14. Kisano

Chapter 14

Kisano

W ith Auslin present, it truly felt like a family dinner with Kitsuki, Jaega, Fersen, and Tyrian gathered around the table. It filled Kisano with a warm glow. All they were missing was Kizoshi, who had yet to appear. He hoped his sister would join them soon.

"How are you adjusting to being back in this time, Auslin?" Fersen asked.

Auslin ruffled his hair. "A lot better than I did when I went to the past." His comment drew laughs from everyone. "Even though I won't be living at the temple, it's a relief to talk to my brother so easily again."

"I am pleased you could have such a joyous reunion," Jaega said as dinner was served.

"When do we get to meet this mysterious brother?" Tyrian asked.

"Hopefully soon. I invited him to the castle, so I'm hoping he comes instead of talking himself out of it." Auslin began to eat. "I tempted him with Kisano's library. He'll come for that alone, if nothing else."

"He was quite enamored with the prospect of your library," Kitsuki added. It pleased Kisano to see his brother coming out of the shell his sorrows had entrapped him within over the centuries of solitude. "I agree with Auslin. You will find an amiable companion in Sephen."

Kisano blushed. "It would be nice to have another friend after all this time."

"My brother told me that Reskin came out with a new book about a month ago. I'm assuming you have it?" Auslin asked. "He couldn't bear to part with his copy."

Kisano nodded. "I do indeed."

"I'd love to read it soon if you don't mind," Auslin said. "Sephen raved about how wonderful it was, even though he found it heartbreaking."

"It is indeed a sad work," Kisano replied, not quite able to meet Auslin's gaze. "It is yours to read whenever you would like."

Auslin suddenly sat up straighter. "Wait, have you finally read the rest of Veritine's books while I've been gone?"

"I continue to be grateful to you for the introduction to such a fine author," Kisano said. "She is truly gifted. I have lost many hours in her worlds."

"Kisano introduced me to Veritine's work," Fersen added. "She has such a spectacular imagination. It's always a treat when a new book comes out by her."

"I can always tell when Veritine has released a new book when Fersen disappears to the library for long hours." Jaega chuckled at his mate's blush, reaching over to caress the back of his neck. "I had to read her just to find out how she kept stealing him away. She's a remarkable author."

"You should write a book based on your time-traveling adventure," Tyrian suggested. "Her readers love fantastical and imaginative stories, so they'd probably love reading about your incredible adventure."

Auslin shook his head. "That's a nice thought, but I'm not a writer."

"I find that hard to believe when you are an excellent storyteller," Kisano said. "I would love to read a fantasy novel by you."

"It feels too personal. I wouldn't want anyone to associate me writing that kind of story with Kitsuki."

"I sincerely doubt anybody would expect the Ice King to be such a hopeless romantic," Kitsuki said with a soft chuckle. It thrilled Kisano to see his younger brother expressing himself so openly the way he had when he was still Prince Kitaro. "I would likely be the last ruler in Talwyn that readers would suspect your character to be based on in real life."

"That asshole wolf is probably the only one who remembers the real reason you earned the Ice King nickname," Tyrian said. "And he's not a reader, so you're safe."

Auslin's eyes narrowed. "The less I have to do with Nasume, the better."

Kitsuki reached over and squeezed Auslin's hand in reassurance. "You have nothing to worry about. He has not stepped foot in Valzerna in a century. I intend to keep it that way for many centuries more."

"It is a shame we cannot dethrone him." Jaega sighed heavily with disappointment. "The rumors I hear coming out of Kunushi are troublesome. It is not yet actionable, but I fear that will not always be the case."

"He will get the hellish end he deserves," Tyrian said. "Him and his miserable whelp."

"I will make sure of it," Jaega swore.

Auslin frowned. "Please don't."

Kisano studied Auslin with curiosity. "You would plead mercy for Nasume?" Kisano found it hard to believe, given Auslin's traumatic interactions with Nasume in the past.

"No, he can rot in the Beyond Realm, where he belongs," Auslin said with a surprising amount of venom in his voice. "But Maseo doesn't deserve to be judged for his father's actions, much less punished for them."

"You say that despite knowing his past with Kio?" Jaega asked. After Tatsuki's death, Jaega had become a second father to his nephews, so he had frequently counseled Kitsuki on his troubles with Kio. There also were few secrets in the Ariake clan, so Kio's infidelities were well known throughout the immediate family.

"Yes, because we both were caught in the same trap. The only person to blame is Kio for abusing both of us and calling it love. Kio's the one who cheated, not Maseo."

"But he made Kio stray while he was with you. Surely, that would earn him your hatred."

"No, because you could say the same thing in reverse about me," Auslin emphatically said. "I knew he strayed to Maseo, but I selfishly kept trying to keep him with me. From Maseo's point of view, I was probably the one wrecking his relationship with Kio. If anyone should hate someone, he should hate me. And maybe he does. I don't know."

Kisano continued to find new reasons to admire Auslin. "I find it hard to believe anyone other than Nasume could hate you."

"It sounds like you are making a lot of excuses for Maseo," Jaega said with a frown.

