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 blood relatives (if you don't believe it's a threat... too bad for you!).

Beta: Star. The remaining mistakes are all mine, and I apologize for those.

Deity Wooing

Chapter 6 - Dating a Kami

After a few minutes, Leon looked up from the screen of Jill's laptop.

'Thanks, Jill!' Leon said.

'It's not too complicated, and you'll have to learn how to make love - just as if you were a virgin all over again,' she declared.

Leon gaped quite inelegantly.

'Leon?' she called worriedly. When Leon squeaked, Jill decided that it might be a good idea to go and hug her friend. 'What is it?' she asked, putting her head on his shoulder.

Leon mumbled something.

'Just a bit louder, please,' she said with a warm chuckle.

Through gritted teeth Leon said, 'I am a virgin. D is a male - and he's a Kami!'

'You're both in love - otherwise you wouldn't have agreed to such a strange wooing ritual,' she began to say. Leon nodded. She smiled warmly and went on, 'I think it's the same with any relationship, and you've got to learn to be with the other. This time, you're going to have to adapt to something new.'

'Jill?'

'Yes, Leon?'

'I think I'm afraid to hurt him,' Leon confessed in a whisper.

'Okay, Kitano is going to blush - possibly to death - but I'm going to help you find what you need in a drugstore or wherever you find lubricant here. If you go slow and listen to each other, I don't see why it'd be painful or even uncomfortable. You're going to start dating properly, and everything is going to progress from there,' she said.

Leon kissed Jill's brow and asked, 'Will you really help me find you know what?'

Jill was very much tempted to laugh because Leon couldn't say the word - at least not yet - but he needed a friend and a confidant right now.

'Of course, Sweetie! I want what's best for you. You read the instructions on the site I showed you. It's not nuclear physics,' she pointed out.

Leon chuckled heartily at that. 'You're right,' he granted her.

'You know what I'd do if I were you?'

'No, but I hope you're going to tell me,' he said.

She grinned and said, 'Well, from time to time, preferably when you're not around D or you're going to blush even more than Kitano when I tease him, try to remember what you're supposed to do, and it'll become less strange.'

Leon nodded.

'Now, let's go to bed. You've got to dream of your boyfriend and your daughter,' she said.

Leon beamed and agreed that it would be wise to get some sleep.

The next morning, the two detectives woke up early again, the time difference playing tricks with their inner clocks.

Jill and Leon were ready to go and have breakfast when someone knocked on their door.

'Who do you think it is - D or your chaperone?' Jill asked.

'It's D,' Leon answered in a thrilled whisper. He rushed to the door and opened it with a smile on his lips.

'Good morning, Leon,' D said formally, but his cheeks were not as pale as usual.

'Hello, D,' Leon answered.

D and Leon would have forgotten everything around them to drown in each other's eyes if Jill hadn't almost squealed. However, Leon was surprised at first that Jill was not having such a reaction because of him and D.

No.

Jill was fascinated with her niece's new outfit. Instead of her school uniform, Ao now wore a beautiful green furisode with bamboo patterns.

'Oh,' was all that Leon could say when he looked at the girl.

Jill hugged Ao and said, 'You were cute in your uniform, but now you look like a princess.'

Ao blushed, but hugged her adopted aunt happily.

'She's astounding,' Leon said softly in D's ear. 'I know you can achieve miracles, but how did you manage to have someone make her this overnight?'

'No one made her furisode,' D explained. 'It's my blood in her that transformed the way she appears to the world outside of the shop.'

Leon took D's hand in his and said, 'You are the miracle maker, then.'

D was blushing furiously by then, and he was trying to hide behind the veil of his hair. Leon was very much tempted to push the silky threads away from D's face in order to be able to admire his boyfriend, but he knew it would embarrass D, and therefore he allowed him to hide for a few seconds.

"God! He's making me change!" Leon reflected in a thought. He added as a grin spread on his lips, "But he's the best thing that ever happened to me, and we're going to be together forever."

Leon admired Ao, and decided that he needed to hug his soon-to-be daughter.

'You are an angel,' he whispered in her ear.

She blushed like her divine father and said, 'You are too good with me, otôsan.'

'Your other father is right,' D intervened.

She bowed respectfully and said, 'Yes, D-sama.'

'Why am I "father" when you're not?' Leon asked D.

'It seems that our little Ao can be convinced to give you such a name, but she cannot forget my true nature yet. In a few days, I hope that she will call us both "Papa". It would be appropriate,' D explained.

'You're right to give her time. You just adopted her, and she needs to adapt to her new life,' Jill intervened.

D bowed.

'We should go and have breakfast, or Inoue won't hesitate to drag us to the station with empty stomachs,' Jill pointed out.

'D-sama already sent a car to bring the Kitanos to the station, and we had a nice breakfast at the shop,' Ao told Jill on their way to the hotel restaurant.

'You came here to go to the station with us and have a few minutes of quiet before we join the Kitano tsunami,' Jill joked.

Ao giggled and nodded.

Breakfast was quiet and pleasant. The other people around seemed to find D and Ao particularly interesting, but there was something about the Kami and his adopted daughter that prevented them from staring stupidly.

'I guess it's time to go and check out if we want to catch that train,' Jill pointed out.

'Everything is already taken care of, and your bags are in the car,' D announced.

'You're fantastic,' Leon said fondly.

D gave him a small smile. Jill and Ao traded looks and smiled at each other; Leon and D were cute like buttons as an item, but the ladies knew better than to say that aloud.

When they all walked through the lobby, the tourists felt that there was something special about the Asian man in an odd outfit. The native employees felt it in their blood that they were witnessing something big; they all bowed as D approached the door.

The car was waiting for them outside, and the ride to the station was fast and eerily easy in spite of the morning traffic. Relatives of Inoue were waiting for them and they carried Jill and Leon's luggage to the checkpoint where the travellers showed their tickets. Leon didn't mind because free hands meant that he could hold D and Ao's hands, but Jill was growling a bit because she didn't like strangers carrying her belongings.

D turned towards Jill and whispered, 'It is their way, Miss Jill.'

She shrugged and took Ao's free hand in hers.

'What about your luggage?' Jill asked D.

'I had what we'll need sent to Kyôto,' D said as if it were perfectly normal.

Leon smiled. He was really getting used to D's ways and magic.

Jill and Leon were given their bags back and they went through checkpoint with D and Ao.

On the platform, they immediately spotted Inoue's kimono and they walked towards her. She greeted them and said that Kitano was in the car making sure that they'd have seats.

Leon looked at D, clearly surprised that the Kami had no tricks to reserve seats.

D seemed to hear Leon and he said, 'Even I have my limits, Leon. With an extra day, I might have been able to do so, but not with such short notice.'

Leon winked at his boyfriend, and D beamed.

They boarded the train. Inoue sat with Kitano, Jill with her niece to get to know her better, and the lovers sat together, holding hands.

Their travel was pleasant.

Not three hours after leaving Tôkyô, they arrived into the old capital.

'Is our hotel far from the station?' Jill asked as they were exiting the huge and modern structure.

D, who was walking arm in arm with Leon, froze and squeezed his boyfriend's forearm. Leon looked at what had surprised D and he saw a line of priests waiting on the square in front of the station.

Leon looked at Inoue, and she didn't seem surprised at all. Leon cleared his throat and answered, 'I think there's been a slight change of plan, Jill. I think we just got upgraded to a bedroom in a temple.'

'What do you...?' she began to ask, and then she spotted the Shinto priests in full apparel, and she put two and two together.

Jill took two quick steps and swirled to face her friends and co-chaperones. 'One or two things if you please,' she told Kitano and Inoue. The old lady had somehow been expecting Jill to react to the unannounced change of plan and she bowed. 'First, are we really going to stay in a temple?' Jill asked.

Kitano translated to Inoue, and answered, 'Yes, we are going to stay in a temple where everything is ready to welcome Count D.'

'It can be a good thing,' Jill commented as she winked at D, who smiled at her happily.

'Kyôto is a place where religion has a special place,' D explained.

'There are about one thousand temples here,' Leon added.

Jill and D looked at him, a bit surprised that the blond detective knew such a fact.

Leon rolled his eyes and said, 'I'd like to remind you that I'm not too bad a detective, thank you, and I know how to look for information. I may not remember everything I read about the city, but there are a few facts I found interesting.'

Jill grinned, and D squeezed Leon's arm again, which made Leon beam.

Jill went on, 'Okay, so we'll be staying in a temple. It'll be quite an experience for Leon and me, and it's going to be interesting not to be stuck in some so-called Western-style hotel. Good. How did your grandmother achieve such a miracle? I had a hard time finding rooms for us with such short notice and at a price that was decent.'

Inoue launched herself into an elaborate explanation.

