Kazuki & Quinn

By West Thornhill

Kaz bounded down the stairs. It was the night of the sports banquet and finally school was over for the summer. He already had a summer planned out, especially when it came to helping Quinn. The past week spent with Ryujin after school had helped both of them. But he knew the control Quinn had was tenuous at best.

Kaz stopped abruptly when he saw his parents tensely standing in the kitchen, talking to a man dressed in samurai gear from the Kamakura period. The only reason he recognized it was because of the large metal u-shape on the helmet. The man had waist-length, black hair in a riot of braids and was way taller than his dad who was at least six feet tall. The stranger was also holding a flat, age-darkened, wooden box.

“You have no right to keep the triad from accepting this box. They need to know why it is important for them to learn to work in tandem.” Kaz tilted his head as he listened to the odd cadence and accent of the man’s voice. It sounded vaguely familiar. “Tanaka-taichou sent it.”

Kaz watched his mother’s shoulders slump slightly, before he heard her sigh. “Damn it.”

His father’s hand rubbed her back. “We can’t really go against a Blindkeeper.  Besides, even if we tried, he’d just take it to Hazel, who would give it to the boys.”

Now he was totally confused. There was a weird samurai guy standing in the kitchen with a box for him and his brothers. Add that to Ryujin and the crazy stuff going on, and Kaz was ready to take a long vacation. He slowly, and quietly, walked forward. He wasn’t sure he wanted to know what they were talking about. But, he knew it was important.

Maybe whatever was in that box would also help Quinn. Could it hurt to find out?

“What’s in the box?” Smacking himself seemed like a really good idea, especially when all eyes turned to him, and they weren’t all on the same page.

The samurai walked toward Kaz, kneeling in front of him with the box in his hands. “This scroll is for you and your brothers. It has been sent to you from your grandfather, Tanaka-taichou.”

Kaz took the box. A scroll? Okay. While he wanted to run back upstairs and look at it, it would have to wait until later. “Arigato, samurai-sama.” As soon as the words left his mouth, the man vanished. “Well, that was…different.” Kaz met his parents’ concerned gaze.

“Kaz…”

“I know, Mom. Trust me. I know.” He didn’t need her to tell him to be careful. Careful had become his middle name.

****

Quinn fidgeted. He didn’t want to go to the awards banquet. He wanted to go to the river and hangout with Ryujin. The water dragon’s presence was almost as comforting as Kaz’s. Ryujin had mentioned there was someone who could help keep the fiery figure from taking over. He just hoped whoever it was showed up soon.

He sat out on the porch, the light breeze calming. The sound of wheels rolling on the paved drive pulled attention away from his inner turmoil. He looked up to watch Keenan as he rolled up on his skateboard. He was pretty sure Kee hadn’t seen him yet. Kee would have screeched to a halt if he had.

Quinn had never figured out why his brother didn’t like for anyone in the family to watch him skate. He sat there, quietly, and waited. He knew Kee’s reaction would be interesting. And, it was.

Keenan jumped, almost toppling off the board, when he saw Quinn. Quinn felt the laugh building and knew it would be impossible to stop it from coming out. For the first time in several weeks, he felt normal.

“Blast, Q. You could have said something.” Keenan’s cheeks were a painful looking red.

“No, I really couldn’t. Your reactions are never the same, and I had to see what you’d do this time.” Quinn grinned.

Keenan glared at Quinn as he sat down beside him. “You know you’re a jerk sometimes.”

Quinn sighed. “I know.”

They sat there in silence. Keenan practically vibrated with questions. Quinn waited. Kee wasn’t shy about asking anything.

“Haveyoufiguredutthatfirething?” Keenan spoke so fast, Quinn could only blink in response. Kee huffed in exasperation. “Have you figured out the fire thing?” He deliberately spoke slowly.

Quinn felt his lips twitch. Laughing would only upset Kee, and that wasn’t what Quinn wanted. “It’s getting better. Kaz is helping, and we’ve been spending time in the Grove.”

Keenan nodded. “Good. Okay. Well, I’m going to go get ready. I’m sure mom is running around like a lunatic.” Keenan stood and hurried inside.

Quinn knew the whole fire thing made Keenan nervous. Quinn just had to make sure he stayed in control. No matter what.

A shadow passed over. At first Quinn thought it was just a cloud. But it circled back, and it was a lot larger than a regular bird. He looked up and felt his jaw drop open. He wasn’t positive, but whatever it was, it seemed to change direction the second Quinn noticed it.

He blinked and when he opened his eyes a large orange, red and yellow plumed bird hovered in front of him.

Hello, young firestarter. Your awakened abilities called to me. I can help you.

Quinn felt his mouth move, but nothing came out.

A laugh trickled its way through his head. You look like a fish.

Quinn shook his head. “Who? What are you?”

My name is Ea, and I am a phoenix.