AN: Hi~ Okay, I care about reviews, but no more badgering. Sorry about all that crap before. Just to let you know that without reviews, I don't write. After about three chapters of poor reception, I discontinue publishing a story. Someone said I should write for the sake of writing. I do, but when I publish on the internet… On a fanfiction site no less… I expect someone who has read the story (out of the many who do) to review it. If not, I'll stop the editing efforts, and the time-consuming process of having a plot that makes sense, or at least components besides sex that make a story interesting, and then I'll just keep the whole story in my head and my journal.

At least, I will warn you two chapters ahead of time if I'm discontinuing anything. Thanks so much for reading! I like the emotionless stats a lot~

I meant to answer but I forgot… I felt blank… And I'm not sure what that means. I really like Ethereally's reviews~ so the above statement can't really concern this fic (but I have the warning for every new chapter I write)

Ethereally: Sorry about Janaff… And thanks for the specifics! Tibarn's lust is one of my faves of anything I read~ It took me quite a while to realize that DB meant Dawn Brigade. They're in this story, just not right now. I really want Ed and Leonardo… But… Eh…

And, oh, about 2091… It's just a way I view, like, magical worlds; like in Fire Emblem (you could compare Naruto or Soul Society in Bleach) most don't have much need for technology, so they wouldn't really advance. I'm sure in our magic-less world we would be way past plasma screens in 2091 (I'll probably be dead) but when there are people who can shoot fire from the hands and the like, I just don't see them much interested in plasma screens in the first place.

Summary: Ugh… A filler chapter. By the time I knew it, it was almost ten pages. You know what to expect in the next chapter. ~_^

The Shooting Star Show

Tibarn had missed his midnight snack, slept right through it. The last time he had eaten was, what, yesterday afternoon? Laguz shouldn't have to wait so long for a meal. In other words, Tibarn was starving and was in an extremely foul mood. His feral instinct was more pronounced as his slipped out of his bed, not noticing the emptiness. Continuing on into the kitchen, his attitude improved at the sight of a freshly showered Reyson donning a white shirt and jeans, and his hair tied back loosely as he ate his steaming bowl of oatmeal, dark with brown sugar. The heron looked up and then blushed profusely.

This made Tibarn stop and think about the night before. They hadn't gone anywhere explicit, right?

Then Janaff walked in, raising his eyebrows. "A bit hungry, aren't you?"

The boss looked down on himself in confusion. Surprised, he noticed that he had come out only in his boxers, and his boxers hardly concealed a full erection. He quickly turned around, deciding that a shower was in order, and clothes.

Reyson quickly shoveled another spoonful in his mouth. It wasn't exactly Tibarn's level of disarray that made him blush but his own involuntary reaction to him, an arousal springing to life within him. He was so into his own problems of uncontrollable desires he didn't notice Ulki joining him and Janaff at the table.

Two hours ago, after he awoke, they had spoken to him long and hard about his irreversible situation as Ulki made breakfast. Both told him bluntly that Tibarn would want to have sex with him, probably often, and probably without warning, and they said they were surprised Tibarn had held out for the whole day yesterday, especially with Reyson being so responsive when they first met him in Oliver's golf field.

Tibarn was going easy on him; even for a Gapped heron, he was showing mighty restraint. It was unheard of that he would hold himself back from a virgin after such a display, they explained, referring to his blunder the night before. (But he had ensuing sensuous dream that made him regret his earlier regret. He didn't tell them that, though.)

Brusquely, Ulki told him to get over himself. Janaff added that mourning his plight was only going to make his situation that much worse. The longer he was sad, the harder it would it to be to get out of that grieving mindset. They apologized at the circumstances but knew from experience what was best, especially for someone from a different time zone.

He had begun his meal, thoughtfully.

Ulki told him that they knew that he, because of his odd past knowledge, desired Tibarn, even more so than any other obedient bred pet (like Rafiel) that the boss has ever come across. Still, they told him that he didn't have to change right away, but at least he had to make it seem like he was trying.

Oh, Reyson knew that that was true, but it was easier said than done. He'll do his best and try to forget. A deep pang filled him, but it was bittersweet. The sooner he put his past behind him, the better he could live. (Isn't it weird putting a good past behind? Mostly, it is the bad things.)

