Inuyasha and Petshop of Horrors
Chapter 3: Thoughts
She understands the reason for Yirashi to worry about her. Yirashi is after all her guardian of sort, in a way. And just like how Midoriko had told her before was that Yirashi is there to guide, guard and also there as a friend. Petting Yirashi on her head, she turned to the mirror once more to look at herself. With what seemed like a long pause as she looked into the mirror while her observers in the room looked at her expectantly.
Turning her head to Yirashi, "How do I turn back to my human appearance? I can't possibly go walking up the streets in this, everyone will either run about screaming at the sight of me and perhaps call up the scientist and cage me up as an exhibit or worse, an experiment." Kagome exclaimed with the exaggerations that she just made.
Yirashi shook her head while Count D and his animals present laughed at her softly.
−All you have to do is just remember.−
Kagome closed her eyes and did as Yirashi instructed while in her heart she silently hoped that this will work for her to regain her original appearance as a human that is. When she opened her eyes, Count D already had the mirror placed in front of her and held it to her eye level where she noted that she is back to her normal usual self. Letting a sigh of relieve escaped from her mouth.
−Very nicely done Kagome, this is how you are to change your appearance should you wish to the next time. Your appearance though back to normal, it is taking a closer resemblance of your facial features such as your brown eyes which now have a few speckles of silver in them, making your eyes look much brighter to a human being.− Yirashi told her.
While Count D placed the mirror back to where he took down from the wall, Kagome noted what she said.
"What if I am unable to hold onto this form as long as some of the demons back in the Feudal Era? Will my demon form be revealed to them from that lack of control?" She asked curiously.
−Most demons are unable to do so. However since your body is accustomed to being in your human appearance, you will not easily lose control as you said. There is also another point that when you are under attack or feel extremely insecure of a certain matters, your features may appear, it is sometimes best to let your demon instinct to kick in. They are your best support and defense.− she piped out happily at how Kagome is progressing while licking some tea out of another cup that Count D have provide for her.
"Kagome-chan, would you like some cake?" drifted Count D's voice.
"Thank you, I think I have imposed on you much longer than you would like, am I not?" she said as she stood up only to see Count D smiling at her while passing her a plate of cake.
"You are welcome to stay as long as you like Kagome-chan. Your presence here is most welcome by us." Count D said while the other two people in the room nodded and T-chan called out his approval of her being there with them.
"Erm...Count D-sama did you adopt these two children?" she asked curiously.
"No, they are not human nor demons like you. T-chan is a Toutetsu while Pon-chan is a European Badger. This shop sells love, creating the dream that humans find it impossible to realize and hope." When Count D mentioned that he seemingly gained a dark shadow around him with a very mysterious aura. Though it would usually intimidate her, only, she felt drawn towards Count D himself instead of finding him scary or one to be feared.
When Kagome was about to say something again, she heard the sound of the elevator door opened.
"Yes young master. Please be careful of your step."
"Count D!" said a man in his mid twenties as he seated himself comfortably on a chair while the old man stood behind him head bowed down and in his arms is the man's coat.
Count D seeing him gave a look of weariness but was gone in a mere few seconds to be replaced with a smile on his lips.
"Is there something that you need Mr. Lee."
"Count D, you know very well what I came here for." He said languidly while lounging himself comfortably in the chair. Count D came before him to place a fresh cup of tea he had to make especially for him. The very first time he made Mr. Lee a cup of tea, he was shocked at how sweet the tea tasted and coughed it out.
Count D let out a weary sigh and replied, "Mr. Lee this is a pet shop and we do not cater to your kind of needs. We are fair tired of facing your many subordinates who come in here to buy a pet. This shop sells love, dream and hope as I have told you many times."
"And unlike from my sources, there are a few people who bought pets from you seemed completely transformed into another person than who they originally are. It is your doing, I know it, and however it is the special kind of pet that I am looking for. A female with good looks, obliging and not at all troublesome to take care of." He stated casually as though it is obvious Count D is the answer to all his demands.
"I am sorry once again to say this Mr. Lee, but what you are looking for is not at all in our humble shop. We sell pets here and strictly only pets, nothing else." He stated ending the subject.
"D, can I eat him, he may look all too disgusting for my taste but I don't mind making an exception this time?" I heard T-chan asking Count D in a hopeful manner.
