow night."

"So?"

"Instead of taking it now, won't it be more amusing to take it when they will be relived and think the ceremony can quietly take place? When knocked down from the peak of rejoice to the bottom of despair, what kind of expression will they do?....ku ku ku...."

Engraved on the contractor's mouth was an inhuman, cruel and brutal smile. The man's true character, who essentially should be a saint, made Tiana feel despair countless times.

"Auuuuuuuu...."

Part 2

She saw a dream.

Of a distant past, of a time her chest still harbored hope, a resemblance of the once foolish self. She wanted to be appreciated. She wanted to be smiled at. It did not matter if she was number one. It did not matter if she was the second.

That's why she desperately struggled. Putting her life on the line, piling up experience, refining her power. Without considering that it was the cause of still more alienation.

"That technique is a heresy. It's not appropriate for a practitioner of the traditional Tsuwabuki."

"That thing is not Chijutsushi. Why does my child have to use such black arts?"

Disgrace

Demon Child

Evil magician

The cruel words thrown at the very young girl by her own father carved in her heart wounds that cannot heal.

"Someday, for sure....."

Realizing that was a wish that will never come true, when did that happen?

That was a crab.

Not something particularly scary. Its size was somewhat big - enough to bisect a bear with its kitchen-like pincers. Its legs were somewhat numerous - the fore pincers - but, if she were to use her power the opponent would have no choice but to be lightly pinched out.

Despite this - the girl she was supposed to protect, was being overpowered by such a thing and paralyzed with horror. The huge pincers swung from overhead, was being looked up at, in a daze, by that inexperienced face.

"...Mayumi!"

She promptly released her power. The pincer trying to smash Mayumi's head was broken as if crushed by a giant hand.

"Come here!"

The crab was spouting froth from anguish. She sharply ordered Mayumi, who was still looking up at it in blank amazement.

".....Y-yes!"

Finally calming down, Mayumi rushed over while her legs got twisted. She payed absolutely no attention behind her. To that defenseless back, the crab tried to give a retribution blow. While driving out the crab with a feint attack, she caught the small body leaping in her chest.

"Older sister!"

For the girl trembling in fear, she showed a perfectly forced smile.

"It's alright. Against that kind of apparition, it's impossible for you to loose."

"B-but....."

"I will stop its movement and I will give it the finishing blow. That's fine, right?"

".........."

"Make your preparation."

Turning around Mayumi's still insecure body, she was made to confront the imminent crab.

"It's alright."

Embracing from behind the younger sister stiff with fear, she tenderly whispered. Contrary to her tone, that facial expression was cold but invisible to the girl gazing at the crab.

"Look....observe it."

Kicking the ground with eight long legs the crab approached the two straightforward. And, when he was approximately ten meters away, suddenly the crab was smashed.

It was like from right overhead, an unbelievably huge palm held him down with all his strength. Smashing the collection of legs, the shell conspicuously fissured. Plucking from the root the pincers that were rose overhead, admitting defeat, it was buried into the ground with a roar.

Without moving at all she pointed at the crab in anguish and told Mayumi:

"Come now, finish it off. Make a hole through the center, pierce it from bellow. You can do it, right?"

"Y-yes" Mayumi obediently nodded.

Obeyed by the spirits of the earth, she governed their power. The spirits promptly responded to the most powerful Chijutsushi blood.

" -ya!!"

Together with the girl's cute yell, from beneath the crab a spear stone grew. That long and narrow cone shape penetrated the crab's shell and rose facing the heavens. Making a huge hole in the middle of its body, the crab wriggled, foam at it's mouth. But by construction the crab was unable to escape from the stone spear. It's resistance gradually weakened and gradually stopped.

Before their eyes, the skull of the reddish crab lost its gloss, growing dull in color. The crack spread from that gap and the muscle became visible. It faded the same way loosing its elasticity and the muscle became stiff.

It turned to stone.

That was Mayumi's real aim. The stone spear that went through was no more than the preliminary arrangement for that purpose. The ground spirits pumped into the wounds changed with great vigor the organic matter in inorganic one. Making sure the petrification reached the interior of the body, including fighting spirit, Mayumi shouted.

"Smash!!"

