LOVE BLOSSOMS
BASED ON THE CHARACTERS CREATED BY MATSURI AKINO FOR THE MANGA SERIES, PET SHOP OF HORRORS.
CONTAINS SPOILERS ~ GUESS WHICH ONES
ANSWERS
Jill heard the knock at her apartment door and walked over to open it, "'Bout time Leon, I thought you chickened out."
"I thought about it, but I was running late 'cause of a car accident on the way over. I just hope that the pizza isn't cold; for some reason I'm really hungry." He was taking his coat off, as he said this.
She walked over to her coffee table and flipped open the extra large pizza box with a flair. "It sure is; Ain't nothing worse that a cold Hawaiian pizza with extra pineapple."
"My God, that's the biggest freaking pizza I've ever seen. Where do you get one this big?"
"Hey, I've got a very, very good friend who owns the pizza joint. He always treats me real nice when I place an order." She laughed to herself. "Before we get down to the serious business of your visit , let's eat!"
Some time passed, as both Jill and Leon took time to stuff their faces and stomachs full of pizza. They sat in comfortable silence, as they relaxed on her couch, both with cans of soda to wash it all down.
After some time, Jill turned toward Leon.
"OK, spill the beans, what's up and what do you need to talk about?" she said, and thought to herself, as if I didn't know.
"Don't hate me, but would it shock you if I said I was more than casually interested in D? I mean in a more than just a friendship kinda way?" Leon responded with more that a little bit of concern in his voice.
"Would you believe me if I said no?"
Leon looked at her with some surprise. "Ummmm, yeah. I'm mean, how did you know? Christ, don't tell me I was that obvious?" His hands flailing around as he spoke.
She grabbed his hands, "Leon, calm down.No it's not that obvious!" She lets him take a few deep breaths and calm down. "Maybe 'cause I'm a girl and we girls tend to be a little more sensitive on stuff like this, or perhaps because I'm your friend and just know you better than the average Joe."
Leon looked her in the eyes. "You don't think less of me or anything? You don't feel ashamed of me?"
"No, why would I? You're my friend. You have a chance at something very special. Something very, very special. If anything I'm envious of you; I just hope that I find someone that means as much to me."
He gripped her hands even tighter. "It's not so easy. Not everyone will be as accepting."
"Screw them, screw all of them.", she responded, "Those that have issues are jackasses and what they think doesn't mean a damn thing!"
"Easier said than done." He muttered under his breath.
A hell of a lot easier!!! Leon thought to himself. "Leon, I have one big, all important question; Do you love him? Really love him. Before you answer, look deep inside yourself and be absolutely honest. Do you love him?"
Leon sat quietly, his eyes losing focus as he thought about it.
Do I love him, well yeah, I think I've finally accepted that; but do I really LOVE him? The kind of love that means I'm ready for the ridicule. That I'm willing to go public and be seen in public with him. To let everyone know, that this person next to me, is important to me. To have more than the casual handshake, or touch with him, to have a hell of a lot more between them. To have a relationship, a physical relationship, with D, that I would have never thought to have with anyone other than another girl. Am I ready for this? Ready for everything it implies and goes along with a true relationship? Well, I guess my answer will be.
"Yes, Jill, I really do love him. God, this is something I would have never thought would happen to me."
"Love isn't something you can order on command. Love sneaks up and messes your life up to suit its plan." She gave him a supportive smile.
"It's just getting use to; but there is something else," Leon took a minute to collect his thoughts, "what if you find out there is something unusual, or umm, different that might make you feel a little unnerved or skittish about committing to a relationship? Something that makes you take a second thought first?"
Jill nodded. "Ok, first off, let's not do the, I have this friend crap. Is it something illegal that the Count is involved in? If so, than as much as I hate to say this, you need to turn him in and maybe it's better that the relationship never takes place. God knows I really like the Count, but first and foremost, I'm a cop. So are you."
"No, no, it's nothing illegal. It's more like. ok, like, what if you found out that the guy you were dating, whom you always thought was a nice Catholic boy, turns out he's a nice Jewish boy?" Leon gave her a look that implied that he hoped she understood.
