Kimiko and the Accidental Proposal

by Forthright

  Suuzu closed ranks behind Akira, bending to speak in his ear. “Stay close.”

  “Something up?”

  He clucked his tongue, his uneasiness mounting.

  Akira fell silent, and when Suuzu slipped and arm around his shoulders, he went still. “Wolves,” Suuzu reported. “Let us give them a moment to pass by.”

  “Trackers?”

  Suuzu hummed an affirmative, scanning the darkening sky and deep shadows. A series of yips and a lone howl changed his opinion. “Pursuers.”

  “What are they chasing?”

  “Something clever.” Suuzu set his fingers over Akira’s mouth, forestalling further questions. Because he could feel sigils in the air, illusions at play. Maybe they’d stumbled across one of Keishi’s harmless enclaves, but … maybe not. He pulled Akira against his chest, fully prepared to transform in the street and take to the sky, trusting his nestmate to forgive him later for the rough handling.

  Akira felt the tension radiating through Suuzu’s body, so he slowed his breathing and relaxed his muscles, ready to go limp if an airlift was imminent. They’d practiced all kinds of emergency maneuvers—partly because his best friend was a worrywart, but partly because Akira would never get enough of flying.

  More difficult was holding his tongue. Suuzu needed to tell him what was going on!

  He couldn’t see anything or feel anything, but that was no surprise. Humans missed a heck of a lot, even when there weren’t barriers or illusions in play. All he could do was trust Suuzu.

  And pinch him.

  “Hush.” Suuzu curled more snugly against him, his talons lengthening discernibly.

  When a figure stepped out of nowhere, the phoenix added a warning hiss, but the person lifted his hands in a plea for peace. “It’s only us.”

  Us?

  Then in scolding tones, raised to carry, “For pity’s sake, old friend, stop pretending to be a threat. It’s childish.”

  Tsk.

  Tension burst like a bubble, and Akira wriggled free, barreling into the waiting embrace of Michael Ward. “You’re here!”

  “Well spotted. We only just arrived and are under strict orders to make sure you’re doing as brilliantly as your texts imply.” Michael made a show of looking him over. “Your sister misses you.”

  “I’m fine. We’re fine.” Akira eased away and presented himself to the aloof figure of his brother-in-law. “Hello, Argent.”

  A silver eyebrow arched. “Since when are you so reserved?”

  Which Akira took as permission to step into the fox’s arms. While his sister’s mate was much more reserved than Michael, he was several times more protective. Argent checked him over, then gripped his chin. Pale blue eyes narrowed. “Why are you beyond safe boundaries?”

  “We were seeing Kimi and Isla home.”

  He accepted that with a low hum, then switched his attention to Suuzu. Akira wanted to defend his friend, but Argent offered no criticism. “You noticed quickly and would have had him safely away. Well done.”

  Suuzu simply reclaimed Akira, who was getting rather used to being passed around. He said, “You didn’t say anything about coming. Does Isla know?”

  “In a general sense.” Michael gestured vaguely. “I’m a bit ahead of schedule, due to this and that. Hints were dropped. I have a shrine to ward. Among other things.”

  Argent’s attention remained fixed on some distant point, but his calm voice betrayed nothing. “We will be at the Starmark compound. Visit us there when your class schedule allows. Kyrie misses you.”

  “You brought him?” Akira glanced around, not liking the idea of his little nephew being at risk. Especially if tonight’s skirmish was dragon-based.

  “I sent him on ahead with Gingko.”

  Akira relaxed. “That’s good then. We’ll come as soon as we can. Tomorrow?”

  Suuzu, who hadn’t loosened his hold, promised, “Tomorrow.”

  Akira didn’t have the senses to know exactly what was going on, but it didn’t take a genius to tell something was happening in Keishi’s neighborhoods. Dogs barked in every street, and he caught the distant howl of a wolf. “Trackers?” he whispered.

  “Yes.”

  “They’re still chasing something?”

  “I do not think they would bring this much attention to themselves without cause.” Suuzu steered him firmly along. “While there is no immediate danger, we should hurry.”

  “Yeah, okay.” Akira broke into a jog before Suuzu could decide it would be more expedient to carry him.

