Jason and I walked into the house hand in hand. I had missed the feeling I got from touching him immensely. To think of all the years that had passed where we hadn’t seen one another. We would certainly have to make up that lost time.

We walked through the house and headed upstairs where we could hear voices.

“They must be in my mom’s room already,” Jason said.

“Good; we can get the show on the road then. I’m sure you would like it if she were better.”

Alistair was at the top of the stairs. He was sitting on his back legs and when we arrived, he just stared at the two of us.

I asked, “What’s up Alistair? What are you doing out here?”

“The smell of sickness and death is strong in that room. I’m sorry sir, but my nose is super sensitive. I had to get away from that.”

Jason just nodded and said, “Don’t worry about it Alistair. I know how bad it is in there. I can’t stand to see her this way myself. But, I do have to go in now. Just in case this doesn’t work, I want my mother to meet the man (or in this case, boy) I love before she dies.”

I stroked Jason’s arm in a reassuring manner. “It’s going to work my love. These stones never fail.”

Jason and I walked down the hallway and got to the bedroom his mother was in. When we got there, I froze as Jason walked in. The smell coming from within was ghastly. Alistair totally underplayed the smell. I also realized that I had smelled it since the stairs. I hadn’t realized that I had such an acute sense of smell until that moment.

I looked at Sora and he looked back at me. There were tears in his eyes. I caught a few of his thoughts and noticed that he wasn’t just sad for Jason and Betti’s mother, but he was also uncomfortable because he had to endure the smell. Yukon was also having difficulty because I noticed him scratching his nose every few seconds. However, it didn’t seem to bother Jason, Betti, or Dr. Coates. Either they couldn’t smell it or they were very used to it. But, it was so hard to describe the stench. From what I remembered of the smell was that it was like sulfur, rotting flesh, hot garbage and feces had a baby and left it out in the sun for a day. It really was that bad.  I know, it was insensitive for the moment, but the smell was beyond normal explanation.

As bad as the odor was however, the sight of Betti’s mother was much worse. She had wasted away to almost nothing. I hardly recognized her from the way she looked on the show. It was a travesty. We needed to get the wizard out of the stones as soon as possible. I couldn’t stand to see her that way. I had to get out of there, and fast. “Um, I’m going to bring the stones here so we can get started. I’ll be right back.”

“Is that…James?!” Mrs. Coates sounded so weak.

I turned around at the sound of her pale and barely audible voice. Betti and Jason’s mother Minnie Coates, was trying to sit up in her bed. She was staring at me.

“Darling, you shouldn’t be moving. You have to rest,” Dr. Coates pleaded.

Mrs. Coates face contorted in what seemed like anger, but it was hidden behind a grimace of pain. She said, “Fuck that! I’ll rest when I’m dead.” She certainly had a potty mouth on her. If the situation weren’t so heart-wrenching, I would have laughed. Instead, I tried to hide a grin. Mrs. Coates again looked at me and said, “I want to see this man that my boy has gone on and on about.” She looked at me and smiled. “Come over here so I can get a good look at you.” I walked towards her and stopped next to her bed. “That’s good. I know I must look dreadful, but I needed to see you before I departed this world.”

Jason cried out. “Mom, don’t talk like that! Betti is back now and she brought the stones. You will get better soon.”

It seemed to pain Mrs. Coates to smile, but she did it anyway. She raised her two arms bravely and held them out to her two children. They both came at once and gently grabbed her hands. She squeezed with all of her remaining strength. “I know you all have put a lot of faith into these wizard’s stones, but in case it doesn’t work out, I want you both prepared for what will happen.”

Betti and Jason looked at one another and started to cry. I held out my hand to Jason and he quickly grabbed it and we wrapped our fingers together. Yukon walked over and stood behind Betti and wrapped his arms around her. She relaxed at his touch.

Mrs. Coates let go of her children’s hands and then she reached again for mine. “You know James; my boy has never given up on finding you. As a matter of fact, he wanted to go with Betti to find these stones. He figured it would help in his search for you.”

Jason nodded in agreement and squeezed my other hand. “I never gave up on finding you my love. Despite our current ages, you are still my fiancé and I hope that one day, when we are older, you will still be my husband.”

