Second one! Kinda on a roll here.
II: Luffy is Hired
Luffy woke up to the smell of sweets and herbal tea and almost panicked when he remembered what happened last night.
"Ah! I see you're awake." D said as he placed more sweets on the coffee table.
"Morning Petshop-ossan."
"Just call me D. And who might you be?"
"I'm Monkey D. Luffy."
"Well, Monkey-san, help yourself."
"Thanks." He said as he cleaned one plate before anyone blinked. "Yum! It's been so long since I had food! I thought I was gonna starve to death!"
"I see…" He said, almost not believing his eyes that the plate was cleaned off of everything in the matter of seconds. 'Not even a crumb left…' He thought as he looked to see another plate cleaned off of any treat. "So, tell me, Monkey-san, what were you running away from?"
Luffy was reaching for a pastry when that question was asked. "If I told you, you'll die."
"Why do you say that?"
"That's what happened to the nice old couple who let me stay at their farm. Next thing I knew the barn and house were burning and I saw their intestines all over the ground."
"And your brother? You said he was missing…"
Luffy picked up a tea cup and took a sip. "He's really in jail at the moment. But he's innocent…"
"Do you know who then?"
He took slow sips of tea.
He took this as a sign that he said all that he could. "Well then! Monkey-san, in thanks for helping out Lady Makino, I figured you can stay here with me and help out with the shop?"
"Lady Makino?"
"The mother cat you saved last night."
"Oh! Why is she called Lady Makino?"
"Because her owner is one of the yakazua bosses."
He blinked as he set the tea down. "So she's a really important cat?"
"Yes…"
"How come she was out on the street?"
"It wasn't announced, but she was catnapped while she was in her early stages of pregnancy."
"Oh, okay, I get it." He said as he grabbed the pastry he was aiming for earlier. "Is her owner coming?"
"Yes, to check up on her, but she and her kittens have to remain here for a couple of weeks before he could take them home."
"How come?"
"The kittens are far too vulnerable for travel at the moment, and we wouldn't want something to happen to the poor things."
He nodded. "I see." He said as a pale yellow snake slithered up his leg. "Hi."
"That's Rei. She likes to inspect unusual guests here."
"Nice to meet you Rei, I'm Luffy." He said as the snake slithered her way up and flicked her forked tongue at the teen's neck, tickling him. "That tickles!"
The shop bell rang, showing a man in a dark grey business suit. "D? You in?"
"Ah, good morning, Yamasaki-san. Are you ready to see Makino?"
"I would not be here this early if it was anything else."
"Right this way. Monkey-san, would you mind watching the shop for a few minutes?"
"Sure." He said as both men went into the back room. Not too long after the men entered the back room, Taizuu and his assistant entered the shop's front door. "Morning! D-ossan is with a customer for the moment."
"You're still here?"
"You're the rude guy from yesterday."
"Why you…" He said as he let out a sigh and sat down on the same chair. "Do you know who D is with at the moment?"
"Makino's owner."
"Who?"
"The cat I saved yesterday."
"Oh, so he's with one of the bosses." He said as the two men exited out of the back room.
"Oh, hello Taizuu. How are you this morning?"
"Well." The man said as he looked at the boss that was standing next to the shop owner.
"Is this the young man who saved her?" The man asked as he looked at the teen.
"Yes, this is Monkey-san." D said as he mentioned towards the teen. "Monkey-san, this is Yamasaki-san."
"Hi!" He said as he bowed, which the man did the same before both straightened.
"I want to thank you personally for helping Makino. She's a very dear treasure of mine."
He nodded. "I know what you mean." He said as he placed a hand on his hat. "You can't replace something that important even with all the money in the world."
The man laughed. "This is very true!" He said as he patted D's shoulder. "Well then I better be off! I have a meeting to attend to."
"Come visit anytime." Luffy said, which the man nodded.
"Monkey-san, if there's anything you need, please let me know."
"Thank you." He said as the man left and the room was silent for a moment.
"Well then…" D said as he looked to see Taizuu. "What brings you here so early?"
