Okay! As promised, here is the continuation of the Reviewer's Reply!
Fluff: Yay!
Idea: Here's a review by Mantineus and one by Dreamer-san.
Thanks. Well, Mantneus, I don't see anything wrong with that, and Dreamer-san, you'll see.
Fluff: I got Kitty-san's and Hmob-san's!
Go for it.
Fluff: Yay! Kitty-san, you'll see! And Hmob-san, you'll like the manga! D is a good mix of Luffy's antics, Robin's mysterious aura, and Nami's scary tatic thinking! (picks up another review) Here's one from Tsume-san!
Well Tsume-san, here it is. Finally!
Idea: (grabs a few) Oh! We got some new reviewers. Fallenangel9413, Black Alice Butterfly, and FabioandRichard4Ever. Well Fallen, I would like to say that it's coming up.
Fluff: Yep! I helped!
Idea: You sure did. Alice, I hope the wait was worth it. And For F&R4Ever, we hope we still maintain this for your reading pleasure.
(grabs the last two) Crystal-san, I'm glad to hear you like this as well, and NinjaFoodLover, that doujinshi actually helped birthed this idea-
Idea: And since Petshop of Horrors is about an unusual petshop, it just clicked.
What she said. Well, that's all the reviews we have. I hope you enjoy these chapters and hope to get more up soon as soon as I get Word working again.
Fluff: So don't sue us!
Idea: And please enjoy other fic authors while you wait for us to get things up.
Enjoy!
VII: Luffy Knows the Secret
A few days went by and Luffy kept up with his semi-training, his duty watching and cleaning the petshop, as well as playing with his tiger friend.
Taizuu came into the shop as usual and Luffy got the routine down to the dot.
The tea is prepared an hour before shop opens, he looks over from pets for food and water shortages, got the snacks out, take a few, wiped down the dust, Taizuu comes in, and the tea is done and ready to serve.
"Good morning Taizuu." D said as he appears and sits down as Luffy filled the tea cups and served the two men. "Thank you, Luffy-chan."
"Thank you." Taizuu said.
"You're welcome!" He said happily as he set the tray down.
"Anything going on lately?" D asked as Luffy started playing with small pets.
"Well, we're doing good this month, and it seems that whoever is looking for the kid isn't here causing any more problems."
"But he may still be waiting." D reasoned.
Luffy heard all that as he finished playing.
"Taizuu-san, is it possible to call my brother without the authorities knowing where I am?"
"Have you tried?"
"Once or twice, but I almost get caught every time with the local authorities."
"When was the last time you talked to your brother?" D asked.
"Three months."
"Oh my! That's too long to not be able to talk to your dear ones!" He looked at the building owner with some pleading eyes that any foolish romantic would not resist. "Oh please do this for Luffy-chan… He hasn't done any harm to anyone, and he's been working so hard since he started."
Taizuu looked at the other with annoyance but he sighed as he looked at the teen. "I'll see what I can't do."
Luffy smiled. "Thank you!"
"Thank me when I'm able to get it."
"Oh Taizuu! You're so kind!"
"Shut it…" He said as he got up, bid farewell , and left.
"He likes coming in here, doesn't he?" Luffy asked.
"Yes, it makes the morning very interesting." D said as he gave Luffy a piece of paper. "Here's a list of what you should get me. I already paid so you just pick them up."
Luffy took the piece of paper, looked at it and looked at his boss. "No sweets this time?"
"No, this time it's special items needed in the shop."
"Oh, okay." He said as he grabbed a tart and started to head to the back door before D stopped him.
"You'll be back before he wakes up."
"Yeah, your right." He said as he left the shop.
"Yo D."
He looked to see Tetsu sitting next to him.
"Today the day?"
"I believe he's ready." He said as he went to the back room, and found the room that was for the green tiger. He saw, not the animal, but the man. "I see you managed to finally reach the illusion of being human." He gained the other's attention.
"What do you want?"
"Don't be hostile."
"Can't help it, you smell too sweet that it's making me crash."
"How rude." He said as he moved to stand next to the relaxed being. "I'm going to test Luffy to see if he can tell you apart from the others.
Zoro laughed. "I'm a green tiger! Of course he'll tell me apart!"
