Man-Eater

Disclaimer: I don't own Petshop of Horrors and I make no money from this or any other fanfic I write.
Pairings: Leon x D
Category: Supernatural/Drama
Rating: R
Warning: Shonen Ai/Yaoi.
Title: Man-Eater
Notes: Sequel to 'Denial' and Story Two in the Arc, which is set before Volume 9's fourth chapter, Dynasty


MAN-EATER
CHAPTER TEN


For several moments D was too stunned to speak. He opened his mouth, but no sound came forth. He cleared his throat and tried again.

“Save the world,” he murmured slowly, his voice barely a whisper. “Save the world, you say?”

Jin Li leaned forward, face earnest. “Yeah, that’s right. My father wants you to save the world.”

D’s lips twitch and he drops his head, dark hair falling forward to hide his face. His bare shoulders began to shake, and his chest to heave. Strange muffled sounds could be heard. Then he threw back his head and Jin Li realized with a start that he was not having some sort of attack or fit as he had originally feared. The man was, in fact, laughing at him!

Rich, peels of laughter filled the room. Tears beaded at the corners of D’s eyes as he gave himself over to the moment, having surmised that there was no way he could control or stop himself at the moment. Jin Li shifted nervously in his seat for the Count’s laughter held no mirth, only an unmistakable bitterness.

“Oh, dear me,” D mumbled as he slowly began to regain control. “That certainly was the funniest thing I’ve heard in a long, long time.” Long, pale fingers dashed away the tears of mirth that had streamed down his face.

Face red, an angry Jin Li surged to his feet, almost tipping the chair back in his haste. “What’s so funny?” He demanded. His fists, clenched at his sides, trembled as if with the urge to strike something… or someone.

“This whole unfortunate situation is what is funny,” D snapped back, all trace of humor evaporating to leave behind his own barely controlled rage. He, too, shot to his feet, blossoms of color high on his cheeks.

“Your precious father wants me to save the world, does he?” D sneered, “And why by all the gods would I want to do something like that?”

“Because it’s your duty, that’s why!”

“My duty?” D eyes narrowed dangerously. “Do not presume to tell me my duty, human.” The last word, spoken with the greatest contempt, was hurled at Jin Li with the force of a bullet.

“Let me tell you a little something about duty, shall I?” D snarled, “Over a thousand years ago my people helped your ancestors, your human ancestors, willingly as the Emperor Sung’s fortune tellers. His kingdom, though not militarily strong, thrived as a direct result of our mutual cooperation. It was a time of great learning and creativity.

But you humans fear that which you cannot understand and control. Despite all we had done for his father’s kingdom, Chouen Ti ordered the destruction of my entire race. And why, I ask you, why did he do this terrible thing?”

D paused as if giving Jin Li a moment to offer up some sort of answer that would explain the actions of a long dead warrior. Jin Li stood there, his mouth open, but no answer came forth.

“Because he found out the hard way that he couldn’t have whatever he wanted, whenever he wanted it, that’s why,” D said, answering his own question. “You humans will never understand that notion, will you? You’re selfish, egotistical, and greedy. You don’t care who you hurt or what you are destroying as long as you get what you want, be it lower gas prices or the love of a woman who does not return your so-called love.”

“Now just hold on a minute!” Jin Li began but was quickly cut off.

“Your kind mindlessly destroys the environment, polluting the air, the water, the very earth!” D continued with barely a pause for breath. “You worship the almighty dollar and throw the blood of the hundreds of thousands of species upon its disgusting alter, just so you can make a fast buck.”

D folder his arms over his chest, and glared at the other man. His eyes blazed and his chest heaved as he visibly struggled to regain his usual calm control.

“We aren’t all like that, you know,” Jin Li said. “And you’re being awfully judgmental.”

D snorted derisively. “I’m being judgmental? Don’t make me laugh.” He stalked off toward the closet, his lips pressed in a thin line. His stride was a bit wobbly at first, but his anger gave him a strength he had never imagined possible. He threw open the closet door and snatched the remains of his chiao-fu off one of the hangers. With stiff, jerky movements, he slipped into it.

“Goddamn it, listen to me!” Jin Li snatched D’s wrist and whirled him around to face him. “This isn’t time for petty bullshit!”

D glared at him silently and he continued, speaking quickly and urgently. “There are bad men out there, Count, bad men who are trying to bring about the destruction of the entire world for their own sick, twisted reasons. Doesn’t that bother you, because it sure as hell bothers me!”

He gestured helplessly toward the bed. “Please…please just sit down and listen. I saved your life, Count, whether you want to admit it or not. The least you could do is take the time to listen to what I have to say.”

Reluctantly, D lowered himself onto the edge of the bed while Jin Li sat down on the credenza directly opposite him. Long seconds passed and neither man spoke, perhaps not knowing where to begin.

“How do I know this isn’t some personal vendetta on your part?” D finally asked, softly. “He killed your father, did he not?”