Kitano nodded and translated, 'She said that it was tricky for you because you don't have the proper connections. If she wanted to travel, she could contact people she knows, stay with family or friends. She said she could even find a traditional inn or a family pension - very few people have that kind of connections, even among our fellow countrymen. On top of it, we are escorting Count D, and it makes a huge difference.'

Jill nodded several times, and Inoue smiled at the young woman.

'One last thing, now,' Jill declared almost coldly.

Kitano flinched.

'In our line of work you know how surprises can be unpleasant, so I would highly appreciate it if you warned me about such changes of plan. Okay?' Jill asked.

Kitano tried to translate Jill's exact wishes without angering his grandmother in the process, but it seemed that the old lady had been expecting something of the kind, and through Kitano, she told Jill that they would have a long talk that night about the rest of their trip.

'Tonight?' Jill asked.

'I think Inoue-sama, you and I are going to sleep in the same room while my fathers and Kitano-san will share another one,' Ao declared.

Kitano nodded.

Leon looked at Kitano and growled, 'We'll sleep head to toe if it quiets you, but you're not sleeping between D and me.'

Kitano blushed, but said, 'I would never place myself between you and your fiancé!'

D caressed Leon's arm and said, 'We cannot share a bed before we have completed the ritual because it would bring bad luck into our marriage, but we can hold hands.'

Leon smiled timidly and said, 'I don't fancy sharing the room with someone else for our first time, and Jill hasn't been shopping yet.'

D tilted his head, wondering what Leon meant.

Blushing in an adorable way, Leon declared in a near murmur, 'I will explain later, okay?'

D nodded instantly.

'I like the idea of taking one step at a time,' Leon declared seriously.

'It is the best way if we do not want to stumble on our way,' D pointed out philosophically.

'All right, then... Are these gentlemen the priests who are going to welcome us?' Jill asked, her thumb pointing at the men behind her.

Kitano nodded and Inoue walked to the group to meet the eldest priest. The venerable old man was a cousin of Inoue, and he greeted the Kami, his adopted daughter, and his friends with warmth. It was obvious that, just like for Inoue, the priest didn't see in D only a deity; his faith was very much alive, and beyond the honour of meeting a Kami - and being acknowledged by him - he was pleased and truly happy to meet D and help him in the process of his being wooed.

The other priests were much more in awe and remained mostly silent. They were flabbergasted that the future husband of their Kami was a blond American male, but they never said anything unpleasant against Leon.

The eldest priest was about to send the youngest to call an armada of taxis when D pointed out that they could take the bus, and he shared his idea with Leon and Jill, who didn't mind at all.

In front of the station, there were buses that were clearly there to drive tourists to the most interesting parts of town, and there were buses that were meant to drive the natives to areas that were less touristic - if there was such a thing in Kyôto.

The whole party, much to the surprise of the Kyôtoites on it, boarded a local bus.

D seemed to beam, and when the bus reached its terminal in the beautiful hills in the north of town, the other passengers waited for them to get off and they all bowed when D walked by them. The old gentleman who was driving refused to make D and Ao pay for their ride. They both bowed deeply, and the driver was so moved that his eyes were shining.

They were all walking towards the second bus they had to take when D stopped abruptly.

'Something wrong, Airen?' Leon asked, naturally calling D "boyfriend" in Mandarin.

D took a tiny packet from his left sleeve and said, 'The driver's cat is sick, and this could help him.'

'Would you like me to go and give it to him?' Leon offered.

D nodded, and before anyone could say anything, Leon was sprinting back towards their first bus.

It was only on the bus that Leon realised that the old driver didn't speak English. Leon tried Mandarin, but it didn't work; therefore he resorted to mime. Leon pointed at D, then at the packet, and then at the driver before handing the packet over with both hands.

The driver launched himself in an explanation a mile long. From the severe shaking of his head, Leon concluded that the old gentleman didn't think he was worth such a divine gift. Leon knew he'd have to mime a bit more, and then he remembered the story of the beckoning cat who saved a man and whose statue was now seen in the windows of many Asian shops. Mime wouldn't be enough, but Leon was ready to help a poor cat. He waved and meowed.

'Maneki neko?' the driver asked, puzzled.

One of the two words had to mean "cat".

Leon meowed again and asked, 'Maneki?'

The driver shook his head and waved saying, 'Maneki.'

Leon smiled and offered the packet again, saying, 'Neko.'

The driver tilted his head, and then realization dawned. 'Neko-chan?' he asked, one finger pointing at his nose to show that he was wondering if Leon was talking about his cat.

Leon smiled at the endearment and nodded. He offered the packet again, which was gratefully accepted this time. Leon bowed and waved goodbye.

The driver was still looking stunned when Leon joined D and their escort again.

'How did you manage to make him understand you were bringing a gift?' D asked, his voice full of curiosity - and pride.

'Now, Airen, you don't want me to reveal all my secrets,' Leon said, a bright smile gracing his lips.

D chuckled happily.

They got on their second bus, causing as much awe as on the first one, and after a few stops, they reached the door of the temple.

It was a beautiful location. The temple seemed to be wrapped in plane-trees. The branches and their tiny leaves seemed to hug the walls of the temple.

The priests entered the grounds first, and the younger ones, who had not made the trip to the station, came to welcome their honoured guests. The youngest ones came to take the Kitanos and Jill and Leon's luggage - apparently, D and Ao's had already been delivered, be it by special delivery service or dragon (though "dragon" probably qualified as "special delivery service").

The gardens leading to the inner structure of the temple were a symphony of greens - except for one patch of moss that was all yellowy. A very old priest was kneeling on the moss, plucking bits of it out with chopsticks.

Inoue, the priests and D started chatting very fast. Leon and Jill were completely lost and it was Ao who explained what was going on, 'The moss is sick. If it spreads, the whole grounds could die.'

'It would be such a pity!' Leon exclaimed.

D turned to him and said, 'I can help them. Would you be mad at me if I were to stay here for a few hours?'

Leon held his right index finger up and he leant over to whisper something into Ao's ear. She nodded enthusiastically.

Leon grinned and said, 'You can help the garden feel better while I'll take our daughter shopping for you.'

D beamed.

Jill turned to her niece and asked, 'Can you go and shop alone with your dad? There's something I need to do.'

'If Count D is staying here, I think it will be my duty to accompany Aogaeru-sama,' Kitano declared.

'I don't need you around,' Leon said.

'And I need something for them. A gift of some sort,' Jill told Kitano in a whisper. She didn't want D to hear her.

Inoue wanted to know what was going on and Kitano had to translate. D was now investigating what was wrong with the moss, which was quite a good thing.

'My grandmother would like to know what you want to buy for Count D,' Kitano said.

"There we go again!" Jill growled in a thought. "He thinks he can boss me around."

Jill looked at her niece and asked, 'Can you, please, tell Inoue that I'm not sure her grandson is going to be brave enough to translate what I want to buy accurately, and it is not something I want you to be involved in because it is adult stuff?'

Ao grinned in a way that made her look like D and she obeyed her aunt.

Inoue looked at Kitano in a way that showed that he had better translate precisely.

Leon took Ao's hand and walked down the lane with her. They had some plotting to do on their own.

Jill said what she wanted to buy, and Kitano paled. With another dark look from his grandmother, Kitano told her what Jill was looking for. Inoue beamed and answered something.

Kitano sat down on the ground.

'What's wrong?' Jill asked. She very much wanted to laugh because Kitano squeaking in the middle of the lane was quite a funny sight.

Inoue urged her grandson to get up, and he managed to say, 'Nothing's wrong. She said that she knows someone who makes some that is better than anything we could buy in a normal shop. We'll go there together.'

Jill grinned, and Inoue grinned back.

The afternoon would be highly entertaining.

D started eagerly working with the very old priest, who was the self-appointed gardener for the temple.

Inoue told one of the youngest priests to provide Ao and Leon with a map of the city. Ao could always ask the way to a Kyôtoite, but it was a good thing not to have the girl completely unable to find their way if need be - though truth be told, even a map was no guarantee that a native could find his or her way into the maze that a Japanese town could be.

Inoue, Jill and Ao went to their room together. Jill wanted to take a few things in her bag, and Ao needed her sunshade.

Inoue was really becoming quite fond of Jill - even though the young woman was very different from the kind of girl Inoue had been at her age.

Next to her bag, Jill discovered a pale blue yukata with a darker blue maple-leaf pattern.

'It's beautiful. Is it for me to sleep in tonight?' Jill asked Ao.

'No, Aunt Jill, the beds are not made yet, and I think the three of us will receive identical yukata then,' Ao answered. She asked Inoue something and once she had the answer, she went on, 'This one is for you to wear now - if you wish.'

'Really?' Jill asked dreamily.

There was a knock on their door, and Inoue and Ao instinctively knew that none of the priests would dare do such a thing. They were proved right when Leon coughed on the other side of the door.

'Jill? I got a gift from D; may I come in?' Leon asked.

Ao leapt to the door and opened it.