"Wow, that has to be one of the worst analogies I've ever heard. But, I'm glad that it's nothing illegal. I'm really all for you and the Count." She gave him her big bright smile. "So you found out something that makes you question your relationship, before you commit,"
Yeah, like he's not human, but some kind of God or spirit thing. He thought to himself, while Jill spoke.
Jill continued, "it's nothing illegal, but something that makes him different from what you thought you already knew about him. Something unusual; can I assume it isn't religion, but something else. I'm not asking for details, I sense that it's nothing you want to talk about, but is it something that makes you love him any less or fear him?"
Do I fear him? I will admit that I was scared shitless when I saw the hoojoo, voodoo things he did. But, do a still fear him?
"No, I don't fear him and it doesn't affect what I feel for him. I love him despite what I've learned." He honestly answered.
"Well then, you have your answers and you know what you have to do, don't you." It wasn't a question.
"Yeah, I do. I guess there isn't any time like the present. You don't think it's to late?" Leon asked, as he threw on his coat and made his way towards the door.
"It's never to late, Leon." She said to him as he shut the door on his way out.
Go get 'em boy. Jill thought with a smile and picked up another slice of Hawaiian pizza with extra pineapple.
At the pet shop, Count D was preparing fresh tea and pastries for himself. He was laying out the dishes and pot on the ornate coffee table, as Q-chan flew around his head, making little, happy chirping noises.
"Yes, Q-chan, there are fresh strawberries for you." He gave him a cheerful smile.
I feel much, much happier than I have in the past weeks. Perhaps the incident with Leon was just what was needed. He was much more accepting of what is between us than he has ever been. Perhaps enough for him to come to a final decision. I truly hope he comes to a decision that will make me, both of us, happy. But I will accept any decision he makes, regardless of what it is.
Just as the Count took a seat on one of the very lush couches that graced his shop and began to pour himself a cup of tea, there was a banging on the front door of the shop. It was enough for the Count to spill a few drops of tea onto the table. It was also enough to cause Q-chan to drop his strawberry that he finally begun to work loose from the pastry. Q-chan gave a very disgruntled chirping noise.
"I wonder who that could possibly be, at this time?" The Count wondered out loud as he stood up and walked over to open the door.
Just as he unlocked it, a very disheveled and agitated blond man pushed it open and almost knocked over the Count.
Quickly regaining his balance, the Count smiled and said, "Detective, what do I owe for this unexpected visit?"
Running his hands through his hair and looking startled a seeing the Count so near, Leon replied, "D, don't talk. I've got something very important to say and I need to get it out before I chicken out."
This all came out is a rush and the Count now had the startled look on his face, but remained quiet and let the detective say what he had to say.
"First off, I love you. I love you, I love you I love you. I really, really love you. I don't care what the hell you are, human or not. I think you love me, but I'm not sure, do you?" But Leon didn't give the Count time to respond, but the Count seemed more interested in letting the detective get it all out, before responding. "I'm ready to be with you, if you're ready or willing to be with me. I'm grouchy, quick tempered and judgmental. I'll try to improve myself, but no promises. I'm a meat eater and a chronic smoker, I can try to give up cigarettes, but I'm not sure about the meat. I like hamburgers way too much. I want to be with your, touch you, kiss you and just be with you all the time. I think about you when I should be thinking about the job. I'm a cop and work crappy hours, but if you can accept that and me then there is nothing I want more in this life than to be with you. God, I know I'm rambling and not making any sense, but."
Leon would have continued to ramble if the Count hadn't placed his hand over his mouth. Leon immediately stopped talking.
"Detective, I love you too." The Count removed his hand. "I know you are a detective and I can accept that, especially if you can accept what I am. I am happy you are willing to give up your cigarettes and I will work on making you a vegetarian, but it is not important, if your are not. Any additional problems we might encounter will be worked out in due time, of that, I am sure. I think about you more than I should. I, also, wish to be with you, to touch you, to kiss you and be with you all the time. In fact, will you kiss me now?"