"Is that my only role here?" he asked, done with his oatmeal.

Ulki looked up, Janaff smiled. "No, sex," –Reyson flushed again- "isn't your only duty. You will have to anticipate his other needs and wants. You don't have to worry about any of the gang stuff for awhile. He'll teach you."

Ulki suggested, "Like right now. It would be nice if you fixed him some cereal. He likes it-"

"-Only with butter," Reyson finished, nodding.

"And a cup of-"

"The strongest tea with ginger." Reyson looked around. "But I don't know how to make tea with your devices." He looked back at Janaff and Ulki, both giving him surprised looks.

"Do you know what he usually likes to do before going to be?"

"He would massage his shoulders," Reyson answered quickly, remembering those wasted days as Tibarn delivered a sub-par rub down over his thick muscular shoulders. He always wanted to do the favors.

"Use that knowledge," advised Janaff. "I bet even the Tibarn you knew would be impressed."

Reyson's heart jumped at that. Tibarn would be surprised, and would have probably surmised him a bit of a stalker at the info. But this Tibarn… He would love it. With lifted spirits, he began his master's oatmeal in the largest bowl he could find in the cabinet. As an afterthought, he added a bit more dry oatmeal, knowing how the hawk loved his meal a bit thicker than most. He set it on the table to cool.

"Here, this is how you make tea." Janaff showed him to a clear pot set in an elaborate holder. There was a single red switch and what he remembered the day before as a plug. Janaff told him to put that in the… the holes… The outlet, that was what it was called.

"So this tea-maker runs on… Electricity?" Reyson asked.

"Yea, but actually, this is a coffee-maker, but Boss doesn't like coffee too much. Here, you put this paper called a filter here at the top. Pull that handle out- there you go." Janaff opened several cabinets and drawers filled with cans of spices, herbs, and coffees. "These are all the coffee and tea stuff, and here is the ginger and tea leaves. You're gonna cut them in small pieces and put them in the filter."

Reyson was a bit proud that none of this eluded him, and he chopped the ginger and cut the tea leaves, filled the filter and the glass pot with and poured it in the back, and flipped the switch. Not long after, the water from the back traveled hot through the filter cup, filling it with a brownish, strong-smelling tea. When the dripping stopped, he filled a mug with the tea and added just small dashes of sugar then stirred.

Just when he finished arranging the dishes on the table, Tibarn came back with a buttoned down shirt and black dress pants on. He stopped short at the scene. It took a few seconds to decide that yes, Reyson was the one setting his food down and not Ulki and Janaff, who were now sitting.

"What's this?" he asked suspiciously, setting himself down on the chair before the food.

Reyson, all of a sudden terribly shy, turned around to clean up his small mess and put up food. "Your breakfast," he said curtly.

"You made it?"

"Ulki made the meal…"

"But he already knew what you liked, and that you like shoulder massages before bed." Janaff said that in such a straight tone, Reyson knew he was teasing, besides the fact that it was the truth.

"Hm…" Tibarn started his meal. The oatmeal was thicker than what he had had before, but it was infinitely more delicious. Nothing but savory butter and resilient tasty oats, and the tea was even better, with just the right amount of sugar to make itself known but not too much that it competed with the ginger and tea. Strong enough to make his throat burn, the tea was utter perfection. He let both linger in his mouth, nodding in satisfaction. He then was fortunate enough to catch Reyson's hopeful gaze and smiled. "Delicious, pet."

The sudden return to reality didn't shock Reyson. He smiled gently and finished cleaning, sitting down across from Tibarn, and the Hawks began to talk amongst themselves.

"We've already settled the meeting with our brothers to discuss Ike's plans," Ulki told him.

Tibarn swallowed. "You guys need to stop doing everything for me, you know."

"Nonsense, we do this and you have long meetings with Begnion. I think it is a fair trade." Tibarn smiled, just imagining either his eyes or ears with Oliver for more than an hour discussing politics. He couldn't see it. "And the tailor will be finished with Reyson's clothing by Friday."

"And Nailah's coming at four," said his other subordinate.

"WA?" Tibarn asked around his food.

"She said that Rafiel may be able to teach Reyson something. Not Rafiel personally," Janaff assured upon seeing Reyson's freaked look. "But he and Volug can, together."

