stealing so many they wouldn’t have a respectable amount to take back to Meis. Reji cracked them cheerfully as they walked back. “You’ll have no appetite tonight,” Kei warned.
Reji only grinned and tossed another shelled nut into the air before catching it and chewing it. “Oh, I’ll have an appetite, I promise you. I’ll be stocking up for the long ride, when I have nothing but camp cakes and dried berries to eat.”
“Huh. Stock up any more, Rei-ki and you’ll have to ask Myka to let out your trousers.”
Reji stuck his tongue out at him. Kei rolled his eyes and dropped back to where Banji and Risa were walking more slowly. “Can I beg a handful of nuts for Myka? She’s fond of them.”
“Only if you don’t give them to that glutton,” Banji said, scowling at Reji, but he filled Kei’s pockets anyway. “You should run home before he strips you to find the food. He’s worse than a tuktuk.”
Reji heard that comment, and turned to sniff indignantly at them. “If you’re going to be abusive, I’m going home. I’ll see you later, Kei, if you can manage not to be mean to me for more than five minutes at a time.”
Kei made a rude gesture at his lover’s departing back. “That damn man,” he said with a sigh.
“Kei, do you love Reji?”
“Eh? What kind of question is that, Banji-ki? And in front of Risa too.”
Risa scowled. “Love talk, yuck. I’m taking these home to Ma before someone steals them.” Banji ruffled his cousin’s hair and gave him the other basket to carry, still only a small load for Risa’s sturdy legs.
They were left alone and Kei changed direction, heading over to the edge of the waterhole, so he could sit in the shade of a tido palm. “Why the sudden interest in my feelings for Reji? You’re not going to declare you love me yourself?” he teased.
“Gods, you’re the most irritating person. I don’t know why I bother trying to have a serious conversation with you.”
Something was biting Banji’s tail today. “Neither do I. Of course I love him. It’s not romance, it’s more like...well, brothers or something. We’ve known each other a long time. And since we’re the only infertiles, it’s not like we have many other choices.”
Banji stared. “Is that all it is? Just for want of something better?”
“Hells no. It’s just lucky we like being together, that’s all I meant. If we didn’t, we’d have nothing, most likely.”
Banji nodded, as if that was clear enough for him. “But when did your feelings change? I mean, you didn’t always want to sleep with him, did you?”
“Of course not. He was seventeen when he got here. I was only ten. What in hells do you take him for?” Kei said, grinning at Banji’s discomfort. “I don’t know when. Something just...clicked when I came back from Darshek, and we got into bed and we liked it. I keep expecting him to say he’s found someone in the city, and I’d say good luck to him if he did.”
“But that would leave you alone.”
“Yes, I guess it would. But I have no claim on Reji, and I don’t want one. He’s too free a spirit.” He flicked a grass seed at him. “Want to tell me what’s put you in such a mood? Is it this person I’m not allowed to mention?”
Banji gave him a look that told him Kei was right. “It’s just...if you’ve known someone for a long time, why do you start seeing them differently? Is it just...being close to them all the time? Just convenience?”
“Promise not to hit me for this...but you wouldn’t be talking about my sister, by any chance?” Banji’s blush was all the answer Kei needed. “By the gods, that’s wonderful!”
“No, it’s not,” Banji said with a grimace.
“Hey, you’re not going to malign my sister to me, are you? Myka has her faults—”
“No, gods damn you! You’re not listening !”
“You’re not telling me. What in hells is the problem?”
“The problem is I used to help your mother change Myka’s nappies for
Reji only grinned and tossed another shelled nut into the air before catching it and chewing it. “Oh, I’ll have an appetite, I promise you. I’ll be stocking up for the long ride, when I have nothing but camp cakes and dried berries to eat.”
“Huh. Stock up any more, Rei-ki and you’ll have to ask Myka to let out your trousers.”
Reji stuck his tongue out at him. Kei rolled his eyes and dropped back to where Banji and Risa were walking more slowly. “Can I beg a handful of nuts for Myka? She’s fond of them.”
“Only if you don’t give them to that glutton,” Banji said, scowling at Reji, but he filled Kei’s pockets anyway. “You should run home before he strips you to find the food. He’s worse than a tuktuk.”
Reji heard that comment, and turned to sniff indignantly at them. “If you’re going to be abusive, I’m going home. I’ll see you later, Kei, if you can manage not to be mean to me for more than five minutes at a time.”
Kei made a rude gesture at his lover’s departing back. “That damn man,” he said with a sigh.
“Kei, do you love Reji?”
“Eh? What kind of question is that, Banji-ki? And in front of Risa too.”
Risa scowled. “Love talk, yuck. I’m taking these home to Ma before someone steals them.” Banji ruffled his cousin’s hair and gave him the other basket to carry, still only a small load for Risa’s sturdy legs.
They were left alone and Kei changed direction, heading over to the edge of the waterhole, so he could sit in the shade of a tido palm. “Why the sudden interest in my feelings for Reji? You’re not going to declare you love me yourself?” he teased.
“Gods, you’re the most irritating person. I don’t know why I bother trying to have a serious conversation with you.”
Something was biting Banji’s tail today. “Neither do I. Of course I love him. It’s not romance, it’s more like...well, brothers or something. We’ve known each other a long time. And since we’re the only infertiles, it’s not like we have many other choices.”
Banji stared. “Is that all it is? Just for want of something better?”
“Hells no. It’s just lucky we like being together, that’s all I meant. If we didn’t, we’d have nothing, most likely.”
Banji nodded, as if that was clear enough for him. “But when did your feelings change? I mean, you didn’t always want to sleep with him, did you?”
“Of course not. He was seventeen when he got here. I was only ten. What in hells do you take him for?” Kei said, grinning at Banji’s discomfort. “I don’t know when. Something just...clicked when I came back from Darshek, and we got into bed and we liked it. I keep expecting him to say he’s found someone in the city, and I’d say good luck to him if he did.”
“But that would leave you alone.”
“Yes, I guess it would. But I have no claim on Reji, and I don’t want one. He’s too free a spirit.” He flicked a grass seed at him. “Want to tell me what’s put you in such a mood? Is it this person I’m not allowed to mention?”
Banji gave him a look that told him Kei was right. “It’s just...if you’ve known someone for a long time, why do you start seeing them differently? Is it just...being close to them all the time? Just convenience?”
“Promise not to hit me for this...but you wouldn’t be talking about my sister, by any chance?” Banji’s blush was all the answer Kei needed. “By the gods, that’s wonderful!”
“No, it’s not,” Banji said with a grimace.
“Hey, you’re not going to malign my sister to me, are you? Myka has her faults—”
“No, gods damn you! You’re not listening !”
“You’re not telling me. What in hells is the problem?”
“The problem is I used to help your mother change Myka’s nappies for
Similar Books
