Author's Note: Hey back again! Sorry about the wait and all… I blame school and homework, yup yup ah well, but you don't want to hear my silly excuses do you? Nope you want to read chapter ten! Hehe well I'm going to try not to disappoint : ). And as always, thanks for the reviews

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It was on Kiarina's first day out of the hospital that it was decided. Rather than take her home first D took her to the pet shop for lunch to celebrate her recovery; everyone at the shop was happy to see her. D rang Leon who came round shortly after they got there. After he had released Kiarina from a big bear hug he sat down to join them for lunch. Not long after they had started eating Count D wondered idly how Kiarina would fair staying in her apartment by herself, and would she be alright. Sure she had pretty much fully healed, but what if she needed help with something or simply needed some reassuring company. Leon simply kept his head down mostly but still looked up at D slightly glaring. He knew the Count didn't intend to insist that Kiarina stay with him for awhile, heck he'd seen his apartment… so that only meant one thing, that she stay at the pet shop. It had taken some reassuring and convincing from D to reassure Leon… true he was still trusting the Count, but that didn't mean he was happy about the whole idea. But in the end Leon seemed to warm up to the idea and didn't seem to be so sullen about it. Later Leon drove Kiarina to her apartment to get clothes and some other things she might need before driving her back and dropping her off promising to be back later to check up on her.

And that's how Kiarina ended up in what seemed to be one of the biggest bedrooms she had ever seen. She sat on a king sized, four post bed with what looked like deep blue silk hung over the top and draping down the posts. The bed frame seemed to be made of solid oak with detailed carvings of vines running up the posts. The carpet was a very soft plush forest green; the walls were painted a simple white while the ceiling was painted to resemble a dark night sky. The dark velvet blue sky on the ceiling seemed to match the bed canopy perfectly. The stars and few thin wispy clouds made the whole design seem so real. She felt slightly awkward and out-of-place. This room seemed to be made for someone very important, something she didn't really feel she was… well, not this important anyway. She had a bedside table on either side of the bed each set with a touch glass lamp. She had already placed some of her books in one of the draws and unpacked her clothes into the chest of draws that seemed to be made from the same type of wood as the bed but a slightly lighter shade. There were two doors in the room, one to the left and one to the right of the bed, one led to the finest bathroom she had ever seen and the other lead to the hallway that connected all the rooms and lead to the front. Count D had assured her that she would be able to find her way to the front with no trouble at all and told her to simply ask if there was anything at all that she needed. Sitting on the plush bed she wondered for a moment if she could possibly ask for a more simple room but then decided that that might be rude so she decided to just try and enjoy staying in what looked like a room fit for the Plaza Hotel in New York.

T-Chan had been more than happy about Kiarina staying with them all at the pet shop, but he couldn't seem to shake a sense of uneasiness. He hadn't told Kiarina anything yet, of how he felt. He felt silly for not saying anything, but at the same time anytime she smiled over at him he felt his throat close up over what he was going to say. He felt ridiculous to say to least. He wasn't some stupid human who had to deal with silly complexities. In the animal kingdom if a male fell in love with a female he told her, there was no doubt or question or anything silly like that. But Kiarina was human, and perhaps that was one of the reasons he hesitated. He also felt reluctant to give up his watch on her; almost as if he was worried she'd lapse back in her dreams and start screaming in her sleep again. In the end T-Chan took up a post curled up outside her door at night after she'd turned in and always left before she woke and found him there.

On her third night of staying with them the Count decided to take Kiarina, Leon, and T-Chan out on a picnic in the park.

T-Chan walked along next to Kiarina hands in his pockets as Leon and D talked and argued about one thing then another. He talked to Kiarina managing to stay casual and act as he always, smiling and keeping his eyes ahead while looking at her out of the corner of his eye every now and then.

"Ah here we are." Count D declared as he took the blanket he was holding and spread it out under the shade of a tree.

"Alright…" Leon said placing the kiosk in the center of the blanket. They all sat down around it as D began to hand out plates and cups and told them everyone to help themselves once he had all the food placed out in the center and the kiosk had been moved to the side.