'Whoa!' Ao exclaimed when she saw her other adopted father.

Inoue and Jill swirled to see what caused Ao to produce such a surprising sound in the mouth of the extremely well educated young girl. Leon was wearing a beautiful blue kimono.

'Come in, Handsome,' Jill teased him gently.

Leon was carrying a bundle of silk, which he handed over to Jill as he said, 'I don't know how, but D's had a furisode made for you, and he said you might like to be dressed like the rest of the family. I think he's planning something tonight for our sweet Ao.'

Ao nodded and added, 'I am to be introduced as D-sama's daughter.'

Jill was completely torn. She wanted to wear what D was giving her to acknowledge her as a part of their unusual family, but at the same time, the kind priests had given her a thoughtful gift, not treating her as if she merely were a visitor from a foreign country.

'Aogaeru-sama, would you, please, ask your aunt if she fears to vex the priests if she doesn't wear the yukata they gave her?' Inoue asked.

Ao translated the question, and once Inoue knew why Jill looked so torn, she had Ao tell Jill that they would be staying several days in the temple and Jill would have time to show her gratitude by wearing the outfit later.

'Right now, the priests would be deeply embarrassed if their gift were to be chosen before one from Count D,' Inoue explained.

Jill nodded, understanding the situation more clearly.

'Okay, now there's just one tiny, little problem. I don't know how to put a kimono on,' Jill admitted.

'I bet the ladies can help you,' Leon pointed out. 'I'll wait for you downstairs.'

'Don't be silly! We've sometimes had to change in the same room. I don't mind if you stay here, and I'm dying to know how D convinced you to put on a kimono,' Jill said as she started undressing.

'He didn't have to convince me. He said I'd find a big green bundle for you and a blue one for me. When I opened mine, I found the outfit I saw in my future when D took me to one of the special rooms of the shop. I knew I'd be wearing it this afternoon, so I didn't have to be convinced,' Leon explained.

Inoue asked Leon in Mandarin if her grandson was changing into something more appropriate - that was to say, less Occidental - to go shopping with her and Jill. The instant Leon told her that Kitano was still in his civil servant suit, the old lady apologized to Ao and Jill and stormed out of the room.

'Kitano-san is in trouble,' Ao stated as she went on helping Jill get dressed.

Jill let Ao help her with the kimono and all the ribbons and stuff that went with the garment, and she admired in detail Leon's outfit. She'd noticed that her own brand new furisode had patterns that somehow matched the ones on Ao's outfit.

Leon's under-kimono - his juban - had a very pale blue collar, and his kimono was of a slightly darker blue with vegetal patterns that were dark blue. It was obvious that everything had been chosen with love to compliment Leon's eyes.

Ao was already about to start tying Jill's obi - and the girl was grateful that her divine father had not chosen one of the more elaborate models, otherwise she would have had to either ask her other father to help her, or to call Inoue to the rescue. Jill was impressed with Ao's skills, but she was mainly fascinated with Leon's new look.

'You're smiling, Jillie-girl,' Leon said with a warm chuckle.

Jill blinked and then said, 'It's just it all feels like a dream - and you're so handsome in that kimono.'

'What else?' Leon asked.

She chuckled and answered, 'You're way too good and you know me too well.'

'No escaping here, or I'll ask Ao to tickle you,' Leon joked.

'Don't take this wrong, but you look radiant,' Jill said. Ao nodded in agreement as she tied the last bit of ribbon on Jill's obi.

'D is back in my life,' Leon said as if it explained everything. "D is my life," Leon thought.

It hit him like quite a few tons of bricks - D really was his life. From the time Leon thought that D was a Chinese mafia guy to the days when Leon searched high and low for his disappeared Kami, D had become Leon's life - Leon's everything.

Instinctively, Leon hid his hands in his sleeves and even though there was no mistaking him for an Asian man, the movement made Leon look a tad like a samurai of the old times. Jill and Ao couldn't guess what Leon was thinking, but he looked so happy that they smiled at each other.

Inoue came back to the room, with Kitano in tow - the young man had donned a kimono, too.

'Shopping!' Inoue said in English.

'Still the only word she knows,' Leon chuckled.

The five of them went downstairs and checked on D's progress.

Leon was not surprised when he saw D in meditation on the patch of sick moss, with a few other priests chanting around him.

One of the priests who wasn't chanting gave Leon a message from D. Leon read it and turned to Ao. 'Do you know where the Yasaka Shrine is?' he asked.

She nodded and said, 'Yes, it's not far from the place where we're going.'

'Excellent! D wants us to meet around five there,' Leon told Jill and Kitano. He repeated the same thing to Inoue in Mandarin and she nodded.

D was left to pray on the healing vegetal, and the two shopping parties went on their respective ways.

Kitano was pale and almost dragging his feet as he followed his grandmother and Jill, but it turned out that the trip was not the nightmare he'd feared it would be. Inoue led them to an old house where the ground-floor rooms were used to prepare traditional remedies. Their party was welcomed by a very old gentleman, who sold them a pot of what D and Leon would hopefully need very soon. The pot was a piece of art that D would appreciate. Jill commented on its beauty, and the old gentleman thanked her when Kitano translated her comment.

Inoue said that she wanted to go to Gion to invite Jill to an inn for lunch. Right then, the wife of the shopkeeper walked in the shop from the storage room and she insisted on inviting Inoue, Jill and Kitano.

The choice was rather simple and it was left to Jill.

'Where do you prefer having lunch? Here or in a traditional inn?' Kitano asked Jill.

'I don't want to give too much work to this charming lady, but I don't want to offend her either,' Jill said.

'Not much work. You stay,' the shopkeeper's wife declared as she started giving orders to their aide, who ran to a restaurant to order three extra bento.

Inoue was quite surprised that her old friend understood English and could speak a few words. Jill got to discover just how much Japanese people often don't dare speak English when they understand bits of it nonetheless.

Lunch was very nice, and Jill hoped that Leon and Ao were having as much fun as she was.

In fact, father and daughter were the ones who ended up in a little inn that was on the outskirts of the district of Gion. Leon and Ao had taken the bus and when they reached the area where Ao knew there was the kind of shop Leon needed to buy D a gift, Leon asked Ao where she wanted to have lunch.

'Are we going to have lunch together, Otôsan?' she asked shyly.

'You know, kiddo, I took care of my little brother for some time. I still have a lot to learn - and you're my first daughter - but I know it's time to have lunch. I want to have lunch with you,' Leon said. 'Of course, you'll have to help me find a place to eat - and help me decipher the menu.'

Ao beamed at him and said, 'I know exactly where we can go!'

Leon followed his daughter through small streets, holding her hand.

'Say, how do you know so many things? You're quite young, and you've been staying at the shop,' he said.

She giggled happily. 'I'll tell you my secrets over our bowls of rice,' she promised. She pointed at a small restaurant and said, 'We could go there.'

Leon nodded.

Ao stopped in front of a restaurant and then she remembered to ask quite an important question. 'Do you have yen?' she wondered.

'Yes, Sweetie, I have enough currencies thanks to your aunt,' he said. He smiled and added, 'Besides I'm sure that Daddy D managed to hide money in your pretty bag.'

Ao looked at the thick satin bag that matched her kimono and blinked. 'I didn't check,' she admitted.

She opened her bag and noticed a purse that she didn't put there, and as Leon said, it was full of big banknotes.

'See, Daddy D is well organized,' Leon said with a merry chuckle.

Ao was blinking quite a lot. Leon closed her purse and bag, took her hand and walked towards the door of the restaurant.

'It looks pretty quiet. Are you sure it's open?' he asked.

'Yes, the curtains are on the door, therefore it's open,' she explained.

Then Leon noticed something else and asked, 'Why don't they have those plastic replicas of the dishes on the menu in a window?'

Ao pointed at a written menu and explained, 'I took you here because it's very quiet and if you can't read the menu, it's difficult to eat here.'

Leon nodded.

They walked hand in hand into the dark, cool and quiet restaurant. A waiter welcomed them and Ao told him that her father and she wished to have lunch. The good education and training of the waiter had not prepared him for a western man in kimono with a daughter who looked fully Asian; he ended up thinking that Leon might be the second husband of Ao's mother.

Ao translated what was on the menu, and she ordered lunch for them.

While they waited for their meal to arrive, Leon saw that something was bothering Ao.

'Penny for your thoughts,' Leon said.

'Otôsan?'

'There's at least one thing bothering you, kiddo,' he said. 'You can tell me anything, you know. I'm a cop, Sweetie, and I'm not always a nice man when I'm working - your other dad would add that my manners are far from being perfect, and he may be right - but I will never be angry with you or make fun of you. I want to be here for you. You can really tell me anything you want, I promise.'

She was looking at the table when she whispered, 'Count D put quite a lot of money in my bag.'

