Pet Shop Of Horrors Fan Fiction ❯ The Chase ❯ Chapter 1
[ X - Adult: No readers under 18. Contains Graphic Adult Themes/Extreme violence. ]
By: Nova Starlight 
Anime/Manga: Pet Shop Of Horrors Fan Fiction | Genre(s): Fantasy / Drama | Type: One Shot | Uploaded On: 09.07.2010 | Updated On: 09.24.2010 | Pages: 3 | Words: 7.2K | Visits: 420 | Status: Work In Progress
Anime/Manga: Pet Shop Of Horrors Fan Fiction | Genre(s): Fantasy / Drama | Type: One Shot | Uploaded On: 09.07.2010 | Updated On: 09.24.2010 | Pages: 3 | Words: 7.2K | Visits: 420 | Status: Work In Progress
I do not own Pet Shop of Horrors or any of its characters.
Author’s Notes: When the character’s words are within parentheses it denotes that they are supposed to be speaking in another language.
The Chase
By: Nova Starlight
Leon stood in the boarding line at LAX, waiting to board a plane to JFK airport on New York City. He took a deep breath observing the other passengers in line. Most of them were preoccupied talking to their families and friends. As he studied their faces their appearance, he tried to determine their motivations for their cross country journey. Some of the people were easy to read; the man in the three piece suit chatting on a cell phone, the couple in matching I heart NY tee shirts with a camera bag. He chuckled to himself. He doubted that the world’s greatest detective would be able to determine his motivations for this trip. In fact, he was not 100% sure of it himself.
Everything had moved so fast in the past few weeks since his release from the hospital. When he had gotten out he would find himself wandering through Chinatown. Each time, he would stop where D’s pet shop had once been. He would find himself standing there for hours, staring at the empty space. He was not sure when he had reached the decision to go looking for him, but once he had he never reconsidered . No one seemed that surprised when he had cashed out his pension account. He had a big yard sale, selling off all of his possessions. The only things left were a suitcase of important papers and photos, and a carry on duffle bag with clothes and travel accessories. He was pretty sure that it would not be as simple as finding D in New York City but he figured it was a good starting point. It would also give him a chance to see Chris.
…
When Leon arrived in New York City, he was groggy and exhausted. He had informed his aunt and uncle that he would be arriving tonight and he half expected to see his uncle Phil standing there waiting for him. When there was no sign of him, he just moved along to the taxi line. He barely looked up as he walked through the groups of people waiting to greet their families and friends. When he got into an empty cab, he debated giving the address of his aunt and uncle and decided against it. Instead, he just asked that he take him to a decent hotel.
He soon found that the cabbie’s idea of a decent hotel was one that he would never consider recommending to a tourist. The dark building was not exactly welcoming. “Just like New York,” he thought to himself. He did not flinch or show any outward signs of disgust. Simply paid the driver and entered the building. He had a lot planned for the following day and a cheap place to crash was just what he needed right now. He knew that tomorrow would be exhausting, but hopefully fruitful when he made his way into Chinatown.
The Chinatown of New York City was one of the largest outside of Asia. Unlike many other Chinatowns around the world, was not merely a tourist trap, but a very tight knit community. It was there that he had planned to begin his search for D and for information on what he was. Of course, there was little chance that this would be an easy undertaking. He knew that to the powerful people in this community, the ones who would likely be able to provide him with the information he sought, they would view him as an ignorant, white man. They would not be eager to reveal anything to him about D or his kind. To that end, he had spent the last few weeks pouring over language books and tapes, attempting to pick up as much Chinese as possible, in Cantonese and Mandarin. He carried a pocket dictionary, a micro-cassette recorder, and various other language learning aides.
He hoped that even if he could not get them to reveal anything in English, he could get someone to say something in Chinese and he would get it on tape. Then he could return to his hotel room and attempt to translate it. He had never been the best at undercover work, too brash and arrogant, he had been told but tomorrow he needed to keep it together. As he pulled out a set of headphones and one of his Mandarin language tapes, he sought to drown out the noise of this unfamiliar city and drift off to sleep.
The next morning, he made his way to the busy Canal Street. He had to fight his way through throngs of people. He spoke only in English as he questioned those around him and was mostly ignored. Those that did respond regarded him as a lunatic, but with some, there was something in their eyes when they looked at him. What was most interesting to him was those that shouted at him in Mandarin. He was barely cognizant of what they were actually saying, but he was sure that there was something being revealed to him.
After hours spent wandering through Chinatown, he had considered returning to the hotel where he had previously spent the night. Instead, he decided that it would be more convenient for him to find a place closer to Chinatown. The locals were not exactly helpful in recommending a place, after the spectacle he had been making of himself throughout the day, but when he discovered a place that did not have hourly rates, he figured it was safe enough. Once inside of his room, he took out the recorder, his notepad, and books and set to work translating what he had recorded that day. Of the hours he had recorded only one comment seemed to indicate that he was on the right track. “You meddling American, messing with what you’ll never understand,” he had said in a vicious tone. Leon snorted to himself after reading it back to himself. Then he set aside the recorder with a sigh. The guy had a point, this was definitely not his business anymore, but that also did not mean that he could let this go.
The realization that his time spent with D had changed him forever should not have been surprising, but it was. When D and his pet shop had disappeared it had seemed to be a case of out of sight, out of mind for everyone else. Within the weeks he had spent in the hospital, the Chief, Jill, and everyone else at the precinct seemed to forget all about D and all of the pet shop cases. The county coroner had even signed a death certificate for D and all of the cases had been discreetly listed as closed. Coming back to that news, it had not taken him long to realize that he would not be able to remain. Though, he was not really sure why, because it was not like he really wanted to see D in jail anymore.
He had to wonder if this was how Agent Howell had felt? All of those years he had spent searching for D’s old man, had he felt this same powerful urge to know the truth? Most Likely. Had he been this motivated to discover it? Probably not. It seemed that Agent Howell had managed to balance his search with his career; unlike Leon who had left his old life behind completely. Another important difference between himself and Howell was their purpose in chasing their particular targets. Howell had insisted till the very end that he had been seeking justice. Leon could not really understand his own motivation for his journey, but he knew that justice had nothing to do with it.
As for his search, it had been easy to determine that there was no sign of D here in New York City, but he had a hunch that there was still more he could learn here. Hopefully, it was not just wishful thinking on his part. He laughed sardonically to himself as he thought back to a time before he had met D. It was a time when he had always trusted his hunches. Maybe his mind had simply been unable to process anything as extraordinary as D and his shop. He sighed and laid down on the bed, waiting for sleep to come to him.
It took nearly three weeks of his investigation and questioning before he came to the attention of Fei Ran, the leader of a powerful family in Chinatown. He was a person whose hold seemed invisible to an outsider, but was revealed to be as strong as steel to Leon when he observed him walking down the street with lackeys in tow. He saw the way that the merchants and other people seemed to defer to him. Leon had been one of the few people who had not rushed out of his way, even attempted to ask him about D and flash a picture. Fei Ran had glanced at the picture and quickly looked away without once meeting his gaze.
