Temptation

 

Akira was pleased to be included in the much smaller group that made the trip to Kikusawa Shrine. It sounded like this pledge thingie was usually pretty private, with only the representatives necessary to make it official. But tonight’s plan allowed the Miyabes to offer a return of hospitality to the Starmarks.

Argent had joined the group quizzing Akio Miyabe about the shrine’s history and treasury. Sinder was among them, and it was pretty plain that they wanted a full tour once Kimi got around to kissing Quen.

Stuffing his hands deeper into his pockets, Akira shambled along toward the house, where Suuzu was overseeing some kind of last minute details. Probably preening.

He reached their front door just as it opened. Jumping aside, he let the Miyabe women pass in a soft rustle of fancy clothes, twinkling hair ornaments, and fur-trimmed capes. They chattered and giggled and wafted a heady blend of girly scents.

Must be almost time.

Suuzu stepped outside. The closing door cut off most of the light, leaving them in the dark. But the phoenix’s eyes were as keen as ever, despite the lack of light. He closed in on Akira, straightening and fussing with a focus that betrayed his state of mind.

“What gives?” Akira asked. “You can’t be nervous for Kimi. She’s got this whole group handled, especially Quen.”

“He yields gladly.”

“And I’m happy for him, but I’m worried about you. Seriously, what gives?” Akira poked his best friend. “You’ve been weird ever since the thing about Kimi’s family treasure.”

“Yes.” Suuzu lifted him and launched upward, rising high above the moonlit courtyard before coming to roost in Kusunoki’s branches.

Akira didn’t protest. Suuzu must need more privacy before answering. He wasn’t surprised with the phoenix traced matching sigils on their palms. This conversation was for their ears only.

And still, Suuzu didn’t speak.

From this vantage, mingling guests were hidden from view by leaves or the canopies where hot coals and warm drinks kept the cold night at bay. Akira could see Gingko playing with Kyrie and Ever, chasing along garden paths lit by stone lanterns. It was past their bedtime, and Kyrie wouldn’t last much longer, even bundled as he was. The little guy didn’t like cold weather.

Suuzu was back to arranging—his hair, his coat, his scarf. “Are you warm enough?”

“It’s not so bad, but I gotta say, this Amaranthine cloth is kind of … blowy.”

“You are cold.”

“It’s fine. Honest.” Akira said, “We should take a picture later to show Sis. And Juuyu.”

“Hmm.” Suuzu did his best to shelter Akira with his body. “You wear my colors well.”

Akira was getting worried. “Is this something you can’t talk about?”

He trilled softly. “My secrets are yours, but this one is … embarrassing.” 

“We’ve gotten over a lot of embarrassing stuff.” Akira smiled. “Remember the thing with the wool sweater?”

Suuzu covered his eyes with one hand. “This is a matter of understanding rather than misunderstanding. I fear Hisoka Twineshaft has found cause to question my integrity.”

“Why would he do that? You’re totally honorable.”

“Temptation comes in many forms.” Suuzu tugged and tutted, settling Akira against him so he could speak more quietly still. “He has seen my wavering will and moved accordingly.”

“Sensei’s our friend.”

“Every traitor was once a friend.”

Akira leaned into Suuzu’s shoulder. “You’re awfully serious about something, but you haven’t really explained anything. Are you going to tell me or not?”

“Do you know the stories about Auriel of the Golden Seed?”

“Nope.”

Suuzu spoke softly. “There is a forgotten lore, older than oceans, sung by the stars. These most ancient of tales recall a time when the waters parted and the heavens sent sowers over the emerging land. Some call this the first Emergence.”

Akira chuckled. “If the stories are forgotten, how do you know them?”

“Because one of the ten tasks given to a tenth child is to remember what the other nine cannot.” Suuzu continued, “One of the sowers was an angel called Auriel. To him were given the nuts, pods, and cones of every kind of singing tree, for they would be needed.”

“Amaranthine trees?”