'Ah, well, you see, I think Daddy D has more money than I have. It's not really important, mind you. I'll have to talk with D about the way we're going to share everything that's linked to everyday life, which includes your allowance. Right now, I think he didn't want you to find yourself in need of anything and he gave you as much money as he could reasonably store into the purse he put into your bag. You're D's daughter now. I don't know how divinity and nobility are passed in his family, but you're the daughter of a Kami,' Leon explained.

She looked at him and nodded slowly. 'I think I understand, Otôsan,' she said.

'What else is bothering you?' he inquired.

This time, she blushed and said, 'You are a very good detective, Otôsan.'

'You definitely grew up around D, but flattery will not make me forget the question. So?' Leon insisted.

Ao blushed bright red and mumbled something.

'Sweetie?'

'The name you're using for D-sama,' she whispered. 'It's a nice one.'

Leon beamed at her and said, 'I love it when you call me, Otôsan, but you could try "Papa", you know. I bet D would love it if you called him "Daddy". Of course, you could call me Daddy and call D Papa, but strangely, Papa D makes me think of a song by that Japanese singer.'

Ao tilted her head and then asked, 'Gackt?'

'That's the one!' Leon answered with a chuckle.

Ao giggled.

The waiter brought two trays with their lunches, bowls of miso soup, and a teapot with two cups.

When he was gone, Ao looked at her father and said, 'I felt a connection with you and I would have been happy even if you'd remained only a friend. I am proud and happy that you want me to be your daughter Papa.'

Leon grinned, but said, 'But?'

'But even though I love D-sama - otherwise I wouldn't have drunk the cup he offered me to make me his - I find it hard to address him by any other name,' she admitted.

'You've known D most of your life, and your status in the shop has just changed. You need a few days, or maybe weeks, to adapt to your new situation. When you do, you'll make him very happy when you call him "father" with whatever word you prefer,' Leon explained.

'You must be right,' she granted him.

They started eating their meals quietly.

Ao looked at Leon and said, 'I wasn't very high in the shop hierarchy, but I listened to what the others had to say about the world. I have a lot to learn, but the other pets taught me a lot.'

'I should have known that the others could be a good source of information,' Leon said with a chuckle.

'I have a few good friends, there,' she said.

'How do you get along with the dragon who is now your sister - sort of?' Leon asked.

'She stays in her room most of the times. She's a dragon and I'm just a frog,' Ao said.

'So what? You're both our daughters. I can understand if she wants some quiet, but I won't have her think that she's better than you because she's a dragon. We'll have to introduce you to your uncle Chris, too,' Leon said.

'Do you think he'll like me?' she wondered.

'Oh, yea!' Leon answered instantly, which made Ao grin.

'I'm happy,' Ao said.

'And what else?' Leon asked.

Ao giggled and said, 'Just like with Aunt Jill!'

'Yes, kiddo, and just like her, you're going to spill all the beans,' Leon said as he leant over towards his daughter and tickled her briefly.

She smiled brightly and said softly, 'I'm happy that you wanted me - and not only as a pet - and I'm happy because I like you. It is strange. I thought my life would be very much different. I mean, I'm just a frog and family is a different concept for me.'

'We'll write our own brand new definition of family, Sweetie,' Leon said.

'I'm so happy, Papa!' Ao exclaimed.

Leon beamed when she called him by a less formal name, but he didn't tease her about it because he wanted her to get used to doing so as quick as possible.

They chit-chatted over their lunch, Leon paid for it, and they got out hand in hand.

'So, where's that shop you mentioned?' Leon asked.

'That way,' she said, pointing down the street.

They walked in old streets where there were inns, restaurants, houses and odd shops. You had to know where quite a few of these shops were - and what they sold - to simply find them.

'There it is,' Ao declared.

The shop looked a lot like a simple traditional house. Once inside, Leon and Ao were greeted by a young man who inquired what they were looking for. The shop sold precious and semi-precious stones carved into beads, talismans, bracelets and rings.

'What do we tell him?' Ao asked Leon.

'The truth. I need an engagement present for a Kami,' Leon said.

The shop attendant blanched and asked in perfect English, 'Really, sir?'

'Oh, you speak English! Brilliant!' Leon said. 'In case you're wondering, I am not joking at all. I need something special for my Kami.'

The attendant looked at Leon, and then at Ao, who nodded fervently.

'I will call the owner for such a sale,' the attendant said.

'Does he speak English?' Leon inquired.

The attendant shook his head.

Leon leant towards Ao and whispered softly in her ear, 'Either it's going to be very simple or it's going to take forever and be weird as weird can be.'

She nodded.

The owner, who was a small old man, practically ran into the shop with the attendant in tow. The few other patrons were already discreetly looking at the strange blond man in a kimono, but they were all amazed to see the owner rush to meet him.

The attendant repeated once more to his boss what Leon was looking for and for whom. Before Leon could say what he had in mind and what he was looking for; one of the patrons snorted and said something unpleasant. The attendant flinched and the owner paled so much that he looked as if he were about to faint.

Leon was about to ask what was going on, but the assistant of the chairman translated what his boss had just said, 'Arrogant American!'

Ao was the first to react. She swirled to face the rich and arrogant chairman and said, 'I am D Aogaeru of Miyajima. Count D is my father and he is officially wooed by the gentleman you insulted.'

The attendant and the owner had thought that Ao was a guide that had been provided to their new client, but if she was the daughter of the famous Count D - and if the blond was in the middle of an official wooing - they'd better be careful and take good care of their (hopefully) new customer.

There were many advantages to being a provider for Count D.

There were more advantages than having an egotistical chairman visiting the shop once a year during the Golden Week.

The owner gave his attendants instructions to toss the chairman and his assistant out of the shop.

'I have money!' the chairman exclaimed indignantly.

'It doesn't mean much. I'd much rather help make a Kami happy than take your money!' the owner barked.

'I'm sorry about all this,' Leon said.

The owner said something and the attendant beamed at his boss. 'Don't be sorry, Sir. All of us working here prefer dealing with you than with that other customer, and we want all our patrons to know we are on the side of Count D,' the attendant explained. He turned to Ao and asked, 'Aogaeru-sama, will you help this gentleman find what he needs in our humble shop?'

Leon wrapped an arm around Ao's shoulders and he said with a warm chuckle, 'Of course, our precious daughter is going to help me find the perfect gift for D.'

The owner walked around a counter and his attendant followed him. The two other patrons and the attendant who was taking care of them started choosing beads for bracelets again, but slowly - it was clear that they were observing Leon and Ao.

'What kind of stone did you have in mind?' the attendant asked Leon.

'Jade is a classic in your culture, isn't it? It's good for protection, right?' Leon asked.

'Protection?' one of the two other customers asked.

Leon turned to him. He couldn't believe that there was a famous singer shopping in the same shop right now. Leon was very surprised, but he nodded nonetheless.

'Good protection,' the other man said, showing a black bead.

'I don't know the name of that stone, Papa,' Ao said.

'It's onyx, Sweetie,' Leon said as he bowed to thank the singer.

'Either jade or onyx, then?' the attendant inquired.

Leon nodded.

'What kind of item did you have in mind?' the attendant asked then.

When the attendant told his boss what Leon wished to buy, the old man almost started to cry.

'What's wrong?' Leon asked worriedly.

The owner gestured Leon and Ao to follow him into the room where he was working. There he showed Leon the perfect gift - it was an item carved with a revolutionary concept and a unique piece.

Leon gulped, but asked bravely how much it cost.

The attendant listened to his boss's answer and declared, 'You can have it for the price of the stones and the promise that you will tell Count D who created the item.'

'Are you sure?' Leon asked, flabbergasted. 'It sounds a bit unfair, considering the amount of work on it.'

'We value more the appreciation and happiness of a Kami,' the attendant explained.

The deal was quickly concluded and Leon and Ao found themselves with most of the afternoon free to enjoy themselves.

'What do we do now?' Leon asked.

Ao grinned and suggested they play tourists.

'Is it wise?' Leon asked her. 'I don't want to be late to the temple; otherwise D is going to turn me into food for the carnivorous pets at the shop.'

'He wouldn't do such a thing, Papa,' Ao said.

Leon laughed softly and said, 'Yea, you're right, but it'd make him very sad - and we don't want that, do we?'

'We can't be late, but there are many things to see and to do in the area of the Yasaka Shrine,' Ao answered.

'Really?' he asked.

She nodded fervently, and held out her hand. 'We could go to the Yasaka Pagoda, and there's a garden next to the shrine. It's got great ponds!' she said.

Leon smiled, but didn't comment on the fact that his frog-daughter seemed rather fond of ponds. 'It sounds like a great plan, Sweetie,' he said.

They quietly walked to the area they wanted to visit.

Up a street, Leon saw the pagoda. 'It's beautiful,' he said.

'I was told that it's a lovely place,' Ao said.

'It's a good thing you listened to your friends,' Leon declared.