Now, Leon was in the presence of some of Ran’s lackeys on his way to meet with the legend himself. The man who had been waiting for him in his hotel room to take him to meet with Fei Ran had not been very forthcoming as to the reason for this meeting, but he had ordered Leon to come with him in a tone that left no room for argument. Not that he had even considered refusing. He had a feeling that this was his hunch paying off.
They arrived at what appeared to be his home and were escorted to an opulent room, where a bountiful spread of tea and snacks were laid out. Leon appraised everyone in the room. He was surprised to see Fei Ran sitting casually in an ornate chair. There was a young man standing at attention to his side and watched stoically as Leon too the seat across from Ran. As he sat down, the man who had escorted him into the room, seemed to disappear into the shadows behind him.
Faced with this obvious display of power and wealth, his instincts willed him to be rebellious and indignant, but he suppressed it. “I’m not sure if you speak English,” he began, “But, I wanted to communicate my thanks for you inviting me into your home.” Fei Ran smiled and seemed to understand what he was saying, but when he began speaking, he was speaking in Mandarin.
“(You are right to be thanking me,)” Then he looked over to the man standing beside him and continued, “(Your presence here in Chinatown has become something of a nuisance, Leon Orcot.)” The man beside him quickly translated and repeated what Fei Ran had been saying, but it seemed only the part that was spoken after he had acknowledged him.
Leon had wanted to laugh, he had learned enough of the language in the past few months to roughly determine what had been said. “I apologize for being a nuisance, he assured him. “I am simply searching for an old acquaintance of mine.”
“(I am sure that this…acquaintance… of yours could not be tracked down by the likes of you.)” he replied with an nod to his minion. “(Besides, I am sure even someone like you must be sure by now that the one you seek is not here.)” Though Leon had some understanding of what Fei Ran was saying, he waited until the translator had finished speaking before he spoke.
“Of course, but it is not simply him I am looking for… I am also searching for knowledge.”
“(Knowledge of what?)”
“Of what he is, what his purpose is on this Earth.”
“(I am surprised. Not many Americans would have care or concern about one of his kind or anything outside of their realm.” He stopped speaking and reached out to the table for a cup of tea. “(If I were to tell you what I know of the one you seek, what do you intend to do with the information?)”
“Is that any of your business?” he could not stop himself from asking. He calmed himself quickly and continued, “I apologize for my rudeness.”
“(As the one providing the information, I believe that it is my business.)”
He sighed and reached out to the table for the cup of tea that had been placed in front of him. “You may not believe me, but I only intend to understand him and find him. I spent a lot of time in his company and had many strange experiences. There is still so much I do not know about this man.”
“(Not a man, A god,)” he scoffed. Then he quickly shot a warning look at the translator. The man remained silent as Fei Ran took another slow sip from his teacup. “(I myself am not a keeper of legend and myths, but I have always been taught to revere and respect the one that you seek; at least his kind anyway. His kind are wise and powerful beings that watch over this Earth. To them all life is precious, but we as humans have fallen from favor because of how we have harmed the Earth. No one knows how many of their kind remain or for how long they live. Those who are wise, should be wary. Of course, these legends have been passed down from generation to generation by the people who came here from China. That is all I can tell you.)”
Leon was frustrated. The impressive Fei Ran had not given him any helpful information. D was a powerful creature, not human; well Duh! Guardian of the Earth, looks down on humanity; No Shit! Potentially immortal, well one look at Grandpa had told him that. And it looked like nobody seemed to know how many of their kind existed. He nodded thoughtfully, then stood and asked, “Is there anyone here who could tell me more?”
Fei Ran looked angry at his question. “You impudent little, interfering pig! If you were still police it would be difficult to make you disappear, but you are a civilian now. Think about that fact very carefully and leave Chinatown tonight. Do not return here with your questions anymore.”
Leon had been holding back his frustration with the person he had considered his best lead, since the beginning of this conversation. Now, he was threatening him to leave, when he had given him nothing of use. “Why you smart ass son of a-” He was cut off as the stoic looking man who had brought him here, emerged from the background and clamped his hand on Leon’s mouth.
“I believe Mr. Orcot, that it is time you took your leave,” Fei Ran suggested, with the smirk back on his face. He simply nodded and then the man dragged him from the room, taking him outside and launching him out on to the sidewalk. It seemed that this would be the end of his investigation here in New York City.
When he returned to his hotel room, he gathered his things quickly. When he checked out, he noticed that the man at the reception desk gave him a strange look; almost as if he knew exactly why he was leaving in such a rush. Once he hit the street, he hailed a cab and gave him the address of his aunt and uncle’s. During the ride, he wondered what his next course of action should be; he could search the world at random for D or he could go where he thought he might be able to learn more about D, and that would mean China. Then he remembered the photo of D’s grandfather that had been taken in Germany.
Maybe, he could try Germany next. Once his mind was made up, he called JFK and looked for the next available flight, which left in six hours. He guessed it would be just enough time for his last stop.
…
His uncle Phil did not look happy to see him when he opened the door. “What are you doing here in New York?” he asked gruffly.
“I’m going on a trip overseas,” he replied. “I wanted to see Chris before I left.” Phil took in his carryon bag and suitcase thoughtfully. Leon answered his unasked question when he assured him. “Don’t worry, my flight leaves in a few hours. I won’t be staying over.” he kept the duffel bag slung over his shoulder, but sat the small suitcase by the door.
“What’s in the suitcase?” Phil asked, not seeming the least apologetic for his rude behavior.
“Important papers, pictures of mom, mementos for Chris,” he explained. “This trip is one I don’t plan to come back from, and I wanted to leave these things for Chris.” He looked as if he wanted to argue, but thankfully he remained quiet. “Where is Chris?” he asked.
“He us out shopping with your aunt and cousins.”
Leon was struck by how awkward this exchange between them was. He could not stop thinking about they had dumped Chris on him until he could speak again. They expected him to take him in and treat him like his little brother, build up a relationship, and then lose him. Chris had gone back and it was supposed to be like nothing had happened, but that was not easy. Maybe, in the end it was better for Chris this way. He waited for Phil to offer for him to stay, to sit down, but it never came. He sighed and said, “I’ll get out of your hair, just let me leave him a note.”
He grabbed the notepad from his bag and hastily scribbled a few lines. When he had finished, he practically threw the folded piece of paper at Phil’s head. He was not really sure why he had bothered to fold it, when he watched as Phil caught it and began to open it to read its contents. He was so disgusted that he turned and left without another word, or one look behind him.
…
Berlin, had been Leon’s only other lead for finding D, but to be honest he did not think it would provide him with anything useful. If D had any inkling that Leon would be looking for him, would he be so foolish as to return to the only place Leon would know of to go search for him? Which meant that if D were in Berlin, he obviously that he had been able to return to his normal life. As if that had even been a possibility for him.
During the long plane ride, he had continued to study his Mandarin and Cantonese language tapes. Although it would have been helpful to know a little German in Berlin, he did not want to deviate from his current goal of becoming fluent, or at least capable, in Chinese language.
D had not really spoken much Chinese around him, but it had been easy to deduce that he was fluent. When he was face to face with D again he wanted to be able to speak to him in Chinese. In truth, he wanted to show him that he had been making changes, trying to improve himself. He was not really sure what part of him had been unacceptable, what part of him had caused D to push Leon away, but he wanted it to no longer exist when they met again. He guessed it was probably any number of things; his carnivorous eating habits, the chain smoking, the scruffy appearance, the rude, crude, language he used. He looked out the window as the voice on the tape recorded continued its instruction. He had not had a cigarette in a week, it might not seem like much, but he had never once tried to quit before. He sighed as he thought back to D again, would he ever find him?
