Author: Drusilla Dax (drusilladax@gmail.com)

Rating and notes: U (with canon twists). This is a Valentine vignette before I can tackle a bigger bunny.

Pairing: Count D/Leon

Summary: Was it Fate, magic, or... a Kirin? Will they ever know why they met again?

Disclaimer: I'm just playing with other people's toys. May I be forgiven in my next incarnation! Flamers and thieves will be adopted by my blood relatives (if you don't believe it's a threat... too bad for you!).

Editor: Mikee. The remaining mistakes are all mine, and I apologize for those.

Stellar Mistake

Leon Orcot didn't want to be here, but he'd promised Jill that he'd meet her for a drink. She was alone, and so was he; they were meeting at the bar after work, because they were best friends and there was no reason for Leon to stay home just because he knew that Jill would find a way to have him stay at the bar past midnight so it'd be Valentine's Day. Then, they could tell their nosey colleagues that they'd had Valentines (one glare from Jill would prevent the macho cops from bothering her too much).

What really bothered Leon was that they were very close to Chinatown, and D's disappearance still hurt like hell.

Count D felt ill-at-ease; he shouldn't be here. He knew that it was a mistake.

He was working in Tokyo now... but he'd been invited by the Mayor of Los Angeles for the Lunar New Year celebration, and since the man was taking such good care of his adopted pets, the Count couldn't possibly refuse the invitation.

D had decided to arrive at night. Everything would be quiet in town, and he wouldn't risk meeting... him. However, the entire district seemed to be buzzing with life and activity, and he rushed towards a street that seemed quieter.

On early (very early) Sunday morning, Leon left the bar with Jill and put her in a cab.

On autopilot, Leon started walking. He'd call a taxi for himself later... if he didn't walk home.He wasn't even really surprised when he found himself in Chinatown.

Leon was thinking that if Valentine's Day and Lunar New Year could happen on the same day, then Western and Eastern things could be compatible.

Leon looked up at the stars.

D was looking at the stars, twinkling a message to him.

Leon and D collided into each other when they turned a corner.

Leon was the first to react. He wrapped his arms around D and kissed him.

At first, D was too surprised to protest or answer, but instinct kicked in and he reciprocated, kissing back and holding Leon as if he were about to disappear into thin air.

'I'm not letting you go, D. Ever,' Leon panted when they stopped kissing.

'Good, because my heart is yours, Keiji-san,' D answered with a small smile.

Leon almost answered D's tease because he didn't fancy having his boyfriend calling him by his work title, but he just smiled.

'Happy New Year, D,' Leon said.

'Happy Valentine's Day, Leon,' D said.

They kissed again.

They'd found each other by chance (or was it?), and they were planning to make the most of this new chance.

[A Kirin smiles. CURTAIN FALLS]