"Most importantly, at noon the new shipment of Dark tomes will have arrived at Point Seven. Then you can work out the 'legal' stuff, Boss."

Tibarn nodded. He had finished his bowl, and was working on the rest of his tea. "What time is it?"

"Half past eleven."

"What?!"

"I had already rescheduled for one. Just wanted you to realize that you have a schedule." Ulki smiled a bit. "And you sort of have given me other jobs to do."

Tibarn rolled his eyes. "I remember my first times… Never kept a single meeting. "

"There's not much change since then," Janaff snickered.

"If I could read your language, I could help," whispered Reyson. He twiddled his thumbs, knowing that other than cooking and sex (and not that, yet, really), he was pretty much useless.

"Can you recognize time? The numbers?" Tibarn asked, and he pointed at an elegant clock above the stove.

Reyson looked, nodding. "Yes, I know them."

"Alright, let's take a look at my schedule." He stood up, giving other orders. "Ulki, gather a group for Point Seven, Janaff, scope ahead for the rest of us. Come, Reyson."

Tibarn didn't know what Ulki and Janaff did to make his heron pet want to be so helpful, but he wouldn't complain. This is what the first day of a bred pet would be like. He took his schedule from where he left it on the entertainment center. His and subordinates signatures scribbled across all the dates, indecipherable notes. Some of them Tibarn didn't even know, even if it was his own handwriting, including the day's list of activities.

"Oh, I can understand this perfectly," Reyson said, taking the large notebook. "Right here, I believe this is Ulki's hand for meeting Nailah."

Tibarn narrowed his eyes, unraveling each letter the best he could; too bad Ulki didn't dot his Is. But it was today, and it was at four, so it must have been correct.

"You can read this?" Tibarn raised a thick dark eyebrow. Snatching a random book from atop the television and turning it to the print, he asked, "What about this?"

Now Reyson squinted. "I don't understand."

Tibarn chuckled, putting the book back.

"What's so funny?"

"I can't read my own handwriting, yet you have a hard time reading print." The hawk shook his head. He pulled the pen from the schedule's spiral. "Can you write?"

Reyson nodded, taking the pen. After a moment's look, he turned it upside-down and looked down the tube. Frowning, he shook it, looked back into it, and frowned more deeply. He tried to write with the casing as a last attempt.

"You click it."

Tibarn tried hard not to laugh at that befuddled, exasperated face, knowing that the heron probably wouldn't take to kindly laughing at him this time. In lieu of that, he sidled a little behind the boy and curved his hand around his soft hand and demonstrated the clicking process of getting out the writing tip. He pressed the pen down to the lined paper and let the ink glide over a passed date.

Reyson did not think this was absolutely necessary, but he enjoyed the closeness, the roughness of Tibarn's hands, without sexual connotation.

Of course, Tibarn wasn't in for the teaching. He wanted to get as close as possible to his pet before the day seriously began. With that intention, he whispered, "That's how you do it."

There was a sudden change in Tibarn's biorhythm- and his body heat. Reyson quickly stepped up and turned around. He didn't catch his master's amused expression as he said, "I see."

"Come,"-Tibarn felt like he was changing the subject-"We will find you some appropriate wear for outside, and then we can start today."

Fortunately, Tibarn didn't try anything funny while he dressed him, this time in a fluffy, red, yet another sleeveless top he called a 'light' sweater and shorts with a khaki style with a pair of sandals for footwear. He kept the loose ponytail, saying the mussed look just added to his 'model' charm. Reyson felt like a doll and briefly wondered if he would have rather had Tibarn trying something.

Tibarn didn't care much for clothes, but he cared a lot for showing off Reyson, or any pet he had. He took out a plain silver watch next and tied it around Reyson's wrist, then it was the collar, a red leather that fit snugly about his neck. He himself redressed, taking everything off so that he could fit in his hidden weapons, especially the daggers and guns at his side. With a pair of sharp shoes recently broken in and his own watch, he was ready to roll.

"Master," he heard Reyson whisper.

"Hm?"

"What about the leash?"

Tibarn looked at him. "You want one?" he asked incredulously.

He shook his head, pouting at the suggestion. "I had one yesterday."

"You're behaving well today, better than I thought you would. I see no need for a leash. I wouldn't have need for the collar either, but you have nowhere else to go. If someone sees you walking the streets, it's likely you'll be taken. The collar will fend off the cowardly, at least."

