Every time he closed his eyes, Kazuma saw red. It wasn't the blinding rage from before, just the steady drip of blood. Sweet, innocent Tsui-Ling, cold and afraid. And all he could do was plead and watch her scream in agony.

Now the world had gone red again, the steady thrum of evil a sickly crimson color shooting up from beneath the ground to soak up youmas and continue growing. Pandemonium was the center of it all. Moments ago, Kazuma couldn't tell the difference between all the shades of red in his life. Red rage, red youmas, red evil, red eyes, red moon, and fiery red hair. He could've hurt her, hurt Ayano just because of his own selfish, stupid, and bloody revenge.

"You sure you can go through with this, Kazuma?" Ayano asked as they walked through the glamourous halls, otherwise dead silent.

"You ever seen me hesitate before?" He asked coldly, determined to push on and keep moving forward even if it killed him. This time she was there beside him. He wouldn't fail her again.

"Well no, but you do realize you're going to have to go up against Lapis, don't you?" It stopped him cold in his tracks. Last time, he'd chosen Lapis, saved her from Ayano's wrath. And look where that had landed them. All of this was his fault.

"And your point?"

"I know you loved each other. And I just need you to tell me, can you do this?" Almost without realizing what he was doing, Kazuma's fist hit the pillar and he wished to god it was Bernhardt's smug face. Or better yet, that little puppet Lapis.

"I don't know who the hell told you that," He said, a slight rasp to his voice, "but my girlfriend was murdered. They killed her right in front of me." Looking up, he stared down Ayano and Ren, who regarded him with mirror expressions of sadness and pity.

"I'm so sorry." Ren murmured.

"And that thing is nothing but a cheap knock-off of Tsui-Ling." Kazuma continued unsteadily, forcing himself to come clean to them because it was the only way they could move forward with the future. They deserved an answer for everything he'd done. "I don't give a damn if they used her last thoughts to make it. Lapis will never be the girl I loved!" Feeling drained, Kazuma allowed his arm to drop back at his side. He closed his eyes and saw Tsui-Ling's sweet face, heard her cries of despair, and for a moment was consumed with the utter powerlessness he'd felt that night of her death. He couldn't let it claim again though, not this time, when there was so much at stake. "Any other questions?"

"No." Ayano replied in a small, meek voice that didn't suit her at all. He'd done that to her, but he couldn't take it back nor would he wish to. Tsui-Ling had made the type of man worthy of Ayano's attention and he'd lost sight of that for a while. He owed Tsui-Ling everything for that, including setting things right with her knock-off puppet that threatened the future he just knew Tsui-Ling would be ecstatic for him to have.

They'd been moving slowly through the mansion, the gravity of the moment slowing them down in case they found themselves trapped in another one of Bernhardt's tricks. Eventually they came to a door, which suddenly slid open to a large room that glimmered with unfamiliar crystals. Ahead, lights turned on to reveal Ayano's friends. There was something off about them, their expressions pleasantly blank but their aura's suppressed and screaming.

"Nanase! Yukari!" Ayano called, seeming oblivious to their strange dress. Nanase had clearly been dressed to suit an adolescent's dark fantasy; Yukari was at least more decently covered in the dress of a servant. While Ayano and Ren started to race towards the two, Kazuma stayed still, not trusting anything he saw or felt. Then there she was: Lapis. Kazuma kept his expression carefully void of emotion, but even he could feel his features hardening.

"Welcome to Pandemonium. I'm glad you could join us." She said in her stolen voice. To his disappointment, Bernhardt apparently was missing, but maybe that was for the better. They could end this thing, whatever it was, now and he could get everyone to safety. They'd have time to regroup. He'd have time to get over this dark need to kill Bernhardt before facing him.

"So he ran, like a scared little boy." Kazuma observed.

"Listen up, Lapis, I'm taking those two home with me." Ayano announced, her voice fierce.

"Go right ahead. We have no further use for them now." Lapis surprised them by saying. Behind her, the little pervert who'd started this whole thing rose up, enmeshed in another of those golden crystals.

"Utsumi." Ayano cried.

"I suppose you want this one too. Well they've all served their purpose. Each person was used as bait to lure Kazuma here."

While Utsumi murmured on about being the chosen one, Kazuma stared hard at Lapis' face, carefully noting every difference. She wanted him here. Well here he was and he wasn't falling for it this time.

