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FIC: Spirits, Part 3 of 3
Title: Spirits, Part 3
Rating: PG-13
Pairing: Leon/D
Word count: ~5,650
Disclaimer: Characters belong to Matsuri Akino; no money is being made off this story; consider it a little wish fulfillment on my part.
Summary: Sequel to Spirits, Part 1 and Part 2; Leon and D investigate a murder which may have been committed by a vengeful spirit.
Author's note 1: [Brackets] indicate the animals' speech, which Leon cannot understand.
Author's note 2: This story presumes that Chris used to live at the petshop, but now lives with his adoptive parents (Leon's aunt and uncle). I made up the stuff about D growing up in Japan; I invented that part of his background to explain why he sometimes speaks Japanese in my stories.
Translation note: "Ni hao" means "hello" in Chinese. "Urusai" means "noisy" or annoying in Japanese; D uses the latter meaning when speaking to Leon. "Oyasumi-nasai" means "goodnight" in Japanese.
Jill had dropped off Leon's things with a wink and an admonition to behave himself. Leon had gone off to shower and change, grumbling to himself. When he returned, feeling somewhat refreshed and a little less irritated, he found D and Jia seated on the couch. The boy leaned against the Count as he struggled to hold back a yawn. The little gray kitten curled up in Jia's lap also seemed to have gone to sleep.
"Guess it's beddy-bye time, eh?" asked Leon.
The Count laid a gentle hand on the boy's head, and spoke to him in Chinese.
"Not tired," Jia protested sleepily in English, but the Count took Kage, and Leon lifted the boy off the couch.
"You can put him in Chris's old room," said D.
Leon carried the boy to the bedroom. Jia made a few token protests, then snuggled against the detective contentedly. He was fast asleep by the time they tucked him into bed. D placed the kitten on the bed next to the boy.
"Oyasumi-nasai," the Count whispered, then turned out the lights and shut the door.
Leon watched D, with a bemused look on his face. When he had first met the Count, Leon had thought he was a criminal. And he knew D sold strange and dangerous pets that sometimes killed their owners, although there was no way to legally hold the Count responsible. Yet he was so gentle with kids like Jia and Chris. He was sure he had seen a look of tender affection on D's face as they put Jia to bed.
D turned to the detective, still smiling. "You are very good with children, Keiji-san. I think you are more softhearted than you would like to admit, although you do disguise it well."
Leon laughed. "Funny, I was just thinking the same about you!"
"Me? Of course I have a gentle heart. After all, I sell--"
"Love and dreams, I know, I know!" Not to mention man-eating mermaids and killer bunnies, but Leon didn't feel like arguing with D right now. Particularly when he was still looking at Leon with that same tender smile. Leon slipped an arm around D's waist and pulled him close. The Count's silk robe felt cool and slick beneath his hands, but his breath felt warm against Leon's face.
"Will you protect me from the ghost, Leon-san?" whispered D.
In answer, Leon kissed him, long and slow. But he couldn't resist having the last word. When they came up for air, Leon said, "There're no such things as ghosts."
"Ah, then was that just an excuse to stay here with me?" asked the Count hopefully.
"Uh...well...I...oh, I surrender!" exclaimed Leon, throwing up his arms in disgust. So much for having the last word!
"You do? Well, you'll find we treat prisoners-of-war here very well," purred D, winding his arms around Leon's neck, and pressing his body against the detective's.
Leon was about to kiss D again, when he felt something tug painfully at his hair.
"Ouch!"
"Kyu, kyu!" squeaked Q-chan angrily as he yanked at Leon's hair.
"Damn little bat-bunny!" Leon growled, trying to swat at the creature. One blow connected and Q-chan went flying across the hall, hitting the wall with a soft "thunk!"
"Kyu!"
"It's your own fault," the Count chided, as he scooped up his pet. Q-chan squeaked at him indignantly. D sighed. "He said he was trying to remind you of your promise that nothing would happen while Jia is here."
"So an overweight bat is gonna be my chaperone?!"
"KYUUU!!!"
"Q-chan says he is not overweight."
"Oh yeah? How much cake did you eat today, bat boy?"
"Enough, both of you! You'll wake the child!"
"Fine! I'll go sleep on the couch!"
Leon stalked off, but felt slightly mollified--and a little worried--when D whispered, "We'll continue this on another night, Keiji-san. Remember, you're my prisoner."
Leon slept fitfully on the couch. Maybe it was the chocolate cake; maybe it was the fact that his hormones had been kicked into overdrive by the Count; maybe it was the perpetual scent of incense in the shop--but he kept having the strangest dreams that night...
Wong the killer chef was waving a huge butcher knife and chasing him down the halls of the pet shop. The heavy scent of incense was making Leon dizzy, and his legs felt like lead weights. Picking up one foot and setting it down in front of the other took a huge effort; he felt like he was moving in slow motion--there was no way he could outrun Wong like this. He saw an open doorway ahead--a chance for escape! But as he ran towards it, he saw the silhouette of a 6-foot tall Q-chan! Leon skidded to a halt, trapped between an insane serial killer and a giant bat-bunny...
"AAH!" shouted Leon, sitting up on the couch as he woke with a start. He gasped for breath, his heart pounding. "Jesus," he grumbled. "What was in that cake, anyway?" Something cold and wet nudged his hand, and he looked down. The gray puppy, Lupin, was sitting on the floor next to the couch. He whined and bumped his nose against Leon's palm. "What's wrong, boy?"
[I sense the presence of a spirit. I'm scared! We should wake the pack-leader!] said Lupin.
All Leon heard was a nervous whine. But he could tell the dog was upset about something. Funny, he felt a sudden chill, as if there were a draft in the room. But there were no windows in this room, and the door was closed. Leon was reaching for his gun when he heard a loud creak. He grabbed his gun and ducked behind the couch as the front door slowly swung open.
Lupin whined again. "Shhh!" Leon hissed into the puppy's ear, clamping a hand over the dog's muzzle. Leon was always telling D he should oil those squeaky hinges on the door, but for once he was glad of the warning they gave. But he could have sworn D had locked the door before they went to bed...
A beautiful Chinese woman glided through the door. She wore elaborate robes of yellow silk covered with intricate embroidery and beading, the main motif being that of a stylized dragon, similar to the dragon designs on several of D's robes. Her hair was pinned up in a complicated style apparently held together with jeweled pins and combs. Leon rubbed his eyes. The woman seemed to have a faint, luminescent glow around her. Surely that was just an effect caused by the dimly glowing lanterns the Count used to light the shop. A middle-aged Chinese man Leon recognized from photos as Ling Yunhan looked around nervously. He clutched a small, cloth-wrapped parcel in one arm.
"My love," said the woman in a melodious voice, "give up this foolishness and let us be gone from this place."
"No!" said Ling. "He is my son and heir! He belongs to me--I must have an heir to inherit my empire!" Leon noticed that the man's expensive suit looked rumpled, and there was a bright, feverish look in his eyes. This guy is not playing with a full deck, thought Leon.
The woman pouted. "I have given you my love," she said. "And I will bring you great wealth and riches. Have I not promised to build you an empire that shall be the envy of any mortal man? And now you scorn me in favor of a stripling boy!"
