When Fire Freezes Over
Title: When Fire Freezes Over
Author: changline
Rating: G
Pairing: Changmin and OC
Genre: Romance, a little angst (?)
Summary: It was Chiharu’s 21st birthday, meaning she had to meet her betrothed, but she already had someone she loved. Changmin on the other hand was single, but he didn’t want to get married to someone his parents picked for him just because of a tradition.
A/N: This is a prequel to my other fic BELIEVE...If you want to read it click here.
“Changmin! Stop acting like a child and get ready, now!” Changmin’s mother ordered sternly.
It was the 21st birthday of Changmin’s betrothed, which meant it was time to meet her and her family. As is tradition in their land, Enchantrix, the bridegroom’s family would head over to the bride’s home where they will meet for the first time.
Changmin sighed for the nth time. He respected tradition, but this particular tradition he did not like. He believed that everyone should be allowed to pick their own partners, ones they really loved, not ones their parents picked. It was at least easier for him to through today because he hasn’t found the one he loves yet, while some people he knew had to leave the ones they loved for the ones which were betrothed to them.
“Shikatta nai (Can’t be helped). The sooner we get this over with, the better.” Changmin mumbled to himself. “Not like I really have a choice though.”
Or do I? He thought.
Changmin had remembered some rare cases when the couple involved would call it off, ‘it’ being their betrothal. But little did Changmin know that these couples ended up regretting their decision almost as soon as they executed it.
-o0o-
“Are you ready Chiharu?” Chiharu’s mother asked her.
“Hai, okaa-san.” Chiharu answered.
Only ten minutes were left before the arrival of her betrothed, something that she was inwardly dreading, but she would never show that dread to her parents who were very excited for her.
She thought back to the conversation she had with her friends early that afternoon.
“Cheer up a bit Haru-chan. He can’t be that bad, although he isn’t Lee Joon. Your parents love you, I’m sure they chose someone whose worthy of you.” Kaoru said.
Her other friends, Kaoru, Misaki, Utami, and Rui, nodded in agreement.
Chiharu sighed. “I know guys. It’s just I can’t help but feel down, especially when I just recently knew that Lee Joon reciprocates my feelings.”
Misaki suddenly perked up and said, “Then we’ll cheer you up.”
Kaoru nodded, looked at her other friends and said, “I think it’s time we give Haru-chan our gift.”
The others nodded and stood in a semi-circle in the middle of Chiharu’s room.
Misaki went first, with a wave of her hand a single branch from the tree outside Chiharu’s window snaked into her room, one leaf on it carrying some soil. Misaki broke the tip of the branch, where the leaf that had soil in it rested, with her right hand. The branch retreated back outside when its duty was done. Misaki then stretched right arm in front of her, closing her eyes. Green rays of light that sparkled emerged from her hand, coiling around it. The branch, leaf and soil in her hand began to form a little island with tiny trees, and a tiny house on it. When she opened eyes Rui and Utami took over. With a wave of Rui’s hand a gust of wind swirled around the miniature island, keeping it in the air so Misaki can let it go while Utami did her part. Utami raised her hand over the island and light rays of different color emerged from it, showering over the island and giving it more color and life. When she was done, Rui made a ball of air, not that anyone could see it, which encompassed the entire island. Kaoru then joined in by creating a little flames of fire of different colors that swirled around the ball of air Rui created.
“And the final touch.” They said in unison, looking over at where Chiharu sat.
Chiharu looked at them expectantly.
“Make it snow inside Haru-chan.” Utami said.
“Ah…” Chiharu began as she looked at her friends. “Hai.” She said cheerfully as she got up to stand beside her friends. She waved her hand over the ball and made it snow inside.
“Snow globe complete.” Misaki said.
“You don’t even have to shake it to make it snow inside Haru-chan.” Kaoru said.
Chiharu grinned at that, “You’re right. Arigatou.”
Chiharu smiled to herself as she looked over to her bedside table where the snow globe was floating over, held up by Rui’s wind.
