Page 69 of Fumiko and the Finicky Nestmate
For a while, it remained silent. Juuyu was probably working on the sigil. Not that Akira could tell. Then again, it was early days. Michael had warned that it might take time for him to gain anything from the connection. Assuming it worked at all. It might not. Argent hadn’t exactly been optimistic on that score. Cautionary words. Slim chances.
“Does the sigil work?” he whispered.
Juuyu hummed. “I am not entirely clear on its intended purpose. It is … complex.”
“I’m pretty sure it’s meant to do a few things.”
“I can activate the outer two rings, and I can infuse them with power. You are traceable. And you can see nippets. That is something.”
Akira knew he should be glad of anything. But it was hard not to hope for everything. For his own sake, sure, but mostly for Suuzu.
“He’s coming here.” Akira backed up to provide more context. “I called Suuzu last night, and Uncle Jackie was there. Suuzu’s started his long sleep, and as soon as he wakes, he’s coming here.”
Juuyu opened his eyes, held his gaze. “Did you mention …?”
“No.”
“Thank you.”
Akira changed the subject. “Did you clean things all night?”
“I did not exceed the agreed upon six hours. Also, it is too soon to rearrange things. I am still making an initial assessment.”
“You spent all night looking?”
“I did. I cannot decide upon a sensible course without first gaining a sense of the task’s scope.”
“Do you need help with anything?”
“No. You will be asleep.”
Akira cautiously asked, “Will this cause you trouble? With your main job, I mean?”
“I cannot imagine it will. Since this obligation overlaps with my prior obligation to you, the team was already prepared to carry on without me.”
“Until Suuzu gets here.”
Juuyu’s eyes widened ever so slightly. “Until Suuzu gets here.”
Since he was early, Akira took his time making his way to the trolly stop. There were so many tiny shops and restaurants along both sides of the street. The Bohotique. Seascape Art Supply. The Spume Room, which appeared to be a microbrewery.
He joined the queue in front of a long, narrow building with a take-out window at the front. A paper tray of hot cinnamon-and-sugar doughnut holes left him feeling amply rewarded for his curiosity.
Breezing through a couple of souvenir shops, he collected ideas for small gifts he could bring home. Only… picking would be more fun with Suuzu along. He snapped pictures of American snacks in a convenience store and sent them to Kimi. But there were no pork buns and no one to split them with.
Only a week.
Ten days at most.
He could hold out.
Akira snapped a selfie in front of a tumble of vibrant pink flowers that was growing over a fence. He wasn’t used to seeing so many flowers blooming in October. The woods around Stately House had been showing autumn colors, yet this city seemed caught in an endless summer.
Boarding the trolly, he tried to guess who was local and who was a tourist. Several wore what he suspected were restaurant uniforms, so they were on their way to work. Others had messenger bags or backpacks. Perhaps there was a university nearby? They seemed the right age to be students.
Passengers came from a wide range of people groups, but Akira couldn’t help wishing there had been an Amaranthine in the mix. Or someone in reaver colors. He guessed he was searching for someone who’d understand a friendly gesture or two. Smiles and nods had to suffice.
Not that there were no signs of Amaranthine. Because they were on all kinds of signs.
