Koutetsu went inside the antique store. Everything looked exotic and old, with pieces feeling like they dated back to feudal Japan. He didn't know if any of the items would fit well with Itsuki's tastes. Koutetsu scratched his head trying to figure out how to best pick a gift for Itsuki or for that matter why he even entered the store to begin with.
"Oh ho, it seems a handsome young man entered my store how may I help you."
Koutetsu looked at where the voice came from. It was an old small woman wearing traditional Japanese clothing. She hunched over holding a cup of tea in her hands as she hobbled her way to Koutetsu.
"Oh yes, mam. I want to buy a gift for my friend. It's for a girl actually."
"Hmm, for a lovely lady, I see. But wouldn't you be better off buying from the other stores? I don't see anything here that would make a lovely young woman very happy unless she was my age."
Koutetsu knew that, but he had a feeling about this store. It pulled him in, he couldn't explain it, but his instincts were saying this was the right choice.
"You're right. But, something drew me here. I don't know why but I felt like this place was the right answer. And I really want to do something nice for her. She's been so good to me that I don't want to mess up anymore with paying back her kindness. Please help me, mam." Koutetsu bowed to the old woman in respect and desperation. The old woman could see the honesty in his heart from his humble display of asking for help.
"Ho ho ho, never had a handsome boy ask me for help like that. How can I say no? Wait right there I have just the thing."
The old woman walked off for a minute, Koutetsu was nervous about what kind of gift she would bring over. If it would be something that would actually make Itsuki happy at that. She later came back with an ornate box. The old woman opened it to show Koutetsu what was inside. Inside was a bracelet, with a wolf head charm on the chain, the forehead of the charm had lines on it with embedded blue gems.
"Umm thank you, mam. May I ask what is it I'm not too familiar with antiques or jewelry like this."
"Hmm, it's a special bracelet. One of a kind at that. You give it to the one you want to be protected at all times. Once you name it that person will always be safe even if you're not around. It's a special little good luck charm carved in the image of a loyal guardian who'll always keep its owner safe from negative forces."
'So it's like a protection totem in a way then. Before I would have never believed in that. A lot of people scammed others into those voodoo or mysterious mystical item nonsense just to get money out of some poor sucker who was dumb enough to fall anything that would make them feel like some godly force was watching over them. At least here in this world, it's not really much of a scam, just have to be more cautious on what it is exactly so it won't backfire badly when needed.'
Koutetsu looked hard at the bracket, he coded it to see if there was some evil drawback he didn't want to affect Itsuki. He couldn't find anything, there was magic in it, a pure source that he hadn't seen yet. It definitely was the real thing in front of him. He felt like it was perfect for Itsuki, something that would remind her of him in the same way the ribbon did of her. "Thank you, mam. How much is it."
"No charge."
"Huh, wait I can't take this for free that wouldn't be right, you have to let me pay you back it'll go on my conscience if I don't."
"Ho ho ho, don't be silly. It's been here so long I don't mind parting with it. Some things are priceless and better to be given with good intentions. Give it to your lady friend. I bet she's waiting for you."
Koutetsu choked upon hearing that. He forgot he left Itsuki behind in his hurry to get her a gift. She must have thought he ditched her by now.
'I need to find her fast. If she leaves now after I dashed off she'll never forgive me. Neither will I myself for that.'
Koutetsu bowed again thanking the old woman before bolting off to find Itsuki. The old woman waved him off amused, she finished off her tea as she looked at Koutetsu with satisfaction before he was gone from her store.
'Hmmm, he's really grown since his old life. You did well young man, we'll watch over you till Jagan makes a move. No more children will be sacrificed again. Not this time.' The old woman sat her cup down on one of the tables before she slowly walked off, he appearance changing, she wasn't a feeble old short woman anymore, she looked like a beautiful young woman now as she vanished inside the shop's shadows.
Koutetsu ran hard trying to return to Itsuki, she wasn't at the table anymore where they were, and the crepe shop worker said she had taken off earlier after he left. Koutetsu slapped one hand on his face, he was worried now for Itsuki. He felt as if he really hurt her by leaving like that without explanation.
He tried smelling her scent, trying to catch a hint of a fragrance of her shampoo or perfume, something to pin down the exact location. Koutetsu frantically rushed to follow the scent of her finally caught. He rushed in such a hurry he didn't see Ryuji leaving a supplement shop in his haste. Ryuji saw the panicked Koutetsu, he was confused as to why he was in such a manic rush inside the store, seemed out of character for him of how calm he was at school.
"Oy, hot head what are you running like an idiot for…"
"GET OUT OF MY WAY!" Koutetsu leaped over him, kicking Ryuji's head like a springboard to boost his speed to catch up to where Itsuki's scent was taking him. Ryuji slammed to the ground, his face denting the surface he impacted on. He felt humiliated by that. A completely unmanly display.