"You enjoying this?" He asked when an expression similar to entertainment crossed her features.

"I suppose so." She replied. "It just hadn't occurred to me."

"Of course. Pain and suffering, that's all you know people know how to enjoy." It disgusted him, mostly because not long ago he had been the same. If Ayano hadn't reminded him of greater things – love, laughter, partnership – he would be no better than the little puppet before him now.

Nanase and Yukari stepped forward, their voices mechanical as they reported the purpose of Pandemonium, the sacrificial altar. If there was one thing Kazuma hated, it was useless sacrifices of innocent souls.

"Now, I think we should talk about you for a minute." He said, wanting to punish Lapis for stealing her own body somehow. "Bernhardt knew I'd try to stop him, didn't he? So he used you to mess with my head."

"More or less." She replied, picking up that great sword she'd been holding the day she fought Ayano. "But you mustn't forget the simple pleasure of causing you great agony and despair." Well, they'd nailed that one for sure.

"What are you talking about?" Ayano interrupted. "That's entertaining to you?"

"The only pleasure they allow themselves is to torture others and to bring pain to the world." He closed his eyes and there she was, as always: Tsui-Ling, bleeding and crying. Red. "And they're going to keep doing it until somebody makes them pay!" For a moment he was close, the anger there, boiling under the surface. As if she had been awaiting this reaction from him, for his outburst to draw the attention of Ren and Ayano, Lapis swung her sword around, severing the body of Utsumi and offering up his soul.

The ground shook; the air grew heavy and dark.

"Lord Belial has now been summoned." Lapis, clearly pleased with herself, said.

"She's trying to summon the most powerful demon lord." Ren realized in shock. Kazuma felt as if he'd been hit in the gut, though he kept himself tall. He'd done this. How long had he wasted playing this game with Bernhardt, warring with himself, while the souls of teenagers were claimed to be offerings to a demon who would tear them all apart. Worst of all, he didn't know how to stop this one, how to protect anyone. Because of him, Ayano and Ren, the two people he cared most for in the entire world, were right in the midst of this chaos, the one storm he had no control over.

"It's the only way I can develop a soul." Lapis admitted, daring to look pitiful as if she were actually a victim here. "I'm nothing but a doll, a replica of Tsui-Ling who was made of nothing but the residue of her last emotion." Kazuma felt betrayed that Tsui-Ling's last moments had been tainted by this thing. "Master Bernhardt taught me despair is the most complex and beautiful emotion in the human experience. He said that if I can find pleasure in the intricacies of another's pain, I would then be able to cultivate my own. So if I can develop my own emotions, different from the ones I was created with, then those feelings will become the foundation of a soul."

"And all you have to do is torture other people to get it? That's just pathetic!" Ayano shouted. Lapis reared back as if shocked by the outburst. Kazuma hung back, prepared to blow a hole in the roof and physically lift Ayano out before another sword battle could take place.

"Even my feelings for you aren't really mine." Lapis said. Oh it just made it worse. Of all the pieces of her that had been borrowed, Tsui-Ling's love for him had been special and sacred. Now it was just another part of this doll, the final corruption of the memory he held of his dead lover. He started towards her.

"What are you doing?" Ayano asked, clearly fearing he was about to embrace Lapis, or worse, go all dark-Kazuma on the situation. He had a firmer grip on things than though.

"I've heard about all I can stand." Was all he said.

"If I could just become human, than I could become her." Lapis continued, clearly encouraged by his nearness. Good, let her think he was on her side right up until the moment he killed her. "Don't you want me to finally become Tsui-Ling?"

"Enough! Stop using her voice! You may look like Tsui-Ling, but you'll never be her!" He accused, calling on his powers. The wind shot towards her. A look of betrayal and fear crossed her expression and it was so familiar.

"Do you want me to die?" At the last moment the wind veered off. It was her. It was her face.

"That's not her!" Ayano called. A gold crystal lifted Kazuma off balance and he fell to his knees. Was he really not strong enough to do this? Was he going to let everyone down again? "You've got to snap out of it." At the sound of Ayano's voice, ringing clear and vibrant in comparison to the soft ghosting of Tsui-Ling's voice, Kazuma opened his eyes again, praying the image of Tsui-Ling's pool of blood would fade from his mind. "If I can stop the conjurer, I can stop the summoning." Ayano was saying to herself, grasping Enraiha in a flurry of flames. Her bright hair whipped behind her, her sword meeting Lapis' in a clash.

