The hair blazed like rays left over by the sun to illuminate the awaiting darkness of the falling night, although the wide golden eyes glittered no such pure – natured intentions. They easily blended with the blackening skies, merely adorning it descending garment.
Her body did not take notice of the cold, wearing an old – fashioned yet short kimono, leaving one arm out to roam freely out of the flowers – embroidered orange sleeve, as if taking a dare against heavenly and earthly creatures.
Even the dirt of the streets did not sully her bare feet, burnt beneath her sturdy floaty steps. And like moths drawn to the flame, an exquisitely alluring one at that, men rapidly started to follow her across the small alleys she was walking, only to be turned into ashes at the slightest touch of the bronze - toned body.
That exquisite flame had no regret in leaving behind a stream of old geezers and thirsty youngsters to disintegrate amidst raging flames, their appetite not nearing the hunger for revenge reflected in the golden eyes. She wanted a noticeable entrance. She was calling through the ashes tracing her trail for the person upon whom she wished her revenge to befall and burn similarly; into ashes and crisps, easily scattered away by the wind that person commanded.
***
It did not take long for the bloody trail to make it to the headline news, terrifying everyone and limiting night strolls, although no one shared any sympathy for the victims not because nothing could be identified from their ashes, but because the only missing people were from the "shady dirty districts", all having some criminal background or involved in shady conduct. Still, this "flame of righteous vengeance" as some people called it was not a trivial matter or an issue to be overlooked, but despite all the vigorous efforts of searching for the culprit whom some named "a savior" or a "saint", there no clear evidences other than the pile of ashes, that person had left no traces behind and thus people started to think it was some heavenly intervention, though cruel and rare for this age and time. The police definitely could not accept the incidents as such, and so the futile search and investigations were carried on regardless.
***
"Ayumi dear, I don't want you staying out late at night… and maybe you can cut down on your walks with your friends… things are getting dangerous all of a sudden!"
Ayumi's grandma worriedly advised her granddaughter. The latter listened with dull ears. For the record, she had never stayed out late, and her walks with her friends was not a daily activity and these accidents seemed to take place only at shady places, and god knows Ayumi was not an adventurous teenager. But she still nodded politely assuring her grandmother and easing her worries.
"If she knew of my new encounters and ventures, she will have something more serious to worry about!"
Ayumi thought to herself, a childish thrill going down her body, she felt like a superstar leading a double life, one much too unbelievable.
"Dear girl, will you be kind enough to make me some green tea?"
"Again?" Ayumi sighed to herself. Just how much did her grandmother need to consume a day of that dreadful liquid?
"Sure, don't worry."
Ayumi got up from sofa where she had been watching the television with her grandmother and went into the kitchen. Preparing the tea set, she yelled from the kitchen.
"What luck, seems we are out of green tea… maybe I should run down to the store and get some!"
"Definitely not!"
Came her grandmother frustrated reply.
"Just teasing! I only needed to confirm which you valued more, your only granddaughter or you favorite tea!"
Ayumi laughed as she waved from the kitchen door the tea bag.
"That's not funny! Things are crazy these nights!"
"It is alright, I already got the answer I was hoping for!"
Ayumi laughed as she waltzed back into the kitchen to prepare the tea. The thought of a criminal setting others aflame was truly horrifying. Should not the queen of light do something about it? If someone out there was thinking he was doing a good deed then he was going all wrong about it, and she doubted he was some sent saint to purify the streets, he might as well be some serial killer or a deranged criminal the way he exacted his horrendous acts. Just as Ayumi was thinking that, the window blew open scaring the girl, but it was only Reiha, making an unusual loud entrance.
"Ayumi, you should be careful… you should not stay outside your home late at night… it is better if you stay hidden for now…"
Reiha cut directly to the chase, keeping with her habit. Her tone was serious, hiding a warning she did not wish to state out loud and terrify the girl.
"You would make great friends with my grandma, Reiha."
Ayumi answered, amused by the double warnings and advice she's been getting although both advisors knew she wasn't a girl to spend the night outside her house. Reiha did not get the joke, and did not even bother to fake a smile.
"I really appreciate your warning, Reiha. But this is a serious matter, should we not do something about it? I mean… there is a loose criminal hurting people on the run!"
Reiha paused for a moment, then replied coldly:
"This is no ordinary criminal… I will deal with the matter myself, don't worry."