"No T-chan, he is after all still a guest here." D said with a smile flashing it at the Toutetsu.
The man sitting on the sofa known as Mr. Lee, raised an eyebrow looking at him in doubt, yet did not mention anything. Instead, he started to look round the room until I felt his gaze landed on me.
"Oh I see you have a customer now Count D." he said rather offhandedly.
"Lady Kagome is a guest here, please be more polite to her." Count D stated simply with a smile on his face.
Kagome blushed slightly when she heard him addressing her as a "Lady". "Count D, I am just plain Kagome not a Lady whatsoever." She retorted rather embarrassedly, while looking down at her hand which she suddenly found to be much more interesting.
"If you insist Kagome-chan." He said with another smile.
"I guess I have to be going now Count D, goodbye and thanks for the tea." She said waiting for Yirashi to jump into her arms before leaving them.
"Well, I guess there is nothing much for me to do here too. Good day Count D." Mr. Lee said trying to catch up with Kagome yet do not want to be caught by Count D seeing him do so.
When he was sure he was out of Count D's ear shot, he called out after Kagome before she closed the doors of the elevator. "Kagome is it?" he asked with a smile on his lips that told her as much as.
"Yes. Is there something you would like to ask?" she asked accommodatingly, a slight look of confusion that seemed to clear away just as soon. However he saw perched on her shoulder a cat instead of a fox that he took note to be far more different than any normal cats that he has ever seen.
"May I enquire as to how you come in hand of your pet?" he asked though there is a glint of suspicion in his eyes about who gave her Yirashi.
Smiling, "She is a gift from a friend some time ago." She said petting Yirashi on the head.
"Ah…Of course, another question, how have you come to known Count D?"
"I was on an errand from my grandfather to pass him something, I only meet him for the first time today though." She said thoughtfully looking at Yirashi with a soft secret smile.
The elevator soon came to a stop as the bell ring to tell them they have arrived on the first level.
"Ah yes. Good bye then Miss Kagome." He said with a curt business like nod at her before seeing Kagome walked into the streets of Chinatown and soon blend into the crowd. In his mind, he suspect Kagome to be more than meets the eye, though for now he would rather leave things as it is and see how its progresses.
−I don't like that man, not one bit at all. − Yirashi said once they are out of the man's sight. Truth be told, Kagome did not like him either. He gave her a rather bad feeling, like a bad storm is coming.
"Me too Yirashi, me too." She said softly in a daze like voice.
For the rest of the journey back to the Shrine, Yirashi and her maintained small talks all the way there. And was greeted by her little brother Souta who is playing games on the television, while her mother came out to say her greeting before she went back to resume her cooking.
Jii-chan came out of his stuffy room and asked Kagome about how her trip to pass the antique mirror to his friend had been. When she made mention about the accidental meeting of Count D in the shop, he grandfathers' face turned thoughtful for a while before he cracked up and laughed.
Though Kagome did not know the reason behind his outburst of laughter, when he calmed down enough during our early dinner, Jii-chan recounted his story of how he met Count D. Jii-chan in the past had met Count D a few times and even had fallen head over heels when he first met Count D in his friend's Chinese restaurant.
Jii-chan also mentioned when he found out Count D to be a man rather than a woman, was initially shocked too like many others before him. Kagome hearing this, nearly chocked on her food about her grandfather's crush on Count D. Though Count D himself should be about her grandfather's age yet he does not seem to age like all normal human being which confused her. She had not felt any youkai energy from him at all and yet her grandfather had met Count D long ago.
Jii-chan continued his story adding in about how he would go after Count D if he is a woman. Yet Jii-chan did mention about still being friends with Count D even after finding out that he is a male.
Helping her mother to clear the table, Kagome saw her brother Souta listening to Jii-chan with rapt attention to one of his many infamous stories about demons. Her mother smiled serenely while washing the dishes as Kagome helped dry them. As she climb the stairs up to her room, she saw Yirashi lying on her bed curled up in a little furry bundle fast asleep.
Getting into bed and shifting Yirashi on to a pillow that she had added to her room, she lifted part of her blanket to gently lay it over Yirashi and herself. Her mind swarmed with thoughts of the mysterious Count D. Wondering about his age and what secrets that he have kept hidden behind that secretive smile. Questioning about what the "D" in his name stands for. Pondering on it, she soon fell into sleepless night thinking about this mysterious man that she has encountered today.