Ayano was fighting his battle, using her strength when he had none.

"Ayano!" He called, knowing she'd understand when he sent the wind in her place. Together, maybe they could do this. He was just so tired of being alone. Blowing Lapis back against the wall, he carried Ayano's friends away from the sword fight and towards Ren.

Suddenly the crystals shot up, encasing Lapis and Ayano. Kazuma nearly fell to his knees. His connection with Ayano, he could feel it thrumming and pulsing with her energy, the adrenaline of her attacks. Focusing on that, he found her easily within the maze. From there, he sent the search outward over every curve and jagged edge until he found the one that didn't match. That was the rock he destroyed, revealing Lapis to Ayano.

"I'm through messing around with you, imposter." Hauling all his natural wind together, Kazuma was jarred by an evil shooting across his senses like a lance jabbing into his head.

"I've never felt so much evil before." Ayano said.

"I guess we were too late." Kazuma realized. "So get ready. It's coming." He had to fight this with all he had or else give in to the helplessness again. He'd signed the contract for this. So he could protect people from just this.

"It will only materialize for a few seconds at most." Lapis informed them as she was called up and into the air. "But a few seconds is more than enough time to reduce this city to ash. And you, Kazuma." The way she said his name, fondly and softly, made his entire body sick, his skin crawling with disgust he would rather burn off than live with. "I look forward to watching you die. I'm sure I'll enjoy the look of agony on your face."

"What now?" Ayano asked, for some reason showing a trust in him that he wouldn't want to disappoint although he was just as scared as she.

"We fly." He said, thinking if nothing else they'd get a vantage point. His first instinct was to take her and Ren somewhere. They could get away with his contractor's powers. But he had to protect everyone and he knew Ayano would never agree to standing out of the way and letting him take care of everything to protect her. She was his partner and he desperately needed her if this was going to work.

Dropping Ayno's friends, unconscious, on the rooftop somewhere, the three of them hovered far above the city. An evil, unnatural red glow emanated from the ground, a summoning circle.

"This is hopeless. My contractor powers are useless against a demon this strong and your divine flame won't even put a scratch on it."

"Then what do we do?" Ayano asked. Her voice had been strong and determined all day. When she'd faced down even him, she'd kept it up. But now she was showing her age, a young woman who loved life was now facing down death, counting on him to lead the way.

"The only chance we've got is to attack it together. We might as well die trying right?" He asked, appealing to that old Kannagi tradition he rather hated usually. If ever there was an evil spirit to die in the name of, this was definitely the one. After all, if they didn't, they were dead anyway. "Put all your power into a single shot, then let it all out in one blast. You with me, Ren? Ayano?" He looked between the two of them, his gaze lingering on her lovely, fresh face. If he kept things confident, as if this was just another day, he wouldn't have to admit to himself how terrified he was of losing all this before he'd even allowed himself to enjoy it. Hell, he'd had some serious plans for the next few years he was just now discovering.

"So I guess this could be the last time I ever see your face, huh?" Ayano asked as if reading his mind. Just how strong was this connect between them, he was starting to wonder. "Got anything you want to tell me before we, you know, die?" She asked. There were about a million things actually.

"How about you cook me a meal after this and I'll tell you then?" He propositioned instead. The idea of Ayano being the dutiful little woman behind the stove really didn't seem to match, but it was fun to imagine her in a cute little apron covered in hearts and frills. As far as last visions went, it could be worse.

"I'd rather die." She teased, throwing him a look he treasured more than that apron he'd designed in his head.

"Suit yourself." They shared a gaze, an understanding that didn't require words. They were beyond that now. Somehow, she knew everything he'd been keeping to himself these past few months, every stolen glance and idle thought. He knew, just as he probably always had, she had just been waiting for him to sort himself out.

All of hell broke loose and Kazuma sent Ayano and Ren higher up while he called on the Spirit King for the fullest of his powers. The last time he had seen anything like this, it had been horrible. The end of Tsui-Ling, the only harmony in his life. Discontent and power had eaten at his being. He had the power now. No more souls would be claimed today, not like this. He couldn't fix what he'd lost that day, but he refused to lose anymore.