They might be right. My betrothed might not be so bad.
“Chiharu. Ikkimasho (let’s go).” Her father called to her.
“Hai otou-sama (father).” Chiharu replied as she joined her family to go outside and meet her betrothed.
-o0o-
As Changmin and his family flew closer to the home of his betrothed, he felt a sense of warmth encompass him.
Why do I feel as if I just came home from a long separation from my family?
Changmin shook his head just as the thought formed in his mind. What am I thinking? I’m here to convince her that we shouldn’t get married just because our parents decreed it to be so.
As soon as their feet touched the ground in front of their future in-laws, Changmin’s parents went to hug Chiharu’s parents.
Huh? What is this?
“How have you been?” Their parents asked simultaneously before they burst out laughing. They talked some more, completely forgetting the fact that they were there to let their children meet.
Changmin watched them with an amused expression before his gaze wandered over to the girl standing a few feet away from him. She was watching their parents with a soft smile on her face. Changmin studied her and wondered what kind of faerie she was, his parents never told him. She was wearing a light blue halter dress that ended just below her knee, the color of her dress highlighting her eyes which were crystal blue. Her hair, the color of wheat, was hanging loose on her back, softly swaying with the night wind.
Chiharu felt someone looking at her and snapped her eyes to her betrothed. She blushed when she saw he was staring at her. She couldn’t get a good look at him since he was standing against the light. All she could make out was that he was tall, really tall.
“Chiharu.” Her mother called to her and motioned for her to move forward. Changmin’s mother motioned for him at the same time too.
“Konbanwa. Boku-wa Shim-“ Changmin was cut-off from introducing himself when he got a clear look of his betrothed.
Beautiful. He thought. He forgot what he was about to do, so mesmerized was he by her beauty.
“You see Keiichi, I told you he’d be staring like that when he saw your daughter.” His father told Chiharu’s father.
Changmin felt his face heat up, his shook his head to clear and then continued his introduction. “Boku-wa Shim Changmin desu. Yoroshiku.”
Chiharu looked slightly amused at his discomfort.
“Watashi-wa Morisato Chiharu desu. Yoroshiku.” Chiharu introduced, looking straight into his eyes, when she was in front of him.
He has beautiful chocolate-brown eyes. So warm. She thought.
“Let’s go inside.” Chiharu’s mother said, leading them all toward the dining room.
Dinner was a somewhat noisy event. Changmin and Chiharu found out that their parents were long-time friends, but were assured that that was not the reason their parents decided to betroth them to one another. They said they were guided by the magic that surrounded Enchantrix just like the elders said. Chiharu and Changmin’s siblings got along well too. After dinner, Changmin and Chiharu were left alone in her room so they could get to know each other.
“What’s that?” Changmin asked, pointing at Chiharu’s snow globe, as soon as they entered her room.
“It’s a snow globe.”
“I’ve never seen one like it at the stores.” He said, getting a closer look at it.
“That’s because my friends made that for me.”
“A gift?”
“Uhuh.”
Now would probably the best time to ask her. Changmin thought.
“Ano sa, Morisato-san.”
“Hmm?”
“Do you really want to go through with, you know, our marriage?”
Chiharu frowned at the question. “Doushite?”
“Just asking. I mean, shouldn’t we be allowed to pick our own partners, not be betrothed just like this.”
“Wouldn’t you want to at least get to know me better before asking that question?”
“No.” The word was out of his mouth before he could stop it. He looked at her and waited for her reaction.
“Ah sou.” Chiharu said as she stared out her window, feeling hurt, though why when she didn’t even love him, she didn’t know.
Just when I was about willing to get to know him better before drawing any conclusions, he goes on and says something like that. She thought.
When she looked at him, her eyes held an icy quality to them, her expression blank. “’Then there’s no point in us getting to know each other, is there?”
“I guess so.” He felt chilled at her tone.
“Well then, let’s go out and break it to them.” She said, heading for the door.
