Page 28 of Fumiko and the Finicky Nestmate
“All right,” she said. Although she didn’t really understand what to expect. They really didn’t let her tend.
She’d always sort of assumed it was because they had more than enough reavers compared to Amaranthine. Or that nobody wanted to trouble Zuzu, who was protective of their bond. Was it actually that Fumiko’s tending would do more harm than good?
“Will it be all right?” she asked.
“All will be well.” He pressed her head to his shoulder. “Close your eyes and find me.”
“You’re right here,” Fumiko pointed out, amused.
Juuyu’s next words came quietly. “I think you will find I am even closer.”
She let her eyes fall shut and stiffened in surprise. When touching Juuyu, she was certainly aware of him as an Amaranthine, but all the details were fuzzy. Like a memory that danced just out of reach. But now, everything was crisp and current and unnervingly close.
“Peace, sister to bowers and kindred to stars.” Juuyu’s voice was pitched to soothe. “You have nothing to fear from me. I am the beggar at your door, asking for crumbs.”
“This is tending?”
He hummed. “This is trust. I will take nothing until I first gain yours.”
Fumiko tried to make sense of what she was feeling. “It’s a little like having another twin.”
“Is that so?”
“No one else knows what Zuzu knows. But now you’re both here.”
Whenever Fumiko closed her eyes, Zuzu was in her periphery. A luminous constant. Her best-loved companion. Juuyu felt entirely different. A billowing darkness. An unknown danger. Her heart was skipping, for on some level, her soul recognized him as a threat.
“Peace,” Juuyu repeated, and he seemed to move away.
“Where are you going?” Fumiko caught at his clothes and pulled.
“I have learned to lessen my presence.” He lightly touched her shoulder. “You seemed alarmed.”
Zuzu interjected, “You are old and vast and hungry.”
To Fumiko’s surprise, Juuyu chuckled.
He said, “Trees always think people are hungry.”
It was so true, Fumiko smiled. And just like that, she calmed. Yes, this Amaranthine was strong enough to cause terrible harm. But Zuzu was just as dangerous, if not more so.
“Don’t lessen yourself,” she said, tapping his chest. “How can I get used to you if you hide from me?”
“You will trust me?” he checked.
“Yes.”
“Then sleep,” he urged. “Leave the rest to me and Zuzu.”
Her sister giggled. “Rhymes with Juuyu.”
“So it does,” he said mildly.
Akira mumbled his goodnight and burrowed into his pillow. Zuzu rustled over to his side of the bed and spread another blanket over him, earning a sleepy smile.
“Sleep, Fumiko,” Juuyu repeated.
So she tried to relax. This time, she was more prepared for the brooding presence awaiting the crumbs that Zuzu would scatter.