"Man this looks great D, seems more like a feast than a picnic." Leon said spooning some fried rice onto his plate.

"I am glad you approve Leon." D said smiling as he offered a plate of sushi to Kiarina. They sat, talked, and laughed – each of them enjoying the wonderful day. The weather was nice and mild without a cloud in the sky, there was a small breeze brushing through the branches of the trees carrying the smell of all the flowers in the park. It was truly a wonderful day.

Once she was done eating she stretched her arms out in front of her and leaned back feeling so relaxed she thought she might fall asleep if she wasn't careful.

"Kiarina, why don't you and T-Chan go for a walk in the park? I'm sure there are many beautiful flowerbeds along the paths that lead around the park." D said smiling at Kiarina.

"That sounds like a good idea…" Kiarina said standing up "come on T-Chan, lets go see what's in bloom."

"I don't really care for flowers." T-Chan said idly. He lay on his back hands under his head one leg crossed over the other, eyes closed. When he opened them he saw Kiarina was kneeling behind his head looking down at him. Her hair was falling down on either side of her face brushing against his cheeks gently.

"Come on T-Chan don't be lazy." She teased. T-Chan just grinned and looked up at her. When she didn't move he rolled over to his side and got up.

"Alright alright, I'll go for a walk…" he said crossing his arms over his chest he walked off Kiarina walking alongside him.

The park seemed almost empty save for the two of them. The day was truly tranquil, with the feeling that almost nothing could go wrong. They chose a path at random and walked down, an array of different flowers spread out on either side of the path. Butterflies flitted across their path as they went from one flower to another, birds sang serenely from the trees.

"Hey T-Chan?" Kiarina asked as the path led them through a grove of trees.

"Yeah?" He asked tilting his head to the side slightly to see her better without turning around.

"I just wanted to thank you again, for watching over me while I was in hospital…" she said looking down at the ground shyly. T-Chan placed his hands behind his head and looked ahead.

"Aw it was nothing…" he said trying to sound casual.

"Maybe… but it was really sweet of you just the same." T-Chan could've sworn he was blushing and looked away in hopes of hiding it. He felt his heart beat a little faster. Swallowing hard he lowered his arms and turned to Kiarina.

"Kiarina?"

"Yes?" She asked turning, seeing that he had stopped she stopped and faced him.

"I wanted to tell you something…" he said stepping closer to her so that there was barely a hand span between them. He looked down into her brown eyes that looked back up at him curiously. Raising a hand he cupped her cheek in his hand.

"Well… I wanted to tell you…"

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"Well D I have to hand it to you… Kiarina seems to be doing great."

"Thank you detective. By the way I've been meaning to ask you, how did the report go on the boys… I trust there were no connections made."

"Nope, none what so ever; don't know what you did D but it seems no one's going to be nosing around the pet shop looking for suspects." Leon said grinning as he grabbed a small cake from one of the containers then offered the container to D.

"Well then it seems I need to thank you too my dear detective, you had a chance to close me down as your always hoping to do and yet you let it slide past." D said with a mischievous smile as he took a cake from the container.

"Shit D come on… after what you and T-Chan did for Kiarina there was no way I was going to point the finger at you guys. But I tell you there was a lot of paper work over those two boys… you right Count?" Leon cut himself short as D started choking on a mouthful of cake. He patted the count on the back while passing him his tea.

"D… Detective… how many did you say?" D asked as he placed a hand on his chest hoping to calm his breathing.

"Two, why?" Leon asked looking at the count concerned.

"Leon… there were three, three boys; Jason and two other boys." D said looking up at Leon, eyes full of worry and concern.

"What?!? Shit D, you know what this means don't you? We have to find out which one we missed we have to –" Leon was cut short as a gun shot rang throughout the once silent park. The two of them stood up quickly and looked off in the direction the sound seemed to come from.

"D…" Leon managed to mutter.

"I suggest we hurry detective."

"Don't have to tell me twice." Leon said pulling his gun from its holster.

