Before we begin, here is a little note from your Authors;

Due to an adventurous summer that caused several time delays, including someone's vacation in Greece with his lover, and someone else's illness and surgery, loss of job, acquiring of a new one, family emergency, etc, We are going to embark on a new school year. At the end of some chapters, time permitting, we will include snippets from the tour. So very sorry for all the trouble, thank you for your patience and support.

Chi

et

The French One

Whipped Crème 28

An Apple A Day

The mall buzzed with it's usual flow of bustling humanity. Count D looked around with a sick frown. Surely someone else could ensure that Leon did not buy Chris too many obnoxious outfits for his entry into school this year. "Hey," Count D looked up at Ryo who had placed a concerned hand on his silk sleeve. "Your royal pudginess. Why don't you let Dee take you home? I'll keep an eye on their selections." Count D aimed a grateful smile at Ryo then went to alert Leon that he was leaving.

"I am not all that pudgy and you are the royal one," Count D said without his usual sniff of disdain which caused Leon to look over with concern. Usually when D's tones took on his icy teasing, he seemed haughty, today he was on the piddling side of pathetic. Count D stood stiff steeling his resolve not to heave. The pungent odor of so many bodies entwined with the many fast food spots and public restrooms swirled around D in an almost painful haze.

"Oh, yeah, sorry baby," Leon said kissing Count D's deeply colored lips and placing a hand on the small bump of his tummy. "Too many people here for you," Count D nodded his head. "You want me to keep Jewel? That way, you can just lay down and eat sugar."

"Daddy!" Jewel giggled reaching up to Leon from where she had a firm hold on one of Count D's fingers. "Rest Papa, rest brother," Jewel admonished as Leon picked her up and deposited her on his shoulders. Her silk pants and jacket felt soft against his neck. Leon leaned down and Count D prepared to stand on the tips of his toes.

"That looks uncomfortable," Dee said placing his hands on D's waist. "Leon stand up," Leon laughed and got to his feet as Dee lifted Count D so that he could kiss his daughter. "Come on," Dee said kissing Ryo he took off holding D's hand so that he would not be accosted by the rushing crowd. With his large, elegant bow in front of his body that perfectly matched the cheongsam he wore, Count D's physical appearance was cleverly disguised. Someone seeing his dent in the clothing and the loveliness of his features would assume that he was a female. Too bad that he was known here as Count D unlike while they were on tour. The issue had not come up often as he was as yet not showing. Now that he was nearing the end of his first trimester, his weight would escalate and Dee hoped to get him out of the crowded building without too much trouble. Putting on his best intimidating face Dee held the count close getting to the parking lot he breathed easier. As he settled D in the family car the count lay his head on the seat cushion with his eyes closed. "Just take it easy little D, we'll be back at the shop soon and your critters can dote on you."

"You have my thanks detective," Count D said when the car moved causing fresh air to blow in through the window over his flushed cheeks. "I do not see how you humans can frequent a place of such over abundance of sights, sounds, the surfeit of flesh is surely staggering." Count D frowned thinking of Las Vegas. He had stayed in the hotel room the entire time refusing to go down, even for the concert. "The gross evidence of the worse human characteristics are abundantly on display." He had said as he and Aoi settled down to watch Disney DVD's with Lyo, Kiba, Shinrai, Nicklaus and little Allyssa.

"Try to get some rest," Dee said as he dropped D off and headed back to mall. He found Ryo in the children's section with a look of concentration on his face. Dee took a moment to appreciate the long limbed beauty before him in dark brown pants and loose gold shirt. Coupled with his pale skin and honey colored hair Ryo resembled a human embodiment of sunlight and earth, power and grace, strength and agility.

"You're staring again," Dee blinked at the words and looked down at Rain noting that he did not have to look so far down anymore. While still slim, the boy had grown in height. With his striking coloring and looks he was alarmingly gorgeous.

"Gonna have to put in more hours at the range," Rain frowned at Dee's odd comment. "Between him and you I will have to beat them off with a stick. Better to always carry a loaded weapon."

"What do you mean?" Rain asked then paused when he heard Bikky behind him laughing.

"That Brian Kinney guy kept going after Ryo when we went to Pittsburgh and, well, have you looked in a mirror lately?" Bikky watched as they gained Ryo's attention and half the women in the store ogled him and a few of the men. "Dude, you're hot, both of you."

"Just as many girls look at you and Chris," Carol said earning a nod from Catherine. She and Chris had started spending a lot of time together.

"Yeah, but Rain's got guys looking at him too," Julie complained causing Bikky to laugh. He saw more of their friends heading to the food court.

