Paris was nothing like I was used to. People were everywhere, nothing like the quiet coastal town I had been in before. I'd expected a lot of people, but actually being surrounded by them and having all the noise battering at my ears was a totally different experience than I was expecting. It was too much to take in all at once and I could feel myself beginning to-

"Are you Matthew, the new student we are here to assist?" Hearing the soft voice from behind me, I quickly pulled myself together before turning around to see a girl who looked to be around my own age, standing beside an older man that was smiling down at me.

Nodding my head silently, I shook hands with the man before reaching out a hand to the girl, her brown curls bouncing a bit as she stepped forward to take my hand. I felt confused by the warmth that flooded me at the feeling of her soft hand in mine, but I was determined to ignore it. I had a mission to focus on and such distractions would just be a waste of time that could be spent trying to find my mom.

"It's a good thing you wore your school jacket! It made it much easier to pick you out of the crowd!" The excitement in her voice sent a pleasant tingle down my spine.

I would definitely have to limit time spent around this girl.

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Of course the girl was the daughter of on of the school's biggest financial backers. Why wouldn't she be the one assigned to show me around the area and help make sure I adjusted to my new surroundings? And it was only expected that she wanted to become friends and make sure I didn't feel alone, being so far from my family.

Thankfully, one school started she would be far too distracted with things like homework to keep me from my search for Mom. I just had to put up with her for a few more weeks and everything would start going according to plan again. It was just a small bump in the path, a pause before everything started moving froward again. I'd waited this long, a little longer wasn't impossible for me to deal with.

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Ugh, why did I have to hold her hand? I wasn't some little kid that would get lost in the store. I was 13 now, nearly an adult! It wasn't until she decided to start looking through a rack of clothing that she finally pulled her hand away. Trying to be subtle so as not to upset her, I wiped my hand against my pants in an attempt to get rid of the tingly feeling where her hand had touched mine.

Why did she have to make me feel so weird whenever she touched me or looked at me for too long? Didn't she know I had important things to work on? I don't have time to be distracted by her brown curls catching the sunlight, her hazel eyes sparkling with laughter as she smiled or the tingling sensation whenever she touched my arm to get my attention!

It had only been a few days and already I would find myself loosing focus on my mission because of this girl. What would Mom think if I let some girl get in the way of her rescue? I couldn't fail her! I refused to fail her!! Something had to be done before I got off track entirely.

I just hope I didn't end up regretting this...

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I stared down at her closed eyes as she lay on the carpeted floor, arms spread out to the sides while I stood near the door, having ensured it was locked beforehand. Taking a step closer, I kneeled down and leaned closer to her, peering at her face as if waiting for her to begin screaming at me.

"Do you mind? I'm trying to think. I mean, if you want me to help you find your lost mother, then I'll need to think about who I might be able to contact that would be discrete enough to satisfy your request. I most assuredly cannot talk to my father, since he would start asking questions and your father would hear about what you are doing and likely make you go back home." Her luminous eyes finally opening as she met my gaze,  she lifted a hand to touch my shoulder. "Did he really forget everything about your mother? Or do you think he's just not admitting he remembers?"

The pain I felt in my heart at the last question brought a tear to my eye before I stood back up and moved to sit on the bed. Hanging my head, I closed my eyes for a moment before turning to look at Shina's picture sitting in it's glass frame on my desk.

"I don't know what to think anymore, but if he did remember her, why wouldn't he try to find her again? He searched so hard the first time she was stolen away from us. Why wouldn't he search for her this time? What changed that he would just let her go like this? Doesn't he love her? He's supposed to love her!!" Feeling her arms wrap around me, I broke down and cried against her shoulder, for the first time in too long being held while I did so.

"We'll find your mother, Matthew. I promise, I won't give up helping you until you see her again."