~Wonderful Pet Shop of Horrors~

Deep in the heart of Chinatown, there are rare and valuable commodities. Here, you will find just that. Please enter, and tonght you will find something you desire.

*~ Dreizehn~*

The bell to the shop's door clinked, signaling the arrival of a customer. Alice Liddell walked down the burgundy hallways, passing through the curtains that hung loosely by tassels and breathing in the exotic incense that filled the air. A man held on to her shoulder, walking closely behind her. The two came to a big room, one decorated with silky draping curtains and chairs and a table. A soft pink trailed through the air, the strongest scent of incense in the entire shop.

" Welcome. How may I serve you this evening, Miss Alice?" a glassy voice called to them.

" Count! You remember me?" Alice gasped. He smiled at her." But of course. I never forget a customer. I believe you purchased two canaries at that time."

Alice looked down at the floor." It's terrible. My house burned down, so the birds-

Count sighed deeply." Please accept my dearest apologies for the loss of your parents. I read about it in the papers. Burglary, murder, and if it couldn't get any worse, a fire."

"Yes, the fire also stole my sight," Alice sighed. She removed the solid black glasses that sat on her nose, revealing a dull set of blue eyes. Amidst Count and Alice, another voice spoke up." I thought a pet would be just the thing to cheer Alice up, to get her mind off these things. It's not healthy to stay inside all alone all day long," the man said.

" And you are?" the Count questioned." This is my late mother's cousin, he used to work with my father."
" My name is Edward. Nice to meet you," Edward declared, shaking hands with the Count.

" Ever since the tragedy, Edward has been taking care of me," Alice sighed, her heart sinking in misery." Oh, come on, Alice! We're family aren't we? That means we need to watch out for each other," Edward said, placing his hand on her shoulder. The Count kept a glare on Edward, a suspicious glance forming on his face." If Miss Alice has lost her vision, I take it your looking for a seeing-eye dog?"

" A seeing-eye dog? At a pet shop?" Edward looked at the Count, confused." This is Chinatown. We have all manner of creatures for sale," Count replied." Now, if you will, Alice, please follow me to the back room."

" Wait," Edward interrupted," I'll come too."

" No, that won't be neccesary. The animal will better recognize it's master if they met alone initially."

As they made their way down the hall, the lights grew dimmer and dimmer. They stopped at a gated door, covered by silver trimmings and purple spirals trailing up the doors." Sorry about Edward. He's a little protective since the accident."

" I understand," the Count replied. He pushed against the door and entered, taking her hand to guide her through the dark room. " It's really quite. Where's the dog?"

Count flipped on the lights." He's close by. You cannot hear him because he won't move until instructed. Seeing-eye dogs are extremely well trained. They will not approach you until they recieve permission."

Alice giggled." Okay. Well.. it's kind of weird to say this but," she held out her hand to the air," shake."

She expected to feel a furry paw slip into her hand, but it was so far from that. A sleek, black gloved hand took hold of hers, holding lightly to her delicate skin. In a stir of shock, Alice thrashed back, snapping her hand away from the mysterious gloved figure." Count! What is this! That's no dog, it's a human," Alice cried. Count placed his hands on her shoulders, helping her find a secure stance." No, I assure you, he is a dog. He used to be a military dog in Germany. He is a Doberman."

Alice pulled away slightly." You're lying! Playing tricks on a blind woman, you should be ashamed of yourself!"

Count laughed." No trick. He will become your eyes and serve you faithfully as your bodyguard. You said the criminal who killed your parents is still on loose. Although your eyes fail you now, you are a witness to the crime. The criminal may be after your life as well. However, this dog will keep you safe. He will protect you, even in the depths of Hell. He will obey his master's every command and protect you with his very life."

" He'd die.. for me?"

The man that stood before them stamped his boots against the ground, placing his hand to his head in a salute." Ja," he exclaimed.

" Hey, wasn't that Alice Liddell?" a man asked, entering the incense filled domain." Oh, hello Lieutenant Orcot, nice to see you again." Leon looked out the window, watching as the car grew smaller and smaller." The blind cinderella who inherited a fortune almost three months ago."

" Did her family have that much money?"

" From what I heard, her father was in the middle of a patent application that could make the family millions.

Their conversation came to an abrupt halt when Leon stomped over the the Count, their faces inches apart." "You better not have sold them one of your freak creatures!"

Count seemed hurt." Aww detective, where's the trust? I just gave her a seeing-eye dog that will also protect her if she needs it."
" By the way, detective, do you know if her blindness is permanent?

" Actually, I haven't heard all the details. But the doctors think that her blindness is a psychosomatic response to the trauma."

