85- To Find His Tree

"So, where you two be off to then?" Cole asked Tau and Kyffin as he finished his coffee.

"Out of the city to our family's country estate," Kyffin replied while Tau continued to organize the papers and books into more appropriate locations. "I may not be able to take my tree with me today, but I do want to find it and see what shape it's in and find out what I need to get it moved; if it even can be."

"It's connected to you Kyffin, it's best if it be where you can keep it. Never did ask you what your living situation was though," Cole remarked with an afterthought.

"If it's possible to move it, I already have a location in mind. There is a protected spot at the back of the yard at the house I own north of the downtown. Kimehiko insisted on buying the place, but I never did like it much. Perhaps it will start to feel more like home once my tree is there with me," he said as he set down his coffee. "Anyways, how did Quayleigh like the books, Tau?"

"She seemed very pleased but was too exhausted to even look at them. She tried to hide it, but she was still really upset last night. She was heavy this morning too, and I know she got up in the middle of the night and then cried herself back to sleep. I'm concerned, but Uru is with her, and I have to believe that she'll get through the day. And if she can't, that she will call me. Garren never called, so she is supposed to have the afternoon off, and when she comes home, she said I'm to take her out to buy a bigger bed. I would like to take her to dinner also, but I have no idea where I should take her. Should I let her decide where to eat?"

Kyffin stared blankly at Tau, "My wife hates me so much she spends nine months of the year in a different country. I am not the person you should be asking for advice."

Both Tau and Cole grimaced sympathetically towards their friend, and then Cole spoke up, offering his expertise.

"It best if you let her decide, but there be a trick to it. You have to ask in a very specific way," he said as he leaned forward on the couch. "Never ask her where she wants to go because you won't get a straight answer out of her. You have to ask her to guess where you taking her. Whatever the answer, you act surprised that she guessed right the first time. And then you take her wherever she said."

"But what if I don't know where she wants to go?"

"That's what your phones for. In your case though, you can just say one of us recommended it and have her lead the way."

"You truly are a cunning man," Kyffin remarked with a side-eye glance.

"Quays don't call me a scoundrel for no reason," he replied with a brilliant grin, "but frankly, I be more interested in hearing about this wife of yours. Why she hate you so much?"

"Perhaps hate is too strong of word. It's more like she just prefers not to be around. It isn't that we fight or argue when she is here. She just avoids me. If I ever get more than a few words out of her at a time, I consider it a conversation, and they are always about our sons. It's not like I don't understand. It wasn't as if she was keen on marrying me from the start, but it wasn't as if either of us had a say in the matter."

"I don't understand," Tau said with a tilt of his head, confused by what had happened that landed Kyffin in that sort of a predicament.

"Kimehiko be a paper wife. It was an arranged marriage," Cole explained in brief.

"Ah, I see," Tau replied knowing full well the ins-and-outs of such marriages, having seen the repercussions of such things throughout the ages.

"It wasn't so bad at first. Despite our reluctance I think we both put in an honest effort, but being a practitioner for the MET is demanding, and not being able to leave the country put a horrendous strain on us both. She wanted to travel, and I've always been denied the privilege. Our contractual obligation is nearly up through. Once Satoshi is ten, she is free to divorce me and move on with her life."

"It almost sounds as if you don't want to her to do that," Tau said he sat on the side of the bed.

"It's complicated. I've done everything I can to make her comfortable while she's here, but she's never happy. As much as I wish I could make a success of my marriage, I believe that for her wellbeing it is best if we part ways. Unfortunately, regardless of what happens, it is our sons who have and will suffer the most because of what we do. They've basically been raised without me, and even though I speak to them once a week, Satoshi grows more distant all the time. Hikaru, he has a natural talent for magic, and mother's gifts were passed to him, so we always have something to speak about, but I don't want this life for him. He struggles to understand that. As much as I wish they would come home, the farther they stay away from mother the better."

"And you told this to her?" Cole questioned with a raised brow.

"Yes. As soon as I realized his potential, I warned Kim of what might happen."

"You really aren't good at this whole interpersonal relationship thing, are you?" Cole huffed.

"Pardon me for my lack of skills, oh great mentor of personal affairs. Not only did I grow up at the MET surrounded by boys and men, but dating was frowned upon, and I was promised to Kim's family when I was just 16. That didn't leave a whole lot of room to develop the level of skills someone like you would have."

"Fair enough," Cole replied as he turned to Kyffin and put his hand on his shoulder. "Allow me to explain. Your wife, she didn't start keeping her distance because of you. She staying away because she's scared for your son. I'm betting she doesn't want this life for him either after seeing what it's done to you. You need to learn to communicate with her, Hawthorne. When was the last time you two had a real conversation that wasn't entirely about your boys?"

Kyffin sighed and hung his head, "Cole, I have spoken in the last two days more than I have in two decades."

"I feel like I should smack you upside the head; knock some sense into you boy. But for now, I'll refrain. Talk to her and not just platitudes. Really talk to her. Trust me, if you ever loved her or if you want your marriage to work, you owe her a chance to listen and to be heard."

"Your wife, she was the woman in the family photo in the album at the condo?"

"Yes, that was her," Kyffin replied, his eyes shifting as if an old memory came to surface, his lip giving a faint twitch before returning to its normal stoic demeanor.