Jin Li blew out his cheeks in tired frustration. His black eyes flickered toward D then away again before the other man had a chance to read the expression in them. “Look, I’m pretty torn up about my father’s death, I’ll admit that. But even if he hadn’t died as he had… I would still have carried out his last request.”

“Because it was your duty?” D pressed.

“Because he was my father, damn it!” Struggling for calm, Jin Li stood and started to restlessly pace the length of the bed, his hands stuffed in his pockets. “He asked me to bring the sacred ring and blade to you. After all he had done for me, how could I refuse such a request?”

He turned and forced himself to meet D’s eyes. “I knew he had enemies. I knew he was the last member of some ‘mystical’ brotherhood, but I swear, I had no idea it would cause you so much trouble. It never occurred to me that Kuan Yin and his ilk would even know it had been moved to the United States from China.”

“And how exactly did he come by that information, hmm?”

“I don’t know,” Jin Li sighed, “I just don’t know.”

D stood slowly. “I am sorry for your loss, I truly am, but I cannot help you.”

“Why not?” Jin Li asked, his voice taking on a pleading edge. “Because of some thousand year old grudge?”

“You have your duty,” D replied calmly, “and I have mine and I’m afraid that they are at odds with each other.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

“You wish to save the world,” D replied, his eyes taking on a bitter coldness like none Jin Li had ever seen before, “while my sole purpose of being is to bring about the destruction of Mankind.” A small, humorless smile twitched around the corners of his mouth at Jin Li’s look of astonishment. “So, you see, I’m afraid I cannot help you in your quest.”

“Y-you can’t possibly be serious.”

“Oh, but I assure you that I am.”

Something inside Jin Li seemed to deflate and he suddenly appeared much younger in years. “But I brought you the sacred blade and ring just as my father commanded,” he exclaimed, “he made it very clear that you were the only one who could be trusted with its possession.”

“Keep them,” D replied curtly. “I do not want them.”

“But… but why not?”

D began to fasten the buttons of his chiao-fu, for all the good it did him. But it occupied his hands and gave him something to focus on other than the earnest, if misguided young man standing next to him. “Until today I have never even heard of this so-called sacred blade and ring. Even so, there are men out there who are willing to kill me to gain their possession. It has caused me a great deal of trouble already. And I do not want any more.”

“Count…” Jin Li touched his shoulder beseechingly. “I understand why you don’t want to accept the sacred items, but not accepting them won’t make you any safer.”

“You are wrong,” D cut in sharply. “I have no doubt he or one of his cronies will come after me again, but next time I will be prepared and on my guard.”

“You don’t understand, Count. Kuan Yin and his crew know about you, make no mistake about that.” Jin Li’s eyes were so young, so full of honest sincerity. D wanted to believe him, but he was a human… and a virtual stranger. He dared not put any faith in him. “They know where you live, where you work, who you talk to… and who you love. They won’t stop until they get what their after… believe me.”

“All the more reason why I cannot accept them,” D murmured. “He does not know you, not personally. You are free to leave. Settle anywhere in this country and start a new life of your own. Or you could return to China and disappear without a trace. If he thinks I have the sacred items, and I’ve no reason to believe that he doesn’t, his attention will be focused solely on me. He probably doesn’t even know they are still in your possession. If you were to leave tonight, he would never be able to track you.”

D peered into the mirror over the credenza and began to inspect his reflection intently, more for something to do to take his eyes away from the silent aguish the other man exuded, than for honest concern over his clothes. There was no salvaging the garment, he knew. But the darkness would hopefully help conceal the damage. He plucked at the shredded garment with a sigh of resignation.

“And now, if you will excuse me, I must be going.”

“Count… please. Think about what you are doing. They’ll never give up, you know.”

“I know.” D’s voice was no more than a whisper. “But I can take care of myself. I always have.”

“At least let me call you a taxi,” Jin Li insisted. “You shouldn’t be walking the streets alone this late at night.”

“Alright,” D conceded. He wasn’t afraid to walk home alone, not really. But he was a vain creature and pride would not allow him to wander the streets of Los Angeles with his clothes in such a disgraceful state.

Jin Li used his cell phone to call a local taxi company. He gave the dispatcher the hotel’s address then the address for D’s pet shop. After a few moments, he thanked them and disconnected. “A cab will be here in ten to fifteen minutes,” he announced.

“My, that doesn’t seem to be as long a wait as you’d expect to have for this time of night,” D mused.

“Yeah, well, apparently the dispatcher is a customer of yours. When I explained who you were and where you wanted to go, she assured me that she’d send a taxi right away.”

They proceeded to the lobby and in silence waited for the taxi. The lobby was deserted at this time of night, the lights softened. They sat together on one of the many stuffed benches, their eyes traveling along the various paintings, the furniture, the fireplace, looking everywhere but at each other. Fortunately, the dispatcher was true to her word. Less than ten minutes after Jin Li had made the call, the front desk clerk walked over to them and gestured to the darkened vestibule.

“Gentlemen, your ride is here.”

