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

It was July 20th – Quarter Finals of the Kalanichi National Tournament. While the rest of the Presidential Suite was abuzz early that morning, Shouri and his Resonators slept in. They had been up later than anyone else and requested to not be disturbed that morning.

Emily had texted Shouri and informed him she’d be playing the afternoon game, so it further incentivized his decision to sleep in.

So, around ten in the morning, Shouri awoke. He had Rebecca firmly in his grasp this morning. Both to make sure she was okay, given her spiciness with Liza, but also to make sure she didn’t sneak off to stir up trouble. He didn’t think she would do anything, but giving her a treat for good behavior seemed like the best option for them at the time.

Either way.

Speaking of, the vixen’s eyes slowly fluttered open. Upon catching sight of her beloved Maestro, she smiled groggily, tightening her grip around him. “Mine,” she mumbled sleepily.

“Likewise.” He returned the gesture in kind.

Taika and Pacifica woke up after not too much longer and they shuffled around, getting dressed and ready for the day.

Finally leaving the bedroom at around eleven, Shouri went to look for Liza, eventually finding her sitting in one of the living rooms all alone. The red tuner bound to her sat on the coffee table.

Rebecca took the bold claim of one of Shouri’s arms while Pacifica and Taika made them breakfast. Shouri knew what she was up to, but allowed the behavior, if for nothing else but to show the abandoned dragon other Maestro-Resonator relationships.

“Good morning, Liza, how did you sleep?” Shouri greeted the second fire Resonator currently in his care.

She tried to avert her eyes from the obvious flirtation in front of her. “F-fine,” she replied quietly.

“You wanna come with us down to the stadium today?” the Maestro offered.

“The stadium?” she questioned.

“We’re working as tournament staff this week,” Shouri told her.

“Hrm…” Liza hugged her knees close to her chest; her wings once more curling around her body.

“It’s something to get your mind off things,” he added.

“I guess so,” she mumbled.

“You can say no. Even if I was actually your Maestro, you’re your own person. I can’t force you to do anything.”

Liza’s gaze fell upon the tuner, the single red button almost glistening in the light.

Something that Shouri caught. “Poor choice of words, I won’t force you to do something you don’t want to do,” he corrected himself.

The dragon balled up further, still locked on her tuner.

Rebecca squeezed Shouri’s hand, leaning into him further. He could sense her intention – “leave her be.” While he didn’t agree with her motives, he did understand the thought.

“Well, come eat breakfast with us.”

Breakfast was a simple affair this morning – just a normal spread of meats, eggs, bread, and some fresh fruit. The gathered quintet ate quietly thanks to the presence of the depressed dragon in their midst.

Unlike last night, however, she did not have to be ordered to eat, Liza slowly ate her fill of food. Shouri was relieved that her appetite had returned.

“What are we doing today Sho?” Pacifica asked, breaking the silence.

“Well, you and Taika are with Dr. Miya again,” Shouri began, pulling a tuner from his side. He frowned, glaring at the screen with disdain. “Rebecca and I will be on security detail for the afternoon,” the Maestro grumbled.

“Security detail?” Taika tilted her head.

“Elijah is worried about what happened the other day with the Feroce Resonator.” He flicked through his texts with the Klein Heir. “Seeing how we outperformed one of the current quarter-finalists in taking them out, he wants Rebecca and I there to help in case there’s a repeat attack.”

“Can I help?”

All eyes turned to Liza, who pushed herself up on the table. “Please Shouri. I can help you,” she begged.

Everyone else remained quiet. Liza reached into her pocket and produced her tuner. “Please,” she requested one more time, holding the device out for him.

Shouri studied the pleading dragon. She kept her arm outstretched, her plea continuing through her facial expression instead of her words. The Maestro reached out and placed his hand over the device, but did not take hold of it.

“Lyle replaced you with a Feroce Resonator,” he suddenly spoke.

Liza’s eyes went wide. “H-how did you know?!” she gasped.

Taking hold of her tuner, Shouri pulled it away from her hand. “Well, for one, you just told me.” He grinned toothily.

“Eh!?” Liza’s face rapidly turned as red as her wings.

“Don’t worry, I already suspected it. You were quite gung-ho about the possibility of encountering Feroce Resonators,” Shouri continued. “Also, you already had that immunity factor thing, meaning at some point you were exposed to a Feroce Resonator,” he counted off another finger.

“Plus, Lyle is a fucking idiot and would absolutely try to shortcut his way into a powerful Resonator, case and point you and Rebecca. Dragons are traditionally considered strong Resonators, same with Renards, with no consideration of the individual,” Shouri grumbled.

It was all true, Liza couldn’t deny that. “You’re really smart,” she conceded, hanging her head.

