He finally made it to his feet and moved to the nearest window to check the time. "Almost evening," he noted. "Wonder where those two are now?"
Ryu had been in charge of the tree fort since morning, when Rei and his new 'friend' Tai left to guard another caravan from McNeil to Wynidia. Corn, this time, a larger crop than usual.
He had started to think about where his friend's relationship was headed when the front door opened, and Rei and Tai stomped in, laughing up a storm.
The mirth was contagious, and Ryu chuckled as well. "What's so funny, guys?"
"Oh, hey Ryu!" Rei stifled a few snorts. "On the way back from Wyndia, there was this…" Tai suddenly whapped him on the arm, and Rei blinked, a goofy smile on his face. "Naw, I'd better not." He made his way over to Ryu and put his arm around his shoulders. "Well, buddy, it's time for you to go."
"Go? Why?"
Rei dropped his arm, looked meaningfully at Ryu, then over at Tai, then back.
Ryu had 'clueless' stamped on his forehead. "Okay, I see Tai. How are you?"
Tai smiled shyly. "I'm wonderful." She somehow turned the 'r' into a purr of sorts.
Rei noticed Ryu's continued confusion. "Ryu, remember the agreement? That if either of us got hitched, the other would move out."
Ryu blinked, then pointed at Rei, then Tai, and back. "You mean…" At the sight of his friends' smiles, he broke into one of his own. "Hey! Congratulations! When?"
"On the way back from Wyndia." Tai glided over next to Rei and put her arm around his waist. "Or maybe it was on the way over, doesn't matter."
"Nope," Rei agreed, beaming.
Ryu's face fell as he remembered what the arrangement meant.
"I'm homeless!"
*****************
"Well, I think that's everything!" Tai exclaimed triumphantly as she tied up the last knapsack. The only knapsack. "Wow, you don't have much, do you?"
A forlorn Ryu groaned at the memory of another time, in roughly the same place, when he had heard that line. "No, I don't…"
"Isn't this great, Ryu? Now you have the chance you've wanted for a long time…"
"To what?" Ryu whined.
Tai spread her arms. "To travel! To journey again. Rei's told me about the times that you've wished you could go out and see more of the world-"
"I don't want to travel," Ryu interrupted, surprised at his own reaction.
Tai dropped her arms. "You don't?" she took a step closer and lowered her voice. "What do you want, Ryu?"
Ryu swallowed hard as the areas of his face that didn't flush, paled. "I…I don't know…"
Tai cocked her head with a knowing smile. Rei had told her a few things. "I think I do…"
Ryu suddenly stepped forward, taking hold of her shoulders with a near-iron grip. "Please, Tai, tell me! I haven't felt right for what seems like forever, now! Am I sick? Do I need to see a doctor? Do I need to visit Ladon? What?"
Tai's smile softened as she settled her hands over Ryu's. "This is something you'll have to understand on your own. No, you're not sick, and you don't need to visit anyone, except…" She quickly covered her mouth. "…oops, almost spilled the beans."
Tai lowered Ryu's hands from her shoulders to place one of hers on his chest. "What you need to do, Ryu, is listen to this."
Ryu looked down at his chest with a frown. "My heartbeat?"
Tai tried not to roll her eyes. "Take out the 'beat'."
Ryu looked up at her. "My heart?"
Tai nodded once, slowly.
Ryu raised his head. "I don't understand…"
"…and that's why you need to travel," came a voice from the doorway.
Ryu looked over to see Rei leaning against the doorway. "Rei?"
Rei shook his head, his eyes locked on his mate. "Kitten, every day you find new ways to amaze me."
Tai ducked her head with a blush. "Thank you."
Rei turned his full attention on Ryu. "Buddy, the last time you were 'out there' it was to find out what you were and where you came from." Rei grimaced. "Man, I suck at this stuff. Anyhoo… At some point, we all need to find out what we're supposed to be doing…why we're here…"
"Our place in the world," Tai suggested.
"Yeah!" Rei gestured at Tai. "What she said! Anyway, I found out that my place is with Tai. Yours…who knows?" Rei shrugged. "That's what you have to find out, now."
"I still don't understand…"
Tai took Ryu by the arm. "You'll find out eventually once you get out there." She seemed to be enjoying the situation as she picked up Ryu's pack and handed it to him with a smile. She then began leading him to the front door. "Go find your place, Ryu," she said happily. "And don't forget to write!" She opened the door and gently but firmly pushed Ryu through.
Ryu stumbled outside and turned to see Rei and Tai at the door to their 'new' home.
His old home.
Ryu smiled weakly as he gave a half-hearted wave. Turning to leave, he realized that he needed this. He needed to leave the safety of the familiar and find…
"Find my place…" he realized.
Tossing his bag onto his shoulder, he headed for McNeil, and beyond…
To his future.
******************************************************
"Thank you again, Nina," said Momo, as they reached the entrance to McNeil, the same one Ryu had departed through a week prior. "You too, Shamus. I hope I wasn't a bother."
The mayor of McNeil shook his head with a smile. "Not at all, Momo. Our doors are always open for you."
Nina took her friend into a fierce hug. "You take care now, Momo."
Momo returned the hug. "I will, you too."
Momo watched as Nina stepped back next to Shamus, who put his arm around her, and felt a longing.
Momo smiled weakly as she gave a half-hearted wave. Turning to leave, she realized that she wanted that. She needed the safety, the closeness, of companionship.
"I want that…" she realized.
Heaving her bag over her shoulder, she headed for the forest…
To her future.