I smiled and a tear rolled down my left cheek. “Now isn’t the time to discuss this, but I would still be honored to be your husband Jason Bran…I mean Jason Coates.” Jason smiled at my mistake of his name on this Earth.

Mrs. Coates was smiling at our declaration of love. “Before I let you all try this stone thing, I have one more thing to say.”

We all got closer to listen to what she had to say.

“Hey hon, do you remember what Jason’s first words were?”

Dr. Coates first looked surprised and then a grin began to form on his kindly face. “I do remember my dearest.”

Yukon and Sora still looked uncomfortable but at the same time very eager to know what was going on. “What was it Mrs. Coates? What did baby Jason say?” Yukon was enjoying this maybe a little too much.

“This first thing he said wasn’t ‘momma’ or ‘papa’, but ‘James’!”

I just looked at her for a second and then I looked at Jason. He was blushing fiercely. It was a beautiful sight to see.

“Mom…….why are you embarrassing me?!”

Mrs. Coates began to laugh, but her body just couldn’t take it. She began coughing violently. Her whole body shook from the force of her cough. Unfortunately it went on for about five minutes and then luckily it stopped. None of us could stand to see her like that.

I let go of her hands and really looked at her; beyond all of the sickness, she was a really brave woman. She reminded me so much of my own mother from my Earth that it was scary. My own mother, thankfully, wasn’t dying like this. She was, however, incredibly sick with an incurable disease, but that’s a story for another time.

I looked around the room at everyone and then Betti nodded. I took that as my cue to leave. I headed out of the room so I could retrieve the stones.

As I walked down the hall, completely lost in thought, I suddenly saw Alistair sitting in the middle of the hallway. There wasn’t enough time for me to stop, so I took a tumble. I totally flipped over and landed flat on my ass. Luckily I had enough padding there, even in this new body, so the blow was cushioned. Good thing I was black or that really would have hurt. “What are you doing here Alistair? You were supposed to be by the stairs.”

“I’m sorry James, but I felt I should be closer to you all, but the smell got to me and this was as far as I could get.” He hung his head in shame.

“I know what you mean. It took everything I had to stay in the room myself. I don’t even know how you made it this far. It’s really bad even right here.”

Alistair smiled the only way a wolf can; he showed all of his teeth. “I’m trying to breathe through my mouth. I don’t know how you humans do it.”

I smiled. “Well for one thing, I’m not human, as you saw not too long along. Secondly, I don’t usually breathe through my mouth. Generally, I breathe through my nose because it’s easier,” I said. “Hey, why don’t you help me get the wizard’s stones? We’re going to try to save Mrs. Coates.”

Alistair got up from the floor. “All right, I’ll help out. I don’t think I could stay here another second more.”

So, we went downstairs and out the side door to the camper.

About five minutes later, we were headed back inside the house with the stones. It was a little slow going since Alistair didn’t have hands, but it was a good thing the stones were still small. All of that changed as we approached the bedroom. They had started to increase in size. It was slow, but it still made it difficult for Alistair. When we reached the doorway, the stones had resumed their original shape. Sora helped bring them in the rest of the way. We brought them in one by one because each one barely fit through the door.

Once they were all inside, I gathered them at the foot of Mrs. Coates’ bed. “Okay, now what do we do?”

Betti came over and looked at the stones. They were pulsing with a golden light. She approached them but stopped less than a foot from them. “I have to say a spell. The spell is supposed to bring the dead wizard back through the stones.” Betti closed her eyes and took a deep breath. It seemed as if she were trying to steady herself because she was starting to show signs of relaxing. Her shoulders slumped and she was breathing slowly. Then she opened eyes and stood straight up again and said in a booming voice, “Four stones are gathered; four fates are entwined. The journey has been made; lives have been combined. By your name I call you….Magus Foseel!”

The stones went dark. Without warning, they shined with a light so brilliant and dazzling that I shielded my eyes. I could also hear singing, but the song was not pretty; not like it was when we found the last stone. It was very discordant and had a truly dark intent. Even though the singing was beautiful and perfectly harmonious, it felt like someone was whipping the angels to sound like that. It was  terrible. Thankfully it didn’t last for that long. Right after the singing ended, a man materialized.

