Page 69 of Mage of the Dragon Prince
“You seem pensive today,” Kisano commented as he came over to the table where Auslin was sitting.
“Sorry. I guess I got more lost in thought than I realized.”
Kisano took a seat across from Auslin. “What troubles you?”
The human ran his fingers through his dark hair as he leaned back in his chair. “That’s the thing. I’mnottroubled.”
The shifter’s eyebrows arched in surprise. “You are concerned you are not troubled?”
It was easy to open up to Kisano. “I should be obsessed about wanting to return to my time as soon as I can, but I can go days without the thought even crossing my mind that I want to go back.”
Kisano’s expression was understanding. “That is a good thing. It would not be healthy to be so singularly fixated on something you know will not happen for many months. You have yet to make the journey to Satsuma yet, so it is premature to be worked up about the matter. You are doing the smart thing by focusing on living in the now.”
It was sound logic, but Auslin knew that wasn’t the real problem. He stared down at his hands as he fidgeted. “What happens if I don’t want to go back?”
“You would still have a place here.”
“Yeah, but it’s contingent on it being temporarily, albeit a long temporary,” Auslin argued.
“It is my understanding that Father has grown fond of you. I cannot imagine him not letting you stay.”
Auslin frowned. “But it’s selfish. I have no right to ask for anything more than what has already been so generously given.”
“Even if Father was resistant to the idea, I am confident Kitaro would fight for you to remain here with him.”
The thought of staying by Kitaro’s side filled Auslin with a warm glow he knew couldn’t be allowed. Staying in the past wasn’t allowed. “Yeah, but to what end? He has his own life to lead beyond being my babysitter.”
“Perhaps you should talk about this with my brother,” Kisano suggested. “I am quite certain hewould take umbrage at your description that he is merely your ‘babysitter.’”
“Okay, so I’m being facetious, but the point still stands. Kitaro has better things to do than take care of me forever.”
“Something tells me that taking care of you forever would be the thing that would give my brother the most joy. I have never seen him as happy as he is when he is with you.”
“Really?” Auslin asked in surprise. “But he always seems pretty happy.”
“He generally is of good spirits, but his life has been a lonely one.”
“I’m surprised I’ve never met any of his friends.”
Kisano nodded in understanding. “That is because he does not have anyone other than you he would call a true friend. Father thinks friendship is an unwanted distraction, so we were all raised with that philosophy. He wanted Kitaro to be respected, which meant he was isolated from people his own age growing up and forbidden to mix with the common people. Father intended Kitaro to use the guise of friendship as a manipulation to building alliances, but my brother refused to play that game. He preferred having no friends instead of false ones.”
“That’s awful.” Auslin’s heart went out to Kitaro for being put in such a situation. “I had no idea.”
“The only person Kitaro ever could have called afriend proved to be anything but,” Kisano said with a frown.
Auslin wanted to know more about that, but he knew that was a conversation he should have with Kitaro directly if he ever felt brave enough for it. “If he has so little experience with friends, why is he so good at being one?”
“Given that I am the same in that regard, I believe it is because you make it easy to be friends,” Kisano guessed, a slight flush in his cheeks. “It certainly is not something that comes naturally to me.”
“People don’t know what they’re missing.” Auslin ruefully shook his head. “I guess some people are always going to be fools.”
Kisano hid an amused smile behind his hand. “I do not know if I would go that far.”
“Seriously, getting to become friends with you and hanging out here is one of the best parts of being here,” Auslin insisted. “I hope you know that.”
“I must confess, I find that hard to believe. But I know you would never lie to me, so I must believe you.”
“Good, because it’s true.” Auslin sighed. “I wish I could introduce you to my brother. You both have so much in common. You would become the closest of friends.”
