Not a Normal Human
Disclaimer: I own nothing of or related to Petshop of Horrors or Inuyasha.
This chapter was helped along by Bishounen'sFoxyMiko! Everyone give her a hand!
"Ne, D-man?" Mismatched eyes turned from the tea he was preparing to the kitsune sprawled across the couch. "When is Kagome-chan coming back?" He played with his pale blonde braid, his bright blue eyes staring up at his master pleadingly.
The man dressed in a long Chinese robe, his straight black hair cut cleanly in line with his chin, closed his eyes, one deep purple, the other brilliant gold, and chuckled. "I'm not sure, Ten-chan, but you shouldn't sulk about it so much. She'll be back." She had, after all, promised to come visit, and he actually had tea that she would drink, since she obviously thought his own taste was a bit too sweet.
The door to the shop opened up behind him, and Count D allowed his usual smile to cross his lips. "Please wait just a moment, and I'll have tea ready." Even if the whole shop was pining for the miko's pure presence, it was still a pet shop, and he had to serve his customers—
"Why is it, that every time I come here, you're serving tea?" The tea set clattered slightly, and growling filled the shop. "What? Not even going to say hello to a dear old friend?"
The Count slowly turned around; his wide eyes were the only proof of his shock. Standing in the doorway was the very person he had been running away from for the past two years… "Detective Orcot…"
The blonde police detective of the L.A. Homicide Unit smirked at him, a bag slung over his shoulder as he stood in the doorway. "Aw, you sound surprised to see me. Didn't think I'd find you all the way out here? Oh, and I brought those sweets that you like." He held up the decorated box in his hand, and his smirk softened slightly.
D turned back to his tea, setting the dishes back upright and carefully carrying the tray over to the table. "Then I suppose we'll just have to have a visit…" He watched Leon sit across from him and kick his legs up to rest on the table, just like how he did in L.A., nostalgically.
Leon looked around the shop from his seat, taking in the familiar décor of the place. The place looked just the same as it did when it was established back in L.A. Hadn't changed a bit…
Not able to stand the quiet, other than the sound of D pouring the tea and setting the sweets on the small plates, Leon spoke, "So… how's business here in Tokyo?"
D smiled down into his tea, inwardly sighing in relief. Safe ground… "Oh, I can't complain. Well," his expression quickly changed to indignant, and he tilted his head to glare at the ceiling, "that is, if you don't count the horribly rude manager who has decided I own a brothel behind the scenes."
Leon smirked, familiar with that expression. "So pretty much you have another, prissier version of me."
The Count scoffed, raising his cup for a sip of his sweet drink. "Don't degrade yourself so, Detective; you at least had a good reason for doubting me. This man does not. Foolish Taizu..." At Leon's silence, he opened his eyes to look at him. "Is everything alright, Detective?"
The blonde grinned mysteriously, causing D to stare at him for a minute. Being mysterious was his job, right? "Nothing, D."
The pet shop owner furrowed his brows for a moment before sighing. "Very well. How long will you be in Tokyo, Detective?" As much as he may enjoy Leon's company – though not as much as Kagome's – the less he had to put up with the man he came to see as a friend rather than simply another human to destroy, the better.
Leon scratched the back of his neck sheepishly, and D knew that he wasn't going to like the answer. "Heh… until I've worked enough odd jobs to pay for my way back to America…"
The Count looked at the blond with a deadpanned expression, "Then it's going to take some time…"
Leon then gave a mock offended expression, "Hey, me following you almost all over the world from L.A. to Europe to here was an impulsive decision. I didn't exactly plan for a trip around the world."
The animals who seemed to know Leon gave their own snickers before D gave an upturn of his lips. "Yes… I don't doubt that. I hope you don't intend on staying here, Detective; I do have to open my shop everyday, and you would get in the way." There was also the fact that he didn't want Leon meeting Kagome by chance, but that could be left unsaid.
"Aw… Come on, D—"
"No." Leon glared half-heartedly at the Chinese man calmly sipping his tea, but when he opened his mouth to plead with him again, D set his cup down with a sound clink. "No, Leon."
The detective straightened his back at the serious, absolutely-no-nonsense tone in D's voice. The Count stared back at him gravely, trying to make him understand that, though he was able to push D into doing some things in the past like take care of Chris, this was one thing he wouldn't allow. Blue eyes narrowed slightly in confusion – why did he care so much now? – but he shrugged it off for a later date. "Alright, alright… No need to get your skirt in a knot, D."
