Title: Deity Wooing [Series: Pet Shop of Horrors]
Author: Drusilla Dax (drusilladax@free.fr)
Pairing: D/Leon Orcot
Rating: 12, post-PSoH with big hints of Shin-PSoH and fairly AU.
Summary: When Leon Orcot goes to Japan, he gets to understand some of D's reactions.
Disclaimer: I'm just playing with someone else's toys. May I be forgiven in my next incarnation! Flamers will be adopted by my family (if you don't believe it's a threat... too bad for you!).
Betas: Mikee and Starkindler. The remaining mistakes are all mine, and I apologize for those.
Deity Wooing
Chapter 3 - Mysteries of Love
Jill and Kitano looked as if they were possibly on the same wavelength.
Leon observed them. He was forced to admit that their plans sounded good - even if they were working on a potential relationship between D and himself. He was also forced to wonder where Jill got all that energy because he felt like sleeping for days, but his best friend looked like she could go on and on for hours.
Kitano's phone rang and he excused himself while he answered. It was his mother calling, demanding to know what he was doing with the American - female - officer. Kitano told his mother he needed to speak with his father about Count D, and that stopped his mother instantly.
Kitano explained the situation to his father and listened to his elder's advice.
He finally closed the phone and turned to his colleagues.
'I'll be off duty from tomorrow on,' Kitano announced.
'How is that possible?' Jill wondered.
'My duty to the Kamis comes first. To my superiors who don't know about Count D and his relatives, I will be off for temple duties,' Kitano said.
'Won't they bother you?' Leon asked.
'No, they know my religious duties come first,' Kitano said.
'Religious,' Leon whispered.
'Are you all right, Leon?' Jill asked.
Leon shrugged.
Jill and Kitano sat on the sofa; Leon had settled in a chair by the window.
Jill went to sit next to her friend.
'Leon?' she said softly.
Leon shrugged again.
'I think I need to sleep. It's been a hard, long day,' Leon said. He got up and added, 'Good night.'
'You need to rest, Leon, but you must be assured that Count D has chosen you,' Jill said.
Leon smiled and squeezed Jill's shoulder before leaving the room.
Leon undressed as fast as he could and he collapsed onto his bed. He slithered under the covers
and was asleep almost immediately.
'I should go and let you rest,' Kitano told Jill after Leon left.
Jill offered him a tired smile.
'This is all so strange. I hope they can be happy,' Jill said.
'You're taking this well,' Kitano commented.
'So are you,' Jill said. Something in Kitano's voice bothered her. 'You are taking days off to help two guys get together.'
Kitano chuckled and said, 'Count D is a Kami. He's not the most important one in his family. The situation is particular.'
Jill almost froze.
'All right, Kitano-san, let's get this straight. Leon is not only my partner; he's my best friend. I like D - whatever he is. If you offered to help just because your family is supposed to worship D and his relatives, I'll make you leave them alone. D is a nice man and he deserves better than bigoted worshippers,' Jill said.
'You don't understand, Jill,' Kitano said.
'Why? Because I'm not Asian? Because I'm a girl? Why, Kitano?' she growled.
'Count D is a Kami... a... a deity. He's not a man. He has to be worshipped,' Kitano answered.
'You're an idiot. After D left, I thought you were on our side, but you're not in this to protect a budding love, you're just protecting a Kami,' Jill said bitterly.
Kitano paled a bit.
'Count D is a Kami and he has to be treated as such,' Kitano said.
'He knows quite a lot about Leon. D knows Leon will not worship him and yet he looked happy tonight. You know what, Kitano? I thought you and your lot, or family, or whatever could help, but I'm just going to enjoy my trip here with my best friend and with our friend D. You should go to work tomorrow. We won't need you,' Jill said.
'It is my duty to serve Count D,' Kitano protested.
'It may be your duty to worship a deity. It's my job to make sure my two friends can spend enough time together to assess if they can build something together. You won't be welcome tomorrow,' Jill said. 'Goodnight, Officer Kitano.'
Kitano hadn't been raised to deal with someone like Jill Petersen. He bade her goodnight and went back home where his parents and the elders who knew about Count D were waiting for him.
Jill growled after locking the door. She was disappointed in Kitano. D might be a deity, but he was a being made of flesh and his heart had to be taken into account. On the other hand, Leon must be freaking out like hell for having fallen for another guy. Everything was complicated enough without having worshippers telling them how to behave.