  At the dormitory entrance, they were cornered by Sentinel Skybellow. “Kimiko Miyabe and Isla Ward?”

  “Safe,” Suuzu assured.

  The dog nodded. “All accounted for. We are closing the doors.”

  Suuzu led Akira by the hand across the student center, as if worried he’d run off. The resident Kith were riled up, and he was fairly certain he spotted Goh-sensei on the roost where the hawks usually perched.

  “Tomorrow should be interesting,” Akira said. “You think the school will tell us what’s going on?”

  “There will undoubtedly be a statement.”

  Akira pressed the elevator button. “Maybe we’ll find out more when we go to the Starmark compound. Argent’s bound to know.”

  Suuzu hummed a vague affirmative, but he was focused on reaching their nest.

  Best course, really. Conversations could wait until they were safely behind Juuyu’s extravagant barriers.

  Inside, Akira moved through the familiar patterns that would give Suuzu peace of mind. Drop the keys, school bag, and shopping bag. Hang his coat. Empty his pockets. Plug in his phone.

  Suuzu lined up their shoes, straightened their coats, then moved toward the closet where their bedding waited. Halfway there, he stopped short and crossed to one of the windows instead.

  Hoping to calm his best friend further, Akira lit a candle and doused the lights. If Suuzu refused to leave the nest—which seemed likely—then dinner would be the few things he’d grabbed at the convenience store earlier. Good enough.

  “See anything?” he asked softly.

  “Hmm.”

  Akira dragged out their bedding and started arranging. Predictably, Suuzu came along behind him, smoothing and straightening the blankets. Now that it was just them, he was thinking about the previous night’s promise. Curiosity knotted with little doubts. They weren’t second thoughts, exactly. But the timing was terrible.

  “It’s kinda chancy, trying anything while Argent and Michael are here.”

  Suuzu looked up, all bewilderment.

  “The … hatching thing,” he mumbled. “If anything changes, they’d notice.”

  Sitting back on his heels, Suuzu faced him across the futon.

  Akira waved his hands, babbling on even though there was nothing to say. “Not that I’m expecting anything to change. Michael said it was probably nothing. So I don’t even know what I’m hoping for.”

  Confusion was shifting into concern. And here, he was supposed to be calming Suuzu down.

  He let his hands fall limp to his sides.

  “You are uneasy.” Suuzu had migrated from concerned to distraught. “I make you uneasy?”

  Akira shook his head. “Going against the advice of someone I trust kinda does. A little.”

  “Forgive me.” Suuzu’s posture shifted into a pose that meant I’m no threat, and he placed his hands behind his back.

  “Stop that!” Akira crawled across their bed and grabbed Suuzu’s shoulders. “I’m not afraid of you. I’ve never been afraid of you.”

  Suuzu warbled unhappily.

  “Okay, I’m uneasy. What if something happens? What if this hatching thing means stuff has to change?” He lamely finished, “I like how things are.”

  Suuzu carefully pulled him close. “I am content.”

  After their talk with Kimi, he was beginning to doubt that. He dared to counter, “Are you?”

  “Yes. With you, yes.”

  And there
was the actual problem. Akira was proud and happy that he’d always have Suuzu. A friend for life, but only a human’s lifetime. How would his friend cope when his nestmate died? Akira felt guilty over this one-sided happiness … and the empty nest that must follow.

  Chest tight, eyes stinging, he asked, “What were you planning to do? I mean, do we have a plan?”

  “No.” Suuzu’s hold tightened fractionally. “I do not know what to do.”

  “Is this why you agreed to Michael’s offer? So you could learn about tending?”

  “Hmm. Perhaps.”

  Akira had been there—at Suuzu’s insistence—for the phoenix’s first taste and subsequent tendings. The whole thing had seemed pretty uneventful. From Akira’s perspective, all Michael had done was hold Suuzu’s hand. Nothing much happened, except that afterward Suuzu was quieter than usual. And clingy.

  “Could we start a nest?” Akira blurted.

  Suuzu’s quick intake of air came out in a funny little series of notes.

  But Akira seized on the idea. “It can be one like Juuyu’s. We can start collecting the things you’ll need.”

