Pruned Trees Re-Sprout!! ~ Ragazza Volpe Magica ~

July 19th started the same way most mornings began – Shouri surrounded by his precious Resonators. However, poor Rebecca has the distinct honor of being the one in his vice-grip this particular Thursday morning.

The fire Resonator was the first to awaken on this lovely morning, though her mind drifted back to the night prior. It all started with Taika. As soon as the trio felt their connections with Shouri’s tuners resume, poor Taika jumped as if she had been struck by lightning.

“He’s pulling hard on me…” Rebecca recalled Taika saying.

Though none of the eight Resonators got any updates from their Maestros outside of reassurance that they were okay and were on the way back.

It was radio silence until the four Maestros returned. Taika, Albarich, Kaira, and Zino greeted their respective Maestros at the door, the others staying in their Maestro’s rooms.

Elijah did a clean sweep of the suite with some device Rebecca hadn’t cared to ask about. He also asked Alfred and the two cat maids to leave before giving the okay for the groups to meet separately and discuss what had occurred. He was very clear that the information was not to leave this suite. Even without the clear instruction the way the man spoke of it hit on an emotional level – he was deadly serious about that warning.

For Shouri’s explanation, he practically wrung Taika dry of her rhythm, struggling to explain everything he had been told. He spoke with such a hushed voice it was hard to hear even for Rebecca’s exceptional hearing.

From what he told them, he had already suspected Mila had been turned into a Feroce Resonator. That was all but confirmed by the attack he had sensed. But now to find out that not only had she been afflicted with this possibly lethal condition, but was aiding in creating more Feroce Resonators? It was simply too much for him.

After struggling to get out the explanation of everything that happened, he just wanted to sleep. The one he wanted was Rebecca. The three Resonators knew why, even if he didn’t say, and quietly agreed to their arrangements. Even so, his positioning was so possessive; a hand around the small of her back another behind her head, his legs wrapped around hers. She returned the favor by wrapping her tail around the two of them and being as warm as she could muster.

He wanted her fire – for selfish reasons, she knew, but if she could give him that then she would.

Even while asleep his face was contorted in pain. Rebecca freed her left arm and slowly reached up, stroking his cheek. He wasn’t sleeping too deeply, as the gesture roused him. He opened his mouth.

“Shhhh.” Rebecca placed a finger on his lips to silence him. Pulling herself up, she gently pressed her lips against his. A soft smack completed the affair. “Don’t you dare apologize,” she whispered. “Just enjoy the ride.” And once more closed the gap between them for another taste.

“Afternoon shift?” Pacifica inquired as they ate breakfast.

“Yeah… wasn’t getting up at the ass crack of dawn after last night,” Shouri grumbled.

“What are we even doing today?” Rebecca questioned.

“Dying…” Taika’s head was on the table, her food untouched.

“Not first aid, that’s for sure.” Pacifica patted her fellow Resonator’s back.

Shouri felt a pang of guilt, averting his gaze. He pulled Rebecca’s tuner from his side and glanced at the text message he had gotten from Elijah early that morning.

“Mister Klein wants us on odd jobs today,” the Maestro told his team.

“Odd-jobs?” Pacifica raised a brow.

“What the hell does that mean?” Rebecca was similarly confused.

“Who fucking knows with that man.” Shouri shook his head. “Either way, Taika you can stay here if you want.”

“Non.” She picked her head up off the table. “Just need coffee, will be fine.” She smacked her face twice. “Maybe two coffees.”

“If you say so.” Shouri patted the vixen’s head, her tail slowly swishing behind her in response.

“Yep, I’m gonna end that man.” Shouri sat on a cooler behind a refreshment stand, Taika next to him, on her third cup of coffee.

Pacifica and Rebecca managed the front, the otter acting as the people person while the fire element managed the grill under Taika’s (mostly) watchful eye.

“Got it, so you want a Chicken sandwich, hold the cheese, add blue cheese and grilled onions, hold the ketchup, add bacon and extra lettuce with barbeque sauce on the side?” Pacifica rattled off to the customer for confirmation.

“Yes,” they replied with a slow nod.

“Got that Rebby?” the otter asked her partner in crime, who stared back blankly, eyes glazed over.

