“Wake up.”

I hear a familiar voice calling out to me.

“Wake up, sleepy head,” she says in a sing-song voice.

“I will… just… hmmm… give me two more hours,” I say while rolling over.

“You’re going to be late,” she warns gently.

“I was up all night… after sneaking out I’m really tired,” I respond with a peaceful smile.

“Oh? Is that so?” She replies, kindly.

“Yep. It was the best… mmm…” I answer, grinning.

“I’m glad to hear that, you little shit!” My mom says, escalating to a shout.

“Huh!” I open my eyes only to see that devilish look I know so well on Lukai’s face. “Wait… wait… WAIT! You can’t take what I say in my sleep serious!”

“Oh. So you’re telling me that was all a lie?” Lukai says while cracking her knuckles with an evil smirk.

“I… Umm…” I turn my head while whistling. “Of course, I don’t know what would give you that impression.”

“Oh… you’re a real little shit.” Lukai kicks me out of bed. “Get the hell out of my sight! You’re late for school!” she roars, smashing the ground right next to me.

“Ok… ok! I’m going.” I quickly jump up and dash towards the window. “Bye, mom!” I announce with a smile just before leaving. “Alright!” I say as I land on the ground. “It’s time to come up with a game plan!” I declare, dashing towards school. “Kekekeke!”

***

“Let me see. Let me see… hmmm… I need to find an opportunity to sneak in,” I say while sitting on a tree branch, looking at my classroom from the outside. “This is going to be a true challenge!” I shout, smacking my fist against my palm.

“Huh?” Ramsey looks out the window with a blank expression. “Must have been my imagination.”

“Damn… that was close,” I say while hiding behind the tree. “Think, Fukai…” I look over and notice that Maka is dozing off. “Lucky.” I climb to the top of the tree. “Alright. The back window is open, Maka is at the front of the classroom… This should work. Kekekeke.” I conclude, laughing.

Ramsey is sitting right behind Maka, poking him. “Wake up. Wake up…”

I inhale, then exhale. “WAKE UP, MAKA!” I shout and smirk.

“Huh?!” Ramsey looks outside.

As Maka slams his hands on his desk and lifts his head to alertness, his ears standing at full sail and with everyone’s eyes but Ramsey’s focused on him, I grasp the branch above me with both hands, swing my legs up to it and launch myself forward, using my momentum and gravity to shoot towards my target: an open window leading into the classroom. With my body streamlined, I zip through, hands first, rolling to land safely in a crouch in the back of the classroom. “Safe,” I say quietly as I quickly crawl towards my desk’s location, close to the back doors. “Maka, you really shouldn’t be sleeping in class!” I chirp while smiling after I take my seat.

Ramsey looks over at me. “When the hell did you get here?”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about, Ramsey,” I quip with a grin. “Wait. Could it be that you feel so guilty for snitching on Maka that you’re trying to change the subject?”

Ramsey starts to grind his teeth in frustration. “Damn you for setting me up! Tsk.”

“Wait. Me set you up?” I reply with a smirk. “How could a ‘complete idiot’ set up the ‘genius’ Ramsey?”

Ramsey stands up suddenly, his chair rattling as he pushes it out of the way to come at me. “Dammit, Fukai! How dare you!”

“That’s enough.” Gwyn throws a book, hitting me square in the face to interrupt us. “To the boy who was sleeping, the boy who interrupted my class, and, last but not least, the boy who thought he could sneak into my classroom without me noticing:” Gwyn looks at us firmly, “go out in the hall and do Koa stretches while you think about what you’ve done.”

The whole classroom begins to laugh derisively as Maka, Ramsey, and I walk out. I look over and notice Anaea, turned in her seat in front of mine, waving goodbye while smiling.

“I’m confused,” Maka says.

“Just blame Fukai,” Ramsey states.

“Come on guys, don’t be like that,” I tell them while smiling.

“Back to the lessons…” Gwyn announces as I close the door.

***

Arching backwards on hands and feet and thinking about the state that the Deep Jungle was in, I can feel Ramsey staring daggers at me from the other side of Maka; hear the diatribe in my head. With my face getting redder by the second, I feel a sense of duty and defiance come over me. “Dammit! I can’t just keep doing this shit all day!” I vault up in a back-handspring and land on my feet. “Alright! I’m out!” I declare, walking away.

“Umm… Kai, where are you going?” Maka whispers loudly with concern.

“To rally people to our cause!” I shout.

“Maka, don’t bother. He’s an idiot,” Ramsey says.

