Pet Shop Of Horrors Fan Fiction ❯ Troubled Times ❯ Chapter 6 ( Chapter 6 )

[ Y - Young Adult: Not suitable for readers under 16 ]

Copyright: I don't own "Pet Shop Of Horrors" or the characters, wish I did though. Matsuri Akino is the lucky goddess who owns them.

Characters maybe a bit OC, but this is my story. I came up with this idea at work. Slight AU, yaoi..

Warning- This is a Yaoi fic if you haven't noticed by now. This fic will involve mentioning of NCS (rape, not graphic) and eventually lemon most likely. No likey then no readie. Minor series spoilers ahead from here on in.

Please keep in mind I had only read the first 5 mangas that have been so kindly released by Tokyo Pop, seen the anime, and read other people's fan fics when I wrote this so not all of my info may be accurate. I've taken a fan fic writer's liberty of changing and/or adding what I need for the plot of my story. If you notice anything odd please forgive me and feel free to let me know, but do keep in mind I won't change anything if I feel it isn't all that important.

Don't forget to review so that I know someone cares.

Note:

**thought**

"speech"

Troubled Times

Chapter 6

By: Vidalark

Both D and Khan held their weapons at ready. It was Q-Chan who signaled the start of the fight. The two leapt at each other both with the full intent to kill the other. D dodged the curved blade of Khan's staff in inhuman grace and speed as Khan did with D's own blade. A savagely beautiful dance of death complimented with the beautiful brutality with the ringing of kissing blades and thunking of clashing bamboo.

Khan drew first blood with an unstoppable move. He used one hand to bring down his staff forcing D to use both hands on his own to block the move forcing him to leave himself open to Khan's talon like nails to slash at D's unprotected arm. Scarlet blood blossomed violently from five jagged claw marks on D's left upper arm. It was an unfair move, but this fight was for mating rights. To both in their own way felt that the prize mate was worth every injury and more. The only real rule to this fight was to try and survive to claim their prize mate.

D shrieked loudly starting a flurry of swipes, jabs, jumps, kicks, and lunges that even Khan had difficulties deflecting. Blood erupted from several wounds on Khan's arms, legs, and chest. Seeing the flowing blood caused D to smirk in a manner much more sinister than his usual mysterious smirks that everyone knew. At this point their attacks became much more savage and if possible even more deadly. Their blood splattered across the grass and shredded leather and fabric gathered below their feet.

Khan pole vaulted over and behind D and was about to run D through, but with D's own inhuman speed he whirled around and blocked the blade just in time with his own. D back flipped away from Khan who was about to give him an upper cut with the blunt end of his staff. While still in the middle of his flip D managed to kick Khan's staff free and far away.

Leon couldn't believe what he was seeing. D, his D was in a fight to the death for him. His sweet, mild mannered, won't eat meat, couldn't hurt a living soul was locked in mortal combat against his own cousin. Real blood was staining D's porcelain white skin, D's own crimson blood. Various cuts now marred the once flawless skin. Just looking at the wounds made Leon ache in sympathy at what D had to be feeling on his own behalf. Leon wanted the fight to stop, someone had to stop it, but Yue had fallen unconscious in his arms moments before the fight and none of the human looking animals around him would step in since they had been ordered not to interfere by D himself. Leon himself wanted to help D but he couldn't since he was bound by a contract himself.

"Hang in there D. Don't you dare die on me now." Leon whispered as he watched the battle continue to rise in speed and violence. He wanted to help D with all of his heart, but he didn't know how he could.

**Have faith in me my Golden Lion and I won't fail you.**

**D?** Leon could have sworn that he had just heard D's voice in his head. He didn't understand how such a thing could happen, but it didn't frighten him.

**Have faith in me.**

**I don't know what is going on D, but I trust you. I trust you with all of my heart.** Leon thought though he doubted that D could really hear him. but the thought that he might made him feel better.

A small smile graced D's lips. His heart had lightened at the thoughts that Leon had directed at him. Leon believed in him and he hadn't been able to turn his heart away. Leon wasn't lost to him yet. With a new burst of energy he doubled up his efforts. Khan couldn't comprehend what had caused D to suddenly become even stronger and more able to fight him, if this kept up and D became even more fierce then he wouldn't be able to hold his ground.

"Well cousin you sure do have an amazing reserve." Khan panted as he barely avoided D's claws that had been aimed at his shoulder. "I wonder where ever it is that you are managing to get it all from?"

"I don't know what you're talking about." D's trademark grin made an appearance.

"Why don't we ask my pet?"

"He doesn't belong to you."

"Really? You haven't beat me yet."

"I will."

"What do you want a lousy human pet for? More specifically why do you want this pathetic human? Last I checked you didn't think all that highly of humans."