It was impossible to disobey it. Agreeing to the command, the ground spirits speedily dissolved the bindings. Making a thick sound the stone crab was smashed.

Because the body changed to countless stones it was no longer possible to guess its original shape.

"Very well done Mayumi-sama!"

"Merely eight years old and to be able to take down such a Youma!"

Waiting for Mayumi when she returned home was a storm of praise from the entire family. The people assembled in the saloon unanimously praised Mayumi and her alone.

There was nobody who talked to her. Without showing any reaction for the uproar of the surroundings, she was sitting diagonally behind Mayumi, mute like a puppet. In front of her ignored as if her existence was the same as air, Mayumi who was given the family seat of honor was being spoken to by the Tsuwabuki Iwao.

"You did very well, Mayumi."

"Father!"

Mayumi's smiling face lit up and jumped into her father's chest, whom she respected and loved. Iwao also embraced his daughter closely, including an overflowing love.

"You did very well, Mayumi."

While pressing her cheeks against against Iwao's chest, who repeated those words again, Mayumi said innocently:

"Yeah, I did my best. But older sister practically did it by herself. Older sister is awfully strong!"

The unreserved large voice reverberated in the saloon, and the faces of the people sitting in a row became pale. Feeling the change of atmosphere, Mayumi raised her eyes to her father in wonder.

"What's wrong?"

Iwao replied laughingly.

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"It's of no concern. Mayumi is admirable, dividing her achievement with other people."

"That's wrong, really, elder sister is- "

"It's fine, I don't give a damn about that thing."

Blocking Mayumi's field of vision by hugging her close, Iwao shifted his attention to her. Cold like a different person, a glance exceeding hatred, filled with curses.

But even so, she didn't move one finger, one eyebrow or one muscle. Ignoring the glance sticking between her eyebrows, her gaze looked at nothing but in front, one meter horizontal from Iwao, fixating on the wood details of the alcove post.

The sister embraced with love and the sister glared at with hatred.

All present looked at the excessively contrastive sisters, catching their breath.

"Kureha-sama.....Kureha-sama?"

".....!"

At the voice repeating her name, taken aback, Kureha woke up. It seems she took a nap in the middle of her duties. Lightly shaking off her head, to remove the remaining sleepiness, she responded.

"Enter"

From the door opened by the maid, a group of three people got in. By priority of age, Yuuji, Mayumi and - Ayumi.

That was unexpectedly fast.

Kureha thought so, looking at the puppet with eyes sunk in bitterness. As far as she saw of that facial expression, her first trip had not been particularly enjoyable.

Well, it's a thing of no consequence.

"Following your instruction Ayumi has been returned home."

Being considerably pathetic, Yuuji reported stiffly. Expressly speaking of such obvious things, Yuuji may have been foolish but that doesn't mean Kureha was the same.

That was some kind of indication of his decision.

"With this I won't allow Mayumi to become a sacrifice", or something

It's not like her real intentions stood out. Instead, feeling that naivete pleasant, Kureha responded with a sweet smile.

"I appreciate your efforts."

"Y-yes!"

No matter how he perceived those words of appreciation Yuuji made a respectful bow, his face lit up. But before he raised his head, Kureha informed the three.

"Yuuji, you can already retire. Mayumi and Ayumi, please follow me."

"....Eh?" unintentionally Mayumi asked back.

Yuuji stiffed in a comical stance, his back bent.

".......Me too, you said?"

Seeing surprise and a small quantity of fear clung to Mayumi's question, Kureha laughed.

"That's right. Did you think you will be sightseeing the ceremony drinking tea? You too have an important part. Follow me."

"................"

Iwao being on the sickbed at the present time, Kureha was the one commanding the family. She could not advocate her objection.

Complying with Kureha, who naturally opened the door and stated walking, Mayumi and Ayumi followed behind.

Yuuji followed the three people until they left the office but clinging to them further was not permitted.

For him, unable to do anything but see them off, Mayumi looked over her shoulder just once.

That profile full of anxiety was scorched in the center of his consciousnesses together with a feeling of loss that cannot be undone.

Part 3

The next morning

Hiding his pathetic decision inside his heart, Yuuji knocked on the door leading to Kureha's private room. Without pause, the reply came.