“What’s wrong with following through on what you believe?” I retort.

“Nothing wrong with that… the question is, who’s going to believe you?” Ramsey says, still glaring at me.

Ramsey’s words strike a chord within me. “This is our home… it’s hard to express what I felt after seeing the beauty that the Deep Jungle has to offer, and it…” I pause, trying to turn my feelings into words, “it just turning to ash right before my eyes.” I close my eyes in frustration. “But it’s not just our home land, this whole planet… this Ashen whatever could infect it all, causing Tiesa to die.” I open my eyes to stare at Ramsey unblinkingly and with a fervor. “I’m not saying this half-heartedly, but with absolute conviction: A desire to protect what needs protecting.”

Ramsey plops down on his back and sighs, “Nice answer.”

“Not to mention the Deep Jungle is known as a place of healing,” Maka states.

“Aaand…?” I lead.

“I’m just saying… th-this couldn’t have been an acc-accident. Right?” Maka stumbles out the words while twisting back and forth to look at each of us, still hanging upside-down on his hands and feet.

“But you still have a problem.” Ramsey looks at Maka and I. “Who is going to believe some first-year students that haven’t even reached the rank of Doa?” Ramsey sighs, lying there, looking defeated. “If my father didn’t believe… I’m truly at a loss.”

Maka looks at Ramsey with a tinge of worry and guilt. “Umm… m-my dad halfway-believed me… I think.” Maka’s arms are shaking and his ears are twitching from the Koa stretch as he deliberates. “Well… and if he does… h-he may be willing to work on a method to administer an antidote.” He turns his concerned gaze up to the floor and sighs. “But… I-I think that he was just trying to appease me.” As Maka looks at the floor, his expression turns to one of forlorn longing, his weariness at the subject and situation evident. As he closes his eyes and slowly breathes to relax, the shaking in his limbs recedes. “Dammit. I really hate this feeling…” Maka looks at me with tears in his eyes as one starts to run up his forehead, racing the drips of sweat, both inexorably finding their way to the floor. “This feeling of helplessness.”

I walk over to the window and place my hand on it. “Hmm… what would you do?” I question of no one present. “My father once said that you only have one life to live… so make sure you live it to the fullest, without regrets.”

“Fukai, I-” Ramsey begins, but is interrupted by the bell.

A relieved Maka finally drops to the floor with a huff. “You’re right, Kai. We must-” Maka begins.

“Hey, Guys! That was quite the scene back there…” Anaea, first out the classroom door, strides up to me with a smile. “But I think I understand a little more, thanks to Maka,” she says while smiling sweetly back at Maka. Then, turning to include Ramsey and Maka, she announces, “Remember, all it takes is one.”

“You’re right… if we can find just one person to believe, someone who’s word holds weight, then maybe…” Maka comments while thinking.

“Someone who’s word holds weight, yes.” A spark of independence shines from Ramsey’s eyes. “But maybe we don’t need an army,” he states.

I look at Ramsey, a little confused. “I don’t follow.”

Ramsey rises to sit on the floor and turns to face us. “We may be thinking about this situation the wrong way.” He holds up one finger, “First, that ash consumes everything it touches. So going in with an army wouldn’t be ideal.” He holds up another finger, “Second, the question still remains: who is the culprit behind all of this? When you look at it like this, we need to find someone we trust.” He holds up a third finger, “And the final thing is who? We need a mediator. Someone who believes in what we are saying, someone who has the knowledge of this land and could come up with strategies on what we need to do to save the Deep Jungle. I do have a person in mind…” he finishes, drawing his fingers into a fist.

Maka and I are on our toes, impressed with Ramsey’s intellect. “Oooohhh! That’s amazing! Who is it?!!” I prompt with excitement.

“I’m waiting,” Gwyn says while walking up, a little irritated. Not far behind him is his apprentice, Cinder. “I’m sure whatever lie you guys were brainstorming will be perfect.”

“Master, you shouldn’t tease your students like that. *Cough.*” Cinder interrupts while adjusting his glasses. Almost as tall as Gwyn, with a light beard coming in, his countenance tends to make him look rather gloomy. “And besides, I’m sure they have a lot on their mind. *Cough.*”

“I know, I know,” Gwyn responds before focusing his attention on me. “So, do you have something to say?”

“Nope, it’s nothing,” I reply, brushing him off.

“Wait, Fukai, he’s the person I’m talking about,” Ramsey says, pointing his thumb at Gwyn.

“Huh?” I also point a thumb at Gwyn, “You’re talking about this guy?!”