"Leon isn't a normal human."

"Really? What is it that makes him so special? Can't be his taste in alcohol."

"His heart. It is his heart that makes him so special."

"Really, well then we really must see this special heart. Shall we take it out and have a look see?" no sooner said Khan was whirling away from he battle and forcefully pulling Leon away from his circle of protectors.

"Get your fucking hands off of me!" Leon yelled as he tried to free himself.

"Now, now please do remember that your dear ones lives are still very dependant on your good behavior."

"Let go of him!" Totetsu was growling as he and the other guardians lunged at Khan. They quickly fell back when Khan held his talons to Leon's throat.

"You beasts have no right to interfere. Now my lovely pet let us see this special heart of yours."

"Don't you dare." D growled knowing full well what his cousin was planning on doing.

"Oh I won't dare, I will." Khan's right hand, which had been aimed at Leon's throat, was instantly buried in Leon's chest. There was no blood or visible wound of any kind it was as if Khan's hand had passed through some illusion of flesh. Leon however could feel what Khan was doing and was making choked gasping sounds as Khan continued to rummage through his chest like a box. "Aha here it is." with violent force he tore out his hand and clutched in his fingers was a sphere of pulsing gold light no bigger than a tennis ball. The light pulsed like the steady drum of a heart beat. Everyone's eyes watched the sphere in amazement while Leon continued to sound as if he were suffering from a heart attack, which at this point was very likely. D hadn't ever thought about what Leon's heart soul really looked like and couldn't believe how beautiful and vibrant it really was. Khan was smirking evilly since he knew that he quite literally held Leon's life in his hand.

"My, my, my you certainly are quite radiant my pet. Did you know that I can easily hold you captive just by locking this away? You would be alive, but completely spiritless. Pain, pleasure, anger, joy, sorrow none of it would matter to you. A lovely shell of former humanity with a mind to think with but no emotions or reactions to behave with. I could also just return certain portions to elicit any constant state of being. Imagine it putting back only the right piece and I can have you so attuned tot he pleasures of the flesh that I could cut you open and all you would feel would be mind blowing pleasure. A willing sex slave who would practically beg me to fuck him. I think I like that idea." Leon didn't say anything due to the fact that he was just now starting to get his breathing under control. He found it fascinating, in a rather detached way, that even without his heart soul the organ known as the human heart still seemed to function normally by pumping oxygenated blood throughout his body. His mind felt clearer, to clear as he had no emotions or real sense of touch to could up his thoughts.

"You aren't his owner. I haven't lost to you and I don't plan on losing to you either." to D it was unthinkable to turn Leon into such a simple minded slave. Leon was a creature so full of life and energetic vitality with an edge of compassion that the thought of condemning him to being no more than a sex slave doomed to be eternally tortured with pleasure was nothing short of sacrilegious. "FIGHT ME!"

"My how one little human has changed you. I don't remember you ever being so... hostile."

"You have dared to harm what is precious to me. You have injured my animals and now you wish to destroy MY Golden Lion. These are crimes that I won't ever forgive you for."

"Ooh feisty. Tell me though dear cousin is he really worth dieing for?" Khan asked still holding Leon's heart soul and gently caressing Leon's cheek. None of this seemed to faze Leon which troubled D, but what made it worse was how empty Leon's eyes had become. Eyes that once appeared to be bright chips of blue topaz now were more like the dull glass eyes of a doll.

"Yes he is."

"Are you sure? Why don't we play with him just a little to see how passionate he really is. After all he did sign a contract with me. Whatever shall we try first?" Khan looked thoughtful for a moment. "Ah yes how about this section." roughly he let go of Leon and used a single finger nail to cut out a piece of Leon's heart soul. The piece didn't separate easily and began to pulse angrily when it was fully separated. Khan noticed D's mixed look of curiosity and anger. "This little piece would be all of this wonderful human's anger and hatred. I wonder how he will lash out at the both of us?" with no touch of care he forced the piece back into Leon's chest. Instantly Leon shuddered as a terrible wave of heat flooded through him and instantly his entire being was concentrated on Khan and Khan alone who had decided to hold on to him again. Leon began to fight to break free of the iron solid grip on his arms.

"Fucking son of a bitch! I'll rip your fucking balls off if you don't get your fucking hands off of me!" Leon screamed in pure and never before seen levels of rage. This wasn't quite the reaction that Khan had hoped for. Wasting no time he quickly removed the section and returned it to the whole. Leon shuddered once more and then sank back into his stupor.

"Amazing trick isn't it? A human is really almost to easy to play with." he chuckled as he petted Leon's head.

"You're just as heartless as my Father." D hadn't enjoyed the demonstration one bit. In truth seeing Leon toyed with like that had evoked a level of rage that D himself had never before felt and it had begun to consume him.

