“Hey, Taika.”
The lunar Resonator slowly opened her eyes. “Che?”
“Let’s go swimming.”
“Che ore sono..?”
“Like 6 AM, come on!”
And so Taika’s first morning in Canolapra started stupidly early.
The pair managed to get out of bed without waking either Shouri or Rebecca. Pacifica had grabbed their travel bag which housed Taika’s swimsuit so she could change. By the time the vixen had made it out of the bathroom, Pacifica herself was already changed into her swimsuit.
“I thought we could practice more swimming since we have a pool right here,” the otter told her vixen counterpart as they walked out onto the pool deck.
“Si...” Taika was still groggy enough to be slipping between languages. The vixen stood in the cool morning fog watching her fellow Resonator scamper up the diving board. The otter bounced a couple of times before launching herself into the air and plummeting toward the water below. Pacifica did several flips in mid-air before making a splash into the pool water.
Taika slowly blinked and yawned before Pacifica surfaced. “Ta-da!” Pacifica broke the cool morning silence. This earned a slow, tired clap from the lunar fox.
“Come on in Taika the water’s fine!”
“Ne dubito.”
“C’mon! Trust me.”
“Fine fine.”
Seeing how there was no way the exhausted fox was getting out of this, she made her way over to the steps and slipped a foot into the water.
“Freddo!” the vixen yelped, withdrawing her foot.
“It’s not that cold!” Pacifica protested, making her way up the stairs.
“Yes, it is!” Taika counterprotested. She turned to leave, but before she could get too far away, the lunar fox was dragged into the pool.
“Lemee go!” Taika yelped flailing around in the water, whilst Pacifica held on tightly.
“You gotta let your body adjust to the water temperature!”
“It’s still cold!”
“Only if you let it be!”
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Shouri slowly returned to the waking world, a bit colder than he had expected it to be. Though it wasn’t cold by any sense of the imagination, especially with his bed-partner Rebecca cuddled up in front of him.
Now Rebecca sharing the bed with him wasn’t weird – it was the fact that she was the only other person in bed with him which was out of place. He was sure he had fallen asleep with Pacifica in his arms and Taika behind him, but those two seemed to be missing.
The bed was also too big for its own good, and he was in the center of it. He didn’t want to disturb the still-sleeping Rebecca. She wasn’t in his arms though, so if he moved slowly enough, she wouldn’t notice (hopefully).
Moving at a glacial pace, Shouri rolled his way over to the nightstand where all the tuners lay. Finally getting a hold of the devices, he found the missing girls to be in good health. In fact, they appeared to be exercising?
Ah. It all made sense in an instant. Pacifica took Taika swimming.
Poor poor Taika.
At any rate, he and Rebecca could enjoy the bed for a bit longer. Leaving the tuners on the nightstand, he slowly rolled back to Rebecca, pulling her close. She furrowed her brow in her sleep but also seemed to unconsciously recognize she was being held by Shouri and smiled contentedly.
Rebecca and her radiant heat secured, Shouri easily drifted back to sleep for a couple more hours.
----------------------------------------
Now how did this happen?
Rebecca’s face was totally red as she found herself in Shouri’s arms. Not only that, they were alone. Her head rested on one of his arms, whilst his other hand had slipped around the small of her back. Moreover, he had one leg propped over both of hers. This all was so possessive of him!
The poor vixen’s heart hammered in her chest as she tried to figure out what was protocol here. Maybe Pacifica was still around?
Closing her eyes and focusing on her exceptional hearing...
NOPE, THEY WERE CERTAINLY DEFINITELY ALL ALONE.
Now what? What if Pacifica’s parents walked in and saw them like this? Would they think Rebecca a homewrecker? Shouri seemingly had no preference over any of the three of them – he treated all of them equally. While she was panicking internally, her tail was betraying the state of her mind as it wagged happily.
Finally, she calmed. He did this, he was the Maestro, and she was the Resonator. With that in mind, there was nothing wrong if she just so happened to enjoy the compromised position she was in. They slept together like this regularly for etude.
Right! Right! This was just advanced etude! Clearly! Anyone with a brain could see that!