Unlike New York, when he had brandished a picture of D to everyone on the street, he decided to be a little more subtle in his approach here. He booked a bed at a small hostel for backpackers and college kids and grabbed a telephone book. Then he pulled out a German to English dictionary he had purchased at the airport and began to make a list of all the sweets and candy shops listed. Then he selected the ones from that list that offered the finest delicacies. This would be how he would find D, he was sure of it.
Leon sat on the bed in the hostel with his head in his hands. To think he had thought coming to Berlin was a waste of time. When that shopkeeper had told him where he could find Count D’s pet shop, he had been filled with a mixture of elation and dread. He had rushed over to where he thought the Chinatown was located, only to find he had somehow ended up in front of the Berlin Zoo. It was all the fault of his horrible understanding of German and not being able to read the signs and directions he had been given, had left him wandering the city for hours. Anyone who would have passed by him, while he stood there in front of the Zoo’s entrance would have watched as he threw a tantrum of epic proportions.
By the time he had navigated himself to where D’s pet shop had been, the sign on the door said closed and the building was dark. “Oh no,” he thought. “Not again, I was so close.” His head fell forward, lightly thumping against the glass on the window and his whole body seemed to shut down. The walk back to his hostel was exhausting and he felt as if he could lie down and sleep for days. He fell back on the bed and closed his eyes. He began to think about what his next course of action should be. He wondered if this game of cat and mouse would continue forever. Would he always just be one step behind D? The crushing failure of having just missed his target weighed on him heavily.
He thought about L.A., his detective days, the Chief, and Jill. Then he thought about Chris in New York, these were the strings that bound him to what he had left behind. He could allow them to tug him back, get his job back on the force. He could shack up with Jill, she had always seemed to have a soft spot for him, and sue for custody of Chris. It seemed like a great plan in theory but the force no longer held his interest. His beliefs were still just and good, but he no longer had any faith in the justice provided by law. What good could he do as a cop with no trust or faith in law and order.
Then there was the issue of Chris. He had not been ready or willing for Chris to come in to his life, but he had. Mute due to the treatment of his cousins, he had believed his sisters, he had been broken hearted. If it had not been for D, he did not know what he would have done. D had been the one to care for him while he worked. Leon also knew that it was because of D’s interference he had finally been able to regain his voice. In the end, he seemed to know the truth, even then Chris was better off with his aunt and uncle.
He sighed as he felt the beginnings of a migraine headache at his temples. It had been months since he had gotten a decent night’s sleep and it looked as if it was finally catching up to him. He could feel the heaviness in his eyelids causing them to close. His muscles ached and his head was pounding. Taking advantage of the quiet in the room, he decided to use the time to catch up on his sleep.
In his dreams he was once again lying on the clouds, looking down at the world beneath him. He remembered how light he had felt when he had been there, surrounded by D and his creatures. His eyes searched for D amongst the throngs of people that were really animals, until he spied him standing there. He felt the warmth from his hands as they were placed on his chest. His parting words that repeated themselves over and over in his brain, day and night. “Humans have not yet earned the right to board this ship.” Then there was the gentle push, sending him falling back to the Earth. He had in his last second glimpsed something shining on D’s cheek; a tear perhaps? He would never be sure.
When he awoke from his dream, he was covered in a cold sweat. In that second, it seemed he had reached his decision. No matter what happened from this point, he would not be going back. He would sever his ties with the old life he had left behind for good. Germany had not provided him with any more information about D and his kind, or even where he could find him next but it had strengthened his resolve. He knew immediately what his next step needed to be, he would head to China. It would be the best place to gather information and if he had any luck left in this world, maybe it would be where he would find D.
Though he knew China was his goal immediately, he was not a hundred percent sure on how to proceed. By taking early retirement from the force, his pension had been limited. The hotels and plane tickets thus far had cut a large chunk from his bank balance. He was sure that this was going to be a long search, so how should he proceed? It was then that the room began to fill with people, the various students and tourists who had been backpacking their way across Europe. They all seemed animated and alive with everything they had seen and experienced that day. Maybe that is what he needed before he was face to face with D, to experience the world.
…
He had been upbeat about his decision when he had begun his journey in Berlin, but his enthusiasm had dampened with time. It had now been over five years since he had left Berlin. He had spent frugally, buying only what he needed, clothing, shoes, and food. Whenever possible he had found hostels and boarding houses instead of hotels. He had never walked so much in his life. Everywhere he went, he was regarded with suspicion. It seemed ironic to him that he was the outsider with no one to rely on, but he was seen as the threat. Every one that he encountered, no matter the country or person he asked about D, and his kind. The one picture that he had of D, taken by Chris with a disposable camera, had become increasingly faded and worn with use.
When he had entered China, he had been tempted to head into the cities. He knew that if D had opened a pet shop, it would be within the heart of a city that he would find it. Instead, he could feel himself being pulled out to the countryside. It was here that he traveled, taking in the gorgeous landscapes and honing his outdoorsman skills. He found places that he could sleep outdoors, fished in the stream for his food, and continued on to the next village. In one small village, he had finally uncovered someone who was willing to tell him more about what D really was.
The old man, lived in small home, offset from the rest of the village. The grass had overgrown the path to his door, which one could barely tell had once been well worn. He could not have explained what had compelled him to walk up to the door and introduce himself, but he just had a hunch. The man had given him a strange and questioning look, that only increased when he heard Leon speaking to him in relatively unbroken Cantonese. “(Hello, I have come to you, wondering if you could help me.)”
“(You see me here, old and feeble, what help could I possibly be to you…outsider,)” he responded bitterly with a wave of his hand.
Leon had to wonder at the frightful and scruffy picture he probably presented to this man. His beard had grown long and was disheveled as his clothing and hair. His hair had not been cut in months and if not tied back, would nearly reach the small of his back. “(You seem like someone who knows a lot, I want to ask you some questions,)” he explained.
The old man snorted and replied, “(The world is changing, everyone grows up in this village and then leaves for the lights and noise of the cities. An old man like me knows nothing of this world and will surely be of no help to you.)”
Leon smiled and bowed his head. “I understand, but you see, it is not the new world I want to ask you about. I have come here hoping to learn more about the old world, of your legends and gods.)” When he raised his head, he saw the evident surprise on the man’s feature.
“(My name is Chen,)” the man said introducing himself and then held out his arm, offering Leon to sit before him. “(So just what about the legends and gods, draws you here?)”
Leon figured there was no reason to beat around the bush. “(I have come looking for someone. I want to find him, but I also want to know more about him.)” It was then that he produced his tattered and faded picture for Chen. His eyes rounded and seemed to nearly burst from his head at the sight of the picture. This had to be a good sign. Only the people who had known D or knew what he was, had this kind of reaction to his photograph.
Chen calmed himself quickly and commented, “(I guess there are not many who would care to remember a legend like him.)” He paused for a moment and took a deep breath before continuing, “(I must say the one you seek seems to be a bit different from the others. His mismatched eyes and short hair.)”