"What was that? You want a show of more heart?" Khan was enjoying this all to much. Deftly he removed yet another section knowing full well what this little piece would do to the man in his grasp. Holding up the piece for one moment he let both himself and D admire it for a heartbeat and then placed it into Leon. A strange and yet familiar liquid warmth flooded Leon's system and all to quickly he became fully aware of the hands touching him. The touch caused all available blood in him to instantly rush to his groin and awaken his member. D watched as Leon's eyes became clouded with lust. Pure and unrestrained lust. Leon couldn't help but push back into the form behind him to gain more contact any more then he could stop himself from whimpering in need as a hand stroked his cheek. "Hmm... very sensitive and responsive. I think that I shall enjoy leaving him like this." D decided that he couldn't bear to see Leon further humiliated. he lunged at Khan using his staff to pole vault over Khan and swipe viciously down Khan's back with his talons. Flesh and leather gave way at the sharp and hostile contact. In both anger and surprise Khan shoved Leon forward roughly and dropped the heart soul to the ground as he spun around to face D.

"Humans aren't your play toys, especially MY Leon."

"You'll pay dearly for that one cousin." while the two cousins renewed their fight Leon found himself struggling past waves of intense pleasure. What should have been an immensely painful fall that scraped his face and gave him a twisted ankle felt as if he were being pleasured by the hands of countless people who knew just how and where to touch him. This caused his mind and body to be at war with each other with knowing what he should be feeling and what he was feeling being all wrong. His powers of concentration becoming less concentrated with each wave of passion coursing through him. He knew that he had to get back the sphere that Khan had stolen from him. That sphere was just to dangerous as it controlled him by far to much and held to much to be left laying around or in the hands of one who knew how to use it against him.

"You have become way to soft cousin. You may have a strong spirit, however we both know that between the two of us my endurance is much better. You should be hitting the proverbial wall fairly soon."

"Not before I've beaten you." even though his words held a lot of conviction he was very much aware that he was beginning to falter. Their intense battle was wearing him down.

Unnoticed by the two Kami Leon was struggling to make his way to his heart soul however the sharp eyes of Meilin hadn't missed seeing him. A quick glance at D and Khan let her know that the two would be busy long enough for her to act. She swooped past the two fighters and snatched up the heart soul and glided over to Leon who was lost in yet another spasm of passion and fighting to breathe properly.

"Human take it now!" she shouted tossing it so that it was mere inches away from Leon's head. He understood her, but it was an effort to just move one hand without feeling like he was going to come. Shakily his right hand began to move towards the sphere.

**Come on Orcot you can do this... oh God! Ooh that feels so good... oh more...DAMN IT ORCOT SNAP OUT OF IT!** those were the general thoughts that ran though his mind. After two agonizing minutes of torturous pleasure he finally curled his fingers around his heart soul. The instant his fingers made contact a warm calm washed over him this time with feelings and emotions all intact. His body quaked with the after effects of such prolonged pleasure that had no relief at all.

D and Khan had fully given up all pretense of being at all civil. D used several forms of martial arts that made both Bruce Lee and Jackie Chan look like amateurs while Khan used a mix of kick boxing and dirty street fighting skills that any video gamer would have killed for in their video games. The injuries that the two bore didn't seem to slow them down in the least though now their clothes were beyond repair. Their shirts mere rags and their torn pants would have fit beautifully in a punk rock concert.

"Come on human you've got to put a stop to this." Totetsu growled as he hoisted Leon to his feet. Totetsu was worried about D since even he knew that D was starting to look like he was going to lose this battle if something didn't turn the tide quickly.

"How? I'd have an easier time taking on the Mafia on my own than breaking them up. I also happen to have another problem that makes it hard for me to do anything."

"And what might that be?"

"I don't think that I can let go of this thing." he held up his heart soul to prove his point. He didn't fully understand everything that was going on, hell if he was being fully honest he understood next to nothing, but he did know that if he let go of the sphere for even a second he would be thrown back into a world of endless pleasure that there was no real escape from. Under normal circumstances that thought wouldn't have been so disturbing however knowing what Khan had meant for it to be for him made him very leery of such a position.

"Stuff it down your shirt or something." it was an idea worth trying. With a bit of effort he managed to tuck his shirt into his pants with just one hand and then shoved the sphere down his front. He waited for a few heartbeats and nothing had changed.

"Guess as long as it is touching me I'm fine." it was a comforting discovery though in truth he'd rather have it back inside him where it belonged.

"Good now hurry up the Count needs your help." Totetsu had, had enough of the no interference rule but wasn't about to break it himself due to the possible wrath of D. D had said for none of the animals to join in the fray but nothing was ever said about Leon not being allowed to fight as far as he knew.

