𝕴t was a sneaky thing that Kaito was doing, getting a pet, behind his Aunt and Uncle's back with the money that he had saved up. But it was something that he wanted.
For the longest time, since he had first met the little creatures that made his cold soul go soft, he had longed for one of his own. He could picture it in his head, his own little puppy bounding with energy. They made him smile. And that wasn't something he did often. Not to mention they made him run.
Kaito knew that there would be consequences to his actions, especially when he brought the furry creature home. He knew that pets had no place in the dhampir mansion. They were frowned upon.
But Kaito did not care. Why should he? He was going to take care of his new companion. He would bear the consequences because after that, he would have someone to talk to, to play with, and to care for, for the rest of his life. That was worth it. It was especially worth it when you didn't have anyone else who would do that to you.
His mom and dad would have approved. And that was all it took for him to step into the store.
The store was overwhelming with sounds of cats meowing, bunnies hopping, owls flapping their wings and... three half-crups, in the corner, wagging their tails and happily playing with each other. They were who he had come for.
Kaito had come into the store with a purpose. He was going to buy a half-crup. He was going to have a furry creature, a magical version of the dogs and puppies he loved and cared for. But how was Kaito supposed to choose from three of them?
An older couple stood at a desk, with smiling faces. "Good morning sir!" the man, pretty tall, with broad shoulders walked slowly towards him. He pushed his wired glasses up further onto his nose before meeting him in the eyes, "My name is Ernest and this," he pointed to a shorter woman with curly hair wearing a bright colored floral dress. As she walked closer, Kaito could get a whiff of sugar cookies and baked goods, "is my wife Anita!"
"Kaito," he replied, instinctively offering his hand, before awkwardly taking it back. He shook his head. Formal introductions were not needed with an owner of a pet shop.
"I'd like to buy a half-crup," he stated and then added, "please."
"Very well! Have your pick!" the woman, Anita replied, cheerfully, "They are a great choice!"
Now to make the choice between the three of them. They looked and acted... well... the same. They were all white colored with brown spots around their face. They were relatively medium sized, with tons of energy. But the most interesting thing about them was their split tail. They all faced Kaito, wagging their tails, tongue sticking out, waiting for him to choose. Kaito wanted to take all of them home, but he knew he couldn't.
He stood there for a moment, in the midst of the chaos and other sounds surrounding him, watching the three half-crups, and their beautiful faces until he noticed something peculiar. As he walked closer to the one on the left, he noticed a black spot on the half-crup's ear. That was unusual. None of the other ones had a spot like that.
Was it a birthmark? Instinctively, he reached to the back of his own neck, feeling the black scar that brought back terrible memories. He didn't want to think about those memories. And suddenly he had a connection with this little puppy. It was decided in an instant. Scooping the half-crup up into his arms, he turned back to the owners of the shop, Anita and Ernest.
"This one," he nodded politely. "I think it's the one for me."
There was a long moment of silence where they stood looking at him. He had no clue what they were thinking so he just stood his ground, hands wrapped around the half-crup, staring right into their eyes.
And then they smiled. Ernest beamed, and then said, "You're a good kid. I think you made the right choice!"
A smile tugged at the corner of Kaito's mouth but he pushed it away. He would save the smile for when his plan successfully worked, and he could actually keep the little half-crup.
"Does the half-crup have a name?" he asked curiously, attempting to change the topic.
"Echo," Anita replied, handing him the change as he paid at the cashier. "It's a her."
Kaito let the name sit in his mind for a few moments. "Echo," he repeated. Echo barked, and Kaito rubbed the top of her head. It was fitting. He liked the name Echo. It couldn't have been a better name. And Echo couldn't have been a better companion.
Kaito bowed his head, "Thank you!" he said, softly. He pulled his hood over his head, and exited the store, Echo in hand. If his Aunt and Uncle saw him now, oh they would kill him. Buying a half-crup didn't seem like a life changing choice to any ordinary person. But for Kaito it was. It was a new beginning, where he wouldn't let his Aunt and Uncle control him. This path he was taking, it was a fork in the road. And for some reason that made him smile.