"Making sure you don't walk out for your early runs."
"Oh! You're so mean!"
"D-ossan!" Luffy said as he went up to the said man. "Weren't you talking about me watching the shop earlier?"
"Say what?" Taizuu said. "D! You can't possibly be thinking of keeping a run away to watching your shop!"
"Why not?" He said with one of his mysterious smiles. "The pets here have grown a liking to him. And all he has to do is make sure the pets are well and take messages for me from the customers if I'm not there in time to answer their questions."
"And I suppose he's staying with you as well?"
"Yes, I would never turn away such a rare being."
"Excuse me?"
While the two men talked, Luffy played with the younger pets that came out to see what was going on.
"Fine!" Taizuu announced. "He stays, but if he leaves this shop when you're not present, then you will be monitored twenty-four seven and he's going to the authorities, got it!?"
"I understand." D said as the other man got up.
"Now if you'll excuse me I'll be in my office."
"Nice to see you Taizuu."
"See ya!" Luffy said as he waved like a five year old.
'He doesn't look like he'll be much help.' He thought as he went in an elevator. 'But maybe having him work with D isn't fruitless. He can help inform me on D's activities and I'm bound to get him in the act!' He grinned before looking business like. 'But D is very influential when he wants to be, and that kid doesn't look too bright.' He sighed. 'He may not even say a word because D helped him.' He walked out of the elevator and met up with his assistant. 'Either way, if I play my cards right, I may get something out.'
~*~
Back at the shop, Luffy watched D as he talked with the customers while he played with the energetic kittens.
For the most part of the day it was normal. He helped D clean the shop a little, played with the other pets and enjoyed the snacks D made.
~*~
It was late in the evening, close to closing time when a man came into the shop. He looked like a mob boss with the black business suit and slicked black hair. "Is Count D available?" He asked.
D politely smiled. "Yes, how may I help you?"
Luffy was just finishing up cleaning the dog pen when he looked to see the two men talk, before D led the man towards the door in the back.
"Monkey-san, would you mind watching the shop."
"No problem." He said as he visually followed the men to the door and disappeared behind it. "I wonder what's behind that door?" He asked as he sat down on the chair and watched the shop.
~*~
There wasn't much activity for nearly a half an hour before the two men exited through the door, the man carrying a covered cage.
"Take good care of your new pet." D said as the man bowed and left the shop. "Monkey-san, would you mind locking up, I'm going to bring out the snacks."
"Okay!" He said as he locked the door and switched the sign to close. "D-ossan, what was that guy carrying?"
"His new bird."
"Bird? There's more in the back room?"
"Yes."
"Can I look?"
He smiled mysteriously. "Not just yet, Monkey-san. I don't think you're ready to witness the rare species that only I can see."
"So they're the really expensive pets?" He said simply making the other chuckle.
"Yes, if you like to be blunt."
"Are we done for today?"
"We are."
"It wasn't so bad."
D chuckled as he placed the snacks down. "So, would you like to take up on watching the shop?"
"Yep! I like it here!"
He smiled as he drank his tea. "Then we have to find you something different to wear."
He looked at his mostly ragged and slightly tattered clothes. "Yeah…"
"We'll worry about that tomorrow. You just relax for awhile."
"Okay!" He said as he helped himself with the snacks while playing with the raccoon.
The phone rang and D got up. "Excuse me for a minute." He said as he reached the phone and answered it. "Count D's Petshop."
"What the fuck did you give me!?"
"You gave it something other than what I told you…"
"It was just one bite! How can it go crazy from that!?"
"I'm sorry sir, the contract said that this shop is not responsible for any consequences of the owner."
"Wait you son of a-"
He hanged up and met up with Luffy, who was currently asleep on the couch. He placed a blanket over and was about to leave the teen when he spoke.
"Who was that on the phone?"
"A customer."
"Oh, okay." He said as he made himself comfortable. "Night, D-ossan."
"Good night, Monkey-san." He said as he shut out the lights.
There's more to come!