"Right. Wish I had my gun. If only... wait I've got it!" a plan had amazingly formed quickly in his mind though that might have been due to his police training. Actually it hadn't been so much as a plan as a memory flash, but it would work, it had to since that was all he had to use and go by.

Khan and D were still locked in their heated battle and neither knew that Leon was back to normal. Neither knew that he had regained his heart soul with the help of Meilin, but still didn't know how to return it to his body. All the two fighters knew was that only one of them would be allowed to survive this battle and that that survivor would claim Leon as their own. Just as the two lunged at each other both ready to strike particularly lethal blows to the other with their claw like nails they found that they had interference. Leon had boldly or rather stupidly placed himself between them and suffered a double attack with both Khan's and D's talons sinking into his back and chest. Blood poured in deadly amounts from the wounds as the hands were removed from him. Pain flooded though Leon's body like passion had only minutes before. Blood was dribbling from his mouth and further staining his shirt as he sank to his knees.

"LEON!" D was horrified by what he and his cousin had unintentionally done.

"Stupid human!" Khan was beyond furious that Leon had dared to stand between him and D. "You had no right to interfere with this battle."

"Wrong I had every right." Leon coughed as he fought to stay awake knowing that if his closed his eyes he wouldn't awaken ever again however that was becoming harder and harder to do as his world began to fade. "You broke the contract.

"What?! What do you mean by that?" that hadn't been an answer he was expecting at all.

"No harm will come to those I care about as long as I do what you want me to. You harmed D before I could hold up my end of the deal. You harmed Yue without any reason. Two that I care about have been hurt because of you with out any good reason. You broke your own contract." though he was becoming weaker by the second his voice was able to convey a small amount of smugness at knowing he was right.

"Ah you have done yourself in Khan. You know as well as I that our contracts are very binding." D was having a hard time trying to remove Leon's shirt to see how badly the man was hurt but Leon was fighting him. "Leon I must see your injuries."

"Sorry D but that sphere thing is there and I don't think that I'll be able to talk my hands into holding on to it anymore."

"I'll put it back."

"How?"

"The same way it came out."

"Good luck cousin because you know that not to many can put back a heart soul and the owner of said heart soul remain alive." Khan looked unbelievably smug about what he had just said and that irritated D even more.

"You will find that you don't know as much as you think you do." taking a deep breath to try and find some inner calm while knowing that each precious second he wasted Leon was that much closer to death. Using bloodied claws he tore Leon's shirt open exposing the flesh beneath.

The chest wounds that D had caused were five gaping holes that gushed blood to the faltering rhythm of Leon's heartbeat. D had no doubt that the ones on Leon's back were as bad if not worse. The instant that he lifted the heart soul from the nested shirt Leon began to convulse as fresh waves of torturous pleasure coursed through him. Without being told Totetsu, Akino, and Seki came to D's aid and held Leon still. D was amazed at the feel of the heart soul in his hand and even though it lacked pleasure from the whole it was still full of warmth and strength. Q-chan landed on D's shoulder and chattered quickly in urgent tones.

"I understand Q-chan, but I must." using a single forefinger he cut open his left arm. The incision was roughly two inches long and quickly began to pour crimson blood freely down is arm. Carefully with held breath he removed the final piece of heart soul from Leon's chest causing the man to become deathly still. The final piece merged seamlessly with the whole and with Q-chan's help D began to coat the sphere with his own blood. When the heart soul was completely covered it began to absorb every drop of D's blood. D could feel the heart soul becoming stronger as each drop of his blood vanished into the whole and was awed by the sensation. The raw strength that it radiated was almost to much for him, but he forced himself to watch the last drops vanish. When the final drop was absorbed D was ready to replace it. All eyes watched eagerly as D inserted the heart soul into Leon's chest very much like Khan had when it was removed however he could feel more of his own blood pouring freely into Leon's body. When he removed his hand the wounds all vanished leaving no trace to indicate physically what had happened to the human. It was the cold realization that more of his own blood had spilled into Leon that made D even more furious with his cousin.

Heero, Genjo, and Lily began to advance on Khan who was about to make a hasty retreat. Yue, who had been awake for awhile, decided that he needed to be beside Leon and was able to reach his side with Meilin's help. Yue began to whimper since he couldn't understand why Leon wasn't moving.

"Count is my Leon going to be alright?" Yue's voice seemed so small and helpless that D couldn't help but smile at the young pup. D didn't have an answer that he was fully willing to voice for fear that someone might do something to change his prediction.

"Cousin you do know what will happen to him if he awakens?" Khan asked viciously. Things hadn't gone according to his well laid out plan and none of what had happened had gone in his favor.