“It’s not me, it’s the rhythm.” Sure enough, Shouri’s normally emerald green eyes were brimming with yellow, knowledge-rich rhythm. “Either way, that doesn’t detract from me taking you with us. I don’t need to be Pacifica to know how genuine you are.”

She slowly nodded, though refused his gaze.

“And that’s that.” Shouri slid her tuner onto his side with the other three he possessed.

“You still want to go back to him,” Rebecca grumbled; arms folded across her chest as she glared down her former teammate.

“I do,” Liza admitted quietly. “I did my best for him, and I want to save him.”

Rebecca opened her mouth to say something, but Shouri motioned for silence. She shot a glare at him, but he shook his head in response.

“I’m not your Maestro; hell, I barely know you,” Shouri began. “So, I can’t make you do anything. If that’s what you want, that’s all your choice.” The Maestro rose from his seat. “Either way, you know my opinion about Lyle. So, if you want to start over with a new Maestro, I can ask a few people I know and see if any of them want to take you in.”

Liza was conflicted, that much was clear. “I’ll think about it,” she mumbled.

“Oh, you have two Resonators? Mr. Klein said you’d have one.”

Shouri, Rebecca, and Liza were in the security office, speaking with the head of security at the stadium. It was around lunchtime and the first match of the day had been completed. There was to be some entertainment on the main stage before the second match of the day would be played out.

Regardless, there were always rowdy fans, especially so close to Championship Sunday. As the trio was informed, Saturday and Sunday were the busiest days given how high stakes the matches were and the entertainment provided to the masses.

“We can get her a uniform too, should have something for winged Resonators available,” the security head pondered aloud.

“Hopefully we don’t need it,” Shouri commented.

“While I agree with that hopeful thinking, one should always prepare for the worst. Given how quickly you dispatched that troublemaker from the other day, I believe Mr. Klein agrees,” they snipped back.

“Very fair.” The younger Maestro nodded, appreciative that the commander seemed to take his job seriously.

“You two can get suited up and I’ll send someone over with some clothes for her,” the security officer gave his orders.

“We have to wear a uniform?” Liza asked when they were finally out of the office.

“Yeah, Rebecca and I also had to wear one while we were on referee duty,” Shouri informed her.

“It was pretty comfy, hella strong too,” Rebecca commented.

“Hrm…” Liza hummed nervously, shooting an uneasy glance back to her large, scaled wings.

Thankfully, Shouri and Rebecca knew where they were going, having utilized the staff locker rooms at the beginning of the week. The security team worked fast they learned, as when Shouri’s group arrived at the locker rooms, there was already a member of security waiting to provide Liza the uniform she would be wearing today.

Changing into the security uniforms was an easy affair for Shouri and Rebecca, they were similar to the ones they wore when they were on the courts officiating the matches on the first day of the tournament.

Stepping out into the main locker room, both Shouri and Rebecca waited idly for their third wheel, Liza to finish putting her outfit on.

Rebecca scanned her Maestro. He may not have thought it, but she thought he looked good.

“Oh,” Shouri jolted Rebecca out of her impure thoughts.

“What’s up?” she asked, shaking her head.

“You tied up your hair,” he pointed out.

Sure enough, Rebecca had her hair in a ponytail, pulled through the back of the cap that came with their uniform.

“Didn’t want it getting in the way,” she replied with a shrug.

“It’s cute.”

They both stood there in silence for a moment.

“Eh?”

Before the two realized what Shouri had said. Suddenly there was a lot of blood rushing through both of their faces as looking at one another became increasingly difficult.

Thankfully for their fluster, there came a distraction.

“I-I think I need help…” the pathetic whimper of Liza gave Rebecca the excuse she needed.

“Let me go check on her!”

“Sounds good!”

Rebecca quickly left her Maestro and went around the corner to the changing rooms. “What?” the fox asked.

“I-is Shouri there?” Liza asked quietly.

“No, it’s just me,” Rebecca replied.

“Thank god.”

Liza quickly opened the door. “Can you button me up? I can’t reach.” Turning her back to the other woman, she gestured to the buttons just above her wings which were undone at the moment.

Rebecca stared at the sad dragon. “You really can’t reach that?” she asked, brow raised.

“I’m not as flexible as you!” Liza barked.

With a roll of her eyes, Rebecca stepped forward, buttoned up the two wing slots, and zipped up the central back zipper while she was at it.

“There.” Rebecca backed off.

“Thanks!” Liza smiled.

The two fire Resonators stood in silence for a moment.

“Rebecca I-” Liza began, but was cut off by her former teammate.

“Shouri is waiting,” and with that, Rebecca walked off.