He was holding Ao's hand in his right one; he'd put his left thumb in his obi in such a way that it allowed him to use his sleeve like a pocket and he wanted to be careful about its contents because there was now in it a small box containing the gift for D.

Ao and Leon were walking down the street towards the pagoda when they saw a group of three maiko walking towards them.

'Oh, they're pretty!' Ao exclaimed.

Leon looked at the three young ladies and said softly, 'They are, but not as much as you.'

Ao blushed furiously.

The three maiko bowed when they passed Leon and Ao, and both bowed back. There was a photographer who was following the maiko - apparently, there was a deep interest for official pictures of maiko and geisha, and they were published in books and on the net.

The photographer looked at Ao, and ran to ask the maiko if they would agree to have their picture taken with the pretty schoolgirl if she agreed. The three young ladies instantly knew that it would make a beautiful and interesting picture, therefore they agreed. The photographer then ran to Ao.

'Excuse me,' he said in Japanese.

Ao bowed and answered, 'Yes?'

'Would you allow me to take a picture of you with the maiko? Your furisode is a work of art - as is the young goddess wearing it,' he flattered her.

Ao was very much tempted to laugh heartily, because she'd become the daughter of a Kami - and drinking a drop of D's blood had changed her. She knew that she hadn't changed much, but she felt tiny differences nonetheless.

She smiled as charmingly as her divine father and said with a straight face, 'I must ask my father if it is agreeable.'

The photographer started gaping when Ao asked Leon in English if it was okay. Leon agreed on condition that he'd get a digital copy of the pictures.

The photographer took a few pictures where Ao and the maiko took the pose and a few where the girls chatted together, exchanging tips about furisode or other girl things.

'You should take a picture of us with Aogaeru-sama's father,' one of the maiko suggested.

'Why?' wondered the photographer.

'For two reasons,' the maiko went on, 'first it would make an interesting picture because this gentleman's kimono is of a rare quality - and he wears it beautifully, and secondly, it would be a nice way to thank them both for their time.'

The photographer had to agree. He took one very formal picture with Leon in the middle of the young women; Leon was very much tempted to put his right arm on Ao's shoulder, but he thought that it'd ruin the picture and his hands ended up in his sleeves again because he didn't know what to do with them. Then, the photographer took one picture of Leon and Ao alone; she was wrapped in her father's arms and instead of looking at the camera, they were looking at each other. Leon gave his card to the other man, who gave him one of his in exchange.

They all said goodbye, and the maiko went to their appointment.

'What do you say we don't tell Daddy about the pictures and we surprise him with a nice frame with printed copies of them?' Leon suggested.

'Brilliant!' she agreed.

'I could always tell Aunt Jill - I'm sure she'd find a way to do that here - or we could do that together in Los Angeles,' Leon said.

Ao nodded fervently; she liked the idea of doing something secret with her other father.

'Deal!' Leon said.

They paid their fees to visit the Yasaka Pagoda, and stayed on its grounds a bit, and then they went to the Maruyama Park that was right next to the Yasaka Shrine where D wanted to meet them.

Leon managed to find a patch of very dry grass where he and Ao could sit down without ruining their outfits.

They were admiring koy fish in a pond when Leon spotted Jill, Inoue and Kitano walking towards the temple.

'Sweetie, could you go and catch your aunt before she walks to the temple grounds without us?' Leon asked.

Ao leapt to her feet and rushed towards the others.

Leon turned his head slightly and whispered, 'Hello, Airen.'

'How did you know I was here?' a flabbergasted D asked. He was kneeling next to Leon.

'I felt you,' Leon answered simply.

D almost melted on the spot.

'Did you heal the moss?' Leon asked.

D nodded.

'Ready to do whatever it is you want to do with our daughter?' Leon asked.

D nodded again and declared, 'I am. It is time to seal our final bond.'

Leon got up and helped D to his feet. They walked to the others.

D held his hand out to Ao, who took it without hesitation. As if they understood the ceremony by magic, Leon walked behind D and Ao with Jill, and Inoue and Kitano followed them a few feet away.

When D and Ao entered the temple grounds, something happened and everybody felt that something extraordinary was happening.

All the birds and insects nearby became silent. A few tourists, unused to earthquakes, even feared that there was one about to happen, but when they saw all the natives looking at D and Ao, they understood somehow that there was something religious going on.

D hadn't warned the priests in the temple that he would visit that day. He needed a place that was somehow - even remotely - connected to his family. A few centuries ago, one of D's great-grand-aunts had performed a ritual for an Emperor there - it was enough of a connection for D right now.

The natives stopped doing whatever they were doing and the priests and attendants walked towards D. The abbot walked to meet D and he bowed deeply.

'Will you require our assistance?' the old man asked.

'Yes, please. I come to present this child as my daughter,' D declared softly as he indicated Ao.

The abbot bowed and almost trotted to the main temple to prepare what he needed. His assistant was a very gifted young man and he ran to make sure that everything would be ready.

Just before D and Ao climbed the stairs leading inside the temple, D turned to say something to Leon, but Leon spoke first, 'We're not officially part of the family - yet. We'll wait here.'

Ao looked at Leon, and he winked at her.

D escorted Ao inside the building and with the help of the abbot and his assistants, D proclaimed that Aogaeru of Miyajima was his daughter.

The instant D completed the ritual all the insects and animals produced a sound that surprised most of the humans who were on the temple grounds.

Jill shivered.

'You okay?' Leon asked.

'Yeah, but what was that?' she wondered.

'D's magic or his power or whatever. It's a part of D,' he said.

'And you're used to it,' Jill pointed out.

Leon nodded as if it were completely natural to have a Kami in one's life - and a Kami who performed powerful rituals. 'It's D. This is what he does - or what he can do,' Leon said.

'Will you have to do something of the kind when the wooing is completed?' Jill inquired.

'I told D he could have a big wedding if he wanted,' Leon answered.

Jill blinked and then said, 'It's not exactly what I meant. Will you have to do something to adopt or acknowledge Ao as your daughter, too? And do tell me more about that big wedding.'

'I just know that I agreed to a big wedding if it is what D really wants. I'll have to ask D a few more things; I'll do so a bit later. I first have to find a way to give him the gift I found for him thanks to Ao,' Leon declared showing his left sleeve to Jill.

'What is it?' Jill asked excitedly.

'You'll have to ask him once I've given it to him. Ao knows the form of the gift, but she hasn't seen it. D will be the first to see it,' Leon said.

'So, when are you planning to give it to him?' Jill asked.

'Maybe tonight if we can sneak out,' Leon said. He turned to Kitano and said, 'I know you're supposed to keep an eye on us, but when I give D my gift, you'd better not be around or I'll kick your ass so hard you'll land in China.'

Kitano nodded and translated to Inoue. The old lady nodded several times and said something to her grandson.

'What did she say?' Jill inquired.

'That if the offering of a gift is to be a part of the wooing, I'd better not interfere with it if I don't want to be sent back home immediately,' Kitano said.

'Besides, the boys can take care of each other,' Jill pointed out.

Kitano was forced to agree - even if he was rather reluctant to do so.

The priests and assistants exited the building. D walked out, followed by Ao; she looked even more radiant than she had before. D Aogaeru was now Count D's first child, and a bit of her father's divine aura passed on to her through blood, magic and faith.

D walked to Leon and Jill and held his hands out to both of them. Both held hands with him, and it overwhelmed Jill a bit because there were still bits of magic coursing on D's fingers. Leon held out his other hand to Ao, who took it.

'Everything's all right?' Leon asked.

'I have a daughter,' D said.

'And since there was no earthquake or storm, it means that I have been allowed to fully become Count D's daughter,' Ao declared.

'Definitely your daughter,' Leon said with a warm chuckle.

D tried to glare, but he was too happy.

'God, I wish I could hug you right now!' Leon said.

D squeezed Leon's hand to thank him for not displaying his feelings in public.

'We'll have to find a quiet spot to talk tonight,' Leon declared.

D blushed and nodded once. He was about to say something when there was a human shout and then a loud, 'MEOW!'

A huge - really huge - black cat ran to D and stopped at his feet.

Everybody was a bit surprised to see a cat on the temple grounds, but then the human living with that cat arrived. It was the bus driver they'd met a few hours before.

'Neko-chan!' the old gentleman exclaimed.

The cat was old and huge, but for his human friend, he was still the kitten he'd rescued from the river seventeen years ago.

Leon leant towards D and asked, 'Am I mistaken or did he call the small panther "kitten"?'

'You're not mistaken,' D answered.

The cat started meowing to thank D for the remedy that had certainly saved him from a nasty infection. The bus driver was pale and apologizing profusely to D and the priests, but he was walking near the temple with his cat in his arms when the cat jumped and ran away.

Ao crouched and picked the cat up. Neko-chan purred loudly and rubbed his head against Ao's cheek.

'She's your baby,' Leon teased D.