"Leon will awaken and I do know what I have done. You however Khan have only this one chance to leave America completely and never come back. If you do not leave or decide on returning and do so I shall kill you." D's eyes had never looked colder while he spoke. "I never want to see you ever again and I never want to hear of you being anywhere near MY Leon. Your contract with him has been broken so you have no further business with him." Khan looked like he was going to try something but with the eight animals that were fiercely loyal to D near by he thought better of it.

"You'll tire of him one day and on that day I will be able to take him." with that Khan vanished.

"I don't think so."

************************************************************* ***********

Leon awoke in his room. He felt strangely well rested and completely at peace with the world a very non-Leon way to wake up. Images of what had to have been dreams and nightmares danced through his mind just enough to annoy him because he wasn't ever able to fully grasp them. These dreams were half remembered if even that much and it irritated him. Turning his head to the right in hopes to be able to locate a clock of sorts and instead he saw a head of soft white and yellow hair. The head turned to face him and large expressive black eyes stared back at him lighting up with a brilliant smile. It was a young boy.

"Leon!" the boy shouted happily all the while scaring the hell out of the poor now very awake man. "Count, Count he's awake!" Leon flinched at the volume the boy was using thinking how much the boy reminded him of a puppy when seeing their master come home.

"Quiet down Yue or he'll go deaf." another chastised though it didn't really stop the boy. Leon moved just enough to see a young man with flame red hair and sprouting from he hair was a pair of rams' horns.

"Totetsu?" Leon whispered as everything came crashing back in a flood of images and voices. Various areas of his body began to throb in remembered pain and real pain.

"Nice to know you remember me though I am a bit surprised you even woke up." Totetsu said with a grin.

"Don't aggravate him." D scolded as he entered the room. "Right now Leon has quite a bit to deal with without any added stress." Totetsu seemed to be a little put off by the lecture but did and said nothing.

"Leon, my Leon what is wrong?" Yue asked looking very concerned by how pale he had become and the sudden tremors that ran through the detective's body.

"It really did happen... everything that I remember really did happen." Leon sounded like he was on the verge of hysterics.

"I'm sure that you have a lot of questions right now." D kept his voice soft and his features calm. He was using every trick he knew about dealing with over stressed animals on Leon and he was hoping that it would work.

"Damn right I do! What the fuck happened? What the fuck are you? Damn it D I need to know why all of the shit happened to me." Leon knew that he had slipped back into his old role of the hot headed cop, but he couldn't help it he needed the small amount of comfort and control that the role gave him. Without that old comfort he knew that he really would go into a mental break down. "D please tell me what I need to know."

"I will my brave Love. You have shouldered more than anyone mortal should ever have to bear and you have come out of it alive. I will try to answer all of your questions to the best of my abilities but please do remember that everything that I'm about to tell you is the truth no matter how outrageous it may sound to you."

"I'll try." Leon sounded slightly more calm with just hearing D's voice but he wasn't out of the woods yet.

"I understand. T-Chan please bring my tea cart here. It is already set up with what we will need." with a nod Totetsu left to do as he had been told. He understood that something very important was about to happen even though the Count hadn't told anyone in the shop what he had planned to do save for Q-Chan and even Q-Chan wasn't telling anyone.

"Tea? I don't need any tea." Leon growled though he was painfully thirsty but he wasn't going to let D know that.

"It isn't going to be tea." D looked so serious that Leon was almost afraid of what hi beloved was going to tell him.

"Kee." Q-Chan fluttered in carrying what had to be a fairly heavy bolt of silk.

"Thank you Q-Chan." D took the bolt and carefully spread it across Leon's bed.

"What's that?"

"A bit of history. This piece of silk has painted on it an ancient story that few mortals know of." he explained as he finished laying it out and smoothing it so that Leon could see everything. There were several detailed pictures and lots of Chinese scripting telling a story. Though the piece was supposedly very old the colors were very vibrant, almost fresh looking. "My family aren't what you think. We have been on the earth for longer than any mortal could ever dream of living. Of my kind I am still fairly young having only recently reached adulthood."

"So you're telling me that you aren't human?"

"Yes. Among some we are known as Kami or gods if you will." D paused here knowing that this was the point that he had feared. Leon sat stone still and deathly silent as D's words sank in. "Leon?"

"You know I always thought that you were to perfect to be real. I often thought that a lot of things about you were to perfect."

"We aren't really gods as much as we are earth spirits."

"So your cousin is also a Kami?"

"As is my entire family." Leon turned his full attention to the silk painting before him. A group of people surrounded a man who looked very much like D. The figure seemed to be being worshiped by the group who were dressed rather fancy clothes. How he wished that he could read Chinese so that he could better understand the story before him.

"Is this you?"

