Pet Shop Of Horrors Fan Fiction ❯ The Gift ❯ The Gift ( Chapter 5 )

The Gift 5 by Kaialicious

Disclaimer: I make no profit from the characters of The Pet Shop of Horrors. They do not belong to me. Li however is of my own creation and does belong to me…, D…, and no one else...for now.

Warnings: This story contains suggestions of a Yaoi relationship. If you don't like Yaoi, then you're not even supposed to be reading this warning because I previously warned you about it in the description!

Author's Note: Tah, tah, tuuuuum. The drama continues!

*****

"Li." The count raised a graceful hand to placate him, but it was too late. The dragon prince's eyes were already flashing red, including to Leon's surprise, the one on his tattoo.

The elaborate red design appeared to be writhing over the China man's skin.

"What the hell…"

It was moving.

"Li, don't," D told the agitated prince. "Not here, please."

"You don't want your mortal lover to see us," Li said. His hands were clenched, his face taut with tension.

The tattoo pulsed and expanded. The ochre outlined scales glistened. They looked real, too real.

"Are you worried that we will frighten him away?"

Li tilted his head to the right. The tattoo pulled away from Li's flesh and thickened into a large, winged, reptile-like creature.

"Holy shit," Leon said in disbelief.

He really did descend from dragons.

The dragon coiled around Li's shoulders and waist. Its fiery red eyes peered out from its lean head. The narrow slits focused on Leon. A deep growl worked its way up the beast's throat and vibrated through the air. A billow of steam shot out from its nostrils and created a thick layer of fog that swept over the floor.

Leon recalled that Li had done the very same thing at the restaurant.

"Clever…trick," he muttered.

The dragon let out a horrifying roar. It swiftly slithered off Li and snapped at Leon. Its sharp white fangs were definitely no illusion.

"Li, stop this at once!" D ordered. His pretty face was distraught.

Leon inwardly cursed the prince for causing the count such distress. He shoved D behind him and drew his weapon.

Li grinned at his actions. "Isn't it just like a mortal to think that worldly weapons can destroy us?"

The dragon widened its jaws and suddenly flew towards Leon.

"No!" D stepped in front of Leon at the last moment.

Li gasped and cried out, "Beloved!"

The dragon's body arced over the count and reached for Leon.

D shot his hand out at the blood red beast and sank his fingernails into the creature's scaly skin. The dragon let out a cry of anguish as streams of its thick black blood ran from the wounds in its breast.

D's fingers went deeper into the beast, all the way up to his knuckles. He gave his wrist a quick twist, and Leon heard the wet pulpy sound of the creature's heart being crushed.

"No!" Li shouted.

The dragon writhed in pain. It threw its great head back and let out a blood-curdling cry. Its snake-like body coiled and twitched as it thrashed around on the floor. The beast let out another strained, tormented cry and then went limp.

"No!" Li clutched a hand over his chest. The blood drained from his face and he crumpled to the floor.

"Li!" D went to him. He knelt down beside the dragon prince, held his head in his lap.

The count's consort was breathing raggedly. His lips were tinged blue.

"Li, look at what you have done," D quietly scolded him.

"You have…killed us." Li's voice trembled.

D brushed a gray strand off his face and said, "You never listen."

Leon put away his gun and drew closer to them.

Li saw him. His features remained cold and hard towards the detective. He hated the human -hated him with every fiber of his being. He had underestimated the mortal's hold on D and had paid for his inaccuracy with his life.

"You've won, detective," he said. "I do not know why it has happened, but my D is in love with you."

Leon's eyebrows lifted.

D's face reddened. He began rapidly talking to Li in their native tongue. Li chuckled.

"You don't deserve him," the China man continued to tell Leon. "No one deserves him."

D touched his slender fingers to Li's mouth. Li looked up at him and smiled.

"One last kiss beloved…" he said weakly.

D leaned over him with tears in his eyes. His dark hair shielded their faces as he granted Li's dying wish.

Leon looked on in silence. He was still trying to register what had happened. The dragon was dead and now Li was dying too. It all seemed mad to him, but he accepted it because he had always known that D and his animals were unusual. It made sense that his companion's tattoo had turned into a dragon and tried to kill him.

D leaned back.

Li's face was still. His amethyst eyes stared vacantly up at the count.

The dragon prince's spirit had passed away.

D continued to stare at his deceased consort. Blood trickled down his hand and dripped from his fingers.

Leon removed a handkerchief from his pocket and crouched down beside D. He held D's wrist with one hand and moved to wipe the blood clean with the other.

"No, don't!" D said, and pulled his hand away, but he had done it too late. Leon's fingers had already touched the crimson flow.

Leon winced and cried out as his fingers ached. They felt as though they were on fire. He quickly rubbed his hand over the carpet. The blood and pain instantly dispersed.

"You cannot touch his blood," D told him. "It is dangerous."

"What about you? It's all over your hand…and your clothes."

He didn't like the look of the vibrant red stain on the pale count. It seemed as if the count had been defiled by it somehow.

D blankly looked at his hand and said, "It doesn't hurt me."

Leon had suspected that. He was starting to think that nothing could ever hurt D. The realization that the authorities would soon be in D's mysterious shop spurred him to pull the count out of his daze.

