An Assassin's Respite

A Gift to Say Thanks

Kazuna was eating lunch with his usual friend group, enjoying the usual chaos.

"So Kazuna, how has the cute little Kari been?" Yua asks.

"She's been good. Right now she's excited about the new episode of her favorite show." He answers.

"Oh, that episode was pretty good!" Yua says with a smile. 

"Really? I'm not exactly sure what was so spectacular about it," He says.

He had never been one to watch tv, and it didn't help that he didn't understand why people enjoyed watching it anyway.

"Really?!" Yua exclaims.

"Then, can you explain what made the episode so good?" He asks.

"I'd love to. You see, the main character Tiz had to save his friend Lami after she was kidn*pped. However, he wasn't strong enough to save her on his own, so he got help from his friends. With their help, he was able to save Lami, and he promised to protect her forever," Yua explains with stars in her eyes.

"I see," Kazuna says, although he was still unaware of what was so special.

"That sounds similar to a story I heard recently," Yua notes.

She had taken a seat next to Kazuna on the couch.

"What kind of story?" He asks.

"The story of how you, Kagura, and Ria saved Kari," She replies.

"Now that you mention it, there are some striking similarities. Is that why she liked that episode so much?" Kazuna asks.

"Probably, the way Tiz gives it his all to save his friend probably reminded her of how you fought with all you had to save her," Yua says. 

"I couldn't have done it without Ria or Kagura," Kazuna states.

"I know that Ria and Kagura helped, but if she had never met you, she would still be a prisoner to those guys. She's probably been trying to think of a way to thank you or pay you back," Yua says.

"She doesn't need to thank me, I did all of that of my own volition," Kazuna says.

"But not only did you save her, but you also gave her somewhere to live, you feed her, you enrolled her in school and bought her all of her clothes. There's no way she wouldn't want to properly thank you," Yua adds.

"Kazuna, sometimes denying someone's need to thank you can be damaging," Akeno states.

She had been listening in on their conversation. 

"Really?" Kazuna asks.

"Yes, so it might be a good idea to allow her to find a way to thank you and accept it with a smile," Akeno reinforces.

"And if she needs help, I'll be glad to offer my assistance," Yua says with a proud smile.

Kazuna lets the thought lay in the back of his head until he got home later that day.

"Hey Kari," He says as they sat at the dinner table.

"Hmm?" She mumbles.

"I've taken the advice of some friends and listened to what they had to say. I know that you're looking for a way to thank me for what I've done even though you don't need to. I also know that you've been struggling with finding a way to thank me, so If you need help, I have a friend that has offered to help you." He says.

"Really!?" Kari asks in excitement.

"Yes. She said she would be willing to help you tomorrow after school." He replies.

Kari screeches in excitement and jollying finishes eating her food.

The next day, Yua came to pick Kari up who was waiting eagerly after school. After a few minutes of traveling, the pair makes it to the city center.

"So, do you have some type of message you want to get across with your gift?" Yua asks.

Kari nods.

"I want to let him know that I"m thankful for all he's done and that he's a nice person despite what he may think," She states.

"Well, since this is Kazuna we're talking about, getting him something will prove difficult since he isn't one to care for material things, so getting something of sentimental value might be better," Yua suggests.

"Sentimental value?" Kari questions.

"Right. For example, even though Kazuna regrets his actions as an assassin, he keeps up his training. Why is that?" Yua asks.

"Because he wants to get stronger?" Kari guesses.

"Partly, but also because it's the one thing left that his grandfather imparted to him. To him, his training is the only thing left of his grandfather's. Of course, that goes for the swords as well," She answers.

"But how does that help us?" Kari asks.

"Simple, we just have to find something that will remind Kazuna of you. Something that shows he did something good and helped save someone. I'm sure he would cherish something like that," Yua states.

"So, what should I get him?" Kari asks.

"It's simple really, just get him something that he can wear that you think would look nice on him," Yua responds.

"Something that looks nice on him?" Kari repeats as she begins to think.

"Like, a necklace?" She asks.

"If that's what you want to get him," Yua says.

"Are you sure?" Kari asks, still unsure if she was thinking about this the right way.

"Why don't we go ahead and look around and see if anything catches your eye," Yua suggests.

"Okay," Kari responds, and the two begin their spree of window shopping.

Since they didn't have any real idea of what they wanted to get, they quickly got lost in the bustling activity. There were so many shops that sold so many different and unique things. There were shops that sold clothing, food, snacks, candy, jewelry, merchandise of famous special agents, specialized clothing for people with powers that affected their bodies or made it hard for them to wear regular clothing and use their power.

Kari began to worry that it was hopeless for her to find something that she could give Kazuna that he would like and would express how she felt. Or, that's how she felt until she stumbled upon a strange shop. It was a tiny shop relative to those around it, and it looked rundown. Not because it wasn't clean or due to cracked foundations, but due to age. For some reason, it caught her eye, and she led Titannia into the shop.

