Sparks and Flames

by CS Patra

  “Oh, Midori, you will not believe it,” Rukia sighed. “I think I have found the one.”

  “The one what?”

  “Come on, you know what I mean! I have found the one I want to spend my life with!” She exclaimed. “He is just beautiful and smart and absolutely wonderful!”

  Midori rolled her eyes at that. “Okay, be serious. There is nobody out there like that.”

  “Yes, there is! I’ve been seeing a boy for a while now and I think we’ve connected,” Rukia explained. “We’ve been hanging out with each other and we realize how much we mean to each other. I have never felt this strongly about anyone this way before. He’s just so lovely. We know each other’s secrets…” She had to stop herself at that point because that wasn’t true. Kian still didn’t know her secret.

  “You told him you’re an Elemental?”

  “Not yet. I want to though. I think it’s high time he knew that,” Rukia nodded.

  “You seem to be very serious about him,” Midori said. “He must be special.”

  “Oh, he means the world to me,” Rukia said. “I can’t help but feel like we’re on the clouds when we’re together. He makes me feel like someone brand new.”

  “I can see that. I can hear it all in your voice. I just hope you are careful around him. Does he know about your abilities?”

  “No, I plan to tell him eventually. I just don’t know how he’s going to take it. Revealing that I’m an Elemental is going to shake his world up. I have no idea how I can tell him,” she shook her head. “I feel so scared.”

  “Don’t be scared. Do what your heart is telling you to do,” Midori suggested. “If he doesn’t care about you being an Elemental, then you know he’s the one. Don’t try to rush into anything and don’t try to make him feel anything.”

  “I won’t. I just want him to know how I feel and for him to see who I am,” she sighed. “I have never felt this way about anyone before, Midori. I don’t even know if I’ve met anyone like him. All I dream about is him. I sometimes picture smoke in my dreams and suddenly I see him through the clearing. He’s like a beacon of light to guide me out of my nightmares.”

  “This is just too sweet. I’m almost sickened by it,” Midori shook her head. “However, if he is the one that is making you happy, so be it. I’m glad you found someone, Rukia. I’m glad you finally got that friend you really wanted.”

  “I feel like he’s supposed to be more than that,” she said. “We have a connection that I’ve never felt with anyone else. I keep thinking we’re meant to be.”

  “Then don’t tell me all this stuff. Tell him!” Midori nudged her. “What good is telling me going to do? You can’t let affairs of the heart stay in the heart. You have to let him know what you are and see how he feels afterwards. If he still loves you back, then you are definitely meant to be. If he doesn’t, then he’s not yours. Then you’ll have to move on.”

  “Right, right,” Rukia agreed, barely hearing what Midori was saying now. “I have to tell him the truth. I have to tell him how I feel. I got that.”

  It was easy for Midori to say because she wasn’t the one in love. She didn’t have anyone that she cared about the way Rukia cared for Kian. It was much harder to show off a power that she had, to someone who killed Elementals. How was he going to react? What was he going to do to her? Would he still love her after all of this?

  Please hang on, Kian. The truth will be out soon. I just hope you don’t hate me for this.

  Chapter 20

  Rukia paced around for hours as she tried to think of how to show Kian her abilities. He was ready to move on to the next phase, but she had to tell him the truth. She had to let him know that he was with an Elemental. Midori had a point. The best person that could tell him that was herself. If he found out from an outside source, he was going to be hurt. He would be angry that someone else had told him before she had.

  However, Kian was hunting tonight and the only way she could talk to him was by joining him in on the hunt. The only thing was that he didn’t know she was going to be a part of this. She knew he was headed to the old factory to get his latest targets. Those targets would not be around. They probably had heard about the hunters destroying the weapons shipment in Kols so they wouldn’t stay around. They would be too busy trying to get operational again.

  If she could show him her abilities while he was hunting, he would be able to see her for who she truly was. He would see that he was madly in love with an Elemental. Right now, she was waiting outside for him to show up. She knew he would be lurking around because she had sent him a tip that there was an Elemental out tonight. She just hadn’t told him that she was the Elemental that he was going to face. As a Lieutenant, he would be getting first dibs on what he wanted to hunt. She hoped that it would be him out here and no one else.

  Come on, Kian. You can’t be late. She thought as she looked around the corner. To her relief, he had shown up on time. Bongo! My plan is going to succeed!

  There he was again in his hunting outfit. He had put the mask back on but she could tell it was him. She had recognized the way he walked. He always had an air of confidence about him as his boots touched the pavement. He paused for a second, pulled something out of his belt, and held it between his fingers. She recognized that as his favorite knife. He always kept it close to him although she was surprised to see he didn’t pull it from his boot.

  Kian, you have to forgive me for this. She thought, slowly following him. She hoped that she wasn’t too loud that he would hear her. The last thing she needed was for him to attack her. She had heard all the stories about him being the Dragon of the Velt.