"Xueli, my heart, I do not scorn you," said Ling, cringing at the woman's rebuke, yet there was a look of stubborn determination on his face. "He is my son, not a rival for your affection. We shall be a family together, I the Emperor, you my beautiful Empress, and the boy our Crown Prince."
The woman gave Ling a glare that sent chills down Leon's spine--this was the look that must have inspired the phrase "staring daggers"! Yet Ling seemed oblivious to his paramour's anger. "Very well, my love," said the woman in a too-sweet voice. "We shall retrieve your son."
"Good. Where is he?"
The woman motioned in the direction of the hallway leading to D's private quarters. Her nails, Leon noticed, were as long and elegant as the Count's. As the pair headed for the doorway, Leon rose to his feet, raising his gun. Time to take care of these two fruitcakes! It should be an easy arrest; neither seemed to be armed.
"Hold it right there!" Leon shouted. The pair turned towards him, looking vaguely surprised, but not especially worried. "LAPD! Ling Yunhan, you and your girlfriend are under arrest for the murders of your wife and daughter!"
The woman...Xueli?...laughed, giving him a contemptuous look. "Mortal man, do not interfere, if you value your life."
Jesus Christ! thought Leon. She's even crazier than I thought! Don't tell me she thinks she's a ghost?! She can't have been talking to the Count! "Ling--drop the package! And both of you put your hands in the air and move up against the wall--now!" Lupin emerged from behind the couch, growling.
"Spirit-dog, you are out of your league," said Xueli. "If you get in my way, I'll kill you, too." She took Ling's arm and continued walking towards the hallway.
"Stop, or I'll shoot!" said Leon. He took aim, intending to fire a warning shot. Xueli raised her hand, and what looked like a lightning bolt shot out from her palm and hit Leon in the chest. He was flung across the room, crashing against the wall. Through a haze of pain, he heard Lupin snarl, although he couldn't see anything but a gray blur leaping in the air. There was the sound of a blow, and a yelp of pain, and the dog fell to the floor beside him. When his vision cleared, he saw four long, bloody slash marks across the puppy's muzzle. Lupin rose unsteadily to his feet, and Leon did the same, bracing himself against the wall for support. His chest hurt, but he seemed to be mostly unharmed. The strange pair was nowhere in sight.
"Oh, shit!" exclaimed Leon. He looked around frantically, then spotted his gun on the floor. He snatched it up, running down the hallway, shouting, "D! Look out! Ling and the woman are here! They're after Jia!" Lupin shot past him, barking wildly.
Leon ran through the dimly lit halls--they seemed far longer than they should be, as if the inside of the shop was somehow larger than the outside, which made no sense. And it was difficult to tell, with all the twists and turns of the hall, and the many mysterious-looking doors, but the hall looked different to him each time he entered it. Only the front parlor remained the same with every visit. Still, Lupin seemed to know where he was going, so he followed the dog, whose puppy-ish whine had somehow transformed into the bay of a wolf on the hunt.
Lupin skidded to a stop outside Jia's bedroom. He growled, baring his fangs. The puppy suddenly seemed larger, but Leon didn't have time to wonder about that--Ling and Xueli stood outside the bedroom door, confronting Count D.
The woman glared at D, who gazed back impassively. "I do not know what you are," said Xueli, "but if you are wise, you will not stand in my way."
D's eyes narrowed, glowing eerily in dim light. "The boy is under my protection," he said softly. Leon recognized that deceptively gentle tone of voice as the calm before the storm. You didn't want to mess with him when he sounded like that.
"He's my son!" shouted Ling. "Give him to me!"
"Why do you want him?" asked D, still speaking in that same gentle tone. "You have never seen him as anything but an object, an accessory to your lifestyle--you believe a man in your position should have a wife and children, just as you must have the latest model car and television, to show off your status to your peers. You have never read him a bedtime story, sung him a lullaby, or kissed him goodnight. You do not know what his favorite book is, or the name of his favorite stuffed animal."
"What are you babbling about?" snapped Ling. "His mother took care of all that bedtime stuff--that's the woman's job, after all!"
"Yes, she did all those things...because she loved him. As you did not. So why do you even want him back?"
"Because he's my heir, damn it! I need a son to run my business someday!"
"You gave up your right to him when you let the spirit kill his mother and sister," said D coldly.
"Enough talk!" said Xueli. She motioned with one hand, and the bedroom door swung open. D made no move to stop her. Leon raised his gun. This time he didn't bother to shout a warning; he fired immediately. The bullet entered the middle of her back--and passed through her as if she wasn't there, then struck the wall. There was no blood or entry wound on her body.
Leon's jaw dropped. "Wh...what the hell...?!"
"She is a spirit, Keiji-san," said D patiently, as if talking to a very young--and somewhat dimwitted--child. "Mortal weapons cannot harm her."
"I don't believe this!" shouted Leon, pushing his way past Ling, who was still standing in the hall with a slightly glazed look in his eyes. He entered the bedroom, and saw Xueli standing at the foot of the bed. Jia was sitting up, blinking sleepily and rubbing his eyes. The woman reached out for the boy, her long nails looking like claws. She no longer looked beautiful; her face was contorted in an ugly grimace of hate.
"NO!!!" shouted Leon, starting forward, fearing he would be too late.
Xueli reached for the boy, but as she did, a globe of light sprung up around Jia and the bed like a force field. When the woman touched it, she was thrown back, shrieking...in pain? Or anger?
The Count appeared in the doorway behind Leon. "I told you he was under my protection," he said mildly. Leon followed the Count's gaze, and saw that there was a small scroll hanging on the wall above the bed. It was inscribed in black ink with Chinese calligraphy; Leon couldn't read the characters.
Xueli's lips curled back in a sneer. "If you think that simple charm will stop me, you are a fool! Clearly your powers are no match for mine!"
Q-chan fluttered into the room, hissing at the woman. Lupin appeared at Leon's side, growling. Xueli laughed mockingly. "Are these your familiars? A flying rabbit and a baby wolf-spirit?"
"Kii kii!" squeaked Q-chan, attempting to sound menacing. Xueli waved her hand in the little bat's direction, and he was flung headfirst into the wall.
"Kyuuuuuu..." moaned Q-chan weakly, sliding down the wall until he fell into a small, limp heap on the floor.
Lupin leaped up and clamped his jaws around the woman's outstretched arm. She simply swung her arm down, slamming him into the floor with far more strength than a normal human should be capable of. Lupin twitched once, then lay motionless.
Leon put his gun back in his holster; clearly bullets didn't work. As he ran towards the woman, he heard D shout, "Keiji-san, no!" He tried to grab Xueli, but his hands passed right through her body, as if she were an illusion--or a ghost?!
"I tire of these petty games!" snapped Xueli peevishly. She flung her hands out towards Leon, and another bolt of light shot out towards him--
--As the Count pulled him out of the line of fire. The bolt just barely grazed Leon, but excruciating pain coursed through every inch of his body. This was what it must feel like to be electrocuted, he thought, with the one small corner of his mind that was not paralyzed by the pain. He heard screaming; it was only when his throat became raw and sore that he realized it was coming from himself.
When the pain finally receded, he found himself lying on the floor with his head resting in D's lap. He blinked and looked up, to find the Count looking back down at him, his strangely colored eyes filled with concern.