Creeeeak
The door opened. Or at least that’s what Rebecca thought she had heard. Shouri was wrapped around her in such a way she couldn’t see anything. Plus, Pacifica’s bedroom had black-out curtains installed, so even trying to see anything was out of the question.
Someone was walking around, that much Rebecca could hear. Who was it though? They stopped near the bed, but she couldn’t tell who it was.
“Oh,” a whisper. A woman’s voice. But given it was such a low whisper, Rebecca couldn’t tell whose voice it was. The interloper tip-toed out of the room and gently closed the door, plunging the fire Resonator back into the darkness.
Who was it?! This bothered Rebecca for all of thirty seconds, as she suddenly felt Shouri stir and then begin to stroke her hair. The vixen squeaked, startled by the sudden affectionate gesture.
“Morning Rebecca,” she heard him whisper.
“M-morning Shouri,” came the return whisper.
“You’re warm,” he muttered.
“Sorry.”
“Never said it was a bad thing.” He moved his hand up to her ears and began to gently stroke them. “Just what I needed this morning.”
“Ah...” The fire Resonator sure was glad it was so dark in this room, as she was sure she was making a stupid pleasured expression right now.
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It was about eleven in the morning when Shouri and Rebecca decided to join the rest of the family out in the living room.
Pacifica was watching some kind of movie on the television. Taika rested her head on the otter’s lap, hair gently stroked by Pacifica, fast asleep.
“Breakfast is in the microwave,” Pacifica told her Maestro and her fellow Resonator.
Shouri nodded and took Rebecca back to the kitchen. “They went swimming this morning,” he whispered to the fire Resonator.
“I see.” Rebecca glanced out the kitchen window, seeing the pool that was laid out there. Not her idea of a good time, but if that’s what Pacifica enjoyed, she’d leave her to it.
Stolen content alert: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.
Rebecca and Shouri shared a reheated breakfast in peace.
“I’m glad you’re in a good mood this morning Rebecca.” Shouri chuckled.
“Wha-?” She raised a brow.
“Your tail hasn’t stopped wagging since we got up.” He pointed out.
“D-don’t look at my tail!” she yelped, dropping her food to reach behind her to stop her traitorous appendage.
After food was consumed, the pair joined the other half of their traveling group in the living room and just lounged around watching television for most of the afternoon. Priscilla and Jack returned to their humble abode to find their daughter and her friends occupying the living room.
“Oho?” Priscilla’s lips rose to a mischievous smirk as she located her daughter clinging to Shouri, with Taika lying across both of their laps and Rebecca on Shouri’s opposite shoulder. “Mother.” Pacifica narrowed her eyes, not liking the glint in her mother’s eyes.
Jack meanwhile also smirked. “Hey kids, wanna hit the court and toss some spells?” he asked.
“OHO?!” Priscilla seemed the most excited by that prospect.
“Sure!” Rebecca perked up.
“I suppose it wouldn’t hurt. It’s been like what a week since we last did anything?” Shouri checked one of his tuners to confirm. “Okay, like ten days, damn.”
“Sounds like a yes to me.” Priscilla chuckled.
The six-strong group got ready, but much to Shouri’s surprise, they didn’t get into the car and walked down the sidewalks of the gated community, making their way down to a fenced-off area. There were a few small courts similar to the indoor ones found in the Maestro Affairs offices they had visited.
Jack ran out onto the court and took his place clapping his hands together. “Come on, let’s go let’s go!” he shouted at his wife.
Priscilla chuckled and shook her head. She looked to Shouri. “He’s been excited to see Pacifica’s Maestro in action. I’m sure I don’t need to say this: but don’t hold back dear.” The woman stepped across the court and stood behind her Resonator.
“Oh. We’re fighting him?” Rebecca asked.
“This is weird,” Taika added.
Pacifica however smirked, trembling. “Sho.” She faced her father down, her eyes burning with bright red rhythm.
Shouri sighed and shrugged. “I guess we should actually greet him, huh Paci?” The boy drew her blue tuner from his side. “Ghiacciolo, Fortissimo!” he commanded.
