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The air was so heavy with moisture that even a high-power fan could not seem to fight back the oppressive heat which threatened to cook Genji and Kaisoro alive. Genji watched from his place on the hardwood floor as his mentor paced about the office, moving from the bookshelf to his desk to the filing cabinet to his desk once more. While his long legs made short work of this walk, the sheer repetition of it was starting to wear on Genji’s nerves. Just as the urge to speak up became too great for Genji to ignore, Kaisoro dropped into his chair and began rummaging through the bottom drawer of his desk.
“Looking for a case, Sensei?” Genji leaned forward to rest his elbows on his knees. He only received a short affirmative hum in response.
Genji had only been under Kaisoro’s tutelage for a short few months now, but he was already familiar with the older man’s fits of boredom. Though, he had to wonder if the man spent any time not bored out of his mind. He always seemed to be itching for something better to do and it made Genji question if he enjoyed this job at all. Was that why he had to beg to be taken on as a pupil when they met? The impact of a manilla folder on his chest brought Genji back to the present, making him start a little as he scrambled to keep the papers in his arms.
“Read it out,” Kaisoro instructed as he leaned back against his desk, coming fully to his towering height once more, and pulled out a cigarette. Genji grimaced as he lit it but didn’t comment. He knew where that conversation led already.
Genji cleared his throat and did as he was told. “Carrie Baker, age 7 at time of disappearance, last seen in Rockwall, Texas, officially reported missing on March 8th, 2020. Daughter of Natalie and Hayden Baker, who were 27 and 29 respectively,” He glanced up at Kaisoro, who only looked at him expectantly. “Records show that she was taken by child protective services as an infant for positive testing of methamphetamine and was placed with her aunt, Christine Fisher, until it was ordered that she be returned to her parents with a safety plan in place. CPS had not visited the premises in 6 months before the missing person’s file was reported,” Genji’s stomach churned. What a useless organization… He gripped the folder tightly and forced himself to continue. “The call was put in by one of her teachers, Elizabeth Hoover, when Carrie did not show up at school. The subsequent wellness check proved no sign of Carrie and neither parent was aware of her whereabouts. The father was drunk at time of questioning and the mother had been absent for over a month. The father was the last to see Carrie and lacked a solid alibi but could not be convicted due to lack of evidence.”
Kaisoro hummed contemplatively then took a long drag of his cigarette. Genji wasn’t sure exactly what was going through his mind, but the way his brows furrowed under the curtain of dark, shaggy hair, and his gaze fixed in the distance gave his form a statuesque quality. “We’re taking this one,” The illusion was broken by his suddenly decisive voice. “Get ready, we’re heading out.”
Genji jumped to his feet. “Yes, sensei.”
…
“I gotta say, I really appreciate you two taking the time to go over my darling niece’s case. I’ve been trying to get justice for her a couple’a years now and I just feel like the cops didn’t give it due diligence what with the lockdown and all.” Christine sat on the other side of the dinner table from Kaisoro and Genji, looking between the two of them with hope in her dark eyes. Genji sipped gratefully on the iced tea she had offered him after their introductions, though it was a little sweet for his tastes. Kaisoro didn’t touch his own.
“Trust me, it wasn’t because of lockdown,” Kaisoro responded dryly.
Genji sat up a little straighter, compelled to smooth over his mentor’s statement, “We appreciate that you welcomed us in on such short notice. If not for you, we would’ve been left without a lead.”
Christine huffed in response. “Yeah, that loser’s been in jail a while now, so I’d imagine his landlord already found someone new.” She shook her head in disgust at the mere thought of the child’s father.
Kaisoro’s brow raised. “He’s been in jail?”
Christine nodded. “The idiot hit someone drunk driving. And Nat… passed away some weeks back. Overdose.” She smiled bitterly for a moment, as though she knew this end would befall her sister sooner or later.
“I’m sorry for your loss,” Genji said with a soft frown. “What… was Carrie like?”
That seemed to make Christine light up a little. “Oh, Carrie was the sweetest girl. The brightest little thing, real smart for her age, loved being read to and always drawing. I hated giving her up to her folks. She’d be impossible to find when it was time to go, too. She nearly scared me half to death that one time I found her in that dang washing machine,” She shook her head, before heaviness washed over her features once more. “I really wish I coulda done more ‘gainst the court but I didn’t stand a chance…”
“Do you have any of Carrie’s belongings still?” Kaisoro leaned forward against the table, resting his chin on the back of his hands.
“You know, I do, in fact.” Christine pulled away from the table and very shortly returned with two medium-sized boxes of things. Kaisoro thanked her and sent her away with busy work, leaving the two of them alone once more.
