Title: Dearly Departed
Author's Note: This has a very slight crossover with Pet shop of Horrors, but it is very little, so don't worry about it. Basically, Pet shop is about a pet store in Chinatown that sells very exotic animals. The catch is that the owner must follow the rules, or they are usually eaten or something. These animals can take humanoid forms for their owners.
Rating: R
Pairings: R+1, 1+2/1x2, 3+4, past 6x2 and Solo+2.
Warnings: Gore, violence, language, AU, OOC, Relena and Zechs bastardization, animalism, death (no one yaoi fans will care about).
Summary: Heero had just started his own computed business. He had the perfect life, two loving parents, a beautiful, wealthy girlfriend, and a successful company. But, one day there is a tragic accident and his parents are killed. Heero flies into grief, he neglects his work and drifts away from his girlfriend. Then, his best friend, Trowa, suggest that, in order to make this difficult time more bearable, he get a pet…
Chapter One
Count D looked up as the door opened and hit a bell, making a small noise. The pet shop's newest customer was quite handsome. He was tall, well built, possessed an unruly mop of chocolate brown hair and steely, cobalt-blue eyes.
"Welcome," D greeted him warmly. Heero eyed the pet shop owner suspiciously. The petit, blackish purple-haired man with a left yellow eye and a right purple eye was not what he had expected.
"Yes, hi. You sold a friend of mine a puppy a few months ago and he referred me to your shop."
"Ah, are you looking for a gift for your girlfriend, perhaps? I hear birds are all the rage for young girls nowadays…" Heero shook his head.
"No, that's not it, it's for me. You see my parents just died…"
"I see, well then, do you have a preference?" Heero thought about it.
"Well, I would like something that would make a good companion. A kitten, perhaps?" The count nodded.
"Yes, I think I have the perfect pet for you, please follow me." D led the young man to a long hallway filled with cages.
'Wow… the store looks so small out front, but this place is huge, and all these animals… I hope they aren't doing anything illegal, I'd hate to be mixed up in something like that,' Heero thought.
"In here," Count D said as he opened a door. Heero walked in and gasped.
"What the fuck?!" The figure in the room cowered in a corner. Count D closed the door behind him.
"Sir, please do not shout, this particular species of cat's hearing is very acute and loud noises can frighten them, especially one this young. He is only a baby."
"S-species…," Heero stared at the 'pet'. It was sitting on the floor, it's long, shapely legs slightly bent out in front of it, it had a silk garment tied around its waist and draped along the floor. He could make out a long, thin, black tail coiled on the floor, and the creature's eyes were a gorgeous, ethereal violet. Two delicate cat ears were perched on top of its head. From the feline's forearms to its fingertips was a fine coat of soft black fur, same as the legs from just below the knees to the toes. Its fingernails were elongated and curved sharply like claws and its feet resembled a mix between a human's foot and a panther's paw. But that was where the resemblance to an animal ended. The rest of it was completely human! Soft, pale, unblemished skin, lithe figure with slender limbs and shoulders; knee-length, sun-kissed chestnut hair wrapped in a braid, bangs that fell over its eyes slightly, a slender throat, and delicate lips…
"T-that's a human!" Heero stammered. D walked over to the animal and scratched behind its velvet ears. The thing purred, its black tail swishing behind it in pleasure.
"I am afraid you are mistaken. This is a pet shop. We only sell pets. This is a cat," D said matter-of-factly.
'This can't be real.'
"A… cat?" Heero looked down sharply as the cat-boy-thing started to rub its head against his leg.
"Yes, a domesticated panther from North-America to be precise. This is one of the last of its kind, unfortunately. They've been hunted as a threat to livestock, superstitions, and its fine fur. Naturally, a panther can never be completely tamed, but this one seems to like you, which is surprising since this kitten is very shy, so you shouldn't have any problems. Unless, this one isn't to your liking…", the panther looked up at Heero in sorrow.
"No! I-I'll take him!" The count smiled, pleased.
"Alright, then," he handed Heero a form, "this is your contract. There are three rules you must follow. Comb out his fur at least once a day, give him lots of affection; never raise your voice to him or make him cry, feed him meat three times a day. Never skip a meal. There is one more thing that applies to all of our most exotic animals: do not show him to anyone else." Heero nodded in understanding. The panther smiled at him brightly and Heero nearly melted.
'Kawaii.'
"If these rules are broken, we can not be held responsible for the consequences."
"Um, does he have a name?" The panther made some small growling and chirping noises.
"Yes. It's Duo."
End Chapter One