“(From what I understand, he is different from the others; his father and grandfather,)” Leon explained. “(But as I said, there is so much that I do not know about him.)” He knew that his gaze was probably almost pleading, he hoped against every hope that this lead, would at last pay off.
“(Well then, I will tell you what I know.)” Once again he paused for another deep breath, as if he was unsure of where he should begin. “(The legends say that the Earth must be kept in balance by the gods. There are many gods and godesses and they look after their own aspects of the Earth and of mankind. The one you are looking for, their kind are responsible for protecting all of the Earth; plants, animals, water, air, everything. They are the most powerful of all the Kami.)
“(It is said that as each one passes on from this realm into the realm of the gods, that only the spirit leaves and the body is reborn. It was this prospect that caused mankind to fear them. As they began to stake their claims on this Earth and form cities and empires, they rebelled against the will of the Kami. Most of the Kami spurned mankind and retreated into the shadows. No one really knows how many of them are actually left.)”
“(But, I thought you said that only the spirit moves on and the body is reborn?)” Leon asked. “(So, wouldn’t that mean that there would still be the same number today as before?)”
“(That is what they say. However, there is also been rumored that there is a way to kill one of his kind once and for all. Though, to be honest with you, I have no idea how this would be done.)” He gave Leon an indescribable look. “(You are not thinking of trying to kill this one are you?)”
Leon shook his head. “(I want to find him, talk to him. I have no intention of hurting him.”
The man smiled at him and asked, “(You are not in love with him are you?)”
Leon nearly fell over in surprise. “(Why the Hell would you think that?!)” he exclaimed.
He laughed as he answered, “(They are supposed to be bewitching creatures, able to seduce and enrapture anyone and everyone. The stories used to tell of lords and princes that would attempt to win their favor. If you are telling me now that you do not have feelings of that nature for him, I would be more surprised than if you said you did.)”
Leon was not really sure what to say to that. He had gotten this far only admitting that he wanted to find D, but was there more to it than that. His eyes closed and he instantly saw a picture of D in his mind. His perfect little smile, his bright eyes, the small lithe body in all of that silk that hugged him perfectly. Suddenly, he realized his eyes snapped open in shock to find the man across from him regarding him thoughtfully. What the hell had that been? Usually when he thought of D he thought back to those moments on the ship before he had been pushed away. Now, here he was fantasizing about him in the presence of a stranger.
Finally, the Chen spoke, “(I guess it does not matter what you feel.)”
He tried to shake off the tingly feeling that was coursing through his body. “(Thank you for all of your help).” Then he quickly took his leave before he would be asked anymore questions that he was not ready to answer.
When he left the village, he had regained his motivation. His weak and weary body was nearly bursting with a renewed sense of purpose and the energy that accompanied it was spurring him on. A quick glance at his maps showed that the nearest large city was going to be Shanghai. So, he decided that he would start there. His money was low, but it did not bother him. He could find work as a day laborer on the docks and earn what he needed to continue his search.
After so much time spent in the countryside, he was disoriented as he was bustled through the city. He stood taller than most everyone else, but he felt disregarded and unnoticed by all who pushed him aside in their own haste to reach their destinations. He no longer felt the need to brandish D’s photo to everyone who passed. There would be plenty of time to search for him. He decided that his first order of business was to find a place to sleep and tomorrow to find a job.
He had found a small boarding house and rented a room for the night. As he paid, he counted his remaining money and wondered if there would be enough until he had procured a job. He could hopefully find something that he would be paid daily; a day laborer of some kind. Once in his room, he tried to focus on his plans for the next day, but he could not concentrate. He could not stop thinking about what Chen had told him and asked him.
If he thought back on all of these years he had spent looking for D, he had not had sex or even kissed any woman the entire time. He had plenty of offers, every time he went into a bar or liquor store to procure something that would take the edge off his anxious thoughts, they would flirt with him. He had always had some excuse to say no, but then he would end up in the room he was renting alone and hard. His hand had been his only relief in these past five years but the relief never seemed to last long. Why had he been doing this to himself? Could he really be after D, because he wanted him?
He allowed his eyes to close. Just as when Chen had asked him if he was in love with D, the images immediately sprang into his mind. His impulse was to try and snap out of it, quickly put it out of his mind, but this time he fought it. The images began to changed, suddenly the fantasy seemed to come to life. D’s eyes fluttered closed and his graceful hands began to undo the fastens on his chenogasm. Leon groaned and could feel himself responding. Damn, he was not even naked and it was making him this hard. Leon’s hands worked loose the fastens on his jeans and his hand slid inside to touch his own aching length. In his mind, D was calling his named allowing the clothes to slide from his back. It took only a moment for Leon to come, and when he realized what he had done, he sat up quickly. He had not really understood it himself why he had to find D, why he had kept searching after all of this time, but now it all made sense.
…
It did not take him long to find work on the Donghai Arc. He had simply shown that he could lift heavy boxes and understand the Mandarin they were speaking. From what he had studied he was more familiar with Cantonese, but he had learned Mandarin out of necessity. He knew that Cantonese was falling out of popularity and almost no one spoke it in the cities anymore. His boss was gruff and always grumbling under his breath about the scruffy white man, and making comments about his golden blond hair.
It was a few weeks before the other workers would talk to him, when they did he barely spoke. He was satisfied with listening and learning. They all were hardworking men, mostly with wives and children to care for. He ate lunch with them and learned all of their names. One of the men even offered that Leon could stay with him instead of paying for the boardinghouse, which took a large chunk of the money he earned each day. He had felt honored to be invited into their home and his wife had even offered to cut his hair for him. The end result was shorter and shaggier than he had ever worn it before, only about an inch long. When he thanked her, she had blushed and commented on how beautiful his hair was. He had not been able to stop himself from laughing. He would never had said that his hair was beautiful, but it did make him a little sad to see those long golden strands in her hands.
It was the next day at lunch that his new friends provided him a clue. He was intrigued when they began to speak of a man known as Woo Fei. They all described him as a powerful don that would be taking over many organized business in Shanghai when his father passed on. They all seemed to regard the man with a mixture of fear and respect. It went around the table and them men began to each tell some story or rumor about Woo Fei to the group. Then one man said, “(Yeah, he operates that Neo Chinatown in Japan. They say that he has some powerful confidante there, known only as D.)”
Leon had nearly choked on his food at the sound of his name. “(Neo Chinatown?)” he asked. “(Where in Japan is this Neo Chinatown?)” The entire group stared at him as if he had grown a second head, so unaccustomed they were to him actually speaking.
“(The Shinjuku district,)” one of them answered. It was at that moment that Leon knew that he would be leaving again.
After the work was done, he went back to the house of his coworker and gathered his belongings. “(You are leaving aren’t you?)” he asked Leon.
“(Yes,)” he answered quickly. “(I plan on stowing away on the barge heading to Japan tonight.)” Then he turned and flashed him a smile. He faced him and bowed to him respectfully. “(I want to thank you for everything you have done for me.)” Then he pulled the money he had been paid that day for his work from his pocket and placed it into his hand. Without another word, he left and ran for the docks. The questions went racing through his mind; would he finally find D? or would he be too late, once again?