'Undoubtedly,' D said.

Ao squeaked.

'Sweetie?' Leon said worriedly.

'I... I can understand him! And we're out of the shop!' she whispered, clearly in awe.

D beamed.

'She's definitely another D now,' Leon pointed out.

Ao beamed and blushed and talked with the cat, who seemed to understand her perfectly well.

D caressed Neko-chan's ear and said, 'I'm glad I could help.' The cat added something and D answered, 'Then I am even happier that you can finish teaching your newest son to hunt properly. I will see if anyone I know needs a kitten.'

Neko-chan purred loudly to thank D. Ao caressed his ear and gave him back to the bus driver, who went back to his home with his precious kitten.

'I have the feeling that we'll meet him a third time,' D declared.

'Bad feeling?' Leon inquired.

'Not at all,' D answered.

Leon grinned.

Ao looked a bit overwhelmed with her new powers. Instinctively, Jill hugged her.

'Okay, so what do we do now, Daddy?' Leon asked his boyfriend in a whisper.

'We stroll before dinner,' D answered.

Their party walked out of the shrine, and they ended up in another temple that was much smaller.

'D?' Leon whispered.

'Yes, Leon?'

'Is it okay if I talk to the deities from here?' Leon asked.

'You walked through the doors and purified yourself. Ring the bell and pray - or talk. You are allowed to talk,' D said.

'Do you know how to pray?' Inoue asked Leon in Mandarin.

Leon nodded.

Ao took D and Jill's hands and dragged them away; Leon winked at her, and then Inoue signalled Kitano to follow her and give Leon some privacy.

From his wallet, Leon took all the five yen coins he had, and then he rang the temple bell to call the gods. There was another man next to Leon, and he was quite surprised to see Leon act as if it were completely natural for him to pray at a Shinto shrine. Leon threw his good luck offering into the box under the bell, he bowed twice with his hands on his thighs, clapped hands twice, bowed again, and then there was something in the air that told Leon that someone was listening to what he had to say.

"I love him," Leon thought. "I know I'm not like him - and I admit I'm scared about the wooing and our future - but I love him. I cannot breathe without him. Allow me to complete the ritual. Allow me to love him and try to make him happy."

The native who was praying next to Leon squeaked. Leon realized that he'd closed his eyes to pray, and he re-opened them. Behind the box, there was a lady - certainly a female Kami - who was shining.

Leon heard her voice in his head as she said, "Love him with all your heart and everything will end well. Tell him how you feel when you give him the gift you found, and the ritual shall be completed."

Leon's grin was wider than the Cheshire-Cat's. "Thank you so much," he thought.

"Take good care of him," she told him in another thought.

'Always,' Leon said aloud.

The deity shone brighter and disappeared into thin air.

Leon smiled happily and left a stunned native behind. D saw that his boyfriend was extremely happy and he was eager to find a way to get a few moments alone with him. The night would not come too soon.

They visited the temple grounds and walked back towards the river. They followed Inoue to a restaurant where they had a very quiet early dinner.

Ao was a bit stunned because of everything that happened to her, but Jill was really taking her role of aunt by proxy very seriously and she was trying to help Ao get used to her new status by treating her as if she really were her niece.

On his side, Kitano was busy translating everything to his grandmother.

Leon and D were drowning in each other's eyes.

'What are your plans for the evening?' Kitano asked the couple.

Leon turned to look at the other man. This time, there was no aggressiveness in Kitano; he was just curious about the end of their day.

Leon turned to D and said, 'Maybe we could go to the temple to make sure Ao's back to her room, and then we could go somewhere for a walk.'

D nodded.

Jill cleared her throat.

'What's bothering you?' D asked her nicely.

'If it's not proper for you not to escort her back to the temple, I'll understand, but if you two just turned into super father-hens, I'll kick you somewhere painful to help you remember that Kitano and I are trained police officers who can escort a teen back to her room. And Inoue's got a sunshade to beat attackers if need be!' Jill declared with a wide smile.

D chuckled and Leon laughed softly.

'She's my daughter. It should be my duty to escort her back to the temple,' D said.

'D-sama,' Ao said timidly, 'Aunt Jill can make sure I go to bed early. You don't have to waste time by making sure I reach the temple safely.'

'Making sure you're safe will never be a waste of time,' D declared seriously.

'I thank you, D-sama, but I think you have one better thing to do tonight,' Ao said.

D and Leon traded looks - their daughter made sense.

'Besides,' Ao went on, 'you would kill two birds with one stone because if you allow me to go back to the temple with Inoue-sama and Aunt Jill, then we can start plotting for you two.'

D opened his mouth to protest a bit, but Jill declared, 'It's settled then. The four of us will go back together while you two go on a date.'

D looked at Leon, and both blushed furiously.

Suddenly, both D and Ao sat even more upright than they already were.

'What was that noise?' Ao asked worriedly.

'It was an animal calling for help,' D explained as he got up. 'I apologize, but I must go and investigate,' he declared.

'Should I go with you?' Leon asked.

Kitano was about to offer to help, but Jill grabbed his wrist and almost hurt him as she forced him to stay where he was.

'It might be a good idea if you were on the watch,' D told Leon.

Leon instantly got up and went after D, who was following the shout for help of a frightened animal. He was about to leave the main room when he realized that it was a perfect opportunity to ask Jill to look for a few more links on her laptop; he waved at her to follow them.

'Don't growl, Kitano-san, I can see that it's a sister Leon needs now, not a fellow officer of the law,' she explained as she got up, too.

Jill ran to catch up with Leon.

'How does she know?' Kitano whispered more to himself than to Ao.

'She knows because Papa's got that lost look he's got sometimes when D-sama puzzles him too much,' Ao explained.

'Really, Aogaeru-sama?' Kitano wondered.

Ao nodded fervently, and Kitano was forced to admit that Count D's daughter made sense.

While the others were gone, Ao and the Kitanos reviewed their list of places they wanted to show to their two tourists over the next days.

D, Leon and Jill found themselves behind the restaurant, and D asked his two friends to keep everybody out of the dark alley where he'd go rescue a pet.

'Are you sure it's wise to walk in there alone?' Jill inquired.

They could hear a man yelling at some poor - apparently feline - beast, and the animal trying to escape or something.

'Quite, Miss Jill. I just want to be able to concentrate on the rescue without having to worry about the horrible biped getting some help,' D said.

Jill nodded. The time it took her to blink was enough for D to jump onto a roof and silently run towards the pet in need. His plan was to literally fall on the back of whoever was attacking the pet, who was very young if its voice was any indication.

'Whoa!' Jill exclaimed when she realized that D had disappeared in the wink of an eye.

'He doesn't really need us. It's best if we make sure that no one sees him or interrupts him,' Leon said.

'Basically, he doesn't need us, then,' she pointed out.

Leon nodded, and he blushed a bit for he knew that Jill would ask him the question he dreaded, but it was a question that was very important.

'Okay,' she said. 'If he doesn't need us, why do you need me?'

Leon looked at Jill. He opened his mouth and started to say, 'I... I...' Leon blushed deeply and shut his mouth.

'Is anything wrong?' Jill asked worriedly.

Leon shook his head, but kept his mouth stubbornly shut.

Jill hugged her friend and said gently, 'I'm not going to make fun of you. I know we're supposed to be just good friends, but you mean much more to me. Much more than any of my blood relatives.'

Leon hugged her back and whispered against her neck, 'It's not in the blood. You're more than my friend.'

'Why did you ask me to follow you?' she asked. 'Is there something you want to ask me about Ao?'

Leon shook his head instantly.

"If it's not about Ao," Jill thought, "it's got to be about D."

'I had a strange idea, but it was stupid,' Leon told her.

'What's bothering you about D?' Jill inquired bluntly. 'I know you're in love with him because of the way you look at him, but I can see there's something on your mind.'

'I'm not going to escape this, am I?' he asked rhetorically.

She shook her head.

'When I called you, I thought I could ask you to borrow your laptop to check something, but it's a bad idea,' he said.

'Why? I can lend it to you - and I have a few other links you might like,' she said.

Leon shook his head.

'Why not?' she wondered. 'You can find anything on the net.'

Leon shrugged.

'What is it you need to know?' she asked in a gentle whisper. He was about to shrug again when she added, 'It could be important for you two. It's not just about dating D; you're going to marry him in the end of all this. This is much more than I ever had.'

'Not sure,' Leon mumbled.

'You're completely cryptic, Leon. What's on your mind?' she asked kindly.

Leon's cheeks turned bright red.

'You should know that I am not going to make fun of you,' Jill said.

Leon heard loud and clear that he was hurting Jill by not trusting her. 'I'm afraid you might die with laughter,' Leon murmured.

'It can't be more embarrassing than dragging Kitano to the local version of a chemist's shop to buy lubricant with Inoue leading the pack,' she joked.

'Wanna bet?' Leon mumbled.