  For when he was gone.

  Still, Suuzu didn’t answer.

  “We’ll find the perfect things. For stars and tides and everything that matters.” Akira coaxed the only way he knew how, pushing his fingers through Suuzu’s hair. Mussing and messing until the curls were loose enough to preen. “We’ll collect everything, you and me together. That way, it’ll be ours. Always ours. Do you want to?”

  “I want to.” Suuzu leaned into his touch. “Build with me.”

  Good. This was good. It felt all kinds of right, and it would give the phoenix something to hold onto. Smiling, Akira kept right on twisting his fingers through the dark tangle of Suuzu’s hair. Peace. Finally.

  Akira started at a sudden noise. A thud overhead that rattled the glass of their skylight. “Something’s on the roof,” he whispered.

  Whatever it was struck with greater force.

  “Juuyu’s barrier.” Suuzu narrowed his eyes at the darkened glass overhead. Then with a hiss, he scooped up Akira and dove for the corner. Just in time.

  With a crash, the skylight shattered, and a bundled figure plunged through.

  THIRTY-FIVE

  Cloak and Dagger

  Akira wasn’t sure if he was shaking because of adrenalin or because of the cold air pouring into their room. Glass tinkled, and someone groaned. Peeking out past Suuzu’s shoulder, he tried to see who’d invaded their supposedly impenetrable fortress.

  “A little help here?”

  He moved to assist, but Suuzu held him back.

  “Sorry, sorry. Didn’t mean to startle you boys.”

  Their intruder slowly eased to a hunched sitting position, tutting to himself as if he were in pain and favoring his left side. A hooded cloak hid his face, and the voice didn’t sound familiar. But it was a nice voice. Akira’s gut was telling him to trust this person.

  “I swear, I have a good reason for bashing in like this.” A pale hand with gold-tipped claws pushed away the hood. “I wish I could explain, but then I’d be breaking rules in addition to the window. Then again, some things are obvious. Help me, Suuzu?”

  Akira asked, “You know him?”

  “I do not.”

  The person pouted. “Only because some people are obnoxiously strict about rules and regulations.”

  Okay. Claws, fangs, and ears were the trademark features, but Akira could have pegged this guy as an Amaranthine on hair alone. Crazy-long hair had been woven into a complex braid that looked more like basket-weaving than a hairstyle. And it was a weird pale yellow-green, shot through with blond streaks.

  “Really? Right.” With a weary gesture, the guy said, “Will you help, Akira?”

  He was halfway there when Suuzu jerked him back into his chest. The phoenix was furious. Akira could feel the emotion shaking, flaring. But the other person needed help. Why didn’t Suuzu understand?

  “Suuzu?” He tilted his head, trying to see his friend’s face.

  The gaze that met his flashed with emotions Akira rarely saw. But Suuzu answered calmly. “Look at your feet.”

  Akira’s unprotected feet were a half-step away from the jagged remains of their skylight. Why hadn’t he noticed? “Whoa. That would have hurt.”

  “Put on your shoes.” Suuzu pointed him to the entry. “And call for Sentinel.”

  “Wait!” called the stranger.

  So Akira stopped, turning to see what he wanted.

  Suuzu stalked to Akira, lifted him bodily, and whisked to the door.

  “Listen!” The green-haired Amaranthine raised his right hand and crooked his pinky. “I’m sorry, Suuzu. I wasn’t trying to hurt your nestmate. And Sentinel’s support would be welcome, but we need a healer more.”

  Awkwardly pushing aside his dark cloak, he revealed the huddled form of a dark-skinned girl—young, battered, and unconscious.

  Akira whispered, “That’s an Ingress Academy uniform.”

  “Put on your shoes,” Suuzu repeated, setting Akira down and facing their intruder. “Is that the girl who was taken?”

  “Yes.”

  “And you’re a dragon.”

  Akira fumbled with his shoelaces. “He’s a dragon?”

  “Yes,” said Suuzu.

  That sent a little thrill down his spine—part fear, part fascination. “You’re a dragon.”

  “I’m a dragon.” Holding out a palm that pleaded for peace, he added, “Sinder Stonecairne, of the Icelandic Reach. It’s nice to finally meet you both.”

