Back again are we?

Well, I cannot blame the curious of you. It is natural to wonder how things could have gone. One decision leads to an entirely different set of decisions, radiating out from the break in destiny,

Are you certain you should be doing this? Spending your time chasing infinite possibilities? Wouldn't it be better to cherish what you have?

Hm? A peek you say?

You're bored?

They do say mortal pain and boredom are the enemies of happiness.

Very well, I will once again tell you of yet another path history could have taken

Shall we begin?

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It was a cool Autumn day when he decided it was time.

She was out there somewhere, waiting for him.

It mattered not that he had no Resonator of his own to protect him. She was his Resonator after all. He’d find her and everything would be okay.

If only it was that easy.

“Wait.”

His sister stopped him as his hand rested on the doorknob.

“Here.”

She forced some notes into his hand.

“Paper money can’t be tracked like your bank account can,” she said. “Come back with her, okay?”

He nodded curtly before stepping out into the world, earlier than he should have.

A fourteen (and a half) year old was probably plenty prepared to face Riterran society. After all, that’s what the last ten years of education was for. The only problem was, this boy had no Resonator. He had no fighting capabilities whatsoever. Not even a knife.

It would make any parent draw pause and would elicit panic in most.

That’s why he left in the dead of night. His sister’s generosity would carry him far, hopefully. For that, he trekked on. There were plenty of full-fledged Maestros wandering about at midnight, their pride and joy Resonators following along. Conversations about battle tactics and relaxation alike trading lips so fondly.

They spoke words he wished he could.

He found himself at the park. The place where it all began, and where it had ended those four long years ago. The boy had combed the park so many times before, and yet he never found a trace of her after that fateful night. It was a bit cold out, but the excitement of finally setting out kept him warm.

A breath filled his lungs and he held it firm, closing his eyes and allowing his spiritual sense to reach out. This was a ritual he had conducted countless times since that night, and every time it ended with a void of disappointment for his trouble.

He expected nothing from this futile exercise…

…and yet he found hope.

“Mila?!” he gasped. His rhythm pointed squarely into the park, a familiar fiery sensation warming the boy to his very core. His legs moved, feet pounding against the asphalt walkways of the park, into the grass, and finally, the bushes where he had met her on that wonderful day.

“Huh…?”

“Who are you?!”

Green met red as two confused teens stared each other down.

This wasn’t Mila… this girl’s ears and tail were too big, canine-like instead of the felid features he had been seeking…

But…

“WHO ARE YOU?!” the girl shouted, louder.

“Sh-shouri…” his voice cracked.

Where the suspicious girl had been quick to snap, she found herself in pity. The boy that had burst into the bushes was hurting, that much was apparent to her. “Who are you?” she asked again, easing the edge off her point. “Why are you here?” came the clarifying inquiry.

“I’m looking for a friend,” he admitted, his hung. “She disappeared a long time ago and I ran away from home because I want to find her.”

The girl felt a pang in her heart at the boy’s plight. She looked him up and down. No tuner, no Resonator. He was asking for trouble, even she knew that. But… there was this weird feeling from him.

“Rebecca,” she spoke.

“Huh?”

“My name is Rebecca. I’ll help you find your friend.”

Shouri stood for a moment, taken aback by the kindness of this stranger. He crossed the threshold of the bush and sat next to the fox, happy to not be alone for the time being.

“Why are you even out so late?” Rebecca questioned.

“My parents wouldn’t have let me go out to look for her,” he told his new companion.

“Ah. She meant a lot to you then?” asked the curious fox.

“Yeah, she was my best friend. I wanted to be with her, but she disappeared while I was trying to convince my parents.”

The way he held his head told the vixen the truth of the situation: he blamed himself for her disappearance. It was strange how much consideration he paid. She was only able to piece together the girl in question was a Resonator; he never mentioned she was a Resonator.

Now that she thought about it… why was her head suddenly so clear?

She yawned, stretching her tail out. “Let’s sleep until morning,” she proposed, lying down in the grass.

Shouri nodded slowly, catching the contagious yawn. He wasn’t used to staying up so late. He also wasn’t sure about sleeping outdoors. Despite how uncomfortable it was, he smiled – in this moment he felt just that much closer to her. He held out hope they’d find her. Though his gaze fell on the little bit of Rebecca he could see.