The End
Author’s Notes: Though this story is a one-shot, I have already planned a second part, which will pick up with Leon coming face to face with D once again after all of this time. I hope that anyone who likes this story will please review and check out the next installment when it debuts.
Also, I would like to give thanks to all the people who still review and favorite “Your Heart’s Desire” for inspiring me to continue writing in this fandom, to tigersilver, for writing a great story , and to Telanu (raison detat) for her great Leon & D stories that inspire me endlessly.
Author’s Notes: When the character’s words are within parentheses it denotes that they are supposed to be speaking in another language.
The Chase
By: Nova Starlight
Leon stood in the boarding line at LAX, waiting to board a plane to JFK airport on New York City. He took a deep breath observing the other passengers in line. Most of them were preoccupied talking to their families and friends. As he studied their faces their appearance, he tried to determine their motivations for their cross country journey. Some of the people were easy to read; the man in the three piece suit chatting on a cell phone, the couple in matching I heart NY tee shirts with a camera bag. He chuckled to himself. He doubted that the world’s greatest detective would be able to determine his motivations for this trip. In fact, he was not 100% sure of it himself.
Everything had moved so fast in the past few weeks since his release from the hospital. When he had gotten out he would find himself wandering through Chinatown. Each time, he would stop where D’s pet shop had once been. He would find himself standing there for hours, staring at the empty space. He was not sure when he had reached the decision to go looking for him, but once he had he never reconsidered . No one seemed that surprised when he had cashed out his pension account. He had a big yard sale, selling off all of his possessions. The only things left were a suitcase of important papers and photos, and a carry on duffle bag with clothes and travel accessories. He was pretty sure that it would not be as simple as finding D in New York City but he figured it was a good starting point. It would also give him a chance to see Chris.
…
When Leon arrived in New York City, he was groggy and exhausted. He had informed his aunt and uncle that he would be arriving tonight and he half expected to see his uncle Phil standing there waiting for him. When there was no sign of him, he just moved along to the taxi line. He barely looked up as he walked through the groups of people waiting to greet their families and friends. When he got into an empty cab, he debated giving the address of his aunt and uncle and decided against it. Instead, he just asked that he take him to a decent hotel.
He soon found that the cabbie’s idea of a decent hotel was one that he would never consider recommending to a tourist. The dark building was not exactly welcoming. “Just like New York,” he thought to himself. He did not flinch or show any outward signs of disgust. Simply paid the driver and entered the building. He had a lot planned for the following day and a cheap place to crash was just what he needed right now. He knew that tomorrow would be exhausting, but hopefully fruitful when he made his way into Chinatown.
The Chinatown of New York City was one of the largest outside of Asia. Unlike many other Chinatowns around the world, was not merely a tourist trap, but a very tight knit community. It was there that he had planned to begin his search for D and for information on what he was. Of course, there was little chance that this would be an easy undertaking. He knew that to the powerful people in this community, the ones who would likely be able to provide him with the information he sought, they would view him as an ignorant, white man. They would not be eager to reveal anything to him about D or his kind. To that end, he had spent the last few weeks pouring over language books and tapes, attempting to pick up as much Chinese as possible, in Cantonese and Mandarin. He carried a pocket dictionary, a micro-cassette recorder, and various other language learning aides.
He hoped that even if he could not get them to reveal anything in English, he could get someone to say something in Chinese and he would get it on tape. Then he could return to his hotel room and attempt to translate it. He had never been the best at undercover work, too brash and arrogant, he had been told but tomorrow he needed to keep it together. As he pulled out a set of headphones and one of his Mandarin language tapes, he sought to drown out the noise of this unfamiliar city and drift off to sleep.
The next morning, he made his way to the busy Canal Street. He had to fight his way through throngs of people. He spoke only in English as he questioned those around him and was mostly ignored. Those that did respond regarded him as a lunatic, but with some, there was something in their eyes when they looked at him. What was most interesting to him was those that shouted at him in Mandarin. He was barely cognizant of what they were actually saying, but he was sure that there was something being revealed to him.
After hours spent wandering through Chinatown, he had considered returning to the hotel where he had previously spent the night. Instead, he decided that it would be more convenient for him to find a place closer to Chinatown. The locals were not exactly helpful in recommending a place, after the spectacle he had been making of himself throughout the day, but when he discovered a place that did not have hourly rates, he figured it was safe enough. Once inside of his room, he took out the recorder, his notepad, and books and set to work translating what he had recorded that day. Of the hours he had recorded only one comment seemed to indicate that he was on the right track. “You meddling American, messing with what you’ll never understand,” he had said in a vicious tone. Leon snorted to himself after reading it back to himself. Then he set aside the recorder with a sigh. The guy had a point, this was definitely not his business anymore, but that also did not mean that he could let this go.
The realization that his time spent with D had changed him forever should not have been surprising, but it was. When D and his pet shop had disappeared it had seemed to be a case of out of sight, out of mind for everyone else. Within the weeks he had spent in the hospital, the Chief, Jill, and everyone else at the precinct seemed to forget all about D and all of the pet shop cases. The county coroner had even signed a death certificate for D and all of the cases had been discreetly listed as closed. Coming back to that news, it had not taken him long to realize that he would not be able to remain. Though, he was not really sure why, because it was not like he really wanted to see D in jail anymore.
He had to wonder if this was how Agent Howell had felt? All of those years he had spent searching for D’s old man, had he felt this same powerful urge to know the truth? Most Likely. Had he been this motivated to discover it? Probably not. It seemed that Agent Howell had managed to balance his search with his career; unlike Leon who had left his old life behind completely. Another important difference between himself and Howell was their purpose in chasing their particular targets. Howell had insisted till the very end that he had been seeking justice. Leon could not really understand his own motivation for his journey, but he knew that justice had nothing to do with it.
As for his search, it had been easy to determine that there was no sign of D here in New York City, but he had a hunch that there was still more he could learn here. Hopefully, it was not just wishful thinking on his part. He laughed sardonically to himself as he thought back to a time before he had met D. It was a time when he had always trusted his hunches. Maybe his mind had simply been unable to process anything as extraordinary as D and his shop. He sighed and laid down on the bed, waiting for sleep to come to him.
It took nearly three weeks of his investigation and questioning before he came to the attention of Fei Ran, the leader of a powerful family in Chinatown. He was a person whose hold seemed invisible to an outsider, but was revealed to be as strong as steel to Leon when he observed him walking down the street with lackeys in tow. He saw the way that the merchants and other people seemed to defer to him. Leon had been one of the few people who had not rushed out of his way, even attempted to ask him about D and flash a picture. Fei Ran had glanced at the picture and quickly looked away without once meeting his gaze.
Now, Leon was in the presence of some of Ran’s lackeys on his way to meet with the legend himself. The man who had been waiting for him in his hotel room to take him to meet with Fei Ran had not been very forthcoming as to the reason for this meeting, but he had ordered Leon to come with him in a tone that left no room for argument. Not that he had even considered refusing. He had a feeling that this was his hunch paying off.
They arrived at what appeared to be his home and were escorted to an opulent room, where a bountiful spread of tea and snacks were laid out. Leon appraised everyone in the room. He was surprised to see Fei Ran sitting casually in an ornate chair. There was a young man standing at attention to his side and watched stoically as Leon too the seat across from Ran. As he sat down, the man who had escorted him into the room, seemed to disappear into the shadows behind him.
