Page 22 of Kimiko and the Accidental Proposal
It was a miracle Suuzu had found him. Given the swiftness with which humans escalated through adolescence to adulthood, a single delay, a year or two in either direction, and Suuzu’s nestmate would have passed by, lost before he was ever found.
There were nights he trembled at the tenuous happenstance that had saved him from hopelessness and homesickness.
Circumstances had conspired—Twineshaft’s call for support, a longstanding Farroost obligation, Juuyu’s cautious recommendation—thrusting Suuzu into an integration experiment. He had thought himself prepared. Everyone had, or he wouldn’t have been sent.
Three Amaranthine “students” transferred into a boys’ middle school, accompanied by their reaver escorts. No one had been surprised when the two wolves had asked to room together, which left Suuzu. Would he consider a human roommate?
Yes. If the choosing was his.
Thus, the tour of classes took on a dual purpose. In each room, the reaver would talk about the Emergence while Suuzu and the two wolves stood to one side, very much on display. But the reavers were engaging, the wolves were gregarious, and the students were fascinated. A good beginning. Suuzu’s escort would lead him up and down the rows of desks, dispensing interesting bits of lore and demonstrating the meeting of palms.
Suuzu’s only real contribution was his presence, and his one task was proving more difficult than expected. Because fear and fascination made poor nestmates.
He’d begun subtle posturing when a student showed potential—flexing his claws, hardening his gaze, looming in general. The reavers didn’t stop him because itdidsimplify the process.
On the third day, when his escort stopped beside Akira’s desk, Suuzu peered down his nose at the boy in his best Juuyu imitation.
The boy immediately offered his palms.
With an unnecessary flourish of claws, Suuzu returned the greeting.
Rather than shrinking away, Akira grinned at him. “Hey, Suuzu! How’s it going? Sure am glad you guys interrupted. This iswaymore interesting than a history lecture, you know?” He rolled his eyes expressively. “So didja pick a club yet?”
It was only the same sort of casual chatter he’d heard between classes and in the halls. Utterly guileless. Refreshingly casual. Shockingly hard to find. At that moment, hope fluttered in Suuzu’s soul, and he whispered, “Please.”
Akira glanced between him and the reaver. “What’s up?”
The reaver must have prompted him, because the next thing Suuzu knew, sturdy hands were supporting his. Careless and carefree. Amiable and accepting. Exactly what he’d needed.
And they’d become inseparable.
Juuyu had worried, mightstillbe worried. Because Suuzu’s coping mechanism was more fleeting than diamonds or pearls … and rarer even than the petals of the rarest of trees.
A stage whisper cut across his musings. “You’re gonna have to try again. He didn’t hear you.”
Juuyu warbled lightly from overhead, where he appeared to sit in midair.
“Brother?” Suuzu rose off the floor, fully prepared to lend whatever assistance he could in this next layering of wards.
But Juuyu waved him away. “Begin your evening patterns. I have more sigils to set—inside and out—and a ward at each window.”
“So many?” asked Suuzu.
“As your kin and your closest, I regret that I cannot stay with you, but Icando this much.” His brother’s fingers flashed as he pulled another sigil into existence. “You would be surprised how much this will help.”
Already, Suuzu could feel the difference. The walls fairly vibrated with Juuyu’s care and concern. He’d been at it for hours, multiplying the strength of the protections that overlapped and interlocked, securing their dorm room. Suuzu hadn’t realized his older brother was so accomplished with defensive barriers.
He frowned. Were these for peace of mind alone? Or should he be worried that some of the patterns looked suspiciously retaliatory? “Brother, are you certain this many safeguards are necessary?”
“Refresh yourselves and return here for preening.” Juuyu curled his tenth finger, a private signal between them. One that meant he could say no more.
Which of course meant that therewasmore.
And that it posed a threat.
Akira yawned and stretched as he led the way back from the communal bathroom at the end of their floor. Reaching for the doorknob, he hesitated.
“Feel anything?” Suuzu asked softly.