"No that is my Grandfather. He was the one who started the entire pet shop."

"What about the animals?"

"They come of their own free will."

"Why me?"

"Pardon?"

"Why do you want me?" Leon didn't quite know what his question really meant, but the answer was very important.

"Leon I love you. I love you so much that I've done something to you that you may very soon hate me for."

"What do you mean?"

"In order to return your heart soul to you and heal your more serious wounds quickly I was forced to use my own blood to save you. I covered your heart soul with my blood and your heart soul in turn absorbed everything that I had covered it with. While I was returning it to you more of my own blood spilled into your body by accident because I wasn't paying attention to anything other than my main task of saving you."

"What about that would make me possibly hate you?"

"Leon my kind are creatures of magic. Our blood is one of the few things that can kill a vampire. Our blood is very pure and extremely powerful."

"So I'm a fucken vampire?!"

"No you see our blood can kill a vampire, but the magic that flows through us can also grant healing and if enough is given or used it may grant immortality. Q-Chan had pointed out to me while you were on the brink of death that if your body didn't reject the infusion and if I had given you to much you wouldn't be... mortal."

"What?!"

"Because I gave you to much of my own blood that not only did it heal you but I accidentally began to transform you. In order to finish the transformation there is a minor but highly important ceremony that we must perform."

"And if we don't perform it?" Leon was very fearful of the answer but he had to know no matter how bad the answer would be.

"Then the excess blood that I gave you will become a poison for which there is no cure and leave you with only a few short months to live."

"Eternal life or early death, my only choices."

"I'm afraid so." the tension between them was almost tangible. D was afraid of what Leon would say and Leon was afraid of what he would have to choose.

"Here you go Count." Totetsu had returned. True to what D had said the tea service cart wasn't laden with he normal delicate china tea set. Instead of the china and fine silver was a tall crystal bottle shaped very much like a twelve inch tall Chinese Ming vase with a diamond shaped crystal stopper. The clear crystal allowed them to see the thick bright red liquid that it held. Beside the bottle two elegant crystal wine glasses trimmed in sliver on either side of the bottle and before both he glasses and bottle a silver dagger with a carved bone handle. Engraved on the blade was the body of a Chinese Phoenix and the mythical bird's tail trailed off to completion on to the bone handle. The silver and bone were so well merged that they looked as if they had always been one.

"Thank you T-Chan. Yue go with T-Chan to the front of the shop and stay there until we are done. The only one allowed to bear witness to anything that may happen here is Q-Chan and that is only because we may require his help."

"D?" Leon all but squeaked.

"Fear not my Golden Lion the final choice shall be yours, but this is a very private and sacred event."

"But..." Yue began to argue but thought better of it as he recalled what D had said. "As you wish." he silently left.

"Good luck." Totetsu whispered to D as he left. Q-Chan remain and perched himself on the push bar of the cart.

"I'd best explain a bit more to you about your situation. My explanation might make it so that you better understand what has been happening to you and aid you better in your decision. Khan wanted you because I had you. My kind aren't known for falling in love. We love, but it is more of a general love very much like that of a parent and child. A few of my kind have been known to take human lovers from time to time, but never really anything deeper than a casual and passing relationship. Anything beyond that is usually left as something more held within the family. Somehow Khan must have learned that I carry very deep feelings for a human that went beyond the understandable want of a casual lover. Such a human is usually found to be very special and become highly prized. Do keep in mind that such happenings are extremely rare among my kind but not unheard of hence the reason the chosen human becomes very prized. Khan must have decided that he wanted you for himself even though he didn't know what it is about you that makes you so special. He used your amazing loyalty and sense of self sacrifice against you guessing that I hadn't told you what I am."

"My loyalty and sense of self sacrifice? D I was just doing what I had to do to keep everyone safe. I gave up so that, that bastard wouldn't kill anyone."

"Meaning that you sacrificed yourself for those that you have some form of loyalty to, to protect us. You were very loyal to me by not wanting him to cause me any harm and by revealing that by fighting me he broke his own contract. Leon you don't seem to realize how special you are. You have such an unwavering loyalty to all whom you care for. You can't bear to see any innocent suffer so you protect them with such ferocity that you almost constantly place yourself in mortal danger. Your loyalty and sense of self sacrifice overshadows your pride."

"D protecting the innocent is my job, that's what a cop is supposed to do."

"And why did you become a cop?"

"To... to protect those that I care about, and those who can't protect themselves." Leon knew that he had fallen for a very obvious set up, but oddly enough his easy admission didn't bother him like it use to. "I've always hated seeing guys bully others jus to get their way or make themselves feel good. In school I used to jump into a lot of fights when I saw someone was being picked on. Got me into a lot of trouble back then, but I didn't care because whoever I helped always came back to thank me."

