Strike to Incinerate

February 3, 2019

Kasumii bounced around her room in excitement. Soon she and Jake would be celebrating their one-year anniversary of dating. She had to make sure everything was perfect for him. Rummaging in her closet for appropriate clothing, she wondered what he had in mind. Jake had promised her a surprise, and had refused to even give hints. She hoped it wasn't another skating date.

Though she was a skilled figure skater herself, Jake's long legs and clumsiness on ice had resulted in a wrist fracture, sending him to emergency care only minutes after starting. Kasumii had felt guilty for sharing that she enjoyed skating, feeling that she had been the reason for his injury. Jake had waved it off(with his good hand) and told her not to worry about it. Still, she hoped it was something else, if only for his sake. Having finally decided on a Black Veil Brides hoodie and a pair of ripped black skinny jeans, Kasumii had just finished dressing when she heard the doorbell ring. She grabbed the present she had prepared for Jake and dashing to the door. Throwing the door open, she jumped back in surprise. She was covered from head to toe in rainbow confetti. Her face was frozen in a look a shock.

On the porch, Jake was gasping with laughter at the sight of his shocked girlfriend covered in rainbow confetti.

"You—you look like unicorn exploded on you!" he choked out amidst giggles.

Kasumii just stood there for a moment and stared at him. Then she grabbed a handful of confetti from her shoulder and flung it at him. Jake squeaked as he dodged the confetti meant for his head. It hit him squarely in the chest.

"Hey!" he protested, scooping up more confetti from the ground.

"Oh no you don't!" admonished Kasumii, hugging him so he couldn't throw the confetti.

"No fair!" Jake mumbled but hugged Kasumii back. He dropped the confetti, then sat on the porch swing and held out his arms. Kasumii dusted off the majority of the rainbow confetti and closed the door before sitting on Jake's lap. She brushed confetti out of his hair. It trickled to the ground like colorful floating feathers.

"So, was this your idea of an anniversary surprise?" she teased him. "Dumping unicorn byproduct on me?"

"Unicorn byproduct?! This is high-quality unicorn poofness!" he said indignantly. "And no, that was just the beginning!"

"Oh no! What else have you schemed?" Kasumii questioned.

"Never fear! There is much I have planned," declared Jake, jabbing the air with his left hand. It was his signature sign of a conspired plot.

"I'm looking forward to seeing what you decided to surprise me with! As long as it's not more unicorn poofness," Kasumii told him, grinning widely. Before he could protest, she leaned down and picked up the bag containing her gift. "I bought you this. I hope you like it; I know it's not much. I'm not as good at giving gifts as you are. No unicorn poofness."

"Aww, thanks! You didn't have to get me anything."

"What are you talking about??! It's our one-year anniversary! Of I course I did! You're completely worth it."

Jake chuckled and shook his hair out of his face before removing the tissue paper and dumping it on Kasumii's head.

"Hey, what was that for?" she protested, grabbing at the sparkly pink paper.

"I was just decorating you for our anniversary," Jake replied innocently.

Kasumii was about to respond, but Jake interrupted her.

"Thank you so much! I love it!" He held up a Black Veil Brides hoodie, and their newest CD, Vale.

Kasumii got up to allow him to put on the hoodie. "I thought it would be fun to match," she said matter-of-factly.

"I love your gift and I love you so much," he responded, pulling her in for another hug.

She cocked an eyebrow. "Are you sure you love it more than I loved your unicorn poofness?"

Jake laughed. "I'm actually not sure about that one." He pretended not to notice that she had avoided answering the question.

"At any rate, let's go shall we?" he inquired, and began walking towards his car.

"Of course! I can't wait!" exclaimed Kasumii and climbed in the passenger's side.

"Now remember, if I tell you not to, don't look, it's a surprise!" Jake reminded her for the seventieth time.

"Yes, yes, I remember!" replied Kasumii, clicking her buckle.

Jake put in the new CD and they both fell silent as Andy serenaded them.

His deep voice resonated off the interior of the car.

Eventually, they pulled up at a mall. Jake pulled out a black bandanna out of the glove box and waved it in Kasumii's face.

"Will you close your eyes, or do I have to put this on you?" he asked

"I'll go with closing my eyes, thank you!" Kasumii said, swatting at the bandanna. "So bossy," she muttered, but good-naturedly.

"Great! No peeking!" he instructed, and took her hand, leading her forward.

"Make sure not to kill me with a curb or light pole or something," added Kasumii.

"Okay, we're walking forward," Jake informed. "Now you're walking... wrong way, come over slightly left... now there's a step. Two steps, actually."

Kasumii yelped in surprise as the unforeseen second step employed her balance.

Eventually the couple weaved their way through the crowds and entered a smaller room. Jake led his girlfriend to a chair and helped her sit down.

"Now stay here, I'll be back with your surprise!" he called mysteriously.

The hum of the people was almost sleep-inducing for Kasumii. It didn't help that she hadn't slept for more than four hours per night for as long as she could remember.

Jake came back, holding a squirming black kitten. The kitten mewled and batted at Jake's hands with his tiny paws.

"You can look now! You may want to take him; he seems rather restless."

He? Restless? Kasumii's eyes shot open. The moment she laid eyes on the little cat, she was smitten.

"Oh my goodness! He's so cute! May I?"

Jake placed the mewling kitten in Kasumii's arms. Kasumii smiled as the kitten buried himself in her hoodie, hooking his claws in the fabric.

"What do you want to call him? They never gave him a name."

Observing the kitten's dark fur and glowing emerald eyes, Kasumii was already speaking. "Raven," she said, petting his fuzzy head.

"You want to name a cat Raven?" Jake inquired. Before his girlfriend could give an appropriate retort, he added, "It's up to you. He's all yours."

"Thank you so much. He is the most handsome little dude I've ever seen!"

"More handsome than me?" asked Jake, jokingly looking miffed.

"Of course not!" Kasumii responded and stuck out her tongue.

They strolled back outside into the cold light of the winter sun. Puffs of breath dissipated into tiny droplets in the frigid air.

"Make sure not to slip on the ice! It's dangerous at this time of year," Jake pointed out.

As if to prove his point, a small car came careening towards them across the parking lot.

"Kasumii! Get out of the way!" Jake tried to pull his girlfriend out of the path of the approaching vehicle.

It was too late. Smack. Jake caught his breath; the car had missed him by inches. Kasumii was not so lucky. She was on the ground. A crimson stain began to spread across her hoodie. Little Raven pawed at her hair and gave a plaintive cry. Jake's whole body was numb as he frantically dialed for an ambulance.