As she walked in, it felt as if she was going back in time. There weren't any fancy lights, just a couple of lantern's and the floor was wooden and creaky. The items consisted of old dolls and antiques. There were even a couple of weapons sprung around.

"Welcome," She hears someone say. The voice was from an older lady. She was in her 70's, maybe even 80's.

"Can I help you with something?" She asks.

"U-Uhm, we're just looking," Kari answers.

"Maybe I can help you find what you're looking for," The woman states.

"That would be very helpful. We're actually looking to get something for a teenage boy to thank him for all he's done," Yua responds.

"I see. May I ask what this boy is like?" The woman asks.

"He's someone that I look up to and respect a lot. His eyes are a little scary sometimes, but he's really nice and is always helping people. He's really strong and uses his strength to protect people who aren't strong and doesn't judge them for their weaknesses. He thinks that he isn't a good person because of his past, but I know that he is a good person even if he doesn't think so," Kari says.

The passion in her voice made Titannia smile.

"It seems that you continue to make a difference in people's lives Kazuna," Yua says to herself.

"It appears that this boy means a great deal to you," The woman notes.

"Yes," Kari says with a nod.

"Come, I think that I have just the thing for you," She says.

She starts to walk to the back of the store, and Kari and Yua follow her. 

"This is something that my late husband had given me. He told me that a day would come when I would give this away of my choosing. He may have been a crazy old goat, but I trusted his word more than anything else. So I patiently waited for that day, and it seems that it has finally come," She says as she hands Kari something.

It was a pendant of a dragon. The dragon was breathing fire, had yellow eyes, and there was some decoration to simulate the wings beating.

"Are, are you sure you should be giving us a memento of your late husband?" Yua asks.

The woman nods. 

"It was given to me for me to give it away. I'm happy that someone could finally help me fulfill the last favor he had asked of me," She says with a smile.

"It's pretty," Kari notes.

"Pretty and powerful. It symbolizes strength, compassion, and honor. Someone that fights with all their might to protect those that can't protect themselves," She states.

"It's perfect!" Kari exclaims.

"I'm glad," The woman smiles.

"How much?" Yua asks.

"Oh, there isn't a price tag. It's a gift," The woman replies.

"But," Kari goes to complain, but the woman holds a hand up to silence her.

"It was given to me for me to give away. Putting a price on it would ruin the whole purpose. So please, take it," The woman encourages.  

Kari's eyes move to the side and stick onto something.

"Can we also get that?" she asks while pointing to what she was looking at.

"Oh, well sure, I"ll even throw it in for free." The woman says with a smile.

"Thank you," Kari says while bowing, and Yua follows suit.

"Now, now, there's no need to bow like that. Just make sure you give it to Kazuna and tell him how you feel," The woman says.

"Right!" Kari replies as she rushes out of the store with Yua close behind her.

The woman closes the store door and flips the sign from open to closed.

"It seems that our grandson is growing as a person," She says to herself.

Later, once Yua returned Kari, Kari handed Kazuna a gift bag that had the pendant they had gotten him in it.

"Thank you, Mr. Kazuna. For all that you have done and are still doing for me," Kari says.

Kazuna opens the bag and takes out the pendant. His eyes go wide as he inspects every detail of it.

"D-do you like it?" Kari asks.

"How... did you get this?" Kazuna asks as he continues to inspect the gift.

"A nice old lady gave it to us from an old shop in the city center. She said her late husband had given it to her and had her wait for someone that she felt she could give it away to," Kari answers.

His shocked expression softens as a smile spreads across his face. He reaches over and pats Kari on her head.

"Thank you for the pendant. I will be sure to treasure it," He says, causing a smile that spreads ear to ear to appear on her face.

"I don't know why you didn't just take me over her." Ria mumbles.

"Oh and I also got you something big sis Ria." She says while taking out a bracelet.

Ria's eyes grow wide as she looks at a bracelet with clear gems lining it. It looked like the bracelet that Lami wears in the show they enjoy.

"Is... Is this for me?" Ria asks with a surprised look.

"Mhm, Kari says with a nod.

"Ria tenderly takes the bracelet and puts it on. A smile shows on her face but she quickly gets rid of it.

"I guess I'll forgive you for now." She says while hurrying up the stairs.

"Of course," She says with a smile.

"Why don't you go ahead and take a bath and prepare for bed. You must be tired after all, you have been gone all day," Kazuna says.

Kari nods as she skips up to the bathroom. Kazuna continues to stare at the pendant with an expression that was softer than usual.

"It seems that my grandfather continues to look over me even in death. And thank you, grandma, for waiting for me to send you a friend," He says to himself as he puts the pendant around his neck.