Jin Li thanked him and together he and D rose. “Your ride’s here.” He repeated unnecessarily.

“Indeed.”

D headed for the door and Jin Li caught up with him just as his hand fell on the door handle. He took hold of D’s wrist and pressed a small business card into his hand. “Please take this, Count.” When D opened his mouth to protest, he shushed him with a finger to his lips. “Don’t argue with me on this. Please. Those men are dangerous and will stop at nothing to get what they want.”

He indicated the handwritten numbers on the back of the card. “That’s my cell phone number. I’m switching hotels tonight, but I’ll be staying in the Los Angeles metro area… just in case.”

“And take this as well,” He added, handing over a large envelope sealed with red wax. D accepted the envelope wordlessly, curiosity in his eyes. “It’s from my father. He wanted it to be delivered to you along with the sacred items.” D started to protest but he cut him off, raising his hand palm up. “Please accept the letter. Perhaps my father’s words will have better luck convincing you than I did.”

“I do not wish to get your hopes up…” D began, but he accepted the letter all the same. The envelope was not your ordinary postal issued deal on cheap white paper. The paper was heavy, the color rich and creamy. He peered at the seal carefully. Though he had never seen it before, it had a familiar quality about it. Without breaking the seal and reading the words, he knew it was important.

“This letter contains your father’s last earthly request,” D murmured. “He took great pains to see that this letter reach me. The least I can do is accept it… and read his words.” Jin Li looked hopeful at this, but he quickly squelched it. “That does not mean that I will do as you ask.”

“I know, I know, all I can do is deliver it to you. The rest is up to you.”

“Yes.”

“Don’t forget to call if you need me.”

D twitched a small smile. “I won’t,” he assured in his most sincere voice.

But as the door shut behind him and he made his way down to the waiting taxi, he knew that contacting Jin Li was the last thing in the world he would ever want to do.

*****

There wasn’t much traffic to speak of so late at night and it wasn’t long before the taxi was pulling up in front of the pet shop. The driver, a middle aged, heavy-set Chinese man wearing thick horn rimmed glasses, had attempted to make conversation with D for the first few minutes, but it soon became obvious from his short answers and general demeanor that he wasn’t in the mood for polite conversations.

Silence had reigned for the rest of the ride, but D practically felt the man’s eyes taking in every detail of his disheveled appearance from the rearview window. His gaze had an offensive heat and weight and had made D very uncomfortable. But whether that was from his recent misfortunes or not, he couldn’t say for certain. Needless to say, he had pulled his tattered chiao-fu closer about him and retreated as far as he could into the shadows of the backseat.

He opened the door and leaned over to pay the fare. The driver’s gaze slid greedily down the tattered remains of his garments and ogled the pale flesh it tried to conceal. D rolled his eyes in exasperation. “How much do I owe you?” He asked in Chinese.

The driver tore his eyes away from D’s chest in confusion. No doubt he had been expecting to get a free glimpse of breasts and had been sadly disappointed. But he still seemed to like what he saw and the lecherous grin he offered oozed a greasy sort of charm. “For you, no charge,” He replied grandly. “Just think of me the next time you need a cab, eh?”

Somehow D managed a gracious smile, “Why, of course, kind sir! Absolutely!”

“That’s what I like to hear.”

The man winked at him lewdly, and rolled up his window but made no effort to pull out. D could feel the cabby’s eyes on him as he made his way to the steps leading down to the shop. But he refused to hurry because he was feeling paranoid. It just wouldn’t do.

Just as he began to descend the steps, he glanced over his shoulder. The man was still sitting in his taxi, staring at him. Twitching a nauseated smile, D raised his hand in a gesture of farewell, turned, and continued down the steps. He stood at the bottom of the steps for several minutes, waiting. Eventually, the engine revved into life and soon disappeared into the night.

Hurriedly, he opened the door only wide enough for him to pass through, and slid inside to all that was familiar, comfortable… and safe. Once the door was firmly shut, he locked it, his hands flying over the various chains and bolts. When all was as secure as it was ever likely to get, he rested his head against its solid wood, closed his eyes, and heaved a sigh of relief.

An enormous wave of tiredness engulfed him as the events of the day finally caught up with him. He tried his best to push all thought from his mind. He didn’t want to remember… didn’t want to think. All he wanted was a warm, soothing cup of tea, some gingersnap cookies and a long, relaxing bath. Then, calm and composed once again, he would lie in his big, comfortable bed and fall into a, hopefully, dreamless sleep.

“Do you have any idea what time it is?” A familiar and very angry voice demanded from behind him.

Startled, D whirled around and came face to face with a very red faced Leon.

“Where have you been?” Leon snapped, his arms shooting out and slamming into the wood of the door on either side of D’s body. His eyes fell to the tattered remains of D’s chiao-fu. He drew in a surprised breath and brought his face level to D’s. Blue eyes blazing with equal parts concern and anger bore into his, pinning him there like a butterfly behind glass.

“And what the fuck have you been doing?”


TO BE CONTINUED