Submission (#6640) Approved

Festive as everything could be in the latter months of the year, Ignis deeply hated being stuck in one place. Despite his long absence, he always yearned to share his trade with the rest of Eyre, with his tinctures and herbal remedies. It had been a long-standing practice, though it was time for nesting. Time for family. Shiori enjoyed having him home for then, and to be sure he wouldn’t get lost on one of his adventures. Thus, she’d let the festive decorations creep in, including a small bonsai tree she’d put little candles on to light. Already, she’d gotten their foster kittoms their presents and had been at work making more clothing than anyone might need, wrapping them in golden and pink paper with bows. Ignis enjoyed that she was so attentive to their needs and the needs, but as per usual, ignored her own.

He’d tried asking her flat out what she might like for the holiday season, and he’d get different, yet vague, answers.

“Oh nothing, you don’t have to get me anything.” She said. Or the “I just want the kids to be happy.” None of which gave him any ideas, so he assumed that he’d be on his own to find whatever the perfect gift for his beloved might be.

A morning a few days before their traditional gift exchange, he decided to take his chance. “Alright Shiori.” He said. “I’m going to get food supplies now.” The nin stopped in the doorway, turning back with a dashing smile before heading off to the marketplace. 

Even in the winter, the orange and red hues of the trees of Bellmoril lifted the city’s mood. There was a scent of pinecones and imported fir pieces for small trees and wreaths littered the holiday market. Ignis was on a mission to find something perfect, so he ignored it all as he passed to the regular market near a large, circular courtyard area that shops on all sides walled in. He was lucky that Shiori was taking the time off from her market stall. He was less lucky that others had followed suit, leaving there less selection.

“Alright Ignis, for your wife.” He said to himself, twitching his tail as he made his way through the crowds and peered at the stalls. 

A stall of crocheted animals was in front of him, which he quickly abandoned as Shiori had her own crotchet and sewn plush animals. It would be silly to give her something that she could make herself. A snack stand was beside that, with festive treats and brightly colored taffies imported from seaside towns. They were delicious, but their small house was filled with treats from all over and in all shapes and sizes. There are better gifts than this. He thought, grumbling under his breath. 

Flicking in the wind, his tail curled to the coldness of the season and he desperately searched through the stalls, seeing an empty one and muttering under his breath that it was missing. Usually, they had tools there, that could make a good gift if it were the right kind of tool. Something she could use. However, he had his doubts about making a work tool a gift. A blessing in disguise, though now his options were limited as he recoiled from a brown-on-brown sculpture shop. 

Ignis walked to the edge of the stalls and sighed as he stared between. His ears twitched and he shook his head, staring between the two. Crowds had gathered around them so he couldn’t see, so he had to be careful as he slowly pushed into them. On one side was a stall of odds and ends with no true theme. He could see dried fish wrapped, glass shards, and empty bottles Yet somehow people were gathered around a series of fluffy pieces. The other side had very little left over, but he stopped and stared with a sour face.

In the stall, another elnin was slowly restocking, staring at the sour-faced elnin with a perplexed look. “If you’re looking for something special, I have something here.” Slowly, she pushed a bag onto the flat surface and opened it delicately with her paws. “I’m a jeweler by trade, and around this time I make these.” A bracelet appeared with a shining snowflake shape made of diamond. “They are my specialty.”

Ignis moved closer, standing up on the top of his paws to see it closer. “It’s lovely.” In his mind, he could see Shiori and her smile. The thing he wished for most in all of Eyre. “How much?”

“400 coins.” She said.

His face dropped completely and he stared down at his bag and pushed off of the stall. He didn’t even have half of that price. Crestfallen, he shook his head. “Thank you, but I will have to pass.”

A spark of his sadness landed on her and she seemed shaken, placing the item back in. Whether it was her empathy or caring heart, she pulled out a pink hair comb with a sakura blossom. In the middle was a shining pearl and she pushed it towards him. “Wait, this is the last of these. Not as extravagant but they are only 40 coins.” 

Frozen in place, he stared between the two items. The pink color reminded him of Shori and he smiled softly. She deserved the best, and deep down he wanted to get her the shining bracelet, but the comb resonated. Sakura was a common motif of hers, and she often worked hard to make the designs in her work. “I’ll take it.” He said, thinking of her smile and hoping he would see it again. Maybe it was a mistake, but all he could do was think of his beloved and he had it wrapped in a pink bag, carrying it in his mouth to head home.

Nervousness went through him as he walked back, thinking it could be considered too cheap. Too different. His tail twitched and he shook those thoughts away. All of his thoughts were with her when he bought it. Her happiness, and surely that would be enough. A gift from the heart instead of a sparkling extravagance. All of his love wrapped up in a little pink bag with a special gift for her. What else could he wish for?