The familiar indignant anger rose up in the pet shop owner, and he fell into the normal routine they had back in L.A. Leon would insult his attire, and he would retort heatedly. Falling into this rhythm… was too easy…
And dangerous.
He was going to have to help destroy humanity at some point, keeping Kagome safe in his shop, of course, but he didn't want to have to choose whether or not to keep Leon alive as well. He definitely enjoyed having him around, but the detective was very protective of humans in general, and now that Chris was on speaking terms with the rest of the world, his ability to see the animals in their true forms was gone. Leon wouldn't leave his brother behind, and finding a way for Chris to see them again… was about as impossible as convincing Leon to abandon the human race.
D drew away from the confrontation slightly, resolving his plans. Leon wouldn't give up on humanity, and, try as he might, the Count knew he wouldn't be able to wipe the world clean of their filth in only one lifetime. Because he enjoyed the detective's company, viewing him as the closest thing he had to a human 'friend,' he wouldn't manipulate events to kill him, but he would allow him to die of natural causes… that was, of course, assuming he didn't try something else like the plant he gave Leon in L.A. that died for him.
The Count's mismatched eyes glazed over, no longer really looking at the riled-up American. Kagome was a very different case, however…
"Are you even listening to me anymore?!" Leon saw the glaze in the Chinese man's eyes, like he was deep in thought and wondered what he was thinking about. When he was about to say his name again, one very familiar pet of the shop came up and bit down on his leg, making him curse out, "Ow! Goddamn! After that one night, I thought you would've given up on biting me!"
D looked up in surprise to see his Totetsu, T-chan keep biting the Detective's leg like old times. "Now, now, Detective… that's T-chan's way of saying hello!" Well… it was, but only to Leon. T-chan didn't usually greet Kagome, still a bit embarrassed by their first meeting.
The bell overhanging the door to the shop rang, and Leon stopped ranting at the totetsu to look up at D. His mysterious 'customer smile' was in place, his eyes half-lidded as he stood to greet the newcomer. "Welcome to Count D's Pet Shop. We have everything from the ordinary dog or cat to the manic creatures that barely scrape past the Washington Treaty. I'm sure we'll find something you desire."
Leon felt D withdraw and sighed, looking down at T-chan's narrowed eyes. "Off." Surprisingly, the goat-tiger mix obeyed, sensing his wish to leave. "Well, I'm out of here D." The Count merely glanced at him, his attention remaining on the customer. "I'll find an apartment to live at until I get out of here, but don't get me wrong. I'll be coming by everyday to make sure you don't run off on me again."
D released a small laugh, bringing up a hand to cover his mouth elegantly. "As you please, Detective." The customer, obviously Japanese, didn't understand English and simply looked between them curiously. "Ah, sumimasen. My friend was visiting and now must leave. Please continue your perusal of the shop."
The American watched D work for a moment before heading for the door, his bag slung over his shoulder again. He wouldn't be able to stop D from selling pets, even if they were dangerous, but he could at least stick around to keep some humanity in the bastard. Plus, he needed to call Chris and let him know that he found—
The door opened again before he could reach it, and Leon tensed at the stern looking man in the doorway. A crisp suit and glasses that covered narrow eyes made up the man in front of him, and Leon narrowed his own blue orbs. "The Count's with a customer right now, please wait a moment." He wasn't completely crass all the time.
The man arched an eyebrow perfectly, and Leon resisted the urge to twitch. So he was one of those kinds of guys. "If you're going to stay in a country at least speak the language, Fool."
Now Leon did twitch, and he prayed that this guy didn't come by often. "Hey, I speak it just fine, I just don't feel like it with people like you."
The man sneered, straightening to his full height to try to look Leon in the eyes, but, to his dismay, he remained a few inches shorter than the blonde. "And who are you? One of the prostitutes that crazy man hides behind the scenes?"
Leon stared at him for a moment. "Let me guess, 'the horribly rude manager'?"
Before the man had the chance to respond, they were interrupted by D's voice. "Now then, please enjoy your pet." Once the customer was out of sight with his parrot, the Count let his mask fall, irritation overwhelming the calm façade. "I understand if you are going to argue – it's in both of your natures, I'm not going to try to change it – but… must you do it here?"
Leon shrugged with a grin. "Don't look at me. He started it." He pointedly ignored the manager's loud protest and stuck his tongue out at him.
"By the unicorns, Leon, you're such a child!"
