From the very beginning, people always come up to me say, “As a child, you have to pay your dues.” I believe in any childhood; you pay nothing but dues. Pain, trails, tribulations, and heartbreak. Then, we look up to the sky and say, “Why me?! Why me, God?!” But that time, I've stated that God answered me. God replied, “You're not the only one, my child.” I asked myself this question all the time.

I was born and raised in Minami Inari Tribe in South Korea. My parents were never married, and I was stuck with my father until he kicked me out of the house. I didn’t do anything. It's just that he didn't want to take care of me anymore. He used to fight for one of the Daemon Lords, but he died in battle.

Afterward, I lived with my mother until she passed away. We were too poor to pay for her medication, and the Daemon Queen declined to pay for her medicine because my mother refused to sell me off to her. It was the first time in my life that I was alone.

Not long after, I was on the streets with nothing but my heart in a burlap bag. I pretended to be an ordinary ten-year-old fox kemonomimi kid claiming her brothers and sisters were sick with the virus.

For me to at least eat for a day, I had to do dirty jobs. Like digging through garbage cans for bottles and do yard work. I didn't sell my body because my mom taught me better than that. Even when she was gone, I knew she was always watching out for me. Like that one time, when I was sleeping in an alleyway, her voice told me to wake up.

A man tried to rob me when I was asleep or even worse in an alleyway one night, and I almost beat him to death with a brick. That man happened to be a 320-pound man who was 6 feet and 4 inches tall. Instead of putting the pieces together, why he was doing what he was doing, I almost killed him. At least I got $700 from that dreadful pedophile.

Afterward, whoever they were, I took them on. You beat me with fists; I'll come back with a knife. If you ever have more two guys in your crew, you’d better kill me because I’ll keep coming back and back until all of you are dead. That’s how it was back then in some daemon territories I went to. The word caught on quickly that someone was beating up and targeting adult men. You say to yourself, ‘What are the odds of that happening?’ I turned around, and I've beaten up 7 people in two weeks. I guess I was angry at my situation…

Why? Obvious reasons. I had close to four thousand dollars. I got myself a motel room. In one year, when I was on the streets, I never had a shower, hot food, and good night's sleep without anyone trying to rape me until that day. It felt like a summer vacation.

I stayed in that room for months. I paid off the clerk in advance. With only $200 left, I stretched my cents if I can go. In one of the men’s wallets, there was a platinum card. Hacked into it and got at least $5000 from the card. I had to buy new clothes and shoes, so I went to the local thrift store.

However, what I was afraid would've happened, has happened. The commissioned officers of the Daemon Queen were patrolling every block of the city. Most of them were pretending to bum just to get info on what happened those nights.

How I come to meet Navarasa? Well, it was in the middle of the summer, and my wanderlust took me across the ocean, ending up in Tokyo. I happened to be walking where I’ve seen the same man I’ve beaten up before. Unfortunately for him, he spotted me. He called over three of his guys. And they started to follow me up to the street.

Then a minivan pulled up right in front of me, and the four guys turned around and walked away. I began to walk away, but the van started to follow me. I stopped walking, and I faced the car. Then, the driver rolled down the window, and a young woman with long dirty blonde hair done in a high ponytail with light purple colored eyes began to talk to me.

“That was a close one!” the young woman commented.

Noel scoffs, “Yeah. It was. Thank goodness, you’ve stopped them with your van.”

“Looks like you need a place to stay,” the young woman scrutinized.

“Oh! Do I?” Noel sarcastically asked.

Luckily for the young woman, she dealt with little girls like Noel all the time, “I’m with the Sunflower Moon Orphanage. My name is Navarasa.”

“Hi, Mary Poppins!” Noel insulted with a smile.

“I’m here to help you miss…” Navarasa offered.

Noel didn’t give a name, “Why are you doing this?”

“It won’t be long now when they find you. I’m here to help,” Navarasa pointed out.

Noel let’s out a sigh as she steps into the car.

“So, what’s your name?” Navarasa asked

Once again, Noel didn’t answer.

“It’s okay. Don’t have to. Take your time,” Navarasa comforted.

Is this woman for real? Noel thought.

She was going to be a tough nut to crack, so Navarasa decided to approach Noel differently, “Have you ever heard of the Sunflower Moon Sanctuary?”

“Never,” Noel flatly answered, while drinking her soda.

“Well… It is a place for children like you. The maturity was a dead giveaway.”

“Is this place… safe?” Noel wondered.

Navarasa scoffed at the idea, “Of course, it is. Hey, I haven’t eaten yet. You hungry?”

I didn’t know why I accepted her offer in the first place. I was never really the one to put faith in people at first sight. But something about her was comforting. It was scary and yet… relieving.