"Are you all right, Leon-san?" asked D, gently stroking the detective's hair.
"Uh...yeah, I think so." In fact, now that the pain was gone, it actually felt rather pleasant...No! Leon shook his head, as if to clear it. "Jia!" he exclaimed, struggling to sit up.
The Count pointed towards the bed. Jia was fully awake now, eyes wide with fear as he stared at the spirit-woman. The little gray kitten was standing on the bed, back arched, all its fur standing on end, hissing and spitting at the woman. Xueli ignored them both, gazing at the scroll above the bed, an intense look of concentration on her face.
"I fear the protective charm will not hold much longer," said D. Even as he spoke, the edges of the scroll began to blacken and curl, as if it had caught on fire.
Leon jumped to his feet, swaying unsteadily for a moment until D caught his arm. "You have not fully recovered from the spirit's attack," said the Count.
"I've gotta stop her!"
"You cannot touch her! She cannot be harmed by a mortal man!"
Leon turned as he heard hissing and growling behind him. Gathered in the hall outside the bedroom were several of the shop's "pets": a large lizard, a fox-like creature that seemed to have too many tails, an orange tabby cat, and an odd animal that looked like a cross between a dog and a goat, which Leon recognized as Tet-chan.
"I fear she cannot be harmed by ordinary animals, either," said the Count. Tet-chan snorted. "And perhaps not even by...extraordinary animals." D looked sadly at Lupin's still form. "The powers of this spirit are very great. Her anger and hatred fuel her strength. This is the most powerful ghost I have ever seen."
And how many ghosts have you seen?! wondered Leon. He shoved his way past the Count and the animals, grabbed Ling, and dragged him into the room. "Look at that!" shouted Leon. "That...that...whatever she is, she's gonna kill your son!" Ling stared at him blankly, and the detective shook him, hard. "Do something! Stop her!"
"Stop...her?"
"She's your ghost, isn't she?! She's going to kill Jia like she killed your wife and daughter!" Leon shook Ling again, trying to snap him out of the trance he seemed to be in. "Remember them--Meilin and Wenli?! She tore out Meilin's throat and broke Wenli's neck!"
"That wasn't my fault," Ling whined. "I can't control her!"
"You bought the statue!" Leon shouted.
"Yes..." Ling's eyes took on a dreamy, unfocused look. "She was beautiful...a rare and precious gem..." Leon wasn't sure if he was talking about the statue or the woman. Ling continued, "She said she would make me wealthy beyond my wildest dreams...she said she would make me a king..."
Xueli shouted, a wordless cry of triumph. Leon turned in time to see the scroll burst into flames and vanish in a puff of smoke and ashes. In desperation, Leon pulled out his gun and shot at her, but the bullets passed through her without effect. Jia screamed as she reached for him, and the kitten crouched down, ready to pounce...
Suddenly the air in the room seemed to shimmer for a moment, and then the ghostly image of another woman interposed herself between Xueli and the boy. She was pretty, although not as heart-stoppingly beautiful as Xueli. But the kindness in her face more than made up for that.
"Mama!" shouted Jia, and Leon recognized the woman as Ling Meilin.
Xueli snarled and started forward, but Meilin flung out her arms, as if to bar her way. And suddenly there was another apparition by her side--a young Chinese girl, with a stubborn and determined look on her face. She crossed her arms and glared at Xueli.
Leon could only stare open-mouthed. The two new spirits glowed with the same faint light as the first, but their forms were misty and transparent, while Xueli's seemed substantial--at least until you tried to touch her.
Xueli sneered. "You are still weak, newborn spirits. Your strength cannot possibly equal mine!"
Meilin gazed back at her without fear. D whispered, "Love provides strength in unexpected ways."
Xueli hovered at the foot of the bed. Despite her words, she seemed to be hesitating.
Meilin turned her gaze towards her husband, staring at him silently, with a look that was both sad and reproachful. Ling backed away fearfully. "No! Don't look at me that way! It wasn't my fault!" His hands shook, and he dropped the bundle he was carrying. The cloth fell away, revealing a small porcelain statue of a woman in yellow robes.
"Keiji-san!" shouted D. "The statue is what links her to this world! Destroy it!"
"NOOOOOO!!!" screamed Xueli, moving towards them. But Leon aimed and shot at the statue, and it exploded, spraying shards of pottery all over the room. One shard nicked Leon's cheek, but he didn't notice. He was watching Xueli scream in rage, her cry growing fainter as she slowly faded out of sight and vanished.
Meilin gave the detective and Count D a grateful smile. Then she turned to her son, and caressed his cheek lovingly with a ghostly hand.
"Mama?" Jia whispered, tears welling up in his eyes. "You're going away, aren't you?"
She smiled and kissed his forehead. "Goodbye," she said softly. "I love you."
Wenli kissed her brother's cheek, then took her mother's hand. She gave Jia a cheerful grin and a wink as they vanished.
"Goodbye," whispered Jia, tears running down his face. Kage mewed, butting his head against the boy's chest. Jia gathered the kitten into his arms, burying his face in its fur. D sat on the bed next to Jia, and put an arm around his shoulder.
"They came back to protect you," said D, speaking gently to the boy in Cantonese. "Now that you are safe, they can rest in peace."
Jia sniffled. "I know. They're in Heaven now, right?"
"Yes," said D. "When I was a child, my father told me a story. In Japan, he said, some people believe that their loved ones become stars when they die. They shine in the sky, watching over us."
"Do you think Mama and Sister are watching over me now?"
"I'm sure they are."
"I'm glad I got to see them again," said Jia, wiping the tears away with the back of his hand. "I'm glad I got to say goodbye."
Eventually Jia went back to sleep. Despite all he'd been through, the boy calmed down quickly. He seemed to be comforted by his mother's farewell visit.
By the time the Count got Jia back to bed, Q-chan and Lupin had regained consciousness. Q-chan fluttered to the Count's shoulder, squeaking grumpily but none the worse for wear. Lupin walked over to the Count and barked.
"Yes, Lupin, you were very brave," said the Count, praising and petting the puppy, who wagged his tail happily. "We'll put some medicine on those scratches...it may leave a scar, but you can consider it a badge of honor."
Leon cuffed Ling and led him out of the room. He followed Leon docilely, but kept muttering to himself about ghosts and statues.
"I don't know how I'm going to write up my police report," complained Leon.
"Just tell the truth," said D.
"Are you kidding?! They'll lock me up in the looney bin! Probably give me the room next to Ling here!"
"The truth...that Mr. Ling claims that the ghost of the statue killed his wife and daughter. And that he came here tonight to retrieve his son. And that he had a complete mental breakdown when you destroyed the statue."
"I see..." said Leon, rubbing his chin as he thought over what D said. "Selective truth. Not telling the whole story--"
"But not lying either."
Leon gave D a suspicious glance. "You're very good at this selective truth thing."
"Thank you," said D, smiling modestly.
The next day, Jill arrived at the shop, accompanied by an attractive Chinese woman in her mid-thirties, and a tall, lanky man about the same age. He had light brown hair and blue eyes, and the gold-rimmed glasses he wore gave him a slightly owlish look. The woman had long black hair, and bore a distinct resemblance to Meilin and Jia. There were dark circles under her eyes, but her face lit up when she saw Jia.
