I took a breath.
"You wanted me to ask permission from you. You wanted me to defer to you." He shook his head. "And I couldn't do that."
"And I told you that I understand. That doesn't mean I need to now set you on fire."
"No." He held my gaze. "But I want you to see how much I am willing tosurrenderto you."
My chest ached. "I already know that, Kenji."
"But I want you to see it, Tora."
My eyes burned. I blinked hard, forcing the tears back. "What if I hurt you?"
"You won't."
"But what if I did?"
Kenji held my gaze. His expression didn't change. His voice didn't waver. "Then I'll burn for you." He said it like it was simple. Like it was so fucking obvious.
“Kenji—”
"I'm fine with burning for you."
A tear slipped down my cheek. I wiped it away fast, angry at myself.
"Tora, many men, I'm sure, have said they love you."
I went still.
"That they'll be there for you. That they won't break your heart." His voice dropped lower. More serious than I'd everheard him. "But how many men have said you can set them on fire?"
I couldn't breathe.
"How many have said they will die for you—truly die for you—by your hands, if needed?" His eyes blazed. "I love you, Tora and I have never loved anyone this way before."
The words landed in my chest and stayed there.
Heavy.
Permanent.
A brand of their own.
I looked at Hiroko.
She stood a few feet away, watching us. Her eyes glistened. Wet and bright. She blinked once, twice, and the moisture disappeared. Her professional mask returned—smooth, composed, and unreadable.
But I had seen it. I had seen what this moment meant to her too.
Hiroko stepped forward. "Come, Nyomi. Let me show you the instruments."
Fuck. Am I really going to do this?
I followed her to the side table. My legs felt unsteady. My hands trembled at my sides.
She picked up one of the small white bundles first. It was soft, almost like cotton candy, but denser. More compressed. "This is flash cotton."
She held the cotton up to the nearest candle. The fibers were fine, almost translucent. "This will ignite instantly and burns away in less than a second. Watch."
