Page 109 of Fumiko and the Finicky Nestmate
“Inti?”
Akira tried to hide his concern as Juuyu’s words came back to him—We need your help to rescue Inti.
“About the same time you arrived in California, Argent brought home a tiny foretaste of the future. Kyrie is beside himself with delight. Here. I can show you. I took pictures earlier today.”
One came through. It showed Kyrie seated on the sofa in the kitchen, cradling a small child to his chest. The baby was gazing up at him with large red eyes. Their pale skin was freckled with lavender, and there was a familiar frizz of purple hair.
“A half-sibling,” Akira whispered.
“She’s in my arms now,” Tsumiko said gently. “We let Kyrie name her.”
Another snapshot came through. In this one, Ginkgo held the little girl. He was trying to get her to look at the camera, but she was far more interested in Kyrie … and the fistful of his hair that she’d captured.
“Uncle Akira, meet Mercy.”
THIRTY-SEVEN
Restless
After a quick shower and change of clothes, Akira hurried downstairs, marveling at how wide the stairway felt. Juuyu must have worked through the night for all the steps and ledges to be cleared. Where had he put the excess?
In the main room, where neatly labeled boxes now lined one wall, Akira found Juuyu deep in a meeting with Buzz. Not about trees or pollen. Nope. They were discussing carpentry and shelves with Fumiko, who had a sketchbook in hand.
“My skills are at your disposal, Lady of Trees.” Buzz seemed a little smitten with Fumiko and Zuzu. Or maybe he was understandably in awe.
Juuyu gestured at one stretch of wall. “I will need at least eighty niches, more if space allows, floor to ceiling. But the primary work will be in the guest bedroom at the fourth turning.”
“I can show you,” Fumiko offered.
Buzz indicated her sketchbook. “May I make a suggestion?”
All three of them crowded together as the pencil scratched, and Akira crept closer for a peek.
“Oh, my!” Fumiko giggled and turned to Juuyu. “Do you like it?”
Somewhat sheepishly, Buzz said, “If you’ll indulge me, I can turn Zuzu into a honey tree. Figuratively speaking, of course.”
Juuyu angled his head toward Fumiko, indicating that the decision was hers.
“I love your idea!” she exclaimed. “Zuzu will, too. I’ll go tell her.”
She kissed Buzz’s cheek and hurried out, leaving an abashed bee clansman behind.
Akira smiled at the proposed design, which involved shelves of varying depths sprawling artistically across the interior wall. The lighthouse would soon have honeycomb storage.
“How soon can you begin?” asked Juuyu.
“Almost immediately. I’ll just work up some numbers and pass a supply list to Rafter.”
Juuyu inclined his head, then turned to Akira. In the next moment, the phoenix’s hands were in Akira’s hair, preening. Honestly, this was why he no longer owned a comb. Zero need.
“Are you well?” Juuyu inquired.
“All fidgets and nerves.”
“If my brother was not asleep, he would be similarly fraught.” Juuyu patted his cheek and promised, “Soon.”
“How soon?”