"Auntie Wen! Uncle Simon!" shouted Jia, running towards the couple. Wenjing Holt knelt down and embraced her nephew. Her husband put his arms around them both. The detectives and the Count discreetly stepped back to give the family some space. They all hugged and wept, with Jia chattering excitedly in a combination of English and Cantonese.
Finally, after everyone had calmed down, Wenjing stepped forward.
"Thank you so much for saving my nephew's life," she said, bowing deeply to Leon and Count D. Simon added his thanks also, bowing to the Count, and extending his hand to Leon.
Leon shook Simon's hand, saying, "Please...it was nothing; just doing my job..."
"It means a great deal to us," said Wenjing. "Jia is all I have left of my sister."
"Yeah, well, he's a pretty great kid," said Leon, a little embarrassed. "I have a little brother near his age..."
"So you understand how we feel, then," said Wenjing.
Jia smiled shyly, holding onto his aunt with one hand, and tugging on Leon's pants' leg with the other. "Can I play with your brother sometime, Mr. Detective?"
"Hey, so you do speak English!" said Leon, bending down to ruffle the boy's hair affectionately. "Sure, you can visit me and Chris whenever you're in town. But you'll be going to live in San Francisco with your Aunt and Uncle, won't you?"
Jia looked up, a little apprehensively, at the Holts. Simon dropped to one knee and spoke to his nephew in Cantonese. Leon shot D an inquisitive glance, and the Count whispered a running translation in the detective's ear. But the warmth of D's breath on his skin made it difficult for Leon to concentrate on what the Count was saying.
"We'd like you to come live with us now," Simon was saying in a gentle tone of voice. "Remember when you visited our house last year? We're going to turn the guest room into your bedroom. You can decorate it however you want. Would you like that?" Simon brushed his hair out of his eyes with one hand; he seemed to need a haircut. His hair fell into his eyes and over his collar, and he had the rumpled, slightly absent-minded look that Leon associated with scholarly types. But his eyes were kind, and he seemed to be genuinely fond of Jia.
"I can't live here anymore?" Jia asked.
"I'm afraid not," said Wenjing softly. "Mama..." she hesitated, her voice catching in her throat as she choked back a sob.
"Mama's not coming back," finished Jia. "I know. Don't be sad, Auntie Wen," he said, patting her hand, as if he were the parent and she the child. "She came to say goodbye last night. She's watching us from Heaven now."
Wenjing pulled Jia to her and held him tightly. He patted her back as she wept softly. After a minute or two, she wiped her eyes and said, "Jia, we both love you very much. Will you come live with me and Uncle Simon?"
"Yes, Auntie Wen. I...I love you, too."
Another round of weeping and hugging ensued. Jill took off her glasses to wipe her eyes, the Count discreetly brushed a tear from the corner of his eye, and Leon turned away, mumbling, "Got something in my eye..."
Finally, everyone composed themselves, and Wenjing bowed once more to Count D, handing him a small shopping bag that was printed with the logo of the Hong Kong Airport. "We know we can never repay you for your kindness...but this is just a small token of our gratitude. Thank you for taking care of Jia."
"It was my pleasure," said D. "In fact, I should thank you. Jia was a big help around the shop yesterday." Jia grinned proudly. Leon peered over D's shoulder as he opened the bag. It contained cellophane bags of some kind of candy--small, roundish sweets wrapped in twists of white and purple waxed paper.
"Ah!" exclaimed the Count. "Chan Pui Ying Che!"
"Chan poo--?"
"Seedless preserved plums," D translated for the detective.
"I know it's not much," said Wenjing, looking slightly embarrassed, "but--"
"I understand," said D. "You were in a rush to get back to the U.S. Don't apologize! This is wonderful! I haven't had these in such a long time...my grandfather used to buy me preserved plums when--" He suddenly stopped when he saw Leon and Jill staring at him, with a look of avid curiosity on their faces. "Ahem. Thank you very much."
Jia looked down as he heard a soft mew. Kage purred, rubbing himself against Jia's leg. Jia stroked the kitten, and said sadly, "Goodbye, Kage." He turned to D and said, "Count, will you please find a good home for Kage?" He was obviously trying to be brave, but his lower lip trembled just a little.
D caught Wenjing's eye. She exchanged a look with her husband, who smiled and shrugged. Wenjing turned back to the Count and nodded.
"I already have," said D. He picked up the kitten and handed him to Jia. "He has chosen you as his master; I do not think he would be happy with anyone else."
Jia turned to his aunt and uncle, eyes pleading. "Auntie Wen--"
"Yes, Jia," she laughed. "You can keep the kitten."
"Thank you!" He hugged her tightly. He hugged the Count, "Mr. Detective," and "Miss Jill" as he told them goodbye. The Holts bowed again, promising to keep in touch. And Leon promised Jia he could meet Chris the next time he came to L.A.
Two weeks later, the Count received a letter from San Francisco. Just as he was opening it, a delivery man from the local bakery stopped by to drop off a box. When D opened the box, he laughed and clapped his hands together.
"What is it?" asked Leon.
D stepped aside so Leon could see the cake. It was a round, two-layer cake, trimmed with slices of strawberries and kiwi fruit. The top of the cake was covered with a large Hello Kitty face sculpted in white frosting. "Isn't it cute?" asked the Count happily.
"Kyu! Kyu!" said Q-chan, eyeing the cake hungrily.
"Cute is not exactly the word I'd use," mumbled Leon.
The Count slit open a small envelope with his thumbnail. "The card says it's from the Holts. Jia picked out the cake. 'Just a small thank-you for your many kindnesses'...well, how thoughtful!"
"What about the letter?" asked Leon. "Is it from Jia?"
"Let's see...'Dear Count D and Mr. Detective: I am fine. Auntie Wen and Uncle Simon say hello. We just finished decorating my new room with Pokemon wallpaper--' "
Leon rolled his eyes.
"'I miss Mama and Sister, but I like living with Auntie and Uncle. Auntie Wen says she has business in L.A. next month, so maybe we can come and visit you. And Uncle Simon bought me a telescope so I can look at the stars. Say hi to Pon-chan and Tet-chan and Lupin and Q-chan--say hi to everyone for me! Love, Jia. P.S. Here is a drawing I made.'"
D unfolded the piece of paper, and smoothed it out on the coffee table. Jia had drawn in a childish scrawl, two stick figures, one with long hair labeled "Auntie," and one with glasses labeled "Uncle," plus a smaller one labeled "Me." He had also drawn a small gray cat labeled "Kage". They stood together under a night sky colored in with a black crayon. Two silver stars, one large, one small hung in the sky. Beneath them he had written "Mama" and "Sister."
THE END.
Afterword: In the original version it was D's mother who told him the story about deceased love ones becoming stars--this was before I knew that D didn't have a mother! Initially, I suspected that D's father went mad because his wife had been killed, but obviously I was totally off the mark. Anyhow, I changed the reference in this story to D's father, to avoid confusion. I'm not sure if the star thing is an actual Japanese legend, but I've seen the same story told to comfort an orphaned child in at least two different Japanese TV dramas, so it seemed like it might be. Or we can just assume that D's dad enjoyed watching melodramas on TV when he was younger!