On top of the pile of the girl’s belongings rested a paperback copy of The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe whose spine had several clear indentations. The pages were slightly yellowed and rounded off on the edges, with some having been clearly dog-eared in the past. The rest of the series was there too, as well as several other books, but none quite showed the same wear. Underneath was a considerable pile of artwork, all on loose leaf printer paper. Some showed a small girl with two adult figures in various states of distress. Others depicted the two adults eating crystals while the girl sat alone. Others still depicted the girl with one adult, surrounded by hearts. Genji’s ribcage threatened to choke him from within and his stomach burned as he looked through these. He wasn’t sure how Kaisoro could just rifle through so calmly, as if they weren’t staring injustice in the face, but only one drawing seemed to catch his mentor’s attention: the girl, holding hands with a large brown…creature of some kind, with an open door in the background. He stared at it for a moment before setting it aside, in favor of a teddy bear which had one dangling arm and missed several patches of fur. He looked at it intensely as he began to gently rub the silver ring on his right thumb and murmur to himself. Genji couldn’t tell what he was saying, but he dared not interrupt Kaisoro’s train of thought.
“Come. We’re leaving.” Kaisoro’s sudden command caught Genji off guard. He expected some level of discussion, not to just up and leave.
“Wh- what about Christine?” Genji stammered out. Kaisoro sighed sharply.
“We’ll get back to her later.” He gestured for his pupil to follow as he stood at his full height.
Thus, the two bid Christine farewell, with promises to return with any news they uncover. Genji was surprised to see just how dark it had gotten when they left. It hadn’t felt like that long, but maybe time had slipped from him when they were searching… He followed Kaisoro back to the car and didn’t question when he started driving, head still swimming from what he’d seen.
“So, what do you make of everything so far?” Kaisoro rolled down a window and lit another cigarette. His shoulders relaxed a little as he took a drag.
“Well…” Genji furrowed his brow in thought, trying to piece together everything they’d learned. “If Carrie’s dead… it’s almost certain the father did it. He was the only one around when she disappeared, and he could’ve done something stupid while drunk…” Genji brought a curled finger to his chin. “If she’s alive… maybe she was trafficked? Her father could’ve sold her for drugs. Or, maybe she… ran away?” He looked at his mentor for confirmation.
“What do you think of her drawings?” Kaisoro didn’t match his gaze. Genji tugged at his seatbelt. He hated these tests Kaisoro gave him, they felt more like being on trial than proper knowledge checks.
“She clearly felt more comfortable with her aunt. Everything that showed her with her parents seemed to be… unhappy,” The younger man glanced away, rubbing his arm. “It also seems like… she imagined her toy as something that could protect her?” Kaisoro only harrumphed quietly in response. Genji squirmed in his seat, shame writhing in the pit of his stomach. He was still missing something, something his mentor found obvious, but he hadn’t figured it out. He looked out the window and only then realized where they’d been heading. “Hey, isn’t this the Baker’s old house? Why are we back here?”
Kaisoro stopped the car. “To check something.”
“But they don’t live here anymore!” Genji bolted upright. “What do you hope to gain?” But Kaisoro didn’t answer. He put out what remained of his cigarette and left, leaving Genji to catch up. When he did, the older man was crouched in front of the back door, picking the lock. He must’ve made some sound before any words left his lips, because Kaisoro shushed him with a stern look.
“No one’s home,” Kaisoro murmured. A small click prompted a hum of success from the man. “Just stand watch until I’m done…” He slipped inside, a silent shadow, once again leaving Genji behind.
A hurricane of thoughts clouded Genji’s mind as he paced aimlessly, creating a trail of compacted grass in the suburban backyard. Just what was Kaisoro looking for? How likely were these people to have it, given they weren’t even the right family? Why would he not answer any of Genji’s questions? Why would he leave him behind if he was trying to teach him how to be a proper detective? What was he supposed to do when the owners got home?
Just then, headlights illuminated the front driveway and Genji was a deer caught in them. He swore under his breath and rushed inside. He ducked his head into several rooms before finding his sensei crouched on the ground inside the home office. “The owners are coming back, we should go!” Genji whispered, gesturing wildly toward the back door. His pulse pounded in his ears, quick enough to count the seconds. Even so, Kaisoro remained fixated on something. “What are you even doing!? You’re just standing there! We need to go now, or-” But it was too late. The click of the front door alerted them both. Genji was ready to bolt out alone but was taken by the arms and pulled into the closet. He fell backwards with Kaisoro, but instead of hitting the wall, they kept falling until they landed on a soft bed of grass.
Genji lifted himself off his mentor, then paused at the sight of their new surroundings. It was a meadow, though with violently green grass that seemed more like crayon scribbles than plant life. The sky, a vivid cerulean, had puffy clouds seemingly made from pastels and daffodil yellow sun surrounded by rays. He blinked a few times, trying to adjust his eyes so they’d show him something that made sense. “What the…did you know this would happen?”
“I had a hunch,” Kaisoro coolly dusted himself off as he got to his feet. Genji’s blood pressure rose a little. They were working off a hunch? Kaisoro brought a hand to his chin and looked around. “That creature she drew, I’d seen it in drawings by other children whose cases were never solved. The spirits were also quite insistent about that specific closet. I imagine that office used to be Carrie’s bedroom,” He had a small, satisfied smile as he talked. “I was able to cast a spell to open the gateway and, here we are. Whatever fey took her should be here.” Genji’s head swam. Spirits? Fey? Spell? Kaisoro was explaining himself but he just had more questions than answers.