"She looked happy next to you."

"It was a good act, wasn't it?"

"Anyways, you two have a long drive ahead, and I need to get back to my shop. I'll be researching your tattoo today. See what I can come up with."

"Can you send me a picture of it when you have a chance?" Kyffin asked.

"Sure thing," Cole replied as he took out his phone. "What's your number?"

With information exchanged, Cole headed out and a few minutes later, Kyffin and Tau were on the road headed on the highway out of the city.

"See the building on the left?" Kyffin said as he pointed out the large stone building in the distance. "That's the MET."

"Even from here it's an impressive sight," Tau replied. "I do hope Quayleigh is doing alright."

"Uru would let you know if something was wrong, wouldn't he?"

"He would. I should take it as a good sign that he hasn't reported in yet. Still, I can't seem to stop myself from worrying."

"Then perhaps our journey will be a decent distraction for you. Have you left the city since you arrived here?"

"No. I've spent all my time in an area near the convenience store with only a few short trips to Dumont Plaza. And Quayleigh has taken me to the Downtown to Cole's shop and to the condo, but that's all."

"Then this will be an adventure for the both of us. I never would have done anything like this with Dylan."

"Or is it that Dylan never would have done this with you?" Tau questioned as he continuously looked about at the world passing by.

"Equally valid, but I admit that I didn't make things easier between us. There was little I admired about my brother, but I regret never telling him that I thought he was an excellent photographer. Kim was the one who suggested the idea of getting him a camera, so I bought him one when he was twelve. I wonder what happened to all of his portraits though. You really didn't remove anything from his condo?"

"I didn't. I can try and find out what he did with them, if you like."

"I would. Since the chance of his return is next to nothing, I would like to have his photographs. The only worthwhile thing he ever did should be remembered and shared with the family."

"Agreed. Something of his should be treasured."

The rest of the journey was filled with little conversation and when they arrived at the estate house, several miles outside of the city limits, they were greeted by the sight of a large brick house with a perfectly manicured yard, surrounded by two acres of mostly deciduous forest, that was separated from the neighbors by farmer's fields.

"This is it," Kyffin said as he pulled into the driveway. "Seems like ages since I was last here."

"I don't suppose we are here alone?" Tau asked as Kyffin pulled up to the garage.

"Surprisingly enough, we are. No one lives here fulltime anymore. This is only used around holidays and long weekends. It's rare for anyone to be here during the week," he explained as he parked the car. "Father bought the house in the city when I was six. You never even had the chance to live here, but I truly enjoyed it from what I can remember. After that though, I lived between the other house and the MET until I was ten, and then aside from holidays, the MET was home."

"No wonder you and Dylan were estranged. You never had a chance to get to know him."

"Perhaps, but family relations are always more complicated than they seem. If I remember correctly though, we will find my tree out back."

"Then let's go find it," Tau replied with a smile as he exited the car.

After hearing everything that Kyffin had told him, Tau half suspected that Dylan took to photography because the camera was a gift from his older brother. How he knew this was a mystery to him, but the thought made sense and the feeling that accompanied it fit. He wanted to tell Kyffin what he was thinking but felt it best to save it for another time as Kyffin had already begun to walk away at a quickened pace.

Venturing around to the back of the house, Kyffin lead Tau into the woods following a trail that had been maintained by wildlife alone. Tau was in awe of being so close to the trees and admired the beauty of their bark, the colors of the falling leaves, and the varying array of plant life as Kyffin headed off the trail.

Making their way over downed trees and ducking beneath low limbs, Kyffin eventually came to a stop at the edge of the forest, where a small, sickly-looking tree, clung to life in a clearing of its own making; for nothing seemed to grow where it shed its leaves, petals, or fruit.

"This is my tree," Kyffin remarked, his tone somewhat saddened. "I can't believe it's still alive."

"Quayleigh wanted me to tell you that she might be able to help it if it was struggling. Something about her magic makes plants thrive, I believe she said."

"I will have to take her up on that offer. It's no wonder its thorns made me sick," he replied as he knelt down next to it.

"Do you think we can move it?" Tau asked as Kyffin reached out and carefully set his hand against its trunk.

"It's weak, but I can feel it. It's strange, but it's like it's asking to not be left behind. It's small enough to fit in the back of my car if we're careful with it; especially if I prune the dead limbs away. We'll need a couple of shovels and some burlap for the roots and a tarp to protect it. I'll put it in a planter and keep it inside until spring so it can get some strength back," he relayed to Tau before turning back to his tree. "I will be back for you shortly. I'm going to get you out of here and keep you safe."

"Kyffin," Tau said as he set his hand onto his brother's shoulder, "if I know where he is, I will be able to find him when I return to the land of the dead and I will be able to watch him grow with you."

"That's right. Uru mentioned something about the trees being in both realms. But to clarify, you can see actual trees?"

"Yes. Trees are one of the few things that live between our realms, but they always look as they do in winter here. I can recognize the ones in the city from the patterns in their bark. It's how I found my way to Quayleigh."

"That is truly impressive Tau," he remarked as he stood up and brushed off his knees. "It's good to know that you won't ever be too far away... brother, even when you are no longer here."