Minor trivia point: Uncle Simon is modeled loosely after Sakura's father in Card Captor Sakura. I always wanted to write another story about the Holt family, but never got around to it. Maybe someday...
Author's note 2: This story presumes that Chris used to live at the petshop, but now lives with his adoptive parents (Leon's aunt and uncle). I made up the stuff about D growing up in Japan; I invented that part of his background to explain why he sometimes speaks Japanese in my stories.
Translation note: "Ni hao" means "hello" in Chinese. "Urusai" means "noisy" or annoying in Japanese; D uses the latter meaning when speaking to Leon. "Oyasumi-nasai" means "goodnight" in Japanese.
***
Jill had dropped off Leon's things with a wink and an admonition to behave himself. Leon had gone off to shower and change, grumbling to himself. When he returned, feeling somewhat refreshed and a little less irritated, he found D and Jia seated on the couch. The boy leaned against the Count as he struggled to hold back a yawn. The little gray kitten curled up in Jia's lap also seemed to have gone to sleep.
"Guess it's beddy-bye time, eh?" asked Leon.
The Count laid a gentle hand on the boy's head, and spoke to him in Chinese.
"Not tired," Jia protested sleepily in English, but the Count took Kage, and Leon lifted the boy off the couch.
"You can put him in Chris's old room," said D.
Leon carried the boy to the bedroom. Jia made a few token protests, then snuggled against the detective contentedly. He was fast asleep by the time they tucked him into bed. D placed the kitten on the bed next to the boy.
"Oyasumi-nasai," the Count whispered, then turned out the lights and shut the door.
Leon watched D, with a bemused look on his face. When he had first met the Count, Leon had thought he was a criminal. And he knew D sold strange and dangerous pets that sometimes killed their owners, although there was no way to legally hold the Count responsible. Yet he was so gentle with kids like Jia and Chris. He was sure he had seen a look of tender affection on D's face as they put Jia to bed.
D turned to the detective, still smiling. "You are very good with children, Keiji-san. I think you are more softhearted than you would like to admit, although you do disguise it well."
Leon laughed. "Funny, I was just thinking the same about you!"
"Me? Of course I have a gentle heart. After all, I sell--"
"Love and dreams, I know, I know!" Not to mention man-eating mermaids and killer bunnies, but Leon didn't feel like arguing with D right now. Particularly when he was still looking at Leon with that same tender smile. Leon slipped an arm around D's waist and pulled him close. The Count's silk robe felt cool and slick beneath his hands, but his breath felt warm against Leon's face.
"Will you protect me from the ghost, Leon-san?" whispered D.
In answer, Leon kissed him, long and slow. But he couldn't resist having the last word. When they came up for air, Leon said, "There're no such things as ghosts."
"Ah, then was that just an excuse to stay here with me?" asked the Count hopefully.
"Uh...well...I...oh, I surrender!" exclaimed Leon, throwing up his arms in disgust. So much for having the last word!
"You do? Well, you'll find we treat prisoners-of-war here very well," purred D, winding his arms around Leon's neck, and pressing his body against the detective's.
Leon was about to kiss D again, when he felt something tug painfully at his hair.
"Ouch!"
"Kyu, kyu!" squeaked Q-chan angrily as he yanked at Leon's hair.
"Damn little bat-bunny!" Leon growled, trying to swat at the creature. One blow connected and Q-chan went flying across the hall, hitting the wall with a soft "thunk!"
"Kyu!"
"It's your own fault," the Count chided, as he scooped up his pet. Q-chan squeaked at him indignantly. D sighed. "He said he was trying to remind you of your promise that nothing would happen while Jia is here."
"So an overweight bat is gonna be my chaperone?!"
"KYUUU!!!"
"Q-chan says he is not overweight."
"Oh yeah? How much cake did you eat today, bat boy?"
"Enough, both of you! You'll wake the child!"
"Fine! I'll go sleep on the couch!"
Leon stalked off, but felt slightly mollified--and a little worried--when D whispered, "We'll continue this on another night, Keiji-san. Remember, you're my prisoner."
***
Leon slept fitfully on the couch. Maybe it was the chocolate cake; maybe it was the fact that his hormones had been kicked into overdrive by the Count; maybe it was the perpetual scent of incense in the shop--but he kept having the strangest dreams that night...
Wong the killer chef was waving a huge butcher knife and chasing him down the halls of the pet shop. The heavy scent of incense was making Leon dizzy, and his legs felt like lead weights. Picking up one foot and setting it down in front of the other took a huge effort; he felt like he was moving in slow motion--there was no way he could outrun Wong like this. He saw an open doorway ahead--a chance for escape! But as he ran towards it, he saw the silhouette of a 6-foot tall Q-chan! Leon skidded to a halt, trapped between an insane serial killer and a giant bat-bunny...
"AAH!" shouted Leon, sitting up on the couch as he woke with a start. He gasped for breath, his heart pounding. "Jesus," he grumbled. "What was in that cake, anyway?" Something cold and wet nudged his hand, and he looked down. The gray puppy, Lupin, was sitting on the floor next to the couch. He whined and bumped his nose against Leon's palm. "What's wrong, boy?"
[I sense the presence of a spirit. I'm scared! We should wake the pack-leader!] said Lupin.
All Leon heard was a nervous whine. But he could tell the dog was upset about something. Funny, he felt a sudden chill, as if there were a draft in the room. But there were no windows in this room, and the door was closed. Leon was reaching for his gun when he heard a loud creak. He grabbed his gun and ducked behind the couch as the front door slowly swung open.
Lupin whined again. "Shhh!" Leon hissed into the puppy's ear, clamping a hand over the dog's muzzle. Leon was always telling D he should oil those squeaky hinges on the door, but for once he was glad of the warning they gave. But he could have sworn D had locked the door before they went to bed...
A beautiful Chinese woman glided through the door. She wore elaborate robes of yellow silk covered with intricate embroidery and beading, the main motif being that of a stylized dragon, similar to the dragon designs on several of D's robes. Her hair was pinned up in a complicated style apparently held together with jeweled pins and combs. Leon rubbed his eyes. The woman seemed to have a faint, luminescent glow around her. Surely that was just an effect caused by the dimly glowing lanterns the Count used to light the shop. A middle-aged Chinese man Leon recognized from photos as Ling Yunhan looked around nervously. He clutched a small, cloth-wrapped parcel in one arm.
"My love," said the woman in a melodious voice, "give up this foolishness and let us be gone from this place."
"No!" said Ling. "He is my son and heir! He belongs to me--I must have an heir to inherit my empire!" Leon noticed that the man's expensive suit looked rumpled, and there was a bright, feverish look in his eyes. This guy is not playing with a full deck, thought Leon.
The woman pouted. "I have given you my love," she said. "And I will bring you great wealth and riches. Have I not promised to build you an empire that shall be the envy of any mortal man? And now you scorn me in favor of a stripling boy!"
"Xueli, my heart, I do not scorn you," said Ling, cringing at the woman's rebuke, yet there was a look of stubborn determination on his face. "He is my son, not a rival for your affection. We shall be a family together, I the Emperor, you my beautiful Empress, and the boy our Crown Prince."