Auslin looked down at his almost empty plate. "How can I hate Maseo for wanting to be loved when his own father hates him? It's sad he fell for someone who was incapable of loving him the way he deserves."

"It sounds like you and Maseo should have told Kio to get lost and found your happiness together," Tyrian said, earning a growl from Kitsuki. He held his hands up in surrender. "Obviously, not now . But they both were looking for the same thing in the past and could have probably found it with each other."

"I'd be lying if I said the thought hadn't crossed my mind that both of us would have been better off together without Kio in the picture," Auslin admitted. "But I'm sure he hates me too much to even be friends. At this point, I just want him to find the same happiness I have with Kitsuki."

"Your kindness knows no limits," Kisano said. "It is remarkable you can have so much empathy for the son of your enemy."

"That's because Maseo is nothing like Nasume. He has a heart."

Kisano expected Kitsuki to still harbor anger toward Maseo, but his reaction came as a surprise. "For his sake, I hope he stays away from Kio. It is impossible to find happiness with someone so cruel."

"It sounds like Nasume and Kio deserve each other more." Tyrian's vicious grin made everyone laugh.

"It would probably be the most toxic relationship in all the Living Realm," Auslin predicted. "The thought of them teaming up is the stuff of nightmares."

Kitsuki stroked Auslin's hair. "Then do not think of such things. The less attention paid to them, the better."

The conversation moved on to more pleasant things. Kisano silently observed his younger brother, who relaxed once Nasume and Maseo were no longer the topic of discussion. He was gradually becoming more animated, like he used to be when he was still a carefree prince. It made Kisano realize how much of himself Kitsuki had shut away in his grief. Kisano would never stop being grateful that Auslin finally returned.

Kisano couldn't help but be a little envious of how the two fell into their old relationship as if no time had passed. Auslin still had a long way to go with breaking down the walls Kitsuki had built between himself and the world, but he had already made remarkable progress. Kitsuki would never be the Kitaro of his youth, but he was becoming a warmer person as his heart continued to thaw from the heat of their love.

Once they finished eating, Jaega, Fersen, and Tyrian left. It surprised Kisano when Kitsuki asked Auslin, "Would you mind if I spoke to Kisano alone?"

Auslin didn't seem to think it was an odd request. "Not at all! I'll go take a bath." He wished Kisano a good night before leaving with a wave.

Only after Auslin had left did Kitsuki speak. "You seemed to enjoy yourself tonight."

Kisano blushed at the observation. "Sorry, I did not mean to dominate the conversation so much."

"I did not mind," Kitsuki reassured him. "It was nice seeing you being so open and animated with him. In my grief, I sometimes forgot you also had reasons to miss Auslin in his absence."

It was true Kisano had missed Auslin terribly during the six hundred years he was gone. "I did. Other than Fersen, Auslin was the only non-family member who treated me like a genuine friend and shared my love of reading. He never ridiculed me for preferring learning over fighting."

"I never held that against you, either," Kitsuki reminded him.

Kisano smiled wanly. "True, but my bookishness always felt like it was a tolerated quirk. Plus, brothers are obligated to feel certain ways."

"Mitsuki certainly did not believe in such obligations," Kitsuki retorted, shaking his head in disgust at their eldest brother.

The comment made Kisano chuckle despite himself. "Auslin owed me nothing, but he offered me more kindness and understanding than I was accustomed to receiving. It should not have surprised me he felt the same way about Maseo, and yet it did."

Kitsuki scowled at the reminder. "He is too quick to give Nasume's offspring the benefit of the doubt."

"You have met Maseo on previous occasions before. What is your take on the situation?"

"I want Auslin to be wrong, but as much as it pains me to admit, I do not think he is." Kitsuki sighed. "Maseo has always treated me respectfully in our encounters and displays none of the arrogance of his father. It is why I never connected Maseo as being Nasume's child. He is just so…"

"So what?" Kisano prompted when Kitsuki trailed off into silence.

"Sad? Pitiable?" Kitsuki ran his fingers through his hair. "He seems so beaten down by life. Auslin is right. It makes it hard to hate Maseo when you cannot help but feel bad for him and his situation. Even I was moved to save him from Kio's wrath when I had the occasion to do so."

"How awful must his life be that he believes Kio is capable of loving him?" Kisano shook his head.

"If Auslin does not hate Maseo for causing Kio to stray, it is hard to maintain my angry stance on the matter, especially in the face of Auslin's arguments." Kitsuki scowled. "I dislike feeling so sympathetic toward Maseo, and yet I cannot help it. What a frustrating situation."

"For what it is worth, I do not think it is terrible for you to feel lenient toward him," Kisano said. "Auslin is an excellent judge of character. If he believes Maseo is redeemable, then it is surely true. It is a pity they cannot be friends. It sounds like Auslin is exactly what Maseo needs to heal."

"If the way my dragon roared at Tyrian's suggestion that Auslin and Maseo should have been a couple is any indication, it will not put up with the two of them forming a close bond." Kitsuki frowned. "I hope I never find myself in that situation. I do not wish to ban Auslin from ever doing anything, but I fear what would happen if he let Maseo into his life."

