"Now." Hiroko pushed up the sleeve of her leather kimono, exposing her forearm. The skin was pale and smooth. "I'll demonstrate. Pick something for me to test?"
“Me?”
“Yes.”
“I don’t know.” I looked at the items. “I think. . .I like the wand the best because it seems like I can control it more.”
“This is true.” She picked up a fire wand and dipped the wrapped end into the alcohol. “Alright.”
Then she held it to a candle.
The flame caught. Orange, yellow, and gold danced at the tip of the wand.
“Now look.” She brought it to her forearm.
One quick stroke.
The flame trailed across her skin like a brushstroke, leaving a path of heat in its wake.
Fuck.
Then she pulled the wand away and the fire was gone.
Holy shit.
Her skin was pink where the flame had touched it.
Flushed.
But as I watched, the color faded. Within seconds, her arm looked normal again.
"The sensation is heat, not burning. When done correctly, it's intense but not harmful." She held the wand out to me. "Now you try."
My hands shook as I took the wand.
The metal was warm from her grip. The flame still burned at the tip, casting dancing shadows across my fingers. “You want me to touch this on your arm?”
She widened her eyes. “Notmyarm.”
“Then on Kenji?”
"No. Do a quick pass over your arm."
“Oh hell no. I didn’t sign up for this.”
“It won’t hurt if you do it correctly.”
“And if I do it wrong?”
“Well. . .we have the fire extinguishers, and medical staff is waiting in a room in the back. Go ahead.”
I stared at the flames.
Kenji chuckled from the slab.
I turned and frowned at him. “Nothing is funny.”
“Don’t be afraid of fire, Tora. You’re with the Dragon now.”