What was her story? He was curious, but couldn’t work up the courage to ask.

Maybe tomorrow…

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Shouri opened his eyes as dawn’s first light reached them. The ground didn’t make a good bed, he discovered. The company of a fire element did make a heck of a good substitute for a blanket though.

The vixen pitied him, that much was clear. She even let him hold her last night when the temperatures dipped below a comfortable level. He thought there wouldn’t be any way he could sleep out in the open like this, but holding this girl made it bearable somehow.

He was filled with purpose and determination. He was going to find Mila, and Rebecca was offering her time and services to ensure it would happen. Shouri would be eternally grateful to her regardless of the results of their expedition. He wondered how he could repay her generosity.

“Rebecca, wake up,” Shouri urged the fox in his arms.

“I’m up,” she whispered back.

The two lay there in the grass for a spell, drinking in each other’s visage. That was until Rebecca realized the position she was in. “What!?” She pushed the boy away and sat up with alarm.

“Huh?” Shouri joined her in rising, though she hid her face from his immediate view.

“Nothing! Just nothing!” she insisted.

“Alright,” the boy said with a cocked brow.

Rustling trees filled the air with tumbling leaves they shed for the colder months. Shouri was the one to break the smooth ambiance of the autumn morning.

“Have you seen her around here?” he questioned.

“What is she?” Rebecca asked back.

“Fire-Shielding, a cat named Mila.”

The fox hummed, mulling that over. Her lips pursed, and she shook her head. “Sorry, haven’t heard of her.”

“Thought so,” Shouri mumbled.

“It doesn’t mean we can’t ask around.”

His gaze met hers and a warm radiant smile greeted his vision. The warmth exuded from this fox touched his heart. Genuine hope pooled into his soul and threatened to overflow the longer he drank in her confidence.

“I think you’re right.”

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“Haven’t seen her.”

“Four years ago? Good luck kid.”

“Have you checked the local adoption sites?”

“You gonna buy something or not?”

Shouri knew this wasn’t an easy undertaking, but he didn’t think that it’d sting this much. Nobody but him cared! Well… that’s not true.

He stole a peek at Rebecca as they walked through the streets of Riva Solare. She strode by his side like any other Resonator would their Maestro. However, the difference between them and their contemporaries was the lack of a tuner binding her to him.

She could just walk away at any time and never come back. Even so, she stood close to him as he spoke to people, keeping her protective gaze peeled for any threat, obvious or otherwise.

“Let’s take a break Rebecca,” he finally announced.

“Sure.”

With the money provided by his sister, Shouri bought them a modest lunch. Just a sandwich and chips. While he was at it, he also splurged a bit and got them a sturdy bottle so they could carry some water with them.

“If she’s not here, where are you thinking next?” asked Rebecca.

Shouri snapped out of his thoughts to consider that question. He honestly had no idea where she could have even gone.

“She didn’t leave willingly,” he told his traveling companion. “She was taken, by force.”

“You think so?”

“I know so. The park was torn up, and there was blood… and a piece of her shirt. Something attacked her.” The boy shuddered as he recalled that memory.

Rebecca placed a hand on his shoulder, gripping tightly. “Chill,” she whispered. “We’ll find her.”

The author's narrative has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.

Shouri nodded. The small platitudes meant the world to him if he was being honest with himself. In a world that didn’t care, it was a breath of fresh air to find someone besides his sister who did.

“Maybe we’re looking at this the wrong way,” Rebecca suddenly said.

“Huh?” Shouri studied the fox by his side.

“Maybe we shouldn’t be asking about the cat herself, but what happened to the park,” she suggested.

“Oh! That’s a good idea!”

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“I remember that. The investigation never found anything did it?”

“That was like four years ago? I don’t remember what I had for dinner last night, sorry kid.”

“I was coming back from a hunt that night, but didn’t see anything crazy besides the cops taping the place up.”

“A buddy of mine was one of the investigators on that case. Let me ring him up.”

Shouri and Rebecca exchanged a hopeful glance while the stranger called his friend. A quick conversation later, the two teens were to meet with one of the men on the ground the night of the incident. They had decided on a coffee shop close to the park – one Shouri recalled taking Mila to in the past.