  Taking a deep breath, she hurled a fireball up into the sky so he could see it. His eyes looked up at the sky and he began frantically searching around for the source. This was it. She had gotten his attention and now she needed him to see her.

  “It was me, Kian!” She called out to him, showing him her ability to spark a fire between her two fingers. The flame was now dancing in her hand and she moved it in front of her face. “Don’t be too alarmed. I’m not hurt and neither are you.”

  “Rukia?” Kian asked. “How are you…”

  “It’s true,” she went on. “I was able to create that because I can. I can create fire. I am what you fear the most out there. I’m everything you hate.”

  “Rukia, I don’t understand,” he said. “Tell me you aren’t what I think you are.”

  “No, I’m an Elemental,” she approached him, but he began to back away. “You don’t want to run from me, Kian. I’m not going to hurt you.”

  “How can I believe you?”

  “It’s me, Kian. Have I ever hurt you before?” She asked. “All I did was not tell you the whole truth. I was just scared.”

  “You were scared? You found out my secret!” He pointed out.

  “I found that out by accident,” she reminded him. “I was never supposed to know either, remember? We just happened to be there at the wrong time. You probably wouldn’t have told me until you were ready.”

  Kian shuddered, hating to know that she was right. He had been fighting for the longest time to tell her the truth. In a way, he was glad that it came out in the open when it did. He didn’t know how he was going to reveal such a truth.

  “I got lucky,” he admitted. “I got very lucky, but I guess you didn’t.”

  “No, I didn’t. I’ve spent day and night wondering how I could tell you. I’ve tossed and turned and realize this is the best way,” she said. “I have to show you what I really am,” she blew out the fire in her hand. “Do you feel better now?”

  Kian could do nothing but stare at her as she looked into his eyes. He didn’t know how to react as she started to walk towards him. He began to move back as she came closer. “Stay away from me. How can I trust you?”

  “Have I hurt you? Have I done anything to you?” She asked, holding out her arms. “I haven’t given you any problems. You’re jus
t a little worried because you never learned the truth. Your hunting skills are sharp but you can’t hurt me. You don’t want to.”

  “Stay away from me,” he whispered, trying to go for one of his weapons. “I warn you. I don’t want any trouble.”

  “I’m not going to hurt you,” Rukia told him. “I didn’t want you to find out this way.”

  “Is it true then? You’ve said it so many times, but I have a hard time believe you. I don’t know what to believe,” he asked, lowering his arms. “Are you really an Elemental?”

  “I’m afraid I am,” she said and he reached towards his belt to pull something out. “Kian, you don’t want to do that. Not after what we’ve been through.”

  “Why didn’t you ever tell me?” He asked. “Why did you wait until we had gone so far?”

  “You’re a hunter. How could I tell you that?” She pointed out. “I can see it in your face that this hurt you but…I never wanted it to go this far. I never wanted to hurt you in this way,” she finally made it to him and touched his face. “You are so sweet and scared. I would never want to hurt you. So I’ve got to ask you right now; I’m here and I haven’t done anything to you. You can’t do anything to me because you still feel for me. Tell me; do you trust me?”

  “I…uh…”

  “Do you trust me?” She repeated. “It’s either one or the other. Think about all we’ve been through. Think about what we’ve shared. Think about going over the hills with me. That’s what you’ve always wanted, right? You wanted to go over the hills and see something else. You wanted to do that together.”

  “Over the hills. That’s right,” Kian’s bottom lip was quivering. “I trust you…”

  “Do you really?” She asked. “Do you really trust everything that I am?”

  “Yes, I guess I do,” he nodded. “I don’t understand it, Rukia. How long have you been an Elemental?”

  “For as long as I can remember. I’ve been trying my entire life to control these powers. I’ve gotten much better since I first started,” she tried to reassure him. “Please don’t run away from me, okay? I’m still the same Rukia Benton that you knew. The only difference is that I’ve got a power. I will not use that power on you. I can promise you that much.”

  He put his knife away. “When were you planning on telling me?”

  “Soon. I was just waiting for the right moment. Let’s be real; you weren’t going to tell me about your job as a hunter if I didn’t find out.”

  “I…uh…you’re right,” he murmured, realizing that he wouldn’t have told her. “It’s different with me though. My job is a dangerous one. I never wanted you to worry about me night after night. Then you found out and told me you didn’t care.”

  “Do you care that I’m an Elemental? Do you still see me as Rukia Benton?”

  “I…I guess I do,” he admitted. “You’re still the same Rukia that I know and love.”

  “And love?” She repeated.

