Page 153 of Fumiko and the Finicky Nestmate
“Because I need you to represent Hisoka’s interests. You’ll speak for the Amaranthine Council.”
Sinder dropped to his assigned seat. Moon and Hallow circled the room to stand behind him. Lending balance.
Jacques looked ready to move on, but Diva said, “I am here to support Fumiko, who speaks for this enclave.”
“Pardon me, ladies. I wasn’t aware you had a stake in the proceedings.” Jacques offered his hand to Fumiko, who let go of Hajime in order to be helped to her feet. Ushering her to Diva’s side of the square, Jacques hummed. “Would it be too much trouble to ask Zuzu to join us? For balance.”
“Zuzu?” Fumiko called. “They are ready to negotiate.”
Her twin winked into existence, smiling slyly.
Juuyu gasped, and his gaze jumped to Hajime, who somehow managed to look calm, though he now clung to Akira’s arm with both hands. Because he was at the sisters’ mercy.
Zuzu cradled the bonsai in both arms.
Clipped. Dwarfed. Fragile. Defeated.
Fumiko hadn’t known what to give Juuyu until Hajime found her. In that moment, it was as if the pieces of a puzzle slid into place. It made her feel like she was part of Juuyu’s mission. Putting the clues together. Figuring out what had happened. And why.
It wasn’t that she was smarter than Juuyu. She’d simply had more of the facts. And remembered what all the others forgot.
“I remember Hajime,” she announced. “Long ago, he would trade with Zuzu.”
“Trade what?” asked Akira.
“Pollen,” said Zuzu. “His is good.”
Bavol spoke up. “Although Hajime represents an unregistered variety, there’s no reason to doubt that he and Zuzu are compatible for cross-pollination.”
“Oh, they’re compatible, all right,” interjected Diva. “Zuzu has been a very naughty tree.”
Fumiko did feel a little bad about that part. Once Zuzu found out that Portia had an entire vial of Hajime’s pollen, Zuzu couldn’t resist.
“You did not forget him?” asked Argent.
She could have answered, but she looked to Hajime.
“There was once a grove here. Trees of my sort were among the others. Leaflings now lost.”
“Your leaflings?” asked Suuzu.
Hajime’s chin lifted toward the bonsai. “Even a tree in my state can blossom and bear.”
Akira asked, “If Fumiko grew up with red flowers nearby, does that mean she’s immune like me?”
The tree simply looked to Fumiko and smiled faintly. “So it would seem.”
It was time.
Fumiko wished she could make Hajime hear her thoughts—trust me, trust me, trust me. And maybe he understood, because his gaze softened, and he gave the tiniest nod. She was being selfish, but so was Hajime. This way, they could both get the things they needed.
Jacques Smythe softly clapped his hands together and took charge. “Let’s go for the abridged edition, shall we? Papa Socks has two of the Junzi, yes?”
Hajime blinked, probably at the nickname. Akira murmured something in his ear, looking embarrassed and apologetic, and the tree laughed quietly. It was good to see him smile.
Hajime answered, “I do.”
Gesturing to Jiminy, Jacques said, “He has the other two and would like the full set. This is one of the exchanges currently on the table.”
