Page 25 of Kimiko and the Accidental Proposal
“Hmm?”
Akira shook his head. It was too silly to repeat. What had they been talking about? “Ambassador of peace … sounds prestigious. It’s almost like you’re the Spokesperson for the phoenix clans.”
“Yes.”
“Huh?” Akira pushed feathers out of the way, but there was no hope of seeing his friend’s face in the dark. “You’re like … one of the Five?”
“I cannot be one of the Five or there would be six.”
“You know what I mean.” He poked in the general vicinity of Suuzu’s ribs.
“I do.” Suuzu quietly admitted, “I am.”
Akira finally snickered. “I’d like to go on record as having befriended youbeforeI knew you were important.”
Suuzu trembled with ill-contained laughter, and above them, Juuyu began the thrumming coo of a phoenix lullaby. Akira recognized the melody. It was the same one Suuzu sang over him most nights.
He nestled back down. “You’ve been holding out on me, Spokesperson Farroost.”
“Few know.” Suuzu had relaxed enough that his voice slurred with sleep. “This is my secret to carry.”
“And mine.”
Akira liked this part of being a nestmate. Hearing a song with your whole body. At times like this, at the edge of waking and sleeping, Akira couldalmostbelieve he was touching Suuzu’s soul. Giddy peace enveloped him like a gentle fire, flickering around and through him without burning.
“What was Juuyu’s again?” Akira asked.
“Hmm?”
“Is his secret as cool as yours?”
“Certainly. In the old lore, phoenixes have always fulfilled one role.” Suuzu lapsed into the rhythmic patter of recitation. “Our warriors are keen of eye, swift in flight, alluring in song, and untouched by flames. We are hunters with one prey.”
“Yeah?” Akira yawned. “Wassat?”
Suuzu’s lips bumped his ear. “Dragons.”
THIRTEEN
Double Escort
Oh, this was awkward. Kimiko’s posture shifted to reinforce her words. “I’d like that. Really, I would.”
“Good try, Kimi, but it sounds like you’re leading up to an apology.” Akira was on tiptoe. “We don’t get enough time to talk in class. Hang out with us!”
She checked to see if Suuzu understood. The phoenix touched his best friend’s shoulder. “If today is inconvenient, we could make alternative arrangements.”
“Maybe,” she said doubtfully. “I have family obligations. And sometimes I take part in these extra tutoring sessions with my younger sister. Long story short, I always have to go straight home.”
Akira buried his hands in his pockets, the picture of dejection. “We noticed you’re not in the dorm.”
“That’s right.” Kimiko dropped soft boots onto the floor in front of the shoe lockers and stepped down into them, tugging them up over the dense weave of her winter breeches. “It’s close enough, so I’m living at home.”
Akira followed her out the front doors. “How far are we talking?”
Pointing north, she asked, “See the tree on that hill?”
Suuzu caught up, Akira’s coat over his arm. He silently draped a scarf around the boy’s shoulders while Akira gave the distant hilltops a considering look. “You walk that every day?”
