87- The House that is Kyffin’s Home

Tau and Kyffin had made their way to the nearest garden center and returned to the Kirkwood country estate with everything required to retrieve Kyffin's tree.

Tarps, burlap, shovels and twine in hand, they made their way through the forest to find the withered Hawthorne in a vastly different state than they had left it, a little more than an hour previous. The small tree had pulled its branches inward and shed its dying limbs, and its roots had clumped and slightly risen, leaving a small gap of disturbed soil around its clearing.

"It seems the small amount of contact I gave it was enough to give it the strength to prepare for the move. I never expected it to be capable of responding to my intentions," Kyffin remarked as he scrapped some the debris away.

"It is a remarkable thing," Tau replied as he set down one of the tarps and laid out the other.

"I hope the pot we purchased will be large enough. Not that it really matters; if it isn't, I will find something more suitable once we get him back to the house."

"How do you think Kimehiko is going to react to having a new tree in your yard?" Tau asked as they laid the burlap onto the tarp and stretched it out.

"She'd have to come home to see it first," Kyffin replied with a sideways glance.

"You are going to ask her to return, aren't you?"

"I want to, but I'm still uncertain of how she'll react. It's just as plausible for her to say no as it is for her to start making the arrangements."

"And if she says no, what then?"

"Then I suppose we'll have our first real argument." Kyffin brushed off his hands and moved closer to his tree. "I'm hoping the shovels won't be needed for this. It looks like he's already done what he can so we can just lift him out."

"Should we wrap his top first?" Tau questioned as he took note of the large, pointed thorns covering its branches.

Kyffin nodded, "Probably a good idea."

Tau handed him the second tarp and helped Kyffin unfold it and placed it over the top of the tree securing it in place with twine. With it now safer to handle, the two men carefully pulled the tree from the ground with significant effort and placed it down onto the burlap. Kyffin took a few minutes to inspect the roots, before bundling it up in the burlap, after adding a few scoops of the soil from the hole where it had been living. Wrapping the burlap around its roots to create a ball, they secured it with more twine and then covered it with the remaining tarp.

"I'll take the shovels if you want to carry him to the car," Tau remarked even as Kyffin was lifting his tree into the air.

"He's lighter than he looks," Kyffin replied, while Tau retrieved the shovels and the remainder of the ball of twine.

When they reached the car, they loaded the tree into the front passenger's seat, placing him on the floor so he would fit without being crushed against the ceiling, and loaded the shovels back in through the trunk.

"I never thought I would come to appreciate the extra room in this thing," Kyffin said referring to his car, "but it does come in handy every now and again."

"Yes, the split folding rear seat is very convenient. Otherwise, I fear I'd be walking back to the city."

"Nonsense, brother; I would have returned for you, eventually." Kyffin smirked, albeit odd and unnatural, as he moved to the back door behind the driver seat and opened it for Tau.

"Well, that would have been appreciated, but this is the far better option."

They spent the better part of the next hour driving back to the city to Kyffin's house in a suburb on the northwest side of Wahlborn Grove, a brief 15-minute drive from the MET.

Backing onto a manmade canal that led to a river that feed the largest lake near Turnage city, it was a beautiful modern build with floor to ceiling windows, that stretched up the face of the two-story home, revealing the grand staircase within. Massive dark wood, double front doors, were framed by wooden pillars that supported the upper balcony, and a curved, stamped cement sidewalk led out to the driveway. It was set further back on the lot for added privacy, even as a row of pine trees blocked the view from the road, and wood plank privacy fences lined either side of the property, separating it from the neighbors. It was picturesque and it was of little wonder why Kimehiko had insisted on them buying it. Even Tau could see that it would be an ideal place to raise their sons.

"I'm surprised she could find any reason to stay away from here," Tau commented as he helped Kyffin carry the large and extremely heavy ceramic flowerpot into the house. "Where should we put him?"

"I was thinking back here in the living room, by the patio doors. He should get as much natural light as possible."

Moving the pot into position was a daunting task, and once it was complete, Tau marveled at the grand feel of Kyffin's home. The living room overlooked the backyard and was made near entirely out of windows. There was a fireplace to the side, and the upper-level balcony overlooked the living room, with the kitchen, bathroom, laundry room, and office tucked beneath, with all of the bedrooms and second bathroom on the upper floor.

"I'll be back with my tree in a minute, help yourself to anything you can find," Kyffin remarked before heading back outside.

Tau made his way into the kitchen and grabbed two bottles of water from the fridge setting them onto the counter. He found himself staring out at the water when Kyffin returned and set his tree next to the pot.

"This view is remarkably relaxing. Would you mind if I brought Quayleigh here sometime?"

"I would like that. There is something about her, I haven't quite figured out, but she has a way of making you feel relaxed and welcomed. Makes it easier to imagine how even you fell for her."

"I'm not entirely certain I understand what you mean by that," Tau remarked as Kyffin began to unbundle his tree's roots.

"Well, I apologize in advance for not putting this more delicately. You are a reaper, an agent of death. That is not exactly the image of true love or warm and happy emotions. It's difficult to image a reaper wanting to love a human, especially knowing how short our lives tend to be, and then there's the whole logistics of it. Had Dylan not made this mistake; would you have ever been able to spend time with her like this? Did you even love her before this happened?"

Tau thought for a moment as he took a drink and then moved to aid Kyffin as he lifted his tree into the pot.

"No, I never would have been able to have been with her like this, but I would still have eternity to look forward to. It's one of the reasons that I need to get back to my realm and my body. As amazing as this is, I don't want to lose out on that. To be able to hold her with my own arms, see her through my eyes, to just be in her presence in my own form… I can wait for her to live this life so that I can share that with her."