"What's the matter, Yuuji?"

"........I have something to discuss."

"Enter."

The knob turned. It wasn't the work of a key. In a mental state similar to that of entering a dragon's den, Yuuji stepped inside the room.

"Good morning. You're early Yuuji."

Although saying that Kureha's appearance too was perfectly in order. Her flowing black hair was perfectly arranged and the same as usual a black suit was tightly wrapped around her.

"Will you let me know my lady's whereabouts?"

Standing before Kureha, impolitely Yuuji did not return the greeting and got to the main question. His complexion was bad. In spite of being injured to that extent yesterday it seems he didn't sleep a wink.

"Since last night, after Kureha-sama took her along, she did not return to her room."

"You, did you stick yourself in front of Mayumi's room? You're almost like a stalker, huh?", Kureha laughed sarcastically.

However, Yuuji, without showing a glimpse of insincere smile, draw near with a severe face.

"Please answer, Kureha-sama. Depending on what happens, even if it's you..."

Kureha indifferently asked back.

"Even if it's you?"

"Ku.........."

Without doing anything, just by standing there, Kureha overwhelmed Yuuji.

Even by making use of his blind devotion towards Mayumi, he could not fill the desperate power difference.

"My lady, where is she...."

Still, seeing Yuuji hang on, mustering his willpower Kureha showed a somewhat unnatural look of admiration.

"What considerable devotion. If you want to meet her that badly, I will allow you to. Come!"

Yuuji chased after Kureha, who left the room and began to walk a few meters behind. The distance he put between them, rather than him being precautious, it was more like he was afraid of getting closer.

What kind of person is this woman?

Even if it was for a moment, when he confronted her he felt her abnormality. That power was clearly on a different level, when compared with other practitioners. Even Iwao, the Head, for Kureha, he was not a match by far. To say it simply it was an excessively mighty power. From the time she was a child, although unique, she was recognized as a powerful practitioner but nobody expected her to rise above to such a level.

"What are you doing? You'll be left behind."

Almost like reading his heart, indulging himself in speculation, Kureha suddenly looked over her shoulder.

Bearing the shriek trying to gush out by clenching his teeth, Yuuji shortly answered.

"...........I understand."

"Hurry up. I don't want to be seen by too many people."

And with these words, her beautiful face showed her usual smile, with no trace of impatience.

Glaring annoyed at Kureha, who faced forward once again Yuuji slightly quickened his pace.

In silence, Kureha walked to the deepest part of the grounds. Yuuji never entered this place before- it was a place nobody could enter with the exception of those who earned the permission of the Head.

"This is......"

"You've never entered this place before, huh? It's because, with the exception of those belonging to the main family this is a place that doesn't open but once every thirty years."

At the words he feared, Yuuji's face became stiff.

"Kureha-sama, you, by no means, even my lady- "

Those words, spoken in a strong tone, Kureha interrupted icily.

"Yuuji, you may believe you are given permission to an opinion but I have no intention of bestowing it any further. I am letting you meet her in deference to your loyalty but I have no intention of releasing Mayumi until the ceremony is over. Remember it."

".............."

Completely forbidden from raising objections, Yuuji had no choice but to be silent.

"..........is this the place?"

Staring at the small shrine they arrived before long, Yuuji asked.

"This is the entrance. Our place of destination is inside it" answered Kureha, opening the small shrine's gate.

Inside there wasn't even a single light, and without having performed any kind of process the cave entrance lightly opened its mouth.

"Here is....."

"Correct, this is the sacred ground of Tsuwabuki. The place we must protect even at the cost of our lives. Well, shall we go forward? Your beloved lady is inside."

"I understand."

To Kureha's exaggerated words, mixed with ridicule, Yuuji replied seriously.

He continued walking while controlling his uneasiness at the endlessly continuing cave.

A pitch blackness without a ray of light. A natural cave with no reinforcements. This was a situation that would have driven claustrophobic people to madness but for a Chijutsushi it was a place full of tranquility equivalent with the inside of mother's womb.

And yet, Yuuji frantically endured the urge to start running. In what sort environment was Mayumi placed, thinking of that he is unable to suppress his anxiety.

