Chapter 22

On this sunny day, Leon was asking a girl on a date, and he got rejected badly. She said, "Sorry, Leon…But I'd rather go out with a third class businessman than a third rate detective." Then she walked away.

Leon was dumbstruck and when he went to the pet shop, he still had that face. "Ouch. That is a bit brutal." Then Kuri got an idea and handed D a potted flower. "I'm sorry Leon. Maybe this will brighten your day."

Leon saw the flowers and yelled, "You're giving me flowers?!"

D said, "Well it was your sister's idea and well I wouldn't dare trust you with an actual animal. Just give it come water every 2 or 3 days."

Leon said, "I am not putting that in my apartment."

"Now, now. Detective, don't be so hasty. I'm sure after a few days you'll grow to absolutely love it." said D. "Ah, by the way, her name is Gattolotto. Treat her nicely."

Then Leon left. Kuri said, 'Maybe a plant will lighten his day.'

D said, "I believe more then that can happen?" Kuri raised an eyebrow. "You don't know the plant you just gave me does?" She shook her head. "Then he's in for a surprise."

In the apartment, Leon made some room near the window for his new plant. "Look…This isn't a big apartment that ledge is the only spot I have for you." Then he went to bed. As she slept, the plant started to grow. The thorn vines grew longer and longer and then it went to Leon and it nearly wrapped around his neck when he woke up. He shot up and felt his neck but felt nothing. He looked at the plant and saw nothing unusual.

'A dream…' he thought. 'That Goddamn plant is freaking me out. I don't trust the count even though he and sissy are an item. He wouldn't have given it to me unless he had an ulterior motive. I should take it back to the shop.' Then he looked at the plant and saw that it indeed was growing. 'Flower buds? But it's only been a night…' Leon finally gave up and just got ready for the day. 'Ah, fuck it. I'm taking it back tomorrow.'

Then he said, "What's odd…What was your name again? Gattoloto?"

Later that day, Leon was finished with work. A friend of his went to him. "Yo, Leon! How about a drink?"

Leon said, "Love to, but I kinda swamped today." Then he got up and left."

Leon soon returned home cheerfully. "Hey Gattolotto! I'm home! did you miss me?" He saw the buds were getting even bigger. "Wow…You've got even more buds today. So when are you going to bloom?" When he was done watering it, he sat down to read the paper. 'Gattolotto…you've really brightened the place up, haven't you?'

But that peacefulness didn't last long. During a case, Leon and his partner were trying to do a stake out. "Circle around the back!" said his partner.

"Right!" said Leon.

"We're seriously outnumbered. don't make a move until our backup gets here. Got it Orcot?" asked his partner.

Leon thought, 'We have them on the run. If we lose them now, it could be months before we're able to track them down again.' He did what he was told but them saw then in view from the 4th story window. "Hold it right there! Don't Move!"

One of the crooks took it as a joke. "Take care of him Clyde."

His partner in crime said, "With pleasure." And shot Leon 3 times.

Leon hit the wall and slumped down bleeding. He lays back and goes into shock. 'Gottolotto…who will…water…?' As he lay there he saw something. He saw beautiful red flowers from his plant. 'Oh, wow…your flowers are so…beautiful…and so…red…'

Then he saw D's face and noticed that he was in the hospital fine. "Good morning." Leon was in shocked of not even seeing him, but being alive. "How does a man with such bad luck survive in your line of work? You're stubborn and foulmouthed careless with your life. It's quite the miracle you're still alive or Kuri would've killed you herself."

Leon said, "Will you shut—ow ow." Then he remembered something. "Wait a minute Gattolotto! She needs—"

D said, "I'll go water her for you. Although it's likely that she has already withered away."

Leon was confused. "Huh? Why? Have I been out that long?!"

D said, "The plant Kuri picked for you was a special one. Once she blooms, she lives only for a single night…Gottolottoo—the flower of life. She bloomed for you Officer Orcot. Her red flowers have fallen in your place…"