Chiharu told them that they had decided to not get married. She told their parents that they had absolutely nothing in common and that they feel nothing for each other. She said all of this in such a cool voice and calm face that Changmin felt as if he was listening to his teacher talking about something trivial. Their parents protested strongly, saying they didn’t quite know each other well enough to reach such a decision so early. But no matter the protest, Chiharu was always able to give an answer and in the end their parents gave up trying to argue against her.
When the Shim family left Chiharu’s mother, Erika, had a talk with her in her room.
“Okay, Haru. What happened when the two of you were left alone.” Her mother asked.
“Nothing happened mom, we just agreed not to get married.”
“Without getting to know each other better first?”
“His idea, not mine. I wouldn’t want to be married to someone who wouldn’t even want to get to know me before deciding he didn’t want to marry me.”
Erika heard the hurt in her daughter’s voice even though her expression was as serene as it could be.
Meanwhile, on the Shim’s side, Changmin was being asked the same question by his mother.
“You didn’t tell her your point of view about this tradition, didn’t you?” His mother silently prayed that he hadn’t.
“I did.” Changmin answered honestly.
“Why?”
“I just don’t want to marry someone I don’t love.”
“How can you know how you feel about her without getting to know her?”
“I just know, okay. Can’t you just let it go mom?” His mother looked at him sadly before turning away.
“What will it take for you to believe in this tradition?” She asked without looking at him.
“When someone can freeze my fire.” He replied, knowing it was impossible. He was one of the most powerful fire faeries, his fire one of the hottest and hardest to control.
-o0o-
The next day, as Changmin was on his way to his friend’s house he saw Chiharu talking to a guy. The guy looked happy and Changmin found out the reason why when he heard the guy say loudly. “Hontou? Hontou? You’re not going to marry your betrothed? Does that mean that we have a chance?”
Changmin frowned at that. She had a boyfriend. He felt his chest tighten at the thought. He felt somewhat jealous.
Jealous? He shook his head and looked at Chiharu and the guy again. The guy was holding Chiharu up in the air and spinning round and round. The sound of Chiharu’s happy laughter made something in Changmin snap. He strode toward them and yanked her out of her boyfriend’s hold.
Chiharu gasped in surprise.
“What’s your problem man?” The guy, Lee Joon, asked. He was glaring at Changmin, not liking the way Changmin held Chiharu possessively.
“She’s marrying me.” Changmin said possessively.
Chiharu looked up at him, shocked. He glared at Lee Joon, his hand on her waist tightening.
“Are you her betrothed?” Joon asked.
“That’s right.”
“You have no right to say she’s marrying you after what you said to her.” Joon said, taking a step toward them; his intent to get Chiharu away from Changmin.
“Don’t take another step.” Changmin warned, flames emerging from the ground in front of him and Chiharu.
“And if I do?”
Changmin didn’t say anything. When Lee Joon took another step, the flames in front Changmin leapt from the ground and went straight for him.
“Joon!” Chiharu cried out.
Lee Joon was just barely able to create a shield of water to block Changmin’s attack. Some of Changmin’s flames got through though and left a burn on his arm. Lee Joon leapt out of range from Changmin’s flames when he realized more were heading his way.
“Stop it Shim!” Chiharu shouted at Changmin, struggling to get away from him.
Changmin ignored her, tightening his hold instead. He kept on attacking Lee Joon. He didn’t know why he had the overwhelming desire to fry Lee Joon’s ass off. All he knew was that he didn’t like the idea of Chiharu marrying someone else. Just the thought of it made his blood boil and in turn made his flames hotter and slowly getting out of his control.
Lee Joon tried his best to ward off Changmin’s attack, but Changmin was too strong for him. He was covered in burns and was sweating like crazy from the heat.
Chiharu was getting angrier by the minute, still struggling against Changmin’s hold. Why is he doing this? Joon’s going to die if he doesn’t stop.
