Chapter 2

Every day Koruna came to the shop for several hours, at least one of those hours were spent under the close supervision of Minister Yamato. D, though very displeased with his obligation to marry this young lady, had come to acceptance with his fate. However, Leon never made it easy for him.

"I thought arranged marriages weren't done in this century," said the detective one day while he, D, Jill, and Chris were having tea together before Koruna's visit. On this day, they were going to take her to the zoo under Chris's request. Jill thought it was such a cute idea, that she motioned to Leon that they should make it a double date. "I mean, wouldn't it make you happier if you got to pick your wife, like I do?"

"Well, it would take the complication out of things, I suppose," D sighed, pouring a new cup of tea for Chris. "Besides, I'm sure my father has his reasons." The Count had not told Orcot, or anyone else, about Koruna being the Ferret Princess. He had never mentioned it since the day he met her. However, he did plan on asking her what her intentions were for masquerading as a human First Child of Japan. "Weddings have been set through family agreements since the dawn of time in my country. It's not unusual for something like this to occur. In fact, it's only been recently that families don't get involved. Of course, some families prefer to stick with tradition."

"Which is why you're wearing that skirt," Leon concluded. Jill elbowed him in the ribs and called him a no-good-chauvinistic lout for saying that. They all had a good laugh. Except for Leon, who pouted.

"I think it's sweet how accepting you're being to this, Count," Jill said. "Love is hard to find, but sometimes, when you don't want it, it'll come to you and if you resist, it'll go away and never come back."

D set his tea down. His eyes looked distant. He had found love once, he thought. And just like Jill said, his unwillingness to accept it caused that chance to leave him forever. If only he were able to go back in time and fix what he had done. To maybe tell her that he loved her. But it was too late. Monica had died, and he was unable to stop it, yet he was the only one who could.

"Yo, D!" Leon called, yanking on the Count's sleeve. "Come on, your woman's here, let's go."

The Count shook his head and looked up to see Koruna standing next to Minister Yamato who was smiling broadly. "My daughter says you are a very good man, Count. I now believe that I was a wise man in taking this offer. You will take good care of my daughter, no?"

D bowed. "How can one not dote upon such a creature, Sir Yamato? Now, if you would be so kind as to excuse us for the day, we're all taking Christopher to the zoo."

The Minister smiled even brighter. "Of course! I have other engagements anyway." He bowed his head and left, leaving Koruna behind with a very cross look on her face.

"The zoo?" she stated plainly. It was more of a scoff than a question.

"Yes," D said, "Chris wanted to go and Jill thought it would be nice if we all went together."

"Kinda like a double date," Jill chimed in.

"For someone from Japan, you don't have much of a Japanese accent," said Leon, ever the suspicious detective.

Both D and Jill kicked him in the shin. "Honestly, Orcot, I don't know why Jill puts up with you. Come along or the zoo will be over-crowded with people."

"Honestly, D you have no patients." Leon sighed.

"Bro, leave him alone for the day, will ya?"

Koruna stepped on D's foot. He jumped. "Why was I not informed of us going to the zoo? I hate animals."

"Unusual…" observed the Count.

The princess snapped an angry glare. "What? You find this strange?"

D nodded. "Why would a Buddhist hate animals?"

"I spit on the name of Buda!" she cried.

The Count didn't say anymore. He just smiled and took Chris's hand. "Well, I'm sorry to hear that."

All that day at the zoo, Chris held a smile that wouldn't fade while Jill and Leon grew closer. Koruna was silent, but polite while the Count showed her around and told her every animal's idiosyncratic habits.

During lunch, Jill took it upon herself to notice that the Count wasn't in his best mood. She tested her theory by taking a bite of his dessert. When he didn't even seem to notice, she smiled, folded her hands together, and said, "Say, Chris, how would you like to see the dolphin show?"

"Really?" Chris cried in excitement, ice cream dripping down his shirt. "That would be fun!"

