Page 120 of Kimiko and the Accidental Proposal
“I’m guessing he stuck around.”
“Yes, and seeing that they were fainting from hunger, Auriel cast about for something they could eat. But the land was desolate, and all he had were the seeds he had yet to sow—twelve in all.”
“How many ladies did he rescue?”
Suuzu nodded. “You are right, there were twelve.”
“What happens when you eat a golden seed?”
“You are getting ahead of the story,” grumbled the phoenix. “Auriel fed the seeds to the women, who found strength enough for a great journey. He led them to a mountain where phoenixes made nests in the rocks, for in those days, wild phoenixes were plentiful.”
Akira had met a few phoenix Kith, but he wasn’t sure if there were any wild phoenixes left in the world. It had seemed rude to ask.
Suuzu said, “Two Amaranthine lived in the heights, nestmates watching over the wild birds that were their responsibility. They welcomed the weary travelers, making room for them and tending to their needs, which soon multiplied, for all twelve women were found to be with child.”
“Oh, man.”
“Before he left, Auriel handed down the first of the songs of trees, a prophecy which is still known by all Amaranthine children. It is one of our lullabies.” Suuzu hummed a few bars. “The language is old, and much of the beauty is lost in translation. After a warning against the allure of trees, Auriel explains what happens to the heedless. For the consequences would be the same for them as for these twelve women.”
Akira grumbled, “You’re dragging this out on purpose.”
Suuzu hung his head, then softly sang, “Take the golden seed from your child’s hand, and plant it beside your front step. Teach your child to watch and water, to tend to their twin. In so doing, they will gain a tree’s age and bring home many blessings.”
“Wait, you skipped something. Where’d the kid get a seed?”
“They were born with a seed in their hand.”
“All twelve of them?”
“Yes. And when the children were old enough, they obeyed the angel and planted the seed.”
Akira’s eyes widened. “And lived. Like Sis and Quen’s mom, whose lives are tied to their bondmate’s. Only the kids were matched up with their tree.”
“We call them tree-kin.”
“There’s really such a thing?”
Suuzu hushed him, a finger to his lips. “The elder orchards and ancient groves fell long ago, ravaged by the human desire for immortality. But enough seeds survived. Few know about the groves. Fewer still know where they are hidden.”
“Your island?”
Suuzu nodded once.
“Okay, that’s pretty cool. But why does this make a problem between you and Hisoka-sensei?”
His friend laughed weakly and hugged him closer. “If those reliquaries hold golden seeds, then they hold Auriel’s promise for the one who plants them.”
“They’d still work.”
“Yes. And Twineshaft clearly knows this, and he has set a guard so that I will not succumb to temptation.”
“You’d steal a seed?”
His voice was thick with longing. “I do want one.”
“But … why?”
Suuzu made a broken little noise.