Later that day, we ate pizza at Navarasa’s favorite restaurant. Navarasa ordered a large pepperoni and sausage pizza. It was my first time having something like that as I marveled at the circular dish as I didn’t know what to do. Instinctively, I copied what Navarasa was doing by picking up the piece of pizza and eating it, folding it up. After one bite, she couldn’t get enough.

“I never had pizza before. It's very spicy and... with lots of cheese.” Noel critiqued.

Navarasa giggled, “This is my favorite place to eat cheese pizza. Eight blocks from here, there is a restaurant that has good Cesar salad.”

Noel drew a blank as she shakes her head, “What's a... Cesar salad?”

Navarasa clears her throat in embarrassment as she chases the subject, “So, uh... w-where are you from?”

Noel was still a bit shaky about her new friend she just met a few minutes ago. And even though the pizza was delicious, she still had her doubts. But it didn’t hurt to tell her where she was from, “Korea.”

This somewhat shocked Navarasa, “Oh! But… you’re here… in Japan.”

Noel nodded while eating, “I went all over the world... mostly…”

“Where do you want to go?” Navarasa asked.

“Someplace warm,” Noble answered while chewing her food.

This puts a smile on Navarasa’s face, “Good choice.”

Noel scoffs, “for a dreamer like me. Yeah, I always wanted to get off this… planet. I hate this place. You can’t trust anyone anymore.”

“Well, that’s not true. You need trust, Miss--”

“It’s Noel,” the little fox girl relented.

Finally, Navarasa got the first name from her, “Noel. That’s a great name.”

Noel blushed in embarrassment, “Thanks, Navarasa.”

Navarasa nodded, “You’re welcome. Now, getting back to trust. In life, you need to trust somebody.”

“The only person I have ever trusted is dead…” Noel choked the words out.

“You don’t have a home or have anybody to go to? How long have you been out on the streets?

Once again, Noel was silent.

But with that silence, Navarasa understood her pain, “you’re not the only one, Noel. I’m here to help you, but I can only you if you give me a hand. The choice is yours.” Navarasa pulls out her wallet from her jacket and pulls out a card. “Here’s my phone number and the orphanage’s address.”

Navarasa hands Noel the card.

“I have to be getting back. I hope you will make the right choice,” Navarasa gets up from the table and walks away. She looks at the card and thinks about what her choices are.

Let's see. Live on the street, get arrested and charged with attempted murder and battery, or be in an orphanage with food, TV, and a roof over your head? Oh, yeah, like I had two tough choices to make.

The Sunflower Moon Sanctuary was miles away from the city as I spent my last 35 dollars on a taxi ride to get over there. With only my burlap bag, I made my way to the front door. I knocked on the door, and there she was. Of course, Navarasa was happy to see me.

“Are you sure you have enough room for me?” Noel asked.

“We always have room. Come in,” Navarasa answered with conviction as Noel enters into the Sunflower Moon Sanctuary. As she makes her way to the living room. Navarasa takes her bag. Noel follows Navarasa upstairs to her room. As they went into her own room, she looked around the vast place.

“Is this room… mine?” Noel questioned.

Navarasa nodded, “Yes. Everyone is asleep, so you will meet them all tomorrow. Okay?”

Noel nodded in agreement, “Yeah, sure. Thanks.”

That house had everything. Satellite TV in every room, a king-size bed in every room, air conditioning, and heating, your own private bathroom, your own private laptop with free internet. In the kitchen, theirs a fridge so big, you can put 20 turkeys in it.

That night, I slept like a newborn baby. Early in the morning-- no, wait. That afternoon, I woke up. I heard children laughing and playing. That's what woke me up. I got up and took a long bubble bath. Then, Navarasa knocked and opened the door and brought me some fresh clothes.

I got out of the tub and got dressed afterward. She'd bought me casual clothes. Knowing what I would see, kind of freaked me out. Everyone was happy. Everyone was getting along. Then it was time to meet and greet everyone. Navarasa met up with me, took me by the hand, and took me to the courtyard. In that courtyard, there had to be 50 kids there. Navarasa rounded up everyone and greeted me to everyone, and everyone happily said “Hello” to me.

Then, some of the kids walked up and hugged me. Noel felt strange. Since her mother died, no one held me or hugged me. I was relieved. So, relieved, it made me cry. I honestly liked the hugs. It was something I have gotten used to; Getting love and giving it back. This was indeed one of my most excellent experiences. When a stranger showing that he or she cares about you and your welfare, you must do the same for them.

I made friends with everybody quickly. I played sports, caught up in activities, and hung out in malls with my buddies. It was the first time I went outside as a regular kid, not a homeless kid. Plus, for fun and exercise, we've had martial arts lessons. I've mastered Bajiquan & Tai-chi in three years. I was determined.

Over the years, I became “Little Navarasa.” Looking out for little ones and always set a great example. It was a great recovery story. Before a stray with no one to trust, now just a memory.