"Ryo, Dee, we're going to get a snack." Bikky informed them waiting for Ryo to acknowledge their departure before he left.

"Not too much, Alicia and Renee are coming to dinner tonight." Ryo said going back to the rack of clothing.

"Meaning you are making a feast. Awesome," Rain said then left with Bikky and the others. Terry grinned as Bikky noted Erick sitting with a dark haired, slim boy that was about Rain's size with green eyes, perhaps not as brilliant as Rain's but deep. He had soft features and could be called pretty but again he paled in comparison to Rain. "Bikky, Wild Wind wants us to go with him this weekend, he invited you because he knows you won't leave my side."

"Smart creature," Bikky affirmed with a nod, "who are you?" he asked the newcomer.

"Peter," The boy said softly unprepared for Bikky's abrupt manner. "Rain," He blushed to address the pop star. "I was your understudy last year for Cinderella."

"Right, sorry," Rain laughed with a good natured grin he patted Peter's shoulder. "I should have recognized you. So, what's up?" Rain asked the question that had bugged him. The boy was not a regular for hanging out with them. The theater crowd tended to stick to themselves. Amidst the Jocks and Cheerleaders at the table he stood out.

"We're together," Erick announced with a grin he put his arm around Peter causing the boy to turn a bright shade of red.

"Oh," Rain shrugged then went back to his super-sized cupcake he was sharing with Julie. He then turned to look at Erick to see that he and Peter were similarly sharing a frosted mammoth dessert. "OH!"

Bikky broke into laughter and clapped Rain on the arm. "Man you are so completely oblivious. But for some, it could be considered a blessing." Rain frowned at the odd words as Bikky noted how many traits that Peter shared with Rain, it, along with his talent, had led to his being the natural choice for Rain's understudy. "Good on you," Bikky said to Erick with a smile. Erick blushed, took one last, longing look at Rain then went back to his dessert.

Peter gasped, then stood up. He dumped his drink over Erick's head and stomped off. "I'm just second best to you," Peter said when he brushed his long locks off his shoulder, they too, fell short of Rain's. "I'll always just be his understudy."

"No, Petey," Erick softened his voice as he followed the upset teen. Rain looked up confused.

"So oblivious," Bikky cracked up patting Rain. With a shrug the boys went back to their Dessert.

Break

Dee cornered Ryo later that day while he was shopping in the children's section. "You can't keep avoiding the subject."

"I'm not avoiding it, Lyo needs new pajamas." Ryo said making sure the size on the pajama set would fit the small boy that was close to five years old. "Plus, while he is occupied with Leon, we can get his birthday stuff."

"Ryo, he will be five," Dee said as he picked up a blue pair and added it to Ryo's selections. "These are cute." Ryo nodded saying nothing about the comment he aimed a baleful look at Dee. "Alicia agrees, she is in fact the one who suggested it to me that he was getting old enough."

"He is already so smart, while we work, Count D teaches him. Homeschooling will do him good," Ryo said ignoring the little jeans and shirts that Dee placed in his cart.

"Count D is three months pregnant, he has Jewel to deal with plus all the responsibilities of the shop and animals, customers are still breaking contracts and dropping like flies. You think he needs Lyo there on top of that?"

"You make him sound like a burden," Ryo said his eyes lowering as his bottom lip poked out a bit. Realizing he was pouting, Ryo sucked in his lip and stood straighter.

"You are so adorable," Dee's words caused a lovely blush to stain Ryo's cheeks. "He needs to interact with kids his own age in a school setting. It will do him a lot of good."

"I hate when you are right," Ryo said looking again over the school clothes that Dee had placed in his cart.

"Now about that other thing Alicia agreed to..." Dee began but paused when Ryo held up three outfits. Dee was laughing as they left the store.

Break

"I don't see what the big deal is," Laton said with a grin. He sat at the table as if he had not invited himself to dinner. "You have touched females before?"

"Eleven of them,"Dee told him with a grin as he speared his veal with a fork. "He told me everything."

"So did you," Ryo grinned as he thought back. "But surely you see this as a breach of our monogamy."

"Duh, I'm just saying that you know how." Dee snickered when Torcha rolled her eyes.

"Listen, child," Torcha said leaning on her elbows on the table. "If you understand that it is for a purpose, you should both understand that ..." Torcha paused flooundering for a way to make them understand and do as she wanted. "This is for a purpose, you will not be cheating... exactly," Torcha hedged when they both gave her a dubious stare.

"You think about it, for whatever the reason, let some female dragon spend a night with Laton," Dee said looking between the two that had been together for so long he feared to ask the true date.