"You are a born protector."

"Maybe... so um what happens now?"

"If you wish the completion ceremony. If you want to got through with it, it has to be done today before my blood becomes toxic. Remember though if you do go through with the ceremony you will become like me. Among my kin you will be seen as either my child or chosen mate. You will be immortal and forever young. If you chose not to do the ceremony you will at best have three months left to live, but I will remain with you and do all that I can to ease your passing. No matter what you decide I shall do as you wish I refuse to force immortality upon you."

Life or death, and eternity to live or three short months. Leon's choices weren't many, but they were very important for his future or lack there of. This was a decision of great importance that in truth he needed more time to mull over however time was against him. D knew that if Leon decided not to go through with the ceremony he would spend his last days in worlds of pain before death would finally take pity on him. D doubted that he would be able to bear watching Leon suffer, but would if he had to.

"Will you teach me how to live as a... kami?" D was surprised to hear Leon's voice so soon after his choices had been fully laid out before him.

"Pardon?"

"Will you teach me how to live as a kami? You won't leave me if I seem hopeless?" Leon hated sounding so weak, but he had only recently come to terms with being gay, or bi as he preferred to think, recently. He's almost fully recovered from recent events and now he was being told that he was either going to live forever or die from a poison.

"I will never leave you my Golden Lion. I will teach you everything that you need to know and more. Wo ai ni my Golden Lion. I love you so much that I would gladly take death before losing you." Leon was touched by these words and they made his next word much easier.

"What do I need to do for this ceremony thing?"

"Leon..." D was so happy that he almost forgot himself. "You will need to surrender a bit of your blood, take more of my own and you will need to drink that mixed with this." D said indicating the crystal bottle with the crimson liquid. "While you drink the mixture I will chant the needed spells."

"Why are there two glasses out?"

"The second glass is for this." from a hidden pocket in the sleeve of his cheongsam he pulled out a bottle about the same size and shape as the bottle that are used to hold children's bubble soap. This small bottle was also a clear crystal and held a see through golden liquid that seemed to have a faint glow to it. "Once you've drank the first mixture and I have finished chanting you will need to drink this to finish crossing over. You may lose consciousness after you have taken both potions, but I will stay by your side until you awaken."

"D how many times have you done this?"

"This will be my first and most likely only time. Are you afraid?"

"Beyond that D. I trust you I really do, it's just I'm facing death and unlike with my job where I don't know when a bullet with my name on it is going to find me I am very aware of how close to death I am." Leon couldn't help but show his fear and D was amazed at how well and long Leon had held back the tears and tremors that now shook his body. D was very proud of Leon. Slowly as not to startle the terrified man, his beloved, he took him into his arms and place butterfly kisses all over Leon's face and neck. D knew what he had to do and say, but even he was afraid that he would foul up and kill Leon even sooner then his own blood.

"Sh... you are very brave my Golden Lion, but I need for you to be brave for just a little while longer." Leon took a few deep and hopefully calming breaths as he slowly pulled away from D.

"We'd better do this before I freak out again."

"Yes, please give me your right arm." D lifted the dagger and Leon surrendered his arm. Carefully D cut a two inch long wound on the inside of Leon's forearm. The cut was deep enough to pour out a large amount of blood, but not so much as to kill or require stitches to close it. Carefully he collected the blood in one glass and when he had enough wrapped a length of soft white fabric around Leon's are to slow the flow of blood. He did the same to his own right arm. The two type of blood mixed in that glass in a almost hypnotic fashion as it swirled together on its own. Half of the glass was full of blood and D filled the other half with the red liquid. At first the contents had been thick like syrup but within seconds thinned and took on the look of red wine. D poured the gold liquid in the other glass at that filled that glass completely. While D had been carefully pouring out the golden liquid Q-Chan inspected the blood mixture.

"Kee kee kee kee."

"That is good. Q-Chan says that the mixture is perfect. Please rest yourself against the headboard and when you are comfortable we may continue."

"One thing before I do that." in a sudden motion D found himself crushed against Leon and being kissed. He gasped in surprise and Leon took advantage of D's open mouth to deepen the kiss. Leon's kiss was full of need and desire but felt slightly off. "In case I don't make it." Leon whispered.

"You will make it." it was a promise not wishful thinking. Leon moved to the head of his bed and settled himself the best he could considering he was very frightened. D offered him the first glass which he took carefully not wanting to spill any of it. "Drink this as quickly as you can and remember you must drink it all." Leon nodded once and the instant he started to drink D began to chant. Q-Chan flew around them in dizzying circles but that didn't sidetrack either man. Leon felt himself becoming dizzy and very light headed but he continued to drink. He could faintly hear D's soothing voice chanting in rapid Chinese and swore he could see the same aura surrounding D as he had in the garden. The instant the first glass was empty D finished the spells and handed over the next glass as he took the first one away.

