21. Auslin

Chapter 21

Auslin

" Y ou seemed to enjoy your time with Kisano," Kitaro commented as they made their way through the forest.

Auslin beamed with joy. "I did! He was so nice. I'd love to go back to talk with him some more."

"You are welcome to do so. My brother does not enjoy the company of many people, but I suspect he would come to find spending time with you to be pleasurable. I certainly do."

The latter comment made Auslin blush profusely. "I—I don't know about that."

Kitaro fondly looked down at the human. "I can confidently say my life has never been so interesting as when you are in it. I am sure Kisano will feel the same way in time."

"Thanks."

"You have my appreciation for your efforts to get to know my brother. It can have its challenges, but I think it is well worth it."

"It makes Mitsuki being awful even more of a mystery, given how sweet Kisano was and how amazing you've been."

Kitaro chuckled. "As I said, Mitsuki is the exception amongst us siblings."

Auslin shuddered as he remembered Mitsuki's rage from their last encounter. "The less time I have to spend around him, the better."

"Given his dislike of you, I suspect you will not have many future interactions with him."

"That's fine by me." Auslin would be perfectly happy if he never saw Mitsuki ever again. "Thank you for being nothing like him."

Kitaro chuckled. "You are most welcome."

They lapsed into a companionable silence as they continued walking under the thick canopy of trees above them. It made Auslin wonder about something Kitaro had said earlier. "Can I ask a question?"

"Always."

"If I smell like sunlight filtering through the trees, does that mean I'm blending into the surroundings right now?"

Kitaro's nose flared delicately. "No, you have a unique fragrance that stands apart. Nature pales in comparison."

Auslin's heart fluttered. "Is that so?" It secretly made him happy to hear such a thing from Kitaro .

"I have never smelled sunlight flush with embarrassment, so you are truly one of a kind."

It was hard to accept compliments, so Auslin switched subjects. "What do you smell like?"

"Icicles at the midnight hour."

Auslin hummed with surprise. "Huh, I figured it would be something more…"

"Masculine?" Kitaro guessed when the mage trailed off into silence.

"Well, yeah. I mean, you're an all-powerful shifter, so…"

"It is evidence of my arctic heritage from my mother," Kitaro explained. "By comparison, my father smells like a raging fire. Mitsuki's scent is more like smoke from burning embers. Kisano, unsurprisingly, is the embodiment of the books he surrounds himself with in the library."

It was all fascinating to Auslin. "What about your sister?"

The shifter made an indecisive noise. "It is almost impossible to describe. Kizoshi smells like unknown mystery."

"And what does that smell like?" Auslin asked with a laugh, unable to fathom what such a scent would be.

"Uniquely Kizoshi," Kitaro replied with a chuckle. "I do not really know how to explain it."

"Doesn't it get exhausting having to smell everything all the time?"

"It is not as if you are unfamiliar with scent," Kitaro pointed out to Auslin. "Most humans smell bad enough that even your weaker sense can detect it."

He wrinkled his nose in disgust at the memory of the unwashed masses he had come across during his many travels. "It's an unfortunate consequence of poverty."

"Indeed. And you can smell the surrounding forest, yes?"

"I can, but not like you. I'm sure the rain I can smell is nothing like what you can discern."

"Is it bothersome to you to smell such things?"

Auslin grinned. "Only when I'm near farms or cities."

Kitaro chuckled again. "Thus, I try to avoid them when at all possible."

"It's impossible to avoid in my travels, sadly." He had spent more than his fair share of time in both kinds of places.

"Do you travel often?"

He nodded. "More often than not, I'm on the road. I go all over to help heal anyone wherever I can, whether it's humans, shifters, half-shifters, and even animals sometimes."

"Is it unusual for shifters to accept help from a human mage in your time?"

Auslin rubbed the back of his neck. "A lot of times, they're too proud to accept my help. I'm relieved I didn't offend your uncle when I offered."

"I wish I had been present to witness such a miracle. Is healing Divine injuries something you do often?"

Auslin chuckled to himself. "I've had some practice over the years. Especially whenever I go to Barlatan in Zinnia. I've become friends with a lot of the dog shifters there."

"Dog shifters?" One of Kitaro's delicate eyebrows arched in surprise.

"They're the friendliest type of shifters I've come across in my travels. There's a married couple I've become close to over the years. They've been together forever, but the husband's eye wanders, so his wife has gotten rather creative with her retribution."

Kitaro's expression remained puzzled. "Meaning?"

"Meaning she somehow keeps getting her hands on Divine weapons that I have to heal the damage from," Auslin explained with a rueful shake of his head at the memories. "They love each other, but if you don't know them that well, sometimes it's a little hard to tell."

"And you are friends with these shifters?"

