Chapter 13 #3
Koichi twitched. He knew he shouldn’t even be thinking the thoughts in his head. He really shouldn’t. That money was for saving the world, not a yōkai kimono shop.
But he couldn’t stand here while the frail-looking spider in front of him needed help. It just wasn’t in him.
“I . . .” He coughed. “May have recently come into a bit of wealth.” He held out the thick, heavy purse and dropped it into the yōkai’s hand.
Haruki was aghast. “Koichi, how?”
He ignored her question. “Is it enough?” he asked the shopkeeper.
The yōkai nodded, shaking nervously. “Yes, but . . . how will I ever repay you?”
The gratitude made him feel awkward. “Don’t worry about it.”
Haruki hugged him. “Thank you, Koichi. Thank you. You have no idea what this means to me.”
The two locked eyes for a moment, before Koichi glanced away. Haruki didn’t look the same when she was happy.
She was quite lovely like this.
Shiragumo took the coins. “Thank you, sir. If you ever need us, please let us know. We are eternally in your debt.”
Koichi tried to wave them off. “It’s all fine. I need to step out for a bit.”
He wasn’t used to being treated like a hero. It made him very uncomfortable.
After a while, Haruki came out of the store.
Ryuichi-kage shook his head. “That was amazing, Koichi.”
“Let’s not talk about it.”
“That money was lent to you by a yōkai, so we probably should. Not to mention that was all the money for the shinigami!”
Koichi hissed. “Don’t say that so loud. The last thing I want is to dampen Haruki’s joy.”
Besides, Koichi would think of something. He always did. Improvising was second nature to him. He was sure another chance would rear its head soon enough.
The universe will provide.
He believed that. Whenever he needed something, it almost always manifested. Just like the night before, in the izakaya.
Still, he needed to pay Haru back. Ryuichi-kage was right about that. That had been a lot of money to blow in a single day.
Maybe he shouldn’t have been so hasty.
Then the universe delivered a mighty blow.
When Koichi turned around, he bumped into a familiar body of muscle and fur.
“There you are, little human buddy. I’ve been looking for you.”
Haru was standing right in front of him. What were the odds?
“Do you know this creature?” Haruki asked.
“Who’s the woman?” Haru asked simultaneously.
Koichi had no idea what to say or which question to answer first.
Not that he had to. The wolf sidled up to Haruki and offered her a charming grin. “Name’s Haru. How are you, most beautiful lady?”
She frowned at the yōkai. “What a coincidence. I’m Haruki.”
“Well, isn’t that interesting. We should get together sometime.
Haruki and Haru? It just makes sense. And .
. .” His words trailed off as he glanced at Koichi.
“I’m getting ahead of myself. Little human, there’s been a change of plans.
I must leave Kagemura immediately and need that money I loaned you back. ”
Oh no.
Koichi suddenly felt sick. Especially given the fact that a small crowd of sneering yōkai began to form around them.
Associates of Haru, no doubt.
Haruki gasped as she looked between the two of them. “Koichi, you didn’t.”
He cringed. “I did, but I was going to pay him back later.”
“Was?” Haru’s tone turned angry. “Don’t tell me you’ve spent it all.” He looked back at Haruki and saw her fresh, new kimono. “No. No. No. I mean, I get it. She’s very pretty, but on a woman? Is there anything left?”
Koichi shook his head.
Haru groaned. “I really hate to do this to you. I really do, but I have no choice. I can’t let others take advantage of me, so you’ll have to be an example.
After all, you’re not the first to try and scam ol’ generous Haru.
I thought this might happen, but I wanted to trust you.
Too bad you weren’t trustworthy.” Letting out a disappointed sigh, he snapped his fingers. “Sack them, boys.”
What?
Before they could move, yōkai threw sacks over their heads.
Haruki let out a loud screech. “My hair!” An instant later, the bags exploded. Shimmers of cloth floated in the air, falling toward the ground. Her eyes a vibrant red, she glared at Haru. “How dare you!”
That caught the wolf off guard as he realized they weren’t all human. Especially when Ryuichi-kage turned invisible and started to choke the yōkai holding him.
Koichi laughed at the chaos. Until something hit all three of them like a shock wave, blasting them all to the ground.
Ryuichi-kage reappeared and was frozen, like an ice cube.
So was Koichi. Paralyzed, all he could do was stare at a statuesque Haruki, who was thankfully being treated with a lot more respect.
Haru went to sniff at her, then he pulled back sharply. “Careful with the lady. Feel free to rough up the other two.”
Fantastic.
Koichi and Ryuichi-kage were quickly tossed over the shoulders of two oni and carried away. Another picked up Haruki and held her in his arms like a baby.
With one massive paw, Haru patted Koichi on his back. “We’re all going on a little voyage across the sea. Hope you can swim, little human.”