Faced with this obvious display of power and wealth, his instincts willed him to be rebellious and indignant, but he suppressed it. “I’m not sure if you speak English,” he began, “But, I wanted to communicate my thanks for you inviting me into your home.” Fei Ran smiled and seemed to understand what he was saying, but when he began speaking, he was speaking in Mandarin.
“(You are right to be thanking me,)” Then he looked over to the man standing beside him and continued, “(Your presence here in Chinatown has become something of a nuisance, Leon Orcot.)” The man beside him quickly translated and repeated what Fei Ran had been saying, but it seemed only the part that was spoken after he had acknowledged him.
Leon had wanted to laugh, he had learned enough of the language in the past few months to roughly determine what had been said. “I apologize for being a nuisance, he assured him. “I am simply searching for an old acquaintance of mine.”
“(I am sure that this…acquaintance… of yours could not be tracked down by the likes of you.)” he replied with an nod to his minion. “(Besides, I am sure even someone like you must be sure by now that the one you seek is not here.)” Though Leon had some understanding of what Fei Ran was saying, he waited until the translator had finished speaking before he spoke.
“Of course, but it is not simply him I am looking for… I am also searching for knowledge.”
“(Knowledge of what?)”
“Of what he is, what his purpose is on this Earth.”
“(I am surprised. Not many Americans would have care or concern about one of his kind or anything outside of their realm.” He stopped speaking and reached out to the table for a cup of tea. “(If I were to tell you what I know of the one you seek, what do you intend to do with the information?)”
“Is that any of your business?” he could not stop himself from asking. He calmed himself quickly and continued, “I apologize for my rudeness.”
“(As the one providing the information, I believe that it is my business.)”
He sighed and reached out to the table for the cup of tea that had been placed in front of him. “You may not believe me, but I only intend to understand him and find him. I spent a lot of time in his company and had many strange experiences. There is still so much I do not know about this man.”
“(Not a man, A god,)” he scoffed. Then he quickly shot a warning look at the translator. The man remained silent as Fei Ran took another slow sip from his teacup. “(I myself am not a keeper of legend and myths, but I have always been taught to revere and respect the one that you seek; at least his kind anyway. His kind are wise and powerful beings that watch over this Earth. To them all life is precious, but we as humans have fallen from favor because of how we have harmed the Earth. No one knows how many of their kind remain or for how long they live. Those who are wise, should be wary. Of course, these legends have been passed down from generation to generation by the people who came here from China. That is all I can tell you.)”
Leon was frustrated. The impressive Fei Ran had not given him any helpful information. D was a powerful creature, not human; well Duh! Guardian of the Earth, looks down on humanity; No Shit! Potentially immortal, well one look at Grandpa had told him that. And it looked like nobody seemed to know how many of their kind existed. He nodded thoughtfully, then stood and asked, “Is there anyone here who could tell me more?”
Fei Ran looked angry at his question. “You impudent little, interfering pig! If you were still police it would be difficult to make you disappear, but you are a civilian now. Think about that fact very carefully and leave Chinatown tonight. Do not return here with your questions anymore.”
Leon had been holding back his frustration with the person he had considered his best lead, since the beginning of this conversation. Now, he was threatening him to leave, when he had given him nothing of use. “Why you smart ass son of a-” He was cut off as the stoic looking man who had brought him here, emerged from the background and clamped his hand on Leon’s mouth.
“I believe Mr. Orcot, that it is time you took your leave,” Fei Ran suggested, with the smirk back on his face. He simply nodded and then the man dragged him from the room, taking him outside and launching him out on to the sidewalk. It seemed that this would be the end of his investigation here in New York City.
When he returned to his hotel room, he gathered his things quickly. When he checked out, he noticed that the man at the reception desk gave him a strange look; almost as if he knew exactly why he was leaving in such a rush. Once he hit the street, he hailed a cab and gave him the address of his aunt and uncle’s. During the ride, he wondered what his next course of action should be; he could search the world at random for D or he could go where he thought he might be able to learn more about D, and that would mean China. Then he remembered the photo of D’s grandfather that had been taken in Germany.
Maybe, he could try Germany next. Once his mind was made up, he called JFK and looked for the next available flight, which left in six hours. He guessed it would be just enough time for his last stop.
…
His uncle Phil did not look happy to see him when he opened the door. “What are you doing here in New York?” he asked gruffly.
“I’m going on a trip overseas,” he replied. “I wanted to see Chris before I left.” Phil took in his carryon bag and suitcase thoughtfully. Leon answered his unasked question when he assured him. “Don’t worry, my flight leaves in a few hours. I won’t be staying over.” he kept the duffel bag slung over his shoulder, but sat the small suitcase by the door.
“What’s in the suitcase?” Phil asked, not seeming the least apologetic for his rude behavior.
“Important papers, pictures of mom, mementos for Chris,” he explained. “This trip is one I don’t plan to come back from, and I wanted to leave these things for Chris.” He looked as if he wanted to argue, but thankfully he remained quiet. “Where is Chris?” he asked.
“He us out shopping with your aunt and cousins.”
Leon was struck by how awkward this exchange between them was. He could not stop thinking about they had dumped Chris on him until he could speak again. They expected him to take him in and treat him like his little brother, build up a relationship, and then lose him. Chris had gone back and it was supposed to be like nothing had happened, but that was not easy. Maybe, in the end it was better for Chris this way. He waited for Phil to offer for him to stay, to sit down, but it never came. He sighed and said, “I’ll get out of your hair, just let me leave him a note.”
He grabbed the notepad from his bag and hastily scribbled a few lines. When he had finished, he practically threw the folded piece of paper at Phil’s head. He was not really sure why he had bothered to fold it, when he watched as Phil caught it and began to open it to read its contents. He was so disgusted that he turned and left without another word, or one look behind him.
…
Berlin, had been Leon’s only other lead for finding D, but to be honest he did not think it would provide him with anything useful. If D had any inkling that Leon would be looking for him, would he be so foolish as to return to the only place Leon would know of to go search for him? Which meant that if D were in Berlin, he obviously that he had been able to return to his normal life. As if that had even been a possibility for him.
During the long plane ride, he had continued to study his Mandarin and Cantonese language tapes. Although it would have been helpful to know a little German in Berlin, he did not want to deviate from his current goal of becoming fluent, or at least capable, in Chinese language.
D had not really spoken much Chinese around him, but it had been easy to deduce that he was fluent. When he was face to face with D again he wanted to be able to speak to him in Chinese. In truth, he wanted to show him that he had been making changes, trying to improve himself. He was not really sure what part of him had been unacceptable, what part of him had caused D to push Leon away, but he wanted it to no longer exist when they met again. He guessed it was probably any number of things; his carnivorous eating habits, the chain smoking, the scruffy appearance, the rude, crude, language he used. He looked out the window as the voice on the tape recorded continued its instruction. He had not had a cigarette in a week, it might not seem like much, but he had never once tried to quit before. He sighed as he thought back to D again, would he ever find him?