"Great," Jill continued. "Koruna, would you like to join us? Leave the men to do their thing for a while?" Leon gave Jill a questioning glance. She returned his gaze with a stern gleam. "Leon, I'm sure you won't mind spending some time with the Count. Lord knows you spend all your working hours with him. Not to mention your off-duty time."

D sighed, uneasy. Leon just mumbled. "I suppose someone has to keep an eye on him," he said. The Count huffed the remark away, looking about the zoo for something to eat.

"Detective, I must say I am hungry. Why don't you treat me to some snacks at the Flour de'Locreme over there?" said the Count. Leon groaned. That place was so expensive, and he had already spent a lot of his pay check this day.

"How about I get you some ice cream and we call it even?"

"I'm afraid they never put enough sugar in their ice cream. I'd much prefer to have some sweets." Leon groaned again.

They said good bye to Jill, Chris, and Koruna who took their leave to the dolphin show. "I've been reading about dolphins!" Chris said excitedly. "Flip told me a lot about them and they really interested me. Apparently, they sleep with one eye open! And they use more of their brains than we do. I also read that it's questioned that they might even be smarter than humans."

"Almost all animals are," said Koruna. "But fish were never known to be very clever."

Jill rolled her eyes. This princess was quite rude, and very spoiled. But she just smiled and turned away, when really she wanted to remind little Miss Priss whose country kicked whose butt in World War II.

Leon threw his cup of tea away. "D, I can't believe you bring your own tea to an amusement park."

"First of all, my dear Detective," the Count began, "this is a zoo, not an amusement park. It's an educational environment for children to learn the improper ways of animal care. And second of all, the tea they have here tastes bitter and completely cheap."

Leon's face turned red. "Cut it with the dear detective crap, D," he said, "I have a girlfriend, you know and I don't want her to think I'm gay."

D sighed. "Don't worry," he exclaimed, "One look at that apartment of yours and she'll know you're sexual preference right away." Leon blushed. "I embarrassed you, Mr. Detective?"

"Huh? Dream on." Leon waved a hand in the air. The Count focused his attention on a sleeping Jackal. "Speaking of bars and cages," said Leon, changing the subject. "What's with your little ball and chain? I want full details here. I've heard some interesting stories about Japanese gals. So tell the truth. I bet she's a real animal in bed."

"LEON!" the Count turned away and flushed pure scarlet. Author's Note: As oppose to impure scarlet. . "I'll have you know that I am an honorable man and will not scorn her body until the proper time."

Leon stepped back a tad. "Scorn? Is that what you Chinese call sex these days?" The detective let out a yelp when D's foot met his. "All right, all right. I'll change my question. What's her deal? Does she hate everything?"

The Count's duel eyes were fixed hazily on the Jackal. It stood and came toward him, returning his gaze. Leon tried hard to break their stare-off but D merely back-handed him. "Do you see this jackal, Mr. Detective?" Leon only nodded. In these cases he preferred not to ask questions. "Only three years ago, it was free and about to have a healthy litter of pups. Then, she was taken to this tiny cage and had to escort her young ones to the realm of the dead. Can you imagine how that must have felt?"

Leon was confused. "And what makes you think this is true?"

"She told me," said the Count. "Every animal in this zoo has had a story almost equal in caliber. Why do you think that is? Animals were meant to be free. They live for a higher purpose than we. And yet, humans think that it's their right to tear them from the very home they know into a strange environment; one full of different rules, and far too many boundaries. Do you think they actually like that sort of life?"

Leon didn't answer. None of D's words made sense to him. "D, they're just animals. Who cares what they like?"

D turned his attention to Leon and sighed. His eyes were wet with un-cried tears. "I do, Mr. Detective," he said. "And if I don't love the minister's daughter, I could lose my shop and all of my animals will probably end up living like this poor jackal here. All of Chris's friends: my friends. Even T-Chan would live with anguishing life. Or worse…. I can't afford to risk that, Detective. I love them far too much to put my own selfish feelings before theirs."

Leon could see the hurt in his friend's eyes. He knew now that the Count that was once always so mysteriously happy was now hurting more than he could hold up. The Count, Leon's arch nemesis and trusted friend was in a lot of pain and there was almost nothing that Leon could do about it. "Hey, Count?" he said in a caring tone, "Why don't you come with me? I'll buy you some fudge?"