When Changmin raised his hand again to deal the final blow, Chiharu was finally able to wrench out of his hold. She ran and stood in front of Lee Joon, Changmin’s eyes widening when he realized she’d get burned to ashes as well. He tried to stop his flames, but it was too late, he couldn’t control them anymore. He watched in despair as his flames engulfed them.
Just before Changmin’s flames swallowed them, Chiharu raised her hand in front of her and rays of baby blue light emerged from her body as snow met Changmin’s flames.
Changmin was shocked when he saw his fire slowly but surely getting frozen.
Impossible!
But what Changmin thought was impossible proved itself possible before his eyes as his flames stood frozen in front of him. The conversation he had with his mother came back to him.
“What will it take for you to believe in this tradition?” She asked without looking at him.
“When someone can freeze my fire.” He replied, knowing it was impossible.
Changmin was pulled out of his thoughts when he heard faeries talking around him. When he looked around, he saw they were looking in awe at his frozen flames. That’s when he remembered that Chiharu was behind that flame. He quickly got up and went around it.
Chiharu was on her knees taking big gulps of air. She’d released a huge amount of power in one burst, something she’s never done before, and it momentarily drained her. Lee Joon scrambled on his feet and went to Chiharu, kneeling beside her.
“Daijobou (are you alright)?” Joon asked.
Chiharu nodded, “I just (pant) need a (pant) little (pant) breather (pant).”
Lee Joon nodded. He was about to take her in his arms when Changmin appeared, running towards them, and he decided not to risk angering him again.
“Daijobou ka?” Changmin asked, kneeling beside Chiharu as well.
She nodded. After taking one last deep breath, she faced Changmin and slapped him.
Lee Joon just watched .Shocked. He’s never seen her slap anyone before. She didn’t even slap him when at times he deserved it.
Changmin stared at her in shock too, his hand coming up to touch the cheek she slapped. He was a bit surprised to find that instead of that area being hot it was cold with ice particles forming there.
“What in blazes were you going to do? Kill Joon? Why? Because he’s my boyfriend?”Chiharu shouted at him.
“E-eto, ano…It think that’s what I was about to do.” Changmin answered.
“You think?”She asked him, her voice cool as ice again now that she was calm.
Her icy glare made him snap at her. “I was jealous, okay.” She stared at him in surprised shock. ”There, I said it. You happy now? I was jealous. Though I’m not sure why, but I was.” He continued, realizing it was true. “I didn’t like the thought of you being with someone else.”
Chiharu’s icy expression softened when he was done talking. Hope bloomed in her heart. She had felt hollow last night after he left, like a part of her was missing.
“So,” she began carefully, “you’re willing to give US a chance? Get to know each other before deciding if we should get married or not?”
“Chi.” Joon protested.
Chiharu turned to him and said, “Joon, you know I love you, but he is my betrothed and I want to give us a chance. Besides, your betrothed’s birthday is coming up soon too.”
Joon looked into her eyes and saw the shift of emotion there, a shift that stated clearly that her feelings about him were changing. He looked over at Changmin, who had a jumble of emotions warring in his eyes. Possessiveness. Remorse. Hope. And Love? Joon wasn’t sure if what he saw was real or if his eyes were deceiving him, but he knew what he had to do. He had to let her go.
He looked at Chiharu again and nodded, “Wakatta (I understand). Friends?”
Chiharu smiled and said, “Friends.”
She turned back to Changmin and asked him, “So? What’s your answer?”
“Yes.” Changmin said immediately.
The joy that radiated from her when he said that one word made him feel warm inside as happiness spread through him as well. On impulse, he reached out, pulled her into his arms and kissed her. He heard her gasp of surprise before she melted against him and responded to his kiss.
The people around them who witnessed everything cheered, but they didn’t notice, oblivious to everything except each other.
Two weeks later they got married, as is tradition. This time though, they were happy to follow it.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
A/N: There you go...Hope you guys enjoyed it, though to be honest I kinda don't know what I actually wrote..lol
Anyway, please don't forget to tell me what you think...