My lady....I will, definitely.......

Hiding that strong decision n his heart, he is descending in the cave. And then -

".......uh!?"

A dazzling glint burned Yuuji's eyes. Into his ears, unintentionally shutting his eyes, Kureha's composed voice resounds.

"Welcome to the center of Tsuwabuki's consecrated ground."

"Wh...at?"

Holding his hands before his eyes, Yuuji slowly opened his eyelids. What was there was a huge space that did not appear to be underground, spreading out.

"This is....."

A voice full of wonder leaked out. The magical spectacle spreading before hos eyes, drew in his sight and didn't let go. The gigantic pillar soaring at the center of the large hollow spreading a hundred meters below Fuji's sea of trees, is brilliantly shining.

"Crystal?...."

The sparkling, transparent stone pillar - there is no mistake about it, it was a pillar made of high purity crystal. The diameter roughly four meters, it's height nearly twenty meters.

And then, even supposing this crystal was guiding the sunshine so deeply underground, that enormousness exhausted any kind of description.

To Yuuji, stupefied with amazement, Kureha turned an evil smile.

"Yuuji, it's fine to be so deeply moved but is it not something else you should look for?"

".......eh?"

"Please look carefully inside the pillar."

"............"

Doing as he was told, Yuuji closely observed the pillar. Enduring the radiance, he saw a dark stain somewhat lower than the center.

He supposed that was just some foreign matter that was mixed in, but that unusual shape weighted on his mind. Taking a few steps forward he stared even more.

"..................eh?"

He was terrified. That stain had the form of a human.

Dressed sparingly, the white, thin dress showing her shoulders, the girl's eyes were peacefully closed. It was unthinkable not to recognize her.

Because she was the girl he pledged to protect by sacrificing everything.

"My lady!"

On Yuuji's shoulder, who started running, an invisible power was placed.

The heavy pressure reaching one ton sealed his body's movements as if it was its loyal subject.

"Calm down!" coldly informed Kureha.

Yuuji glared at her.

"What have you done to my lady?"

That shout, so overcome with emotion it forgot even honorifics, Kureha tolerantly pardoned.

"I did say Mayumi too has her own role."

"Role...?"

"Ayumi's body cannot withstand the release of power. The emission ratio will not be enough for the final tuning. Therefore, the power Ayumi cannot sustain by herself, I made Mayumi shoulder. You could call it the unexpected side effect of a clone."

The practitioner who performs the ritual, even calling it extreme, one is enough. Or perhaps it should be said that for the delicate control required by the technique, the governing intent must only be one.

Excluding the early few times, the ceremony was practiced by almost all the family, adding multiplied force for the sake of raising the success rate but did not change the fact that the practitioner controlling the power that is the focal point is just one.

But, if it's Ayumi and Mayumi practically identical at the genetic level, it may not be impossible to align their consciousness. Particularly by making the weak-self Ayumi do the main part and leaving the trance to the egoistic Mayumi.

"Such a...."

Without listening to Kureha's explanation until the end, Yuuji dropped to his knees, heartbroken.

I...until now, for what sake.........

That appearance, feebly hanging his head, resembled Ren's the night before, in a cruel way.

If Yuuji could see himself through an objective point of view perhaps a cynical smile would be irrepressible.

"Relax. Because she probably won't die."

"........eh?"

But, Kureha did not permit even despair. In front of the stricken Yuuji, she suspended an ostentatious thread of salvation.

"In the end, Ayumi is the main one and Mayumi is the spare. Because she is supplementing Ayumi's insufficiency, I don't think it will be fatal - that is, as long as the seal does not break even for an instant."

Reinforcing a seal that already has shape and rebuilding from scratch a seal that burst open without leaving any trace, between the power required by the two, there is a world of difference.

If that sort of abnormal situation does not occur Mayumi will survive, it was said, but for some reason, Yuuji could not relax.

"Do you think there is a possibility it will happen?"

At Yuuji's cautious question, Kureha responded without hesitation.

"At least, there will certainly be interference."

".........the Kannagi kid will come again?"

Nothing else came to his mind but Kureha opened her eyes wide as if she was surprised and let out a small sarcastic laugh.