“Who are you…?” A low, rumbling voice interrupted them, alerting them to the presence of a hairy, chimeric beast that towered over them. Genji's blood froze at the sight. The thing’s features were a mixture of that of a stag, bear, and lion and it was covered in thick, chocolate brown hair that curled into itself. The resemblance to Carrie’s drawing was unmistakable. This thing was what took her. “Why are you in my domain?”
“We’re here for Carrie Baker,” Genji answered the beast, pushing past his own fear. His muscles were coiled springs. Whatever this thing was, he knew it wouldn’t give up the girl easily, if she was alive at all. “We know you took her.”
The beast’s fur bristled. “I did not take her. She came to me. And you cannot have her.”
“Why? Because you killed her?” Genji snarled back. His insides burned red hot, and all thought was blocked out by the sound of his own pulse.
“Genji,” Kaisoro warned, but it fell on deaf ears.
“You dare accuse me?!” The beast roared, exposing its massive teeth. Its own body tightened defensively. “I am protecting her!”
“And we’re taking her home.” Genji’s body settled into position as he scanned over the beast for any sign of weakness. He’d take it down single- and empty-handed if he had to. He couldn’t just let it keep stealing children.
“No! Stop!” A small, desperate voice broke through the tension. The source, a small girl, no older than nine, ran between them and the beast. She waved her arms wildly, tears streaming down her face. “Don’t hurt fluffy!” Kaisoro and Genji locked eyes. Fluffy...?
…
A sense of déjà vu washed over Genji as tea was poured for him once more, this time piping hot. Kaisoro, again, ignored his tea, instead opting to gaze thoughtfully at his host. “I see… So, you’re benevolent. A patron of abused children.”
“I wish it were that broad,” Fluffy shook it’s giant head, its rumbling voice now somber. “I can only do something if the children are willing to come to me. And only if their life is in immediate mortal danger. There are many I cannot save.”
The child, whom they now knew to be Carrie, swung her legs off her colorful wooden chair as she watched the adults converse. “Don’t be sad Fluffy. You do your bestest.”
“I apologize for my colleague’s… hostility earlier,” Kaisoro rested his elbows on his knees and cast a glance toward Genji, who sank into his chair. “He’s not used to handling fey. Truly our only goal here is to reunite Carrie with her aunt.”
“Aunty’s looking for me?” Carrie suddenly sat forward, small hands gripping the edge of her seat. “I thought she hated me…”
“Why would you think that?” Genji asked with a furrowed brow.
“Because she… dropped me off at my mom’s house even thought I asked her not to and I thought it was because she didn’t love me anymore because I wasn’t good enough…” She mumbled and stared at the ground, her eyes brimming with tears.
“Your aunt hasn’t stopped looking for you,” Kaisoro’s voice softened as he leaned in towards her. He took her chin in her hand and guided her to look up at him. The gentleness in his eyes was foreign to Genji. “Not once did she give up hope that you could be saved.”
“Really…?” She bit her lip. Kaisoro only nodded, but that was all it took for her floodgates to open. “I want to see aunty…” She hiccupped through her sobs.
Fluffy looked between the crying girl and the two detectives. “If you go, I can’t protect you. The world is full of things that will change you. Here you will be safe from all of that. Are you sure this is what you want?”
Carrie sniffled and rubbed her puffy eyes. “I don’t wanna leave Fluffy behind but… I wanna see aunty again.”
Despite the animalistic maw, its smile was gentle. “Do not stay here for me, little one. If you do not wish to stay for yourself, then…” It trailed off and looked down at its two guests. “You will keep her safe?”
“I can promise I’ll hand her off safely.” Kaisoro answered simply and Genji nodded. That was all they could promise, but… it would have to be enough.
“Then, go with them.”
Carrie dried her eyes and jumped up to hug the monster. Her body was nearly consumed by its thick fur, which muffled her small voice. “I love you, Fluffy. I’ll never forget you.”
“But you will…” It placed a giant paw on the top of her head and held her close. “And that is good.”
Kaisoro reached out a hand to Carrie, who took it after another long moment of this embrace. “Let’s get you home.”
…
It was still dark when the two finally returned to Kaisoro’s office, though rays of light threatened to peek over the horizon. They’d vanished before Christine could truly thank them for their work. They couldn’t chance questioning, after all. Genji was bone-weary, nearly collapsing onto the floor from pure exhaustion, but Kaisoro seemed to be managing just fine himself. The older man sat in his office chair, crossed his legs casually and started to smoke. “Are you still up for this?” His sudden question made Genji blink. Kaisoro continued, “That was a mild case for me. My line of work usually involves fey, magic, monsters… things you’ve never encountered before. Do you think you can handle that?”
A flash of indignation rose in Genji’s chest. “If you’d prepared me from the start, I would’ve handled this case a lot better. I still want to learn, but you need to actually teach me not just,” He searched for the word. “drag me around.”
Kaisoro chuckled lowly, smoke escaping through his parted lips. He leaned back in his chair and looked at Genji, really looked at him. Genji wasn’t sure what the look in his eyes was, but it was the first time he’d been given that look since his mentor found him, having just run away from home. It made him want to hide his face. “I suppose I can do that.”