Author: changline
Rating: G
Pairing: Changmin and OC
Genre: Romance, a little angst (?)
Summary: It was Chiharu’s 21st birthday, meaning she had to meet her betrothed, but she already had someone she loved. Changmin on the other hand was single, but he didn’t want to get married to someone his parents picked for him just because of a tradition.
A/N: This is a prequel to my other fic BELIEVE...If you want to read it click here.
“Changmin! Stop acting like a child and get ready, now!” Changmin’s mother ordered sternly.
It was the 21st birthday of Changmin’s betrothed, which meant it was time to meet her and her family. As is tradition in their land, Enchantrix, the bridegroom’s family would head over to the bride’s home where they will meet for the first time.
Changmin sighed for the nth time. He respected tradition, but this particular tradition he did not like. He believed that everyone should be allowed to pick their own partners, ones they really loved, not ones their parents picked. It was at least easier for him to through today because he hasn’t found the one he loves yet, while some people he knew had to leave the ones they loved for the ones which were betrothed to them.
“Shikatta nai (Can’t be helped). The sooner we get this over with, the better.” Changmin mumbled to himself. “Not like I really have a choice though.”
Or do I? He thought.
Changmin had remembered some rare cases when the couple involved would call it off, ‘it’ being their betrothal. But little did Changmin know that these couples ended up regretting their decision almost as soon as they executed it.
-o0o-
“Are you ready Chiharu?” Chiharu’s mother asked her.
“Hai, okaa-san.” Chiharu answered.
Only ten minutes were left before the arrival of her betrothed, something that she was inwardly dreading, but she would never show that dread to her parents who were very excited for her.
She thought back to the conversation she had with her friends early that afternoon.
“Cheer up a bit Haru-chan. He can’t be that bad, although he isn’t Lee Joon. Your parents love you, I’m sure they chose someone whose worthy of you.” Kaoru said.
Her other friends, Kaoru, Misaki, Utami, and Rui, nodded in agreement.
Chiharu sighed. “I know guys. It’s just I can’t help but feel down, especially when I just recently knew that Lee Joon reciprocates my feelings.”
Misaki suddenly perked up and said, “Then we’ll cheer you up.”
Kaoru nodded, looked at her other friends and said, “I think it’s time we give Haru-chan our gift.”
The others nodded and stood in a semi-circle in the middle of Chiharu’s room.
Misaki went first, with a wave of her hand a single branch from the tree outside Chiharu’s window snaked into her room, one leaf on it carrying some soil. Misaki broke the tip of the branch, where the leaf that had soil in it rested, with her right hand. The branch retreated back outside when its duty was done. Misaki then stretched right arm in front of her, closing her eyes. Green rays of light that sparkled emerged from her hand, coiling around it. The branch, leaf and soil in her hand began to form a little island with tiny trees, and a tiny house on it. When she opened eyes Rui and Utami took over. With a wave of Rui’s hand a gust of wind swirled around the miniature island, keeping it in the air so Misaki can let it go while Utami did her part. Utami raised her hand over the island and light rays of different color emerged from it, showering over the island and giving it more color and life. When she was done, Rui made a ball of air, not that anyone could see it, which encompassed the entire island. Kaoru then joined in by creating a little flames of fire of different colors that swirled around the ball of air Rui created.
“And the final touch.” They said in unison, looking over at where Chiharu sat.
Chiharu looked at them expectantly.
“Make it snow inside Haru-chan.” Utami said.
“Ah…” Chiharu began as she looked at her friends. “Hai.” She said cheerfully as she got up to stand beside her friends. She waved her hand over the ball and made it snow inside.
“Snow globe complete.” Misaki said.
“You don’t even have to shake it to make it snow inside Haru-chan.” Kaoru said.
Chiharu grinned at that, “You’re right. Arigatou.”
Chiharu smiled to herself as she looked over to her bedside table where the snow globe was floating over, held up by Rui’s wind.