"Ah, do you mean Kannagi Ren? I received the report. But, I am concerned about the fairies."

"The fairies? What can those insubstantial living things do?"

Deepening her sarcastic smile toward Yuuji's bewildered face, Kureha continued.

"Did you not hear? Your head if filled with nothing but Mayumi, huh? Yesterday, a fairy and it's guardian got inside the house."

"A-ah...." Yuuji nodded vaguely.

Come to think of it, someone said that. According to Kureha's pointing out, he had no composure to think about something else, vaguely ignoring it.

"The guardian?"

"A terrifyingly strong man making use of the wind. He seemed human but - I wonder about that. He said he is the fairy's brethren too"

"Wind, is it?"

Frowning id doubt, Yuuji asked in return.

"Why, if its only the likes of Fuujutsushi should we be afraid?"

"If it's only-?"

Stuck by Yuuji's words, Kureha giggled in a very improper way.

"You're right, if it's only Fuujutsushi. If it's just that kind of practitioner able to defeat the power of the likes of me, perhaps someone like you has no need to be afraid."

"....!!"

"So reliable"

Yuuji asked the sneering Kureha in a hoarse voice:

"Is - is that true.....? Truly, with just wind, your power -?"

"It's the truth. What's more, I've been seen through after the first attack. To be ahead of me to that extent, that was a first. The world is really big, huh?"

".........."

At a loss of words, Yuuji stood rock still in blank amazement.

A Fuujutsushi surpassing Kureha - if such a thing were to appear, for him it's impossible to oppose no matter how he were to struggle.

"B-but........if he obstructs the ceremony, Mt. Fuji will definitely erupt. Will he go that far?"

"I don't know about the Kannagi's side but the fairies have no reason to hesitate. Because the eruption is nothing more than a natural phenomenon they have no intention of resisting it."

Talking about such a hopeless story with a gossip-like tone, Kureha looked at Yuuji's face, dyed in despair.

"So, we can't talk about it, but... how about you? Don't you desire power?"

".....eh?"

"Power. A mighty power. To drive away all enemies, to protect your precious one, overflowing power. If I were to say I can grant you that power - you, what will you do?"

"............."

Yuuji looked hard at Kureha with a bottomless shiver. As a practitioner, Yuuji recognized the fact that she was in a by far superior rank - No, he was supposed to know that.

But it was different. This, it was not that kind of thing.

This woman - is she really human?

Feeding on his hope, something that tempts humans to their ruin. The existence passed down on tradition on every culture around the world, right now, is sneering before his eyes. The spoils it aims at are waiting the time of the fall

Even so -

Do I mind?

As far as Yuuji is concerned, he had no other option. No, his choice was already made.

If the compensation of power is required, he would give anything, no matter what it is.

His life, his soul, he had no choice but to consider them second or less.

That's why his answer had beed decided.

"No matter what will happen, I don't care. Please give me power."

Receiving the answer she was eagerly waiting, Kureha smiled ominously. He had the feeling that for one second, those lips tore until ears.

Part 4

"Father, do you know where Ren went? He's not in his room."

"I happened to see him sitting on the porch just before noon."

Ayano turned an uterly amazed glance at Juugo, who answered matter of course.

"........Father, it is already evening."

"Go and see for yourself. A certain someone who does not want to move at all is supposed to be there."

"............."

Scowling, Ayano cast her eyes down. Her strongly gripped fist was trembling.

"If you tell me he has no outlet for his anger, I'll get angry. Knocking down those Tsuwabuki guys and settling this is so simple and yet...."

"....True"

Evening

Ren, dicovered with the help of Kirika's side, the Special Data Arrangement, although he had no visible wounds, his heart received near fatal damage.

Remaining silent without responding to any questions, secluded inside his shell, Ren was brought home after midnight.

As a result of being left to rest without having to listen to anything, at dawn he recovered enough to take a minimum of communication.

As if he would been asked Ren told it all, without faltering. His own feeling - the fleeting emotion harbored for that girl, the despair when he found the truth - without hiding anything.

In front of the stricken boy nobody could do anything.

Their feelings were summarized in Ayano's words from a while ago. That is - "There is no outlet for his anger."