'Spill the beans; I promise not to make fun of you,' Jill said.

Leon took a deep breath and decided to trust his friend. 'Okay, thing is I got to read about the theory thanks to your links, but I don't have much experience. I was wondering if there were sites like that to give tips about first times,' Leon said very softly.

Jill's detective instinct woke up. 'Deity thingy aside, D is going to be your first male lover,' she said. Leon nodded. 'He's not going to be your first lover, is he?' she asked.

'No,' Leon said with a neutral voice. He paused, took a very deep breath and added in a whisper, 'He'll be my second.'

Jill did not laugh. She blinked and said nothing.

'I'll never do anything the normal way, eh?' Leon said in a self-depreciating way.

'Who am I to judge you? It's tough enough to just get a date in our line of work - I haven't had one in months,' Jill said.

'Dates are usually all I get. In the beginning, back when I was still at school, girls thought I was kind of cute, but my family was not good enough for most of them - and if my mother and brother were not good enough for them, then those girls were not good enough for me. Then I went to the Academy, and most girls don't want to be the girlfriend of a cop. I had a few dates,' Leon said. He looked at Jill - Jill, who wasn't laughing or making fun of him. He went on telling his tale, 'There was one who stayed for a bit. Only one, though. I liked her - a lot - but I knew that it wasn't love.'

'You know, Leon, it's not about the amount of experience. I admit I've had a few lovers - though there are not that many - and I'd like to have what you have with D. Okay, you'll have to learn the music as you start playing it, but hell, Leon! With a little bit of luck, you'll have to learn everything together; quit worrying about performance or whatever. Do you really think making love is perfect each and every time?' she asked.

Leon's eyes were trying to reach saucers' proportions.

Jill took a deep breath and went on, 'I'm going to be crude, Leon. You, two, are not going to fuck, you're going to make love. I envy you.'

Leon remembered what his friend told him about her life and her fears the night they landed.

'Being nervous is quite normal - and logical, I think - but don't torture yourself. Take one step at a time. Take time to date and get used to being together - as a couple and not just friends. Even if you complete the ritual soon, you don't have to jump into bed in the next two minutes,' she said.

'Kami-sama! You're right!' Leon said as he hugged Jill.

'Calling me?' D purred as he walked back to them.

Leon jumped and hissed, 'Gee, D! Keep doing that and you'll be a widower before I turn forty!'

'Impossible,' D answered cryptically.

'What happened over there?' Jill asked D, preventing Leon from asking D what he really meant.

'A nasty man was bothering a poor kitten. I explained to the man how wrong he was and I rescued the pet,' D said, showing the tiny kitten that was hiding in his sleeve.

'What an angel!' Jill exclaimed. 'Do you need anything for that small ball of fur?'

'Thank you, but he can stay with me. He's a special kind of cat, and I will need to find him a good place to stay,' D answered.

'What do you need for him?' Leon inquired.

'He's a protector. He needs to become the guardian of a shop. He was trying to find someone to take him in when a very unkind man decided to try and kill him. I will bring him back to the temple with us tonight, and I'll find him a family tomorrow,' D said.

Right then, Leon had an illumination. 'Say, D, does the little guy need a particular kind of shop?' he asked.

'Not really. Just a place that would welcome him,' D answered.

'I think I know a shop where he'd be loved,' Leon said as he gently scratched the kitten's ear, making him purr like a turbo jet.

'What shop?' D wondered.

'The one where I bought your gift,' Leon said. He looked around and said, pointing southward, 'It's this way. We could go and ask them if they want the cat. From the way they reacted to me and Ao, I bet they'd love the kitten to pieces.'

'Don't you mind going now?' D asked. It was obvious that he didn't want his nature and his charge to interfere with his couple life.

'Airen,' Leon said lovingly, 'I'm certainly going to growl and bark from time to time, but I don't want you to change anything. I love you the way you are, and the day it bothers me to rescue a kitten, just toss me out of the shop!'

'Ai ni,' D said with love.

Leon blushed. He tried to cover it by saying, 'Let's go tell the others, and we'll introduce kitty to his potential new friends.'

It only took them a few minutes to share their plans with Ao, Inoue and Kitano.

'Where are we going?' D asked Leon.

Leon told him the name of the artisan who'd made the gift, and D knew the man and what he sold. On their way, Leon told D what happened at the shop and D thought that Leon's idea to bring them a protector would be a good one.

'What did you buy me?' D asked as they were almost at the shop.

'A surprise. I'll give it to you as soon as we find a quiet spot where we can talk and more,' Leon declared.

D blushed furiously, and Leon invited D to enter the shop first.

Patrons and attendants froze when D entered.

The attendant who spoke English ran to their side and bowed deeply.

'Could you call your employer, please? Count D found someone who might interest you,' Leon explained.

The owner trotted to greet them. He immediately saw that D wasn't wearing the gift; a wink from Leon informed him that the gift had not been given yet - the Kami was not in the shop because he didn't like his gift.

'To what do I owe the honour and pleasure of your visit in my humble shop, Count?' the owner asked as deferentially as possible.

'My fiancé informed me that the gift he's planning to give me is one of your creations. He also told me how you welcomed my beloved daughter. I have found a protector, but he's just a baby. My fiancé suggested that you might want to adopt him,' D explained.

The owner beamed. 'I am unworthy,' he said as he bowed again.

'You are not,' D said softly. 'Since the kitten is not one of my pets, he would have no contract attached to him, but I trust you to take good care of him.'

'Kitten?' said a small voice.

D and Leon turned towards the voice and saw a very young girl. She wore a kimono and bowed when they looked at her.

Trusting his instinct, D took the kitten from his sleeve, and the baby cat jumped into the arms of the little girl.

'That settles it, I think,' D declared.

The owner was crying now.

'What's wrong?' Leon wondered.

The English speaking attendant looked around to make sure that no one else spoke that language, and he told Leon, 'It's a blessing that you brought us a protector. The father of the child wants to take her from her mother, who's our boss's daughter. With the kitten, we'll keep the child safe.'

The girl and the kitten had fallen for each other instantly.

D hummed.

'Airen?' Leon murmured.

'The kitten is too young to protect her yet. Would you like me to lend you a pet for six months?' D asked the owner.

A younger and bolder attendant intervened and said, 'We'd be honoured to welcome one of your pets forever.'

The others were ready to scold him, but D beamed and said, 'This one would come with a contract.'

The owner bowed deeply and said, 'It would be a great honour to have a contract with you.'

D beamed. 'Then, let us discuss the terms,' he said.

'Shall we go to my family's apartment?' the owner suggested.

D nodded and held out his hand to Leon, who took it instantly. They followed the owner to a room where the little girl was showing her kitten to her grandmother and mother. Both ladies bowed deeply when they saw who had just entered.

The owner told his wife and daughter what Count D was offering, and both women were really grateful for the help.

D asked if he could open the window, and the entire family agreed. D sent a signal into the night and turned to the others. 'We'll have to wait a moment. I don't know who's going to answer,' D said.

'How does it work?' Leon inquired.

'I sent a message asking for a protector to work with the kitten. One of my pets is going to join us momentarily,' D explained.

'I'm curious to see who will answer,' Leon said. He looked at D and then asked, 'How is one of the pets going to make it here so fast?'

'Through one of the shop's room opening on this city,' D explained.

Leon nodded.

'I need to discuss the contract,' D told Leon in English. Leon smiled, and D started addressing the shop owner and his family in their native language, 'The kitten is a thank-you gift for being kind to my daughter and helping my fiancé with something that is even more important than you think.'

'Thank you very much, D-sama,' the little girl said very politely.

D beamed at her and gave her relatives instructions to take good care of their little protector.

'Now, you need to sign a contract for another protector,' D said. 'Are you ready to accept what my kind can do when it comes to such a situation?' he asked.

The whole family nodded.

D looked at them. They were in awe, but not terrified; they respected him and were grateful - and the ladies already loved the kitten, who trusted them.

'All right, the first condition to my selling you a pet is that you will have to burn a special kind of incense. The practical thing for you is that you can buy it from my own account at the Silver Pavilion,' D said.

The entire family nodded.

'Until you can go and buy it tomorrow, I'll give you a first packet of it,' D said, taking a small pouch in his sleeve.

Leon smiled when he recognized what D was giving the shop owner's wife; he thought that D's sleeves were as surprising as the shop.

*Here I am, Master,* said a magpie perched on the windowsill.

'Would you please start burning the incense? Then, I can introduce you to your family's second protector,' D declared.

The old lady obeyed D instantly, and the room was soon filled with fragrant incense fumes.

'I need you to close your eyes,' D said.

They all obeyed. Then, D walked to the little girl and whispered in her ear, 'You can watch as I invite your new friend inside.'

She opened her eyes and smiled widely at D, who beamed at her. D signalled the magpie to come inside the room and the bird morphed into a young woman as the incense wrapped her in its magic.

