69. Kisano

Chapter 69

Kisano

T he sound of someone clearing their throat startled Kisano. He looked up to discover Kitaro walking over. Kisano's mood instantly brightened. "Welcome home!" He gestured for his younger brother to join him at the table. "Please sit."

Kitaro took a seat as Kisano pushed aside some of his books to clear a place for him. "We just got back. All things considered, we made good time."

"Are you both well?"

"Yes, but it is nice to be home," Kitaro answered. "Although Vanra did not complain during the journey, I am certain it is a relief for him, too."

"Where is he?" Kisano was disappointed his friend had not come to visit.

Kitaro frowned with a furrow of worry on his brow. "Father requested Vanra's presence almost immediately upon our return. I was specifically told I could not attend their meeting."

"Father wanted him and not you?" It was baffling information. "That is highly unlike him."

"I find it puzzling as well." Kitaro rubbed his temple. "I am not sure what to make of it, honestly."

Kisano hesitated before he confessed a secret he had been carrying during his brother's absence. "I, too, have been wondering about Father's recent shift in behavior."

Kitaro immediately became concerned. "Has something been amiss?"

"I would not say amiss, but his behavior has been most unusual." Kisano nervously pushed some of the stray strands of his hair from his loose ponytail behind his ear. "Father stopped here while you were gone."

Both of Kitaro's eyebrows shot up in shock. " Our father came to the library specifically to see you ?"

"I still find it hard to believe myself. I could hardly speak in my disbelief." It had been centuries since that had last happened.

"Why did he seek you out?"

"He stared at me for a long while saying nothing, which was absolutely terrifying." Kisano shuddered at the memory of being the sole focus of his father's intense attention. "He finally asked me a hypothetical question about what I would do about the griffin shifters in Balsimi. "

"Father asked for your opinion on a tactical matter? Our father?"

"I was more shocked than you are!" Kisano laughed. "He listened to my thoughts, asked me a few other questions about my opinions, and then said, ‘It seems Vanra was right,' before he left. It was a most curious statement and encounter. I still cannot fathom why Father sought me out at all."

Kitaro tapped his chin as he mulled something over. "Interesting."

"How so?"

"There was one night some time ago when Father summoned Vanra. He told me afterward that he extolled your virtues to Father and chastised him for ignoring you."

Kisano blushed scarlet. "Why in the world would he do such a thing?"

"I believe Vanra thought he was helping you in doing so," Kitaro said. "He is very fond of you, and I am certain that he finds Father's treatment of you galling. It is his way to speak up for those who are wronged or suffering."

"But it is not as if Father mistreats me."

"Somehow, I think Vanra would disagree with that assertion," Kitaro said with a chuckle. "He feels strongly about Father not treating you the same way he does me. And since it seems he has Father's ear, it is very like him to put in a good word to try changing his mind. "

Kisano touched his cheeks with the back of his fingers to feel how flushed his face was. "Vanra is a most unusual human."

"I am sure he will be here to visit with you soon," Kitaro said. "He mentioned more than once during the journey how much he missed visiting with you."

It made Kisano deeply happy to hear that Vanra would feel that way about him, even if he found it shocking. "I will have to ask him about it later." Kisano hoped Vanra could shed some light on Tatsuki's unusual visit. "I suppose I should not find it so surprising Vanra and his kindness have influenced even our father."

"Mitsuki is the only one who seems immune to Vanra's considerable charms." Kitaro shook his head as he leaned back in his chair. "That was the one thing I dreaded about our return."

Kisano was burning with curiosity. "What did you find out from Satsuma?" Kitaro's mood immediately darkened, making Kisano feel guilty. "Sorry, should I not have asked?"

Kitaro waved away Kisano's concerns. "Forgive me, dear brother. My reaction was regarding what Satsuma said, not you inquiring about it."

Kisano's heart sank. "What did she say?"

"She was vague enough to give us room to argue, but I fear it is not good news. She was clear that Vanra will have to return to his time at some point."

The thought of losing his friend made Kisano want to cry. He could only ask in a small voice, "When?"

"Satsuma said on the Day of Ascension, which is a date not yet written. She did not go into any further details. Have you ever heard of such a thing?"

"Never." Kisano wished he had a better answer for his brother. "I can do some research and see what I can find, though."

"Thank you," Kitaro said with an appreciative look. "If anyone can get to the bottom of the mystery, it would be you."