Jill was ready to help Leon and D.
Leon woke up with a start at three in the morning - courtesy of jet lag.
He left the warm haven of his bed to go and fix himself a cup of tea. The water was just starting to boil when Jill joined him.
'Enough water for two cups?' she asked.
Leon nodded.
'You okay, Leon?' she asked kindly.
'My life is so screwed,' he answered sadly.
'It's going to be fine,' she tried to encourage him.
Leon laughed dejectedly.
'My baby brother was shipped to the other side of the country, my family thinks I'm worthless, and D left. Now I've found D again, but... but what could possibly happen, Jill? We'll spend our vacation here, and then we'll fly back home and I'll have a bigger hole in my heart than before. It sucks and it hurts. I wonder... Maybe I should fly back to L.A. tomorrow... Today, I mean,' Leon said.
Jill sobbed.
Leon turned to face her and he didn't know what to do.
'Jill?' he whispered as he sat next to her on the sofa.
'Don't... Don't leave. It's a fucking miracle we spoke of D in front of Kitano and he was able to bring you to the new shop. D looked so happy with you! You can't kill that, Leon! Maybe he was forced to leave, maybe he tried to contact you, and maybe he was not allowed to do so. You can't know before you ask him. You can't leave and not get answers,' she said, tears rolling steadily down her cheeks.
'Why... why are you crying, Jill?' he asked, completely puzzled.
'Because if D and you can build something together, then maybe I'll find someone, too,' she answered.
Leon held her as she cried the seven seas.
'I had no idea it was so tough for you, Honey,' Leon said.
She stopped crying finally.
'Do you know why I work so much and don't go home to see my folks?' she asked.
Leon shook his head.
'Each time I go home, there's a neighbour or a relative to ask me why I'm not married, why I don't have a child. Recently, they started telling me they understood that I was single because it was probably too late for me to have a child. They always make me feel as if there's something wrong with me,' she wailed.
'There's nothing wrong with you!' Leon protested.
'You're sweet. You're my best friend... but what they say... it hurts. It hurts so badly,' she explained.
'They're stupid.'
'I want you to be happy, Leon. I could see that you're in love with D. If you two can have five minutes of happiness together - or one century, go for it. I'm being selfish. If you can be happy, maybe someday I can be happy, too,' she said.
Leon hugged his friend tighter.
'I didn't know it was love,' Leon confessed.
'I should have seen it before, and I'm sorry I teased you - especially when D was having tea with that cannibal guy,' Jill said.
'There was nothing that guy could do to him. I discovered that later, but I was afraid for D,' Leon admitted.
'So... D really is a kind of god,' Jill said.
'He's a Kami. He's a deity of nature. He's got a special link with plants and most animals, and he's really a special guy,' Leon said.
'Nothing illegal going on in his shop, then,' Jill teased her friend.
'Nope! He's got contracts for everything,' Leon answered.
'We're mammals; maybe he could take you in,' Jill suggested.
Leon groaned.
'Hey! It could be an idea,' she said.
'Except that I don't want to be his pet because it would submit me to his entire family and I don't think his grandpa has forgiven me for what happened to D's father because of me,' Leon said.
'Huh?' Jill said.
'Long story, but D's grandfather is a manipulator who certainly doesn't like me,' Leon said.
'Before I sent Kitano packing - long story, too - he said some disturbing things about D,' she said.
'Like what?' Leon growled.
'You're cute when you defend your D,' Jill cooed.
Leon growled again.
'Okay! Sorry!' she apologized.
'What did he say?'
'What he said implied that D is not very important,' Jill said.
'Hell!' Leon barked.
'What's the deal?' she wondered.
'From what I gathered, D - my D, because they've all got the same name - is the youngest, and I know his grandfather doesn't really trust him. His own father was completely barmy, and,' Leon paused to sigh, and asked finally, 'Ready for some complete weirdness?'
Jill nodded.
'His relatives duplicated themselves. D is a copy of daddy, who's a copy of granddaddy,' Leon said.
'Not particularly funny. Kitano said those Kamis could have... er... partners - even human ones,' Jill pointed out.
'Yeah... I don't know how long they live, but in the past something happened between D's family and humans - maybe because a human was rejected as a partner. His relatives hate us, humans,' Leon said.