Without any doubt or question, Leon leaned down and placed a kissed on the Counts lips. At first, it was just a soft kiss with closed lips, but within moments, the kiss became more, became deep and passionate with arms around each other.
After a few minutes the kiss ended with both gasping for breath. The Count was the first to recover and gave Leon a smile that filled the whole room with light.
"Well, that was some experience, wouldn't you say D?" Leon said after he recovered. "For my first guy kiss, it was something else. You one hell of a kisser."
"I could say the same for you, Leon." The Count responded and very formally bowed and said, "I was about to have some tea and pastries, would you care to join me?"
"I guess I would join you for anything." Leon took a seat and the Count took a seat next to him. He leaned in close, almost but not quite, like a snuggle.
"It's ok D, you can snuggle if you want." Leon place his arm around him and pulled him close.
The Count pressed himself closer to Leon, but had to get up a second later, to get another cup for tea and a plate for pastries. Once he had served the tea and pastries, D once again snuggled up with Leon. Q-chan was once again trying to pull the strawberry from one of the pastries, after quietly listening to what had passed between the Count and the detective.
"You know D, if you or anyone had asked me if this was ever a possibility, I would have laughed my damn head off." Leon said as, unconsciously, his hand began to play with a lock of the Counts silky hair.
"Ta Gua, detective, Ta Gau is the closest thing to a family name I have. Please call me that instead of D."
Q-chan for the second time that night dropped his strawberry back onto the pastry, after making a shocked chirp, with his little mouth hanging open in surprise. Even the detective seemed to be surprised at this new bit of information.
"Ta Gau , hmmm, I'm so use to calling you D, it's gonna take time to call you anything else. I'll try, but will you be upset if I call you D accidentally, from time to time. You shouldn't call me detective anymore either. Leon, always call me Leon, I like it when you call me by my name."
D placed a hand on Leon's chest, "Wo aini, Leon."
"Wo aini?" Leon asked, "What's that?"
"I love you in Mandarin, or if you prefer wo oiney, which is Cantonese for I love you."
"Wo aini and wo oiney? Hmmm, I'll have to remember that. I'm learning something new" Leon said as his hand began to caress D's back.
D shivered at Leon's caress, "Yes, but we will have to work on your pronunciation. It is quite atrocious and there are many new things that you can learn this night, if only you are willing to learn." D almost seemed shy and unsure as he said this to Leon.
Both had long since given up on trying to drink their tea or eat their pastries.
Leon began to unbutton D's cheongsam. "I'm willing to learn anything with you Ta Gau."
D sighed happily and stood up. He held out his hand, which was immediately taken by the detective's larger one. Leon stood up and allowed D to lead him to wherever he wanted to go. Wherever it was, it would be together from this moment on. That night Leon and D would learn many new things about each other and they learned it together.
Back in the pet shop's main room, Q-chan made a frustrated sound, but it was unclear if it was about what had just happened or about the strawberry.
Jill was putting what was left of the pizza in her refrigerator when there was a knock at her door.
Oh no, please don't let it be Leon. God, I hope he didn't chicken out or change his mind. He seemed so sure of his decision when he left.
When she opened the door, it wasn't Leon, but someone unexpected, it was the Sofu.
"Hey, why the late visit?" she asked as she motioned him to come in and have a seat.
"No thank you, I will not stay long, but I wanted to stopped by and let you know, that our union is at an end." He said formally.
"Yeah, so it is a happy ending for them?" She questioned.
"Yes, a happy ending, as you say." The Sofu didn't sound entirely too happy about the situation.
Knowing he wasn't exactly keen on the relationship, Jill merely nodded at first, but then said "You'll get use to it, I'm sure."
"Yes, I suppose I will have too."
"Well," Jill said, "I guess this is good-bye?"
"Yes." The Sofu turned and began to walk away. Moments later he heard the door close and, what seemed to be very happy noises behind it.
"Humans; I will never quiet understand them." The Sofu said, as he pulled a small bag of strawberries from his coat pocket, and picked the biggest one to eat.