“‘This guy?’” Gwyn says, clearly irritated.

“Yeah.” Ramsey walks up to Gwyn. “There is something we have to tell you.”

“Hmmm… I think this is a good idea,” Maka concludes.

Anaea nods her head.

“Look, Professor Gwyn, there’s something that we need to tell you.” Ramsey pauses for a second. “When we…”

Gwyn stops Ramsey from speaking by raising his hand with his forefinger pointing up, while looking behind him. “I would love to hear what you have to say,” Gwyn smiles, “but not here.” His eyes fall on Ramsey. “You never know who may be lurking in the shadows.” He walks past Ramsey. “Come to my laboratory, we can talk privately there.”

The four of us follow Gwyn and Cinder to his laboratory. I glance behind me, wondering what Gwyn was looking at. “Hmmm… was it my imagination?” I wonder, then decide to not worry. There are more important things to focus on.

***

“Hmm… I see. An ashen jungle.” Gwyn scratches the back of his head. “I can see how frustrating this must be, with how unbelievable it sounds.” He looks at us and calmly smiles. “But I know your characters, none of you have reason to lie.”

“Y-You believe us?” I gasp, stuttering over my words with relief.

“Of course we do,” Cinder says while pouring some tea. “And besides, Master Gwyn had figured something was wrong after the last expedition, when that group of Koa warriors and scientists went missing.”

“Yea, and this now all but confirms it,” Gwyn comments while in deep thought.

“So, what now?! Go to the king and rub it in his face?!” I inquire, eager to go.

“Wait, Fukai,” Gwyn interrupts quickly. “I believe Ramsey is right on this one. A small group should do best. To keep the ash from spreading.”

“Alright! This sounds like a great adventure!” I jump in the air, fist raised with excitement.

“Great, now this idiot is at it again,” Ramsey disappointedly shakes his head.

“Don’t be a downer, this should be fun!” Anaea playfully punches Ramsey in the arm and steps close, smiling. Ramsey scowls back as he rubs his arm.

“This is not good for my heart,” Maka whimpers to himself.

“I normally wouldn’t do this, but I’ll need your guys’ help on this.” Gwyn walks up to Cinder, “Cinder, I need you to do a little research for me. We need to be prepared for anything.”

Cinder nods his head, “I’m on it, Master.” He replies while adjusting his glasses. “*Cough.*”

“Thank you, everyone! For everything!” I announce while smiling. “I know I can be difficult sometimes, and I may put your life in danger from time to time… b-but this place is special to me. It’s something irreplaceable. I was born here; raised here. And like my father, I will protect this beautiful land,” I conclude with a smile.

“I couldn’t agree more,” Gwyn says. “Look, there’re a couple of things Cinder and I have to prepare, so I need you all to let your parents know we will be taking a little school field trip tomorrow.”

“Alright! I can’t wait!” I shout with excitement.

“Come on, let’s go home.” Ramsey begins to leave, with Maka following him closely.

“Umm… do I have to go on the field trip?” Maka asks quietly.

“Yes,” Ramsey replies.

“Nothing is worth achieving unless you have your friends to share it with you,” Gwyn states.

“Oh. This isn’t going to be good,” Maka states.

“Come on, Fukai. Let’s go,” Anaea grabs my arm.

I smile and quietly nod my head.

“I’m tired,” I remark as I lie down on my bed. “I can’t believe this is happening.” I smile as I begin to think about the journey we will embark on tomorrow. “I promise…” I say, and drift off to sleep.

***

“Alright! Let’s do this!” I shout at the top of my lungs.

“Shut. Up,” Ramsey says while rubbing his head. “God, it’s way too early for this.”

“Oh! Right, bag check!” I look through my bag. “Food: Check. More food: Check. Backup foo-”

“Umm… is that all you brought, Fukai?” Maka asks, looking over my shoulder.

“Hey! Don’t look!” I say, turning to again put my back between us.

“Let’s go, guys! Or we’ll leave you behind!” Anaea gives a beckoning wave from a distance as she walks with Gwyn and Cinder.

“Hey! Wait up!” I say as Ramsey, Maka, and I run to catch up to them.

With Ramsey leading the way, we are able to retrace our steps quickly. “Just over this hill is where Maka and I met up with Fukai.”

“Alright, I think we’re getting closer to the ashen jungle,” I say while running up the hill. “First!” I shout while looking down the hill. “Oh no…” I gasp, my voice quiet for once as horror steals it from my very lungs; the ashen jungle has been spreading much faster than I had anticipated.