I am incredibly sorry, but I do not have the knowledge to take Icy Skies any farther than I have in the direction I want to take it, so it is on Hiatus for a while. I am getting a little sick of writing Inuyasha, so here is something from my very favorite Series ever, Petshop of Horrors. Yes, Lauren is modeled after me… just a little bit! But really, not exactly… I just wanted to add my own character…
Disclaimer: I don't own Petshop of Horrors. I own several characters in this story, but several of them I don't. Don't Sue!
Lauren turned her head as the wind gusted once again, blowing her curly hair into her eyes. Some people had hair that naturally flowed gently in the wind. Lauren's just got in her eyes. She shoved the mass of tangled curls behind he ear. It was a useless endeavor, but she couldn't help but try. She held her unruly hair in a loose ponytail with one hand while she scanned the row of buildings.
She wasn't exactly sure how she had ended up in Chinatown. She had been walking downtown, looking for a place that would hire her for the summer, and somehow she had ended up here.
"Restaurant, Restaurant, Restaurant, Gift Shop, Restaurant, not sure…" She mumbled, reading the signs posted in several languages, only one of which she spoke.
A tree at the end of the block rustled and through the leaves she glimpsed the edge of one more storefront. It was a beautifully carved and painted column running down the edge of the building situated on the corner of the block. She ran to the edge of the block, pushing through the leaves of the tree and entering the awning.
As she stepped up to the door, Lauren got the feeling she had been transported into another world. She stared up at the sign, the wind gusting her hair back almost painfully. "A… a pet shop? In Chinatown?" She said, out loud but almost a whisper.
She stepped inside the elaborately furnished sitting room, and the feeling that she was in another world increased. An assortment of beautiful and interestingly dressed people dotted the couches and the ground. A curl of incense smoke drifted lazily through the air. In her dreamlike state, Lauren didn't even question the lack of pets.
A woman wearing a tight fitting striped Chinese dress raised her head from where she had been languidly draped over the back of the couch. "Come on in, honey. No need to be afraid!" She said in a soothing if slightly condescending tone of voice.
The sound of her voice roused another sleeper, a longhaired young man who had been napping under the couch. Lauren looked down as he crawled out, glaring slightly at being woken. He blinked hazily and moved his gaze up to rest on Lauren. His eyes lit up as he saw her, glowing with a feral light. He smiled, and Lauren shivered involuntarily.
"Ah! Feeding time already, then?" He said with obvious delight, crossing the distance to Lauren in one swift movement. "I see the count is in a generous mood today!" He said, lifting her of the ground and grinning. The woman on the back of the couch looked up and 'tsk'ed softly.
"Ah, T-chan, T-chan." She smiled. "This girl is not your dinner! She is a customer!" The man, now identified as T-chan, dropped Lauren and looked at her sheepishly.
"I knew that! Just having a bit of… fun, neh?" He smiled questioningly at her. She grinned back weakly.
"Fun. Yeah." She offered her hand out and then drew it swiftly back and stepped backwards a few steps. "I'm Lauren. It's, uh, nice to meet you, Mr…"
"T-chan." He said, his face reverting to its habitual glare. Lauren smiled, still keeping a safe distance.
"Alright, T-chan. Nice to meet you." She said. The woman slid off the back of the couch.
"I'm Ella, honey. Don't mind T-chan. He doesn't eat customers." Lauren looked up at the taller woman, relieved to see a kind face.
"Is this your shop?" She asked. Ella laughed a little.
"My shop?" She repeated. "Farthest thing from it!" She said. "No, the man you are looking for would be Count D. He should be along any minute." The almost silent sound of footsteps sounded in the hallway. "That's him now, honey." Ella told her. Lauren glanced up as a painted rice-paper door slid softly open and the tall, black haired figure of a man stepped out.
"A customer? Why didn't you tell me, Ella?" He asked. He turned his attention to Lauren. "Please sit down, miss."
"L- Lauren." She said, in a half whisper. She glanced at the couch he had gestured to. It was almost completely occupied by a tall blond man, passed out drunk. Ella lounged above him, her fingers resting lightly in his hair. She turned to T-chan.
"T-chan, I believe your little friends are in Honlon's room." She said softly, but in a firm tone of voice." T-chan scowled.
"Those happy idiots are not my friends." He muttered under his breath as he stalked off in the direction of the back of the shop, disappearing through a door.
Lauren sat delicately on the edge of the couch and focused her attention back on the count, building up her courage. "Would you like some Tea, Lauren?" He asked. She nodded.
"Yes please." She sat in silence as he prepared the tea. When it was poured, He brought out a plate with small cakes arranged on it in patterns.
"Please, take a cake. I just got these today, and am most eager to hear your opinion." He said. Lauren sipped her tea. "Now tell me, what sort of pet are you looking for? Let us work together to find the perfect companion for you."
Lauren gathered up her courage. "Actually, sir, I am not looking for a pet. I… I am, that is, I was… well, I came in here to ask… Are you hiring? Are you looking for help for the summer?" Count D blinked.
"To tell you the truth, the possibility hadn't even crossed my mind." He said, surprised. Lauren fidgeted.
"Oh… of course. I guess you wouldn't need any more help with all of these people around." For a second she could have sworn she saw the counts eyes widen in genuine shock, but he composed his features so quickly that she couldn't discount the idea that her eyes were merely playing tricks on her.
"You know what?" The count said, his dead serious tone belying his casual words. "We are hiring."
She… She can see them….
Authors notes: This series is going to have much shorter chapters and, hopefully, much more frequent updates than Icy Skies ever did. After this first chapter, I will probably be writing from other points of view, as well as introducing more of the main characters, like Leon, Chris, Honlon, Pon-chan, Ten-chan, Phillipe and several others, as well as a few more of my own characters. Look forward to it!