Free Sparks and Flames by CS Patra Page A

went down to the ground to hide. Within seconds, the door to the pool room opened and someone stepped in. It didn’t look like Oda or any of the party guests so she stayed hidden.
     
    “Come out, come out, wherever you are.” The person said. The tone in his voice told her that they weren’t part of the party. “I’m not going to do anything to you. Maybe I’ll gut you like a fish, that’s it. If you come out right now, I promise that I’m going to make your death quick and painless. I don’t always do that.”
     
    He’s after me? Rukia wondered. That doesn’t make any sense. I haven’t used my powers the whole time I’ve been here! I haven’t done anything wrong!
     
    “Oh, come on! I don’t have all night.” He went on, walking close to where she was hiding. She held her breath and watched as black boots came closer. She could hear them squeaking across the floor. “I’m giving you an opportunity I don’t give anyone else! I swear on my mother’s life that you won’t receive too much pain.”
     
    Yeah, I don’t believe you. She thought, wanting to reach out and trip him. It would be very easy to take him down if she could grab his ankles. They were thick but her hands could wrap around them. She stayed still though because she didn’t want to startle him.
     
    It was a hunter dressed all in black except for his utility belt. That was made of metal and looked heavy though he didn’t seem to be having problems wearing it. It fit around his waist without falling to his hips. He was a little taller than her and his face was covered with the mask. He was lurking around the bushes but failed to see that she was there. She couldn’t have been the one he was after. She hadn’t used her powers in public so he had no reason to hunt her down.
     
    Rukia caught sight of the hunter and thought about how she would attack. She didn’t want to burn him right away. His jacket was definitely fireproof so it wasn’t going to work. These hunters always had extra protection despite looking like they weren’t wearing much. He was all by himself but that didn’t mean he wasn’t dangerous. He had to be armed.
     
    Slowly, she crawled out from under her hiding place and snuck up from behind. He might have been a hunter but she was an Elemental. That alone made her stronger than him.
     
    He was now looking around the room, which made him vulnerable. She could attack him at this moment. Before he had a chance to turn around, she tackled him down to the ground with a scream. They both went crashing down while she tried to pin him to the floor.
     
    “What you think you’re doing, murderer?” She whispered. The hunter seemed to listen to her as she spoke. “You aren’t welcome here.”
     
    “Get off me!”
     
    “Not until you tell me why you’re here!”
     
    “Rukia?”
     
    “How do you know my name?!” She demanded. “Who sent you?!”
     
    “I sent myself, Rukia. Please get off me.”
     
    She slowly stepped away but did let her grip go. “I don’t know what game you’re playing but how do you know who I am?”
     
    “I saw you days ago.” The hunter carefully took off his mask. “You saved me and we’ve been going places together. Don’t you recognize me?”
     
    That was enough for her to step off him and looked into his eyes. “No way.”
     
    Kian nodded. “I’m sorry you had to find out this way, Rukia. I swear I was going to tell you. I just didn’t know how you’d react. I was working up the nerve.”
     
    “You’re a hunter? You’re so young!”
     
    “I’m a Lieutenant,” he said. “I’ve been doing this for a while.”
     
    “How come you didn’t tell me?”
     
    “I was scared,” he admitted. “Most people usually don’t think well about the hunters. Throw in the fact that I’m from the Velt and they hate me more. I’m poor and I’m a murderer. That’s two of the worst things you can be here,” he closed his eyes. “I’m sorry I didn’t get around to