“I hate it here.” Shouri buried his head in his hands, earning a back rub from Taika as she continued to sip her drink.

“Hey, at least it’s easy.” Pacifica turned her back to the counter, leaning on it while addressing her Maestro.

Shouri slowly met Pacifica’s gaze with a glare. “Sahji,” was all he said, causing the otter to shirk and look around for any signs of danger. Thankfully for their continued peace, things were as mundane as ever.

Some time passed, and the orders picked up to the point that Shouri and Taika had to get up and help, but eventually, it slowed back down as the next round of battle started.

Yes, it was proving to be a peaceful day for the quartet. Emphasis on was, as things took a turn when Rebecca suddenly perked up from her station. “Sho!” She whipped her head back.

“Sho!” Pacifica also cried out, holding herself and trembling.

Before either Resonator could convey what was bothering them, a panicked public fled screaming in terror. The sounds of a battle kicking up not from the arena, but down the walkway they were situated on.

“Grab your bag Taika, I have a nasty feeling we’re about to need it,” Shouri spoke uneasily.

“R-right.” The healer set her drink down and grabbed her medical bag underneath the counter.

Abandoning their posts, Shouri’s team rushed toward the fleeing fans and into a fresh battle.

“Sh-shouri!” Emily called out. In front of her, Albarich had a wall of purple light cast, several large chunks taken out of it, with Ritika maintaining a perimeter of sand around their group. A damaged Soot stood outside of the wall facing down a cloaked Maestro and a blue-haired water Resonator.

“What the hell is going on?!” Shouri shouted, convening with the fellow lunar Maestro.

Soot and the water Resonator exchanged a volley of spells. Soot was a casting of Saldatura ad Arco, the Fire-Lightning Ossia; while the water Resonator responded in kind with a stream of black water-like rhythm.

Emily didn’t have time to explain as upon seeing the spell cast by the attacking Resonator Shouri’s expression darkened. In fact, the other Maestro flinched, turning her attention entirely to him. Something in his rhythm changed, his fury was palpable.

She didn’t have time to try and calm him, as the following spells flew from his mouth as naturally as he breathed.

“Fissare la Ombra, Rubato! Saldatura ad Arco, Legato! Manga de Agua, Piano Staccato!”

“Wait! Shouri-!” Emily cried out, far too late; Taika, Rebecca, and Pacifica rushed out from behind the cover.

The mysterious Maestro didn’t expect the intervention of the three new Resonators and hastily threw out a spell: “Grave Cinesi, Feroce!”

“Al! L'orizzonte Scudo, Rallentando!” Emily responded in kind.

Albarich braced himself, folding his wings in front of himself as a makeshift shield before launching the shielding spell. The water feroce Resonator focused their attention on the lunar dragon rather than the three girls charging them.

“Guhh, fuck!” Albarich ground his teeth as he was subject to a sinister mental wave being projected from the feroce Resonator.

This didn’t last long as Shouri’s three-pronged assault hit home, starting with Taika – a couple dozen shadow arrows pinned the opposing Resonator into place. These were only stuck long enough for Pacifica to trap the target in a massive water spout; tearing them from the ground they had been affixed to. While they hung helpless in the vortex Rebecca aimed a palm at the helpless Resonator before unleashing a massive bolt of blazing lightning up the column of water and striking the trapped combatant.

SPLAT

The robed Maestro stared in horror as their Resonator lay on the ground in a heap. However, they wouldn’t be staring for long as a fist whipped across their face, sending them to the ground.

THWACK!

They slid across the ground rolling to a stop, unmoving. Shouri pursued the now unconscious enemy, ignoring the pain in his hand that just ended the mysterious adversary.

“Holy shit!” Rebecca stood rooted in place at what she just witnessed.

Shouri picked up the robed assailant by the scruff of their shirt. “Give her back you asshole!” he growled, bringing his hand back to strike them again.

“Sho stop!” Pacifica stepped forward, but Taika was faster, reaching their Maestro before anyone else and pulling him off the subdued enemy.

“Let me go Taika! He needs to hurt more! He hurt her!” he roared, struggling against his Resonator.

Taika remained resolute and held him in place, breathing hard through her clenched teeth. Rebecca and Pacifica made it over to them and helped restrain their Maestro.

“LET ME GO!”