Page 160 of Fumiko and the Finicky Nestmate
“This is … yours?” Suuzu checked.
“Yeah. For now.”
“May I wear it?”
Akira cracked a smile. “That’s the idea. Since I’ll be wearing yours.”
Suuzu bent until their cheeks touched. “Do you understand …?”
“Do you?” Akira pushed closer and hugged him hard.
“I believe so. May I formalize our exchange in the traditional manner?”
There was another formality involved?
Akira’s confusion must have shown, because Suuzu took his time arranging and aligning. His thumb brushed Akira’s lower lip, which made his intention abundantly clear.
“If you want.” And because he intended to match Suuzu in every way he could, Akira added, “I am willing.”
FIFTY-FOUR
Tenth Child
Suuzu remained with the enclave even after Argent departed for Stately House. The remaining members of Juuyu’s team scattered, and the enclave grew quiet. Suuzu’s schedule had been cleared, which allowed him to fulfill a traditional role for his brother. While Juuyu was much occupied with Fumiko, Suuzu spent time with her tree-twin. It was meant partly as guard duty—though this place was thoroughly secure—and partly as a distraction, meant to keep Zuzu from barging in on the intimacies of the nest.
Not that she needed distracting. Sinder had set the sisters up with a phone, and Zuzu spent hours chatting with trees from the Farroost colony.
With time on his hands, Suuzu had turned his attention to Fumiko’s gift. She’d said it was a puzzle box, and fiddling with it kept him from fretting over Akira.
It was more complicated than he anticipated.
And intriguing, once he realized that some of the inset tiles weren’t shell, but crystal. Pale blue and potent. Had someone warded the contents?
“Zuzu?” he called.
She joined him in the hammock. “Yes, Brother?”
“Did this box belong to Soren? He was a ward, was he not?”
“Soren was, but this is not his box.” Zuzu smiled. “Sister chose even better than she meant to when she gave this to you.”
“Why?”
Zuzu tapped the box’s gleaming surface. “This was Hajime’s box. Sister promised to keep it safe, but she forgot. Sometimes she does.”
“Should I return it?”
“No. When he found out it was you, he said, ‘close enough.’ And smiled.” She patted his arm. “It is yours to do with as you please.”
She winked away, and Suuzu renewed his efforts, but the box was reluctant to let go of its secrets. However, on the third day, he met with sudden success.
The tricky box swung open, revealing a shallow tray filled with flowers of several varieties. They had to be quite old, yet they looked and smelled fresh. Carefully lifting the tray aside, Suuzu found a deeper recess in which lay three leathery lumps.
Recognition slammed into him, and Suuzu trilled a sharp summons.
Leaves rustled, and Juuyu appeared on the nearest branch. Juuyu draped in orange silks. Juuyu with purple flowers in his hair. Juuyu whose forehead shimmered with the mark of an imp’s good opinion. “Suuzu?”
“I have found … a treasure. And I need your advice.” He lifted his little finger, letting Juuyu know that this was a matter for tributes. For certain secrets—and duties—only belonged to the tenth child of each clan.
