Kimiko and the Accidental Proposal

by Forthright

  “Uh-oh,” whispered Kimiko. Because Sentinel Skybellow was stationed at the gate, thick arms folded across his chest.

  Akira ventured, “Are we in trouble?”

  The burly, bluff head of security eyed them narrowly. “Were you in any trouble?”

  “Not at all! But I guess we sorta slept off campus last night.”

  “I know.”

  Akira fidgeted. “Is there a rule against that?”

  Sentinel blandly asked, “Are you acquainted with the student handbook?”

  “I am,” Suuzu said quietly. “The responsibility was mine.”

  “I know,” repeated the dog clansman.

  Kimiko didn’t know exactly how Sentinel was attached to the Starmark compound. Probably not born to the Keishi pack, given his shock of silver-tipped brown hair and pale gray eyes. Married in, then? Or would that be bonded in. Like she would be.

  Kimiko offered a weak apology. “Akira and Suuzu walked me home and stayed over.”

  “I gathered as much from your trail.”

  So he had tracked them to the shrine. “Sorry for the bother,” she mumbled.

  Sentinel brushed his shoulder. “You remained on good paths; you chose a safe den. All things considered, I have no complaints.”

  Kimiko was glad enough to be forgiven, but she couldn’t decide why the dog sounded so … glum.

  The whole mood inside the school was off, but Kimiko couldn’t put a label on the undercurrent running through the hallways. Except that the Amaranthine all seemed to know something the humans didn’t.

  In their classroom, Ms. Reeves’ smile was fixed in place. Her measured tones betrayed very little, but Kimiko found signs of uneasiness in her posture. Yet her Amaranthine classmates betrayed nothing but respectful attentiveness.

  She called the class to order. “This morning, we have some prestigious guests who’ve offered to visit our classes. A contingent of Elderboughs are currently in Keishi, along with several reavers who’ve trained with Kith companions.”

  An excited murmur went through the room.

  The Elderbough pack was one of the oldest and perhaps the most famous of the wolf packs, in large part because Adoona-soh Elderbough, spokesperson for the wolves, was one of the Five.

  Ms. Reeves continued. “Teams will be visiting each classroom in turn. As a few of you have already mentioned an interest in working closely with Kith, I’ve requested that Reaver Armstrong be the one to address our class.”

  Yoota and Ploom began signaling wildly to each other across the room, and the sway in Hanoo’s tail increased to a swing.

  Akira asked, “What sort of Kith does he belong to?”

  “Isn’t it the other way around?” asked Tenma.

  Kimiko was glad that Isla’s answering laugh held no trace of mockery.

  The girl hooked her arm through Tenma’s and, loud enough for everyone to hear, announced, “Our family is owned by a feline Kith. If Reaver Armstrong has a Kith companion, it’s because the Kith chose him, not the other way around.”

  Only a few minutes passed before a light rap announced the arrival of a reaver and an Amaranthine at the door. The reaver was tall and blond, with an aww, shucks smile that made him look like the leading man in an American movie. His dark teal tunic designated him a battler, and the faint creases at the corners of his blue eyes suggested a genial sort of maturity. Kimiko guessed him to be about the same age as her father.

  His Amaranthine companion—easily recognized as a wolf by the light brown tail flicking against the ragged cuffs of his jeans—strolled to the long row of windows and stood gazing out, as if he found the classroom claustrophobic. Leaning to one side, Kimiko managed a glimpse of the crest on his armband, and her heart gave a glad leap. Elderbough!

  Kimiko studied his profile. While there was a certain resemblance, she knew this wasn’t Adoona-soh’s eldest son, the heir. But she wasn’t familiar with the younger sons. Actually, this denim-clad wolf could just as easily be a grandson. Except she could feel his power like a low vibration—intense, impatient, irritated.

  Yellow eyes locked with hers, as if he’d felt her gaze.

  She surreptitiously offered him welcome and peace.

  Thick brows lifted. His response was offhanded, but he wearily begged pardon, signaling distraction and directing her attention back to his partner in the simplest of terms. Pay attention. This is important.

