Page 118 of Kimiko and the Accidental Proposal
“I like what I like,” he mumbled around a mouthful of strawberries and cream.
Tenma definitely appreciated moments like this, when Inti abandoned pretense enough to use personal pronouns. One thing he’d learned at school was how important nuances were to Amaranthine. Little things communicated big ideas—like caution, trust, and friendship.
“Where would you like to go?” Tenma didn’t even try to hide his curiosity. “I mean, what doyouusually do when you go out at night?”
Inti licked the last traces of cream from his fingertips and jumped onto Tenma’s shoulders. Tapping the top of his head, he said, “Take me to trees. Someplace to run and climb.”
At the next street corner, Tenma turned homeward, since the best place would be the forest behind their dormitory. Although it was Starmark land, there were no fences or barriers. Maybe some of the Kith in the shelter would like to join Inti in running wild.
Only they didn’t quite make it to campus.
All of a sudden, Inti’s tail whipped out from around Tenma’s shoulders. Overbalanced, he staggered, then made a grab for his roommate’s ankles. Inti was standing on his shoulders, peering off along a darkened side street. Tenma wanted to ask what was happening, but something in the crosser’s attitude told him this wasn’t a silly game.
Inti dropped to the ground and skittered off a short distance, then returned to dance in a circle around Tenma. “Too late, too late,” he muttered. “Too slow.”
Thinking it must be safe to speak since Inti was, Tenma nonetheless kept his voice low. “What’s wrong?”
The only answer he received was more bouncing and fidgeting. Inti’s eyes were perfectly round, and he’d begun gnawing on the end of his tail.
Hauling him close and caging him against his body, Tenma spoke into Inti’s ear. “Tell me.”
“A trigger. A trap. The hunter is coming.”
“You mean the trackers?”
Inti’s softly chanted negative was a like a desperate prayer.
A finger pressed to Tenma’s mouth, begging for silence. Inti’s other hand dove into Tenma’s clothing, picking an inner pocket and coming up with a precious fold of paper. He shuffled back a step and, to Tenma’s horror, ripped Quen’s sigil in two, letting the halves flutter to the ground.
Awareness slammed into Tenma, clawing away his composure. Malicious, greedy, and closing fast—if the oncoming Amaranthine was a hunter, they’d be easy prey.
Inti’s tail snaked around his arm, squeezing tight. Up on tiptoe, he whispered in Tenma’s ear. “We need to run. We need to hide.”
“Yes.”
“You are too slow.”
For a fleeting moment, Tenma thought Inti would leave him behind.
His fear must have shown on his face. Inti’s hand brushed his cheek. “My turn, my friend. I’m stronger than I look.”
A disorienting swoop sent Tenma’s already-queasy stomach plunging, and he found himself clinging helplessly to Inti, who sprang recklessly along the rooftops.
FORTY-FIVE
Temptation
Akira was pleased to be included in the much smaller group that made the trip to Kikusawa Shrine. It sounded like this pledge thingie was usually pretty private, with only the representatives necessary to make it official. But tonight’s plan allowed the Miyabes to offer a return of hospitality to the Starmarks.
Argent had joined the group quizzing Akio Miyabe about the shrine’s history and treasury. Sinder was among them, and it was pretty plain that they wanted a full tour once Kimi got around to kissing Quen.
Stuffing his hands deeper into his pockets, Akira shambled along toward the house, where Suuzu was overseeing some kind of last minute details. Probably preening.
He reached their front door just as it opened. Jumping aside, he let the Miyabe women pass in a soft rustle of fancy clothes, twinkling hair ornaments, and fur-trimmed capes. They chattered and giggled and wafted a heady blend of girly scents.
Must be almost time.
Suuzu stepped outside. The closing door cut off most of the light, leaving them in the dark. But the phoenix’s eyes were as keen as ever, despite the lack of light. He closed in on Akira, straightening and fussing with a focus that betrayed his state of mind.
