I slam Kai back into the mat, "Man, you gotta stop serving tea and start working out." I joke, letting him back up.
Kai grumbles, pushing me away.
"I know, I know, my brother's been sick so I've been covering, my mom's been looking for someone to take part time, hopefully I'll be off the hook soon." He shakes his head.
I pat his shoulder, "Hey man it's okay, Runa and I just don't want you off your game, with the tournament coming up and all."
He nods and sighs, "Speaking of Runa, where is she? Isn't she supposed to come out with us tonight?"
I nod, "Shes probably just held up at work, I'll wait for her, you go get something to eat." Kai nods and goes to change. I sigh and sit on one of the benches, third time this week she's been late.
-
An hour later and Runa still hasn't showed. Maybe she forgot? It's not like her to forget stuff like this but still. I go and use the pay phone, "Hello?"
"Hi Asami, it's Jace, is Runa home?"
"Oh, no, I thought she had plans with you and Kai, where are you?"
"I'm at the arena, she was supposed to meet us here a hour ago."
"Oh, no. Do you think something happened?"
"I-I don't know,"
" I'll call around and see if anyone's seen her,"
"Okay, I'll go see if she's at the plant, maybe she got held up, though I doubt it"
"Okay, bye sweetie."
"Goodbye." I sigh and hang up. I walk out of the building, and climb up on Turk.
I pat his neck, "To the power plant, buddy." Turk barks and trots down the street.
When we got to the plant i see Toby, one of Runa's friends. I hopped off Turk's back.
I ran over, "Hey, Toby!"
He turns and waves, "Hey, er- Jace, right? Runa's boyfriend?"
I blush at the realization that Runa had told him I was her boyfriend, "Umm, yeah, is- is she around, Runa?"
Toby shakes his head, "I don't know, I haven't seen her since before lunch, she got called down from the catwalks," A woman walked by and Toby calls out to her, "Hey Layla, have you seen Runa?"
The woman shook her head, "No, boss clocked her out after he called her down before lunch. Why?"
I sigh, "She's well- we think she's missing, she never came to meet me at the arena, and she's not at her house."
Toby shook his head, "Well, boss said some guys were looking for her." I started to panic, my mind fogging over with worrisome thoughts like: where's Runa, is she alright?
"Toby do you have a phone?" I ask, he nods and pulls out a phone handing it to me, I dial Runa's home number,
"Hello?" Asami asks hopefully,
"Asami, Runa's not here but her friends say she was called down by some guys and clocked out early. I think she's in trouble,"
I can hear Asami take a steadying breath, "O-okay, I'm going to the police station, I'll ask the chief to come down, please wait there for her okay?"
"Okay, bye" I hung up, handing the phone to Toby, "Thanks the chief's coming down to sort this out."
Toby and Layla nodded, "Well, I gotta go, I'll call her mom later." Toby shook his head and left, Layla squeezed my shoulder and left soon after.
Not long after Layla leaves, a figure appears swinging from telephone pole to telephone pole using the metal cords the police do. I stand and the figure lands nearby and walks up to me.
"Are you Jace?" I look at the young officer who I assume is the Chief.
I nod, "Yes, and you are?"
"Chief Lee, but call me Tomi," She pats my shoulder, and I get a weird sense of déjà vu .
"It's nice to meet you," I shake her hand and she smiles slightly, that's when it hits me, because when she smiles i see Kai smiling, she looks a lot like Kai too, could this be one of Kai's siblings? "You wouldn't happen to-"
"Be Kai Lee's older sister? Yes, I am," She cuts me off and her face turns serious, "now I understand you believe Runa's in some trouble?"
"Yes, I do," I tell her all I know about what happened and suggest she question Runa's boss.
Tomi nods, "You're a smart kid, okay let's go." She leads me into the plant's lobby and goes to talk to the receptionist.
"Mr. Koari, we understand that you clocked out Runa Sato ((Runa's sir name is her mothers because technically Iroh has no sir name as far as we know)) early this afternoon? After you sent her to go see some mysterious men?" Tomi questions the balding man behind a big desk, he looks pale, afraid even.
"I-I, " he looks as if he's trembling, "yes, I did." I growl quietly, his eyes snap up to meet mine and he looks like he might vomit.
"Did you know these men?"
"Y-yes.."
"Who are they?" Mr. Koari looks up at Tomi with pleading eyes, "Answer the question."
"They're members of the Triads.."
"Why did you clock her out when she didn't come back?"
"I-I know how good a fighter Runa is, I've seen her in matches, I thought she'd get out of it herself."
"Do you know why they wanted to speak to Runa?"
"N-no, the only reason I called Runa down for them was because, because.." He trails off.
"Answer the question." I shoot him a venomous glare, he shakes.
"My estate is on Triad territory! They'll burn down my house and hurt my family if I don't do as they ask!"
I shake my head. Tomi nods.
"Okay, let's take you down to the station." Mr. Koari stands up and Tomi takes his arm.
"Wait, can you show us were she was supposed to meet them?" I ask, Tomi nods.
"Good idea, Jace." She looks at Koari.
"Okay." Koari nods.
-
"Here." Koari stops in the middle of a plaza and waves a hand around.
"Thank you." Tomi thanks him.
I look around looking for obvious signs of struggle.
I walk over to the steps on the other side of the plaza and I see scorch marks, there's some by the door we came through too.
"Runa's been here, there's clear signs of a struggle." I look over at Tomi, trying to stay calm.
"I'll call a squad to gather evidence." Tomi takes out a phone and dials.
I sigh and turn, something laying in the ground catches my eye. I walk over to see Runa's ring. The one her that she never took off unless she was at work, then she'd have it in her pocket. I bend down to pick it up, I know I shouldn't, but I can't help it.
I look at the oval stone set in the cool metal. I bite my lip, I can feel tears gathering in my eyes. I brush a thumb over the stone.
"Runa... Where are you?"