The American Detective just laughed before waving off D's scolding. He then left with the promise of coming by to visit again and tell his brother, Chris that he sends the Count's regards.
The said Count sighed but couldn't help the smile of the mention of Chris. Turning his attention the Manager who once again came to his shop, D spoke with a calm expression, "Hello, Taizu… what brings you to my shop, once again?"
Lau took a glance around as he entered the shop with his assistant, Chin, not far behind, "Not much… just the usual… and the mention of another rumor…"
D sighed heavily, recognizing an upcoming accusation, and set about cleaning up the tea and treats from Leon. "Really, Taizu, I'm serious when I say that I don't have any shady business. I am merely the owner of a pet shop."
The manager scoffed, sitting elegantly in the chair Leon had vacated only moments before. "Oh, please! You run a very shady business, Count, and I plan to figure out exactly what it is you're doing."
D hung his head slightly, not bothering to scold T-chan for growling fiercely. He hoped Kagome showed up soon – not before Taizu left though, that was another meeting he wanted to hold off – he could really use her company, if only to relax. Her pure aura could take away the stress of anyone capable of feeling it.
If only there was a way to keep her at the shop more…
"Even if you are innocent, which is highly unlikely, how do you manage all of these animals? Do you have an employee I don't know about?"
The Count paused at the question, and his mysterious smile, the one he usually reserved only for customers, returned, unnerving Lau a bit. "No, I'm afraid not, but once I manage to procure one, you'll be the first to know."
The bell on the door rang, and D's eyes lit up at the sight of his new favorite regular, even if she didn't buy anything. "Well, Taizu, it was a pleasure talking you to you, as always, but it seems I have a customer, so if you would please?" What he was asking was completely obvious, and Lau scowled slightly.
"You're not trying to send me away so you can whore someone out, are you?" D's deadpan expression made the manager sigh in defeat and stand up. "Fine, fine. But know I'm watching you, Count."
D waited for Taizu to leave before sighing heavily. "Yari-yari…"
"Should I have come another time?" The Count smiled at the soft, teasing voice of his newest friend, and he walked over to reassure her playfully that she was most welcome.
"Not at all, Kagome-san. I wanted him to leave anyway…" His mismatched eyes raked over her form for a moment, taking in the much healthier flush to her cheeks rather than the pale complexion she bore a week ago. "And you are always welcome here, Kagome, no matter what time and day."
The miko laughed at the flattery before smiling up at the Chinese man. "I'll keep that in mind. So what are you showing me today?"
D's smile became absolutely brilliant as he began to usher Kagome into the back of the store. "I have something new form China, and he's absolutely adorable!" After many tests, he'd found that Kagome could only see the true form of the mystical creatures such as Ten-chan, a Kyuubi, and T-chan, a Totetsu. The forms of normal animals such as Pon-chan and the baby he was going to show her still eluded her, but… His eyes glinted slightly as he opened the door to his newest pet's room. He was determined to make her worthy of staying with them if it was the last thing he did. "See! Newly arrived from China, six months old, and currently at his cutest!"
Kagome squealed softly at the sight of the panda baby in his arms, afraid to scare the little guy, and gently reached out to hold him.
The Count watched her cuddle with the panda happily, his eyes taking on that same calculating gleam from her first visit. Yes… she would make a wonderful addition to the shop, he just had to train her a bit to get to that point. "Aw… he likes you, Kagome-chan!" Oh, yes, he would keep her for as long as he was able, even after the destruction of humanity.
Darkness permeated through all his senses, even smell, hearing, and touch. His ears felt clogged, and heavy pressure filled his nose, blocking out any scent. Cold shadows drifted over his skin like a dense mist, and he whimpered slightly, the sound not reaching even resonating in his head. He'd been lost in the darkness for so, so long…
Save me… Okaa-chan…
AN: Well, here's the second chapter! I was... persuaded into continuing this story, despite the fact that I have other stories I really should be working on. As for when those will be updated, forgive me ahead of time, but it might never happen... I'm leaving for college in a week, and only Heaven knows how busy I'm going to be once classes and activities start. I'm going to do everything I can to keep in touch with my friends on here, and if I get time and have energy to spare, I'll work on a story or two on here. As for when THIS one will be updated... same as the others. I apologize, and I'll do everything I can, but I don't want to get your hopes up. Thank you for reading and for all your support.
And again, read Devil-Babe-911's stories, too! She now has more than one Petshop of Horrors/Inuyasha xover, and they're all amazing!