"Argh, damnitt he did it again. I'll remember this." He grumbled to himself.
Koutetsu ran hard trying not to lose the scent. Eventually, he found Itsuki, she was sitting alone on a bench next to a water fountain. Koutetsu breathed a sigh of relief when he found her. He slowly walked in her direction not wanting to startle her. Itsuki saw him coming, she looked down feeling ashamed about how she lied to him earlier. Koutetsu still didn't know what to say at the moment, he was terrible with these situations on comforting others. He opted instead to quietly sit next to her without saying a word. Itsuki let him sit down, she could feel he was trying to say something to her with his body language.
The silence was awkward, they both wanted to say something but had no words yet that had come to mind.
"I'm sorry."
"I'm sorry."
They both said it at the same time. They felt embarrassed how they did that in untended unison, but it eased the tension a bit.
"I'm sorry, I shouldn't have lied and made you feel like that." She said teary-eyed. Koutetsu felt mad at himself. He calmed his nerves so he could speak to her without sounding condescending or giving her pity.
"No, I'm sorry. You just wanted to help me out and I called you out on it unintentionally. To tell you the truth. No one's done that for me ever. I felt uneasy like I was using you and your money. I don't like feeling like I'm mooching off your kindness so it got to me a bit. I'm sorry Itsuki, I'm just really dumb in this type of stuff."
Itsuki could see how genuinely bad he felt. She shook off her feelings on her face to give him a smile. She saw the box in his hands, and her curiosity sparked.
"Hmm, what's that?"
"Huh, oh right. I felt dumb I didn't get you anything for all you did. I ran off to find you a thank-you gift. The lady at the store said this be perfect for you. I really hope you like it."
Itsuki felt shocked. He ran off and took that long to buy her a gift. She couldn't help but feel happy, she opened the box to see the charm bracelet in it, she smiled as the happiness on her face couldn't be stopped.
"The lady said it's meant to be given to someone special who you want to be safe always. I felt it would be great for you somehow."
Itsuki couldn't help it now, a few drops of tears fell on the bracelet. She was happier than ever. She put the bracelet on, holding it affectionately in her hand.
"I love it. Thank you, thank you so much." Koutetsu felt relieved and happy. He couldn't help but look at her face and how cute she was even with the sobbing. Itsuki looked at Koutetsu as well, she couldn't help but stare back either. Both of them kept looking at each other, without realizing how their bodies were leaning in closer and closer on instinct. They got so close they could have locked lips, till a light glowed intensely on Itsuki's wrist. Both of them were unsure what was going on and what the random light was being created from.
The light's intensity ended, with a manifestation of a tiny wolf cub sleeping on the bench between them. It looked just like the one on the bracelet, even had blue gem scars on its forehead.
"Huh, what the?"
"Uh Koutetsu, what just happened here?"
They were dumbfounded at what was happening. The little wolf cub woke up, yawned with its tiny voice, and then looked at Itsuki and Koutetsu. The little cub leaped at Itsuki licking her face playfully.
"Hahaha stop, please that tickles, hahaha."
Koutetsu's jaw dropped, he had no idea that would happen. And the way it appeared in the moment, felt like gag at best.
"What in the world happened? Did that appear because of the bracelet?"
"It must have. I think I've heard of this before in class. Certain magic items during the feudal era were made to help priests fight demons. Some of these gave birth to guardians to protect them in battle or housed the souls of powerful animal spirits. Maybe this little guy is one of them."
Koutetsu kinda understood. He read about them in old books at the school library. Now it made sense why the old woman gave it to him. He must been called on by that wolf charm for Itsuki.
"Koutetsu, is it ok for me to have him?" Itsuki asked.
"Of course, the lady said the bracelet was to protect a loved one, maybe that's what he's for."
Itsuki flustered a bit. Koutetsu got the little cub for her to be safe. She felt grateful, the little cub nestled its head on her chest like a child.
"What's his name."
"He's yours now. You name him it's only fair."
"You're right, I think I'll call him Tsukikage. It means moon shadow since wolves are associated with the moon and he has black fur too. You like it right, Nay Tsukikage." The wolf cub looked up at Itsuki's face, he licked her again agreeing with the name. The blue scars on his head now wrapped around his ankles, upper legs, and back. The markings signified he was now bonded with Itsuki.
Koutetsu smiled looking at Itsuki, he wanted to pet Tsukikage as well to show he agreed with the name too.
"Well, I guess your Itsuki's now, nice to meet you Tsukikage."
Tsukikage's head turned, he stared at Koutetsu for a bit, than he went in for a bite at Koutetsu's fingers, both he and Itsuki were frozen silence. Complete disbelief in the moment of what happened.
"ITAAAAAAAIIIIIIII!!!!"