" The trauma?"

" We're hoping it's just a temporary thing. Once she can see again, she can I.D whoever the culprit is."

Count continued in pouring them both a cup of tea." I can't blame the poor child. She watched her parents die and barely escaped a burning house. I don't think I'd want to see any more of such an ugly world either."

" My my," Alice's nanny exclaimed," I expected something a bit.. smaller."

" Either way," Edward chimed in," he's quite the impressive pup, don't you think? Speaking of which, I'll be leaving for Chicago tomorrow for a seminar, and now I don't have to worry about leaving you alone now."

" That's perfect," the nanny announced," by the way, what's his name?"

The Doberman moved closer to Alice." Dreizehn," he replied." It's German for thirteen."
" I.. see. And what does it eat?" the nanny, Mrs. Kelly, asked." Oh, the Count gave me a recipe. Can you make it?"

" No problem, sweetie."

" Well, it nice to know there's more protection in the house. At any rate, it's time for me to leave."
" Edward," Alice sighed." Hey now, don't make that face. I'll be back next week, and you've got Dreizehn in the house to protect you." Before Edward got in the cab, he leaned forward and pressed his lips against Alice's forehead.

" Bye," she waved.

~ Later that Night~

"Good night then, Miss Alice."

Alice strode to her bed, staying on a single straight path. At least I can take care of myself now. As she stepped on the rug, it came out from under her. She fell backwards, fumbling down to the floor. Before she fell, a hand clamped onto her arm." D-Dreizehn! What are you doing in here?"

" My duty is to help you-

" GET OUT! THIS IS A LADY'S ROOM- GET OUT!"

She shoved Dreizehn out the door, slamming it behind him." The guest room is all set so get down there already!" How insensitive! What's wrong with him!

She flopped down on the bed, her spotted pajamas wrinkling against the covers. I don't want to seem ungrateful, but.. I have to return the dog. Slipping underneath the thick wool covers, her mind drifted away and sleep took over. That's what I'll do. Tomorrow, I'll take him back.

Sunlight flickered through the curtains as Alice dressed herself. A floral dress that touched her knees, topped with an overcoat and soft brown knee length boots. As she reached for the door and pulled it open, something was in front of the door." Dreizehn?"

" Good morning," a deep voice greeted her.

" Were you sleeping at the door the entire night?"

" Yes. Is there a problem?"

Before she could answer, Dreizehn grabbed her hand and led her to the stairs." Please be careful where you walk." As they reached the bottom of the stairs, the two were greeted by Mrs. Kelly." Good morning, I've prepared breakfast for you and Dora-chan," she said.

Alice bit her lips to hold back laughter." She called you Dora-chan."

" Ah! Dora-chan, what are you doing" Alice cried, suddenly shocked by being lifted off her feet." There was a water puddle."
" Next time, just tell me!"

" Ja."

" Keep your distance."

" Ja."

After she had been put down and they continued walking on the path to Chinatown, two voices came behind them, rising up over the rest. " Alice? Hey Alice!" Two girls ran up to them, excitment jolting from their bodies.
" Hi Ellie! Hi Amanda! How are you?"

" Awesome, like usual. What about you? Is it alright for you to be outside like this?"

Alice nodded, and while her nose was in the air, she glanced in the direction of a new scent." Hey Ellie, did you change perfumes?"

" Yup, you can tell?"

" Since I can't see anymore, my other senses have become more sensitive."

" Yeah, but it's not like it's permanent. It'll heal over time, won't it?"

After a few seconds of silence, they two girls were stuttering." U-uh, Alice. Who's your..

" Oh, this is Dora-chan, he's my..

What Alice couldn't see were the sparkly hearts in her friends eyes." He's so cool!"

" Fierce!"

" Smart!"

" And handsome!"

Huh? Does Dora-chan really look like that?

Taking advantage of her golden opportunity, Alice twisted her arm into Dreizehn's and smiled." Dreizehn is my bodyguard!" If only you could see the anime style teardrop dripping down Dreizehn's face.

After they had said goodbye and Alice and Dreizehn came closer to Chinatown, a screetching sound started to get closer. The sound grew louder and clearer, and Dreizehn pounced on Alice to pull her out of the way." A car?" Alice said, making sure her voice still worked. " Are you okay?" Dreizehn asked." What was that? Did that car just try to hit us?" she gasped.

" Who knows."

Silence separated the two for a minute, until Alice cleared her throat." Let's go home."

" What about your plans to go to Chinatown?" Dreizehn asked, his lukewarm accent making her feel guilty.

" Not today."

Until the criminal is caught..
.. I just have to be patient.