Unlike New York, when he had brandished a picture of D to everyone on the street, he decided to be a little more subtle in his approach here. He booked a bed at a small hostel for backpackers and college kids and grabbed a telephone book. Then he pulled out a German to English dictionary he had purchased at the airport and began to make a list of all the sweets and candy shops listed. Then he selected the ones from that list that offered the finest delicacies. This would be how he would find D, he was sure of it.
Leon sat on the bed in the hostel with his head in his hands. To think he had thought coming to Berlin was a waste of time. When that shopkeeper had told him where he could find Count D’s pet shop, he had been filled with a mixture of elation and dread. He had rushed over to where he thought the Chinatown was located, only to find he had somehow ended up in front of the Berlin Zoo. It was all the fault of his horrible understanding of German and not being able to read the signs and directions he had been given, had left him wandering the city for hours. Anyone who would have passed by him, while he stood there in front of the Zoo’s entrance would have watched as he threw a tantrum of epic proportions.
By the time he had navigated himself to where D’s pet shop had been, the sign on the door said closed and the building was dark. “Oh no,” he thought. “Not again, I was so close.” His head fell forward, lightly thumping against the glass on the window and his whole body seemed to shut down. The walk back to his hostel was exhausting and he felt as if he could lie down and sleep for days. He fell back on the bed and closed his eyes. He began to think about what his next course of action should be. He wondered if this game of cat and mouse would continue forever. Would he always just be one step behind D? The crushing failure of having just missed his target weighed on him heavily.
He thought about L.A., his detective days, the Chief, and Jill. Then he thought about Chris in New York, these were the strings that bound him to what he had left behind. He could allow them to tug him back, get his job back on the force. He could shack up with Jill, she had always seemed to have a soft spot for him, and sue for custody of Chris. It seemed like a great plan in theory but the force no longer held his interest. His beliefs were still just and good, but he no longer had any faith in the justice provided by law. What good could he do as a cop with no trust or faith in law and order.
Then there was the issue of Chris. He had not been ready or willing for Chris to come in to his life, but he had. Mute due to the treatment of his cousins, he had believed his sisters, he had been broken hearted. If it had not been for D, he did not know what he would have done. D had been the one to care for him while he worked. Leon also knew that it was because of D’s interference he had finally been able to regain his voice. In the end, he seemed to know the truth, even then Chris was better off with his aunt and uncle.
He sighed as he felt the beginnings of a migraine headache at his temples. It had been months since he had gotten a decent night’s sleep and it looked as if it was finally catching up to him. He could feel the heaviness in his eyelids causing them to close. His muscles ached and his head was pounding. Taking advantage of the quiet in the room, he decided to use the time to catch up on his sleep.
In his dreams he was once again lying on the clouds, looking down at the world beneath him. He remembered how light he had felt when he had been there, surrounded by D and his creatures. His eyes searched for D amongst the throngs of people that were really animals, until he spied him standing there. He felt the warmth from his hands as they were placed on his chest. His parting words that repeated themselves over and over in his brain, day and night. “Humans have not yet earned the right to board this ship.” Then there was the gentle push, sending him falling back to the Earth. He had in his last second glimpsed something shining on D’s cheek; a tear perhaps? He would never be sure.
When he awoke from his dream, he was covered in a cold sweat. In that second, it seemed he had reached his decision. No matter what happened from this point, he would not be going back. He would sever his ties with the old life he had left behind for good. Germany had not provided him with any more information about D and his kind, or even where he could find him next but it had strengthened his resolve. He knew immediately what his next step needed to be, he would head to China. It would be the best place to gather information and if he had any luck left in this world, maybe it would be where he would find D.
Though he knew China was his goal immediately, he was not a hundred percent sure on how to proceed. By taking early retirement from the force, his pension had been limited. The hotels and plane tickets thus far had cut a large chunk from his bank balance. He was sure that this was going to be a long search, so how should he proceed? It was then that the room began to fill with people, the various students and tourists who had been backpacking their way across Europe. They all seemed animated and alive with everything they had seen and experienced that day. Maybe that is what he needed before he was face to face with D, to experience the world.
…
He had been upbeat about his decision when he had begun his journey in Berlin, but his enthusiasm had dampened with time. It had now been over five years since he had left Berlin. He had spent frugally, buying only what he needed, clothing, shoes, and food. Whenever possible he had found hostels and boarding houses instead of hotels. He had never walked so much in his life. Everywhere he went, he was regarded with suspicion. It seemed ironic to him that he was the outsider with no one to rely on, but he was seen as the threat. Every one that he encountered, no matter the country or person he asked about D, and his kind. The one picture that he had of D, taken by Chris with a disposable camera, had become increasingly faded and worn with use.
When he had entered China, he had been tempted to head into the cities. He knew that if D had opened a pet shop, it would be within the heart of a city that he would find it. Instead, he could feel himself being pulled out to the countryside. It was here that he traveled, taking in the gorgeous landscapes and honing his outdoorsman skills. He found places that he could sleep outdoors, fished in the stream for his food, and continued on to the next village. In one small village, he had finally uncovered someone who was willing to tell him more about what D really was.
The old man, lived in small home, offset from the rest of the village. The grass had overgrown the path to his door, which one could barely tell had once been well worn. He could not have explained what had compelled him to walk up to the door and introduce himself, but he just had a hunch. The man had given him a strange and questioning look, that only increased when he heard Leon speaking to him in relatively unbroken Cantonese. “(Hello, I have come to you, wondering if you could help me.)”
“(You see me here, old and feeble, what help could I possibly be to you…outsider,)” he responded bitterly with a wave of his hand.
Leon had to wonder at the frightful and scruffy picture he probably presented to this man. His beard had grown long and was disheveled as his clothing and hair. His hair had not been cut in months and if not tied back, would nearly reach the small of his back. “(You seem like someone who knows a lot, I want to ask you some questions,)” he explained.
The old man snorted and replied, “(The world is changing, everyone grows up in this village and then leaves for the lights and noise of the cities. An old man like me knows nothing of this world and will surely be of no help to you.)”
Leon smiled and bowed his head. “I understand, but you see, it is not the new world I want to ask you about. I have come here hoping to learn more about the old world, of your legends and gods.)” When he raised his head, he saw the evident surprise on the man’s feature.
“(My name is Chen,)” the man said introducing himself and then held out his arm, offering Leon to sit before him. “(So just what about the legends and gods, draws you here?)”
Leon figured there was no reason to beat around the bush. “(I have come looking for someone. I want to find him, but I also want to know more about him.)” It was then that he produced his tattered and faded picture for Chen. His eyes rounded and seemed to nearly burst from his head at the sight of the picture. This had to be a good sign. Only the people who had known D or knew what he was, had this kind of reaction to his photograph.
Chen calmed himself quickly and commented, “(I guess there are not many who would care to remember a legend like him.)” He paused for a moment and took a deep breath before continuing, “(I must say the one you seek seems to be a bit different from the others. His mismatched eyes and short hair.)”
“(From what I understand, he is different from the others; his father and grandfather,)” Leon explained. “(But as I said, there is so much that I do not know about him.)” He knew that his gaze was probably almost pleading, he hoped against every hope that this lead, would at last pay off.