'But D loves you; he was beaming tonight,' she insisted.
'D is special.'
She smiled.
Leon blushed and said, 'He's special all right, and he's special. He's not like his dad and grandpa. They made a faulty copy; that's why he's got eyes like that, and he's more fragile, and he likes some of us. I know he loves Chris, and he ordered some of the pets to take care of him when he stayed in the shop. He's not like the rest of the family,' Leon said.
'Oh, whoa,' Jill said.
Leon sighed.
'He's worth fighting for,' she declared.
'I don't want his family to hurt him on my account, and what would happen if the guys back home in the P.D. find out we're together? It could be dangerous for both of us,' Leon explained.
'One step at a time, Leon. See if there are more than just sparks between you and then it'll be time to check who can be invited to the wedding from the Department. Now let's go back to bed or we'll be dead for breakfast,' she said.
'You're right,' Leon conceded.
'I'm always right,' she said, pecking his cheek.
'You're a doll!' he said.
She winked, and they went back to their respective beds.
A few hours later, they were awoken by the loud cries of ravens. It was eight, and they had a lot to do.
The weather forecast was on most of the channels they got on television, and a sunny day was announced.
They went downstairs for breakfast and tried to avoid the other American tourists.
They were only mid-breakfast when Kitano rushed in.
'Morning,' Leon greeted him.
Jill chewed carefully and avoided looking at the Japanese officer.
'I have two very important things to discuss with you. May I sit down?' Kitano asked.
Leon invited him to join them.
'My grandmother smacked me for insulting Count D's love,' Kitano confessed.
Jill almost spat her tea on Kitano.
'What?' she asked.
'When I came back home, my relatives were waiting for me and the elders of our Order had come as well. I told them everything I saw and heard, and my grandmother smacked me,' Kitano answered.
'Not good enough, boy. What did she say exactly?' Jill asked, her curiosity piqued.
Kitano blushed.
Leon grinned.
'Spill!' Jill insisted.
'She said that if I couldn't see beyond a religious duty and devote myself to the happiness of a being so much more powerful and better than I, then I didn't deserve to know love one day. Then she reminded me that my grandfather and she have been happily married for sixty-four years. I think that between you and her, I understand what's at stake, and it's so much more than just religion,' Kitano said.
'I'm the one with jet lag, and you were the one saying silly things... really!' she teased him.
'I'm sorry. I'll help you with the formality of the wooing, but my grandmother is going to help with the details,' Kitano announced.
Right on cue, a tiny old lady reached their table and Kitano stood up to give her his seat.
'My grandmother, Kitano Inoue,' Kitano said.
Jill and Leon bowed to the lady in traditional kimono.
Inoue looked at Leon and he smiled warmly. She spoke with her grandson.
'She's sorry not to know your language and she wishes to apologize,' Kitano said.
Leon had drunk only one cup of coffee and he answered in Mandarin that it was not an issue.
Inoue started talking with the blond in that language.
'Dear God!' Jill said. 'I'll have to catch up and learn Japanese and Mandarin. I hate feeling left out.'
'I'll help you, Jill - that is to say if you want,' Kitano said.
'Yeah, silly!' Jill said, adding a wink for good measure.
Leon blushed at something Inoue said.
'Huh? What did she say?' Jill asked Kitano.
He chuckled and answered, 'She said he was a blessing for a charming Kami.'
'They should be good for each other, hopefully,' Jill declared.
'I take it your grandmother is joining the team effort to my wooing D,' Leon said.
'Yes, that was the good news. Unfortunately, the other thing I must share with you, though unrelated, is unpleasant,' Kitano said.
'Uhoh,' Leon said.
'Narayama managed to escape on his way to his native prefecture,' Kitano said.
'His parents must have paid for that,' Jill declared.
'Everything is being done to stop him. We'll catch him,' Kitano said.
'You'd better. That guy is a real threat,' Jill pointed out.
'We'll keep our guns with us,' Leon said.
'Do you think he might try something against you?' Kitano inquired.
'It's a possibility. He'll want some revenge, and he quite likes Jill,' Leon answered.
Kitano shuddered.
'We must warn my D,' Leon added.
'What must you tell me, Keiji-san?' D purred in Leon's ear.
