***
*Old Note*
March 15, 2005
I sneaked out again and saw your house. What happened? Are you alright?!
Your Friend
***
*Present Day*
The twins laughed, looking at their little brother's blank, lost face with twinkling, mischievous eyes.
"Come down, Ilari," their mother, Vera, called as she left her studio to join the commotion. Her fiery red hair was fashioned into a stylish bun and her green eyes sparkled mischievously. She was clearly in the know on the matter, and well prepared, too, judging from the not-so-casual choice of clothes. Her familiar, Arusha, a scarlet macaw, flew across the living room before perching on a shelf with a good view of the hallway where her human's children were enthusiastically helping the guest out of his coat. She preened her bright feathers before turning to Vera's youngest child and giving him an expectant look.
Unfreezing finally, Ilari walked down the stairs in a daze, Alair in his arms. The silver cat had his eyes fixed unblinkingly on the tiger.
"Alair, don't bully Kai," came a hearty and slightly gruff male voice.
"Dad…" Ilari turned to his father, looking helpless and confused.
Sanyi, who stood up from the sofa the moment the twins entered the house with their guest, walked up to his youngest son and patted his hair affectionately. "Come, come, child. We'll explain," he said gently. He looked at the awkward young man still waiting by the door. "Kir, why are you standing there? This is also your home now, son. Come in, come in!"
A soft thud caught Ilari's attention. His father's familiar, the majestic lion with gold fur and copper eyes, jumped down from the armchair he was occupying and stepped forward to nudge the tiger gently. "Don't be nervous, young Kai," Leo said softly.
The twin's felines' bellies rumbled with laughter.
"He's not nervous," Kenya, the black panther, stated.
As her familiar spoke, Ilma's green eyes glowed with badly hidden amusement. Ivor hid his smile behind a fist, masking it as a cough.
"Yes, he's just being shy," Kolya, the cheetah, supplied teasingly. "It's Kai's human that is nervous."
In the overall commotion, Ilari looked at the thin young man who seemed to be about his age. As it happened, Kir looked up at the same moment. Dazzling gold eyes met brilliant sapphire.
Well, at least he's really beautiful, Ilari thought to himself.
Kir looked away shyly and Ilari felt something move in his heart. At the same moment, he found his arms empty as Alair jumped down and circled the tiger, inspecting him blatantly. "Pretty," he remarked.
Ilari flushed. "Alair! Behave!" he hissed.
Alair ignored him and climbed up the tiger's back. Then he looked up at Ilari and said imperiously, "I'm taking Kai to the garden. You can chat with his human in the meantime."
The majestic tiger shot a helpless look at Kir and allowed the cat to ride on his back. Kenya and Kolya exchanged a look with the twins and ran after the two. Leo, too, sighed, shook his mane, and followed them slowly.
It was easy for the cat to say 'chat with his human'. Ilari was too embarrassed to even look at Kir. "I'm really sorry about Alair…" he mumbled.
"It's fine," Kir answered quietly.
Although his voice was soft, it was deep and magnetic. Ilari looked up almost involuntarily, looked at this unexpected fiancé's gorgeous face, and looked away again. He at least had the presence of mind to scold himself quietly in his heart. He couldn't be more awkward, could he?!
Sanyi chuckled at his youngest child's discomfort. "Ilari – remember we told you last week that a young scholar saved Ivor and me? That was Kir. Who would have thought that he turned out to be the fiancé your grandfather chose for you years ago?" He patted the bespectacled young man on the back and directed him calmly towards the living room. "He's grown up so well, hasn't he?"
Vera cleared her throat loudly.
"Ah, sorry, I'm rambling," Sanyi apologized as everyone started to take their seats around a low coffee table.
All three armchairs were instantly taken and Ivor half sprawled over the loveseat, leaving the newly engaged pair no other choice but to sit together on the sofa.
At least, Ilari thought fidgeting in his place, his brother didn't actually lie on the sofa so he and Kir would be forced to take the loveseat. He could appreciate it… if he tried really hard to do so.
"Why don't you tell them, dear?" Sanyi prompted when everyone was seated comfortably.
"My father and Kir's grandfather were best friends," Vera said. "They had decided that they would have their grandchildren marry when they came of age. It was during the time the twins were staying for a month with my parents in the Wind City, do you remember? The elders were supposed to meet again to discuss the details but..." Her voice softened. "There was a magical accident and Kir's family was wiped out. We didn't even know for sure that Kir was still alive. Papa followed up with the police and detectives for years…there were some clues that Kir might've survived, but no one was able to locate him."
"It really was a stroke of luck that we found out who he is today," Sanyi added.
"Ilma and I visited Kir's office to deliver a small gift and ask him out for dinner. We were chatting casually and learnt about his grandfather," Ivor said.
"Luckily, I remembered your childhood betrothal, Ilari," Ilma said, smirking at her little brother. "Such a coincidence! Kir himself didn't know about this arrangement but he was interested when we told him about our pretty little brother."
"We told Mom and Dad and they said to bring him home right away," Ivor added. "And Grandpapa is so excited that he and Grandmama are flying down tomorrow to meet him! Gramps will also come over in a couple of days." He waved a finger at Kir. "So…young man, what do you think of our little brother? You'd better have a good answer ready before our grandparents turn up!"
Kir's pale skin turned red.
"Don't bully him," Ilari snapped, surprising even himself. He'd just met the man, for heaven's sake – why was he already feeling so protective about this unexpected fiancé of his?