Said man was dressed in black from head to toe. He wore a long black coat that was covered in all sorts of runes. His pants were black and so were his boots. His hair, like everything he wore, was also black. It was more like the color of a raven. His eyes had a brackish look to them but it was the one thing on him that wasn’t actually black, but brown. Well, there was one more thing….his pendant. It was silver and looked like the sun; well like a cartoon sun but nowhere near as pretty. So, this was the wizard; up close and personal. I had to admit, I was a little scared. I totally sensed darkness about him. I thought to myself, this guy is supposed to be good, so why does he look so evil? He looked in my direction and I flinched. What was wrong with me? I needed to calm down, but there was something about him I really didn’t like. What’s more, I had the strangest feeling that I’d met him before. He seemed so familiar, but I couldn’t quite place it.

He returned his gaze to Betti and said, “I am the Magus Foseel. Why have you summoned me?”

Betti was struck dumb. She just stood there staring at Magus Foseel like a deer caught in headlights. Though, technically she was staring through Foseel because he was transparent like a ghost; which, with no irony, he was.

Finally over my initial fear, I moved over to be right next to Betti and looked through Magus Foseel’s eyes. “Magus Foseel, we ask that you cure Minnie Coates of her illness. Is it within your power to do this?”

The wizard looked at me and then smiled. That smile terrified me. I cringed. “If this daughter of the sick one had asked, I would have said no, but since it’s you James Taylor, I will do it. Is that your one wish?”

Jason gave me a fearful glance. I myself must have looked a fright. “How do you know that name? And more importantly, why do I only get one wish?”

“I know that name because I know who you really are. You only get one wish because that is all that you need. I ask again, is this your one wish?”

I was now completely, and not without reason, confused. “Okay, I get the one wish thing; that’s how it was on the show, but why do you know me, and why wouldn’t it have worked if Betti asked?”

“We’ve met before…that’s how I know you. Also, she doesn’t have any powers. Only those with powers can use the stones. The powers for the wish come from the wisher. It’s not just desire, but actual energy that fuels the wish.”

Betti found her courage again and stepped between me and the wizard. “I was able to summon you; why is that?”

“Anyone can summon me, but only those with power can use me. I thought that there were legends about me?”

“There are, but they never mentioned anything about someone with powers needed to be present,” Betti said.

“I suppose none of this matters right now. I only came to fulfill a wish. Am I granting a wish or not?”

All of the Coates family, except for Mrs. Coates, cried in unison, “Yes, please!”

Magus Foseel stepped out of the light of the stones and onto the floor. As he did that, he became corporeal. He walked around to the right side of Mrs. Coates’ bed. He studied her from head to toe. At first he shook his head but then he nodded. “I can heal this woman and I will do so through your healing powers young Taylor.”

What was this crazy old man talking about? “I don’t have any healing powers in this world. They are sealed away.”

The Magus shook his head in frustration. “They aren’t sealed away or else you wouldn’t be alive right now. One of the stones brought it out to heal your wound. However, if you had full access to these powers, you wouldn’t still have that scar where your surrogate brother scratched you.”

He certainly knew a lot about us.

Magus Foseel began to mutter an incantation and was waving his hands over Mrs. Coates. His hands began to glow bluish-white and I was starting to see color return to her pallor. I, however, started to feel sick. I couldn’t hold myself up and nearly fell over. Jason caught me before I hit the floor. The wizard really was using my energy.

Just as the wizard ended his spell-casting, he clapped his hands together and the stones lit up with a fierce and blinding light.

When I could see again, Magus Foseel was back inside the glow of the stones. “My work is done. Until we meet again. Hopefully it’s not too soon.” And with that, he disappeared. The stones pulsed with their own individual colors again and then winked out of existence. Without warning, there was a massive clap of thunder outside like a sonic boom. The wizard’s stones must have reformed outside and then scattered to the four corners of the globe to be found again; most likely by us.

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The Coates family had gathered around Mrs. Coates. She was sitting up in her bed on her own power it seemed. She looked as if she had awakened from a long but restful slumber. Totally refreshed and full of vim and vigor, she pushed back the sheets from around her legs and jumped out of bed. Everyone was shocked, to say the least. Her legs were a little wobbly but she remained steady. Once she found her sea legs again, she pulled her husband really close and gave him a big bear hug. He returned the hug tentatively at first, but when he saw that he wasn’t hurting her, he gave her the same kind of hug and then picked her up and spun her around. It was a glorious sight.