'Jeez! D! Don't do that if you don't want to give me a heart attack!' Leon protested. He turned to face D and his heart started beating faster. 'Though I must say you're breathtaking!' Leon gasped.
D's outfit was even more astounding than the one he wore the prior day and the Kami looked simply radiant.
A faint pink reached D's cheeks and he bowed.
D knew the Kitanos and he bowed to greet them. They bowed deeply in answer.
Leon got up and held out a chair for D, who was nicely surprised.
'The criminal we escorted here escaped,' Jill explained as D sat down.
'Who is the man?' D inquired.
'Narayama Takeshi,' Kitano answered, looking at the tablecloth pointedly.
D hissed.
'Do you know him? Is he a threat to you?' Leon asked.
'I know his family, but none of them are a threat to me, Keiji-san. Miss Jill, however, from what I understand, might be in danger,' D answered.
'I can deal with him, Count,' she said.
'I have no doubt of that, Miss Jill, but he's deviant enough to hire people to neutralize you before attempting anything against you. His relatives visited me to buy a protector, but I felt their aim was disrespectful and I denied their request. If I hear anything about Takeshi-san, I'll share the information with the police,' D said.
'Thank you, Count D,' Kitano said, bowing even more than before.
'He's not going to bite your head off or something if you look at him, you know,' Jill told Kitano. She turned towards D and asked, 'You wouldn't, right?'
D chuckled and said, 'No, Miss Jill, I would not.'
Kitano boldly risked one look at the Kami and was somewhat surprised not to be struck by lightning for daring to look at a Kami.
Kitano was surprised to see how relaxed and happy the Kami looked.
'It's a good thing we decided I'd be your guide. I thought our first stop could be the temple in Asakusa,' D announced.
'I've heard about it!' Jill exclaimed joyfully.
'I trust you,' Leon said softly.
D turned to him and smiled warmly.
The magic between them was clearly visible to all. Some of the clients in the banquet room were wondering who the Asian in a weird dress next to the blonde guy was, but there was such an aura of happiness around D that no one really stopped to consider his gender.
Kitano translated for his grandmother, who said that it would be a good place to get oracles for the future.
'Is Inoue-sama joining us?' D inquired.
Kitano blushed bright red.
'Apparently, she's our chaperone,' Leon explained.
D blinked several times.
'Are you all right, D?' Jill asked.
'Miss Jill?' D asked back.
'Yes?'
'May I trust you to tell me what is going on?' D asked.
'From what I understood, Kitano's grandmother has decided to give Leon official tips to woo you the proper way,' Jill answered honestly.
D gaped and froze. For five seconds, he really looked as if a remote of some sort had stopped him completely, and then he started blinking.
Leon gently took one of D's hands and caressed it. It was something he'd done with a few of his girlfriends in the past and it was something he could do for the person he loved. D's hand was soft, neatly manicured, his long nails artfully painted. Maybe the ambiguity about D was a part of the attraction and love Leon felt.
'Are you okay, Dear?' Leon asked D naturally.
D nodded.
'You look stunned,' Leon pointed out.
'You don't have to,' D whispered softly.
'I don't have to do what?' Leon asked.
'Woo me officially,' D said, blushing for good this time.
'Why not?' Leon wondered good-naturedly.
'Because an official wooing always ends up in a wedding,' D explained.
Leon gulped and looked at D.
'Really?' Leon asked.
Forgetting about the rest of the world, D nodded.
'I'm sorry; you certainly don't want a mere human,' Leon murmured.
He let go of D's hand and wished he could run back to his room, but he knew that if he did, he'd end up crying like a fool in the corridors.
'Leon? Would you have me?' D gasped.
Suddenly birds were singing and there had to be more than just one sun in the world.
Leon looked at D and he saw his own fears and hopes mirrored in those mismatched eyes.
'If you'd have me, yes, of course!' Leon said.
D squeaked and grinned.
'I take that as a yes,' Jill said joyfully. 'Leon, why don't you and D go and fetch our maps and cameras from our room, while I have a word with my fellow conspirators?'
Leon blushed, but nodded. He stood up and offered his arm to D, who gratefully wrapped his hands around it.
When they'd left the banquet room, Jill turned to Inoue.
'Kitano, you translate,' Jill ordered.
He nodded and his grandmother grinned. If Inoue schemed well, before the end of the Golden
Week she'd be planning two ceremonies.