The Sweet Shop Next Door
pass the broccolini
Author's Note: I can't believe it's already the eighth chapter. Of course, the individual chapters themselves aren't very long. I thought that short updates that occur often are better than long updates that occur once a month. At least, I know that's what I usually prefer. This chapter might be a bit confusing since both D and his father have the same name. (Unless I missed something, which is possible.) Anyway, Count D is Count D and Dewei is his father. I can imagine that family reunions are particularly difficult since everyone in the family basically has the same name.
Chapter Eight:
D clenched his teeth as he entered the shop. Of all the times to show up, the elder D had certainly chosen the worst. D told himself to remain calm. If there was something his father liked, it was fear and control. Dewei was seated in D's favorite armchair, wearing an outfit of dark blue. A beautiful, radiating woman stood behind him, snaking her pale arms around his shoulders. D instantly recognized her to be a glowworm, an insect that sets silvery traps for insects and devours them alive. Was his father trying to send a message?
"Hello, father. How thoughtful of you to drop by."
"Well, I was passing by and thought I'd check up on you. It has been a long time since we talked. So what's new?"
The condescendingly superior trademark smirk of Dewei's remained in place as he took a sip from his tea. Unlike his son, he preferred the heavy, smoky, black teas. It pained him to think of how wimpy his son turned out. Ever since he was a child, D had felt a fondness for humans that Dewei could not understand. D always wanted to give them a chance to redeem themselves, despite centuries of insuperable proof that humans did not change. D was weak, like his grandfather. It didn't surprise him that he was engaging in romantic activity with a human.
D remained standing as he spoke. "Father, why did you come?"
Dewei sat down his cup of tea on the porcelain saucer on the table. Gracefully, he stood up in one flowing, connected movement and stood, face-to-face, in front of his son. The glowworm watched in interest and slipped into the vacant chair.
"I knew something like this would happen. You've spent far too much time dabbling with these humans when you should be punishing them."
"I am. The shop is still open. There just haven't been as many customers as usual."
The elder was getting angrier by the second and D could sense it. The best course of action was to remain calm.
"Then MOVE! You've already made too many personal connections with humans in this city. The life of a kami is a nomadic one!"
"Don't tell me about 'the life of a kami'!" So much for staying calm. D continued, uncharacteristically losing his temper. He hated it when his father lectured him. Just because his father had raised him did not entitle control over his actions. "What do you think I am! Do you think I've forgotten the injustices done to our kind? Do you think I no longer care about the animals we're sworn to save! You're wrong, father."
Dewei's smirk returned. He loved aggravating and manipulating D. It was so easy.
"Am I? Didn't you just swoon over that human? Outside the shop, no less! Next thing, you'll be letting her sleep in your bed and cooking for her!"
D's eyes guiltily drifted downwards. Was it really that bad? It was just nice having someone to talk to. A look of understanding crossed Dewei's face as he frowned and stared into D's downcast eyes.
"No, D. Tell me you didn't."
"We didn't do anything like that. We're just friends. She's actually quite intelligent…for a human, I mean."
Dewei motioned for his pet glowworm to rise. They were leaving.
"Listen to yourself! Humans? Intelligent? Being around these humans has weakened you. End your relationship, or I will."
With that, Dewei and his glowworm strode out of the shop, slamming the door behind them. D sunk into his chair. Q-Chan had been hiding beneath the table the whole time. He flew up to his familiar perch of D's finger and gave a soft, reassuring "kyu". D felt downtrodden. Eliza was the first person he had ever actually felt a connection with. Even his grandfather was still a human-hater at the core. He didn't doubt that his father would kill Eliza if he got the chance. Dewei didn't have a drop of compassion in his veins.
"What am I going to do, Q-Chan? What am I going to do?"
Well, what do you think? Dewei is Chinese for "great principle". The only other Chinese 'D' name for boys that I could find was "Dingbang". Yeah. Somehow, "Dingbang" doesn't inspire much terror or ferar. Anyway, please review!