"What do you mean? I am not leaving you alone… we should…"
But before she could finish her protest, Reiha had already vanished. Her frown deeper than usual. By this point, Ayumi was certain Reiha knew more than she showed, and was connected to the problem somehow.
"Well, I am not leaving you alone even if you wanted me to!"
Ayumi promised herself, she sat her mind on following Reiha after finishing the tea. Her filial duty came first of course , which included waiting for her grandmother to sleep before leaving the house, as advised against just two minutes before.
Turning on the stove to put the kettle, the fire sparkled like a little explosion before it calmed down, making Ayumi bounce back in a scare.
"Is everything alright?"
Her grandmother called from the sitting room.
Ayumi assured her grandma everything was fine despite knowing it really was not. The fire that sparkled strongly yet briefly had a strange color; crimson like a blood moon.
***
After ensuring her grandmother was fast asleep, Ayumi tried to call for Reiha in her heart, that would usually work but the princess did not respond, that seemed totally out of her caring character for Ayumi, leaving the girl wondering:
"Did she fly out of the atmosphere?"
Ayumi was proud of her sense of humor, but she also realized this was no laughing matter. Dropping by to give a warning without explanation then disappearing and not answering her calls was not trivial. Something serious was about to happen. She thought about calling the princess of the earth, then immediately changed her mind; first, she actually did not dare to without Reiha's presence. Second, she was not sure Chiyasu would take kindly to be summoned like a servant although this was not the intention and she was most certain that she could not handle Chiyasu on her own without Reiha's backup to keep things in check. So, despite her racing heart, Ayumi decided to run out of the house and investigate the matter. Maybe if Reiha caught her scent alone in the streets, she would come immediately. Just to be careful, Ayumi tucked the crown in a small bag and went out.
The streets were unusually empty, the story of the ashen alleys frightening everyone inside their houses. Ayumi thought maybe she had overstepped her position, but the crown was by her side, she should not fear anything, should she? And the answer came quickly than she expected.
"Little girl, what are you doing alone at this late hour? Have you not heard the news?"
Ayumi turned at the melodious voice. It belonged to a beautiful woman who clearly did not care to hide her true skin. While Reiha and Chiyasu wore modern clothes, perfectly blending in with normal humans if were seen, that female was proud of her old – styled short kimono. Her features were graced with an alluring beauty and the danger such beauty usually brings. In her conceited gaze, cast by golden orbs never belonging to a human, and that no contact lenses could replicate, the girl knew she was dealing with a princess of a natural element, and going by her hair color, it wasn't difficult to guess her identity.
"So you are the one who's been setting people on fire?"
Ayumi reached to her bag, thinking that even if she was an elemental princess, her crimes should not go unpunished.
"I see the habit of exaggerating occurrences have not died down. All what I have done was set some bile of trash on fire. Am I the bad one here?"
"Even if they were criminals, there are other ways to deal with them… the police…"
"Are you enacting your righteousness on me, girl? Low lives are low lives, those who dare touch the flame should be ready to endure its burn."
"You are a monster!"
Ayumi shouted while bringing the crown out, sending the fire princess into a fit of laughter.
"Is that what you take people's life for? A joke?"
"Of course not. I take you as a joke!"
Ayumi did not feel insulted, but she had an urge to prove to that arrogant woman, who stood brazenly in the street confessing her atrocious deeds with vain confidence. She was cruel yet beautiful, like an ancient relic not belonging to this current place or time yet still leaving a powerful impact. Wielding the crown out of her bag, Ayumi expected the fire princess to react or submit somehow, since supposedly she was her queen but the princess seemed totally indifferent about the matter, and not the least bit interested in that part of her duty. That's when Ayumi remembered Reiha's statement about the princesses of nature; some were on Amaterasu's side, some broke their oath to her. Apparently, the fire princess belonged to the latter group. Still, the girl hesitated; was it wise to kill her? Could she do such a thing? What will happen then? The thoughts must have wrote themselves on her wandering face making the princess of fire laugh even harder.
"How amusing that you think you can take me out. Surprisingly, I have no business with a fraud like you but you might serve as the perfect bait!"
"We will see about that!"
Ayumi declared with strange confidence, aiming a beam of light out of the crown at the princess who suddenly vanished, Ayumi looked for her but she suddenly appeared in front of her sight, their breath of air the only thing separating them, before she drifted into unconsciousness.