  After a brief consultation, Ms. Reeves raised her voice. “We’re honored to have Christopher Armstrong with us today. Hanoo, if you’ll unlatch the double-door, his Kith partner will also be joining us.”

  Hanoo, Yoota, and Ploom all leapt up, hurrying with the catches on the second classroom door, which usually remained shut. Their excitement made little sense until the Kith—an enormous black wolf—eased through the door.

  Reaver Armstrong said something in English, then switched to Japanese with a broad American accent. “Cove is a wolf of the Nightspangle pack.”

  Ms. Reeves directed her three tail-wagging students to close up the doors and return to their seats, then yielded the floor to Reaver Armstrong.

  “I apologize for the clumsiness of my words and for not having time to introduce ourselves properly. My name is Christopher Armstrong, and you are welcome to call me Chris. My Kith partner is Cove. And my other friend is Boonmar-fen Elderbough. Please, don’t mind. He will move through the room while I am talking. Learning faces and scents. Okay?”

  Kimiko glanced at Suuzu, whose expression had clouded considerably. Whatever it was, he knew. And it wasn’t good. Akira seemed to be picking up on his best friend’s mood. He’d moved his chair around and sat right beside Suuzu.

  “I’m what the media usually calls a Kith handler,” continued Chris. “But that’s a misrepresentation. A misnomer.”

  He had clearly learned Japanese but didn’t often use it, because he kept dropping English words into his sentences, then backing up to translate himself.

  Isla raised her hand. “Would you like me to serve as translator?”

  Chris shifted into a pleading posture. “That would be a big help, little lady.”

  Now that he wasn’t working so hard to find the right words, the battler relaxed and included more nuances of posture, making it clear that he’d lived most of his life among wolves. Kimiko wondered if he belonged to the same enclave as Hanoo, Yoota, and Ploom.

  “Cove has been my companion since I was twelve, and he was my grandmother’s companion before me. I have seven siblings—three full, two half, and two step. The family joke is that I was both the runt and the pick of the litter.”

  Kimiko shook her head in wonderment. If this strapping blond man was the smallest in his family, his siblings must rival the Amaranthine in size.

  “I’m enclave born and was raised to work in tandem with a Kith companion as a tracker. The role has been considered largely traditional for centuries, like many of the battler sub-classifications. But since the Emergence, both battlers and trackers are in high demand to work with law enforcement and criminal investigation. Or in the private sector as body guards, security guards, and even travel guides.”

  He spoke at length about the jobs available to reavers who aimed for battler classification and opportunities for humans in those same fields. Meanwhile, Boonmar-fen glided unobtrusively through the room. Those who spared him a glance had their attention firmly directed back to the front. More than once, he signaled for the students to listen to Chris.

  Kimiko was impressed by Isla’s poise. She and Chris quickly developed a pattern, taking turns speaking. Her polish not only put Reaver Armstrong at ease, it kept everyone in the classroom connected. Couldn’t Ms. Reeves have done the same? But a glance in their homeroom teacher’s direction made Kimiko sure that the idea hadn’t occurred to her. Her attention was turned inward, and her downcast face was pinched and pale.

  A knock preceded Sentinel Skybellow into the room, and Ms. Reeves leapt to her feet. She thanked and excused Isla, and Boonmar-fe
n returned to the front of the room.

  This was it.

  Ms. Reeves thanked Chris and encouraged young reavers interested in Kith-based careers or any of the battler specializations to speak up. “And now Sentinel needs to make an announcement.”

  Their head of security didn’t drag it out any further. “Last night, during the height of the Star Festival, one of our students—Minami Li from Class 2-A—failed to return to the dormitories. Further investigation by experienced trackers has led to the regrettable conclusion that she was taken.”

  A murmur of dismay rippled through the room.

  Sentinel grimly continued. “I will review the school’s security measures with you, along with new guidelines to ensure the safety of every student. And Boon will want a word with anyone who may have noticed Minami any time after eight o’clock yesterday evening.”