END OF CHAPTER SEVEN
BASED ON THE CHARACTERS CREATED BY MATSURI AKINO FOR THE MANGA SERIES, PET SHOP OF HORRORS.
CONTAINS SPOILERS ~ GUESS WHICH ONES
ANSWERS
Jill heard the knock at her apartment door and walked over to open it, "'Bout time Leon, I thought you chickened out."
"I thought about it, but I was running late 'cause of a car accident on the way over. I just hope that the pizza isn't cold; for some reason I'm really hungry." He was taking his coat off, as he said this.
She walked over to her coffee table and flipped open the extra large pizza box with a flair. "It sure is; Ain't nothing worse that a cold Hawaiian pizza with extra pineapple."
"My God, that's the biggest freaking pizza I've ever seen. Where do you get one this big?"
"Hey, I've got a very, very good friend who owns the pizza joint. He always treats me real nice when I place an order." She laughed to herself. "Before we get down to the serious business of your visit , let's eat!"
Some time passed, as both Jill and Leon took time to stuff their faces and stomachs full of pizza. They sat in comfortable silence, as they relaxed on her couch, both with cans of soda to wash it all down.
After some time, Jill turned toward Leon.
"OK, spill the beans, what's up and what do you need to talk about?" she said, and thought to herself, as if I didn't know.
"Don't hate me, but would it shock you if I said I was more than casually interested in D? I mean in a more than just a friendship kinda way?" Leon responded with more that a little bit of concern in his voice.
"Would you believe me if I said no?"
Leon looked at her with some surprise. "Ummmm, yeah. I'm mean, how did you know? Christ, don't tell me I was that obvious?" His hands flailing around as he spoke.
She grabbed his hands, "Leon, calm down.No it's not that obvious!" She lets him take a few deep breaths and calm down. "Maybe 'cause I'm a girl and we girls tend to be a little more sensitive on stuff like this, or perhaps because I'm your friend and just know you better than the average Joe."
Leon looked her in the eyes. "You don't think less of me or anything? You don't feel ashamed of me?"
"No, why would I? You're my friend. You have a chance at something very special. Something very, very special. If anything I'm envious of you; I just hope that I find someone that means as much to me."
He gripped her hands even tighter. "It's not so easy. Not everyone will be as accepting."
"Screw them, screw all of them.", she responded, "Those that have issues are jackasses and what they think doesn't mean a damn thing!"
"Easier said than done." He muttered under his breath.
A hell of a lot easier!!! Leon thought to himself. "Leon, I have one big, all important question; Do you love him? Really love him. Before you answer, look deep inside yourself and be absolutely honest. Do you love him?"
Leon sat quietly, his eyes losing focus as he thought about it.
Do I love him, well yeah, I think I've finally accepted that; but do I really LOVE him? The kind of love that means I'm ready for the ridicule. That I'm willing to go public and be seen in public with him. To let everyone know, that this person next to me, is important to me. To have more than the casual handshake, or touch with him, to have a hell of a lot more between them. To have a relationship, a physical relationship, with D, that I would have never thought to have with anyone other than another girl. Am I ready for this? Ready for everything it implies and goes along with a true relationship? Well, I guess my answer will be.
"Yes, Jill, I really do love him. God, this is something I would have never thought would happen to me."
"Love isn't something you can order on command. Love sneaks up and messes your life up to suit its plan." She gave him a supportive smile.
"It's just getting use to; but there is something else," Leon took a minute to collect his thoughts, "what if you find out there is something unusual, or umm, different that might make you feel a little unnerved or skittish about committing to a relationship? Something that makes you take a second thought first?"
Jill nodded. "Ok, first off, let's not do the, I have this friend crap. Is it something illegal that the Count is involved in? If so, than as much as I hate to say this, you need to turn him in and maybe it's better that the relationship never takes place. God knows I really like the Count, but first and foremost, I'm a cop. So are you."
"No, no, it's nothing illegal. It's more like. ok, like, what if you found out that the guy you were dating, whom you always thought was a nice Catholic boy, turns out he's a nice Jewish boy?" Leon gave her a look that implied that he hoped she understood.
