6. Kisano

Chapter 6

Kisano

K isano was so engrossed in his book by Veritine, everything faded away as he got lost in her fantasy world. It wasn't until he heard Kitsuki call out his name that he looked up from his reading. "I am over here," he called out, setting his book on the side table. "How was your journey?"

"It was uneventful until I found a surprise for you," Kitsuki said as he walked over to where Kisano waited.

Kisano sat up a little straighter in his chair. "A surprise?"

Kitsuki stepped aside, revealing Vanra looking the same as he had the day he disappeared on Kitsuki's Coming of Heir ceremony.

"Vanra? Is that really you?" Kisano gasped in astonishment as he stood up for a closer look. "This is not some cruel trick of fate, right?"

"It's really me. I've come back for good."

Tears welled up in Kisano's eyes as he rushed over to embrace Vanra, not caring about the impropriety of it. "I missed you so much," Kisano whispered, overwhelmed that Vanra stood in front of him as if no time had passed in the intervening six hundred years. He had always hoped to be reunited with his friend someday. And now that day had finally come at long last.

"I'm so sorry." Vanra hugged him tightly, soothing Kisano's centuries of hurt. "I never meant to disappear, let alone for so long."

Kisano knew he should step back, but he couldn't make himself do it. He was too afraid Vanra would disappear again if he did. "How is this even possible? I can still smell Father on you."

"I stupidly went through Fate's Gate after the Coming of Heir ceremony, and it sent me back to my time, which was yesterday," Vanra explained. "For me, it's been less than twenty-four hours since I've seen King Tatsuki."

"Remarkable." Kisano stared in awe at the impossible human. "You have truly returned for good?"

Vanra nodded. "I'm never going near that damn gate for the rest of my life."

"I would burn it to the ground if I did not think Sophina would have my head for it," Kitsuki said.

The library doors opened again. Jaega rushed into the room with his mate, Fersen. They both stared at Vanra in disbelief as he waved at them.

"Vanra?" Jaega questioned in shock. "I caught scent of you in the hallway but thought it surely could not be you."

"It is, Uncle Jaega." Vanra gave him a sheepish smile. "It's good to see you again."

It startled Kisano when Jaega picked Vanra up in a bear hug. He hadn't realized how much his uncle had missed Vanra, too. "How can this be? You still smell of my brother."

"I accidentally went through Fate's Gate on the Coming of Heir ceremony yesterday. It returned me to now. I'm so sorry for all the troubles I've caused everyone."

Jaega set Vanra down, which allowed Fersen to hug him next. "Oh, I've missed you so much," Fersen said with tears in his eyes.

"Brother always promised you would return one day, but I never believed him." Kisano's uncle shook his head as he continued staring down at the human in wonderment. "Looks like I owe him an apology, after all."

Sadness dimmed Vanra's beautiful lilac eyes. "I wish Father was here for this." Vanra's sorrow was palpable. "I never got the chance to thank him for taking such good care of me or say goodbye."

"He would have subjected us to an ‘I told you so' of epic proportions," Jaega retorted, causing everyone to laugh. "You continue to astound me in every way, Vanra."

The human sheepishly rubbed the back of his head. "That was never my goal. All I wanted was to stay in the past with everyone, but fate had other plans for me, I guess."

"You are here now, which is all that matters," Kitsuki said.

Jaega chuckled. "We will still receive an ‘I told you so' from Kizoshi. She will probably gloat even more than my brother would have."

"Of that, I have no doubt," Kisano wryly agreed. His sister was quite fond of pointing out that kind of thing to people. "I wonder how long before she shows up?"

"You know how she is," Kitsuki said. "She will arrive to gloat as soon as it is convenient for her to do so."

Vanra perked up at the possibility of meeting with Kizoshi again. "Any excuse for her to come here is a good one. I have so many questions for her."

"Are you here to live at the castle for good?" Kisano asked, hoping that would be the case. He had dearly missed Vanra and looked forward to resuming their long talks in the library once more.

"We have not yet discussed such things," Kitsuki answered for Vanra. "There will be time to figure that out later."

"I promise I'll come back later. We'll have a nice long talk about everything."

Kisano was already looking forward to it. "I would really like that, Vanra."

"Me too." Vanra seemed to realize something. "Oh, I guess I can let you know now that I went by my birth name of Vanra in the past to prevent changing the future. I go by Auslin in this time."

Jaega clasped the human's shoulder. "Whatever name you choose to go by, I am just happy you have returned to us, where you belong."

"It's good to have you back," Fersen added. "You've been sorely missed."

"Tyrian will regret not being here when I tell him you have returned."

Vanra—no, Auslin —exhaled a sigh of relief. "Is he still head of your castle guards?"

"Yes. We can meet with him later when he is off duty."

"I'd really like that."

"Well, I suppose we should let you two properly catch up. Auslin, we will talk later once you settle in again," Jaega promised.

Auslin bowed his head in appreciation. "Thank you, Uncle Jaega. I'd really like that."

Jaega and Fersen left after hugging Auslin goodbye. Kisano knew he should also let his brother have his private reunion with the human, but he was loath to give up Auslin now that he had returned.

"Could I bring my younger brother, Sephen, to visit you?" Auslin asked. "I know you two would be fast friends."

Although meeting new people was a stressful proposition for Kisano, he couldn't help but be curious about Auslin's sibling. "I would like that."

"Great! I'll talk to him about it next time I see him."

It pleased Kisano he had brought Auslin happiness with such a small gesture. "Then I shall look forward to it."

"I still have some things to discuss with Auslin," Kitsuki said. "We will return later if you are amenable to it."

"You both are welcome in my library anytime."

"I promise we'll be back," Auslin said before giving Kisano a reassuring hug.

"We will return soon," Kitsuki promised.

Once they left, Kisano returned to his seat. He could hardly believe that the Vanra from the past had reappeared as Auslin. It was a fantasy almost more unbelievable than anything Veritine had written, but it was the best kind of happy ending Kisano could have hoped for his younger brother to have.