  Rules were rehearsed. Restrictions added. Everyone could expect to see more Kith on campus. And Ms. Reeves went over simple statements they might use if questioned by friends and family … or if cornered by the press.

  Throughout, Kimiko had a hard time sitting still. She wanted to get home, to make sure her sisters were safe. Because she had seen the silent command issued by Boonmar-fen, watched it leap from one student to the next, galvanizing the Amaranthine to a single purpose.

  Guard your reavers.

  TWENTY-FOUR

  Lady’s Choice

  Sentinel excused himself to speak with the next classroom, and Reaver Armstrong moved to the corner of the room with Cove to answer questions and allow students to interact with his Kith partner. Meanwhile, Boon circulated through the room, asking questions in low tones.

  Suuzu touched Kimiko’s hand. “You are wanted,” he murmured.

  She had no idea how long Eloquence had been trying to catch her attention.

  His gesture was crisp, commanding. Wait for me.

  Kimiko shook her head. “I can’t. My sisters ….”

  Eloquence’s lips pressed into a thin line, but he inclined his head. His gaze shifted, and he said something she couldn’t hear.

  “He wishes you to meet him,” Suuzu relayed. “After school. In the Kith shelter.”

  Akira was paying attention now. “What’s up, Kimi?”

  She could feel color creeping into her face. “I need to talk to Eloquence.”

  “How long?” asked Suuzu.

  “Not long.” She shifted into a consenting posture.

  Suuzu’s hand was warm around hers, and his declaration was just as crisp, commanding. “When you finish, Akira and I will walk you home.”

  Across the room, Eloquence inclined his head again.

  In context, the gesture could indicate simple understanding … or permission. With a sudden pang of uneasiness, she hoped it was the former. Calling Eloquence Starmark a beauty and kissing his hand had been a bit much. She’d wanted to win a smile, to give him a nice memory. But she hadn’t stayed around, and she didn’t know him well enough to guess if he’d been amused or insulted or … or all the other little things she usually never worried about.

  Flirting with schoolgirls was easy. A nonsense game with no consequences since she never saw them again. But there would be no avoiding Eloquence Starmark.

  Did dogs understand games? Did Amaranthine even flirt? Did he think her behavior strange for a reaver? Middle school and movies had turned her into a bizarre hybrid, teetering on the borderline of acceptability as a reaver.

  “You are worrying him.” Suuzu left his chair to kneel beside her. “You are worrying me.”

  She caught a glimpse of taut concern before Akira came around and sat on the table, blocking Eloquence’s view of her.

  Akira asked, “What’s his deal?”

  Kimiko hadn’t wanted to tell anyone until she felt more confident, but maybe by confiding in Akira and Suuzu, she’d find the confidence she needed. Leaning to one side, she met Eloquence’s waiting, worried gaze. And she proved that she, too, could be crisp, commanding. All is well. No insult intended. Untuck your tail. May clear skies fill your eyes. Shake those antlers, you ruddy buck.

  Bemusement stole the tension from Eloquence’s expression. The last chivvying encouragement even netted her an amused huff. And now that he was smiling, she quietly asked, “Can I tell them?”

  The answer came without hesitation—at your discretion.

  Akira and Suuzu readily agreed to wait until they reached the privacy of Kikusawa Shrine before Kimiko unburdened herself. They would be waiting at the gate. And she was hurrying toward the inner compound that the Kith called home.

  Not many lingered in the mews and stalls. She supposed they must be patrolling the campus or helping search for Minami Li. Why would anyone kidnap a high school girl? And who would dare to do it here? Keishi was the informal headquarters of the Five, and more than any other clan, the Starmarks considered reavers their allies. Dogs and reavers—they were the In-between’s founders and foundation.

  Someone was going to regret taking that girl.

  Given the number of trackers in town, Kimiko was rather surprised they still hadn’t found her. Maybe Eloquence could tell her more?

  A low bark from the back guided her to a straw-filled alcove partially sheltered from the wind by heavy curtains. Eloquence stepped into the open and quietly offered his palms. As soon as hers rested on his, his fingers tangled with hers.