"Wow, that has to be one of the worst analogies I've ever heard. But, I'm glad that it's nothing illegal. I'm really all for you and the Count." She gave him her big bright smile. "So you found out something that makes you question your relationship, before you commit,"
Yeah, like he's not human, but some kind of God or spirit thing. He thought to himself, while Jill spoke.
Jill continued, "it's nothing illegal, but something that makes him different from what you thought you already knew about him. Something unusual; can I assume it isn't religion, but something else. I'm not asking for details, I sense that it's nothing you want to talk about, but is it something that makes you love him any less or fear him?"
Do I fear him? I will admit that I was scared shitless when I saw the hoojoo, voodoo things he did. But, do a still fear him?
"No, I don't fear him and it doesn't affect what I feel for him. I love him despite what I've learned." He honestly answered.
"Well then, you have your answers and you know what you have to do, don't you." It wasn't a question.
"Yeah, I do. I guess there isn't any time like the present. You don't think it's to late?" Leon asked, as he threw on his coat and made his way towards the door.
"It's never to late, Leon." She said to him as he shut the door on his way out.
Go get 'em boy. Jill thought with a smile and picked up another slice of Hawaiian pizza with extra pineapple.
At the pet shop, Count D was preparing fresh tea and pastries for himself. He was laying out the dishes and pot on the ornate coffee table, as Q-chan flew around his head, making little, happy chirping noises.
"Yes, Q-chan, there are fresh strawberries for you." He gave him a cheerful smile.
I feel much, much happier than I have in the past weeks. Perhaps the incident with Leon was just what was needed. He was much more accepting of what is between us than he has ever been. Perhaps enough for him to come to a final decision. I truly hope he comes to a decision that will make me, both of us, happy. But I will accept any decision he makes, regardless of what it is.
Just as the Count took a seat on one of the very lush couches that graced his shop and began to pour himself a cup of tea, there was a banging on the front door of the shop. It was enough for the Count to spill a few drops of tea onto the table. It was also enough to cause Q-chan to drop his strawberry that he finally begun to work loose from the pastry. Q-chan gave a very disgruntled chirping noise.
"I wonder who that could possibly be, at this time?" The Count wondered out loud as he stood up and walked over to open the door.
Just as he unlocked it, a very disheveled and agitated blond man pushed it open and almost knocked over the Count.
Quickly regaining his balance, the Count smiled and said, "Detective, what do I owe for this unexpected visit?"
Running his hands through his hair and looking startled a seeing the Count so near, Leon replied, "D, don't talk. I've got something very important to say and I need to get it out before I chicken out."
This all came out is a rush and the Count now had the startled look on his face, but remained quiet and let the detective say what he had to say.
"First off, I love you. I love you, I love you I love you. I really, really love you. I don't care what the hell you are, human or not. I think you love me, but I'm not sure, do you?" But Leon didn't give the Count time to respond, but the Count seemed more interested in letting the detective get it all out, before responding. "I'm ready to be with you, if you're ready or willing to be with me. I'm grouchy, quick tempered and judgmental. I'll try to improve myself, but no promises. I'm a meat eater and a chronic smoker, I can try to give up cigarettes, but I'm not sure about the meat. I like hamburgers way too much. I want to be with your, touch you, kiss you and just be with you all the time. I think about you when I should be thinking about the job. I'm a cop and work crappy hours, but if you can accept that and me then there is nothing I want more in this life than to be with you. God, I know I'm rambling and not making any sense, but."
Leon would have continued to ramble if the Count hadn't placed his hand over his mouth. Leon immediately stopped talking.
"Detective, I love you too." The Count removed his hand. "I know you are a detective and I can accept that, especially if you can accept what I am. I am happy you are willing to give up your cigarettes and I will work on making you a vegetarian, but it is not important, if your are not. Any additional problems we might encounter will be worked out in due time, of that, I am sure. I think about you more than I should. I, also, wish to be with you, to touch you, to kiss you and be with you all the time. In fact, will you kiss me now?"