A giant hand slowly lifted from the ground as two fiery angels descended from above Kazuma, one the blazing ember that flamed his soul. He joined them, their auras burning and melding with his. Then it was done. Everything he had, poured into that connection, had pierced the demon through and through.

Next he knew, he was on the ground, the sunlight warming his face while he gasped for breath.

"It is extraordinary how genuinely fearsome the Kannagi bloodline is." Pushing himself up, Kazuma put himself between Bernhardt and Ayano. The need to protect her was instinctual. Though he had no energy now, he'd been without powers for most of his life, this feeling of weakness was nothing unusual.

"I figured a coward like you would've hauled ass out of the country by now." He replied.

"Did you really think I would pass up the opportunity to watch Belial lay waste to an entire city?" Bernhardt said.

"Yeah well, sorry to disappoint you." Ayano said. Between the two of them, there was almost no energy left. Summoning Enraiha would take everything Kazuma could sense in Ayano's aura, which was a flickering, dying mess of exhausted spirits.

"You've nothing to worry about." Bernhardt reassured him, obviously catching Kazuma glancing over his shoulder. It had been so stupid. He shouldn't have looked, shouldn't have tried to make sure Ayano was okay. Not while he was there, documenting every weakness. "I have no desire to try and fight you right now and I've never been one to bet against the odds. I prefer a fight that I know I'll win." Looking up, Kazuma discovered his father standing at the top of the crater they'd created. While their energy was low, still slightly ebbing, Genma was a shining beacon of power. "I can feel that he's just as powerful as you are, Contractor. It is remarkable. The Kannagi family truly is a great force to be reckoned with." Like it or not it seemed, Kazuma was still just a Kannagi, linked to them in blood if not in name or flames.

"Wait." He found himself calling when Bernhardt turned to go. He just had to know. One last moment in the past. "Just tell me what the last emotion was Tsui-Ling felt before she died. Please, I need to know. What did she want to tell me?"

Lapis actually looked sad for a moment, regretful that she had to tell him. "Her last thought was that she wished you were dead." She repeated for him.

Of course. How could he be so stupid to think all this time that Tsui-Ling would've been able to forgive him? It was his fault, he knew that already. Much as he wished she hadn't realized, this guilt was so familiar, so consuming, all Kazuma could do was stand there and wait for the old hatred of himself to seep into his marrow.

He felt Ayano's hand at his shoulder, warm and inviting. He couldn't do this alone anymore. All of his strength had been soaked up in the battle, in standing, and now he just needed her to be strong enough for him. Just once, he told himself when he abruptly turned around to throw his arms around her. Cupping her shoulders, his fingers tangling in her hair, he just tried not to think.

Maybe it was minutes, maybe it was hours. Eventually they made it back to the Kannagi estate, though Kazuma didn't make it past the white bridge. The water was supposed to be peaceful, soothing. As it flowed away, gently lapping at the shores, Kazuma tried to make his emotions mirror it.

"You know she was lying right?" Ayano asked, having been either beside him or behind him the entire time while he said not a word. "She only said that to try and mess with your head. There's no way Tsui-Ling wanted to kill you. I just can't believe that was her last thought." Sweet. God, she was sweet, he thought to himself. So trusting of him.

"Well it could've been." He admitted, feeling more numb now than anything. "I lied to her, you know. I told her that I'd always protect her. Then I couldn't even save her life. She probably resented me for that."

"But it's not your fault. You hadn't even awoken to your powers yet, so you couldn't do anything to stop them."

"I guess your right." It didn't make it feel any better though. Turning, he let the wind dance off his fingertips; it came so easily now. "Strange thing is, I awakened to my power right after she died, when they tried to kill me."

"It's common for that to happen when you're in danger. That's not strange."

"But nothing happened when she was in danger." If it wasn't for that power, today would've been the same. Ayano would've been sacrificed alongside thousands. "Why didn't I wake up then?" Why couldn't he have saved her first? "Maybe I should let her do it. Maybe that's what I deserve." Mumbling to himself, Kazuma stared at the water, wondering if the gentle flow of the water was anything like death. After she died, had Tsui-Ling found peace, her spirit floating gently along somewhere?

"I don't know what you're saying, Kazuma, and I hope I'm wrong, but it sounds like you almost want Lapis to kill you! And what would that solve? What is wrong with you, Kazuma?" Ayano suddenly cried. "What is it going to take to make you realize that it's over and you're here now?"