“You think the guy will know anything?” asked Rebecca.

“God I hope,” mumbled Shouri, wringing his hands on his lap.

Rebecca placed a hand on his shoulder, squeezing it tightly. “Chill, it’s okay.”

Her touch brought him a strange solace he couldn’t describe. To her request, he nodded and calmed himself again.

Right on time too, as the guest of the hour arrived. “Shouri?” he asked.

“Yes sir.” Shouri and Rebecca stood to greet the fabled investigator. The Maestro accepted the hand offered to him, noting the firm grip of the older man.

“Detective Alfric Marius, Riva Solare PD,” he greeted.

The three took a seat. “So Pat tells me you were interested in the 2010 park case,” the older man led off the conversation.

Just mentioning the idea of Mila’s disappearance being a case was enough to launch the boy’s nerves into orbit. But yet again, the warmth of Rebecca’s hand was enough to hold the storm back.

“Yes, there was a cat at the park that went missing after that. I… was going to adopt her,” Shouri spoke quietly.

Alfric’s brows pinched together as he let out a thoughtful hum. “I remember that. You must be the young boy who was looking for her,” he paused, noting Shouri’s downcast gaze. “Still are I presume?” He earned a slow nod for that inquiry.

The detective took a moment to chew on that thought. He looked between the hurt boy and the vixen by his side. He curled his lips, taking a moment to decide what he should do.

“What I’m about to tell you, well it’s not easy. Are you sure you want to hear it?” asked the detective.

Shouri’s head snapped up. He nodded quickly. “I… just want to know. If nothing else I want to know if I should keep hoping, or-” he trembled at the thought brewing in his head. Rebecca’s touch helped, but she was slowly losing the battle against his building grief. “-if I should move on.”

Detective Marius nodded before continuing. “I’ve heard from other departments that strays have been disappearing for the last few years. Not accidents or anything like that, but snatched up off the streets. Some show up again, sick as can be, but many are never seen again.”

It wasn’t Shouri who reacted poorly to that news, but Rebecca. The tenured detective noticed the girl had tensed up, her tail bristling upon hearing that detail.

“We don’t have the resources to care for the entire stray population out there, so we’ve just been advising they try to stay grouped up and avoid wandering on their own,” the Detective added, directing his words more at Rebecca than Shouri.

He turned his attention back to the Maestro of the young pair. “What is your number? I can send you info if we get any about her.”

“It’s 48899-34049,” Shouri told the officer.

And with that, the two were left to their own devices as Detective Marius had to return to work.

“Now what?” Rebecca asked.

“I’m… not sure,” Shouri mumbled.

“I see.”

Not much else was said as they returned to the park where they had first met. The two teens stood in front of the bush, silent as they continued to process the events of the last few hours.

“I’m sorry for wasting your time,” Shouri spoke first. His head hung, eyes glazed over as the hope had abandoned its post.

Rebecca didn’t know what to say, her mind racing with possibilities. Something in her was screaming to say something, anything. A deep warmth welled from within, threatening to erupt if she just gave it the power to.

He turned to leave. “Goodbye, Rebecca.”

That’s when it finally burst. “Wait!” She rushed around to cut him off and grabbed his hand.

He just stared; mouth slightly agape at the desperation painted on the young fox’s face. Her eyes darted around, landing anywhere but his shock. Finally, her eyes glowed blue as she forced herself to act.

“I want to be your Resonator. Please take me with you.” Her arm trembled as she refused to release him from her grip. “I swear I’ll do my best – anything you want I’ll do it.” Despite the stubborn willpower pushing her forward, her instincts were crying out in despair. She expected the worst. He was still committed to finding his first Resonator, he didn’t need a third wheel in such devotion.

“Wh-why?” words Rebecca hadn’t expected left the boy’s lips.

“W-warm,” Rebecca admitted. “I’ve met so many Maestros and they’re so cold, but you’re warm. So very warm. I want to help you. Please.” She tightened her grip on his hand. “Please,” she repeated.

