I do not own Kaze no Stigma.

The IT Party

You know those parties where you don't want to go, no matter what, because you're either too tired and don't give a shit or just don't plain care?

Yeah, well, Ayano wasn't a party person. At all. If she got her way, it meant some popcorn and a soda with a good movie.

Getting dressed in aclover green dress that was a little too tight around the waist area and adding a pair of shoes with a six-inch stiletto heel and a clover green ribbon leg wrap thing that made Ayano absolutely wimper was not on her list. Would never be on her list. So why was she being dragged into the bathroom by her two best girl friends who were cooing over the party Udon Fujuki (what kind of name was that anyway?) was hosting.

An IT party among IT parties.

And Ayano hated it.

A nervous cough came from Kazuma's left. "What do you think of the party?" asked Ren, who was only invited because Udon had a thing for Ayano.

"Eh," managed Kazuma, taking a sip of an amber-colored liquid.

"You hate it?" Ren breathed, a little relieved.

"Mm. It's just boring."

"Oh." Ren coughed again, before forcing himself to stop. Cui Ling, Kazuma's current girlfriend, usually pretended to be sick to make Kazuma buy her a pair of shoes. Or diamonds.

"Well, I'm going home," he announced, putting down the glass. Then he stopped, his hands in his pockets, with an eyebrow raised. "Oi, Ren. Isn't that the girl we saw at the store in the men's aisle?"

"Nanase…? And theres Yukari-san and— Ayano!"

A pretty redhead turned around (not very gracefully, Kazuma noticed) before a bright smile lit up her face. "There you are!" she exclaimed, and quickly walked over to their little corner while trying not to trip over her own two feet. "You grew since the last time I saw you!" she said, not lowering her voice.

"We saw each other a week ago…and Ayano-neechan? You're squeezing me too tight."

"I know." Ayano hugged him a second longer before sighing loudly. "Wheres your girlfriend? The one that tried to bribe me into liking her?"

"She's by the fountain."

But before Ayano could turn around, or to even look for a trace of Nanase and Yukari, she was switched back to attention.

"Names Kazuma. You?" asked a smooth, silky voice.

The redhead raised an eyebrow, like Are you kidding? "Ayano," she murmured, and then flushed a little at the attention he was giving her.

"Hm," he said, and it freaked Ayano out so much she turned around and tried to grasp something before going in vain search of blue hair.

"…What are you doing?" asked Ren curiously, watching Kazuma call somebody.

"Breaking up with Cui Ling," he announced, and then downed his drink with a satisfied air.

AN: I don't hate Ciu Ling. Also, I have no idea why I call it the "IT Party" like its the biggest deal since forever.