The act of the Tsuwabuki Household was by no means incorrect. Caring about morals has no meaning. In their line of business that goes beyond the life or death of one person, they are naturally operating for the sake of justice. There was no other way.

There is no choice but to pray to God that time will heal his emotional scars.

"So, what did you plan to do after searching for Ren?"

"What, you ask - I can't leave him alone like that, can I?"

Ren right now was similar to a living corpse.

If he was talked to, he'd give a minimal reply.

If food was given to him, he would eat it.

However, without urgings from other people, left by himself he would not move, not even a finger. Sitting sprawled out, that figure with blank eyes was exactly like a puppet whose strings have been cut.

Sober, Juugo shifted his attention to Ayano, wanting to comfort Ren.

"Can you do something?"

"I don't know if I can."

There was clearly no hesitation in Ayano's response.

"But even so, I can't leave him alone. That kind of helpless situation, I won't admit it. I definitely won't let it end this way."

Making this declaration in a rough tone, Ayano left Juugo's room.

Wow, it really was true...

Voiceless, Ayano murmured to herself. Ren was in the place Juugo said he would be. Sitting on the verande, he was leaning on the left side pillar. Perhaps that attitude never changed since before noon.

Approaching directly, Ayano sat dawn next to him. Ren's eyes moved slightly, perceiving her figure.

"............older sister.."

A feeble murmur escaped. The question why are you here did not resound, just calling the name of the person that entered his field of vision, that sort of dull and uninteresting matter.

Ayano did not venture to make eye contact, placing her glance on the garden in front.

Ren too, immediately lost his interest towards Ayano, restoring his glance on his feet.

Without change, for several minutes, time flew quietly.

"If it's me....."

Almost like the sound of blowing wind sliding through gaps, Ayano simply spun her words. For a second time, moving his eyeballs, Ren looked at Ayano, but she continued facing forward.

"Because I am the person that will someday succeed as the head of the Kannagi Family, I understand those Tsuwabuki's point. At the very least I will never say something like it doesn't matter if Mt. Fuji erupts, go and save that Ayumi girl!"

"............."

"But even so, that's not what you should be thinking of now, is it?"

"...........ee?"

Because that was very unexpected, Ren raised a small doubtful voice.

"Those kind of large scale problems you must leave to adults. A child should give preference to himself. What you should think of right now is what you should do related to Ayumi. That's all."

"........eh......?"

Smiling sweetly Ayano too stared at the dazed Ren.

"You said it, right? That Ayumi is an imitation? She's a clone, her memories are borrowed from another person, that the real Tsuwabuki Ayumi doesn't exist, right?"

"..........yes.."

"That can't be true, you big fool!!"

The moment he nodded - no, as soon as "y" was pronounced Ayano grabbed the cute, brother-like Ren by the collar, constricting him.

"Whether it's reproduction, doppelganger, multiplied by cell division, if it has an original will you have no right to look down upon her as an imitation. Deceiving yourself with superficial words, denying the time you yourself spent with Ayumi, why are you doing it?"

Ayano became excessively agitated while shouting but when she finished speaking her calm returned.

Releasing his collar, with sober eyes she overlooked the choking Ren.

"I thought I'd say that by putting the screws on you but you're a bright kid so you already figured it out, didn't you?"

"............."

There was no need to say it.

Although he was surprised when he first found out, once he calmed down and thought about it, it all amounted to what of it?

Even if her body and memory have been reproduced Ayumi's personality was certainly original. It was very clear. Because everything bestowed upon her was an imitation, the girl grasped in her hands genuineness.

From the beginning to the end Ren sensed that decision closer than anybody else.

But, for this reason Ren can't help but feel ashamed.

"I didn't understand anything....."

In spite of seeing it from the closest place, he did not see anything. Loosing his head, getting caught in the moment, he said a lot of cruel things.

Big brother will surely come to save you.

I want to show you many other things so I'll take you anywhere.

The groundless hopes, the promise of a tomorrow that will never come, he wondered with how much cruelty they resounded in Ayumi's ears. But even so, Ayumi showed a smile.

That's right. That would be nice...

The fact that she didn't reveal the truth was certainly not for her self-protection. So that Ren won't be crushed by the truth's weight, its anguish, its sorrow, she locked it in her chest.