She closed the window and bowed to her master.

'Allow me to introduce you to Akemi-san,' D declared.

They all looked at the young magpie-woman. Her hair was so dark it looked almost blue under the artificial light - or maybe a few of her feathers were, indeed, blue. Her kimono was black and the collar of her juban was bright white; her eyes were very dark and shining.

She bowed and said, 'I am delighted to meet you.'

'A young lady?' the shop owner asked.

'Akemi-san is a magpie. Her task here will be to protect your granddaughter and teach the kitten. I think it would be wise to sign a one-year renewable contract,' D said.

'A magpie?' the owner asked.

D smiled his enigmatic Kami smile, and the owner bowed - he had to accept the weirdness that was linked to most of D's pets.

'I will need ink and paper,' D said.

The owner's daughter went to her father's office to take what D needed for their contract.

'First, you will need to keep the incense burning. Secondly, you will need to provide Akemi-san with a healthy diet for a magpie. Thirdly, you will give her two beads of her choice each month, but you will not make her work in your shop. Should you break our contract, she would come back to my shop. Do you agree?' D asked.

'D-sama,' the owner's wife intervened, 'we heard that your contracts were unusual, but there is nothing for you in the one you offer us. It is unfair for you.'

D beamed and answered, 'If you treat Akemi-san well and you take good care of the kitten I rescued, your family will be protected. When I need beads and talismans I will come to buy them in your shop; I will not expect a discount because we're in business, but I will expect a good service and stones of quality.'

The owner bowed.

'Besides, the incense you'll buy will keep Akemi-san happy, and what you pay for it will allow me to take care of other pets,' D added.

Akemi's contract was written and signed.

D told the owner and his family that the magpie was exclusively to take care of the child and the kitten, under no circumstances was she to work at the shop - beads would distract her from her true mission.

D stored the contract in his sleeve. He gave Akemi a few pieces of advice about residing in such a place, and then he bade them all goodnight.

Leon and D found themselves on quiet and dark streets again.

'Will they break their contract?' Leon asked.

'I honestly don't think so. I think they're of the kinds who keep their word. I don't have a bad feeling about them,' D said.

'I'm glad we've helped them all,' Leon declared.

Leon smiled and offered his little finger to D, who hooked his with Leon's.

'Where do you want to go?' Leon asked. 'Where can we go to have a quiet talk?'

D hid his face behind the veil of his hair, which told Leon that his fiancé was blushing.

'Airen?' Leon purred. 'Where do couples go in this town?'

'The parks are closed. We could go to the station, there are quiet spots there, I hear,' D said.

Leon nodded, and they started walking in that direction. It took them an hour, but they finally reached the very modern structure.

D had been guiding them through very quiet streets, but now that they were back to the lights of the huge building, D was slightly shivering. Leon understood that his boyfriend was shy because of the unusual situation and he laced their fingers together and rubbed his thumb on D's hand.

A series of escalators took them up to the Skyview. There, trees were planted and they were decorated with strings of blue fairy lights. Couples were sitting under the trees and talking, others were sitting on benches, hiding in the relative darkness, just holding each other.

Leon spotted an empty bench in a very dark corner, and he invited D to sit there.

Leon felt the small box in his sleeve. He looked at D and said, 'I have a gift for you, my Love.'

D sat upright and smiled as if he'd just been transported into Charlie's chocolate factory.

'I found something very traditional for you, Airen, but thanks to the shop owner you met tonight, I found a unique piece,' Leon said.

'You didn't have to find something so unusual,' D said.

'It is unusual and one of its kind quite by chance and a lot thanks to our little Ao, who knew where to take me. We are an unusual couple, but I wanted to do at least one traditional thing for you. I bought you an engagement ring,' Leon said.

D's eyes were shining.

Leon took the box in his sleeve and gracefully slid off the bench to kneel on the floor. 'I love you with all my heart, D. I'm not sure this special ring will appeal to you, though,' Leon said, deeply moved and with a small voice.

'What do you mean, my sweet love?' D wondered.

'The owner carved jade and onyx in a way that the circles have to be assembled on your finger. He said I'd have to seal the ring with my blood,' Leon said. 'My love for you, as well as my life itself, would belong to you as long as the stones are on your hand - as long as you want me.'

'I want you forever,' D declared seriously.

Leon opened the box and showed his fiancé the separate pieces that would form an intricate ring made of jade and onyx.

'Will you have me?' Leon asked.

'Your ring on my finger will show the universe the love we share,' D said as he gave his left hand to Leon.

Leon reverently kissed D's palm, and then he took the intricate circles of stones in his left hand.

'I need two drops of blood to seal the ring when it's on your finger. Do you have a knife in one of your sleeves?' Leon inquired.

'I have nails sharper than a tiger's claws,' D said.

Leon nodded and gulped. He placed the stones on D's left ring finger and he cut the tip of his index finger on one of D's nails. Leon put drops of blood where the shop owner had showed him; the ring was ready to be sealed for all eternity, but he didn't know what to do to make his finger stop bleeding and not put blood on D's hand and possibly D's clothes.

D took Leon's hand in his right hand and he brought Leon's finger to his lips. With just one lick, D healed Leon's small cut.

Leon looked at D and shivered as he moaned with arousal.

Then, Leon remembered he had to concentrate on what he was doing right now.

'Okay?' Leon asked with a shaking voice.

D nodded, and Leon closed the ring.

'I'm forever yours, D. I don't know why, I don't know how, but I do love you. I fell in love with you,' Leon said.

D admired his ring and looked at Leon with so much love in his eyes that Leon shivered again.

'Truth be told, I love you so much that I'd have agreed to be just a pet for you. I was ready to sacrifice my life to find you again, and now that you're in my life again, I'd do anything to keep you in it. I love you, D,' Leon said, still kneeling.

'I wouldn't want you as a pet. I want you as my equal,' D said as he invited Leon to sit next to him on the bench.

D looked at his ring again and beamed at Leon as he said, 'I love you, and I love it.'

'You're my life, my sweet Kami,' Leon said.

Leon looked around to make sure that no one was observing them and then he slowly leant towards D to kiss him.

They both heard some kind of bells or maybe an odd music.

'I know I'm mad about you,' Leon declared as he stopped kissing D, 'but did I just hear something?'

'I heard something, too,' D said.

'A pet trying to contact you?' Leon wondered.

D shook his head and said, 'I had never heard that before.'

'Maybe' Leon said, his voice trailing off.

'Airen?'

'Could it be linked to the ritual?' Leon suggested.

D squeaked inelegantly, and he fumbled with his sleeve to look at his bracelet, but the item was gone. Leon caressed D's arm, looking for it.

'What's wrong?' Leon asked worriedly.

D was gaping, which was slightly frightening Leon.

'Airen? Is someone trying to separate us?' Leon asked anxiously.

D shook his head.

'Honey, it would help if you actually said something,' Leon said.

'The ritual is completed,' D answered, clearly in awe.

The ring worked as an immortal proof of Leon's love for D, and what they admitted to each other about their respective feelings was considered as a sacrifice to the nature they had when they met. Their love was metamorphosing them.

Leon understood that D was not joking and the wooing was done. He placed his hands on D's waist and moved him onto his lap, making D squeal and purr.

For a few minutes, they just held each other and kissed when they were sure no one was around.

'Ao is going to love that!' Leon said with a merry chuckle.

'Our friends and chaperons are going to either gape or tease us,' D added.

Leon laughed softly and said, 'I can picture Kitano and our Jill wondering how we did it.'

'We did it,' D repeated dreamily.

'It means that we can bond. We need to date properly and I'd rather not rush to bed because I don't have that much experience, and I'd rather discover everything with you quietly, but we can bond right now,' Leon said. 'Even right here,' he added.

'This is not a sacred ground,' D pointed out.

'Any place where you tread is sacred to me,' Leon answered.

D could have cried with happiness.

Leon looked around and added, 'Then again, we completed the ritual here; maybe we could save something for the temple.'

'The one where we're staying?' D asked.

Leon nodded.

'When?' D asked.

'The moment we're back, I'd say. We can say we want to bond then, and Inoue can perform the ceremony you want later, right?' Leon asked.

It was D's turn to nod this time. 'We can do that,' D granted.

'Do you want us to start walking back to the temple now?' Leon asked.

D nodded fervently. Leon didn't make fun of him because he was as impatient as D.

They walked back down to the square in front of the station and there D called a taxi, showing Leon that his fiancé was really eager to tie the knot for good. Leon didn't protest - the weight of the ring on D's hand felt too good for Leon to growl at anything that night.

Once at the temple's door, the driver refused to be paid; instead D blessed him, which moved the man greatly.

Hand in hand, D and Leon entered the temple's grounds and walked into the garden. They went to the pond and sat down on the moss.

They had eternal vows to exchange now.

[Next chapter]