They might be right. My betrothed might not be so bad.
“Chiharu. Ikkimasho (let’s go).” Her father called to her.
“Hai otou-sama (father).” Chiharu replied as she joined her family to go outside and meet her betrothed.
-o0o-
As Changmin and his family flew closer to the home of his betrothed, he felt a sense of warmth encompass him.
Why do I feel as if I just came home from a long separation from my family?
Changmin shook his head just as the thought formed in his mind. What am I thinking? I’m here to convince her that we shouldn’t get married just because our parents decreed it to be so.
As soon as their feet touched the ground in front of their future in-laws, Changmin’s parents went to hug Chiharu’s parents.
Huh? What is this?
“How have you been?” Their parents asked simultaneously before they burst out laughing. They talked some more, completely forgetting the fact that they were there to let their children meet.
Changmin watched them with an amused expression before his gaze wandered over to the girl standing a few feet away from him. She was watching their parents with a soft smile on her face. Changmin studied her and wondered what kind of faerie she was, his parents never told him. She was wearing a light blue halter dress that ended just below her knee, the color of her dress highlighting her eyes which were crystal blue. Her hair, the color of wheat, was hanging loose on her back, softly swaying with the night wind.
Chiharu felt someone looking at her and snapped her eyes to her betrothed. She blushed when she saw he was staring at her. She couldn’t get a good look at him since he was standing against the light. All she could make out was that he was tall, really tall.
“Chiharu.” Her mother called to her and motioned for her to move forward. Changmin’s mother motioned for him at the same time too.
“Konbanwa. Boku-wa Shim-“ Changmin was cut-off from introducing himself when he got a clear look of his betrothed.
Beautiful. He thought. He forgot what he was about to do, so mesmerized was he by her beauty.
“You see Keiichi, I told you he’d be staring like that when he saw your daughter.” His father told Chiharu’s father.
Changmin felt his face heat up, his shook his head to clear and then continued his introduction. “Boku-wa Shim Changmin desu. Yoroshiku.”
Chiharu looked slightly amused at his discomfort.
“Watashi-wa Morisato Chiharu desu. Yoroshiku.” Chiharu introduced, looking straight into his eyes, when she was in front of him.
He has beautiful chocolate-brown eyes. So warm. She thought.
“Let’s go inside.” Chiharu’s mother said, leading them all toward the dining room.
Dinner was a somewhat noisy event. Changmin and Chiharu found out that their parents were long-time friends, but were assured that that was not the reason their parents decided to betroth them to one another. They said they were guided by the magic that surrounded Enchantrix just like the elders said. Chiharu and Changmin’s siblings got along well too. After dinner, Changmin and Chiharu were left alone in her room so they could get to know each other.
“What’s that?” Changmin asked, pointing at Chiharu’s snow globe, as soon as they entered her room.
“It’s a snow globe.”
“I’ve never seen one like it at the stores.” He said, getting a closer look at it.
“That’s because my friends made that for me.”
“A gift?”
“Uhuh.”
Now would probably the best time to ask her. Changmin thought.
“Ano sa, Morisato-san.”
“Hmm?”
“Do you really want to go through with, you know, our marriage?”
Chiharu frowned at the question. “Doushite?”
“Just asking. I mean, shouldn’t we be allowed to pick our own partners, not be betrothed just like this.”
“Wouldn’t you want to at least get to know me better before asking that question?”
“No.” The word was out of his mouth before he could stop it. He looked at her and waited for her reaction.
“Ah sou.” Chiharu said as she stared out her window, feeling hurt, though why when she didn’t even love him, she didn’t know.
Just when I was about willing to get to know him better before drawing any conclusions, he goes on and says something like that. She thought.
When she looked at him, her eyes held an icy quality to them, her expression blank. “’Then there’s no point in us getting to know each other, is there?”
“I guess so.” He felt chilled at her tone.
“Well then, let’s go out and break it to them.” She said, heading for the door.