He touched his shoulder. "I'll have to call this in, D."

"No."

"D -"

"No, detective," he finally looked at him, his eyes moist with tears. "You cannot, please. I will take care of everything. The police do not need to know of this."

"D what are you saying?" Leon cupped his nape. "You can't expect me to let you handle this on your own."

"But you will. You must," he said and looked at the lifeless red dragon that lay across the room. A puddle of blood saturated the carpet beneath it.

Leon realized that he was right. The authorities could not see what had happened here. It would bring too many questions. A mythological creature and an individual, dead in the count's shop and blood that was corrosive to human flesh -D would be in serious trouble.

"You must go now," D told him.

Leon didn't want to leave. He wanted to stay and make sure that D was all right.

"Don't be stupid, I am fine." He squared his shoulders.

"This doesn't seem right," Leon said.

"Please go," D urged him.

Leon reluctantly rose. He gave Li's human body one last look before he said, "I'll be back tomorrow."

"Thank you detective."

*****

A limo was parked outside of D's store. Behind it was a hearse.

The door of the pet shop opened and Leon froze as he recognized the tall lean male that exited the building.

Li.

But no, Leon soon realized that it wasn't him.

This man's gray hair was shorter, close cropped. He wore a tailored business suit and had a diamond stud in his left ear.

He gave Leon a cursory glance. His eyes were a startling turquoise color. His mouth was set in a firm line as if he had just heard or saw something that displeased him.

He got into the limo and left.

Leon entered the shop and found D standing behind the counter looking sullen. He was wearing a black silk cheongsam with a red embroidered dragon. Q-Chan was perched on his shoulder rubbing his furry little face against the count's cheek.

"Hello detective." D gave him a small smile.

"Who was that?"

"Shang."

"Is he Li's brother?"

"Yes," D answered. "He came to get Li's body. They are returning to China today."

That was quick, Leon mused.

Leon studied D's features. He looked paler than usual. "You okay?"

"Would you like some tea, detective?"

"You don't want to talk about what happened."

"I'd rather not."

Leon took a seat and let D pour him a cup. He did not intend to drink it. He personally preferred something stronger.
"You'll have to talk about it some time. You can't keep it bottled up inside."

D nibbled on a petit four and sighed. "Poor Shang. He and Li shared so much in common."

Leon leaned forward out of his seat.

"What else did they share?" he asked.

"Detective, what are you implying?" D coyly inquired.

Leon frowned and reached for his pack of cigarettes. They weren't there. He had forgotten that he had left them in the car.

"Damn it!"

"Language, detective," D scolded him.

Leon settled back into the chair and apologized, "Sorry."

The count timidly sipped his tea.

Leon restlessly tapped a finger on the arm of the chair.

He couldn't hold off his question any longer.

"So, you love me, huh?"

D choked on his tea. Q-Chan fell off his shoulder.

Leon came to his aid. He wrapped his arms around D's middle, and was about to give him the Heimlich maneuver when the count pushed him away. The strength of his shove startled Leon. He always seemed to forget that D was anything but delicate.

The count gave a strained cough and shyly looked away from him.

Leon smiled and reached for D's hand. "Why so shy now?"

"It's improper," D told him.

Leon laughed. "Improper, that's me."

He pulled the count against him and chuckled as D blushed. He focused his attention on Li's dark painted lips. D's eyes widened. Leon dipped his head to taste D's lips and furrowed his brow as his mouth touched the count's dark hair.

D had turned away.

"What gives?" Leon asked, irritated.

"You cannot kiss me, detective."

"Why not? I know that you want it as much as I do."

"Even so, we cannot give in to our…desires."

"The hell we can," Leon grumbled, and then stiffened as he watched Q-Chan climb up D's black cheongsam. "Is it because you're in mourning?"

"Partly," D said.

Partly? "What the hell does that mean?"

D pursed his lips at his foul language then said, "Traditionally, if one's consort dies, it is acceptable for the deceased consort's brother to take his place."

Leon's mouth dropped open.

I really need a cigarette.

"Shang wanted me to return to China with him at once. I refused."

That was why he looked so upset. The count obviously could not be forced to do what he did not want to do, and his decision had pissed off Li's twin.

"Okay, but what does that have to do with what we want?"

"I must remain chaste for three hundred days," D blurted out.

"Three hundred days?"

D nodded. His flush had crept over his cheeks. "If I do not, then Shang will have the right to claim me. It will be a clear indication that my…needs are out of control and need to be tamed."

"What?" Leon was in disbelief. It all seemed ridiculous to him. "Well how the hell would he know? You're not going to tell him. I know I won't."

"He will know," D insisted.

Leon held his shoulders and gently squeezed them. "Listen to yourself. This is really tearing you apart."

"It is not. I am perfectly sane," D told him.

"Right."

Leon moved in for a kiss.

D placed his palm over Leon's mouth and kissed the back of his pale hand. "This is all for the best, detective."

"Like hell it is," Leon grumbled.

"Your language, detective."

*****

Well…sigh. I killed him off good didn't I? But I made sure to bring in his hottie twin brother! Next chapter, enter the twin dragon! ^_^