"I will have her scaled hide as a diaper for the younglings." Torcha steamed causing the items on the table to wiggle.

"What's all the fuss about?" Bikky said earning the adults attention. Renee looked at the boy with a smile. "Just have Dee spit in a cup then insert it into Alicia."

"Artificial insemination," Alica grinned and wiped Lyo's face clean of his dinner while Ryo stood to clear the plates and get dessert.

"Now, youngling," Torcha said a frown on her face. "I do understand human mating, how will his expectoration lead to a child of Ryo's blood."

"I do believe the child is making a crude jest at our expense." Laton laughed as he realized that he was perhaps asking too much of his grandson. "But he has a point." Bikky winked at the ancient dragon king his eyes wide as Ryo carried in a large strawberry cream pie.

"So," Bikky said as he received his helping. "What'll we name the kid?"

Break

Leon traced his fingers over the small mound of D's tummy. "We will weather this," Leon grinned when D lay still his pale beauty relaxing in bed beside him. "I can't wait to see what this one will be."

"Without the transferring of your blood, all I can make is another male," D confessed with a sad smile. "Don't go getting shot just to give us the element of surprise." Count D smirked trailing a long nail along Leon's jaw. "Chris is all ready for school?" Count D asked smiling when he thought of Leon coming home to wake him from a pleasant nap. "Pon-Chan complains that Chris spends more time with Catherine than with her. I don't know how to make her understand that Catherine is his own species. I am glad he figured it out."

"He is my brother,"Leon said with a wide smile. "The greatest detective." Leon laughed when Count D swatted his arm. "Seriously, though, D," Leon said sitting up and looking down at D. "If you don't want me to go back, I won't. I will stay here and help you."

"I fell in love with an obnoxious Detective," Count D said getting from the bed and walking nude to the closet to pull a robe about his shoulders. "You will be unhappy as anything but." Count D opened his mouth to speak, but paused his entire world sinking into blackness he shivered in the immense cold that shrouded his heart.

"Baby, are you sick," Leon ran to D's side when the Count had paled and stood shaking like a leaf in a storm. Leon panicked pulling D into his arms. D's flushed face pressed into the bare skin of Leon's chest as he sought succor in the steady beat of his detective's heart.

D shook his head when his vision cleared he placed his hand on his stomach. "There is danger coming." D tied the belt making sure that it was not too tight around his middle. "Bad..." Count D held his slim hand over his mouth as fear gripped him. Leon could not remember seeing the beautiful Kami more afraid. "Inside, not human, Leon save the children." D ran from the room with Leon behind shoving his legs into a pair of sweatpants.

"Baby, wait," Leon called dashing after the Count.

"No time," D halted in his moonlit garden as Aoi came running to his side with Chris's hand.

"Bro, D," Chris gasped. "Jewel came running to me and said we had to go. What's going on?"

"I don't..." Leon's words halted as he felt a terrible rumble in the shop. "What the hell?"

"Grandfather and Grandmother have left the shop," D confessed as his body trembled when the animals of the shop began to thunder down the hall their many feet, claws and hooves loud on the marble floors.

"We have to get you out," T-Chan growled his fangs displayed as his hackles rose. "The Honlon has received a message from Ghidora, that he got from Clarisande and Jhaymes of Arcadia. They have deciphered some prophesy written in the old language."

"No time, what is coming?" Leon asked as the shop was rocked by another forceful blow.

"Dae," Count D said as Jewel began to whimper. Count D placed his child behind him.

"The Arcadians figured it out, this is their enemy," Leon said standing in front of his family. T-Chan stood beside him with several of Count D's more dangerous animals "They won't make it in time." Just as the words left Count D's mouth a great shadow covered the garden. The occupants looked up to see grandiose wings sparkling so white it was almost painful to look upon them for too long. With the wings was the large body of an equine sitting atop it was a slight feminine form with a sword raised high. Following the descent of the great beast were several others. Leon wanted to cheer as the Royale landed in a circle around them.

"There now Count," Andy said her sleek black pants contrasting mightily with the white of Carious. "I should almost be insulted by your lack of faith." Count D smiled his relief at seeing them all nearly a tangible thing to be embraced.

"Whether he needs his faith or not is questionable," Andy turned her sword at the slow words in an unfamiliar voice. Though the voice was unknown the feel of ice down her spine was unmistakable. "You should not have come. This is not your fight."