Without any doubt or question, Leon leaned down and placed a kissed on the Counts lips. At first, it was just a soft kiss with closed lips, but within moments, the kiss became more, became deep and passionate with arms around each other.
After a few minutes the kiss ended with both gasping for breath. The Count was the first to recover and gave Leon a smile that filled the whole room with light.
"Well, that was some experience, wouldn't you say D?" Leon said after he recovered. "For my first guy kiss, it was something else. You one hell of a kisser."
"I could say the same for you, Leon." The Count responded and very formally bowed and said, "I was about to have some tea and pastries, would you care to join me?"
"I guess I would join you for anything." Leon took a seat and the Count took a seat next to him. He leaned in close, almost but not quite, like a snuggle.
"It's ok D, you can snuggle if you want." Leon place his arm around him and pulled him close.
The Count pressed himself closer to Leon, but had to get up a second later, to get another cup for tea and a plate for pastries. Once he had served the tea and pastries, D once again snuggled up with Leon. Q-chan was once again trying to pull the strawberry from one of the pastries, after quietly listening to what had passed between the Count and the detective.
"You know D, if you or anyone had asked me if this was ever a possibility, I would have laughed my damn head off." Leon said as, unconsciously, his hand began to play with a lock of the Counts silky hair.
"Ta Gua, detective, Ta Gau is the closest thing to a family name I have. Please call me that instead of D."
Q-chan for the second time that night dropped his strawberry back onto the pastry, after making a shocked chirp, with his little mouth hanging open in surprise. Even the detective seemed to be surprised at this new bit of information.
"Ta Gau , hmmm, I'm so use to calling you D, it's gonna take time to call you anything else. I'll try, but will you be upset if I call you D accidentally, from time to time. You shouldn't call me detective anymore either. Leon, always call me Leon, I like it when you call me by my name."
D placed a hand on Leon's chest, "Wo aini, Leon."
"Wo aini?" Leon asked, "What's that?"
"I love you in Mandarin, or if you prefer wo oiney, which is Cantonese for I love you."
"Wo aini and wo oiney? Hmmm, I'll have to remember that. I'm learning something new" Leon said as his hand began to caress D's back.
D shivered at Leon's caress, "Yes, but we will have to work on your pronunciation. It is quite atrocious and there are many new things that you can learn this night, if only you are willing to learn." D almost seemed shy and unsure as he said this to Leon.
Both had long since given up on trying to drink their tea or eat their pastries.
Leon began to unbutton D's cheongsam. "I'm willing to learn anything with you Ta Gau."
D sighed happily and stood up. He held out his hand, which was immediately taken by the detective's larger one. Leon stood up and allowed D to lead him to wherever he wanted to go. Wherever it was, it would be together from this moment on. That night Leon and D would learn many new things about each other and they learned it together.
Back in the pet shop's main room, Q-chan made a frustrated sound, but it was unclear if it was about what had just happened or about the strawberry.
Jill was putting what was left of the pizza in her refrigerator when there was a knock at her door.
Oh no, please don't let it be Leon. God, I hope he didn't chicken out or change his mind. He seemed so sure of his decision when he left.
When she opened the door, it wasn't Leon, but someone unexpected, it was the Sofu.
"Hey, why the late visit?" she asked as she motioned him to come in and have a seat.
"No thank you, I will not stay long, but I wanted to stopped by and let you know, that our union is at an end." He said formally.
"Yeah, so it is a happy ending for them?" She questioned.
"Yes, a happy ending, as you say." The Sofu didn't sound entirely too happy about the situation.
Knowing he wasn't exactly keen on the relationship, Jill merely nodded at first, but then said "You'll get use to it, I'm sure."
"Yes, I suppose I will have too."
"Well," Jill said, "I guess this is good-bye?"
"Yes." The Sofu turned and began to walk away. Moments later he heard the door close and, what seemed to be very happy noises behind it.
"Humans; I will never quiet understand them." The Sofu said, as he pulled a small bag of strawberries from his coat pocket, and picked the biggest one to eat.
END OF CHAPTER SEVEN