Kisano blushed again. "You are too kind."

"Perhaps by then, I will have figured out how it is possible for Vanra to return to his own time without leaving me."

"That seems to be quite a contradiction," Kisano sympathetically agreed. "I will do my best to find anything relevant."

"I am not optimistic that there is anything to be found, but I appreciate your efforts on our behalf."

Kisano looked down at his hands as he struggled with his emotions. "You are not the only one who wishes Vanra would never have to leave."

Kitaro's gaze softened. "I know he has become a dear friend to you, too. That is why I am so determined to do whatever is necessary to keep him here in our time. I have not yet given up hope."

Vanra entering the library interrupted them. He came over with a book in his arms as he approached Kitaro and Kisano at the table. "I hope I'm not interrupting. I can come back later if it's a problem."

The knot of anxiety in Kisano's stomach finally loosened when he saw for himself that Vanra had returned safely. "Welcome home," Kisano warmly greeted Vanra. "Please join us."

"How was your meeting with Father?" Kitaro asked as Vanra sat across from him.

"I don't think I'll ever get over the strangeness of your father being nice to me, but it was good," Vanra said. "I asked him about the Day of Ascension, but he didn't know anything about it. He also wanted me to tell you he would meet with you tomorrow sometime."

"He did not wish to see me tonight?"

Vanra shook his head. "No, he said we deserved our rest, and you would speak tomorrow."

Although Kisano felt awkward, he forced himself to satisfy his curiosity. "Have you ever spoken with Father about me before?"

Vanra's expression turned sheepish. "I might have gotten a little carried away during one of my meetings with King Tatsuki. I strongly implied he was foolish for not recognizing your brilliant mind is just as much a strength as physical prowess. Look, I know it's not my place, but it really bothers me he acts like you don't exist. I hope I didn't cause any problems for you by doing that."

Kisano shook his head. "No, it was nothing like that. I was merely curious what my father meant when he said you were right after he came and talked to me about hypothetical battles one night."

"That was probably him acknowledging that your understanding of battles from all of your studies is just as much use as a general's actual experience in the field," Vanra guessed. "I told him that, but he didn't seem to believe me, though."

"Thank you for your kind praise." Kisano still felt slightly embarrassed by Vanra's high opinion of him and his abilities.

"I'm only telling the truth." Vanra passed a book across the table. "Also, I wanted to give you this."

The blue leather book was embellished with silver foil filigree. It was a work of art that Kisano could scarcely believe was for him. "You want to give me this beautiful book?"

"I saw it while we were traveling, and I knew I had to get it for you. The author isn't very well-known, so I thought you might not have it," Vanra explained. "She's mine and my brother's favorite author next to Reskin, plus she's also a shifter. I had never seen such a beautifully illustrated version before, so I wanted you to have it."

Other than Kizoshi and Kitaro, no one had ever gifted Kisano a book before. Vanra's kindness deeply touched him. He pulled the book closer to study it. " Between the Pages by Verity? I must admit, I have not heard of this." It was shocking Vanra had found something they didn't already have in their expansive library.

"It's about a woman who can enter the worlds of the books she reads and interact with the characters and the narrator," Vanra told him. "It's the first part of a series. She goes through some very well-known stories, plus some made-up ones. The other volumes haven't been published yet. There's been so many times I've wished I could step into a book. Something tells me you would understand that feeling very well."

"Ah, I have felt that way many a time myself." Kisano opened the book to fan through the gold-trimmed pages to look at the illustrations. The art was exquisite beyond compare. "I am truly speechless. Thank you, Vanra. To receive such a meaningful gift…I do not have the words to describe how touched I am."

Vanra reached over and squeezed Kisano's hand. "You are most welcome. I hope you enjoy it as much as my brother and I have."

Kisano hugged the book to his chest with a radiant smile. "I am certain I will treasure this for the rest of my life. What a fantastic idea for a story."

"I suppose the kind thing to do would be for us to retire for the night and leave you to enjoy your gift," Kitaro said. He knew Kisano all too well.

"Please rest well," Kisano wished them.

Vanra stood up to leave. "I'll come back after you've read it so we can talk about it. I can't wait to hear your insights on it."

"I shall look forward to it. I wish a pleasant evening to you both."

"The same to you," Kitaro replied before he ushered Vanra out, leaving Kisano to read his new book in peace.