Before Jason went over to partake in the familial celebration, he made sure I was okay. He had me against the wall so I wouldn’t fall over. I was trying to catch my breath. I felt very weak, woozy and very wonky. The Magus undoubtedly took a lot of my energy. I wondered how long it would take for me to fully recover. Without access to the healing powers he said I still possessed, there really was no telling. As I pondered this, I tried to stand away from the wall. I pushed myself off and stood up as straight as possible. Well that was easy enough, or so I thought. I took a step forward and the world turned grey and I blacked out.

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When I came to, I was in a very large and lush canopy bed. Sora was in a chair to the right of the bed and was asleep. Jason was on the other side and was also asleep but he was closer to my head. He was wearing different clothes so it couldn’t have been the same day. How long had I been out?

I tried to sit up without waking them but I failed. Sora stirred first, followed by Jason. “I’m sorry. I didn’t want to wake you guys. You looked so peaceful.”

Jason responded first. “Oh my God; James, you’re finally awake! We were so worried.” He gave me a big hug.

Sora moved closer, smiled and then punched me on my right arm. “Oww!!” I said while rubbing my arm. “Why did you hit me you jerk?!”

Sora hugged me and said, “Don’t ever do that again! I can’t stand to see you in bed sick.”

“Geez, it’s only been a few days. Why are you carrying on?”

Jason reached behind me and rubbed my back and said, “James, it’s been three weeks. You were in a coma.”

I reached around and grabbed his hand abruptly. “What are you talking about?! There is no way that it’s been three weeks; it just couldn’t have been…..”

“Well my love, it has been. We brought a doctor in and he said your pulse was extremely weak, but steady. A normal person would have died, but you just slipped into a coma. We had no idea when, or if, you would wake up.”

I was flabbergasted. That was a long time. It hadn’t even been that long when I was poisoned by Sora’s claws. How much energy did Magus Foseel take exactly? That was why a normal person couldn’t make wishes.

While Sora and Jason were talking to me about the last three weeks, Betti and Yukon came into the room and were followed closely by Alistair and Mrs. Coates.

“You’re finally awake. You had Sora so worried,” Betti said. “But, it was because of you that I got my mother back, so thank you James.” She and her mother came over and gave me a hug.

“Be careful Betti, he just woke up.” Jason said. He could be overprotective sometimes.

“I’m fine Jason. Actually, I’m better than fine.” I pushed the covers back and jumped out of bed doing a front flip and landing on one foot. “I feel stronger than I did before any of this happened.”

Everyone’s jaws hit the floor.

“Close your mouths, you’re letting in flies.”

Jason came up from behind and then turned me around. “How are you completely fine? Just an hour ago you barely had a pulse.”

“You ask that like I have a clue about this world any longer. I’ve already told you everything is different from what I remember of the show. The rapid recovery could be because Sora and I aren’t human. I think the race we come from can recover from harm swiftly. That’s one theory anyway.”

Mrs. Coates turned me back around and hugged me tighter this time. “I just wanted to give you a proper thanks my boy. You have saved my life and my family, and for that, I thank you.”

“No thanks are necessary. I was helping out a friend,” I told her.

“Well, you still deserve my thanks. I know it wasn’t just you, but you are the one who nearly gave up his life for me. If there is ever anything I can do for you, just ask and it shall be done.”

I smiled and nodded my acknowledgement. Mrs. Coates smiled back.

The rest of the day was spent outside with lots of food and merriment. We all had a good time. Jason and I were of course inseparable. It had been over a decade since we last saw one another.

In the late afternoon, to work off all of the food we ate, I suggested a practice match. Sora readily agreed and then Jason and Yukon followed suit. Sora was to go against Yukon and I would fight my boyfriend. I couldn’t wait. Having recovered from near death, I had come back stronger than ever. This race I had been born into seemed to get stronger after every battle and after recovering from serious injury. That’s how it was on the show too. That was rather cool. It meant that now I was nearly as strong as my man, and I was about to prove it.

Sora and Yukon went first. They started the fight slowly. They each wanted to know how the other fought so there was only light punching and a few of the punches made contact. I’m sure those punches were just to gauge the others strength.