D's watery eyes lit up a little bit and a small smile came to the corner of his lips. "I'd like that."

Mr. Yamato stepped into the pet shop with a cheerful grin on his face and looked around as though he were inspecting it with plans in his mind. The Count didn't trust the man. "Count, I'm afraid I'll need an answer sooner, rather than later as to the marriage we have arranged for you," he said with a beaming grin on his face. It was almost sinister. "The Japanese embassy is having a ball in two weeks, and I would like to have your answer by then. I hope you do make the wise decision though."

D's duel eyes looked carefully into Yamato's with intense furry. "We agreed I had two more months to make my decision." He argued. "What you are doing is not fair to the terms of your contract, Mr. Yamato. There are penalties for breaking contracts. Serious penalties that I don't believe you'd like to face."

"Are you threatening me, Count?"

D shrugged. "Perception is nine tenths, I suppose," he replied with bitter calm. "Where is the girl, sir?"

"She's coming in as soon as she finishes filling out the rest of the papers I've given her." His grin widened all the way across his face. "Weddings have always been such blessed events."

Q-Chan perched himself on the Count's shoulders with resentment in his beady little eyes. He screed and snarled in his squeaky little voice, waggling a little finger in Yamato's direction. "It seems that your flying rat has taken a liking to disrespect his superiors." D's eyes flared. "None the matter, he will learn respect in time."

"Q-Chan is my shop assistant. He may do as he pleases, sir." D's gaze was defiant and angry. "Your welcome in my shop has passed the point of tolerance. Do leave before I call the police." Yamato laughed a moment. Then, he saw the serious hatred in D's eyes and left just as Koruna came gliding into the shop. "Good afternoon, Lady Koruna. You do look lovely today."

"Your cop friend questioned me rather harshly," she sneered. "Next you speak with him, tell him he must treat me with more respect, or I shall not allow you to see him again."

"Lady Koruna, you are not of the authority to tell me who I can or cannot see," replied the Count, just as haughtily. "What the detective does is out of care for me. He is my friend, and though that may mean nothing to you and your people, it is something I hold with pride."

Koruna huffed and sat down. "Don't just stand there, poor me a cup of tea."

T-Chan was loyally standing before the Count. "Please, Count, can I eat her now?" D patted his head soothingly.

"You're disturbing my pets with your behavior, ma'am and I must say, I don't appreciate it in the least. Either you apologize to them or I reveal to your "father" that his daughter's been kidnapped."

Koruna laughed. "Don't be ridiculous!" she cried. "Do you really think that man will believe you? I can see you telling him now. 'My deepest apologies, Sire, but your daughter's been kidnapped by ferrets.' Classic, I must say. He'll laugh in your face. Your silly animals deserve no such apologies from me."

"Treacherous bitch!" growled T-Chan. Koruna's almond eyes snapped in the Tetsu's direction. He growled back at her, showing off his sharp teeth and drooling. "Traitors make lovely stew."

"Now, now, T-Chan, we must be friendly to our guest."

"Why do you defend her, Count?" asked the Tetsu. D simply sighed and looked out the window, longing to be anywhere than where he was. "Count?" T-Chan growled. He was very displeased at the moment. "Forget this. I'm gonna go cook something."

The tetsu left the main room of the shop in an angry huff. "Koruna, that was very rude, what you did to T-Chan."

Koruna looked up and the Count, her eyes sharp enough to cut through steel. "Don't talk down to me like I'm one of your silly pets, Count D," she ordered. "I am here for an important reason and I won't let you or some stupid snarling goat spoil my plans."

D folded his arms across his chest. "And what might those plans be?" he asked.

"My tea?"

With a sigh, the Count poured a cup of tea and sat down, flustered and tired, holding back tears. He wished he had someone near by for support. But no one was ever there for the Count other than his pets, who were all now very displeased with him. For the first time in a very long time, D was alone.