"You make it sound as if she's going to be with you for a longtime after she dies. I thought we didn't last very long after we passed," Kyffin said with a tone of inquiry.

"Normally that is the case, but she is different. And I have promised her a full night and day with me, even if she doesn't remember who I am," Tau replied as he turned away.

"What aren't you saying Tau? You said you had an eternity to look forward to but now it's a night and day. What am I missing?"

"You mustn't repeat this Kyffin. I can't tell her, because I don't want her to know."

"Very well, I'll not be the one to tell her anything," he replied as he began to scoop the loose dirt into the pot.

"She will get her night and day with me, but after she is cleansed in the pools, she won't be returned to the river of life, nor will she be cast into oblivion." Tau smiled contently as Kyffin looked up at him. "She will be given a place on the shores of the pools as a Yioaleu, and I will have eternity with her in that place."

"Will she be aware of who she was after her cleansing?"

"No. The last of who she was, all of her memories, they will be washed away, but she will remain because Death has touched her, and she is connected to my realm. It's a calm and peaceful existence. The Yioaleu are a divine and caring community that will welcome her and help her adjust. They look after the reapers and shepherds of their districts and their presence is just like Quayleigh's, as you said, relaxing and welcoming. I don't want her to fear this fate, nor do I want her to desire it," he explained as Kyffin went back to work. "I'm afraid if I tell her, she will either despise knowing or worse, rush towards it. After I'm gone from here, I want her to find happiness. I want her to live a long, human life, experiencing all the joys and wonders to be found here, while she can. I don't want her to live, waiting for the moment she's going to die. Being here, it already makes me worry for that outcome. I do love her, and having her live on and living well, that is more important than her rushing to be with me again."

"I understand, and when the time comes, I will be passing along that message to her. I suspect she'll need to hear it more than once," Kyffin stated as he folded up the tarp and dumped the remaining bit of dirt into the pot.

"I'd appreciate you reminding her, but while I'm here, I want to give her as many reasons as I can for her to want to live, that includes giving her family and friends she can love and enjoy being around. Will you continue to be that for her?"

"All I can do is promise to try, but I can't force her to keep me in her life."

"I know that, but I don't think she's the type to turn you away if you keep showing up either."

Kyffin nodded. "Given her actions towards me so far, I don't doubt that."

With the transplant complete, Kyffin and Tau were busy cleaning up when Kyffin's phone began to ring. Pulling it from his pocket, he grimaced, his lip noticeably twitching with irritation.

"It's mother," he said as he stopped the ringing and tossed the phone onto the counter. "Maybe she'll get the hint and not call back."

"Is it wise to ignore her?" Tau asked as he finished stuffing the last tarp into a large garbage bag.

"Probably not, but it certainly feels like the right thing to do," Kyffin replied as his phone chimed, notifying him of a new text.

Setting the bags by the back door, Kyffin and Tau moved into the kitchen.

Picking up his phone Kyffin read the message and sighed again. "Well, this was going to happen sooner or later, and I'll do my best to explain things to her, but don't be surprised when she ignores all of it. If I can even manage to get a word in."

"What are you planning on doing?" Tau asked as Kyffin set his phone onto the counter.

"I'm calling her back as per the request of her angry text," he replied as he placed his phone on speaker and motioned for Tau to be quiet.

"Kyffin, why did you just ignore my call?" A woman with a sweet, melodic voice answered, although Tau could hear the dark and angry tone she was attempting to hide.

This was the voice of their mother, and Tau instantly ascertained that Anquiliria was not a woman who was used to being ignored.

"I was indisposed of," Kyffin replied, his demeanor, shifting almost instantly from the lightened, content one he had been showing that day to the dark and heavy one he had the day they had first met. Even his expression grew blank, like a man who had just has his sense of self torn from him.

She huffed. "Care to tell me why you booked the day off citing a family emergency? When I called Kimehiko, what a surprise I had when she was just as confused as I was. Of course, I assumed it had to be one of the boys, because why else would my dutiful son be shirking his duties?"

"I'm with Dylan," Kyffin remarked.

He was direct and to the point. He didn't even try and explain anything to her. There was no outrage, no questioning, no defiance, just a numb, blank response, as if anything more would just have been a waste of time.

"Dylan? You found him? Is he back? Never mind. It doesn't matter. Just tell me that he's safe?"

"I am, and I'm right here," Tau spoke up causing Kyffin to look at him, his eyes full of a strange sort of worry.

They could hear Anquiliria take a breath on the end of the line.

"Dylan, darling, I know you've had a tough couple of months, but you are hardly a family emergency. As for you Kyffin, I'm disappointed that you would let your brother take such advantage. I expect this sort of negligence from Caoimhín, but I demand better of you. Come to the house immediately and bring Dylan with you. Magistrate Rosia has asked for a rain spell to be finished by the end of the day, and I simply don't have the time."

"We are busy."

"You have an hour," she stated firmly and immediately hung up the phone.

"Is she always like that?"

"Sometimes worse. As least she wants to meet at the house though," Kyffin remarked as picked up his phone. "I'm sorry for this. I had hoped to get a word in, but as you heard for yourself, it's nearly impossible. It's already close to two if you want me to take you back to your apartment. I know you're expecting Quayleigh home around three."

"Won't she be upset if I'm not there with you?"

"It will be fine. I'll explain that you had plans, but so you know, this can't be avoided forever."

"I'm aware. But what of you? What will happen when she sees the damage to your hand and arm?"

"I don't suspect she'll even notice," he replied as he sent a quick text message," but you let me worry about that. I've been dealing with her all my life, and right now I'm more concerned about Kimehiko. I just asked her to call me when she has a minute, and this conversation is long overdue."