Page 127 of Tamiko and the Two Janitors
He hesitated, confused. “I thought you were here forMelissa.”
“As it happens, my duties bring me to you both, each in yourturn.” Remill stepped so close to Ash, their cheeks brushed when he whisperedsomething in his ear.
Ash nodded.
Remill pressed the box into his hand.
With great care, Ash touched the catch and lifted the lid.
The look he sent Tami made Melissa feel like an intruder,for his eyes were bright with unshed tears. She eased back a few steps,averting her eyes. But she couldn’t escape the scene entirely.
“Is it right?” Tami asked.
Ash cleared his throat and muttered something.
Aunt Hiro laughed lightly.
Melissa couldn’t resist a glance. Ash had pulled Tami intohis arms and stood there, holding her. Like they belonged together. Like theybelonged to each other. It was an absolute marvel, given everything that hadhappened, that these two managed to make falling in love look simple.
“Ah, love,” sighed Remill.
Melissa startled, not having realized that the herald had remainedwith her.
“A favored suitor wears his lady’s ornament.” His tonedropped conspiratorially. “Signifying her wish to court as she is courted. Inthe avian tradition.”
She saw Tami slip a ring onto Ash’s finger. “Rings are anavian tradition?”
“Any gift may do, if its message is clear.” Remill cooedquietly, all approval for the couple’s kiss. “Hers is clarion.”
Since the herald seemed eager to share, Melissa asked, “Whatdoes it mean for him?”
Remill’s hands fluttered. “When a male courts alone, it isin the hope of a return of feeling. When two souls reach an understanding,gifts are exchanged rather than given. Everything can be shared, for theirfuture is one.”
Melissa compared this to one of the only other courtshiptraditions she knew. “Kimiko Miyabe is claiming Eloquence with kisses.”
“Ah, wolves,” sighed Remill. “What they lack in publicdisplay, they make up for in private affections. Are you interested in lovers’games, Daughter of Nightspangle?”
“How did you know?”
“A guess, since fully half of your stolen glances have ayearning quality.”
Melissa took a moment to realize what he meant. “No! How didyou know I’m considered a Nightspangle?”
“Because, Miss Melissa Armstrong.” Remill withdrew a heavypacket from his messenger bag and offered it with both hands. “That is how youhave been addressed.”
She recognized the heavy paper, the gleaming seal. It was assubtle as a slap, and pain bloomed with its delivery.
How much money had she paid to remove her name from thegeneral registries? Yet someone had caught wind of her. Some stranger was applyingfor her. And from who knew where? The sender’s name was stamped in red ink,with foreign characters that suggested Asian origins.
Melissa turned to ask Remill where the packet had come from,but he’d vanished.
Uttering an oath, she considered shredding the thingunopened. Although it might be more satisfying to sic Doon-wen on the manaudacious enough to apply for his daughter, sight unseen. With that pleasantprospect in mind, she strode to her aunt’s side. “Could you look at somethingfor me? Is this kanji?”
“Yes. It’s a name.” Aunt Hiro touched the intricatecharacters. “Is there another place that gives the hiragana? That would tell ushow the name should be read.”
Melissa broke the packet’s plain seal and extracted thecover letter.
“Here.” Her aunt pointed to another string of characters.“The full name means ‘cricket moon,’ but it has been simplified to Kourogi.”