The woman gave Ling a glare that sent chills down Leon's spine--this was the look that must have inspired the phrase "staring daggers"! Yet Ling seemed oblivious to his paramour's anger. "Very well, my love," said the woman in a too-sweet voice. "We shall retrieve your son."
"Good. Where is he?"
The woman motioned in the direction of the hallway leading to D's private quarters. Her nails, Leon noticed, were as long and elegant as the Count's. As the pair headed for the doorway, Leon rose to his feet, raising his gun. Time to take care of these two fruitcakes! It should be an easy arrest; neither seemed to be armed.
"Hold it right there!" Leon shouted. The pair turned towards him, looking vaguely surprised, but not especially worried. "LAPD! Ling Yunhan, you and your girlfriend are under arrest for the murders of your wife and daughter!"
The woman...Xueli?...laughed, giving him a contemptuous look. "Mortal man, do not interfere, if you value your life."
Jesus Christ! thought Leon. She's even crazier than I thought! Don't tell me she thinks she's a ghost?! She can't have been talking to the Count! "Ling--drop the package! And both of you put your hands in the air and move up against the wall--now!" Lupin emerged from behind the couch, growling.
"Spirit-dog, you are out of your league," said Xueli. "If you get in my way, I'll kill you, too." She took Ling's arm and continued walking towards the hallway.
"Stop, or I'll shoot!" said Leon. He took aim, intending to fire a warning shot. Xueli raised her hand, and what looked like a lightning bolt shot out from her palm and hit Leon in the chest. He was flung across the room, crashing against the wall. Through a haze of pain, he heard Lupin snarl, although he couldn't see anything but a gray blur leaping in the air. There was the sound of a blow, and a yelp of pain, and the dog fell to the floor beside him. When his vision cleared, he saw four long, bloody slash marks across the puppy's muzzle. Lupin rose unsteadily to his feet, and Leon did the same, bracing himself against the wall for support. His chest hurt, but he seemed to be mostly unharmed. The strange pair was nowhere in sight.
"Oh, shit!" exclaimed Leon. He looked around frantically, then spotted his gun on the floor. He snatched it up, running down the hallway, shouting, "D! Look out! Ling and the woman are here! They're after Jia!" Lupin shot past him, barking wildly.
***
Leon ran through the dimly lit halls--they seemed far longer than they should be, as if the inside of the shop was somehow larger than the outside, which made no sense. And it was difficult to tell, with all the twists and turns of the hall, and the many mysterious-looking doors, but the hall looked different to him each time he entered it. Only the front parlor remained the same with every visit. Still, Lupin seemed to know where he was going, so he followed the dog, whose puppy-ish whine had somehow transformed into the bay of a wolf on the hunt.
Lupin skidded to a stop outside Jia's bedroom. He growled, baring his fangs. The puppy suddenly seemed larger, but Leon didn't have time to wonder about that--Ling and Xueli stood outside the bedroom door, confronting Count D.
The woman glared at D, who gazed back impassively. "I do not know what you are," said Xueli, "but if you are wise, you will not stand in my way."
D's eyes narrowed, glowing eerily in dim light. "The boy is under my protection," he said softly. Leon recognized that deceptively gentle tone of voice as the calm before the storm. You didn't want to mess with him when he sounded like that.
"He's my son!" shouted Ling. "Give him to me!"
"Why do you want him?" asked D, still speaking in that same gentle tone. "You have never seen him as anything but an object, an accessory to your lifestyle--you believe a man in your position should have a wife and children, just as you must have the latest model car and television, to show off your status to your peers. You have never read him a bedtime story, sung him a lullaby, or kissed him goodnight. You do not know what his favorite book is, or the name of his favorite stuffed animal."
"What are you babbling about?" snapped Ling. "His mother took care of all that bedtime stuff--that's the woman's job, after all!"
"Yes, she did all those things...because she loved him. As you did not. So why do you even want him back?"
"Because he's my heir, damn it! I need a son to run my business someday!"
"You gave up your right to him when you let the spirit kill his mother and sister," said D coldly.
"Enough talk!" said Xueli. She motioned with one hand, and the bedroom door swung open. D made no move to stop her. Leon raised his gun. This time he didn't bother to shout a warning; he fired immediately. The bullet entered the middle of her back--and passed through her as if she wasn't there, then struck the wall. There was no blood or entry wound on her body.
Leon's jaw dropped. "Wh...what the hell...?!"
"She is a spirit, Keiji-san," said D patiently, as if talking to a very young--and somewhat dimwitted--child. "Mortal weapons cannot harm her."
"I don't believe this!" shouted Leon, pushing his way past Ling, who was still standing in the hall with a slightly glazed look in his eyes. He entered the bedroom, and saw Xueli standing at the foot of the bed. Jia was sitting up, blinking sleepily and rubbing his eyes. The woman reached out for the boy, her long nails looking like claws. She no longer looked beautiful; her face was contorted in an ugly grimace of hate.
"NO!!!" shouted Leon, starting forward, fearing he would be too late.
Xueli reached for the boy, but as she did, a globe of light sprung up around Jia and the bed like a force field. When the woman touched it, she was thrown back, shrieking...in pain? Or anger?
The Count appeared in the doorway behind Leon. "I told you he was under my protection," he said mildly. Leon followed the Count's gaze, and saw that there was a small scroll hanging on the wall above the bed. It was inscribed in black ink with Chinese calligraphy; Leon couldn't read the characters.
Xueli's lips curled back in a sneer. "If you think that simple charm will stop me, you are a fool! Clearly your powers are no match for mine!"
Q-chan fluttered into the room, hissing at the woman. Lupin appeared at Leon's side, growling. Xueli laughed mockingly. "Are these your familiars? A flying rabbit and a baby wolf-spirit?"
"Kii kii!" squeaked Q-chan, attempting to sound menacing. Xueli waved her hand in the little bat's direction, and he was flung headfirst into the wall.
"Kyuuuuuu..." moaned Q-chan weakly, sliding down the wall until he fell into a small, limp heap on the floor.
Lupin leaped up and clamped his jaws around the woman's outstretched arm. She simply swung her arm down, slamming him into the floor with far more strength than a normal human should be capable of. Lupin twitched once, then lay motionless.
Leon put his gun back in his holster; clearly bullets didn't work. As he ran towards the woman, he heard D shout, "Keiji-san, no!" He tried to grab Xueli, but his hands passed right through her body, as if she were an illusion--or a ghost?!
"I tire of these petty games!" snapped Xueli peevishly. She flung her hands out towards Leon, and another bolt of light shot out towards him--
--As the Count pulled him out of the line of fire. The bolt just barely grazed Leon, but excruciating pain coursed through every inch of his body. This was what it must feel like to be electrocuted, he thought, with the one small corner of his mind that was not paralyzed by the pain. He heard screaming; it was only when his throat became raw and sore that he realized it was coming from himself.
When the pain finally receded, he found himself lying on the floor with his head resting in D's lap. He blinked and looked up, to find the Count looking back down at him, his strangely colored eyes filled with concern.
"Are you all right, Leon-san?" asked D, gently stroking the detective's hair.
"Uh...yeah, I think so." In fact, now that the pain was gone, it actually felt rather pleasant...No! Leon shook his head, as if to clear it. "Jia!" he exclaimed, struggling to sit up.
