A/N: here's another story for all y'all. Sequel to Sugar is a Drug. You might want to read that first to understand this one a bit. Otherwise Leon will confuse you.


He was sleeping, much like he usually did. It wasn't like he needed to sleep per say, but when one had little else to do other than sleep…well…one tended to sleep. And that's exactly what Leon Orcot was doing. Oddly enough, the Ethiopian wolf god wasn't in his enclosure, but on a large, soft, satin pillow in the front room; half under one of D's serving tables…or was it the one that held fish? It wasn't like Leon cared about it much. According to his instincts, he could attain a fourth tail relatively soon, but he just didn't feel like doing anything.

Leon felt like he was waiting for something.

He had paced his enclosure restlessly, day and night, putting the other animals nearby at unease. They had complained to D who had, in turn, brought him to the front room so that he could, hopefully, find what he was looking for and not cause undue trouble in the shop.

Secretly, D was excited. Leon had been in his care for a few years now and hadn't yet felt the need to venture outside the shop. D could only conclude that this restless behaviour of his detective was due to someone needing him.

The day began like any other. Leon briefly opened one stunning blue eye to watch the Count greet a new customer.

"Good morning," his deep voice said. "Welcome to my shop."

"I've heard that you sell amazing animals," a man replied.

Something in the man's voice had Leon awake and alert; both of his blue eyes opened and studying the shop around him. Kittens played with fox kits, fish swam lazily in their tanks, birds sang and chirped their delight and worship to D and the sun. His eyes zeroed in on the man.

He was average looking, as he explained his need for a companion for his daughter; his hair was a brown colour that, no doubt, had red highlights in the sunlight. His posture was straight and confidant, but Leon didn't like his grey-green eyes. There was something off about them. Growling to himself, Leon stood and made his way to D, weaving about the chairs and settees the man had strewn "tastefully" about the shop with various tea services. Reaching D and the man, he sat down next to D's feet, tails tucked alongside his body, and waited.

"Oh my," D exclaimed as silence fell between the two.

"That's a nice looking dog," the man complimented. Leon regarded him with cool eyes. "What's the fuss?"

"It's just that," D paused, looking for words. Leon felt smug and new his face betrayed his emotions. "He's never been interested in leaving the shop before."

"Really?" the man replied. D probably new the man's name, but Leon felt that it was unnecessary information at the moment. If he needed to know it, he'd learn it. "That's odd for a dog; they usually want their own person as soon as possible. What happened to the rest of his littermates?"

D shook his head. "They were born at an odd time of the year; he was the only one to survive. I found him and two other in a cardboard box on the side of the road. He was the only one to make it."

"Poor fella," the man agreed as he offered his hand for Leon to sniff.

Delicately extending his neck, Leon carefully sniffed the man's hand. His scent wasn't too bad, but there was something about it that was…off. Regardless, he dipped his head and allowed the man to pet him, thumping one tail in appreciation.

"He seems like a nice dog," the man proffered.

D smiled his enigmatic smile. "He seems to have taken a liking to you."

The man smiled. "What's his name?"

"I call him Leon," the Count said, "but if you wish to rename him, he's intelligent enough to recognize the difference. I have a helper that calls him 'Brother' and he responds to it."

"Odd."

D elegantly shrugged. "The dog's personality, according to him, was similar to his brother's."

The man nodded absently, mind elsewhere. "Would it be possible," he finally said, "to purchase this dog?"

D's smile was abstruse and enigmatic; a Mona Lisa smile indeed. "If you would but sign a contract, I would gladly turn the dog over to your care."

Leon liked the man's smile less than his scent.

"He is to be your daughter's pet, correct?" D said as he shuffled through a box of papers.

"That's correct," the man replied.

Finally pulling out a piece of paper he was satisfied with, Count D turned to the man. "You must let your daughter take care of all this dog's needs. That means feeding him, walking him, taking him outside; everything.

"Secondly, he's very, very intelligent; explain anything and everything to him before asking him if he understands it. He will not appreciate being fenced in or tied up so do not do it.

"Lastly, and most importantly, never strike or hit this animal for discipline or otherwise; I am not responsible for his actions otherwise.

"Do you understand?"

"Perfectly," the man said after a moment.

"Wonderful!" D exclaimed. "Please sign here."

Leon listened to the scratching of a pen on paper.

"Thank you Mr. Arjun. I hope he is all that you expected," D intoned.

"Thank you, Count, for such a wonderful animal," Mr. Arjun replied.

So the man's name was Arjun, Leon thought. D walked over to Leon before kneeling, something he rarely did in front of customers, and held his head; thumbs doing wonderful things to his hears. "You behave now; you'll know what to do when the time is right." D stood up and stepped away from him. Leon cocked his head, confused. He didn't have much time to think about it.

"Come, dog; my daughter's going to name you," Mr. Arjun commanded. Leon went to the man—Mr. Arjun—and sat at his feet expectantly. He turned and dipped his hat at D. "Thank you again, Count, for the animal."

D nodded, expression unreadable.

"Let's go."

Leon stood as the man turned to leave, wagged his tails in farewell to D, before following his new owner out of the shop.

"I hope you know what you're doing, Leon," D said as the bell above the door twinkled happily into the silence of the shop.


posted 06August2008