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Kiarina screamed as T-Chan fell to his knees hand clutching his arm trying to stop the on flow of blood.

"T-Chan…" Kiarina's voice was scared. She looked around frantically trying to see someone who could help, but instead saw someone far far worse. She turned pale as her throat tightened on another scream. It was almost like he was back from the dead, and from the sight of him she almost believed it. Jason looked like death warmed over. He was pale and filthy, his feet were bare and a piece of fabric that seemed to have been torn from the hem of his shirt was wrapped about his neck. The fabric had been blood soaked and given time to harden making the fabric seem almost cast-like. He had the look of a madman as he stood there gun in hand. He looked at T-Chan then at Kiarina, the gun following his line of vision.

"What… what are you doing here with him…" he stuttered stumbling forward from his hiding place among the bushes of flowers that had so well concealed him. Kiarina wanted to take a step back away from him but she didn't want to move from where she was. T-Chan was almost directly behind her, she hoped that if she stood there in front of him James wouldn't attempt to shoot him again. James stopped about six feet in front of her gun still raised, finger on the trigger.

"James…" Kiarina managed to say with a small smile. "Why don't I take you down to the hospital, they could bandage you up…"

"No, no I'm not going anywhere… you… you get away from him, how dare you let him touch you." He sounded as mad as he looked, Kiarina froze where she was not sure what to say or do. The last thing she wanted was to move and give James a clear shot of T-Chan, but she didn't want to provoke him either.

"Well if you don't want to go to the hospital where do you want to go then?" Kiarina asked fighting with all her will to stay calm despite the fact that she was trembling she could almost sense a feeling of strength and reassurance coming from T-Chan who was crouched behind her. T-Chan watched the man from behind Kiarina biding his time. If he attacked now he could be shot again, or worse… Kiarina might get hit instead. He hadn't kept faithful watch over her since the night she had been first attacked to let her die now from an act of carelessness. James took two small steps towards Kiarina, as he did his aim wavered slightly leaving the gun pointing just past her.

"I don't care what you say… or what anyone else says, you're my girl. No matter how many other girls I see or own… your still mine… your still mine!" He yelled at her. He was beginning to shake now too, almost as if this was all too much effort for him.

"James…" she said chancing a small step towards him. But before she could place her foot back down James raised his hand and slapped her hard causing her to fall to the side.

"No… I'll kill him first, and then I'll deal with you… you treacherous snake." James turned in time to see T-Chan lunge for him. James brought his arms up to defend himself and tried to aim the gun at T-Chan all at once. T-Chan grabbed James' wrists and for a moment they stood like that each trying to overpower the other. Kiarina looked up from where she was on the ground. T-Chan would overpower James in the end; despite the gun wound James was still weak from old injuries. James seemed to be aware that he was slowly loosing, so he began to maneuver the gun around in his hand so that he could fire the gun at T-Chan. Kiarina saw this and immediately tried to think of something she could do to help. She looked at the gun and the arm that held it, slowly her jaw began to ache. She ran her tongue across her teeth and nearly cut it, her teeth were sharper then they should be… sharp. Without pause or hesitation she lunged forward from where she was crouched and grabbed James arm and bit down hard. James cried out in pain and dropped the gun. T-Chan released the gun arm and shoved his hand at James' chest claws first.

Kiarina let go and fell back. She leaned forward to let the blood drain from her mouth not wanting to close it incase she swallowed any of it. Her head was spinning but not from nausea, her head seemed to pulse madly from the two bumps on her head.

T-Chan snarled at James, "This time I'm making sure you don't harm Kiarina ever again." Pulling his arm back fast T-Chan removed his hand from James' chest, with the other hand he forced his jaw open and shoved his bloodied hand down his throat and released his heart before removing his hand letting James fall to the ground.

"It would seem we have arrived just after the nick of time." D said calmly walking down the path to them as if on a simple stroll.

"Shit D you can say that again… Kiarina are you alright?" Leon said running over to her. Crouching beside her he took the handkerchief that D offered him and attempted to wipe the blood from her face.