The Count pointed towards the bed. Jia was fully awake now, eyes wide with fear as he stared at the spirit-woman. The little gray kitten was standing on the bed, back arched, all its fur standing on end, hissing and spitting at the woman. Xueli ignored them both, gazing at the scroll above the bed, an intense look of concentration on her face.
"I fear the protective charm will not hold much longer," said D. Even as he spoke, the edges of the scroll began to blacken and curl, as if it had caught on fire.
Leon jumped to his feet, swaying unsteadily for a moment until D caught his arm. "You have not fully recovered from the spirit's attack," said the Count.
"I've gotta stop her!"
"You cannot touch her! She cannot be harmed by a mortal man!"
Leon turned as he heard hissing and growling behind him. Gathered in the hall outside the bedroom were several of the shop's "pets": a large lizard, a fox-like creature that seemed to have too many tails, an orange tabby cat, and an odd animal that looked like a cross between a dog and a goat, which Leon recognized as Tet-chan.
"I fear she cannot be harmed by ordinary animals, either," said the Count. Tet-chan snorted. "And perhaps not even by...extraordinary animals." D looked sadly at Lupin's still form. "The powers of this spirit are very great. Her anger and hatred fuel her strength. This is the most powerful ghost I have ever seen."
And how many ghosts have you seen?! wondered Leon. He shoved his way past the Count and the animals, grabbed Ling, and dragged him into the room. "Look at that!" shouted Leon. "That...that...whatever she is, she's gonna kill your son!" Ling stared at him blankly, and the detective shook him, hard. "Do something! Stop her!"
"Stop...her?"
"She's your ghost, isn't she?! She's going to kill Jia like she killed your wife and daughter!" Leon shook Ling again, trying to snap him out of the trance he seemed to be in. "Remember them--Meilin and Wenli?! She tore out Meilin's throat and broke Wenli's neck!"
"That wasn't my fault," Ling whined. "I can't control her!"
"You bought the statue!" Leon shouted.
"Yes..." Ling's eyes took on a dreamy, unfocused look. "She was beautiful...a rare and precious gem..." Leon wasn't sure if he was talking about the statue or the woman. Ling continued, "She said she would make me wealthy beyond my wildest dreams...she said she would make me a king..."
Xueli shouted, a wordless cry of triumph. Leon turned in time to see the scroll burst into flames and vanish in a puff of smoke and ashes. In desperation, Leon pulled out his gun and shot at her, but the bullets passed through her without effect. Jia screamed as she reached for him, and the kitten crouched down, ready to pounce...
Suddenly the air in the room seemed to shimmer for a moment, and then the ghostly image of another woman interposed herself between Xueli and the boy. She was pretty, although not as heart-stoppingly beautiful as Xueli. But the kindness in her face more than made up for that.
"Mama!" shouted Jia, and Leon recognized the woman as Ling Meilin.
Xueli snarled and started forward, but Meilin flung out her arms, as if to bar her way. And suddenly there was another apparition by her side--a young Chinese girl, with a stubborn and determined look on her face. She crossed her arms and glared at Xueli.
Leon could only stare open-mouthed. The two new spirits glowed with the same faint light as the first, but their forms were misty and transparent, while Xueli's seemed substantial--at least until you tried to touch her.
Xueli sneered. "You are still weak, newborn spirits. Your strength cannot possibly equal mine!"
Meilin gazed back at her without fear. D whispered, "Love provides strength in unexpected ways."
Xueli hovered at the foot of the bed. Despite her words, she seemed to be hesitating.
Meilin turned her gaze towards her husband, staring at him silently, with a look that was both sad and reproachful. Ling backed away fearfully. "No! Don't look at me that way! It wasn't my fault!" His hands shook, and he dropped the bundle he was carrying. The cloth fell away, revealing a small porcelain statue of a woman in yellow robes.
"Keiji-san!" shouted D. "The statue is what links her to this world! Destroy it!"
"NOOOOOO!!!" screamed Xueli, moving towards them. But Leon aimed and shot at the statue, and it exploded, spraying shards of pottery all over the room. One shard nicked Leon's cheek, but he didn't notice. He was watching Xueli scream in rage, her cry growing fainter as she slowly faded out of sight and vanished.
Meilin gave the detective and Count D a grateful smile. Then she turned to her son, and caressed his cheek lovingly with a ghostly hand.
"Mama?" Jia whispered, tears welling up in his eyes. "You're going away, aren't you?"
She smiled and kissed his forehead. "Goodbye," she said softly. "I love you."
Wenli kissed her brother's cheek, then took her mother's hand. She gave Jia a cheerful grin and a wink as they vanished.
"Goodbye," whispered Jia, tears running down his face. Kage mewed, butting his head against the boy's chest. Jia gathered the kitten into his arms, burying his face in its fur. D sat on the bed next to Jia, and put an arm around his shoulder.
"They came back to protect you," said D, speaking gently to the boy in Cantonese. "Now that you are safe, they can rest in peace."
Jia sniffled. "I know. They're in Heaven now, right?"
"Yes," said D. "When I was a child, my father told me a story. In Japan, he said, some people believe that their loved ones become stars when they die. They shine in the sky, watching over us."
"Do you think Mama and Sister are watching over me now?"
"I'm sure they are."
"I'm glad I got to see them again," said Jia, wiping the tears away with the back of his hand. "I'm glad I got to say goodbye."
***
Eventually Jia went back to sleep. Despite all he'd been through, the boy calmed down quickly. He seemed to be comforted by his mother's farewell visit.
By the time the Count got Jia back to bed, Q-chan and Lupin had regained consciousness. Q-chan fluttered to the Count's shoulder, squeaking grumpily but none the worse for wear. Lupin walked over to the Count and barked.
"Yes, Lupin, you were very brave," said the Count, praising and petting the puppy, who wagged his tail happily. "We'll put some medicine on those scratches...it may leave a scar, but you can consider it a badge of honor."
Leon cuffed Ling and led him out of the room. He followed Leon docilely, but kept muttering to himself about ghosts and statues.
"I don't know how I'm going to write up my police report," complained Leon.
"Just tell the truth," said D.
"Are you kidding?! They'll lock me up in the looney bin! Probably give me the room next to Ling here!"
"The truth...that Mr. Ling claims that the ghost of the statue killed his wife and daughter. And that he came here tonight to retrieve his son. And that he had a complete mental breakdown when you destroyed the statue."
"I see..." said Leon, rubbing his chin as he thought over what D said. "Selective truth. Not telling the whole story--"
"But not lying either."
Leon gave D a suspicious glance. "You're very good at this selective truth thing."
"Thank you," said D, smiling modestly.
***
The next day, Jill arrived at the shop, accompanied by an attractive Chinese woman in her mid-thirties, and a tall, lanky man about the same age. He had light brown hair and blue eyes, and the gold-rimmed glasses he wore gave him a slightly owlish look. The woman had long black hair, and bore a distinct resemblance to Meilin and Jia. There were dark circles under her eyes, but her face lit up when she saw Jia.