  “How come you know our names?” Akira asked.

  Suuzu added, “How did you break the barrier?”

  “Your brother’s barrier came in handy.” Sinder gently eased his burden into a more comfortable position.

  “This nest is warded against dragons.”

  “No. It’s warded against other dragons.” Sinder made the same kind of odd fluting sound that Lapis made when he was playing with Kyrie. “I’m almost hurt he never told you. Suuzu, I’m one of the good guys. Juuyu is my partner.”

  Sentinel Skybellow didn’t seem to care about the wreckage in their room, the barriers that prevented him from entering, or the presence of a dragon. He only had eyes for the girl—soft and sad. “Mare Withershanks is at Ingress.”

  Before he could dash off, Akira asked, “What about this guy.”

  “Hide him here.” With a delicate sniff, Sentinel added, “Tend his injuries.”

  And he was gone.

  A few moments later, a voice hailed them from overhead. Goh-sensei placed a finger on the side of his nose. “I’ll patch things up and add a little something extra. No one will notice the rough edges.”

  Sinder waved wearily. “Thanks, Goh.”

  “Not to worry, Sinder.”

  And a sheet of plywood banged into place, covering the gaping hole overhead. Suuzu cocked his head to one side, then remarked, “It is well-warded.”

  “Goh’s top notch. No drafts.” Sinder shivered dramatically. “Mind if we warm this icebox up a little?”

  Akira turned toward the thermostat only to find Suuzu in the way.

  The phoenix cupped his cheek and said, “You do not have to listen to him.”

  “He’s cold.”

  “So are you. It is a reasonable request.” Suuzu seemed to be pleading with him. “You are too easily swayed.”

  “The trusting ones usually are.” Sinder made a gesture Akira recognized as an apology.

  “Maybe you should explain,” Akira said.

  “Dragons are dangerous,” said Suuzu.

  Sinder begged to differ. “Dragons have the potential to be dangerous. We are captivating in our beauty.”

  “And they take captives with their words.”

  Again, Sinder countered, “Historically. Many clans have dark stories in their past that would make for bad press. But dragons have chosen peace. We are represented among the Five.”

  Suuz
u’s head dipped. “Granted. But your words are affecting Akira.”

  “Truly a problem.” Sinder crooked his fingers encouragingly. “Come here.”

  Akira started forward, only to be stopped by Suuzu’s hand at his wrist.

  The dragon sighed. “Spokesperson Farroost, the people you trust most trust me. Bring him over, and I’ll help him break the habit.”

  This was all very exciting and a little surreal, but Akira was pretty sure they’d gotten off track. Waving both hands, he stepped between them. “If our teachers trust him enough to leave him here, we’re good. And Sentinel said he’s injured. Shouldn’t that be our first priority?”

  Suuzu’s attitude vanished. “Do you need a healer?”

  “Not necessary. If you can manage the basic bandages and ointments.” He grimaced. “And tweezers.”

  “And a broom,” Suuzu murmured, already out the door.

  Sinder chuckled. “He’s so much like his brother, it’s scary.”

  “Can you move?” Akira had noticed that the dragon hadn’t budged, even when Suuzu took the rescued girl from him to give her to Sentinel. Injuries could be a problem for Amaranthine, since they were slow to heal. “Let’s get you into a clean corner. By the heater.”

  “You’re too kind.”

  Akira found the rips in Sinder’s cloak, which he helped the dragon remove, exposing bruises, lacerations, and embedded glass. And six sheathed blades of various sizes. The shirt had to go, too, exposing lean muscles and milk-pale skin.

  “So … are you a super-spy?”

  Sinder’s pale eyebrows arched. “Two words. Elite taskforce.”

  “Are you all tributes?”

  “Aren’t you in the know!”

  Which wasn’t an answer. Akira tried the eyebrow thing.

  Chuckling, Sinder answered, “Most of us, yes. But exceptions make us exceptional.”

  Before Akira could press for more information, Suuzu returned with cleaning supplies and a medical kit. Coming quickly to their side, he trilled his dismay. Passing Akira the kit, he set to work, gently extracting slivers of glass with the tips of his claws.