Reyson fingered the collar absently. The absurd necklace said simultaneously that he belonged to someone and that he had no place in this world.

It was a little over an hour before they finally got going to Point Seven; he and Tibarn passed the time with a little innocent television and more about the schedule. Upon arriving at Point Seven, a small house with a large barn boarded up tight, Tibarn left him with the other cars to wait, surrounded by hefty bodyguards with their large metal rods and thick clothes. It took some time, enough for Reyson to fall asleep and wake up alert, but the 'deliverers' were persistent on some point or other, the men even pulling at Tibarn's shirt to address him. The Hawk continued to shake his head in refusal, stabbing a finger at the barn. Finally, he stopped turning around and went straight to the limo.

"I ordered two-thousand didn't I?" Tibarn was saying as he went into the car.

"I believe it was an error with recording somewhere down the line," Janaff told him, quite pleasingly. "You could tell by their faces they didn't get just 200 to juke you."

Ulki nodded. "They were begging for forgiveness. I think you should wait the week out for them to get you the rest rather than look somewhere else."

"Fine! Fine," Tibarn repeated, rubbing his brows. Janaff made the call while he cooled down. The boss wondered if Begnion would wait on his repayment on that loan… Yes, with interest! Or he could trade Reyson.

Disgusting Begnion swine, he'd rather clip his wings.

Speaking of Reyson, Tibarn smiled at him and checked his watch. It was a little past three with all the pleasantries he had to deal with. They had time for a quick stop at one of modern life's best aspects! He told Ulki where to go.

Reyson didn't inquire about the meeting, knowing that it probably wasn't his place to pry, and it wasn't as if he would understand most of it. As they drove, Reyson recognized the path back to the hotel, but then there a sudden turn into a paved entryway for a red building with a large yellow letter on top. They pulled behind two other vehicles.

"What's this?" Reyson asked, fascinated by the people leaning into the box with pictures of foodstuffs and talking, and the box talking back in a cheery voice. When it was their turn, Tibarn rolled down the window with a button, something else that Reyson found pretty cool.

"It's a fast food restaurant. It's like a bar, except we are talking through the speakers to each other, and we get our food usually as soon as we reach the last window," Tibarn explained and waved to the choices, "Pick whatever looks delectable to you."

"They'll just give us anything we want from here?"

"For a fee, yes," laughed Tibarn.

"I want the pie pieces," Reyson demanded, enamored by their color. "And the apples with the liquid brown sugar."

"That's caramel. Do you want anything that's not sweet?"

"The gold nuggets, with the white stuff inside."

"You eat chicken?"

"That's chicken? Then no. I'll take the salad then. And the yogurt and fruit."

"Why don't you take my whole wallet?"

Reyson turned to him, surprised by his closeness. "Will it cost you so much?"

Tibarn laughed again, finding the boy's concern endearing. "Not at all. This is just change I'm willing to get rid of," he told him.

"Okay then, I want the biggest yellow drink. And the potato sticks."

As Ulki ordered down Reyson's entire curiosity-embedded list, Tibarn told his own, much smaller order: just a cheeseburger. "These foods don't last long, Reyson. Eat the salad first, then the fries. Those will expire from edibility probably today."

"Okay, master Tibarn," Reyson answered obediently, though somewhat offhandedly, and it was just a little thing. Still, it filled his master with a sort of pride, and he risked a friendly caress around the boy's waist. He blushed in response, giving him a short look, but didn't move. Tibarn had to hold himself back from going in for more.

Reyson was grateful. Would he… Of course not. Not yet anyway.

Tibarn passed his credit card when they got up to the cashier. The lady at the register pretended to swipe, winking at Tibarn, then pressed the 'exact change' button. They rolled up to get their food, several bags for Reyson, and two for the rest of them. They ate their food in companionable silence, Reyson thoroughly enjoying the foods Tibarn allowed him to eat, especially the parfait. He hated the salad though.

By the time they made it back, they still had half an hour. One which Reyson used to take another nap. He was feeling especially sleepy today for some reason. Tibarn said it was something like jetlag.

He had a dream. He was surrounded by parfaits filled with a myriad of fruit. It was a pleasant dream.