I was a fool!

He wanted to protect Ayumi. He wanted to save the girl by expending all the power he possessed. And yet - he didn't notice he was the one being protected.

He, descendant from the strongest, made a girl scared of her imminent death worry about him and protect him like a baby.

You don't understand anything, you foolish child pretending to be a knight - Yuuji's words hit the bull's eye and left no room for rebuttal. He didn't understand anything.

"That's why............I couldn't do anything........."

With a regretful emotion, he spoke of conclusion. So, everything ended in the worst possible way.

"Don't use the past tense arbitrarily just because you decided the conclusion."

Ayano could not forgive the fact that Ren was full of resignation. Grabbing him by the collar for a second time, she forcefully pulled his hanged head upwards.

"Do you feel like ending it this way? This helpless conclusion, do you approve of it?"

"But.....there is nothing I can do for Ayumi-chan anymo- "

"I'm sick of it!"

Very irritated Ayano harshly shook Ren's body.

"You're such a thorough good kiddie! Right now it's not about for the sake of Ayumi-chan or something like that. What about you? What do you want to do? That's what I want to hear!!"

"......eh......me?"

Faced with a question he never thought of, Ren revealed a confused voice. And yet, Ayano's words did not stop.

"That's right. If it's true you won't do anything anymore, if that's the case, I won't interfere. But if you do so, you'd better label it as memories of my first love or something and put it away in some corner of your memory. Frankly, that is the most peaceful settlement. Still..."

Ayano held Ren's cheeks between her hands and brought their eyes at the same height by leaning over a little. And then, directly facing that glance mixed with bewilderment she asked earnestly.

"Still, are you OK with that? Parting in such a way, although it was the last and you will never be able to meet again, you don't regret it? There is nothing you want to tell that girl?"

"............."

Do you want to meet her, do you not want to meet her?

Faced with this choice, he answered without hesitation.

I want to meet her. Even if it's just once. Meet her and then...

But....

"So, what will you do?"

Ayano pressed the hesitating Ren for an answer.

"You won't be able to chase after her if it goes like this - you know, right? You don't have time. Tomorrow, Ayumi-chan will be nowhere to find. No matter what your answer, there will be none to say it to. You have no time to hesitate. Decide now. What should you be doing?"

".............."

Hanging his head down, Ren closed his eyes. And he thought about it. What he wanted to do. What he ought to do. What he must, no matter what.

Dozens of seconds afterwards, at the end of his most serious meditation, the boy slowly opened his mouth.

"About the ceremony, about the living sacrifice, the most righteous thing to do about those, I have yet to realize. However..."

Lifting his head, he looked straight at Ayano.

That gaze held no more indecision.

"However, I want to meet Ayumi-chan one more time. Meet her, apologize to her and I want to tell her - I have something I must tell her no matter what."

"OK. Let's go then."

Ayano responded to those words said with the resolution of a lifetime with a just out for a bit of shopping mood.

"...You mean, right now!?"

"That's right. It's not like you need some particular preparation, no? If you need a stop over set, we can buy it at the local supermarket."

"No......that's not the probl- "

With a snap Ayano trusted her index finger at Ren, unable to follow the development's speed.

"Didn't I say it? We have no time. The ceremony is tonight and to begin with, do you think they will let us pass by saying ``I came to meet Ayumi-chan. I have no intention to interfere with the ceremony so please let us past``?"

".........that is perhaps impossible..."

"Not ``perhaps``, it's absolutely impossible. At any rate we have no choice but to push through with brute strength so we'd better move while we still have time."

Saying that, Ayano stood up without waiting for a reply.

"Well, go change your clothes. If Father finds us, an explanation will be difficult so we must not be exposed."

"``Difficult``, you say!? If he finds out it's confinement for us."

If they mess up, it's a deed quite capable of making Mt. Fuji erupt. It's obvious Juugo will never allow it.

"If that's the case, hurry!"

But, once Ayano got like this she couldn't be stopped. Having a thorough knowledge about that, after coming this far he finally resolved himself.

"I understand. Give me five minutes."

"I'm waiting by the rear entrance."

Exchanging a small nod, both of them hurried in different directions.