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Rumi looked up and there he was; she had never meant for this to happen. She never meant to fall in love with Jinu. He was a four hundred year old demon; he had betrayed his family for life in the palace. He had betrayed her when it mattered most, cracked her open for all the world to see and the patterns on her skin had torn her best friends away from her. She had been rejected by everyone she had ever known and yet, he blocked her from the wrath of Gwi-ma.
Jinu's glowing eyes reminded her of molten lava, the slit pupil dilated as he gazed down at her. Purple and yellow flame flared around him, spilling precariously in violent plumes over his shoulders, across his back. It would devour him. He had leaped in front of the flames to save her, even though he knew what it would cost him.
"Jinu, no!" Rumi screamed, leaping toward him.
The flames burst brighter, Gwi-ma ravenous in his rage. The rush of flame knocked Rumi off her feet, rolling down the stage's walkway. Jinu winced as the pain lanced across his body. No, she couldn't let it end like this. She couldn't let this happen. This couldn't be all that was left. He had taught her to accept herself. A demon had taught her self love, vulnerability. He helped her find her voice and confidence again. This rivalry with him, this friendship with him...it had transformed her. All she wanted was to keep getting to know him. She accepted him, the same way he accepted her.
"I was supposed to save you, you were supposed to stay on the other side with me," she cried, shoving herself to her feet and scrambling toward him. The wind picked up, tearing through the stadium as if it meant to tear all of them away and leave the world torn asunder.
"I'm sorry," he said. "I couldn't let him hurt you."
Finally she dragged herself close enough to grab the front of his shirt, and hauled herself up until she was level with him. "I love you," she vowed, "and I will find you. We belong together." And she kissed him. He jerked in surprise and then his mouth softened, opening against hers. The kiss was soft and precious, the most beautiful first in the world, all plush lips and promises of the time they would have together, of everything they had come to learn and treasure about one another. She tasted his tongue and he was sweet, fizzy and light as soda pop. It sent a rush to her head and she reeled back from him, woozy, still gripping the front of his shirt.
The edges of him were beginning to crumble away in the flame. Her eyes widened. "No, Jinu!"
"I love you, too," he said, "You gave my soul back to me. And now I give my soul to you." The vivid blue light of his soul bloomed inside her and she felt a glorious strength ripple through her body; he was there, the other half of her soul, supporting her, embracing her, loving her tenderly. She watched in horror as his body folded inward into shadow and dust that was blasted away by the flame.
"No!" She roared, leaping forward with her sword, flanked by Mira and Zoey. "Let's end this," Mira said, taking her hand. "We're here for you."
She turned to Gwi-ma and let the music pour out of her, agonized and perfect. For Jinu.