"Well and I've heard that one before," Clarisande said holding her hands high before she clapped them. With a pucker of her well-shaped lips she blew a dusting of loose powder over the grouping of children and animals sure that Aoi was hiding with her uncle Chris. She winced when she realized that standing next to Andy, Count D was out of the sphere of her aim. "Angel, take them. I'll send you D as soon as I can." She thought the words and the children and animals glowed a moment before vanishing from the garden. Count D gasped as the sense of Aoi did not leave him. He looked over and saw the toddler hiding behind Leon, well out of range of the Princess. Leon stood still not willing to give away the child's location to their enemy. D looked away quickly so as not to betray that same fact.

Dae narrowed his odd violet eyes as he peered at Count D through his lush bangs of straight blond hair. "You are right to be fearful, but foolish to place hope in royalty. No sun shall rise for you. That one is useless to me." Dae glared at the spot of Leon's legs where Jewel hid from view. "Or shall I say to you." Dae grinned as Andy readied herself for battle securing her long hair into a bun with the stiletto as it's base. "You are smart to send Sofu and his bloodsucking fiend, I mean his lady wife," Dae laughed as his own purposeful slip. "To protect Lord D guessing that I would be here."

"Florian is a fool, more than enough for Sofu to handle." Nestoir said his blade shining beside his wife's.

"I'm flattered that you all came so eager to see me," Dae said sidling back away from the group, his minions appearing at his side each one hissing steam and baring their fangs and claws. "But tell me, where is the other high Princess?"

"You know there is only one," Andy said taking offense at Dae's comments about Daphnus' beautiful appearance. "Though you should be one to talk, I notice that of all the fools who offer their body to you, you only choose the beautiful ones."

"Wise, not answering the question princess, but I tire of this banter. Kill them." He ordered his demons. The beasts did not hesitate to attack the royals. The sound of metal clanging on scales was loud in the peaceful garden. Leon tossed D behind him and accepted the long sword that Kronos tossed to him. Leon was surprised to see Chimera's husband. Two fire users? Leon wondered what this was about.

"Baby, take Jewel and get out of here." Leon said as he joined the fray. D dropped to his knees shielding his child in his arms he tried to crawl away to safety only to have a green eyed human male standing over him with his arms crossed smiling.

"No sun shall rise," The man said. He looked over at where Dae was locked in an intense sword battle with Nestoir. Nestoir wondered why the demon smiled suddenly the eyes he was staring into went from violet to green. Confused Nestoir stepped back and swung wide taking the minions head. He turned around before the corpse could hit the ground and saw Dae bearing down on Count D. Moving quickly, Count D sat Aoi on her bottom and kicked out at Dae. The demon moved faster countering the attack he grasped D's hands in one of his larger ones and pressed his hand to D's mounding tummy. "No Sun shall rise."

D screamed as his body was wracked with wild pain centering on his middle and working it's way outward. "My baby," D cried as his vision blurred and he sank to knees in the grass covered carpet of his garden. With his blood pooling the air was ripe with the scent of the flowers that bloomed where the sweet drops of his life fell. Dae paused to look down at the blooms in confusion then continued his attempts to abort D's child.

"Papa!" Aoi screamed her little hands outstretched glowing as she reached for D. Dae gasped as his hands were left bereft when D vanished from view.

"What madness is this you wretched little brat?" Dae growled his countenance changing from one of beauty to a gross revelation of his true nature. Before he could approach the child Kronos surrounded her with a ring of high, leaping flames while his wife took her up on her unicorn shining golden hooves beating against the night sky. Chimera looked down then aimed her own flames at Dae only to have the creature duck and roll. He sent a beam of deep black power at Leon only to fall under golden hooves and black powerful legs as Faldor came down black wings beating in the night. On his back Daphnus glared down at Dae. Behind Daphnus, Sofu glared down. A large black bat swooped down landing as Lady Aurora she bared her fangs hissing at the fiend on the ground.

"Begone, foul beast," Sofu commanded causing a whirlwind to suck Dae up and fling him far out past where they could see.

"Where is D?" Leon said searching the yard frantically as he pulled Jewel into his arms.

"Papa, here," Aoi patted her chest where her heart was.

"Your heart is there, sweetheart, where is Papa?" Leon said tears streaming down his face.

"Papa," Aoi said moving her hand to reveal her small orb. She placed it in Leon's hand. Confused Leon handed the toy to Sofu.

"Jewel," Leon prepared to question her further but gasped as Sofu stared at the orb and raised his hands holding Count D's unconscious form.

"The child hid her father in her heart." Sofu announced and stared with great sadness at the blood that soaked D's night robe. Leon felt horror at the sight of the Ancient Kami's tears as he looked at D.

To Be Continued

Wow, I hope that you all are enjoying this...

Ja