“(Well then, I will tell you what I know.)” Once again he paused for another deep breath, as if he was unsure of where he should begin. “(The legends say that the Earth must be kept in balance by the gods. There are many gods and godesses and they look after their own aspects of the Earth and of mankind. The one you are looking for, their kind are responsible for protecting all of the Earth; plants, animals, water, air, everything. They are the most powerful of all the Kami.)
“(It is said that as each one passes on from this realm into the realm of the gods, that only the spirit leaves and the body is reborn. It was this prospect that caused mankind to fear them. As they began to stake their claims on this Earth and form cities and empires, they rebelled against the will of the Kami. Most of the Kami spurned mankind and retreated into the shadows. No one really knows how many of them are actually left.)”
“(But, I thought you said that only the spirit moves on and the body is reborn?)” Leon asked. “(So, wouldn’t that mean that there would still be the same number today as before?)”
“(That is what they say. However, there is also been rumored that there is a way to kill one of his kind once and for all. Though, to be honest with you, I have no idea how this would be done.)” He gave Leon an indescribable look. “(You are not thinking of trying to kill this one are you?)”
Leon shook his head. “(I want to find him, talk to him. I have no intention of hurting him.”
The man smiled at him and asked, “(You are not in love with him are you?)”
Leon nearly fell over in surprise. “(Why the Hell would you think that?!)” he exclaimed.
He laughed as he answered, “(They are supposed to be bewitching creatures, able to seduce and enrapture anyone and everyone. The stories used to tell of lords and princes that would attempt to win their favor. If you are telling me now that you do not have feelings of that nature for him, I would be more surprised than if you said you did.)”
Leon was not really sure what to say to that. He had gotten this far only admitting that he wanted to find D, but was there more to it than that. His eyes closed and he instantly saw a picture of D in his mind. His perfect little smile, his bright eyes, the small lithe body in all of that silk that hugged him perfectly. Suddenly, he realized his eyes snapped open in shock to find the man across from him regarding him thoughtfully. What the hell had that been? Usually when he thought of D he thought back to those moments on the ship before he had been pushed away. Now, here he was fantasizing about him in the presence of a stranger.
Finally, the Chen spoke, “(I guess it does not matter what you feel.)”
He tried to shake off the tingly feeling that was coursing through his body. “(Thank you for all of your help).” Then he quickly took his leave before he would be asked anymore questions that he was not ready to answer.
When he left the village, he had regained his motivation. His weak and weary body was nearly bursting with a renewed sense of purpose and the energy that accompanied it was spurring him on. A quick glance at his maps showed that the nearest large city was going to be Shanghai. So, he decided that he would start there. His money was low, but it did not bother him. He could find work as a day laborer on the docks and earn what he needed to continue his search.
After so much time spent in the countryside, he was disoriented as he was bustled through the city. He stood taller than most everyone else, but he felt disregarded and unnoticed by all who pushed him aside in their own haste to reach their destinations. He no longer felt the need to brandish D’s photo to everyone who passed. There would be plenty of time to search for him. He decided that his first order of business was to find a place to sleep and tomorrow to find a job.
He had found a small boarding house and rented a room for the night. As he paid, he counted his remaining money and wondered if there would be enough until he had procured a job. He could hopefully find something that he would be paid daily; a day laborer of some kind. Once in his room, he tried to focus on his plans for the next day, but he could not concentrate. He could not stop thinking about what Chen had told him and asked him.
If he thought back on all of these years he had spent looking for D, he had not had sex or even kissed any woman the entire time. He had plenty of offers, every time he went into a bar or liquor store to procure something that would take the edge off his anxious thoughts, they would flirt with him. He had always had some excuse to say no, but then he would end up in the room he was renting alone and hard. His hand had been his only relief in these past five years but the relief never seemed to last long. Why had he been doing this to himself? Could he really be after D, because he wanted him?
He allowed his eyes to close. Just as when Chen had asked him if he was in love with D, the images immediately sprang into his mind. His impulse was to try and snap out of it, quickly put it out of his mind, but this time he fought it. The images began to changed, suddenly the fantasy seemed to come to life. D’s eyes fluttered closed and his graceful hands began to undo the fastens on his chenogasm. Leon groaned and could feel himself responding. Damn, he was not even naked and it was making him this hard. Leon’s hands worked loose the fastens on his jeans and his hand slid inside to touch his own aching length. In his mind, D was calling his named allowing the clothes to slide from his back. It took only a moment for Leon to come, and when he realized what he had done, he sat up quickly. He had not really understood it himself why he had to find D, why he had kept searching after all of this time, but now it all made sense.
…
It did not take him long to find work on the Donghai Arc. He had simply shown that he could lift heavy boxes and understand the Mandarin they were speaking. From what he had studied he was more familiar with Cantonese, but he had learned Mandarin out of necessity. He knew that Cantonese was falling out of popularity and almost no one spoke it in the cities anymore. His boss was gruff and always grumbling under his breath about the scruffy white man, and making comments about his golden blond hair.
It was a few weeks before the other workers would talk to him, when they did he barely spoke. He was satisfied with listening and learning. They all were hardworking men, mostly with wives and children to care for. He ate lunch with them and learned all of their names. One of the men even offered that Leon could stay with him instead of paying for the boardinghouse, which took a large chunk of the money he earned each day. He had felt honored to be invited into their home and his wife had even offered to cut his hair for him. The end result was shorter and shaggier than he had ever worn it before, only about an inch long. When he thanked her, she had blushed and commented on how beautiful his hair was. He had not been able to stop himself from laughing. He would never had said that his hair was beautiful, but it did make him a little sad to see those long golden strands in her hands.
It was the next day at lunch that his new friends provided him a clue. He was intrigued when they began to speak of a man known as Woo Fei. They all described him as a powerful don that would be taking over many organized business in Shanghai when his father passed on. They all seemed to regard the man with a mixture of fear and respect. It went around the table and them men began to each tell some story or rumor about Woo Fei to the group. Then one man said, “(Yeah, he operates that Neo Chinatown in Japan. They say that he has some powerful confidante there, known only as D.)”
Leon had nearly choked on his food at the sound of his name. “(Neo Chinatown?)” he asked. “(Where in Japan is this Neo Chinatown?)” The entire group stared at him as if he had grown a second head, so unaccustomed they were to him actually speaking.
“(The Shinjuku district,)” one of them answered. It was at that moment that Leon knew that he would be leaving again.
After the work was done, he went back to the house of his coworker and gathered his belongings. “(You are leaving aren’t you?)” he asked Leon.
“(Yes,)” he answered quickly. “(I plan on stowing away on the barge heading to Japan tonight.)” Then he turned and flashed him a smile. He faced him and bowed to him respectfully. “(I want to thank you for everything you have done for me.)” Then he pulled the money he had been paid that day for his work from his pocket and placed it into his hand. Without another word, he left and ran for the docks. The questions went racing through his mind; would he finally find D? or would he be too late, once again?
The End
Author’s Notes: Though this story is a one-shot, I have already planned a second part, which will pick up with Leon coming face to face with D once again after all of this time. I hope that anyone who likes this story will please review and check out the next installment when it debuts.
Also, I would like to give thanks to all the people who still review and favorite “Your Heart’s Desire” for inspiring me to continue writing in this fandom, to tigersilver, for writing a great story , and to Telanu (raison detat) for her great Leon & D stories that inspire me endlessly.