After a few minutes, they seemed to get serious. Yukon lifted pieces of the ground with his telekinesis and launched them at Sora. Sora either dodged them or would smash them to pieces. All the while, he was inching closer and closer to Yukon. Not a single stone or piece of land found its intended target. Yukon was getting desperate and the pieces of earth got smaller and much faster.

Though I never mentioned it before, Sora had a special ability. It didn’t come about until after he first transformed into a dragon. We only noticed it a few years prior during a training session. Yukon was about to find out what it was.

The whole fight since they both got serious, Yukon had been distracting Sora with his attacks. Everything Sora dodged ended up in the sky. Yukon was forming a massive boulder above Sora for some purpose. It was really high up there, so I didn’t think Sora noticed, but when Sora fought, he was actually smarter than me, so there was no telling what he actually noticed.

With one final barrage of earth, Yukon’s attack was ready. He smiled and then looked up. Sora followed his gaze and saw the boulder above his head. Yukon raised a hand and then brought it down sharply. The boulder rapidly descended.

Yukon still had that smirk until he noticed that Sora wasn’t moving. He shouted, “Sora, get out of the way! Do you wanna get crushed?”

Sora looked at Yukon and smiled that devilish grin that he only got when he knew he had the fight won. Sora looked up again and raised his hands above his spiky-haired head. He yelled and the boulder came to a complete stop in the sky. The force of the sudden stop caused the ground to fracture around Sora.

Yukon was shocked. “What….what just happened?”

Sora clapped his hands together and the boulder shattered. He then lowered his hands and the pieces began to rain down on top of us. Well, they didn’t actually rain on us; it was more around us than anything.

The pieces of earth filled in the spots where Yukon had originally pulled them. When the shower of land finished, Sora moved his hands over the ground and it smoothed out becoming whole again. The ground looked as it did before the fighting began as if nothing had happened.

Yukon walked towards Sora and then stopped only inches from his face. “What did you just do?”

Sora looked into Yukon’s big brown eyes and smiled. “I put it all back.”

“I don’t get it; could you do this when we first met?!”

“Yep,” said Sora.

“Then why…I don’t…what’s happening?!?” Yukon said, freaking out.

To calm Yukon down, I reached into his mind and pulled out a happy memory. It was one where he first met Alistair. I brought it to the forefront of his mind and he calmed down. “Let me explain this to you Yukon.”

“Please do, because I’m kinda freaking out here. If you guys were this powerful when we met, why didn’t you show it? When we last fought, were you holding back James?”

I looked down at my feet like they were the most important feet in the world. I couldn’t meet his gaze.

“You were holding back! I thought we had become friends. I don’t understand why you would do that to me!”

“At that time, I barely knew you and I wanted to gauge your strength. Though, it’s not like I lost on purpose. You were stronger than me; at least you were physically stronger,” I said.

Yukon didn’t seem satisfied by that answer. “I don’t know; it still seems like you guys might be holding back. I mean, you can turn into those dragon things.”

Sora came over. “It’s not like we would use that in a battle. It wouldn’t be fair. I would only transform if I was up against something big.”

I nodded in agreement. “In that form, we bring a lot of devastation. You yourself saw what I did to that mountain, and that was without even trying.” I could tell that Yukon was really thinking about it. All the while, Jason was just standing there and watching the whole scene. He was also staring right at me and smiling. I’ve seen that smile before too. That was his mischievous smile.

I caught a glimpse of his thoughts. I can’t wait to fight my boy now. I’ve been training hard for the chance to finally kick his ass.

“You can wipe that smile off of your face right now Jason Bran--- I mean Coates. You won’t be kicking my ass today or any day for that matter.”

“Did you---,”Jason started to get out.

“Yes, I read your mind. I haven’t been able to for 12 years, but now, you’re an open book. So if you’re ready, why don’t you get your sweet ass over here so we can have our little match?”

That wiped the smirk from his face. Jason sauntered over with that look he got when he was upset; usually he was upset about something I did. “You seem to think you’re stronger than me.”

“Well, after what I just went through, I am definitely stronger than I was three weeks ago; by a lot. However, I think you are still the stronger one.”

“So then why boast? If I’m stronger, what makes you think you can beat me?”

“Because, fights aren’t always determined by who has the most muscle,” I said.

