Hiro grinned. "Theywere. We ended them a few years ago, but that’s not the point.”
Nyomi blinked. “I think a cannibal syndicate is a very important point one should make right at the beginning of any story.”
I snickered.
Hiro continued, “What I’m saying is that Kim—the head—brought that wheel of aged gouda as a gift to our meeting. Imported from the Netherlands. Pretty expensive and a gesture of good faith toward our new alliance."
Nyomi looked between us slowly. "And Reo stole the symbol of good faith from people who eat their enemies."
I held up one finger. "Allegedly."
"He absolutely stole it." Hiro grabbed the joint from me. “Reo doesn’t do anything by chance. He hated that syndicate and he loved the idea of eating that cheese.”
“Yeah. He probably did it.” I looked at the cherry blossom and another petal fell to the tatami.
The koto played on.
Hiro spoke and this time a deep sadness laced his words. “Brother. . .thank you for starting this war.”
I turned to him.
A serious expression covered his face. “You didn’t have to.”
“I did. Our father hurt you, so we hurt him.”
“People died today over my hurt feelings.”
“And more will die.”
“I don’t know if I can live with that.”
“It’s too late to turn back now. We’re almost there. His body and our brother’s are almost in the ground.”
“Maybe there’s another way to figure this out.”
“There isn’t.”
“I just. . .”
I leaned my head to the side. “What?”
“I just don’t know if my pain is worth the price of others’ deaths.”
“It is.” I held his gaze. “To me, it’s worth everyone’s deaths and more. My brother was shattered for no reason at all. As far as I’m concerned. . .let the fucking sky rain down with innocents' blood.Let the Fox and the whole world burn down to quiet ash. As long asyoucome out the other side of this healed. As long asyou'rehappy again. That's all that matters.”
Hiro frowned. “You love me too much.”
Nyomi reached over and touched his arm, giving him a small squeeze. He looked at her hand, then at her face.
He nodded.
She let go.
I watched Hiro take the joint from Nyomi's fingers, bring it to his lips, and pull deep. And then. . .I saw the grief he carried folded behind his eyes.
We’ll kill the Fox because he took away your happy ever after with Nura.
Plus, if the Fox knew about Nyomi, she would be next. That was the war, stripped of everything else. We were battling for the ability to love who we chose in peace.