"Can he tell in your illusion form?"
He eyed him. "You're going to let him see?"
"It's about time he has, but on one particular condition."
"What's that?" He asked as he saw the mysterious smile.
~*~
When Luffy returned he looked for D, but saw he was nowhere to be seen until he saw the back door open. "Maybe he had to feed the other pets, the other's don't seem to upset." He said as he placed the incense on the shelf and watched the shop as some customers went in.
"Oh, you're back early." D said.
"I ran from there to here."
"Oh that's right you still train when you can."
"Yep! Can I see Zoro?"
"Not right now."
"How come?"
"Because I've got a few jobs for you."
"Oh, okay." He said as he was given a list of things to do.
~*~
When closing time finally arrived D mentioned the teen to come with him. "There's something I want to show you." He said as they entered the back room.
Luffy had only been in the back room a few times, but he sensed that this time there was definitely something different in the room this time.
The smell was a lot heavier and sweet to him. "D, did you cook in here?"
"No, does it smell sweet?"
"Yeah."
"It's the incense."
"Oh, why did you light incense here?"
"It calms the pets here."
"Oh, okay."
"But it also allows some people to see something that's always there but not willing to reveal."
"Huh?"
D opened one door that Luffy remembers as the cat room, only to see gorgeous men and women in the room.
"Eh?! Who are these people!?"
"They're not people, Luffy-chan…"
"But-"
"Look closely." He said as the teen stared at the elegant beings.
"They're cats…" He said as he recognized a couple from earlier when they were actual cats. "But how?"
"The incense allows you to see them." D said. "Though normally they can look like that on their own free will."
"Really!?"
"Yes, it will be somewhat of a strain on them, but they can. But with the incense, it helps them keep this ability longer."
"They're able to do that all this time then?"
"In the past they did, but today the ones in my shop either still have it or re-learning it."
"Does Zoro have this ability too?"
D smiled. "That's why I've brought you here." He said as he mentioned the teen to follow. "Luffy-chan… I've decided to give Zoro to you as a pet."
"But Zoro's my friend, not a pet."
"He'll be happy to hear that, but you would have to pass the test first."
"Test?"
"Yes. Zoro is a rare breed of tiger due to his unusual coloring, and since you're hiding out from some hostile men, he will be a perfect companion. But I would like to see if your bonds are worth to prove."
"What do you mean?"
"As I've said, Zoro is a rare breed, but he also holds a trait that allows him to be fully loyal to that one person even in death. But the two of you have only met as human and beast. Normally this wouldn't be a problem, but since it's not common for the average person, much less a teen such as yourself, to own a tiger and not end up being eaten or having it killed. With this ability he can fool anyone to believing he's one of them when in reality he is yours and yours alone."
Luffy was a bit uncomfortable with the sudden mood change the other was displaying, but they reached to a door and D opened it to reveal a tropical hideaway with a waterfall, but at the water pool where the waterfall ends were ten sexy men lazing on the wet rocks, wearing black veils on their heads to cover their identities.
"Can you pick Zoro out of the group?" D asked.
Luffy stood there looking at the men before looking at D. "What gives D?"
"Pardon?"
"None of these guys are Zoro! What gives!?"
"Are you quite sure?" D said with a mysterious smile that can either be that of an angel or a viper ready to strike.
"None of the guys on those rocks is Zoro!" Luffy said with a pout.
"If that's so, then where could he possibly be?" D asked with the same mysterious smile.
Luffy didn't say anything as he stomped towards the water, pass the other ten men until he was chest deep in water towards the waterfall.
~*~
From there he went to the side of the waterfall to find a path that led behind the falls and into a cave. He ran down until he saw light and stopped when he saw the opening at the end of the cave to see the only man in the middle of the area with the black veil. He smiled as he went up and removed the veil to see the light green hair and green eyes, and for a moment he forgot to breathe. "Hi Zoro."
Zoro smiled. "You found me." He said with a grin. "Looks like I'm officially yours." He got up as they walked out to see the other ten have left and D with a rolled up paper.
"Found him!"
"I can see." D said as he unrolled the paper. "Now then, since Zoro is a rare breed there's some things you have to follow…" He held out the feather pen for the other to sign.