Chiharu told them that they had decided to not get married. She told their parents that they had absolutely nothing in common and that they feel nothing for each other. She said all of this in such a cool voice and calm face that Changmin felt as if he was listening to his teacher talking about something trivial. Their parents protested strongly, saying they didn’t quite know each other well enough to reach such a decision so early. But no matter the protest, Chiharu was always able to give an answer and in the end their parents gave up trying to argue against her.
When the Shim family left Chiharu’s mother, Erika, had a talk with her in her room.
“Okay, Haru. What happened when the two of you were left alone.” Her mother asked.
“Nothing happened mom, we just agreed not to get married.”
“Without getting to know each other better first?”
“His idea, not mine. I wouldn’t want to be married to someone who wouldn’t even want to get to know me before deciding he didn’t want to marry me.”
Erika heard the hurt in her daughter’s voice even though her expression was as serene as it could be.
Meanwhile, on the Shim’s side, Changmin was being asked the same question by his mother.
“You didn’t tell her your point of view about this tradition, didn’t you?” His mother silently prayed that he hadn’t.
“I did.” Changmin answered honestly.
“Why?”
“I just don’t want to marry someone I don’t love.”
“How can you know how you feel about her without getting to know her?”
“I just know, okay. Can’t you just let it go mom?” His mother looked at him sadly before turning away.
“What will it take for you to believe in this tradition?” She asked without looking at him.
“When someone can freeze my fire.” He replied, knowing it was impossible. He was one of the most powerful fire faeries, his fire one of the hottest and hardest to control.
-o0o-
The next day, as Changmin was on his way to his friend’s house he saw Chiharu talking to a guy. The guy looked happy and Changmin found out the reason why when he heard the guy say loudly. “Hontou? Hontou? You’re not going to marry your betrothed? Does that mean that we have a chance?”
Changmin frowned at that. She had a boyfriend. He felt his chest tighten at the thought. He felt somewhat jealous.
Jealous? He shook his head and looked at Chiharu and the guy again. The guy was holding Chiharu up in the air and spinning round and round. The sound of Chiharu’s happy laughter made something in Changmin snap. He strode toward them and yanked her out of her boyfriend’s hold.
Chiharu gasped in surprise.
“What’s your problem man?” The guy, Lee Joon, asked. He was glaring at Changmin, not liking the way Changmin held Chiharu possessively.
“She’s marrying me.” Changmin said possessively.
Chiharu looked up at him, shocked. He glared at Lee Joon, his hand on her waist tightening.
“Are you her betrothed?” Joon asked.
“That’s right.”
“You have no right to say she’s marrying you after what you said to her.” Joon said, taking a step toward them; his intent to get Chiharu away from Changmin.
“Don’t take another step.” Changmin warned, flames emerging from the ground in front of him and Chiharu.
“And if I do?”
Changmin didn’t say anything. When Lee Joon took another step, the flames in front Changmin leapt from the ground and went straight for him.
“Joon!” Chiharu cried out.
Lee Joon was just barely able to create a shield of water to block Changmin’s attack. Some of Changmin’s flames got through though and left a burn on his arm. Lee Joon leapt out of range from Changmin’s flames when he realized more were heading his way.
“Stop it Shim!” Chiharu shouted at Changmin, struggling to get away from him.
Changmin ignored her, tightening his hold instead. He kept on attacking Lee Joon. He didn’t know why he had the overwhelming desire to fry Lee Joon’s ass off. All he knew was that he didn’t like the idea of Chiharu marrying someone else. Just the thought of it made his blood boil and in turn made his flames hotter and slowly getting out of his control.
Lee Joon tried his best to ward off Changmin’s attack, but Changmin was too strong for him. He was covered in burns and was sweating like crazy from the heat.
Chiharu was getting angrier by the minute, still struggling against Changmin’s hold. Why is he doing this? Joon’s going to die if he doesn’t stop.