"Hey Count," T-Chan said walking over to D "is she… I mean…" he looked up at D his face hard and serious with concern in his eyes "Human teeth aren't that sharp are they." It wasn't a question… it was a statement. T-Chan knew that human's didn't leave puncture marks like that. He was the one who left bite marks like that… not Kiarina. D simply gave his all knowing smile that he usually reserved for Leon or customers.

"Well T-Chan, I promise that it's nothing to worry about." D said simply.

"Count… I'm not that man human," he said pointing to Leon "don't patronize me like you do him." He said as he began to wash the blood off his arm before moving to the bullet wound. The bullet had passed right through so it wasn't too serious, well T-Chan didn't think it was anyway.

"Just trust me T-Chan; I know what I'm doing." D said as he took a second handkerchief form his sleeve and bound it around T-Chan's wound to stop the bleeding.

T-Chan wanted to object but D suggested they move away quickly, he would linger behind for a moment to fix things before catching up. He told Leon to go back to work and T-Chan to take Kiarina back to her apartment and that he would be around later to check on them. Everyone left quickly wanting more of an explanation from D but all knew they wouldn't get one.

T-Chan placed his arms around Kiarina's shoulders and helped Kiarina hurry along. He didn't like what was happening to her, she seemed to be changing. Ever since she'd come back from the hospital she seemed to be getting less and less… well… human. But if she was getting less human then what was she becoming? Damn it D! T-Chan thought to himself gritting his teeth. He shook his head not wanting to think about it right then. Getting Kiarina back to her apartment safely was what mattered.

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Luckily T-Chan managed to get Kiarina back to her without anything happening. Kiarina had her small shoulder bag on her, fishing around in it T-Chan found a set of keys and key chains. T-Chan managed to get the door open on the second key and helped Kiarina into the kitchen and into one of the chairs before going back to shut the front door. Rummaging around in the kitchen he found where the cups where held and got her a drink of water. After a few sips Kiarina seemed to get a better hold of herself.

"How do you feel?" T-Chan asked kneeling in front of her, his voice concerned.

"Better…" she said nodding. Her voice was a little weak, but over all she seemed better.

"I'm glad you're alright…" Kiarina looked up at him and saw something in T-Chan's eyes that she had never seen before. It was a soft compassionate look mixed with concern and something else… before she could recognize what it was T-Chan looked away.

"T-Chan…" she said softly, he moved his head over slightly but seemed to only want to look at her out of the corner of his eye. "You wanted to tell me something earlier…" this time he fully turned away, nearly placing his back to her. He stayed like that for a moment as she sat there watching him patiently. He turned back around and brought himself up so that his face was level with hers.

"I just wanted to tell you something important… something that…" before he let himself finish T-Chan leaned forward and kissed Kiarina gently on her lips. He moved back after a second or two; Kiarina opened her eyes and looked at him blushing obviously taken by surprise.

"I'm sorry I shouldn't have… I…" T-Chan looked down. He'd never kissed a girl before, maybe he should've asked for her permission to kiss her first or something. Kiarina's fingers touched his cheek gently asking him to look up at her. He looked up at her to see her smiling.

"Don't be sorry…" she said leaning forward to kiss him briefly "I love you too." It was T-Chan's turn to look at her in disbelief. It lasted only for a moment as he wrapped his arms around her and kissed her again. Warmth spread through them like fire causing them to shiver slightly. They released the kiss but stayed in each others embrace both content to stay in the arms of the one they loved uncaring of anything else in the world.

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Ahahaha weeeeeeeeee!!!!!!!!!!! Ok I hope I did that alright hehe. Oh and yes I know a simple handkerchief can't stop the bleeding from a bullet wound… but this is Count D we're talking about here! And it's his handkerchief! :-p ok just bear with me on that one k? Oh and this is not the end… not for another chapter or two… hehe. So please R&R and I will see you all as soon as possible in Ch 11!

Oh and sorry this chapter was a bit gory… but then again this is PSHO… and gore is what they do! But sorry just the same… T-Chan and I just thought James deserved it at that point… bye for now!