  “There was a reason I wanted to meet you after my mission, Rukia. I wanted to tell you that I’m in love with you. I’ve been trying to deny it and trying to tell myself that I’m going in too deep. I keep warning myself not to fall so far, but it’s too late. I am crazy in love with you,” he got down on his knees. “I’m so crazy that I want to marry you right now. Dressed like this.”

  “Marry me?” Rukia couldn’t believe what she was hearing. “How can you think that far ahead after I kept such a big secret?”

  “I don’t care about the secret anymore. I did at first, but I look at you and all I see is Rukia,” he said. “All I want to be around is Rukia. I close my eyes and you’re the only thing I dream about. I thought I would change my mind, but I haven’t. When you spoke to me, I was reminded of how much I love you. I realized that you were right. You’re still the same. I’m still the same and I’m crazy for you. I want you, Rukia. I just need to know that you want me in return. Please say you do because that’s the only way we’ll survive.”

  “Marriage is a big thing though. We are both young.”

  “I know, but we can make it work. If you and I can show that a hunter and Elemental can live together, maybe we’ll finally find the peace that this world wants. We’ll finally be able to connect with each other,” he was still on his knees as he held out his hand. “Rukia Benton, will you marry me?”

  Rukia was stunned by this proposal but she couldn’t say no. “Of course I will. After all, I’m crazy about you too.”

  “Then that’s great. I love you so much.”

  “I love you too,” she walked over to him and took him by the hand, helping him stand up. He took her in his arms and planted a kiss on her lips. She was taken back at first but then kissed him back. Her foot popped in the air as he lifted her up and rocked her from side to side. “Are you sure you want this though? Are you sure that you’re ready for marriage?”

  “I’m sure that I love you. You showed me your power and it hasn’t changed how I feel about you,” he said. “I still think that I’m looking at Rukia. I’m with Rukia. My heart belongs to Rukia and I want her to know that.”

  “I know it now,” she said. “What kind of wedding are you thinking of?”

  “For now, let’s keep it small. Let’s keep it between us,” he decided. “When we’re ready, we can tell our families about it. I’m just not ready to do it now.”

  “Me neither,” she agreed. “We have to wait for the right time. Now isn’t it.”

  She buried her head into his chest and decided to stay there for the next few minutes. His chest was the best place for her to be. She could hear him breathing and his heart beating rapidly. He felt the same way that she did. He was nervous and excited and scared to take on this next step.

  Midori had told her to follow her heart and here it was. It was going to be with Kian from now until the end of time.

  Chapter 21

  Days would pass by and their wedding date was already fixed. They had decided on the next Saturday that rolled around. Almost everyone else would be at the city festival but they had bigger plans. They were going to be uniting each other for eternity. The only thing she wished was that they could have was a bigger celebration. She wanted there to be big flowers, long flowing dresses, a fancy wedding cake, and fireworks. For now, they were going to have to keep the wedding to themselves.

  This was almost what she had been hoping for. There were purple flowers lining the aisles for her wedding. While they didn’t have a cake, she promised Kian that she would take him to the best bakery in Calensa. This place was known for the fancy cakes and pastries that they sold. The one thing that she wanted was to treat him to the blueberry cupcakes that they were famous for. He admitted that he never had them before.

  “I don’t the Velt has bakeries that sound anything like the one you’re talking about,” he told her. “I look forward to this cupcake.”

  “It is worth it. They put a little drizzle of icing on top and it’s filled with nothing but the freshest of blueberries. They also make the world’s best chocolate. I promise that I’m not letting you leave until you have a bite.”

  For her part, Rukia didn’t say a word to anyone about it. Her family noted that she was happy, but they could not figure out why. They didn’t know that Rukia’s mind was on a particular boy. This boy was just a year older than she was. He should have been her number one enemy. He should have been the one that would make her tremble. In the end, he did make her tremble, but not out of fear. Instead, he made her feel soft inside. He made her tremble because she was in love with him. She didn’t care about what he did. He might have hated Elementals, but he had proven he could see past her powers. He could see her as Rukia Benton, which was exactly what she wanted.

  The wedding was going to be a small affair. Rukia had found a purple dress to wear for it since she had no time to get a new one. Kian himself was going to wear one of his old suits for the occasion. They decided to choose a chapel in Calensa as it was a nice p
lace and most people wouldn’t know about the wedding. It was also going to be held in the early hours of the morning when everyone was asleep.

  “Are you ready for this?” She asked him. “We don’t have to rush into this if you’re not ready. If you want, we can wait another day…”

  “No.” He cut her off. “I have a feeling that we need to get married now. If we’re together like this, then there’s no reason for us to hold it off any longer. I feel this way about you now and I know I’ll feel the same tomorrow. Now I have to know if you’re okay with this.”

  “Oh, of course I am. I want to be with you,” she decided. “That’s the only reason I dug out my best dress. You deserve the best that I’ve got to offer.”

  “Then it’s settled. Let’s go get married.”