When Changmin raised his hand again to deal the final blow, Chiharu was finally able to wrench out of his hold. She ran and stood in front of Lee Joon, Changmin’s eyes widening when he realized she’d get burned to ashes as well. He tried to stop his flames, but it was too late, he couldn’t control them anymore. He watched in despair as his flames engulfed them.
Just before Changmin’s flames swallowed them, Chiharu raised her hand in front of her and rays of baby blue light emerged from her body as snow met Changmin’s flames.
Changmin was shocked when he saw his fire slowly but surely getting frozen.
Impossible!
But what Changmin thought was impossible proved itself possible before his eyes as his flames stood frozen in front of him. The conversation he had with his mother came back to him.
“What will it take for you to believe in this tradition?” She asked without looking at him.
“When someone can freeze my fire.” He replied, knowing it was impossible.
Changmin was pulled out of his thoughts when he heard faeries talking around him. When he looked around, he saw they were looking in awe at his frozen flames. That’s when he remembered that Chiharu was behind that flame. He quickly got up and went around it.
Chiharu was on her knees taking big gulps of air. She’d released a huge amount of power in one burst, something she’s never done before, and it momentarily drained her. Lee Joon scrambled on his feet and went to Chiharu, kneeling beside her.
“Daijobou (are you alright)?” Joon asked.
Chiharu nodded, “I just (pant) need a (pant) little (pant) breather (pant).”
Lee Joon nodded. He was about to take her in his arms when Changmin appeared, running towards them, and he decided not to risk angering him again.
“Daijobou ka?” Changmin asked, kneeling beside Chiharu as well.
She nodded. After taking one last deep breath, she faced Changmin and slapped him.
Lee Joon just watched .Shocked. He’s never seen her slap anyone before. She didn’t even slap him when at times he deserved it.
Changmin stared at her in shock too, his hand coming up to touch the cheek she slapped. He was a bit surprised to find that instead of that area being hot it was cold with ice particles forming there.
“What in blazes were you going to do? Kill Joon? Why? Because he’s my boyfriend?”Chiharu shouted at him.
“E-eto, ano…It think that’s what I was about to do.” Changmin answered.
“You think?”She asked him, her voice cool as ice again now that she was calm.
Her icy glare made him snap at her. “I was jealous, okay.” She stared at him in surprised shock. ”There, I said it. You happy now? I was jealous. Though I’m not sure why, but I was.” He continued, realizing it was true. “I didn’t like the thought of you being with someone else.”
Chiharu’s icy expression softened when he was done talking. Hope bloomed in her heart. She had felt hollow last night after he left, like a part of her was missing.
“So,” she began carefully, “you’re willing to give US a chance? Get to know each other before deciding if we should get married or not?”
“Chi.” Joon protested.
Chiharu turned to him and said, “Joon, you know I love you, but he is my betrothed and I want to give us a chance. Besides, your betrothed’s birthday is coming up soon too.”
Joon looked into her eyes and saw the shift of emotion there, a shift that stated clearly that her feelings about him were changing. He looked over at Changmin, who had a jumble of emotions warring in his eyes. Possessiveness. Remorse. Hope. And Love? Joon wasn’t sure if what he saw was real or if his eyes were deceiving him, but he knew what he had to do. He had to let her go.
He looked at Chiharu again and nodded, “Wakatta (I understand). Friends?”
Chiharu smiled and said, “Friends.”
She turned back to Changmin and asked him, “So? What’s your answer?”
“Yes.” Changmin said immediately.
The joy that radiated from her when he said that one word made him feel warm inside as happiness spread through him as well. On impulse, he reached out, pulled her into his arms and kissed her. He heard her gasp of surprise before she melted against him and responded to his kiss.
The people around them who witnessed everything cheered, but they didn’t notice, oblivious to everything except each other.
Two weeks later they got married, as is tradition. This time though, they were happy to follow it.
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A/N: There you go...Hope you guys enjoyed it, though to be honest I kinda don't know what I actually wrote..lol
Anyway, please don't forget to tell me what you think...