Alice sat in front of the mirror in her bathroom, gingerly brushing her hair with light strokes. That's weird. Everything seems off. I wonder if Mrs. Kelly came in and moved things around, or did someone come in my room and..

As her hands brushed around, trying the find and place everything the right way, Alice sideswiped a bottle onto the floor. It shattered and glass flew in different directions." Oh no!" Alice cried, leaning down to pick the bottle up. Before she could, a hand grabbed her shoulder.
"D-Dora-chan?" she gasped.

" I'm sorry for coming in against your orders..."
" There's glass all over the floor."

" Oh, okay. I'll ask Mrs. Kelly to clean it up tomorrow."

As Alice sat on her bed, Dreizehn was getting ready to leave the room."Alright then, good night," he said quietly. Alice sat there, listening for footsteps, but decided.. she didn't want to hear them.
" Hey, u-um. Can you just... hang around for a little bit?" she asked delicately, a shy blush crawling up her cheeks.

" Ja."

All was quiet in Alice's room. She sat on the bed while Dreizehn sat by a row of drawers.

" Hey Dreizehn, what color are your eyes?"

" Blue."

Blue is a nice color. Just like mine.

" What color is your hair?"

" Purple."

Blue eyes and purple hair. How.. curious.

" Dora-chan, you said that Dreizehn meant 13 in German, right?"

" Ja."

" Tell me about yourself."

" Myself?"

" Yeah, like when you came to America or... about your family."

Silence was the only one that spoke, until Dreizehn finally decided on an answer.

" I was sent out of my country because of a reduction in the military. I have no family."

" Then your alone too...?"

Alice crawled off the edge of her bed, coming to a stop to sit next to Dreizehn." Being all alone.. do you ever feel lonely?"

" Lonely? Not really."

" Do you mind if.. if I touch your face?"

" Go ahead," he replied. She reached out and placed her palms on his face, slowly tracing out all his features.

Nose... chin, forehead... cheeks. He really does have a fierce looking face. His hair was long and resembled the feeling of running her hands through silk.

She was about to pull her hands back from his face, until something made her feel sick.

" Your... your ears! You're missing half your ears? Both of them... what happened?"

" They were cut when I was a child."

" Cut?"

" Yes, this is done to anyone who joins the military," he said matter-of-factly.

Alice looked horrified." Oh.. that's horrible!" she cried. She put her hands on the sides of his face, trying to hold back the steamy tears that were getting ready to fall." Oh, you poor thing. It looks so painful..."

" Alice?"

She looked up at him with a tear stained face." It must have hurt... Dreizehn."

His deep liquid eyes turned with confusion as he glanced down to her weeping frame. He had to say something. He was her bodyguard, after all.

" It's in the past," he voiced, his eyes glimmering a deep navy.

He reached out and took hold of her shoulders, slowly pulling her closer to his chest. He placed his hand on her head, short stroking her hair, while the other held onto her back." It doesn't hurt any longer. Please don't be upset."

" It's okay. It doesn't hurt anymore. I'm okay."

She pressed her head against his chest and for the first time ever, heard a noise so slightly off, you would have to listen hard to see if you were right. It didn't sound like the thumping of a heartbeat, but more like ticking. More like the soft ticking of a clock. Whatever it was, whether a heart or a clock, it was lulling her into a soft sleep. As she slowly fell against him, she suddenly felt so calm. She hadn't felt this way at all since her parents perished. Everything was perfect. The air was stagnant, not a breeze or wind whipped by. Silence took over and quietness filled the air.

Dreizehn carefully picked her up and placed her on the bed, pulling the covers up to her shoulders. He sat there, watching her chest move up and down with her soft breathing. He leaned down, his hair tickling her face while his lips, as lightly as possible, brushed against hers.

" You know," he whispered," Dreizehn was just a code name back in Germany. My real name.. My real name is Julius."

He rested his head on her shoulder like any dog does when they're tired. His hand quietly slipped around her waist." You'll be safe. It's my job to protect you, and I won't fail," his accent was thicker now, a sign of promise. What Dreizehn didn't know was Alice had been awake the whole time, and now with her back turned, was smiling as sleep took her.

Hurrhurr~ Who wouldn't take that golden opportunity?

Anyway, if you guys are really freaked out by the ear part, you would see that scene in the manga better than I described it. And the whole purpose of that was because back then, and sometimes today, people would cut the ears of a Doberman to give them a distinct jagged look. That's also what gave them the menacing look they have today.

There was a little mix up here, which is why it took so long for me to write this. Originally, it was going to be a different character, but I realized that there was a different story that suited them perfectly, much more than this one, so I had to go back and change everything~