"D... I..."

"Drink now and talk later." Leon felt very dizzy and really didn't want to drink the contents of the second glass but he felt D help him raise it to his lips and basically pour the stuff down his throat.

As the last drops fell past Leon's lips D found himself having to catch him as he pitched forward. The fragile glass fell to the carpeted floor and land and remain in one piece, but that was unnoticed. D was busy laying Leon down on the bed not even worrying about the ancient silk painting that Q-Chan had the foresight to remove while Leon was downing the second glass. D had done everything that he could now it was up to the higher powers that be as to what was going to happen next.

************************************************************* ***********

Jill walked through the entrance of the pet shop. She didn't look very happy if anything she looked pissed. She had come to check on Leon since he hadn't bothered calling the office and wasn't answering his cell phone. He'd been gone almost two weeks without any word since he was last brought home. Jill was about to start calling out when D appeared from the shadows as only he could which startled her greatly.

"Miss Jill what can I do for you?"

"ACK! Count you scared the hell outta me." she scolded while clutching her chest.

"Please forgive me."

"Forget about it. Listen I just came to see how Leon is doing. No one has heard from him for awhile and the Chief is having a cow about it."

"I'm sorry I should have thought to have called and let you all know that he had slipped into a minor coma a couple of nights after you dropped him off. He just awoke yesterday."

"A coma? How?" just hearing that her friend had fallen into a coma had her very worried.

"Stress." Leon said as he leaned against a door frame. He was wearing a T-shirt and a pair of ragged but comfortable jeans and no shoes.

"Leon I told you to stay in bed." D began to scold as he went to help Leon. "Now sit down you shouldn't be moving around so much right now."

"How are ya feeling buddy?" Jill asked as she watched D seat Leon at the couch.

"Better. According to the doctor I saw I should be able to go back to work next week. I'll call the office today and let the Chief know what's going on."

"You'd better since you've given him more white hairs then his wife."

"Leon please you need to rest. Miss. Jill please excuse my rudeness..." D began but she cut him off with a friendly wave of her hand.

"No worries. If he went onto a coma because of stress then her really does need to rest. I'll let everyone know that you're alright." she place a quick peck on Leon's cheek and left.

"Now tell me the reason you didn't stay in bed." D asked crossly.

"I got hungry and Totetsu wasn't up to fixing me anything to eat."

"LIAR! You snuck out right past me! You never once said you wanted anything to eat." Totetsu growled as he stormed into the room.

"Leon." D now had his arms crossed over his chest looking very sternly at he sheepish detective.

"Fine I got bored, but I am hungry."

"What would you like to eat?"

"As strange as it may sound I want a triple layer black forest cake. Tell me is it normal to want that much sugar?"

"A main part of our diet."

"Great my dentist will love me."

"Not to much or I'll just have to restate my claim on you." D sealed this with a kiss.

Special note: You may consider this the last chapter for this story however I was able to get the 10 needed requests for the special Chapter 7 so I will be writing that up as soon as I can. The extra chapter will be pure PWP since it has no reason for being except for sex! For those who would like to see what happens now that I've changed Leon I'm thinking of doing a sequel to "Troubled Times" but please let me know if you'd like to see that since I'm still unsure If I'm going to write it at all.

Big Arigato to all of my readers, you are the reason a author can write and continue to do so.

AN: I know that this part may have seemed very left field, but I did what I did due to the fact that I don't know everything about what D is. From various fics that I have managed to read and from what I can tell of D in general he is rather vampiric so I decided to make the "transformation" slightly vampiric in nature. Hell originally I was going to have D go "Interview With the Vampire" on Leon for the transformation. For those of you who don't know what that means basically I was going to have D suck all of Leon's blood and make Leon drink a whole bunch of D's blood, but I thought better of it and decided for a more ceremony style transformation.

The animals I brought in and what the inspiration for their names was

Meilin- Falcon (the name comes from Card Captor Sakura Meilin is one of the semi main characters)

Seki- Half white wolf and half husky (I named him after one of my fav seiyus Toshihiko Seki who just so happens to do D's voice in the anime!)

Heero- Black Panther (a name gotten from Gundam Wing Heero Yuy)

Genjo- Phero Hound ( a name gotten from Saiyuki Genjo Sanzo)

Akino- A White Siberian Tiger ( this was a shout out to the goddess who created Pet Shop of Horrors, nice tribute ne?)

Lily- Jackal (no cool reason for this name I just wanted to use it.)

Yue- Pekingese (Yup he was named after Yue in Card Captor Sakura, I figured the whole angel link would be a nice touch)