The conflict pooled in his eyes as he had trouble conceiving the words he could use. “I dunno…” he trailed off, not wanting to see this girl break down in front of him. Her hold on his hands began to fade.

“I… understand.”

Just before she totally let go of him, he tightened the loosening grip. “Wait!” now he cried out.

“I- just, you’re the only one who’s ever offered to help me, I just- it’s a lot, right?” the boy stumbled over his words, not even sure where he was going with this. Rebecca herself didn’t know what to say either, only able to stare blankly.

“I’ll be your Maestro,” Shouri finally said. “Maybe it’ll be fun to specialize in fire Resonators? I already know all of the spells you can get,” he added with a smile.

Rebecca opened her mouth a few times, with several false starts before she finally found the words. “You mean it?”

“Yeah.”

The little vixen didn’t know what else to do but hug the boy that accepted her. “Thank you, Shouri! I’ll do my best!”

Before they could celebrate a new voice rained on their parade.

“How sweet. However, you’re already spoken for, Rebecca.”

Rebecca whipped around, her eyes wide with terror as she faced the owner of the voice. A woman in her thirties or forties, bearing vibrant red hair with canine ears and a tail to match.

“C-cyra…” Rebecca gulped. Her ears had flattened and her tail wrapped around the inside of her legs as she held herself.

“Who are you?” Shouri asked, the fear from his soon-to-be partner permeating him.

“This girl’s mother. And this ingrate ran away from home,” the elder fox sneered. Her wrathful visage faded into a smug smirk. “But, as fate would have it, a certain fellow of law enforcement so graciously pointed me in this direction.”

The knife of betrayal hit Shouri square in the chest as he locked up, unsure of what to say or do.

“Come now Rebecca, cease this foolishness. Or does this have to get physical?” Cyra cracked her knuckles, her upturned lips only further emphasizing her malintent towards the two frozen teens.

They just agreed to be together and now she was being taken away? The night of Mila’s disappearance played in Shouri’s head an infinite number of times, burning, boiling his psyche until all that was left was action. He yanked Rebecca behind him, putting himself between the elder fire elemental and her charge.

“No,” the Maestro spoke. Rebecca’s eyes widened. The way he spoke just then – it wasn’t the broken boy she had come to know over the last day. It was that of someone committed to their cause, a fighter who wouldn’t give up even if it meant his demise.

“Who do you think you are?” the elder fox sneered.

“I’m Shouri Tomoshibi. I’m Rebecca’s Maestro and you are not taking her away from me,” he snarled back.

Bravado earned amusement. “Oh? I finally have a buyer for that little kit. She’s not yours.”

“What are they offering?”

Cyra lost her edge. She mused over that question. “A grand, but-”

Shouri cut her off. “Three.”

“Excuse me?”

“Three thousand right now. My father is James Tomoshibi. Three thousand notes. If he won’t pay, I’ll have our hunter’s wages garnished to you at a total of five thousand notes until the debt is paid.”

“Shouri no, I’m not worth that much!” Rebecca hissed to him. All she got back in return was a re-affirming squeeze of the hand. That told her his stance on this: yes she was.

The elder fire Resonator drew pause. The name Tomoshibi was familiar – a wealthy CEO, the head of that famous Lyberteran electric company. This small boy was the heir to that? Even so. “Will you be willing to have this signed into a contract at the MA Office?” she questioned.

“Of course. I’m hers, and you’re not changing that.”

Cyra clicked her tongue but decided against snapping at him. In the end, this was better than she could have planned for: she’d make far more money, either immediately or over time. If she was being honest, she was hoping the elder Tomoshibi didn’t pay so she could get that extra two thousand in notes over time.

“Fine, little boy. You have yourself a deal. I’ll sell Rebecca to you under the terms of the contract we just agreed upon. Let’s go get that little whelp chipped and draw up the terms.”

With that, Cyra turned and began to walk away.

“Shouri, why?” Rebecca cried out.

“When we were talking, I just felt something right from you. There’s something that I can’t ignore about you, so I thought…” Shouri shook his head. “Either way, I wasn’t going to let someone else who relied on me down again. Never again.”

Those words… he meant every one of them. Shouri Tomoshibi was a strange boy. But he was her strange boy, and she wasn’t going to let him down. Not now, not ever