Jason got real close to me. I thought he was going to push me, but instead, he kissed my forehead. “My muscle is bigger than yours; don’t you remember?”

“Not that muscle you perv,” I said while trying to hold back laughter.

He ruffled my hair. “Okay, let’s get this thing started. You can’t use your telepathy, all right?”

“I had no intention of using it. Shall we begin?”

The other two had moved out of the way because they thought our argument was real. They already knew better than to get in the way of two lovers arguing. It so wasn’t like that but they were right to do that because Jason was about to start.

“Yes, let’s begin my love,” and he kicked me….hard.

I barely had time to block it. The force of his blow knocked me back at least ten feet. I was able to keep my balance, but you could see the drag marks on the ground from me being pushed back.

Jason charged and I got into a defensive stance. He came close and I threw a punch, but he jumped up above me. He raised his leg for a downward kick. His leg came down and I raised my arms above my head and blocked the kick. I fell to one knee and the ground splintered. Jason put both feet on my arms and back flipped off of them and I was pushed back and ended up on my back. He ran to me and jumped and then drove both legs down to hit me. I rolled out of the way in time and he hit the ground, breaking it up and spraying me with rocks and dirt. He then walked up and kicked me in the stomach. I cried out and flew back fifty feet landing squarely on my ass. Damn, he was better than I thought he would be. I would have to take this seriously.

I picked myself up off the ground. Jason was standing there and the smirk had returned. He still thought he had this in the bag. Silly boyfriend. I wiped the dirt from my clothes and was actually getting angry. I don’t think I’ve ever been angry since I got to this world.

I was about to charge Jason in my fury, but then I remembered something Todrick once said during our training sessions. “The second you lose your head in battle is the second you lose the battle. Try not to ever fight in anger.” Those words have always stuck with me. I closed my eyes and took a deep breath. I opened my eyes and looked at Jason and I smiled. His smile faltered for a second but then returned.

Jason charged me again and jumped in the air bringing his leg up for another downward kick. This time I was prepared. When he brought his leg down, I moved to the right. When he landed, I kicked him, but he blocked it. He was, however, still pushed back. Before he could recover, I ran towards him. I did a forward flip and jumped onto his shoulders. I locked my feet under his arms and flipped back and then threw him behind me. I got back on my feet and ran after him. I managed to get in front of him and I punched him in the gut, pushing him to the ground in the process. The ground split and he let out an oomph sound.

I jumped back and put my guard up. It was a few minutes before Jason got back up and when he did, it was slowly. He brushed off some dirt from his pants and then looked at me with that sly look he always got. It was the same look he had when I first met him in the mall for the signing oh so long ago. It was the look that made me fall in love with him in the first place. In other words, it was that look that always got me into trouble. He had the same expression just before I came to this world. Did you see what I mean? It was nothing but trouble.

Jason stretched his neck and I heard a loud popping sound. He walked up to me and looked down. He quickly came down to my eye level. I was about to punch him, but he caught my fist and then he kissed me on the forehead again.

“What was that for?”

“I’m giving up. It’s obvious that I’m stronger than you, but you’re so damn smart that you’ve already figured out how to beat me. I didn’t think it would happen. I could only imagine what would have happened if you had used your full power.” Jason pulled me in and then hugged me.

“It’s not like you were using your full power either babe,” I said.

“No, I wasn’t, but I now know that your full power still makes me look weak. I know I’m physically stronger right now, but I don’t have access to anything other than strength either. You have more and weren’t using them. There’s also the fact that you’re smarter than me so that’s why I conceded.” He hugged me again.

“What are you doing? Why do you keep hugging me like that?”

“I love you and I’ve missed you; also, because you could have decimated me and you didn’t, so I thank you,” Jason said.

He let me go and stood up. As Jason stood up, I saw Yukon and he was walking in our direction. He stopped in front of the two of us and looked down. “What is it Yukon; is there something on my face?”

He bent down and sat on his feet. “You taught Sora how to use his power, correct?”

“Yeah, I did, but why are you acting so serious all of a sudden?”

Yukon got down on his knees and hovered before me. “Will you train me on how to better use my telekinesis?”

“Yukon, get up. What are you talking about?”

“If you can get a kid like that to become so good, you have to be a miracle worker,” he said.