  “I apologize,” he murmured. “For asking you to come when you would rather go to your family.”

  “My first impulse was to get home as fast as possible. My second was to text Sakiko. She’s fine. So’s Noriko.” She felt foolish and let him see it. “I asked you for time to talk, then tried to rush off. I’m the one who owes an apology.”

  Backing up, he drew her into the shelter, which was large enough to accommodate a pair of russet-furred dogs with cloudy eyes and whitening muzzles. “This is Edge and his bondmate Flay. They belong to the Starmark pack. They’ve decided to … conspire with us, I suppose.” His gaze dropped and he gruffly added, “They offer their den for our trysting.”

  “I see,” she said. Although once again, she didn’t. “Thank you very much.”

  Eloquence seemed flustered. “They’ve always been matchmakers. As bad as my grandsire. And full of suggestions. To be perfectly honest, they’ll make terrible chaperones.”

  Everyone knew Kith were sentient. But it was also universally understood that Kith couldn’t speak. Unlike the so-called High Amaranthine, they couldn’t take speaking form. Although Kimiko suspected she should be more concerned about his references to chaperones and trysting, she blurted, “What do you mean … suggestions?”

  His mouth moved, but no sound came. His hands spread, curled, and wavered without making any sense. Finally, he forced out one word. “Specifically?”

  Kimiko studied the two dogs. “Kith communication is limited to rudimentary concepts and inferences gained from the inherent force of personality that comes with sentience.”

  Eloquence relaxed a little. “That is an excellent summation of Reaver Armstrong’s lecture. That is the way of things between a reaver and the Kith.”

  “It’s different for you?”

  He said nothing, did nothing. Had she run up against some sort of clan secret?

  This time, she made it a statement. “It’s different for you.”

  “May I confide in you?”

  She nodded, and he led her deeper into the shadowy alcove, behind the two lazing dogs. Eloquence sat in the rustling straw, using Edge as a backrest, and drew Kimiko down by his side. It was warmer here and well-guarded. A good place for sharing secrets.

  “Kith have voices.” Eloquence tapped his forehead. “We can hear those of our clan, our breed, and often of close kin.”

  “They speak in your thoughts.”

  “Yes. And I speak for them. That’s my role in the pack.” He edged closer so their arms touched. “That’s why my father named me Eloquence. I speak for those who cannot.”

  “
So you’re in charge of the Kith?”

  Edge grunted, and Flay reached over her mate’s back to nose Eloquence’s hair. He chuckled and said, “I’m theirs more than they are mine.”

  “And they know about the betrothal thing?” Kimiko responded to his restlessness. As soon as she shifted forward, his arm slipped around her back.

  “Rise was there, and he was pleased.” Now that she was tucked up against his side, Eloquence seemed to relax. “Word spreads fast when Kith are involved.”

  “I see,” she said. And this time, she thought she did. “Should we talk about what’s supposed to happen next?”

  “Yes. Because my father spoke with me on the matter.” His voice was soft, calm, yet somehow cautious. “Dad has no objection to your choice, but he set conditions for me. The chase is yours. You must court me, not the other way around.”

  “I’m the suitor.”

  He hummed an affirmative. “I will not initiate contact.”

  Kimiko laughed. “Like now?”

  Eloquence’s eyes widened. “This is not courting behavior.”

  “I know.” She turned into him, placing her hand on his chest. “But I haven’t researched courting behavior, and books rarely go into nuances. If I’m going to take the lead, you’ll still have to guide me.”

  “Ask anything.” He smiled faintly. “I’m not an unfathomable mystery, unlike females.”

  Was he teasing? “Even Amaranthine have trouble understanding girls?”

  “Persons of your gender defy explanation. If you are uncomfortable asking me something, choose other confidants. One of the teachers, or I will gladly introduce you to my stepmother. Even though she will likely relay embarrassing tales of my childhood.”

  “She’s human.”

  “Yes, and she’s been part of the Starmark clan for many years. Her insights would surely inform you, although in her case, my father did the courting.”