"Come on. Will you calm down?" He said, keeping his voice soft because for some reason her typical loudness seemed too much. "I've already realized that. I have to live with my past, but it won't control me. Now it the only thing that matters. And that's what I'm going to protect. And I swear, I'll protect all of you." He tried to assure her. It was the only way he knew how to show her the feelings he couldn't put into words. For some reason, Ayano's temper spiked, her open palm flying towards his cheek before he caught her wrist.

"What did you do that for?"

"Jerk!" She accused, tugging her arm from his grasp before he could make a fully formed thought to lace their fingers together. Hell, he'd been trying to be romantic and noble and crap. Where had he gone wrong? "Did I ever ask you to protect me? Whatever happened in your past is none of my business and I realize that okay, but I can tell that you're in pain so you don't have to try and hide it from me!" Dumbfounded, he just stared at her, his partner in all ways, his better in others. "I mean I'm strong enough to be here for you! You don't always have to deal with everything all by yourself! Am I so unreliable you can't even trust me? What do you think of me anyway? Am I just a burden to you, a helpless little girl? Do you just want me to hide somewhere while you swoop in to save the day then gratefully kiss you on the cheek once the danger's cleared? Listen! Quit treating me like I can't do anything when I know that I really can!"

When Ayano presented her back to him, Kazuma was at a loss for his next move. Comforting crying women wasn't really his forte, but the moment called for understanding and gentleness. Afraid that if he touched her, she'd take it the wrong way, Kazuma shifted the winds until Ayano's bright hair flared out behind her. Grasping a few strands, he lifted them to his nose to inhale the scent of cherry blossoms and fire that was so uniquely Ayano. This was the scent that haunted him at night and tempted him all through the days. And now she would be there always. It soothed him as no water ever could, ironic, given her general fiery tendencies that were bound to burn him every now and then.

The wind died down and she shyly peeked over her shoulder, her face nearly as red as her hair.

"Well, I'm glad you've got my back." He said. Then feeling playful, "Partner." With a perfectly innocent slap on her firm, rather nice ass. He'd expected a reaction. Her to back up, stare at him in shock. It was only his bad luck that they were near water, which was now boiling as Ayano landed in it.

The way she said his name and whipped Enraiha about had him being the one to back up though.

"Ayano, that was totally an accident." He tried to explain, though he had to admit this situation was a little funny. Hey, it gave her a fun story to tell her friends or something right? "Can't we just talk about this peacefully?" He tried again, bouncing back a few more steps.

Unfortunately, Ayano wasn't exactly a peaceful type of person and he wasn't going to get any closer to her with the flames she was swinging about. For some reason, despite the danger of flames and burns, the situation was just so typical them. He did something she didn't like, she threatened him. It was just their thing. They had a thing. Grinning even has he ran from her, he just couldn't get over how that sounded. Kazuma and Ayano had a special, just them, inside joke that nobody could ever touch. A physical bond between them, pulsing and burning, this special thing was red hot.

WELL, THAT'S THE END OF IT. THE ANIME IN A SERIES OF KAZUMA'S CLOUDY, PERVERTED THOUGHTS. IF ANYONE'S INTERESTED, I DO INTEND TO WRITE MY OWN SECOND SEASON, THOUGH RIGHT NOW IT'S LOOKING LIKE IT WILL BE FROM THE POINT OF VIEW OF AYANO MORE LIKE THE ORIGINAL ANIME, BUT I DO PROMISE LOTS OF FLUFFY KAZUMA AND AYANO SCENES. OF COURSE, THERE'S ALSO MY FANFIC ON FAIRY TAIL, WHICH IS SIMILAR TO THIS IN THAT IT IS WRITTEN FROM THE PONIT OF VIEW OF LOKE/LEO BECAUSE I AM A SHAMELESS SHIPPER FOR LOKE AND LUCY. I REALLY ENJOYED WRITING THIS AS KAZUMA IF ONLY BECAUSE I WAS SO DESPERATE FOR THERE TO BE MORE ROMANCE IN THE SHOW THAN PHYSICALLY EXISTED THERE. I HOPE YOU ALL ENJOY THEIR LITTLE LOVE STORY AS MUCH AS I DO.