"Even if it is what fate ordained?" Kitsuki bristled at Kisano's question. The older shifter asked, "What other reason would Auslin have to not hate Maseo?"

"Then Kizoshi can come here and tell me herself in plain terms that a friendship between them will not have terrible consequences," Kitsuki said. "Until then, I will hope Maseo keeps his distance."

"Do you feel that threatened by him?" It surprised Kisano. "Surely, you know Auslin only has eyes for you."

Kitsuki hesitated before speaking. "Until we finally mate, my dragon remains uneasy that something else may steal Auslin away from us."

"Fate did not bring Auslin back into your life to take him away again." Kisano gave his younger brother a sympathetic look. "Sophina is not that cruel."

"Six hundred years of waiting for his return makes me question that."

Kisano's heart broke at how much his brother had suffered in Auslin's absence. "Do not let Kizoshi hear you say that. She would not be happy about you doubting her best friend."

A moment of silence passed between them before Kitsuki changed the subject. "What if Auslin was a half-Power?"

The random question caught Kisano off guard. He considered it a moment before answering. "It certainly would explain a lot of things, but Auslin does not bear the markings of someone with Divine heritage."

Kisano frowned again. "There is no trace of Divine heritage in his scent either."

"Then why ask such a strange supposition?"

"When I was speaking with the head elder mage at the Fate's Gate Temple, he implied Auslin might be Imeyu's son," Kitsuki explained. "This mage is also the same man I met at Fate's Gate after Auslin disappeared. He apparently has a trace amount of turtle shifter heritage, which has granted him an extended lifespan. It was a most unusual conversation."

It was a lot of surprising information to take in at once. Kisano focused on the first revelation. "I was unaware Imeyu ever had a son. However, it would explain a great deal about Auslin's healing and purifying powers. But if Auslin was Imeyu's son, he would have been recalled to the Divine Realm to serve as the next Healing Power when Imeyu passed to the Beyond Realm."

"Except Auslin was a child when that happened. When we were at Satsuma's, I specifically recall her mentioning that Auslin's father protected him from himself. She called Auslin the son of a secret. What if that is because Auslin's father was Imeyu?"

"But would the Powers not have reclaimed Auslin by this point as one of their own?"

Kitsuki shrugged. "Perhaps not. But Imeyu being his father would align with Satsuma's insistence that Kizoshi was connected to Auslin's heritage since she is a half-Power as well."

"Alas, the only person who could probably answer that is Kizoshi." They both knew getting a concrete answer out of their sister was a nigh impossible task. "She also could provide you better insight on how a Royal Consort Fatebonding ceremony would go with a half-Power."

"Should Auslin still wish to become my bondmate."

The lack of confidence surprised Kisano. "He is your fated mate. Why would he not wish to be your bondmate and royal consort?"

"Because I am not the same man he left behind a few days ago."

"Except you are," Kisano countered. "The core of your character has never changed despite the intervening years. You may not be as talkative or quick to laugh as you once were, but you are still you, Kitsuki. I know Auslin can see that."

"I can only hope." Kitsuki still didn't sound completely convinced.

"Talk with him," Kisano counseled, although he knew that was now difficult for his brother. "Help him understand your concerns so that he can allay them once and for all."

Kitsuki nodded. "You are right. I owe him that much, at least."

"You owe it to both of you," Kisano corrected him. "Trust in your love for each other, and all will be well, Kitsuki. Surely, that is why fate brought him back to your side after all this time."

"I would be lost without your calm reasoning," Kitsuki told his brother with an appreciative look.

Kisano smiled at him. "I am not saying anything you do not already know."

"Then here is hoping that we are both right about this."

"In the meantime, I shall look into what I can find out about Imeyu."

"Oh, one more thing. I would strongly encourage you to meet with Sephen when he comes here for a visit. I finally understand why Auslin always insisted you two would get along."

"If he is anything like Auslin, then I might survive that." Despite being reassured repeatedly about Sephen, the idea of meeting any stranger filled him with apprehension.

"Sephen proved to be surprisingly insightful. It appears Auslin was severely underselling his younger brother's obsession with Reskin. They talked at length about his new book. Sephen's first comment was how heartbreaking it was and how much the chapter about Reskin's friend reminded him of Auslin."

" Really ?" Kisano asked, unsure of which part surprised him most.

"It is amazing how much he understood without knowing the truth," Kitsuki told him. "You may yet find someone who understands your heart if you are willing to open it."

The thought made Kisano's pulse race, but he couldn't allow himself to believe that he could ever love anyone in such a way. "I have never been destined for that kind of life," Kisano denied, unable to even picture such an existence for himself.

"You also thought you were never destined to have a best friend, and yet you have Auslin and Fersen," Kitsuki reminded his older brother. "I am merely suggesting it is something to keep in mind."

Kisano bowed his head. "I will take it under advisement."

"If I must have faith that fate brought Auslin into our lives for a reason, you should also believe in such a thing. It may very well be his purpose was to bring Sephen into your life."

The thought made Kisano's heart flutter with nervousness. "I shall try for Auslin's sake, if nothing else."

Kitsuki smiled. "Then that is all I can ask."