"Auntie Wen! Uncle Simon!" shouted Jia, running towards the couple. Wenjing Holt knelt down and embraced her nephew. Her husband put his arms around them both. The detectives and the Count discreetly stepped back to give the family some space. They all hugged and wept, with Jia chattering excitedly in a combination of English and Cantonese.
Finally, after everyone had calmed down, Wenjing stepped forward.
"Thank you so much for saving my nephew's life," she said, bowing deeply to Leon and Count D. Simon added his thanks also, bowing to the Count, and extending his hand to Leon.
Leon shook Simon's hand, saying, "Please...it was nothing; just doing my job..."
"It means a great deal to us," said Wenjing. "Jia is all I have left of my sister."
"Yeah, well, he's a pretty great kid," said Leon, a little embarrassed. "I have a little brother near his age..."
"So you understand how we feel, then," said Wenjing.
Jia smiled shyly, holding onto his aunt with one hand, and tugging on Leon's pants' leg with the other. "Can I play with your brother sometime, Mr. Detective?"
"Hey, so you do speak English!" said Leon, bending down to ruffle the boy's hair affectionately. "Sure, you can visit me and Chris whenever you're in town. But you'll be going to live in San Francisco with your Aunt and Uncle, won't you?"
Jia looked up, a little apprehensively, at the Holts. Simon dropped to one knee and spoke to his nephew in Cantonese. Leon shot D an inquisitive glance, and the Count whispered a running translation in the detective's ear. But the warmth of D's breath on his skin made it difficult for Leon to concentrate on what the Count was saying.
"We'd like you to come live with us now," Simon was saying in a gentle tone of voice. "Remember when you visited our house last year? We're going to turn the guest room into your bedroom. You can decorate it however you want. Would you like that?" Simon brushed his hair out of his eyes with one hand; he seemed to need a haircut. His hair fell into his eyes and over his collar, and he had the rumpled, slightly absent-minded look that Leon associated with scholarly types. But his eyes were kind, and he seemed to be genuinely fond of Jia.
"I can't live here anymore?" Jia asked.
"I'm afraid not," said Wenjing softly. "Mama..." she hesitated, her voice catching in her throat as she choked back a sob.
"Mama's not coming back," finished Jia. "I know. Don't be sad, Auntie Wen," he said, patting her hand, as if he were the parent and she the child. "She came to say goodbye last night. She's watching us from Heaven now."
Wenjing pulled Jia to her and held him tightly. He patted her back as she wept softly. After a minute or two, she wiped her eyes and said, "Jia, we both love you very much. Will you come live with me and Uncle Simon?"
"Yes, Auntie Wen. I...I love you, too."
Another round of weeping and hugging ensued. Jill took off her glasses to wipe her eyes, the Count discreetly brushed a tear from the corner of his eye, and Leon turned away, mumbling, "Got something in my eye..."
Finally, everyone composed themselves, and Wenjing bowed once more to Count D, handing him a small shopping bag that was printed with the logo of the Hong Kong Airport. "We know we can never repay you for your kindness...but this is just a small token of our gratitude. Thank you for taking care of Jia."
"It was my pleasure," said D. "In fact, I should thank you. Jia was a big help around the shop yesterday." Jia grinned proudly. Leon peered over D's shoulder as he opened the bag. It contained cellophane bags of some kind of candy--small, roundish sweets wrapped in twists of white and purple waxed paper.
"Ah!" exclaimed the Count. "Chan Pui Ying Che!"
"Chan poo--?"
"Seedless preserved plums," D translated for the detective.
"I know it's not much," said Wenjing, looking slightly embarrassed, "but--"
"I understand," said D. "You were in a rush to get back to the U.S. Don't apologize! This is wonderful! I haven't had these in such a long time...my grandfather used to buy me preserved plums when--" He suddenly stopped when he saw Leon and Jill staring at him, with a look of avid curiosity on their faces. "Ahem. Thank you very much."
Jia looked down as he heard a soft mew. Kage purred, rubbing himself against Jia's leg. Jia stroked the kitten, and said sadly, "Goodbye, Kage." He turned to D and said, "Count, will you please find a good home for Kage?" He was obviously trying to be brave, but his lower lip trembled just a little.
D caught Wenjing's eye. She exchanged a look with her husband, who smiled and shrugged. Wenjing turned back to the Count and nodded.
"I already have," said D. He picked up the kitten and handed him to Jia. "He has chosen you as his master; I do not think he would be happy with anyone else."
Jia turned to his aunt and uncle, eyes pleading. "Auntie Wen--"
"Yes, Jia," she laughed. "You can keep the kitten."
"Thank you!" He hugged her tightly. He hugged the Count, "Mr. Detective," and "Miss Jill" as he told them goodbye. The Holts bowed again, promising to keep in touch. And Leon promised Jia he could meet Chris the next time he came to L.A.
***
Two weeks later, the Count received a letter from San Francisco. Just as he was opening it, a delivery man from the local bakery stopped by to drop off a box. When D opened the box, he laughed and clapped his hands together.
"What is it?" asked Leon.
D stepped aside so Leon could see the cake. It was a round, two-layer cake, trimmed with slices of strawberries and kiwi fruit. The top of the cake was covered with a large Hello Kitty face sculpted in white frosting. "Isn't it cute?" asked the Count happily.
"Kyu! Kyu!" said Q-chan, eyeing the cake hungrily.
"Cute is not exactly the word I'd use," mumbled Leon.
The Count slit open a small envelope with his thumbnail. "The card says it's from the Holts. Jia picked out the cake. 'Just a small thank-you for your many kindnesses'...well, how thoughtful!"
"What about the letter?" asked Leon. "Is it from Jia?"
"Let's see...'Dear Count D and Mr. Detective: I am fine. Auntie Wen and Uncle Simon say hello. We just finished decorating my new room with Pokemon wallpaper--' "
Leon rolled his eyes.
"'I miss Mama and Sister, but I like living with Auntie and Uncle. Auntie Wen says she has business in L.A. next month, so maybe we can come and visit you. And Uncle Simon bought me a telescope so I can look at the stars. Say hi to Pon-chan and Tet-chan and Lupin and Q-chan--say hi to everyone for me! Love, Jia. P.S. Here is a drawing I made.'"
D unfolded the piece of paper, and smoothed it out on the coffee table. Jia had drawn in a childish scrawl, two stick figures, one with long hair labeled "Auntie," and one with glasses labeled "Uncle," plus a smaller one labeled "Me." He had also drawn a small gray cat labeled "Kage". They stood together under a night sky colored in with a black crayon. Two silver stars, one large, one small hung in the sky. Beneath them he had written "Mama" and "Sister."
THE END.
***
Afterword: In the original version it was D's mother who told him the story about deceased love ones becoming stars--this was before I knew that D didn't have a mother! Initially, I suspected that D's father went mad because his wife had been killed, but obviously I was totally off the mark. Anyhow, I changed the reference in this story to D's father, to avoid confusion. I'm not sure if the star thing is an actual Japanese legend, but I've seen the same story told to comfort an orphaned child in at least two different Japanese TV dramas, so it seemed like it might be. Or we can just assume that D's dad enjoyed watching melodramas on TV when he was younger!
Minor trivia point: Uncle Simon is modeled loosely after Sakura's father in Card Captor Sakura. I always wanted to write another story about the Holt family, but never got around to it. Maybe someday...