"Very good friends, actually. When the wife isn't punishing him, she's one of the sweetest people you could ever hope to meet. Plus, she's an amazing cook. She always makes me treats to take on the road with me when I leave." Auslin smiled ruefully. "Sometimes I think she's messing with her husband just to give me a reason to stay at their place, even though I've told her I'll always stop by regardless. "

"And the husband puts up with such nonsense?"

"Oh, he loves it." Auslin laughed. "He's a masochist who enjoys getting her spun up because it shows she still loves him. Despite his flirtatious nature, he's always been loyal to his wife. She knows that, but she likes to keep him in his place. I know it sounds strange, but it works for them."

Kitaro shook his head in disbelief. "And it does not bother you that this woman is hurting her husband deliberately?"

"It did in the beginning, until I understood their flirting dynamic," Auslin answered. "If she didn't go after him, that would bother her husband more. I know it sounds unbelievable, but they really love each other, even if they have an odd way of showing it."

"I must confess, I do not understand in the least. Would his loyalty not be more comfort to her?"

"Honestly, I think they would get bored," Auslin replied. "It's like a game for them or something."

"That is truly strange."

"It is, but like I said, it works for them," Auslin said with a laugh. "She spoils me. I never eat as well as I do at their home. At least, not until I came here."

Kitaro inclined his head. "Well, as long as she does not inflict her brand of love on you like she does on her husband, I am glad she takes care of you."

"Ah," Auslin agreed, but his mood dampened.

"Did I say something wrong?"

The question made him realize the shifter prince had once again picked up on his emotions through his scent. "No, you're fine. I've visited them frequently for many years now. They'll be upset at my prolonged absence. I hate that they'll worry something awful happened to me during my travels."

"I am confident you will one day be reunited."

"Mmm," Auslin quietly agreed, but it lacked the enthusiasm it should have had. The reminder about returning to his time filled Auslin with complicated emotions.

They finally entered the clearing where they had first met before walking down the stairs to stand before Fate's Gate.

Auslin stared at the imposing stone monument as he took his letter out of his pocket. He closed his eyes and said a silent prayer to Sophina to let it go through to his time to reach his brother.

Opening his eyes, Auslin held his breath as he tossed the letter through Fate's Gate. To both of their astonishment, instead of it falling to the ground on the other side of the gate, it disappeared into thin air before their very eyes with a crackle of ancient magic.

Auslin's heart swelled with gratitude. "Thank you," he whispered to Fate's Gate. It meant so much that it had given him the courtesy of telling his brother that he was okay.

"Are you going to go through now?" Kitaro asked.

Still looking at the monument, Auslin shook his head. "No, I won't push my luck any further today. It kindly sent my letter to my brother. That's enough for now. Anything more would be selfish."

Kitaro clasped Auslin's shoulder to give it a reassuring squeeze. "Your time will come."

Covering the shifter's hand with his own, Auslin was overwhelmed with gratitude toward Fate's Gate and Kitaro. "I appreciate you bringing me here today."

"I will always take you wherever you wish to go," Kitaro promised.

Keeping Kitaro's hand in his as he turned around, Auslin looked up at icy-blue eyes that were filled with warmth. "Thank you, Kitaro. For this, for everything. It means more to me than I will ever truly be able to express."

"It is I who should thank you." When Auslin tried to protest, Kitaro used their hands to pull them closer together. "My life is already better because of you."

Auslin blushed hard. "I'm glad it hasn't been too much of a horrible burden."

"Quite the opposite. Your presence has brought much joy into my life. For that, I am eternally grateful."

The look in Kitaro's eyes was so loving in that moment that it took Auslin's breath away. "It's been a very long time since I have been this happy. I honestly didn't think it was possible anymore."

"Let us enjoy the time we have together, then." Kitaro helped Auslin up the step to stand by his side.

"Thank you for not laughing at me," Auslin said as they began the walk home. "I know how stupid I must have sounded for wanting to throw a letter through the gate."

"The impossible always seems possible around you somehow. I have already learned not to question it."

Auslin sighed happily. "I'm relieved it worked. Not only will my brother know I'm okay, but I also didn't look like a complete fool in front of you."

"Even if it had not worked, I would not have thought any less of you," Kitaro reassured him. "Fate has been fickle."

"Thanks." Now that Auslin knew his brother would see his letter, it took away a lot of the pressure to return to his old life immediately. Between that and freeing himself from Kio with his letter, Auslin felt like a tremendous weight had lifted off of him. Maybe now he could stop holding himself back. "You know, this whole thing was Kisano's idea."

The information seemed to surprise Kitaro. "It was?"

"I feel silly for not thinking of it myself."

"He will be most pleased to hear that it worked."

There was a bounce in Auslin's step. "I can't wait to tell him!"

They continued making small talk on the journey back, with Auslin feeling lighter than he had in years.