Page 89 of Fumiko and the Finicky Nestmate
“Yeah. I know about that.”
“Will you help me? You and your phoenix?”
Akira firmed his resolve. “Are you the one who’s been stealing the Junzi?”
Tabi-oji looked away, toward the Amory. “I must arm myself against the ones who took Naoki.”
So it was true. Tabi-oji really was the Gentleman Bandit.
“I don’t get it. What would the Rogue want with a man? He only takes females.”
“Rogue?”
Akira knew a lot of things in an unofficial way. “Isn’t that why you want the Junzi? They’re some kind of crazy anti-dragon weapons. sheep, wait. Are we talking about two different dragons?”
“There is no way you could know anything about the monster who holds Naoki captive.”
“Okay. But … does he have purple hair and red eyes?”
Tabi-oji flinched. “It is not possible. How could you know?”
“So you are connected to this whole mess?” Akira grabbed Tabi-oji’s wrist. “There are so many people trying to find that dragon. To stop him.”
“People know about Kodoku and his experiments?”
“I don’t know all the details, but I know there’s a dragon that’s been rampaging across the world, murdering and kidnapping and raping.”
“No. Kodoku-sama never leaves the island. Unless ….”
Akira slid his hand into Tabi-oji’s. “Anything you know could save so many lives. Please?”
“Kodoku never leaves. Futari cannot leave. But there is a third, and he is a devil.”
“His name? His clan?”
Tabi-oji pressed his lips together. “I need the Bamboo Stave. Help me secure it.”
“I can’t do that.”
“Our meeting here cannot be a coincidence. Impossible things never are.”
Akira couldn’t betray all the trust that had been placed in him. That was the impossible part of this situation. “Listen. If we go to my friends and explain ….”
An upraised hand cut him off. Tabi-oji said, “There are things I know. Things you should know. Things that will change your mind.”
“I’m the last person you need right now. Trust me, I have friends who’ll consider you an answer to every prayer.”
With a stubborn expression Tabi-oji said, “You would have no way of knowing. How could you, since you are the youngest?”
He wasn’t listening.
“And you have it all backwards. About Naoki and me.”
Was he pouting?
Akira adjusted his posture, willing to listen. Any detail could help. “What don’t I know?”
“You have siblings.”