Taika and Rebecca gasped – it was the first time they had a chance to see Pacifica’s maxed-out basic attack spell since she got it. The otter held her hand in the air, a massive spear of ice forming. Throwing it forward, the giant icicle chilled the air behind it, leaving a trail of visible water vapor in its wake.
Though, much to the younger group’s surprise, Jack didn’t dodge the powerful attack flung in his direction; he braced himself. As soon as the spell was in his vicinity, he pivoted his body and practically snatched the spell out of the air. “Aaaaahhhh! My daughter can cast Fortissimo spells! I’m so happy!” the man cried, rubbing his face against the slab of ice.
Everyone stared at him – even Priscilla.
“Idrante, Fortissimo,” Shouri muttered. Pacifica held out a hand and a torrent of water swept her father away.
“Thank you, Shouri.” Priscilla shook her head. Crossing the court, Priscilla faced her daughter and her Maestro. “You have quite the rhythm capacity.” She glanced over at Taika and Rebecca. “I suppose it comes with the territory.”
“Yeah, kinda just happened really,” Shouri mumbled.
“No, you’re doing everything right. Your etude is exceptionally healthy, and you’ll only grow stronger,” Priscilla said. “Maestros like us are told we’re crazy in the same breath that they praise our skill with Resonators. Too many people not doing the math.” She chuckled.
Shouri raised a brow. She did marry her Resonator, so what she said tracked. He wasn’t exactly sure how strong Priscilla and Jack were. He also didn’t know much about her past. However... watching Jack catch a fortissimo-level spell like it was nothing at all was slightly telling of the power behind that carefree attitude.
“Jack!” Priscilla called.
“Yes!” The otter man was back on his feet at the beckoning of his wife.
“Scottare, Legato please!”
Rebecca and Pacifica both jumped at that command and watched as Jack thrust a hand out toward the empty sections of the court. A burst of super-heated steam erupted from his hand, whipping down the court and harmlessly dissipating in the air. Though he was aiming the attack away from any of the younger ones watching, the sheer wake of the attack raised the humidity and temperature in the court by a small, but noticeable margin.
Rebecca and Pacifica’s tuners both beeped. “Consider it a gift. Scottare is pretty useful and you have two lovely ladies ready to use it.” Priscilla patted Shouri’s back. “Oh. Also, can you be a dear and have Rebecca cast a couple of spells on Jack?” she suddenly requested.
“M-me?!” Rebecca pointed to herself. She didn’t quite like the idea of attacking a water Resonator.
“Yes, you’ll be fine,” Priscilla assured her.
“Sh-shouri.” The vixen looked to her Maestro.
Shouri looked to Rebecca, though his gaze shifted to Taika, who gave a short nod. “Okay.” The Maestro returned Pacifica’s tuner to his side and drew out Rebecca’s. “Lanciafiamme, Forte!” he commanded.
Rebecca, still a bit nervous about the whole affair, ground her feet down and threw out a stream of fire towards the otter man.
“Scambiare Neve, Lento!” Priscilla suddenly called.
The stream of fire hit its mark dead on, but when Rebecca used up the rhythm she was provided, a slightly melted ice statue in the shape of Jack remained.
Pacifica and Taika recognized the spell Jack used as the one that made the little Pacifica-shaped snow mound back in the Riva Sranvi MA Office. Seeing it at its maximum level was the difference between a hill and a mountain. Not only was it almost a perfect replica of its caster, Jack, but the fact that it was only slightly drippy after being hit by a forte-level fire spell was also a testament to how useful it could be.
“Alright, Shouri and Rebecca – give it hell. No dinner for any of you until you melt it down.” The way the woman was smiling at them broadcast her intent: she was deadly serious about that threat.
Rebecca felt almost insulted. “You think I can’t melt a little snowman?”
“By all means, show me.”
“Tch!” Rebecca clicked her tongue. “Shouri!” she shouted.
“My god, what is my life?” The boy shook his head. His lips turned up to a smirk, however. “Lanciafiamme, Rubato. Let’s show her what real fire looks like.”
Rebecca too, smirked confidently. “With pleasure.”