Suuzu nodded. “Hither and thither, he flew, seeking good soil in the world’s secret places. And in his wake rose the elder orchards and ancient groves, gifts from the Maker for the good of all Creation.”

“For real?”

A chiding trill. A wistful smile. “One age passed into the next, and Auriel’s task neared an end. Only a handful of seeds remained in his pouch—burnished like gold, thrumming with promise. He searched for new ground, far from the places his efforts were already bearing fruit, and happened upon a group of women fleeing the harem of a cruel king. At Auriel’s appearance, they wept for joy, saying, ‘Guide us, for we have lost our way.’”

“I’m guessing he stuck around.”

“Yes, and seeing that they were fainting from hunger, Auriel cast about for something they could eat. But the land was desolate, and all he had were the seeds he had yet to sow—twelve in all.”

“How many ladies did he rescue?”

Suuzu nodded. “You are right, there were twelve.”

“What happens when you eat a golden seed?”

“You are getting ahead of the story,” grumbled the phoenix. “Auriel fed the seeds to the women, who found strength enough for a great journey. He led them to a mountain where phoenixes made nests in the rocks, for in those days, wild phoenixes were plentiful.”

Akira had met a few phoenix Kith, but he wasn’t sure if there were any wild phoenixes left in the world. It had seemed rude to ask.

Suuzu said, “Two Amaranthine lived in the heights, nestmates watching over the wild birds that were their responsibility. They welcomed the weary travelers, making room for them and tending to their needs, which soon multiplied, for all twelve women were found to be with child.”

“Oh, man.”

“Before he left, Auriel handed down the first of the songs of trees, a prophecy which is still known by all Amaranthine children. It is one of our lullabies.” Suuzu hummed a few bars. “The language is old, and much of the beauty is lost in translation. After a warning against the allure of trees, Auriel explains what happens to the heedless. For the consequences would be the same for them as for these twelve women.”

Akira grumbled, “You’re dragging this out on purpose.”

Suuzu hung his head, then softly sang, “Take the golden seed from your child’s hand, and plant it beside your front step. Teach your child to watch and water, to tend to their twin. In so doing, they will gain a tree’s age and bring home many blessings.”

“Wait, you skipped something. Where’d the kid get a seed?”

“They were born with a seed in their hand.”

“All twelve of them?”

“Yes. And when the children were old enough, they obeyed the angel and planted the seed.”

Akira’s eyes widened. “And lived. Like Sis and Quen’s mom, whose lives are tied to their bondmate’s. Only the kids were matched up with their tree.” 

“We call them tree-kin.”

“There’s really such a thing?”

Suuzu hushed him, a finger to his lips. “The elder orchards and ancient groves fell long ago, ravaged by the human desire for immortality. But enough seeds survived. Few know about the groves. Fewer still know where they are hidden.”

“Your island?”

Suuzu nodded once.

“Okay, that’s pretty cool. But why does this make a problem between you and Hisoka-sensei?”

His friend laughed weakly and hugged him closer. “If those reliquaries hold golden seeds, then they hold Auriel’s promise for the one who plants them.”

“They’d still work.”

“Yes. And Twineshaft clearly knows this, and he has set a guard so that I will not succumb to temptation.”

“You’d steal a seed?”

His voice was thick with longing. “I do want one.”

“But … why?”

Suuzu made a broken little noise.

Hot tears splashed Akira’s cheek, and his heart trembled. “For me?”

“Yes, for you. Even though I would break laws, break faith, break trust. Even so, I would take it and have you plant it beside the threshold of our home.”

“I get it now.” Akira leaned up to kiss his best friend’s cheek. “That’s a nice idea. I like it better than what I thought you were suggesting.”

Suuzu hummed inquiringly.

“Well, with the story and all,” Akira said. “I was sorta worried that you were going to try to get me pregnant.”

With an exasperated groan, Suuzu gave in to a fresh wash of tears. But at least this time, he was laughing through them.