“Hey!” Sora looked hurt.

“No offense kid, but when you’re not fighting, you’re a bit of a doofus. But James, dude, I would be so powerful if you trained me.” Yukon was back on his feet and jumping around out of excitement.

He seemed really eager to learn from me, and I would have considered it an honor, but… “As much I would get a kick out of bossing you around as your master, there is something Sora and I have to do first.”

“What’s that?”

“I wanted to find Master Chow Panushi. He trained our fathers and I was hoping that he could train us as well.”

That certainly piqued Yukon’s interest because his eyes were now as big as saucers. “He’s supposed to be the strongest and most powerful man on Earth and I was the one who mentioned that first.  However, no one knows where he lives. How are you going to find him?”

“Well, Todrick said that he was a bit of a recluse, but he lives on this continent in the south. That’s as good a place as any to start the search,” I said.

Sora was just sitting there and staring at some gophers that had come into the yard. He had tuned out when the fighting ended. Jason was standing behind me, but he moved forward after I had finished speaking. “You never told me any of this. When were you planning on leaving?”

“I originally planned to be gone already, but given what happened to me, probably in a few days.”

He got that upset look again. What did I do this time? “Were you even going to say goodbye?”

I rested my head on Jason’s forearm. Even at the age of sixteen, it was very strong. “No, I wasn’t going to say goodbye because I was going to ask you to join Sora and I.”

Jason smiled at his foolishness. “You know that just rhymed, don’t you?”

“Shut up!” I was trying not to smile myself. “I’m trying to be serious here.” As I said that, I motioned for Yukon to stand up. “You are more than welcome to come too Yukon.”

“As much as I would love to train with Master Panushi, I should stay here and try to finish school. Betti’s dad said he would help me get back in,” Yukon said.

“That’s actually a good idea Yukon. I guess you staying here would make sense. What about you Jason; are you coming with Sora and I?”

Sora had finally started to pay attention. “Yeah Jason, come with us!”

Jason turned around and walked away. He stopped and his shoulders sank. He let out a huge sigh. I never knew he could be so dramatic. He turned around and I saw a tear fall from his left eye. “I can’t go.” He began to sob and as he was sobbing, his mother came outside and looked at her son.

“Did I hear you correctly son, did you say you couldn’t go with James?”

Jason looked up. “Mom, when did you get here?”

“That’s not important Jason. What is important is that you go with them.”

“As much as I would love to, I have to take care of you. Even though you’re better now, I should stay.” Jason was pleading to his mother. Tears rolled down his cheeks.

Mrs. Coates went up to Jason and pulled him in really close. “You’ve already done so much for me over the last couple of years. You have made me the happiest mother on Earth, but now is the time for you to be happy.”

“I am happy mom.”

“I know you are, but you seemed happier as soon as James arrived. I know you’ve dated girls and they perked you up a little bit, but----.”

What was she talking about? Had I heard her correctly? “Hold on a second mister. Not only did you date again, but you dated females. What the fuck Jason; why did you do that?!”

Jason blushed in shame. “I’m sorry James, but I was lonely. I didn’t do it to hurt you. I didn’t even know if I would ever see you again. Please, you have to forgive me. I am so sorry.” He hung his head.

Was I really going through this again? How many times would I have to endure this? I supposed it was all right, but I was still really hurt. He’s been with other people. Because of my age, I haven’t even been given the opportunity to date. “It doesn’t matter, as long as we get to be together now.” I needed to believe that.

“He’s right Jason; it doesn’t matter. Betti is back and she can help around the house again. You should go with your future boyfriend and continue your training,” Mrs. Coates said.

Jason cocked his head to the side like a cocker spaniel. That meant he was thinking. Jason was very easy to read. He seemed to be lost in thought. He sat down on the ground and looked up at the evening sky. As he did that, he smiled. Jason motioned for me to come to him, so I did. He held out his hand and I took it. He pulled me down on top of him and I fell on top of his lap. He pulled me real close and kissed my forehead…again. I wished I was older, because I would have let him fuck me right there. Oops, I’m sorry. That was a bit much. I couldn’t do anything like that; certainly not in front of his mother. That would be too weird. Did I say too much? He said, “Okay then, I will go with the two of you to find Master Chow Panushi.”

Next Chapter: The Master is in